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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025

Guardian Goddess in Manhattan.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels."Our Princess grew up around a woman whose keen intellect we rely on to protect us from unseen enemies," Saint Marie's voice became deeper and more threatening. "At the age of ten, she," Saint Marie looked my way as my hand shot up mimicking Aya's identical plea for attention."Yes Ishara?" Saint Marie chose to acknowledge me."She's nine.""Fine. At the age of nine, she earned an honorific, Mamētu me eda, which I didn't accomplish until my 19th year." 'Yes Ladies, I'm an epic bad-ass and I've been out-performed by a child'."She was kidnapped along with the Head of House Ishara. They tortured her by clipping off two of her digits, one at a time, then seared the damage with a blowtorch. She gave them nothing. At the end of the encounter, the two of them managed to defeat thirty Seven Pillar's commandos, over fifteen she disabled personally.""After killing nearly half as many enemies as the 35 I have personally dispatched in my entire career, she crossed a mile and a half of barren rock in the midst of a Category 4 Typhoon. Cáel Ishara only helped her half of the way because he was engaged with the last two members of the Seven Pillar's team.""I have utter confidence the madness here today, while assisted by House Epona and Ishara, was the brainchild of Krasimira. I say 'assisted' because Cáel Ishara spared Kwenhamai's life on the battlefield. Katrina Epona removed Kwenhamai from Romanian custody to keep her out of the hands of those who wished us harm. I was aware Kwenhamai was in New York, but not her precise location.""My read on the situation is this:"Aya of Kururiyahhssi was aware of Kwenhamai and Krasimira's plot to adopt her into the bloodline of the first Amazon.""She was not aware of Kwenhamai's plan to exit the Host in the manner she chose. I read the shock and pain in, Aya's face.""Our Princess has not given me a single order and I am the only voice here today that matters, I am the Golden Mare and the Council has consistently failed to agree on a Regency.""Krasimira, why have you done this?" Saint Marie abruptly asked for either a denial, or acquiescence of her perception of events."As directed by the Ancestors, the statute of a goddess of a First House was recast then returned to her perpetual spot. It brought new light to a dark, sacred and painful place. In that moment I realized that for the first time in nearly 3,200 years, the descendants of every Amazon gathered before the walls of Wilusa (Troy) had been reunited.""I was troubled. Was this a portent the augurs couldn't divine? In their council (the augurs) then came up with the words 'speak to our eldest'."Oh shit, the rest of the Council was racking their minds trying to figure who was the oldest surviving Amazon. I knew for a fact they were overlooking the two top candidates."I sought out the eldest Amazon alive. They claimed to not have the answer for my worries. She had far more numerous things weighing on her mind such as her intimate demise. Though I hated sharing the same air with her, I asked her to tell me her greatest regret.""I had given up on the Amazon Race until an Amazon reminded me, through martial effort, valiant spirit and a kind heart, I was wrong to abandon my faith with my people. Now I will die, unable to pass on my renewed hope because the one Amazon I would trust with my legacy is equally childless.""I asked her the name of this Amazon she felt was worthy of her legacy. Then I informed her she was wrong and the Amazon in question did indeed have a daughter. She asked to meet the daughter,""Last night I requested the presence of a female child residing with members of House Epona," the Keeper of Records looked up at the Golden Mare. "I provided neither the resident female (Caitlyn, Aya's Mother), or the House Head with an explanation."Female childSince my revival, Amazons were using 'female' child a lot more often. This meant, the motheer had never told her daughter farewell. The true fate of Aya of Epona would never officially be recorded. She has been born, but never recorded as an Amazon of her true House."The three of us met alone. The two embraced; birth mother and daughter. The eldest of us proclaimed she saw the light of Kururiyahhssi in her daughter's eyes. Words were exchanged. The child agreed to be adopted then departed. Further arrangements were made without the child's knowledge as we have recently observed.""I testify that there is only one Amazon alive today who knows what transpired and I will take those conversations to my grave. Does that suffice?" Krasimira finished. I was already regurgitating my mental quandary with my Isharans. Was Aya really a daughter of Kururiyahhssi?"I will leave it to the others to contemplate your, bizarre actions, Krasimira," Saint Marie frowned. "As for the rest of you, Aya has impressed me. If she has not impressed you, I do not care. I think she is definitely influenced by those two," Saint Marie motioned to Katrina and me. "It is a given since Katrina was of her blood and she has risked much in the presence of a man she calls 'Atta' and he calls 'Duma'.""Katrina is a cold, heartless snake and I am convinced she is one of the best 'First Bearer of the Sun Spear through the Halls of Night and Death' the Host been served by in a long, long time.” Saint Marie paused then looked at me while she said; “ Cáel is a fool who leads with his heart when he should let better women take charge. Fortunately for the rest of us, he is reliably successful despite his multitude of handicaps."Was I upset about being insulted? No. The truth hurts and a Man needs to learn to roll with the punches. Buffy I could deal with. Katrina most likely appreciated being associated with a dangerous reptile. Saint Marie hadn't forgotten Katrina threating Saint Marie's daughter that was for sure."I am considering much of what our Princess would like me/us to do, because it is based in keen insight and well-reasoned thought. She wishes to spare our sons so we will have more warriors in the fight. We have already added men to Havenstone and one to the Council, as was the Will of the Ancestors.""Let me see, she wishes a bodyguard of fourteen (2 First House and 1 from Africa, Asia, Europe and North & South America, the Amazon presence in Australia was minimal and I doubted they would bring someone up from Antarctica, plus the seven matching Runners) without removing permanent members of any House and allowing all Houses to have access to our future Queen. I approve. It is a fine idea and I wish I had thought of it.""Should we add Runners directly into the Royal House? She doesn't think so and I feel this decision shows a remarkably insightful into the long history of our People and protects the Council's sensitivity on such matters. I approve.""Placing our sons into the care of the Royal