#vis :: ( garrison )

[friendscfmine]

//sorry for making another Bad Post on my Bad Post Blog

[scotianostra]

On 22nd March 1421, Franco-Scottish army. under the Earl of Buchan defeated English forces at Bauge in Anjou, France.

Not heard of it? That’s because the history we were taught in school was all anglicized, oh we did get a wee bit about the 100 year war, mainly Agincourt, because the English won that day, or possibly Crecy, another victory for them, Bauge and many other times the English were gubbed are ignored.

Ok you might be wondering why I say a Scottish army, historians all say that the majority of the troops were Scottish soldiers, aye there was a few Frenchmen fighting on “our” side, but this was very much a Scottish victory over an English army.

This all goes down as part of the Auld Alliance, which was signed in 1295 by King John Balliol and Philip IV of France. The Alliance was renewed periodically after that date and by the 1410s it was very much “in play” as Henry V of England initiated the third phase of the Hundred Years War, often known to historians as the Lancastrian War.

In 1418, it was the French Dauphin who called on his Scottish allies for assistance in his efforts to curtail Henry’s depredations after the great battle of Agincourt in 1415. It had to be the Dauphin, or Crown Prince, who sought help from Scotland because the French king, Charles VI, was already showing signs of the mental illness that would eventually see him nicknamed Charles the Mad.

The French aristocracy had split into two factions with many supporting the Duke of Burgundy in his aspirations to take the throne, while many others stayed loyal to the King and the House of Valois, known as the Armagnacs. Increasingly it was the teenaged Dauphin, the future Charles VII, who made all the major decisions for the Valois regime and, faced with the Burgundy alliance with Henry V and the surrender of many of his own forces, he sent for help from Scotland.

The complicating factor at the time was that King James I of Scotland was still a prisoner of the English, albeit that he was part of the royal household of Henry, whom he greatly admired, and he would actually fight with the English army against the French in France in 1420. In charge of Scotland was the Duke of Albany, Robert Stewart, who had become regent when James was first captured by the English in 1406 while en route to France.

There had been no large battles between the Scots and the English since the Battle of Homildon Hill, or Humbleton Hill, in 1402 won by the English, but with England preoccupied with France, Albany no doubt felt it safe to respond positively to Scotland’s oldest ally. By 1419, there was also peace of a sort along the border with England so the Scots could afford to send an army of around 6000 men including men at arms, spearman and archers to serve alongside the remaining French royal army.

Henry V’s of England’s brother, Thomas the Duke of Clarence led 10,000 men south towards the Loire. They set about besieging the castle at Bauge when the Scots were garrisoned, they made contact with them the day before Good Friday. A truce was reached, lasting until Monday, so that the combatants could properly observe the religious occasion of Easter.

The English lifted their siege and withdrew to nearby Beaufort, while the Scots camped at La Lude. However, early in the afternoon of Saturday Scottish scouts reported that the English had broken the truce and were advancing upon them hoping to take them by surprise. The Scots rallied hastily and battle was joined at a bridge which the Duke of Clarence, with banner unfurled for battle, sought to cross. A detachment of a few hundred men under Sir Robert Stewart of Ralston, reinforced by the retinue of Hugh Kennedy, held the bridge and prevented passage long enough for the Earl of Buchan to rally the rest of his army, whereupon they made a fighting retreat to the town where the English archers would be ineffective.

Both armies now joined in a bitter melee that lasted until nightfall. During this time Sir John Carmichael of Douglasdale broke his lance unhorsing the Duke of Clarence; since that day the Carmichael coat of arms displays an armoured hand holding aloft a broken lance in commemoration of the victory. Once on the ground, the Duke was killed by Sir Alexander Buchanan. The English dead included the Lord Roos, Sir John Grey and Gilbert de Umfraville, whose death directly led to the extinction of the male line of that illustrious family, well known to the Scots since the Wars of Independence. The Earl of Somerset and his brother were captured by Laurence Vernon (later elevated to the rank of knight for his conduct), the Earl of Huntingdon was captured by Sir John Sibbald, and Lord Fitz Walter was taken by Henry Cunningham.

On hearing of the Scottish victory, Pope Martin V passed comment by reiterating a common mediaeval saying, that the Scots are well-known as an antidote to the English.

[gatheringbones]

[“Given to the study of books as a child, Charles was an ascetic of exaggerated piety who sought spirituality by mortifying the flesh. Like Thomas à Becket, he wore unwashed clothes crawling with lice; he put pebbles in his shoes, slept on straw on the floor next to his wife’s bed, and after his death was found to have worn a coarse shirt of horsehair under his armor, and cords wound so tightly around his body that the knots dug into his flesh. By these practices a seeker of holiness expressed contempt for the world, self-abasement, and humility, although he often found himself guilty of a perverse pride in his excesses. Charles confessed every night so that he might not go to sleep in a state of sin. He fathered a bastard son called Jehan de Blois, but sins of the flesh did not have to be eschewed, only repented. He treated the humble with deference, it was said, met the complaints of the poor with goodness and justice, and refrained from too heavy taxes. Such was his reputation for saintliness that when he undertook to walk barefoot in the snow to a Breton shrine, the people covered his path with straw and blankets, but he took another way at a cost of bleeding and frozen feet, so that for weeks afterward he was unable to walk.

His piety detracted not at all from his ferocious pursuit of the dukedom. He stated his claim below the walls of Nantes by having his siege engines hurl into the city the heads of thirty captured partisans of Montfort. His successful siege of Quimper was followed by a ruthless massacre of 2,000 civilian inhabitants of all ages and both sexes. According to then current laws of war, the besieged could make terms if they surrendered, but not if they forced a siege to its bitter end, so presumably Charles felt no compunctions. On this occasion, after he had chosen the place of assault, he was warned of rising flood waters, but refused to alter his decision, saying, “Does not God have empire over the waters?” When his men succeeded in taking the city before being trapped by the flood, the people took it for a miracle owed to Charles’s prayers.

When Charles captured Jean de Montfort and sent him to Paris to be held prisoner by Philip VI, Montfort’s cause was taken up “with the courage of a man and the heart of a lion” by his remarkable wife. Riding from town to town, she rallied the allegiance of dispirited partisans to her three-year-old son, saying, “Ha, seigneurs, never mourn for my lord whom you have lost. He is but one man,” and promising that she had riches enough to maintain the cause. She provisioned and fortified garrisons, organized resistance, “paid largely and gave freely,” presided over councils, conducted diplomacy, and expressed herself in eloquent and graceful letters. When Charles de Blois besieged Hennebont, she led a heroic defense in full armor astride a war-horse in the streets, exhorting the soldiers under a hail of arrows and ordering women to cut short their skirts and carry stones and pots of boiling pitch to the walls to cast down upon the enemy. During a lull she led a party of knights out a secret gate, and galloped by a roundabout way to take the enemy camp in the rear, destroyed half their force, and defeated the siege. She devised feints and stratagems, wielded her sword in sea fights, and when her husband escaped from the Louvre in disguise only to die after reaching Brittany, she implacably continued the fight for her son.

When in 1346, Charles de Blois was finally captured by the English party and taken to prison in England, his cause was pursued by his no less implacable wife, the crippled Jeanne de Penthièvre. The pitiless war went on. Its two chief protagonists met fates expressive of their time, insanity and sainthood. The blows and intrigues, privations and broken hopes of her life proved too much for the valiant Countess of Montfort, who went mad and was confined in England while Edward made himself guardian of her son. Shut up and forgotten in the castle of Tickhill, she was to live on for thirty years.

Charles de Blois, after nine years as a prisoner, was to win his liberty for a ransom variously reported as 350,000, 400,000, or 700,000 écus. Although he was ready at last to come to terms, his wife refused to let him renounce her claim, so he renewed the struggle and was eventually killed in battle. Afterward he was canonized, but the process was nullified by Pope Gregory XI at the request of the younger Jean de Montfort, who feared that as conqueror of a saint he would be regarded by the Bretons as a usurper.”]

barbara w. tuchman, from a distant mirror: the calamitous 14th century, 1987

[lost-boy-into-the-upper-heavenly]

Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry and running back Walt Garrison prior to the start of Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins at Tulane Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Dolphins 24-3.

[wishforhome]

Hiiii Happy DADWC Friday!

Prompt for Viago/Teia: aftermath of a job that went sideways

- asexualtabris 💜

Veilguard fic, Viago/Teia, T+, 433 words

@dadrunkwriting

This is maybe less "aftermath" and more "in-the-middle-of math" but, y'know, these things happen.

They stand, breathless, tucked away in the dark corner of a balcony. Teia’s body is pressed against his, and he can see her pulse fluttering in her throat. She clamps a hand over her own mouth to quiet her panting.

Beneath them, footsteps race by, raised voices that go along with a frantic search.

A few seconds more, and the noise recedes.

Teia pulls away, barely. Viago winces as her hand goes to his side, biting back a pained noise. She has found the gap where blood seeps from a puncture in his armor.

“Vi,” she murmurs, her voice low and urgent. “You need a healer.”

“Probably,” he admits. “We’ll have to make it back to the Diamond first, though.”

He leans back against the wall, his breath still coming in ragged gasp. Each one burns. “We’ll manage,” Teia says with a resolute certainty.

“We need to finish the contract first.”

Teia shoots him a withering look. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re bleeding out.”

He shakes his head. “Crows don’t fail contracts,” he insists. “Especially not Talons who are supposed to be freeing Treviso.” He presses a hand to his side. The red of his blood looks strange against the black leather of his gloves. “I’ll be fine.”

There’s a pause before she shakes her head, giving a long-suffering sigh. “Fine,” she says. “Let’s get you patched up as best we can here, then we’ll try again.”

Teia pulls a flask from one of the pouches at her waist, pulling the cork from it with her teeth before pressing it into his hand. “Drink,” she says.

The tonic is bitter and herbal, but no worse than the concoctions Viago tests on himself daily. He downs it in a couple of swallows, closing his eyes as he feels it begin to work. It is a strange feeling, skin knitting back together. It is still the most exquisite pain, but the bleeding has slowed. Probably. It’s hard to tell.

“You good?” Teia asks.

“Fantastic,” Viago says dryly.

“Most of the guards went north, so we should have a clear shot at the garrison this time.”

Viago nods, pushing himself away from the wall. He leans out from the balcony – it looks clear. “You go high, I’ll go low?” he suggests.

Teia shakes her head. “No,” she says. “We go together. Let’s take the rooftops this time. Think you can manage it?”

He shifts his shoulders a little, gives his back a slight twist. The healing will hold for now, he thinks. It’s enough. “Always,” he says. “Let’s go.”