House? We need to free up as many sisters as possible. Men under the care of the Royal House will be tradesmen and help-mates. Not a single weapon will be in their hands. If none of you have realized herlike will take two decades to implement, it only increases my eagerness to see her become 'casted'."Aya's hand shot up again.Yes?""I would hope the Council, or the Regents, will consider a 'like' which is not mine. It is a man's and it should be of no surprise the idea is Cáel's.""If you feel it holds merit, Aya, tell us," Saint Marie deferred."The 9 Clans have shown some interest in a children exchange programs among our youth as it would provide new techniques we can add to our arsenal an a new avenue to experiment with new ideas. I find the idea to be promising as the Host takes part in affairs beyond our own immediate needs. It would also supply partners between families to be shared for a season or two."Translation: Amazon women could breed with men of allied Secret Societies to reduce our dependence on our own, much smaller, male population. In the short term, it would go a long way to rectifying the Host's child-bearing problems.The Council's quarrelsome behavior was biting them in the ass big time. Saint Marie was right, the only opinion that mattered was hers until the Council elected a Regency. Had we not been at war, the Council would have ruled, but we were, so we took orders from the Golden Mare. Even if the High Priestess had been alive, she would have deferred to our designated War Leader on most things."Cáel Ish, Cáel Wakko Ishara is a very dangerous and devious male, Aya. Be careful of any council he gives," Saint Marie's caution was more playful than menacing."I'll be okay," Aya peeped. "He doesn't have sex with any woman until she is eighteen." That wasn't what the Golden Mare was cautioning her about. We all knew it. Aya was working to defuse a sticky bit of mental juggling, listening to a man's advice."On that we can agree," Saint Marie conceded. "Back to what I would 'like' to say. The New Directive is being implemented. I feel it goes beyond the purview of my mandate. I will leave it for the Regency to deal with. Katrina and Tessa have already invested in the groundwork in this endeavor, so I will endorse it if that is the decision of the Regency.""I have zero desire to add a single Runner to the Security Detail. I will open up slots in the training program if that is what the Regency demands. Each House's policy for dealing with the First Directive is their business, not mine. If any of you wish to consider something the Princess considers to be important, so be it. The idea of 1,000 Isharans does not appeal to me. Look how much trouble their tiny numbers have already caused us and take heed."Buffy began growling, which amused/worried the Houses on either side of us. Unlike me, Buffy didn't 'roll with the blows' and considered all manner of insults to me, House Ishara and her Isharan sisters to be answerable with violence. I loved her so. There was also no way I'd let her go after Saint Marie. The Golden Mare would crush her; I had no doubt."The unwelcome blood feud: are both House Heads ignorant of my forbiddance of such things? Apparently so. Both defied me by tossing insults back and forth. Considering we are at war with two of the most powerful Secret factions, I am angered by both for their idiocy.""The solution the Princess likes is rather novel," Saint Marie was punishing both Messina and me with her low voice and fiery gaze. Krasimira coughed."Yes?" Saint Marie suspended her anger."The suggested resolution is not without precedence," Krasimira spoke with a scholarly detachment. "In our early days, the Host settled such disputes in Spring and Fall gatherings by contests of foot speed, hunting, horsewomanship, archery and wrestling. If we revive the tradition, the competing Houses could nominate one woman for each contest to settle the matter. Only the hand-to-hand match would risk either contestant's health.""I will consider it and render judgement before the Sun sets today," Saint Marie nodded. "The final like pleases me greatly. Dealing with the 52 of you is, Cáel?"I was on the spot. I couldn't let down my fan base of one, Aya. Perhaps it was five, Buffy (who would never admit it), Daphne (who liked me), Katrina (because she liked fucking with my head) and Desiree (who was less likely to admit she found me funny than Buffy).I felt I gave a decent effort."'A ginormous pain in my hemorrhoids?' the basic one.""'More painful than having my cornea scrapped with a spoon?' more gruesome.""'Enough to make me want to give Sakuniyas a surprise French kiss?' most likely to be fatal.""'Worse than waking up to discover I'm related to Cáel Wakko Ishara?' most horrifying, for both of us.""'Inspiring me to toss it all away and take up Professional Bikini Mud Wrestling?' a personal fantasy of mine.""Why do we put up with him again?" one House Head remarked."Because I am worried that one," motioning to Buffy, "will stab me in the elevator after a meeting.""My First, are you acting psychotic around the Council members?" I looked over my shoulder at Buffy."Wakko Ishara, it is not an act. I am psychotic," she responded deadpan."Are you still packing that thermite grenade?""No Wakko Ishara. Daphne stole it from me and hid it," was her quick delivery."I love working with you two," Daphne whispered."What is it with you, your unsubtle sexual innuendo and me in a bikini?" Saint Marie stared at me."I find the combination of brilliance and lethality sexy. Just ask Elsa," I grinned. Then I grimaced as Buffy stomped on my toes. The House Heads and Apprentices on either side of me noticed and clearly expected me to do something, like to show outrage (because she was my underling), or start crying (because I was a guy)."Prestige," Daphne hissed quietly. "Prestige." She was reminding Buffy that beating me up in public made the other Amazons think even less of me than they already did."I will go with (B), the cornea scrapping," Saint Marie gave me a nod."Damn it," I muttered. I also got my foot out of the way before someone did any more damage to my phalanges.'Best Daddy Ever,' Aya mouthed to me. Back to the main action."It is not my place to order the rest of you to elect Shawnee, Rhada and Buffy to be the Regency. I do admit I admire the mixture of candidates," Saint Marie declared. I shot Rhada a quick look. She seemed really, really enamored of the idea of being part of the Regency, thus staying in New York for the next decade, or so."Before the idea is rejected out of hand, I suggest we ask the three people our Princess would like to be part of the Regency if they would accept the nomination," the Golden Mare continued. "Shawnee Arinniti?""I bow to the logic and reason of the proposal," Shawnee replied."Rhada Meenakshi?""I wish to join my sisters in battle, yet I accept the reasoning behind the proposal," Rhada nodded. "If my Head of House agrees, I will stay and do my part for our People." What was she saying to me? 