[whencyclopedia]

Eighth Crusade

The Eighth Crusade of 1270 CE was, like the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254 CE), led by the French king Louis IX (r. 1226-1270 CE). As previously, the idea was to attack and defeat the Muslims first in Egypt and then either reconquer or negotiate control of key Christian sites in the Levant, including Jerusalem. Tunis was decided upon as the first target, from where the Crusaders could then attack Egypt. The plan was dealt the fatal blow of Louis IX's death from illness in August 1270 CE, and the campaign was abandoned before it had even properly begun.

Louis IX & the Levant

Louis had led the Seventh Crusade, which had met with disaster at the battle of Mansourah in April 1250 CE. He had even been captured but later released after payment of a ransom and the concession of Damietta on the Nile River. Louis had then stayed in the Levant for four years when he refortified such key Latin strongholds as Acre. 16 years later, the French king once more turned his attention to the Middle East, his second bite at the crusading cherry.

Louis had been sending funds annually to the Latin states in the Levant in the intervening years since his botched first crusade, but the rest of Europe was rather preoccupied with affairs elsewhere. In England, a civil war raged (1258-1265 CE), and the Popes were in constant battle with the Holy Roman Empire over control of Sicily and parts of Italy. It seemed that nobody cared very much for the fate of Holy Sites in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, meanwhile, the situation for the Christian cities looked bleak. The Mongol Empire, seemingly intent on total conquest everywhere, was moving closer and closer to the Mediterranean coast. In 1258 CE Baghdad, the seat of the Abbasid Caliphate, was captured, followed by Ayyubid-controlled Aleppo in January 1260 CE and Damascus in March of the same year. It looked very much like the Crusader states might be next in line when the Mongols made raids on Ascalon, Jerusalem, and northern Egypt. When a Mongol garrison was established at Gaza, an attack on Sidon quickly followed in August 1260 CE. Without outside help, Bohemund VI of Antioch-Tripoli was obliged to accept subservience to the Mongols and permit a permanent garrison to be established at Antioch.

Continue reading...

[skvernoslavianin]

!!!!!!I URGENTLY NEED A SUPERNATURAL AU ARCANE!!!!!!!

where Vi and Jinx are sisters-monster-hunters, Kate is Vi's "personal" angel from the heavenly garrison, who helps and loves a specific person very much.

there's a lot of wild stuff going on around here, apocalypse, vampires, demons hehehe

Ambessa is one of the princess of hell🛐

Vander is most likely suitable for the role of Bobby, i think

[queen-of-andor]

ASOS JON VI: OBSERVATION SKILL

This is one chapter before the Battle of the Night's Watch and we witness Jon manifesting his good observation skill once again- despite the fact that he's seriously injured and has a fever.

This is the chapter where Jon returns to the Night's Watch injured after he abandoned the Free Folk. He notices that most of his black brothers are missing and Donal Noye confirms that Bower Marsh (the temporary leader of NW until they'll elect a new one) has sent the garrison all over the Wall to defend it from Wildings ' attacks. As Jon correctly notes, this is exactly what Mance wanted to happen (and it's one of the many reasons Bower Marsh wouldn't make a good Commander):

Jon swallowed a goan. Feints. Mance wants us to spread ourselves thin, don't you see?" And Bower Marsh has obliged him. "The gate is here. The attack is here".

He's correct as we'll find out on the next chapter once the attack on Castle Black begins.

Jon's next question is who Bower Marsh named castellan until he returns and the answer - Ser Wynton Sour - seems disappointing to both Donal Noye and him ( add this to the list of Bower Marsh's bad decisions)

Jon's observation about Bower Marsh's leadership skills ( or his lack of them) is spot on:

The Old Pomegranate was amiable and diligent First Steward, but he was woefully ill-suited to face a wilding host.

While Maester Aemon removes the arrow from his leg, Jon continues to think about who is gonna be the next Lord Commander ( you never gonna guess it, boy!) and his thoughts are very perceptive:

A choosing. With Qhorin Halfhand and Ser Jaremy Rykker both dead and Ben Stark still missing, who was there? Not Bowen Marsh or Ser Wynton Stout, that was certain. Had Thoren Smallwood survived the Fist, or Ser Ottyn Wythers? No, it will be Cotter Pyke or Ser Denys Mallister. Which, though? The commanders at the Shadow Tower and Eastwatch were good men, but very different; Ser Denys courtly and cautious, as chivalrous as he was elderly, Pyke younger, bastard-born, rough-tongued, and bold to a fault. Worse, the two men despised each other. The Old Bear had always kept them far apart, at opposite ends of the Wall. The Mallisters had a bone-deep mistrust of the ironborn, Jon knew.

[darkwingphoenix]

@loominggaia Great Kingdoms in Civ Vi, Part Two: Damijana and Zareen

Previous Post

Damijana: Towering Kingdom

Cities within 9 tiles of the Capital have 100% Loyalty and +50% to all yields. Cities beyond 9 tiles have -50% Loyalty and -20% to all yields. All districts may only be placed directly adjacent to other Districts, Wonders, or the City Center, but have major adjacency bonuses to all districts and Wonders.

This is specifically designed to keep Damijana's territory small and allow Damijana to act as a tall-playing civilization.

Chieftess Serafeen: Project Starlight

All Campuses and Campus buildings are 50% cheaper and give an additional 25% to yields (Stacks with Damijana Ability), and Spaceports and Science Victory projects cost 30% less.

Serafeen is OBSESSED with going to the moon, might as well extend that to a Science Victory-focused Leader ability.

Unique Unit: Eye of Damijana

Unique Scout unit that replaces the Ranger. Cheaper to build and slightly stronger. Can reveal invisible units and Spies within 3 tiles of them while in your territory, and receives +10 Combat Strength when fighting such units. Make Operations by enemy spies 2 levels higher when garrisoned in a City Center or Encampment.

The Eyes of Damijana seem to be the only actually useful unit for this, so I decided to make then recon units able to spot Spies and invisible units.

Unique District: Tower City

Unique district that replaces the Neighborhood. Can only be placed adjacent to other Districts, but available at Industrialization always grants +6 housing and gives +2 Gold, +6 Food, +6 Production, and +4 Amenities.

The Tower City is designed to help Damijana deal with shitty terrain and have a solid population regardless of no Farms.

Overall Damijani Playstyle

Damijana's major goal is to set up a solid 9 tile radius around their Capital to get numerous cities built and make districts a top priority while going for a Science Victory.

Zareen Empire: Iron Empire

All Districts and Wonders give major adjacency bonuses to Commercial Hubs, Industrial Zones, and Harbors. All Districts give standard adjacency bonuses to all other Districts.

A simple yet powerful ability, Zareen gets a flat bonus to Districts centered around Production and Gold gathering, as well as a focus on Districts.

Empress Qara: Iron Empress

All Cities have -15% to all yields from Improvements, excluding Mines and Quarries. Mine and Quarries give +2 Production, +4 Gold, and +2 Food. These are doubled if over a Strategic Resource, Luxury Resource, and Bonus Resource, respectively. Chopping Woods and Rainforests provides 100% Production than normal.

Yet another simple ability, Zareen under Qara suffers when there are few mines or quarries to work, while encouraging deforestation.

Unique Unit: Ironjaw Handler

Unique unit that is stronger than the Line Infantry it replaces. More expensive to maintain, but is significantly stronger. +10 Strength against units of a previous Era and an additional +5 to wounded units.

Ironjaws seem strong, so they're a unique unit for Zareen. Super strong when fighting primitive units.

Unique District: Zareenite Neighborhood

Unique District that replaces the Neighborhood and available at Industrialization, and provides +6 housing regardless of Appeal, and has +4 Production and +2 Amenities

Similar to Damijana's Unique District, Zareenite Neighborhoods allow Zareen to grow without high Appeal.

Overall Zareen Playstyle

Zareen wants to get some powerful cities using their huge production while clearing forests and useless Bonus Resources to make way for Districts, Mines, and Neighborhoods, and using Ironjaws to take anything in their way.

[vivianleighwishesshewasme]

Cursed-3 sisters( Peaky Blinders and Deghant Witches-OC) -8

Violet feels remorse after trying to confront Sabrina about her attitudes being out of place for 1919, Serafina and Luca fight about Religion and babies, Sabrina and Tommy talk about London and Grace.

________________________________________________

Violet***

She hadn’t seen Sabrina, Curley or Charlie in several weeks.

Violet tried to keep herself busy. She tended to the horses, met with people, sold her plants and teas but she was finding it harder and harder to pull herself out of her own head.

Violet had never really been truly alone her whole life. She’d gone for a large household, to marry her highschool sweetheart to babies…then to nothing suddenly but her sister had still been by everyday.

1919 life had them all more bogged down with survival making visiting a rarity.

She had allowed Sabrina to vent after the party at the Garrison.

Then when she had spoken she’d made the mistake of gently reminding her modern baby sister that she was dating a war veteran turned Gang boss from 1919. He didn’t see things the way she did. How could they fully understand being a hundred years plus apart?

Sabrina had sat back and crossed her arms, clearly upset by her sister's refusal to solidly take her side. Sometimes both women seemed to forget there was an age and maturity gap between them.

What further seemed to damage her attempt to “help” her sister was when she suggested looking at it from Thomas perspective.

He probably felt he was very attentive to her and showed her love by protecting her and keeping her out of his plots.

That had been when Sabrina suddenly kept track of time and had somewhere to be.

If Violet wasn’t so lonely she wouldn’t be this reflective of it all.

A gentle clear ringing forced Violet out of her thoughts.

“Hello?” Violet was relieved to see Serafina’s elegant face through their lifeline, a crystal ball.

“Hello Vi, what’s wrong?” Her little sister's concerned voice floated through the caravan.

Trust Sera to see through Violet's facade. She’d always had a supernaturally high intuition.

“It’s nothing Fina, how are you and the Italian Stallion doing?” Violet blushed violently when a masculine and her sister's feminine laugh intertwined. Luca was obviously next to her and now knew what her sister called him in private.

“Good, highly amused that you blurted out the nickname I used in private for him, that he wasn’t aware of until now.” Serafina’s face was flushed and her pale eyes sparkled and danced with a warning. How was Violet to know he was sitting next to her?

“I ain’t complaining.” Luca’s deep grumping voice filled her ears. Violet, while mortified, was amused that her possible future brother in law found it so entertaining. He’d probably request the name now.

“I’m so sorry.” She was truly mortified for them both.

“This is why I don't tell you things….Have you heard from Brina?” Serafina switched the subject so fast she’d barely had time to process the question or catch on.

“No.” She felt guilty about that. She should go visit her. “She refuses to talk to me. I’ve never seen her act like this. She's always the first to fix a relationship. She gets too anxious. Do you think this is Thomas’s influence?” Violet hated to think less of the man. She was by no means ignorant to his means to violence to get what he wanted. She’d seen him with Sabrina though. Firm and yet tender. He genuinely cared for him. She’d even heard that her soft sweet baby sister had the Devil of Birmingham smiling again.

“She’s growing up Violet. She’s only twenty two. She takes after her peers as part of her stage in life. She’ll grow into herself. Do you need company? I’m off for the weekend due to a catholic holiday. Thought I’d come to bug you. Luca is leaving for America.” Violet's face changed to alarm. She knew in his timeline he had gone to New York and taken over but it could change, what was happening?

“I would love that. You have to sleep in the caravan.” Violet needed to talk to Serafina alone. If she let Luca go the Vendetta might still happen. John had been recently married to Esme so Lizzie Stark was wandering Birmingham, including the Italian district.

“I’ve slept in worse places for you, remember when we camped out in the rain, downhill near a lake for a weekend around college.” That was a mess. That had also been the last time Serafina ever roughed it with her sister.

“You aint gonna gonna come to church with us Sera? See me off to America?” Luca’s question seemed to catch the middle sister off guard a bit. Sera hated saying temporary goodbyes.

“We’ll talk later Fina, I'll come out soon.”Violet hated cutting the call short. She’d heard the tension in Luca’s voice. They were going to fight. Both of them had fire in their souls, she didn’t need to see how heated things could get between them.

“Of course, bye sis.”Serafina seemed annoyed, at whom Violet could only guess.

The ball swirled to an empty clear glass orb once more. Violet wished she had more people to talk to on it. Perhaps she’d have to go sell things at a market stall, it would at least help her meet people even if it was only at a transactional level.

She needed to do something while she waited for Charlie Strong and Curly to come back. She’d bonded with them like family.

A man like Charlie however would always roam….the question was would he take her with him or not in the future?

++++++++++++++Serafina DeGhant+++++++++++++++++++

“You don't know Violet, something is wrong.” Sera felt bad that she hadn’t discussed the holiday plans with Luca but they weren't married so as far as she was concerned, she was a free agent unless she accepted an invitation to an event.

“I know you come from a different background but what's going to happen if we get married Sera, you're going to try to raise the bambinos pagan, cause that ain't gonna work for me and my traditional Catholic family.” Luca’s sudden talk of babies had Sera’s feet frozen to the ground and her heart hammering in her chest like a rabbit caught in the thicket. It was caught.

Serafina DeGhant had never considered monogamy. She always left when things got serious. That hadn’t been her intent when she’d sought the eye of this particular Italian man, but old fears gripped at her heart. Leaving before you got to involved meant less hurt….usually….she just realized how quickly he’d ensnared her and her heart.

“ Your whole family is built on crime Amore, my going to church with our imaginary children is where you draw the line?“ She could hear her heart inside her head, feel it slamming into her throat threatening to cut off her air supply.

“ If we keep up living together, Sera, they ain't going to be imaginary for long.” He smoked at her and reached out to stroke her arm. They both startled when she yanked her arm back and drew them around herself.

She needed to think, needed time to think. That required privacy.

Now she had to think before she responded. Before they left the modern world she had an IUD done. She had no idea what would happen or if Luca would even take to her. She also hadn’t wanted a drunk man to overpower her and stay with her by implanting a child within her walls. It happened in the 2020’s, it was no different in 1919.

Proof that a woman could be covered from her neck to her ankles and she could still be,”asking for it.” As Sabini had tried to tell her before he’d gotten a wayward fork into his thigh that she had accidentally on purpose placed there.

While not advised she could take out the contraception herself. She had to in this timeline, if a 1919 Doctor saw it, well she could be tried as a witch or advances in medicine safety for women could come early. She didn’t know the consequences so women everywhere would have to do without the discovery.

“I’m on birth control, Luca.” He pulled back and looked at her. This was going to be a fight. She could see it in his green eyes shimmering with anger. His jaw tightened subtly. She nibbled and sucked at that jawline enough to know when he clenched it in anger, his nostril flared. He hadn’t started gesturing wildly with his hands yet, the minute hand gestures started they were in deep.

He was very catholic. She mostly dismissed it because she didn’t see how you could willfully commit any sin that you wanted, pray it away and pretend it didn't happen just because you asked for forgiveness was a concept she couldn’t wrap her head around personally.

She also knew from her grandfather taking her to mass a few times that birth control was forbidden. Children were a gift from God. However much he gave you was his will.

She found it irresponsible personally.

“When did you decide that?” He was pissed. It almost hadn’t sounded like English.

“ I don't want a baby yet Luca, with you eventually, yes, but I don't dream of being an unwed mother. Besides, we don't know how long it will be before you get back to London.” He hadn’t asked her to go. She had thought about what her answer would be, would she be the woman who followed him. She’d always preferred to be career driven but this wasn’t her time. She was already older then most women who married for the time.

“I’d marry you the day you got a doctor's confirmation Serafina. I aint a dead beat.” He stood up and started ranting and raving. She grabbed her sewing carefully, put down the glass ball and picked up his jacket. She was almost done. Little did he know she was sewing in her initials, blessed with a witches prayer into his pocket.

Her mind was racing, that was his idea of a marriage proposal, getting her compromised so no other man would want her, then how could she say no? For a romantic man Luca had missed the ball on that one.

“So, not only, will you not come with me to America, but now, you won't even marry me.” She bit her cheeks from laughing, so a baby was in love? Not a proposal first. He was an interesting man.

“Don't be dramatic Caro, that's not what I said. All I said was I dont think I’m ready to be a mother. We just started living together.” She was in retrospect glad he knew what he wanted, saw no one else in her place but…goodness, he moved like lightning.

“Mary was a mother at fourteen, you think she was ready when God blessed her womb?” She bit her lip. This….religion was going to be the contention between them.

“ Mary was….” She stopped herself before it came out. To an unbeliever it was… a fairytale at best. She had wanted to believe, wanted to for her grandfather, she just couldn’t.

Could she for Luca? She doubted it, she’d let her children decide though.

“Say it….fuckin say it Sera.” He stepped towards her placing his hands on either side of her chair lording over her. He knew she hated that. She was just as fierce though, and truthfully it was probably in response to her “ignoring him.” to fish his jacket. She was trying to stay level headed.

“I’m not fighting with you about religion Luciano, I respect you and what you believe, I wish I could believe…I just can’t.” Great now she was standing. He backed up, allowing her to move. He was an incredibly intelligent man.

“ You wont try.” It was an accusation more than anything. She knew better than to bite.

“If it means that much to you then I’ll go. I’ll sit there and listen, but I won't participate if it's not genuine.” She wondered if he would do that for her, she doubted it. He seemed fine if she practiced and he didn’t see it or smell her witchy weeds.

“Fine!” he gestured and tossed his hands. He won, barely.

“Fine!” She yelled back, tossing her hands up. She felt like a child. Two fires only created a large pyre.

“I want you to come to America with me. Sera my Uncle is closing up his shop after Christmas, you’ll be out of a job, please, come with me.” He rushed her, taking her into her arms. She stood stiffly.

“What? I’m sorry, he was going to mention this when?” This was all fresh news to her. When was anyone going to tell her? She couldn’t buy the shop. She was unemployed. Shit.

“Why do you think he's got so many orders huh? They know the best Italian tailor is leaving. It was naturally assumed you’d be coming with him and I to New York Sera. Think of it! Big modern buildings, American’s, a new life where no one knows us.” She scoffed at him, she could feel a panic attack coming on. She’d already started a new life and in a new place with a man she barely met, she was committed to. This was all new to her.

“Serafina, did you hear me? He ain't expecting you to stay, he thought the same why I did. That you’d follow my cause you’d be knocked up.”

“ Wow, you could put a ring on my finger first, Changretta!” She roared. God, he really was trying to lock her down!

“ I’ll get you a ring if you follow me to America and quit trying to kill my seed.” Oh, men and their legacy! He was already a few years older than her. Could he have married and knocked her up? Why now with her?

“ Can I think about this?!” She was now standing on the other side of the room daring her with her steely gaze to be dumb enough to cross and try to hold her again. He really wasn't going to give her a choice was he? To be fair, in 1919 there weren't many ways to prevent pregnancy, not effectively. She definitely did not was an abortion in this timeline. Ouch. He’d definitely leave her then being a staunch Catholic.

“Of course, we leave tomorrow at 10am Tesoro.” He had made up his mind. Her head slowly swiveled to look at him. She could kill him right now.

A string of Italian profanity and insults left her mouth much to his amusement. She had to call Sabrina and Violet. It was supposed to be the three of them, the triumvirate. How could they be a triangle of power with just two?”

___________________________________Sabrina__________

A loud resounding knock on the door frame caught her attention. She looked up to see his tall gaunt frame in the doorway, he looked exhausted.

“I’m going to London for the weekend with Arthur and John. Do you want to tell me what a rat bastard I was before I go or not?” The great Thomas Shelby, leader of the peaky blinders, was standing in his sister's doorway, addressing his little pink and gold clad gypsy princess one last time trying to appeal to her sweeter nature. Mind You he didn't apologize.

Trullyfully Sabrina was hiding from his Aunt, who she loved like a mother, because when they were talking earlier Polly had admonished her for trying to make a man guess what he did wrong. She insisted the girl get herself together and lay it out.

She then had been told to quit being a brat and suck it up by John. She loved John like a brother, now he was another She;by to avoid.

She hugged her pillow tightly. She just hated trying to talk about this stuff. It was hard and the lump in her throat wanted to strangle her.

“I’m not begging you anymore.” He was firm. She knew he had a right to be upset too. She had just been ghosting him in his own family’s home.

“Wait. “ She shot across the room and pulled him in causing them both to stumble. The door closed in time for Finn to walk by and see his brother fall on top of that dainty woman.

Tommy descended on her like a love starved man kissing and sucking at her. She was weak to it now, since she’d had a taste of him. He didn’t seem to care that he had her rough;y pinned to the cold wooden floor. He was devouring her.

“Tommy… we …need…” She tried talking, let alone breathing between his lust filled kisses hot and passionate. While she wasn’t oppressed to his molestation, they did need to talk and clear the air. Especially if he was going to London, the loud glittering city with loose women.

“Talk later.” He’s tearing at her clothes.”I need to feel you, taste you before I go to the city.” He did need her, desperately. He loved to touch her and be reassured through her touches. She’d been cold to him, depriving him of sleep as well.

“No! Just give me a minute, I want you, I do. Back up.” She was panting from his aggressive sexual advances. She wasn’t complaining.

“Why are you always so afraid to talk to me eh?” He sat on his haunches looking at her, seeking out an answer in her blue and brown eyes. He was far more vulnerable than most people ever got to see him. She loved that he was soft and would open up to her, in most cases, unless it was business. Supposedly that was for safety.

“It's not just you. I do this to my sisters and family too.” She whispered. The lump in her throat was back.

“What did I do wrong eh?” He leaned forward trying to grab her hand. He wanted contact with her. She placed her delicate hand in his rough large man hands. He was eager for her touch, drawing lazy circles around her tumb. “Tell me, I want to fix this between us.”