'You are going to whip me, beat me, torture me, humiliate me and push me to beyond the limits of any pain I have experienced until I pass out ~ repeatedly'."I despair of finding any other compromise," Mahdi frowned. "If my Apprentice understands the greater difficulty she will face gaining prestige among her House-mates, I will consent to this proposal." Essentially a 'yes'."Buffy Ishara?""I was really looking forward to ripping the spines out of still living foes, but I would be a fool to go against Aya of Kururiyahhssi's smarts. If Wakko Ishara wants to walk out of this room unassisted, he will see the wisdom of this decision as well," she gave me a shark's smile. Daphne had surpassed her limit and punched Buffy."Hell ya, I agree," I exclaimed. "Now I know there will be certain times of the day when she isn't stalking me.""I'll work more pain into our limited schedule," Buffy grumbled."Are we sure he is the House Head and she is the Apprentice?" Yet another House Head joined the 'shit on me' train.It was telling of our group dynamic how we accepted the Pyramid of Pain. The underlings dispensed advice and violence as they felt necessary without their 'superior' getting pissy about it. Buffy felt totally justified hitting me and accepted being hit by Daphne, who continued to act unimpeded as Buffy's rapid-fire translator."If I was House Head, I'd handcuff him to me," Buffy clarified for her."What she said," I pointed a thumb Buffy's way. I'd have used a finger, but she might have grabbed, twisted and made me scream in pain."Perhaps the Council can vote on this as their second order of business," Saint Marie cloaked her command as a suggestion."Cáel Wakko Ishara, can I ask you a personal question?" Kohar of Marda caught my attention."Shoot, wait, probably not the best terminology in this crowd. Ask away," I replied."Have you faced a House challenge yet?""Yes. Just last night in fact. We free-climbed the north-face of Havenstone. I beat the next closest contender by three floors. I also had Princess Aya on the roof dropping bricks on anyone who attempted to get past me.""That means he isn't going to answer you," Beyoncé interpreted for my audience."Can't you ever take these meetings seriously?" Febe Mielikki glowered."La, Febe, in the past few minutes I have watched the person I love most in the world get her life shat on," I shook my head."The only thing worse than seeing this happen to Aya is knowing this is her sole opportunity to not lose her soul, so I'm sucking up my heart's pain and putting forward a jester's persona so I don't put any more pressure on her than she's already been subjected to. Like me, she doesn't want the distinction of being a Person of Note.""Like me, she knows she must sacrifice her dreams for the sake of our People, the Amazon Host. Trust me, you would rather have 'me, the jester' than 'me, the Amazon' furious with the destiny that has foisted this pain on her'. Do any of you take responsibility for forcing the events of this morning?" I growled. If they wanted to see the other side of the Janus, so be it."Had you chosen a Regency in the fucking weeks you've been bickering, Kwenhamai could have been dealt with privately. The fate of the Royal House could have been put off a few years. Had you not all been so dead-set on being heroines of the Host, three of you would have sacrificed your bloodlust, your birthright and the future accolades you could recite on your final night (before taking themselves to the cliff), but none of you did.""Instead, you set the stage for dumping all of your indecisiveness on the slender shoulders of a nine year old girl most of you had written off as too fractured and frail to survive her 12th year only three months ago. So Febe how do you like the honest 'me'?" I finished off furiously.It was not lost on anyone in the chamber I was an Amazon raging against the cruelty of fate. Every other bitch in the room knew they had discarded my daughter's life as trivial and I was prepared to unleash violence on the next one to show an ounce of disrespect over Aya's surrendering of her destiny and my grief at failing to find a way to stop this from coming to pass. St Marie had just reminded them that I was 'reliably" successful despite my handicaps. Not an enemy anyone in the room wanted any part of. Saku would have been proud.A Note:I have been remiss in informing my readers of the names of the 53 Houses, even though I created it some time ago. I have made a few alterations to the original version as I've had to rethink certain parts of this tale, but here is the list I now use.List of Goddesses:The First Twenty Houses in no particular order :1) Ishara, Oaths, Medicine and War (to North America) (died out 450 CE; Reborn in 2014)2) (Deceased) Anat, Goddess of War, Fury and Blood Sacrifice (died out 6th cent. BCE) ~ possibly resurrected by Sakunyias3) Anahit, water, wisdom and war (to North America)4) Arinniti, Sun Goddess (to North America)5) Hanwasuit, Sovereign Goddess6) Illuyankamunus, Dragon God (to North America) (Special Case)7) Inara, the Hunter Goddess8) au ka, fertility, War, healing9) Kamrusepa, Healing medicine magic (to Africa)10) Lelwani, Goddess of the Underworld (to Africa)11) Hapantali, Pastoral Goddess.12) Hatepuna, Sea Goddess (to India)13) Hannahannah, Mother Goddess14) Moirai, Fate15) Selardi, Lunar Goddess (to Africa)16) Nammu, Primordial Sea, sailing, sailors (to India) (to Indonesia)17) Uttu, Goddess of plants (to Africa)18) Lahar, Cattle Goddess (to Africa)19) Ereshkigal, Queen of the underworld (to India)20) Istustaya and Papaya, Twin Goddesses of Destiny (to North America)Additional Houses, founded in Europe:(Code: Sc = Scythian; T = Thracian, P, Phrygian, C = Celtic, R = Roman, Sl = Slavic)21) (Sc) Marda, the One-Eyed Goddess/Vengeance {fantasy creation}22) (Sc) Farānak, A Scythian Goddess also known as the Lynx Goddess and the Silent Huntress (Dora)23) (Sc) Stolgos, Monstrous Slayer of Greeks (known to the Greeks as the Gorgon Stheno) {semi-historical}24) (T) Cotyttia, Thracian Goddess of Sex, War and Slaughter (to North America)25) (T) Bendis, Thracian Goddess of the Moon and Hunting.26) (T) Semele/Rajah, Thracian Goddess of the Earth and Birth (to India)27) (T) Hylonome, Centaur Goddess28) (P) Cybele, Phrygians Earth Goddess on Lion's throne (to the Amazon)29) (C) Andraste, War Goddess; also Goddess of the Moon and Divination; 'the Rabbit Goddess'30) (C) Epona, Horses (to North America)31) (C) Cyhiraeth, Goddess of springs whose war cry precedes death (to Africa)32) (C) Maeve, War Goddess, the Enslaver of Men33) (Deceased) (C) Nantosuelta, Earth, Fire and Fertility (died out 1st cent. BCE)34) (C) Artio, the Bear Goddess (to North America)35) (C) Nemain, Goddess of War and Panic36) (R) Minerva, Roman Goddess of War & Strategy37) (Deceased) (R) Diana, Hunting and Archery (died out in India 16th cent. CE)38) (Sl) iva, Love and Fertility49) (Sl) Morė, Goddess of harvest, witchcraft, winter and death (to North America)40) (Sl) Zorja, The twin Guardians (Evening/Morning Stars)41) (Sl) Oźwiena, fame and glory (died out in 1944)42) (Sl) Koliada, Sky Goddess and deity of sunrises/dawn (died out 17th cent CE)43) (F) Mielikki, Goddess of the Hunt44) (N) Ska i, giantess, Goddess of bow-hunting, skiing, winter, and mountainsAdditional Houses, founded in In dia:45) (I) Mookambika, Demon Slayers46) (I) Bhadra, Goddess of the Hunt (to Indonesia)47) (I) Meenakshi, The Liberator (Rhada and Madi's House)48) (I) Durga (Dark Mother) (to Indonesia)49) (I) Chandala Bhikshuki, Queen of Night, Death, Destruction and Rebirth50) (I) Jaya (Goddess of Victory)51) (I) Chelamma, the Scorpion Queen (died out 16th cent.)Additional Houses, founded in Africa:52) (A) Oshun, (Yoruba Goddess of Love, Sexuality, Beauty and Diplomacy; Lady of the Orisha ~ life spirits)53) (A) Yemonja, Mother of Rivers (to the Amazon)54) (A) Oba, Goddess of Betrayal and Exile55) (A) Ox ssi, Goddess of Hunting, Forests, Animals and Wealth56) (A) Jengu, Goddess of Jungles and Water SpiritsAdditional Houses: founded in North America(NT = Native Tribal)57) (NT) Uusheenhiton (noo'uusooo' heeninouhuusei hitoniho') (Arapaho), Storm Horse Sister {fantasy creation}58) (NT) Gahe, Apache (supernatural spirits who live in the mountains)Prospective House:59) New, (Hittite) SzelAnya, the Dragon's DaughterCurrent Number of Central Houses:12 in North America (9+Ishara from Europe and 2 native)10 in Africa (6 from Europe and 5 native)3 in Amazonia (1 from Africa and 2 from Europe)8 in India (3 from Europe and 7 native)3 in Indonesia (2 from India and 1 from Europe)17 in Europe6 Deceased{7:35 am Sunday, September 7th ~ Last day}Right where we left offMy rage over Aya wasn't called into question or challenged. Practicality had trumped tradition in the inevitable Amazon fashion. The only one elevated in anyone's eyes was Aya. Krasimira's apparent political adventurism was probably hard for the others to deal with. But in context, only Mahdi, Katrina and Saint Marie had seen her denounce Hayden, so this seemed a new side of Krasimira to most people in the room.Krasimira wasn't the spiritual authority, that was Hayden. She wasn't the Generalissimo, that was Saint Marie. Katrina and I were both appointed officials, we retained our House status. Saint Marie would die a member of House Inara and join her ancestors with pride. Her litany of accomplishments were well known to the Host.But Krasimira? She would die a member of House Cybele unheralded. The Keeper of Records recorded the feats of others, not their own. Nearly two generations ago, a young Krasimira had joined the Keeper's House as a guardian to an un-remembered (save by her) augur. The augur passed and she took up other duties within the house.When the old Keeper faced her final months, she elevated Krasimira to her spot. High Priestess Hayden had approved the choice without really knowing who Krasimira was. (No one outside the House of the Keeper had personal bonds with her anymore.) Seamlessly, she had sat in the old Keeper's seat and the Council kept chugging along.For the past eight years, she had sat quietly at Hayden's side and only speaking when addressed. Mostly, she did nothing overt. The actual note-taking was done by an underling. The Keeper took her own private notes squirreled away in her mind, to be written when she was by herself. Those notes would be handed over to her successor, for the Keepers' eyes and theirs alone.I don't think Krasimira knew me in particular when she dutifully followed Hayden into these chambers the day my death, or life in a cage, was bantered about. It was the day we first crossed paths. She would have known of Shawnee's request for the tooth of an Isharan, though she lacked the authority to ask why. (She wasn't a voting member of the Council.)But when Shawnee made her claim, Krasimira hadn't balked in her support, despite the oddity of Shawnee's declarations, I was indeed Ishara and my sisters could not dispose of me. The outrage of the others meant nothing to her. She pursued her obligations with true Amazon fearlessness both inside and outside of the Council.On the night of the 2nd Betrayal, a Keeper had sat there in silence as her fellow Amazons, the Ash Men, were sentenced to an unjust death. She'd had neither the numbers nor the authority to alter events, what else could she have done?So the Keepers kept track of the names of nineteen 'unaccounted for' Ash Men. For what purpose? An episode of Amazon history no one would ever want to revisit? Yet in my hour of need, coming back 2,600 years was the name 'Vranus of Ishara', sitting only a few keystrokes away. No one, save a few Arinniti diehards, wanted to know the truth of the Amazon Ash Men; and even they didn't want to remember us as individuals. To them, Vranus existed as a notation on the secret Charter of the Arinniti Sons.To Krasimira, Vranus had been a living, breathing warrior of the Host, not even dead, still mythically fighting the enemies of our race because his death had never been officially recorded. With my appearance, I stood in mute testimony to his death, and that of his sons and their sons for a damn long time.Still, I hated playing catch-up.With the Amazon custom of adoption, had no one asked if another possible Isharan heritage still persisted?I would bet they had. And I'd bet they had sought for that knowledge in the Rolls of the Host, always finding that pathway devoid of hope. But if the Keeper had known, why had she kept quiet?Pride, shame, Krasimira's words: we show anger when we should show humility. We are proud of our shame. We are arrogant of our weaknesses. We have heaped insult upon insult on our ancestors, yet are now aghast that they turn away from us, I had confused her soliloquy with that of an accusation, not the long held understanding of her office.Even staring extinction in face, the modern Host hadn't truly accepted the answer, the line of Vranus. Faced with the truth, the Amazons would have 'forgotten' the descendants of Vranus all those centuries ago in the same way they 'forgot' all the other Ash Men on the day I was brought into the Host.But the Keepers did something more than maintain the rolls and records of the Amazons, more than watch over the augurs and make sure their messages made it to the proper ears. They safeguarded the truth. No matter what the Council decided and the High Priestess commanded, the Keepers remained honest stewards of the real history of the Amazons.Why?The Amazons were terribly practical and the truth could run contrary to the needs of political reality. Honesty wasn't a highly stressed Amazon virtue, loyalty was. So was bravery. And thus generation after generation of Keepers had lied to the Council and the High Priestesses. Every time those august personages had committed something to 'the nothingness', the Keepers had defied them and not forgotten.The first heads of the first twenty houses had surrendered