“It’s me too. I just hate being cooped up here and…” the door flung open revealing Arthur who quickly apologized and closed the door. She could feel the breeze on her bare legs, her skirts were up to her hips. He’d gotten quite a view of her limber legs.

“We have to live somewhere where other people aren't barging in all the time.” That hadn't been what should have tumbled out of her mouth but it was genuine. Finn banged on the bathroom door all the time. She and Polly often joked he was more of a girl then they were fussing about his appearance.

“Hey, hey, Sabrina, look at me, look at me.” He cupped her face tracing his slowly cirles near her jaw. She adored this gesture the most. Oh, she loved this man. She could feel the bones her neck melting to jelly as she leaned into his embrace. She knew he held her. “ I promise, when I get back from London everything is going to change. I promise. I’ll buy you a house, get married, fill it with feral little Romany children that run a full staff ragged.” He watched her expression change as he kept adding to a laundry list of white picket fence ideas. They sounded great..over time.

“I’ll take you traveling to the country whenever I can eh.” That was the most romantic thing he’d said to her. He’d take her out camping.

“You're going to get busy Tommy.” She knew, she knew what awaited him with London, Sabini, Solomons and expansion. Her house would come after his next near death experience.

“I promise.” she couldn't tell him she knew about a few key unchanged events. Key Points in his life. She knew she’d be cooped up in a mansion if he fell for her. The grounds seem nice but she also foresaw his political campaign…..dark futures if she couldn’t help him untangle the Shelby curse he apparently wasn’t even aware of yet. It had befallen them years ago just before his mother passed. She’d seen it. His mother was a spirit guide of Sabrina’s but she wasn’t ready to tell him that yet.

“Tommy, I..” She needed to warn him.

“Yeah, promise me, promise me you’ll be here when I get back and you won't be sour with me.” She couldn’t promise that. She needed to go to London. Maybe soften things with Solomons, Serafina and Luca could meet with Sabini…. She might have to do this one on her own. Oh, she hated being alone in this timeline! Men weren’t the same. Gentlemen her backside, this was not the era of gentlemen if there ever was such a thing.

“I’m mad about you spending more time doing business in the front room of Arthur's pub and leaving me with Grace. I thought you….that comment about being able to take me to the races. I can dress well, I’ve had etiquette classes. I dress like this because I love it, I feel closer to my family like this, I want to be included, Tommy. I want to help you.” She prayered her sincerity would get through to his big stubborn man's head. Once he shook his head she knew she’d be slinking around behind his back.

“No, no Brina, because I don't care what happens to Grace, I care what happens to you. I need you safe, do you understand me? I need you at home, to be my safe space. Everything I do is for you and my family.” Ah, this again!

“Violet said that.” Sabrina regretted the words the moment they flew out. He of course latched on.

“She's my new favorite sister then.” He liked people who agreed with him and saw things his way. Who didn’t.

“You haven't even met Serafina.” She smiled coyly knowing full well they’d clash. A sharp ringing filled the room. Her ball wanted her attention. No doubt a sister with a warning or a scolding.

“ When you're done with your crystal ball call, seek me out. I want to spend the night with you tonight. Alone.” He patted her on the thought and offered her his arm. He pulled her to her feet and placed a soft kiss on top of her curly blonde head.

She hated luring him into a false sense of obedience, she already knew she was going to London somehow.

___________________________________________

What do you think about the modern clashes of attitude and cultures? What choices will the ladies make?

[frozen-fountain]

Get to know the fanfic writer

Thank you once again to @late-to-the-fandom for the tag. In turn I tag: @visualheresy, @laboradorescence, @oceangirl24, @bees-and-sunshine, @0nelittlebirdtoldme, and @hrh-spinach.

When did you post your first-ever fanfic?

All the way back in 2005.

First Character(s) you wrote?

That's for me to know and most of you to hopefully never find out.

Main Character(s) you're currently writing?

I'm alternating between Shadow (FFVI) and Cloud and Tifa (alternating viewpoints).

Character(s) you haven't written about before but plan to soon?

Well, he's been the secondary character enough times now that I really need to give Reeve his spotlight some time. Cloud's viewpoint also requires giving Zack and Sephiroth more of a voice than they've directly had in this project so far. And then my next longer project puts me in Setzer's head which... joy. But I think I've at least written a few lines for just about everyone in these ensembles at this point.

Fandom(s) you're currently writing?

Final Fantasies VII and VI.

Platonic Pairing(s) you're currently writing?

Shadow and Baram, though ngl the relationship on the page has turned more ambiguous than I had in mind at the outset. Let's throw Shadow and Relm's not-relationship in there, too. More broadly I'm also getting into Cloud and Tifa's ways of interfacing with a whole village of faces old and new; it's been fun characterising them through different reactions to the same person.

Romantic Pairing(s) you're currently writing?

Cloud/Tifa (messy), and I suppose Shadow/Relm's inevitably unnamed mother (barely romantic at all).

Your top AO3 tags?

Character Study, Post-Canon, and Romance.

Current platform you use for posting?

AO3, and Tumblr and Reddit for attempts at promotion.

Snippet of the WIP you are currently working on?

Ooh, I really liked this part even though it's still unpolished:

“Ain't no ord'nary train on its tracks.” The fire outlines him in gold as he says it, makes darker the dark hole where another eye used to be. He cackles with his eyes on the woods as the train passes by, its lights making prison bars from the shadows of the trees. “That just gone by's the Phantom Train, on its way to the next life after this one.”

You scoff as the clack of metal on metal fades into the night and take another swig of your liquor. Some paint stripper stolen and not missed from a falling-down bar outside of Zozo. The woodsmoke-scented air is warm as tobacco and silent, now that the search has been called off. “Stories for kids and old folks,” you mutter.

He shakes his head, lifts his bottle. Pauses with his hand on the neck and no closer to his lips. “Not this one. And it was you and me put a few more faces in those carriages, you bet your ass.”

“You say so, buddy.”

He smirks, a red and sinister thing in the firelight. “Oh yeah? Then you tell me, Mr. Scholar,” and he nodded towards the tangled briar behind you, “where it gone and went, if it ain't passed outta this plane altogether.”

You turn your head and there is nothing. Only unbroken inky black and the hoot of an owl rustling in the treetops. A shiver racks your body as the forest slides back into place, as though nothing had ever passed this way at all. Shrugging it off, you drain your bottle. “The woods is dark. Awful lotta things can get lost in there.” A grin, and you toe the bounty by your feet with the flapping, ragged toe of your boot. “Worked out real swell for us.”

You pulled it off. The garrison abandoned you to the night some hours ago, their torches guttered and the strong arms of the law returned to their homes and leaving the darkness for the crickets. Another train passed out of sight a little lighter than it embarked, and you'd both be eating good when you made it to the next town. A day or two, no word of the hooded figures that held a driver at knifepoint, and no-one would ask questions with the right amount of gil dropped onto their counter.

He cackles and sits back, the joints of his elbows cracking as the wear and tear of the dash through the bracken sets in. “Think what you want.”

You humour him with a smile. “How'd those dear departed souls get the afterlife way back when, then? 'Fore trains was running? Answer me that.”

“Well, you know folk. Tale gets a little update every couple hundred years. Way back when it was a long road you gotta walk on, I guess. Little later comes a carriage with a pale rider to take you to the next world. Chocobos with fuckin' death rattles comin' outta they beaks. Go down south where it's marshland and they'll tell you to watch for the pass of the will-o'-the-wisp, 'cause that's the light that guides the ferryman and his dead cargo. Fella told me they got a big steamboat these days. You can see the ghosts hangin' off the sides and wavin' their ghost kercheifs when the moon is -”

“Shut the fuck up.” Another of his stories – always the biggest brute in the bar whose head he bashed in, or the tart with the biggest tits throwing herself in his way.

“I'm tellin' ya.” He chuckles then and raises his half-empty bottle to the sky. “Here's to progress!”

[nonsensical-shitposting]

Okay, trying to get my rough ideas for the Team Snakereverse AU onto the screen (and also test out my editing capabilities)- the original concept for the AU was just to reverse the initial positions of Vi, Kabbu, and Leif from canon, but then it snowballed immensely from there. Here’s our lovable protagonists, with descriptions of what they’re up to under the cut:

Sick of her job as an underpaid, overworked contractor scavenging from the Fallen Hive, Vi was exiled from the Bee Kingdom on the termite overseers’ orders after she tried to organize a strike. She’d barely arrived in Defiant Root when Astotheles’ Metal Island Mercenaries struck the settlement, during which Vi distinguished herself by helping fight off the mercenaries armed with nothing but a pair of hastily-repaired bayonets trashed by termite soldiers (which she refers to as her “Beeyonets”). Disillusioned by the mercenaries’ modus operandi and disgusted with the local termite garrison’s reluctance to properly defend Defiant Root during the raid, Vi took off in search of somewhere she could meet with like-minded bugs and help put an end to the Termite Kingdom’s imperialism and negligence, both in the Bee Kingdom and across the rest of Bugaria. At first, she thought she’d found a place like that in the Ant Kingdom’s Underground Haven, but quickly learned that the bugs there were more interested in debating minuscule details of theory rather than taking any kind of action and got herself kicked out for complaining about this too much. Upon finding the Explorers’ Association, she realized a job there would give her a perfect cover for traveling across Bugaria searching for other prospective revolutionaries... and, hey, if she’s being honest, the idea of getting to track down ancient treasures and making sure they end up in the hands of bugs who actually deserve them (such as herself) sounds pretty good too!

Already badly injured, Kabbu was left semi-conscious after being thrown into an ancient crystal early on in the battle with the Beast, resulting in Bit and his master dragging him into a hiding place and telling him to wait for an opening to flee, which he did only to watch both of them die as they tried to bait the Beast into following them away from where they’d left him. Realizing too late that being slammed into the crystal had given him control of earth magic, a furious Kabbu buried the Beast alive, tearing up vast tracts of the surrounding swamplands before coming to his senses. Fleeing in shame and fear, Kabbu blamed himself for his friends’ deaths, believing that if he hadn’t been there they would’ve been able to escape from the Beast and survived, and resolved that he would never explore or use his new powers ever again. Kabbu took a desk job at the Explorers’ Association upon arriving in the Ant Kingdom in an attempt to punish himself and continued holding himself to his vow to not explore. Unfortunately, seeing a bright, driven young bee on the verge of being rejected as an explorer weakened Kabbu’s resolve, and before he knew it he was volunteering to team up with Vi temporarily so she could get an Association permit. Kabbu privately promised himself that he’d quit and return to his old job the moment Vi found someone else who’d be willing to join her exploration team, but now that he’s getting attached to both of his new friends (especially considering how much more he’s been starting to feel like his old self after adventuring with Vi and Leif), he may end up asking for his temporary placement on Vi’s team to be made permanent.