their names for the unity of their people, but the Keepers remembered. All twenty of those women had been of the Amazon tribe of the Pala people living on the southern coast of the Black Sea when the Trojan Wars began. Over time, their true blood descendants had founded new houses and been adopted into others.Aya was truly a daughter of Kururiyahhssi; I had no doubt of that anymore. Had she not shared the same blood as the first Amazon, Krasimira wouldn't have brought Aya and Kwen together. Resurrecting an ancient tradition in a complicated fallacious coup attempt wasn't in her; nor was such a maneuver even a necessity. The Host would elect a Regency eventually and Saint Marie was handling the war in a highly competent fashion.So Krasimira hadn't sought out the heirs of Vranus, yet when one appeared, she welcomed 'him'. And when she stepped into the President's office with Hayden while waiting for me to be brought upstairs to face judgement that night, I imagined sending Hayden to the cliffs was the farthest thing from her mind.The rest were playing politics, gender politics, and couldn't see the truth staring Krasimira in the face. The truth was a bitch and didn't play favorites, or worry about the sensibilities of others. Krasimira had seen her sisters refusing to acknowledge the ugly reality they had created for themselves.Krasimira wasn't an advocate for Ishara, that was my job, and my crappy performance was something between Dot and me. She wasn't an advocate for the males and the New Directive. That was what Katrina was for. No, like a hundred Keepers before her, Krasimira was the silent sentinel for the Truth and, the Truth didn't care about anything but the Truth."The assassin is indeed in this room. Its name is Amazon was a rather grand pronouncement from the Chief Librarian, wasn't it? Krasimira didn't chastise Hayden. That wasn't her place. Technically, neither was she disputing Hayden's ability to rule.This wasn't the climax of a dinner-theater 'Who Done It'. The crime before the High Priestess was High Treason and I was the pre-ordained guilty party. My 'ally', Katrina Epona, had not been an advocate for my defense. No. Again in my Hour of Need it was Krasimira.Lacking any true authority, she had defied her sisters and made her definitive statement. What truly transpired was Krasimira staring Hayden straight in the eyes and saying 'you cannot lie your way out of this one, High Priestess. We (as in all the Keepers past and present) will not let you'.Had she used those words, Saint Marie would have gotten around to asking what Krasimira meant. Krasimira would have rather died, because once those bitches discovered their nerdy sisters hadn't erased a damn thing in 3,000 years, they would insist they do so immediately. Krasimira wasn't about to do that. Thanks to the chaos surrounding Hayden's departure, no one had confronted her over her crucial action.To put it more precisely, the Golden Mare had been too busy and Mahdi had been wrapped up in Hayden's Decree and the resulting pressure on the Heads of House to pick the Regency. Katrina was probably a case of I'm not going to ask you so you don't have to lie to me. The only other living person in the room when Hayden's fate was sealed was me, and I'd had my hands full as well.I had to think about what I should and could do. I couldn't beat her up over Aya anymore than I could punish my Isharans for their misplaced arrogance. I decided to extend a 'thank you'; and not only for myself, but for every conceited bitch who had ever sat at this table, or all the other physical mediums the Council had used before this one.We held three votes: The Council couldn't collectively decide on how to implement Aya's other likes (1), so they agreed on her suggestion for a Regency instead (2). The final vote was to set a date for the next Council meeting (3). A date within 9 days of the Winter Solstice with the Regency to decide the precise date and give the House Heads two weeks warning.The last calamity at the meeting was initiated by a question of etiquette."How do we address the Princess at Council meetings?" the Head of House Hanwasuit inquired of Krasimira."There is no precedent for addressing the Iwaruwa alone. By our laws, she is not truly Dumalugal Aya either. She is Nasusara," Krasimira responded. Queen."She is a child," a third House Head declared, "not an Amazon.""No," Mahdi shook her head. "A, Aya is 'un-casted'. She bears an honorific presented to her by the leader of an established stronghold (Summer Camp) and confirmed by the Golden Mare minutes ago.""Congratulations my mamētu me eda," I winked to my past and present Princess, "you've just become a single-digit aged teenager.""Go Aya," Daphne and Buffy whispered behind me. Aya raised her hand, waiting for Saint Marie's recognition.However, Saint Marie moved steadily forward, declaring: "Until the Regency alters my decision, I decline assigning anyone to the Iwaruwa (heiress) whose sole purpose would be to stop her from sneaking off to endure her 12th Year Test. I judge it to be better we know where we placed her as opposed to failing to outsmart her as she needlessly proves to the Host she is, in fact, already an Amazon of the Host." Aya lowered her hand.Thus,'Yes, Aya is an Amazon of the Host' and 'Aya will take her 12th Year Test because she wants to take it, won't let us talk her out of taking it and the rest of us had better accept it'."So, she is our Queen then?"No one appeared to have an answer. Aya raised her hand once more."Yes?" the Golden Mare smiled down at her."Am I in charge?" Aya's other hand squeezed Saint Marie's as she spoke in a barely audible voice."Perhaps.""If I was in charge, I would like it if there was a law that declared the Queen of the Amazons would be officially represented by a Regency until she becomes casted, and antedate the law by one hour so this never, ever comes up again," Aya kept looking up at Saint Marie."Aya," Katrina exhaled.The council chamber was a mixture of awe, resentment and amusement. If Aya was Queen, she could make such a law. The Queen-ship was a Bronze Age autocratic institution designed to provide leadership to a 'state' in near-constant warfare with is neighbors.It was guided by oral traditions and military necessity, not written laws. As long as the queens provided successes on the battlefield and through diplomacy, she was deemed fit to rule. The traditional way of choosing a House Head was the same for the Royal House, the ruling Queen chose an heir.In the long list of Queens, less than half had been the 'eldest' child. No, those ancient War Leaders picked the bravest, smartest and most successful daughters to succeed them. Their wisdom in those selections showed in the fact the Amazons had held off a male-dominated world for over 600 years before fatally marching off to answer an ally's call to fight in the Trojan War."I advise against it," Saint Marie shook her head. "You are young. You are also the only Royal we have. Duty demands and sisters must always answer their sister's call."Translation: Aya was an adult now. It was similar to the first lesson Pamela gave me upon learning I was Ishara. We lived with bitches, it doesn't pay to play nice with bitches."Thank you," Aya nodded. She was 'thanking' Saint Marie for the lesson, no matter how hard it was to accept. Krasimira coughed."Now that the matter is settled," she spoke. The matter wasn't settled. Krasimira was steamrollering the discussion. "What do we call you?", to Aya."I, oh," in a very small voice. Aya's brow furrowed and her tiny nose wiggled. "I wish to be known by the legacy of my Anna (mother) and Atta (me, Cáel). I will be Assiyai hamai.""Love song?" Daphne murmured to Buffy."Assiyai hamai?" Krasimira asked for clarification. 'Love-song' was hardly the name of a 'fierce' Amazon Queen."The only other name I could come up with was Markappidusmene, which seemed less auspicious," she meeped. Markappidusmene meant 'Tiny Smile'."Perhaps Talliyahulla would be more auspicious?" Saint Marie nudged Aya. 'War Cry'."Oh no!" Aya balked. "That's your job.""What do you think your job is?" the Golden Mare questioned, suddenly realizing she'd made the mistake of making assumptions where Aya was concerned."To go to the cliffs with twice as many Amazon daughters, each equal to the likes of Saint Marie, Katrina, Oneida, Buffy, Elsa, Kohar and Tad fi as exist today. We must not 'survive', or simply replenish our numbers."We must become stronger because the World is a terribly messed up place," she raised her wounded hand and splayed her digits for the others to see the two she was missing, "and has become too small for us to seek safety in hidden freeholds any longer. If we cannot hide, we must rule openly. We are Amazons. Having no equals, we must rule alone. The only people we can trust, really trust, are the sisters at our sides."My job is to advance my People's cause with both compassion and cruelty and I will do so alone, because the Amazon Queen has no equals, only daughters."Not a sound. I could count out the individual fan blades recycling the air."Let our enemies tremble," Saint Marie nodded, repeating an earlier declaration."Assiyai hamai," Krasimira intoned, making Aya's royal name official before adding, "Assiyai hamai, you are mistaken about one thing. You are not alone. You have a mamētu me eda.""Oh," she perked up, shedding the gloom which surrounded her. She looked at me, our eyes met and we both grinned, then she giggled...and yet again, up her hand went."Yes?" Saint Marie looked upon Aya respectfully and then at me with much suspicion."Is the mamētu me eda of my mamētu me eda also my mamētu me eda?" Aya asked.Just like old times, only Katrina was ahead of the game. "Oh, by Epona," the Spy-mistress snorted."Cáel Wakko Ishara, who is your mamētu me eda, oh no," Saint Marie bristled."Ah, indeed," Krasimira nodded. "An unlooked for bonus.""Does someone care to enlighten the rest of us?" the head of House Nemain prodded."Oh!" That was Elsa."That's right!" Oneida, she was definitely a fan of me and my spasmodic lifestyle."Wakko Ishara's mamētu me eda, other mamētu me eda, is Temujin, Great Khan of the Reborn Mongol-Turkish Khanate and ally of the Host," Saint Marie let them know. "They are bonded by Cáel risking his own life to save Temujin's. It is actually a privately understood and publically declared fact.""In Temujin's words to the international press when our Cáel and our new Queen were kidnapped : I believe Cáel is still alive. If he wasn't, we would be seeing piles upon piles of dead enemy around him and his 'boon companion', clearly visible from orbit. Until they discover this carnal pit from Hell, I am sure they are both still alive," Oneida added. Rhada flashed ill-distilled hate her way."Shawnee, is your Apprentice's mind addled with the birthing hormones of their child?" Mahdi snipped. That was merely a cultural zing, not an attempt to expose my sinister erotic misdoings. Unfortunately, she was somewhat correct. Okay, she was totally correct."That was uncalled for," Shawnee graciously chided Mahdi, thus demonstrating her ignorance of the facts soon to be in evidence."Yes, I am carrying a child of Arinniti and Ishara," Oneida proclaimed loud and proud. "We share a Warrior's Love."I wasn't really sure how anyone else reacted to the news because House Ishara exploded into violence. That is the politic way of saying Daphne and Juanita were trying to stop Buffy from beating me to death. Here was yet another Ishara-baby and it wasn't gestating inside her. I was too stunned to defend myself.And the old refrain: 'and then it got worse'."Ta ah kattanda!" (IN HITTITE for 'you pig's ass'), Rhada howled. I missed her drawing her blade, vaulting to the top of the table and lunging at Oneida. Most of the Amazons in the room stood, yet held their ground.They weren't shocked into indecisiveness, only trying to understand the nature of the conflict before intervening. This was not the first 'your Amazon did something my Amazon found infuriating' public threat they had to have dealt with. Rhada was more volatile than the average woman of her breed and station, true, but a violent in-chamber assault?That wasn't the 'worse' though. Oneida drawing her blade in an open challenge to Rhada wasn't the worse either, nor was her shouting."He loves me! He merely saved you!"Saint Marie yelling 'Ishara! Ishara!' over and over again, demanding I put my house back in order wasn't the end of my woes, nope.Me being yanked free of my House fur-ball into the volcanic gaze of Elsa as she seethed, "Rhada?" Oh yeah, Elsa's people and Rhada's people had a bit of a blood feud going on, how could I have forgotten that?But wait!"Not Fabiola!" gasped Messina, bizarrely assuming I slept with, okay, not such a huge assumption."Gael?" voiced by the Head of House Bendis, followed by Gael's "I'm late.""Damn it!" I pulled away from Elsa (slightly)."No. She only lets me ejaculate on 'safe days'," to Messina, Fabiola's Mom."Oh, come on! We had sex one time!" to Gael of Bendis, and finally,"Stop it!" to Rhada and Oneida, (deep breathe). "Really?" with my most believable happy face plastered on. "This is great news!"No. No it wasn't, and I could read the ugly emotional undercurrents on the faces of everyone present, except Aya, who kept the faith."Ishara," Saint Marie rumbled. I held up one finger to forestall her wrath."Oneida, Rhada and I have already decided to name our daughter Parvati. My daughter by Tad fi, ordained by the Goddess to be the first born, will be named Shala while my first son will be called Harki heni (White Hair, I'd call him Raider when we were in the 'outside' world).""My daughter by Miyako Yuri will be named Suwais-urāni, Fushichou in her Mother's tongue, in honor of Sakuniyas. My, other relationships," I would have liked to say 'none of your business', except Amazon mothers, or not, those children would be of Ishara's blood and potentially their kin.