Discovered by Vi and Kabbu in the upper levels of the sunken Rubber Stronghold, this blue-and-yellow moth is a unique case in that they’re actually two beings sharing one body. The first is Leif, a moth who died in the Stronghold after a flood cut him off from his team during a scouting mission, and the second is the cordyceps that crawled into his body and inadvertently got his brain working again, which Vi dubbed Corder upon learning that connecting to Leif’s brain had allowed the cordyceps to develop a mind of its own. Leif is not exactly happy with the circumstances of his resurrection (which Corder has been very apologetic about), but both recognize that they can’t currently survive without the other, so they’ve worked out a deal where they copilot Leif’s body until they figure out a more permanent solution. Due to Leif’s lack of combat abilities, Corder’s been trying to fill in there by letting out one of its sharper-edged tendrils and making it look like a whip, though for the sake of keeping up their cover it has to control one of Leif’s hands to hold the “whip” when other bugs are around. Yes, they do get a lot of questions about whether a whip is really a practical weapon- one thing Corder and Leif can agree on is to make a running gag out of responding with different, increasingly ridiculous answers every time.

[scotianostra]

On April 1st 1571 Dumbarton Castle, under siege since January 1570, was captured by Captain Thomas Crawford scaling the walls.

Crawford, also spelled Craufurd was a close confident of Lord Darnley and had every reason to be an enemy of Mary Queen of Scots. It is said he was one of the few people who seems to have had a genuine regard for Darnley.

Dumbarton Castle was held by supporters of Mary Queen of Scots, who had been forced to abdicate and fled Scotland in 1568 leaving regents loyal to James VI ruling Scotland, the King was still an infant.

Although Crawford knew the castle and was familiar with its defences he was unsure of the numbers and disposition of the garrison defending it. According to local tradition he got the information required from a disgruntled former garrison member by the name of Robertson. It seems this man had left the castle after his wife had been accused of theft and publicly flogged at Dumbarton cross. He now held a grudge against the castle’s governor, Lord Fleming.

Robertson knew the castle’s defences intimately and was familiar with the topography of the rock. He suggested to Crawford that the castle could be taken by climbing the rock with ladders to reach the walls on the north side of the castle above seemingly impenetrable cliffs. The walls here were not as strongly defended as the rest of the castle, as the garrison reckoned that the chances of anyone reaching them were almost non -existent due to the sheer rocks beneath them.

Crawford assembled a force of 150 men, and made plans to approach the castle in secret and under the cover of darkness. A temporary truce between the forces of the Crown and those loyal to the deposed queen was set to expire on the 1st April 1571, and that was when Crawford planned to strike. On the evening of the first he began his advance on the castle rock. He sent a small cavalry force to scout the road ahead and intercept any travellers who might give away his approach.

At Dumbuck, a mile or so from the castle his small force was equipped with scaling ladders and ropes and made their way towards the castle rock under cover of a mist which had rolled in from the River Clyde. They reached the foot of the rock undetected and began scaling the slopes. The ladders were equipped with steel hooks or “craws” at their heads for wedging into the crevices of the rock and by passing the ladders up in turn and slowly advancing they hoped to reach the top of the cliff without alerting the castle guards. The first attempt failed when the ladders slipped from their perch and came crashing to the ground. If the guards had been more alert the attack could have been foiled before it had even begun, but luck was on Crawford’s side and a second attempt was made. This time the “craws” were wedged more securely and the advance party managed to reach a small ledge where a tree was growing. They quickly tied their ropes to the tree and this enabled them to haul the rest of their force up to the ledge. They were only half way up the rock at this stage however and the second stage of the climb began. It is said that during this second climb one of the soldiers was seized with a fit or convulsion whilst climbing his ladder and gripped the ladder so tightly that he could not be prised from it. With the situation so precarious that no-one could climb over him, the advance had come to a halt.

Crawford ordered the man to be tied to the ladder and the ladder was then turned around with the unfortunate soldier suspended beneath it allowing the rest of the force to climb the ladder. During the climb one man fell to his death, but the remainder reached the foot of the castle wall where three of the party climbed the wall into the castle to try and find a means of entry for the remainder.

At this point they were finally discovered by the castle guards who quickly engaged Crawford’s three men.

The castle walls were reputedly in poor repair and Crawford’s men on the outside were able to force their way through a partially collapsed section and stormed to the aid of their three comrades inside loudly shouting “A Darnley!, A Darnley!“, the battle cry of the Earl of Lennox’s followers. Some of the castle’s cannon were quickly seized and turned against the castle’s defenders, who decided that discretion was indeed the better part of valour and promptly surrendered.

In the confusion, and under cover of the mist, the castle governor Lord Fleming was able to make his escape, possibly by the Watergate of the castle where he fled, according to local tradition, by boat.

The French ambassador to Queen Mary was captured within the castle, but was released unharmed. He made his way to Edinburgh Castle where he continued to aid Mary’s cause.

The Governor’s wife, Lady Fleming, was also captured, but she was allowed to leave the castle along with her servants and possessions.

Another prominent occupant of the castle was not so fortunate. John Hamilton, the Archbishop of St Andrews, was captured in mail shirt and steel helmet, and sent to Stirling to be tried for his part in the murder of Darnley. At 6pm on 6th April 1571, three days after his capture, he was hanged beside the Mercat Cross at Stirling

The capture of Dumbarton Castle was a major blow to those loyal to Mary and left Edinburgh as the only major stronghold still in their possession. Following his success at Dumbarton, Crawford went on to advise in the siege of Edinburgh two years later and in 1577 he was made Provost of Glasgow. In later life he retired to his family’s historical estates in Kilbirnie where he died on the third of January 1603 aged 73. He is buried in Kilbirnie churchyard within a tomb that he designed himself!

[samieree]

Born in Flames || Game of Thrones

OC x ?😏

-> Chapter XXXIII ''Dārilaros''

Chapter XXXIV ''A meeting''

The time has finally come to the meeting with her allies and present a plan of action. Everyone gathered in the room with the map, sitting on chairs at the table. Only Grey Worm and ser Arthur stood, close to the wall.

"You want the Iron Throne, so just take it." Yara spoke up. "We have an army, a fleet and dragons, if we attack King's Landing with everything we have, the city will fall the same day."

"And how many innocent people will die, especially if the dragons are set free?" Tyrion remarked.

"This is war. If you don't have the nerve for it, don't play it." Ellaria interjected.

"We're supposed to discuss the plan, not argue and insult each other." Visenya said, interrupting everyone. "Just because we declare war doesn't mean that thousands of ordinary people have to die, I won't allow that. And I don't intend to rule the kingdom of ashes."

"That's good." this time Olenna spoke up. "I don't remember a Queen who was more beloved than my granddaughter. She was loved by both commoners and the powerful. And what is left of her? Ashes. The common and the powerful are like children, really. They won't obey you unless they fear you."

This is their first meeting, and almost nothing has gone her way this far. It was easier when she dealt with the Lords in Essos, they were evil men, she had no problem intimidating them into doing what she wanted. Here the situation was more complicated, she had to unite people who had to support her in order to stay on the throne.

She felt she couldn't show weakness because if she did, it would be the end of her. They will tear her to pieces and there will be nothing left of her.

"They have to fear the consequences of their actions, not me." she replied calmly. "Also, almost half the fleet has sailed back to Meereen, so we're not at full strength yet." she noticed.

"You're going to wait..." Olenna paused for a moment, counting in her head how long it would be before the ships return. "Almost half a year? Until winter comes?"

"We have enough men to lay siege to the city if you don't want to attack directly." Yara came back to her idea of ​​attacking King's Landing right away, it was in her mind the fastest way to take the Iron Throne.

Vis sighed in her mind and leaned further into her chair. She turned her gaze to Tyrion and nodded. Enough of this verbal bickering, they will tell them their plan for now and then they will argue if necessary.

"It would be a great idea, if not for a few "buts"..."he started and got up from his chair to illustrate their plan, pointing to specific places on the map and moving the figures. "King's Landing is surrounded mostly by forests, which is a problem in itself, and we don't know where the Iron Fleet or Lannister forces are right now, other than the garrison in the city. We also cannot forget about some of the Lords whom Cersei converted to her side by talking about foreign armies brought to Westeros and referring to their memories of the Mad King."

This time, no one commented on a single word Tyrion said. Everyone was waiting for the rest of his statement, which filled Visenya with hope that they would all be able to come to an agreement. She didn't have much input into the current plan, she just pointed out a few things. She would like to be able to say something more, to know what needs to be considered when planning the next steps, battles, sieges, and movement of troops.

Mostly she stayed silent and listened to her friends, learning from what they said, but she didn't have the courage to admit to them that she didn't know something. She was the Queen after all, she was supposed to lead them. This fear remained in her, that if she showed weakness, her potential allies would abandon her.

"Cersei will not attack first, she will wait for our move as long as she can. If she was going to attack any place, it would be Highgarden." he moved the lion figurine to the Tyrell residence. "Food supplies and gold that she will desperately need. Therefore, the Reach troops will remain in the Reach. We will transport the supplies we need at this moment on ships that will also take soldiers from Dorne. Before that, we will provoke the Iron Fleet by sending a small force to Casterly Rock, to secure the transport as best as possible." he paused for a moment. The rest of the plan was much more general. "Then we'll take care of the army in the country, outside King's Landind, so that they won't be able to break the siege. By then we should be able to challenge the Iron Fleet as they attempt to deliver supplies to King's Landing."

"That is my plan." she finally got up from her seat, leaning on the table with her hands. "Do I have your support?"

She felt her heart speed up and her lips suddenly become mercilessly dry. This is the first important moment in the fast-approaching war. Either they support her or she will be left alone on the battlefield.

"You have mine." Yara spoke first, decisively, without any hesitation in her voice.

"Dorne is with you, Your Grace." Elaria spoke up right after her.

The tension was already starting to leave her shoulders, but there was one more person who had to accept this plan and she turned her gaze to her. Olenna Tyrell. She finally nodded too.

"Thank you for your trust, I won't let you down." she smiled at everyone.

"Can we talk privately for a moment, Your Grace?" Lady Tyrell's question surprised her, but she nodded and everyone else began to leave the chamber. When they were alone, she went to sit on the chair next to her.

"I think I know what you want to say... You want revenge on Cersei. I know that's why you all support my claim to the throne." she said, taking a seat. That was the only reason she could think of for this conversation and she could assure her that justice will be served. "I swear that those who hurt us will pay for it a hundredfold. And then there will finally be peace in Westeros.

"Peace?" she didn't answer whether that was what she wanted to talk about, but she obviously picked up on the topic and had her own opinion. She had heard of the Queen of Thorns before her escape and knew she was an intelligent woman. That's why she wanted to listen to everything he had to say and draw some lesson from it. "Do you think there was peace when your grandfather sat on the Iron Throne? Or his father? Or that it would be if your father ruled? There is never peace, my dear. People will always find a reason to fight."

She wanted to deny it, to say that it was possible to keep the peace and she would do it, but then she realized that she couldn't argue, that Olenna was right. People fight when they are dissatisfied, and you can't please everyone. Someone will want more and more wealth, others will want higher and higher titles. She had already experienced in Meereen that it was impossible to create a place without violence, but she wanted to continue living this utopian dream.

"I wanted to give you a piece of advice." she finally said what she had wanted from the beginning. "Will you take it from an old woman?"

"I will never despise advice that someone wants to give me for free." she smiled warmly and shifted in her chair, crossing her legs.

"Your Hand is a clever man. I've known many people like him in my life and I've outlived them all. Do you know why? I ignored them." this surprised Visenya, she didn't expect this type of advice. "Lords of Westeros are sheep. Are you a sheep?"

Her smile faded. For a moment she wanted to look down, because it was hard for her to stand Olenna's gaze, but she didn't, she forced herself to manage it. Is she a gentle, naive sheep? Often yes... But she wouldn't call the Lords of the Seven Kingdoms that, but maybe she just didn't know them as well as Olenna.

"No. You are the dragon." a delicate smile appeared on her face again as soon as she heard these words. "Be a dragon."

"I will be."

* * *

The boat reached the shores of Dragonstone, in almost the same place where, about a month earlier, Visenya Targaryen had taken her first step in Westeros in four years. Tyrion, Missandei and a small force of Dothraki stood on the shore in case any trouble occurred.

Robb Stark and Ser Davos Seaworth came ashore, accompanied by some of their men.

"Someone escaped death from under the scythe." Tyrion spoke first, using his 'unfailing humor'.

"Someone has done it more times than me." Robb replied.

The last time they saw each other was when Tyrion returned from the Wall and went to Winterfell to hand over the design of a saddle for Bran so he could ride. Their relationship was not very good, mainly due to the suspicion that Tyrion ordered Bran's murder. And now he is here on Dragonstone, wearing the pin of the Hand of the Queen.

How far can his talk take him?

Tyrion preferred not to speak to Ser Davos due to the fact that when they were fighting against each other, when Stannis was attacking the capital, Davos's son was killed because of his plan. Yes... It's better not to bring up these memories.

"Welcome to Dragonstone." Missandei greeted everyone before Tyrion could say anything else. "The Queen knows it's a long journey and she appreciates the efforts you've made to get here. If you don't mind handing over your weapons.

It wasn't a question of whether they minded or not, they had no other choice. Of course they won't let them enter the castle with weapons. Robb tried to be optimistic, after all, things weren't looking bad so far, they were still alive.

When everyone gave up their weapons, things got a little worse, because some of the Dothraki went to get the boat that they used to reach the shore from the ship, picked it up and started walking away with it. So we are prisoners here?

"Please, this way." she smiled and gestured with her head for them to follow her. They had to walk most of the beach and up all the stairs before they entered the castle.

As they followed her, Davos went over to ask her where she was from, while Robb remained silent and focused on her unusual outfit. It was rather typical for women to wear dresses, especially those of high birth. However, Missandei did not have a dress, only a cloak which shape imitated the cut of the dress. Additionally, two belts crossed on her chest, holding some kind of shoulder straps, one of them had a silver brooch, circle with three dragon heads attached to it. And, of course, trousers and high boots. I wonder if their queen wears the same kind of clothes... She was probably the one who started this 'trend'.

"This place has changed." ser Davos said to him after he had exchanged a few words with Missandei and they continued walking along the beach towards the castle.

"Inside probably even more so, you won't see the same sigils anymore." he replied.

"I hope I don't have to visit the prison again."

He rolled his eyes at this answer and said nothing more. They would have no reason to keep them prisoners, they would rather kill them. But they are still alive, that's the most important thing. Perhaps they will even be able to leave this island on their own.

The building itself made a great impression, mainly due to the figures of dragons crowning the towers or above the gate and at the entrances. A stronghold for the Dragon Queen indeed. Although climbing all those stairs when you spent the last many days on the ship and didn't have much opportunity to walk... A bit of a challenge.

"How's Sansa? I heard she's alive and well." Tyrion asked him when they were almost halfway up.

"She's fine." he replied rather dryly. He still had a bad taste for the Lannisters, even though - apparently - Tyrion was now fighting against his family.

"Does she miss me a lot?" yes... He had already forgotten that they married his little sister to Tyrion... He gave him a look that was enough of an answer. "A marriage of convenience, and unconsummated." You would try to do it differently... "Anyway... She's smarter than she lets on."

"Oh, she's changed..." he sighed. He regretted that he had not been able to protect her from all the horrors that had befallen her, but the most important thing was that she had survived. She changed... Like all of them, they grew up faster than they should have.

"Someday I want to hear how you survived my father's trap and then took Winterfell back from the Boltons with your siblings." Tyrion wanted to add, 'You Starks are hard to kill', but he thought that would be an exaggeration, even for him.

At first, Robb felt a huge need to punch him for reminding him of those very painful moments. The only thing that stopped him was that he needed the Queen's help and he couldn't start a conflict between them.

"When you tell me how it happened that the Lannister went from being a torturer to becoming the Hand of Visenya Targaryen?"

"I have never been a torturer." Tyrion defended himself. He had never done anything bad to this girl, and now he actually admired her for what she was able to achieve. He may like to tease, but he won't let himself be called that. "And my path to this 'top' was long and quite bloody. To be honest, I was drunk for most of it." there was silence for a moment as they climbed the stairs. "Tell me, why exactly did you accept the invitation? If I were advising you, I would strongly advise you not to come here."

"Apparently I don't learn from my mistakes. Or maybe-" He stopped abruptly when he heard an inhuman screech just behind them.

Both he and Davos fell to the ground, as a pitch-black dragon flew just above their heads. More flew right behind him, green, golden and white, shimmering blue in the sun. The four of them had been circling the island and now they were racing around the castle.

Only the two of them fell to the ground, the others seemed to be used to this sight and inhuman sounds that quickly chilled their blood. Tyrion walked over and offered his hand to help him up.

"I'd say you'd get used to them, but you never really do." he declared, smiling slightly under his breath. "Come, their mother is waiting for you."

Inside, Visenya was not yet sitting on the throne, but she was impatiently pacing the room and waiting. As Tyrion and Missandei went to greet her guest, only Ser Arthur and a pair of Unsullied were left with her to stand guard.

She kept thinking about how she should start the conversation and what she should say to get what she wanted. He agreed to come, so that was already half of a win, but now she had to convince him. With Dorne and the Reach it was easier, Varys took care of the most important conversations - even though she didn't ask him to... - and there was a different mentality in these parts of the country. They did not lose much strength in the war, they were burning for revenge, while the North suffered a lot and probably wanted peace above all.

She doesn't want soldiers from them, she just wants the Starks to also support her claim to the throne and acknowledge her authority, that's all. But if you consider what the Mad King did to Brandon and Rickard Stark, what her father did to Lyanna Stark... But she is not them, she will not allow herself to be judged by the crimes of her ancestors.

"What do you think he's like?" she asked suddenly, finally moving away from the window. "Brave or stupid to accept my invitation?" she slowly walked up the stairs and finally sat down.

"People have heard of your achievements in Essos."

"And they also heard the rumors spread by Cersei. Apparently in some village they say I have a tail and horns."

"Quite a funny vision, who knows, maybe they would add to your charm?" she rolled her eyes. She knew that he was teasing her, trying to calm her down, so he must have noticed that she was stressed.

She would have said something back, but at that moment the door to the chamber began to open, so she straightened up in her seat and stared straight ahead. She should be used to it by now, but something made her unable not to get stressed. She kept her hands clasped in her lap and concentrated on not playing with them, not showing any nervousness.

"You stand in the presence of Visenya of House Targaryen, rightful heir to the Iron Throne, rightful Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Queen of Yunkai, Queen of Astapor, Queen of Meereen, the Unburnt, Breaker of the Chains." she was introduced with all her titles by Missandei, who was taking her place by the stairs to her left, Tyrion standing to her right.

Robb's first thought was that he had never heard of a person holding so many titles. Has anyone really ever called her all those titles? What does 'the Unburnt' even mean? Either she has actually achieved so much in the last four years, or she has a very large ego, or both.

"This is Robb Stark, King in the North." Ser Davos said, his voice echoing through the hall.

She didn't even listen to him much, she stared at the boy who immediately seemed familiar to her.

She had seen him before, seen those curls, even from this distance she could also tell that she had seen those blue eyes before. She dreamed of and danced with him. So maybe it belongs to him...

She realized that she had been silent for too long, that she should say something.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Your Grace." she emphasized these two words. "I hope the journey wasn't too hard." she decided to exchange pleasantries, as she first had to put thoughts of him aside before she could move on to politics.

"The winds were quite kind to us, thank you." he replied, having to focus on the here and now.

Of course, it didn't escape his notice that they had met before. She was the woman who had not left his thoughts for several days since the dream, she was the one who mounted the dragon and flew on its back. That silver hair and purple eyes are unmistakable, of course, a Targaryen.

"You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm not like my enemies, I don't invite people under my roof and then kill them." she assured, even though nothing in his behavior indicated that he was afraid of her.

"A woman with an army, a fleet, and four dragons telling you not to be afraid of her is unheard of." she smiled slightly under her breath, even though he said it with noticeable irony in his voice, or maybe as a joke? She couldn't tell. "And you call yourself the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and I call myself the King of one of those kingdoms, doesn't that make us enemies, Your Grace?"

"Do you want to be my enemy?" she couldn't help but ask this question, even though she didn't expect any answer, so she quickly continued. "I don't want wars, violence should be the last resort, that's why I invited you here. We have a common enemy: Cersei Lannister. I propose that we become allies."

"On what basis?"

"The one you're thinking about. Support my claim to the crown, acknowledge my authority, and I will give us all our desired revenge."

Of course that's what she wants, that's why she invited him, just like he thought from the beginning... Perhaps if what was said about her - or rather what rumors Cersei was spreading - were at least partially true, he would not think long, just kneel and swear allegiance. But she didn't look like a monster, she didn't act like one. In fact, after what she really did, common people would say that she is an angel in human body.

It could have been just a cover, but it made him decide to fight for the independence of his kingdom.

"I can support your claim, but not to my kingdom." he said firmly. "I'm sorry, Your Grace, but we don't know each other. We know as much about ourselves as we have been told. You are invoking a right that you don't actually have because your dynasty was overthrown. All you can do is win throne back and then I will recognize your rights." he paused for a moment, watching her reaction. She didn't look angry. "Do you really want to rule lands you don't know? I've heard  many good and bad things about you, I don't know what to believe, you can't expect to come back after four years and everyone submitting to you."