god love new york amazon death head canada world president trust father australia europe stories earth strategy man house mother healing men secret hell fall french pain truth war africa spring christianity fire beauty pride sex moon victory medicine movement north america dad mom night brazil birth north greek wealth fantasy generation horses dragon normal female sun witness wolf beyonce daughter animals manhattan casa hunt lion queens council narrative caribbean cult mississippi warrior records panic saga indonesia south america fate alliance sexuality eternal spies shoot heads fuck egyptian betrayal hunting heading honesty destruction congratulations duty prisoners eleven fury obsessive compulsive disorder bitch houses rivers rough rebirth exile goddess antarctica keeper fertility northern runner faced nah gulf blink nasty forty grandmothers apprentice grandpa rolls recall brotherhood illuminati hurry priests bro serpent libra latinos explicit bat ancestors pyramid diplomacy spinning boy scouts tear underworld slaughter new yorkers unable jaguar hindi technically lacking reborn freaky summer camp runners novels sl pretend charter romanian prestige sas ajax mam arial composition meno placing halls keepers winter solstice forests helvetica apache defeats raider bce breeding secret societies decree divination madi erotica goddesses archery black sea weave tax returns oaths typhoons south china sea janus ish resurrecting tad ox messina beowulf times new roman deceased regents bronze age clans high priestess regency fabiola practicality prc oba papaya amazonia tahoma mahdi pala trojan war 3f grendel apprentices hittite bendis seamlessly tricycle atta conga jungles parvati first house seven pillars black hand meit poster child black lotus oshun estere orisha old time religion olmec coils day rule saku my first blood sacrifice shala savants inara bizarrely bolu arapaho white hair mother goddess phrygian royal house cambodian americans epona temujin kazak febe miyako literotica sun goddess lahar dragon god house heads house head ereshkigal water spirits great khan chief librarian go to gal marda anahit moirai srr amazon queen enslaver roman goddess nammu fucktard timothy it

Cáel Defeats The Illuminati: Part 13

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2025

Hana shines and Aya rises.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.“It is selfish to believe that your family will always love you. At some point you will be asked to earn it.”My equilibrium decided to cut me some slack and not invoke the reflexive vomiting. "It is only me, Hana, Imogen, Deidre, Mom, Buffy, hi Juanita," I hadn't spotted my designated bodyguard standing behind Chaz."Don't talk to me right now," she seethed. "I'm furious with you." Yep, she was the Caribbean Buffy."Perhaps she's pissed about the five extra Illuminati bodyguards added to the regular two around Hana plus the two circling Ghost Tigers having not a fucking clue what those other armed parties are doing in Hana's company," Pamela joked. She could. Everyone else was giving me crap about my social gaff."Hey now. This meeting is important. Imogen and I are going to have a child," I enlightened them. The door chimed open and we piled in with two Amazons whose 'fresh' look indicated a use of the showers within the past ten minutes."You consistently maintain particularly low standards," Chaz dryly remarked."I sent her here for a check-up and that gave Buffy a chance to meet Mom, Deidre and Imogen, plus two unarmed bodyguards," I kept bailing out the Titanic."Chaz, I am happy we aren't going to miss this one (lunch)," Pamela smiled at her two grandsons."Cáel, are you going to tell your fiancée you've impregnated your aunt?" Chaz was back to being mildly sympathetic to my 'totally fucked-up' life."Yes. I figured Buffy shooting death rays at me from her eyes will garner me enough confusion to get the words out of my mouth without her throwing her drink in my face, slapping me, then storming out," I envisioned.I got no more shit until I reached the garage for my vehicle. There an armed FBI Special Agent Virginia Maddox (did you know when a Federal Agent adds 'Special' to their title it means they have a gun?) stood next to my chariot. She'd drawn the short straw, meaning she had been given the chore of driving today.I found myself wondering when Yasmin would finally finish her orientation. Her training involved some serious mental challenges including a crash course from the FBI at Quantico concerning modern judicial theory & practice as well as whatever pre-Iron Age jurisprudence the Host practiced.Javiera promised me (and Katrina) that she would not-so-subtly remind those scholastically-groomed legal minds that a (couldn't use the word 'Amazon') legal code they followed had existed, with minor tweaking, as a successful social instrument for over 3,000 years. If they truly behaved in a respectful manner, the owners of the code might even show those people the Codex on the original horse-skin, written in Hittite cuneiform.Anyway, everyone assumed I had a good reason for heading to my apartment (aka need to retrieve a sleepy Odette.) Had I repeated 'the Bitch stole my fortune cookies', they might have simply taken me to an Asian-inclined grocery store. As we hit the second story landing, Chaz in the lead, we heard a passel of folks come down toward us from the fourth level.I didn't think there were that many people on the entire floor. Chaz and Pamela each went for their holstered pistol, while keeping them hidden in their jackets. Wiesława, who went for her PDW, backed up so she could fire through the stairs from beneath.Juanita, bless her heart, and Virginia had remained in the S U V because sending in more people would have left us piled into one another. If a firefight did break out, Juanita could bring in some serious hardware to back us up while Virginia called the appropriate authorities before rushing in herself.Around the corner on the third floor landing came a number of women, early/mid-twenties, physically fit, foreign clothes and downcast expressions. A few looked like they were about to cry. They were all in shirts and jeans, with no obvious weapons. Not looking lethal didn't ratchet down Chaz's vigilance. Me? I was instantly reminded how much sex I had been missing."Prince Cáel! You are