She didn't expect it, but she also didn't think of her rights as something she didn't actually have. Who else would have a better claim to the throne? There is no one else left to inherit from Robert, kingdoms could not remain under the rule of the usurper Cersei. It's not just that this woman doesn't deserve the crown, but also that she doesn't know how to rule, doesn't care about the people under her, and only wants power and a good life. This is not what a ruler should want.

She didn't lose hope, on the contrary - she believed that she was able to convince him. For some reason, fate had allowed them to 'mee'" before under quite nice circumstances, certainly not to become enemies later.

"I don't want to just rule, I want to change." she replied more dispassionately than she wanted. She decided that she had to somehow shorten the distance between them, let him to known her, if they were to get along. At the same time, she would also like to get to know him better... She got up from her throne and began to slowly approach. "You've probably also heard a lot about the little girl that Tywin kept as his trophy, a memory of times gone by - that's a nice phrase I heard once. It would seem that many people should feel sorry for me: An orphan, my father died before I was born, and my mother was raped and killed by the Mountain shortly after, right after he killed my siblings." she paused for a moment to make her next words sound stronger. "Nobody was sorry. No one delivered justice. Robert actually demanded my head, the head of a several-day-old baby. He tried to kill me a few times, of course he did, he hated my father so much, he was so afraid that his blood would survive and become a threat to him one day."

She had to stop for a moment to don't let tears - that were coming to her eyes as the memories of her childhood flooded her - fall.

Robb didn't dare interrupt her. He knew her story as much as it was talked about. The maester once taught him about the last members of this house, Visenya, and Viserys and Daenerys, who managed to escape to Essos right after the war. Since Visenya was here alone, he guessed that the other two had not survived until now.

He never paid much attention to her history, he was a child, he preferred to duel with Theon, first with wooden and then with blunt swords, than to learn history. But now, hearing it straight from her... He sympathized. He could easily say that, he felt sorry for her. While he had fun running around Winterfell, when he could come to his parents at any time - even at night when he had a nightmare - and he had no worries, she never had that luxury. She was forever alone, with the specter of death hanging over her head. She lived under the roof of someone like Tywin Lannister, who - as he knew from experience - was ready to do anything to win.

If she wanted to make me feel sorry for her, she's already succeeded.

"I survived. I've lived seventeen years of something I wouldn't call life. I survived and finally managed to escape. I spent four years in completely foreign lands, and yet they were the best years of my life. You said you heard a lot of good things about me... Did you hear that I freed slaves from all over Slaver's Bay? The Breaker of Chains. No one ever did this, no one thought that they were people too and deserved a normal life. Soon, the concept of 'slavery' will become history. And they have will come back to it... The dragons. The world hadn't seen them for over a hundred years until my children were born. The Dothraki never followed any woman, they considered them too weak. They also never crossed any sea. And yet now they listen to me, they crossed the sea for me." she finished speaking as she stopped a step in front of him. "Many men have tried to kill me, but no one succeeded. If all that has happened to me isn't a sign that I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms, I don't know what else it could be. If not fate, how else to explain it?"

"Maybe. But you will rule the frozen wasteland unless we defeat the real enemy."

In his answer, he did not refer to what she said about herself, he did not want to show that he admired her for what she did for those people from across the sea. He should finally address the issue that made him decide to come here and talk to her in the first place.

"My only enemy is Cersei Lannister."

"You are wrong, Your Grace." Davos interrupted. "Death is the enemy of us all."

"Very poetic." this time it was Tyrion who joined the discussion. She didn't see any hidden meaning behind Davos' words, but she started thinking about them in a different context...

"Let him talk." she said, giving her Hand a quick glance. "Continue..." she trailed off because she didn't know the man's name.

"Ser Davos Seaworth, thank you." he cleared his throat quietly. "I don't mean any poetry..." He looked at Tyrion for a moment. "...but a real threat. The undead army is on the other side of the Wall and they will attack us soon. An army that knows no fatigue and does not leave bodies on the battlefield. This is our enemy. If we don't deal with him... Does it really matter whose corpse sits on the Iron Throne?"

"If it doesn't matter, you might as well pledge your allegiance here and now. We all together will deal with Cersei, and then we'll go fight... Whatever you were talking about."

Honestly, she wished Tyrion wouldn't interfere right now. She didn't have anything better to say herself, and she tried to appreciate that Tyrion wanted to win another house's support for her, but she felt it didn't make sense today. They can argue all they want, but no one will trust a stranger enough to put the fate of their people in his hands.

"Enough." she said to him quietly. She hoped that would be enough to stop him from interfering with the bend-the-knee issue again. "We are strangers. I understand that you will not give your lands to me, and you should understand that I will not dedicate my army to your cause, to fight against some... Army of the undead?"

She wasn't entirely skeptical about Ser Davos' words, considering one of her dreams, but she couldn't blindly believe in them... She wasn't alone, she was dragging thousands of people along with her, she had to think about their safety, not just her own. Additionally, she has just begun the final preparations for the war against Cersei, the ships have already sailed, the fighting will begin soon. If she withdraws from the campaign as soon as it begins, what will her allies think of her? Without her in the south, Cersei will not be afraid to send an army to take over more and more lands and oppress more and more people.

"I know it sounds like some store made to scare naughty children." Robb spoke up. "But if it weren't for that, I wouldn't be here. My own sister advised me against it, and yet here I am. Maybe it's stupidity, maybe it's desperation, but coming here, I trusted you with my life, because - like you - I want to save people who have already suffered enough."

She was about to say something, she even knew what, but then they heard hurried footsteps coming from behind the corridor. It was Varys, he walked past their guests and went straight to Visenya, leaned down and whispered a few words:

"Your Grace, we need to talk urgently, it's very important."

She nodded gently and he moved away from her. She had to politely end this conversation somehow. Maybe it's even good, she will have time to think about how to approach it, now that she has the whole picture of the situation.

"Forgive me, you've come such a long way, you must be very tired. We will prepare you chambers, Missandei will show you. We'll have a bath run for you and bring you supper. If you need anything, speak to her." she forced a smile and was about to turn to Varys, but she noticed the distrustful face especially on Robb's face. Yeah... I should have understood trauma better. "I swear to my mother's memory that nothing will happen to you under my roof. You can walk around the entire island, after all, you are not my prisoners."

"You took our boat." he noticed, stopping her for a moment more.

"You'll get it back when we finish our meeting."

That was the last thing she said. She stood with her back to them and waited for them to leave so she could talk about this 'important matter'.

Robb and Davos had no other choice, so they left the chamber, and Missandei left with them. Of course he was afraid to stay in someone's home, especially since he didn't have any weapons. On the one hand, the memories of the Red Wedding came back to him as soon as he saw Visenya, but on the other hand, he felt an inexplicable peace in her presence.

She carried herself in a way that exuded confidence and strength, her outfit was in the same style as Missandei's, only more ornate. A silver chain ran across her chest, with a long piece of fabric with embroidered scales attached to it at the back. Even her hairstyle was unique, lots of braids tied up into a bun, with only a few strands left loose. When you looked at her, you truly saw a Queen, a strong personality, who knew what she wanted and how to get it.

However, after talking to her... To a large extent, it was all just appearances. She was not a cold-blooded murderer who would do anything to achieve her goal. Her difficult past certainly shaped most of her character. Therefore, he was prone to believe that she really wanted to change the world for the better.

They were practically the same age, and although life has verified many of their dreams, they still have ideals in them.

It was even good that they were interrupted. He will be able to prepare better for his next conversation with her, now that he knows how he should approach her.

Behind closed doors, however, the conversation finally began.

"We already know where the Iron Fleet is..." Varys began. It was clear from the beginning that he had bad news. "Two or three ships escaped, the rest sunk or captured. Ellaria Sand and Sand Snakes, who were to leave ships at Sunspear captured or dead, Yara and Theon Greyjoy captured or dead."

For a moment she didn't know what to do. This was only the beginning, and their plan was already starting to fall apart. Conducting a war so that as few people die as possible is much more difficult and complicated than throwing all your forces at once and breaking the enemy...

Nobody said it will be easy to be good.

"If they're alive, Euron will definitely sail with them to King's Landing... Is there any chance he's not there yet?" she asked finally.

Maybe she should sacrifice them, after all, they knew what they were signing up for. But what kind of Queen will she be if she so quickly gives up on the people who decided to fight for her?

"It is possible, but Your Grace-"

"So please, write to Euron." she interrupted Varys before he could dissuade her from this idea. "Write, that if he releases all those captured, I will meet with him."

He wanted to meet the Dragon Queen, so I will give him the opportunity, but not for free.

~

-> Chapter XXXV ''Advices'' -> general masterlist -> Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon masterlist

[bijoumikhawal]

"To begin with, let me stress that the recent evidence indicates that Philometor’s permitting the settlement of (Jewish) mercenaries (including their role in the military and administration) and the erection of a (Jewish) temple, is not a singular case; it was by no means exceptional.⁵⁶ In fact, we encounter several other ethnic minorities in Ptolemaic Egypt around that time, which, like the Jews, were actively involved in the defense and administrative apparatus of the Ptolemies. So, for instance, we hear of Samaritans and Idumeans serving the Ptolemies.⁵⁷ More strikingly, however, and in addition to these affairs, our evidence also shows that the leaders of those minorities were referred to as high priests – much as Onias had been.⁵⁸ [...]

The recent studies referred to above are concerned with the involvement and relationship between the Ptolemaic military, Greek soldiers and Egyptian temples.⁶⁰ These studies have treated the phenomenon of an increased involvement of Ptolemaic military personnel – mostly of Greek and not native Egyptian origin – in the building or reconstruction of Egyptian temples. Oftentimes, we find that the Egyptian temples were overseen by Greek officers, who also served as high priests of those places of worship. In juxtaposition with their religious title/office, they also held important military positions such as strategos or commanders of a fortress (phrouarch).⁶¹ Dietze and Gorre’s studies reveal that Egyptian temples, usually the local center of a certain region, often served as fortresses too, and were deliberately erected for strategic domestic and foreign purposes, especially in the later Ptolemaic period, and specifically under Ptolemy VI Philometor.⁶² Dietze, in particular, has suggested that an Egyptian temple commonly housed a garrison and that the temple structures reflected their defensive purposes also in their architecture.⁶³ In addition, she has provided many examples of Egyptian temples which were built (or refurbished) during Philometor’s reign or shortly thereafter, and which were primarily located and erected in the southern part of Egypt.⁶⁴ The reason for this was Philometor’s (successful) attempts at calming the region following the persistent and irking civil uprisings which plagued the south of Egypt during his early reign. Calming the region was achieved by enforcing Ptolemaic military presence which also meant that more conscripts were needed to man those newly established garrisons. It seems that the Ptolemaic authorities championed the solution of placing military units in temples, by means of which they could bind the local inhabitants to the Ptolemaic state and its rulers through their religious practice. Pairing the security issues with religious matters greatly contributed to forestalling potential future outbursts of violence against the Greek ruling-class of Egypt. Along with those domestic concerns, this strategy also proved itself effective against possible external threats (as illustrated in the example of the south against spontaneous attacks of local Nubian warlords and tribes).⁶⁵ [...]

Viewed from a Ptolemaic perspective, we may once more turn to the Josephan reports on the building of the Oniad Temple and interpret them from a different angle.We recall that Philometor’s reign was plagued by two major security threats already mentioned, namely civil uprisings of the native Egyptian population in the south, and the second, perhaps more serious external threat of a Seleucid invasion from the north (which in fact materialized twice in 169/168 and 168/167 BCE). As I and others have often pointed out, Onias’ flight to Egypt around the time of Antiochus’ IV invasion of Egypt (i.e. in ca. 168/167 BCE) came exactly at the right moment for Philometor. Thus, Onias’ request to build his temple can perhaps be better understood in a Ptolemaic, rather than in a purely Jewish context. That is, the Ptolemaic perspective may explain some minor, yet important, details in the story Josephus relates on the erection of Onias’ Temple (and royal permission to erect it), which perhaps have hitherto been misunderstood.

As such, Josephus tells us in his longer account of Onias’ Temple in his Antiquities – in a much debated and controversial passage – that Onias asked for a specific territory for his temple project. Here we also learn that he erected his temple on the site of an abandoned and apparently damaged Egyptian one.⁶⁶ Seen from a Jewish halakhic perspective, such conduct would render Onias’ Temple impure, which is exactly the point bemoaned by Josephus. We may add that Onias’ actions must have been scorned not only by Josephus, but by other (Jews) too. However, if we set this narrative against the recent evidence from the Ptolemaic papyri and inscriptions, it seems that the refurbishing of pagan native Egyptian shrines and their re-settlement with foreign soldiers had been standard Ptolemaic practice.

It follows that Josephus’ ‘Epistolary Piece’ in fact attests to this specific Ptolemaic policy, but interprets it against the backdrop of Jewish halakhah. The aim was to portray Onias as an impious character, as I have illustrated in Chapter 1. Thus, Onias was given a specific territory by the Ptolemaic king – although he indeed seems to have had a word, as claimed by Josephus, on where exactly to establish his community – which contained a deserted or destroyed Egyptian temple, namely that of Bubastis.⁶⁷ Of course, he must have rejected the idea of actually reestablishing a foreign cult place. This fact emerges from his request to (re‐)build the former temple of Bubastis to make it fit for the worship of Onias’ domestic deity, the Jewish God.⁶⁸

This specific Ptolemaic defense policy may be considered as well to explain Josephus’ datum that Onias, next to his temple, had built “a fortress.”⁶⁹ Our evidence from comparable cases studied by Dietze suggests that temples simultaneously functioned as fortresses, and vice versa.⁷⁰ In that context, it should be noted that Josephus elsewhere writes (BJ 1.31) that Onias also founded (ἔκτισεν) a city which resembled Jerusalem. It is notable that Josephus only once mentions that fact, whereas the resemblance of Oniad edifices to Jerusalem (or the lack thereof – see BJ 7 .427) is noted by him once more in the context of the altar or the Oniad Temple.⁷¹ Josephus’ claim that Onias founded a city is a remarkable detail worth discussing, since, in a Ptolemaic context, the foundation of a city was a restricted act, usually reserved for the king only.⁷² However, recent papyrological and epigraphical evidence reveals that this rule did not necessarily apply generally. "

Pages 340-344 of Priests in Exile by Meron M Piotrkowski

[just-a-little-and-funny-fangirl]

Salve, popolo di Tumblr! Ho deciso di fare il riassunto dettagliato di uno dei miei film d'animazione preferiti di sempre: SOUTH PARK: IL FILM PIÙ, PIÙ LUNGO E TUTTO INTERO.

Lo vidi per la prima volta che era il 24 luglio di quest'anno. Me ne innamorai subito. Considero questa data il mio ingresso nel fandom di South Park. Dopo qualche settimana, ad agosto iniziai a vedere la serie e la concludetti a settembre. Ne ho amato ogni istante! Non vedo l'ora che escano i nuovi special e le nuove stagioni.

So che questa roba verrà letta da una persona sola però mi ha aiutato nella scrittura e ci tenevo a farla.

Prima di iniziare però, ecco alcune precisazioni:

Il doppiaggio italiano è il primo, usato quando South Park andava in onda sulla Mediaset. L'adattamento italiano non era molto fedele ma quello del film è spiccicato alla versione originale. Esultiamo!

Purtroppo nel doppiaggio italiano, le canzoni non sono state doppiate, cosa che invece è stata fatta nelle versioni estere. Solo "The Mole's Reprise" è stata doppiata. Forse per la sua brevità o perché sembrava più un dialogo.

Le canzoni saranno tra parentesi, in grassetto, di diversi colori e vi sarà collegato un link che vi porterà ad ognuna di esse

Bando alla ciance, INIZIAMO!

Il film inizia con una canzone cantata inizialmente da Stan, che ci introduce in un apparentemente ordinaria domenica mattina nella cittadina di South Park. Stan raduna i suoi amici Kenny, Kyle (seguito dal suo fratellino Ike) e Cartman per andare a vedere il film canadese "Culi di fuoco", in cui sono protagonisti Trombino e Pompadour, il duo comico canadese tanto amato dai protagonisti (Mountain Town).

Non appena arrivati al cinema, il cassiere nega loro l'acquisto dei biglietti perché il film è vietato ai minori non accompagnati. I cinque non si arrendono e offrono 10$ ad un barbone per farsi accompagnare da lui in sala. Il film inizia e si rivela essere un film in puro stile comico Trombino e Pompadour, con una grande presenza di sorregge, di parolacce e oscenità (Uncle Fucker).

Presto la sala si svuota perché il pubblico trova che il film sia osceno ma i cinque bambini rimangono e continuano a vedere il film estasiati da ciò che vedono e sentono.

Una volta finito il film, i ragazzi escono dal cinema e iniziano a pronunciare le oscenità sentite nel film. Subito dopo si recano allo stagno dove i loro coetanei stanno pattinando e si vantano con loro di aver visto il film e delle parolacce che hanno imparato. Nel mentre Stan viene raggiunto da Wendy che stava pattinando e non appena lei gli si avvicina lui vomita (come faceva sempre durante le prime stagioni). Wendy viene raggiunta da Gregory, un nuovo ragazzo trasferitosi da Yardale e per cui Wendy sembra provare attrazione. I due tornano a pattinare lasciando Stan turbato (Wendy’s Song, Part 1).

Nel frattempo, gli altri ragazzi decidono di andare a vedere il film. Il mattino seguente a scuola, tutti fanno uso del linguaggio scurrile del film. I quattro protagonisti si mettono nei guai pronunciando volgarità davanti e contro il signor Garrison (ovviamente è Cartman ad insultarlo direttamente). I bambini vengono quindi mandati dal signor Mackey, che cerca di capire da dove provenga il loro linguaggio scurrile. Arrivano le madri dei protagonisti e Cartman, che non sa stare zitto, racconta che hanno sentito le volgarità nel film di Trombino e Pompadour. Le mamme sono sconvolte ma più di tutte lo è Sheila, la madre di Kyle. Il signor Mackey è intenzionato a scrivere una lettera a tutti i genitori per avvisarli sui pericoli del film ma Cartman afferma che ormai l'hanno visto tutti. Poco dopo in mensa (Wendy’s Song, Part 2) i ragazzi salutano Chef e gli raccontano di essere nei guai a causa del film e che non potranno più vederlo. Stan ne approfitta per chiedergli come si fa a piacere ad una ragazza più di chiunque altro. Chef distrattamente e senza pensarci su gli dice che deve semplicemente trovare il clitoride. Stan non capisce cosa intenda e Chef cambia discorso, capendo di aver detto una sciocchezza. Stan chiede agli altri se sanno dove trovare il clitoride ma neanche loro capiscono di che si tratti (Kenny che non sa una cosa sul sesso, WOW!). In quel momento il signor Mackey annuncia che il regolamento scolastico ora impedisce di indossare le magliette di Trombino e Pompadour e che chiunque le indossi verrà mandato a casa. Tutti gli studenti vanno via con gioia, tranne Wendy e Gregory, ai quali non è mai fregato nulla di vedere il film.

Al telegiornale si parla di come il film pare traviare la gioventù americana (la scena dalla gara di spelling è una delle mie preferite in assoluto). Sheila ha uno scontro televisivo con il ministro dello spettacolo canadese e la donna lo insulta ferocemente. In seguito, i ragazzi si recano dal signor Mackey per un corso di riabilitazione voluto dalle mamme per fare in modo che i figli smettano di usare un linguaggio volgare. Il corso sembra funzionare (It’s Easy, M’Kay) e il signor Mackey annuncia ai bambini che ormai sono guariti. Dice loro di sfruttare il pomeriggio per migliorarsi.

E cosa faranno mai i nostri ragazzetti preferiti? Vanno a vedere nuovamente il film! Fuori dal cinema Cartman afferma che non è possibile dare fuoco ad una scorreggia come fanno i due canadesi nel film ma Kenny afferma che secondo lui è possibile. I due quindi scommettono 100$. Kenny inizialmente ci riesce ma finisce per prendere fuoco. Vani sono i tentativi dei ragazzi per estinguere le fiamme.

Le fiamme vengono estinte da del sale che viene rovesciato su Kenny (che poi, poteva rotolarsi sulla neve, no?). Kenny viene urgentemente portato in ospedale dove viene operato da dei medici incapaci e con i suoi amici che assistono all’operazione, ma più preoccupati che le madri scoprano che hanno rivisto il film, che per il loro amico. Alla fine, i medici sostituiscono il cuore di Kenny con una patata lessa e il poveretto (povero in tutti i sensi) muore dopo tre secondi. Stan, Kyle e Cartman non sono poi turbatissimi della cosa. Cartman fa ovviamente il cazzone affermandosi felice di non dover dare i soldi della scommessa a Kenny. Le madri dei tre arrivano e mettono in punizione i figli per aver rivisto il film: Stan e Kyle si beccano due settimane di punizione e Cartman tre.

Nel mentre che i ragazzi lasciano l’ospedale, l’anima di Kenny nell’aldilà pare raggiungere il Paradiso, dove tante donne nude lo aspettano (e ce lo fanno credere tantissimo che stia andando in Paradiso) ma l’ingresso gli viene negato (Could It Be You Are Free At Last. NO!) e finisce all’Inferno (Hell Isn’t Good).

Fine prima parte

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