alive!" spilled out of the first one, a fiery red-head with a billowing, thick mane, porcelain skin and adorable freckles. Her Irish brogue was enchanting. I had to wonder if she cried out in Gaelic during orgasm. Wasn't I about to meet my future bride plus numerous other love interests?She was fit, curvy and wearing an aqua shirt which exposed her midriff with a belly ring bearing a pearl drop, the requisite tattered skin-tight jeans and soft leather calf-boots."Why wouldn't I be alive?" I grinned, like a pirate discovering an all-girls school oceanographic classroom in need of plundering."How do total strangers know how unlikely it is that you would still be alive?" was Chaz's spin on things."We talked with your roommate. He said you had moved to Svalbard where you suffered an excruciating painful, yet richly deserved, death in a lemming stampede," she pouted, "and then the UN had your ashes exiled to Pluto because the Sun was too good for you."9, 10, 11 --12 of them looking, 3 with pale blonde hair that eerily reminded me of my fiancée, another red-head, two russet and five with deep, dark brown, or black hair. They were all fit, fit, fit! With an air of 'I graduated college only to discover: 1) no one was hiring Saline Soil Scientists, or 2) I no longer want to do any of the things I wanted to do when I picked this major. I was familiar with both types.Timothy would have been at work and Odette would have invited the troupe in to regale them with all sorts of tales, which would have included a tour of my bedroom. They clearly had missed Odette so, now I recalled; that particular excuse was one of the ten I had given the guy in 4B should anyone suspicious come calling.I imagine twelve hot, English-as-a-Second-Language girls might be considered, a bit odd. See, his was my address of record. I lied about my actual apartment, so random people who came looking for me went to him instead. This arrangement had been made prior to my understanding of the nature of my employment at Havenstone.I'd neglected, telling him to move out and go far, far away? Poor guy. I'd find a way to make it up to him later."Actually it was a southern vole immigration incident that was set off by the Bulgarian consulate offering repatriation for the first 10,000 applicants," I frowned, clearly traumatized by memory of the incident."These poor southern vole, native to the vacationer-friendly Black Sea resorts, were accidently introduced to the coldest inhabited place in the Northern hemisphere and they've been trying to get home ever since, that would be the equivalent of a century and a half in 'vole-years.""Despite the UN trying to quarantine any news of this Cricetidae catastrophe, I decided to evacuate the six most critically injured vole using a Bortolanza Pluto ultralight, which he must have confused with the UN sending my ashes to Pluto," I explained.Mind you, the 'southern' voles are native to, among other places, Norway, the owner of Svalbard. They were also native to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast so, The Pluto ultra-light, once built in Italy, is now called the 'Puma' and made in Canada, has a maximum range of 675 km, which would leave me crash landing into the Barents Sea, 260 km north of the northernmost airport in Norway, rendering me and my voles so much frozen food."You are an animal rights activist too?" several of the girls gasped. Yes. Yes I was. I was an animal and I was all for me having rights."Please, don't tell anyone about this," I grew serious. "I don't want my philanthropic efforts to be publicized. What I do, I do for the Earth's endangered ecosystems because it is what everyone should do, not because we suddenly feel bad about neglecting it.""E haere koe ki te whai kia nui ai," Pamela snorted. I'd ask her why she knew Maori later, right after I figured why Grandpa knew it."Ko toku mahere whānui," I replied. The girls looked confused."I'm also trying to revitalize endangered languages and revive dead ones. It is more of a hobby than life pursuit," I informed them."You really are a modern-day noble warrior-poet," the red-head leader sighed."Nah. I'm just a guy," I shrugged. "Besides, Ba ch ir fear a bheith ar eolas ag a gn omhais, n a oidhreacht." (A man should be known by his deeds, not his heritage)."Sa ch s go bhfuil misneach, t s il agam," she replied using my 'family' motto."Jos on jalot on toivoa,", "Ahol van b tors ga, van rem ny," and "cesaret olduğu yerde umut vardır," all followed. 'Where there is Valor, there is Hope' in Finnish, Hungarian and Turkish. I got the sneaking feeling this wasn't a college field trip gone awry. These chicks were coming at me with a purpose that included more than sexual gratification and a kiss good-bye. Ugh."Thank you," I genuflected, paying honor to their reciting of my personal vow. "Anyway, you appear to be looking for me, but I am afraid I don't know any of you. Taking into account that I have a late lunch date with my fiancée in a half-hour and will be taking notes at a feminist convention at 8, what can I do for you?" I was establishing my escape plan."We have come here to join you," an assertive, dusky-skinned one smiled. I had to think about this. I was a bit tired. Taking all twelve of these girls on in one orgy was currently beyond me. I'd do eight tonight and the last four before breakfast tomorrow. Ah, happy thoughts of the Lacrosse Finals."What exactly do you plan to do with Mr. Nyilas?" Chaz interrupted."We are the (Irish) 'Na conairte soith an S aghdha ar', (Hungarian) 'A szuka kuty kat Herceg Nyilas', (Turkish) 'Prens ok u Kaltak K pekleri' and (Finnish) 'Narttu koirista prinssi jousimies'," they chorused.Pamela snickered. All of those fancy sounding names were variations on 'the Bitch Hounds of Prince Archer/Nyilas (with the Irish going for O'Shea)."You want to be my bodyguards?" I gawked. Lacking lions, the Irish choice of the 'fur-balls of death' were hounds. Being women technically made them 'bitches'. I had to move fast. Any second now Wiesława was going to figure out these over-anxious non-Amazons were trying to replace her."You do realize I've left piles of dead bodies in my wake, right?" I nearly choked. Pamela slapped me on my back."Of course," they sounded so chipper. Fuck you Internet and 'First Person Shooter' games. This wasn't a fucking game! Trained combatants who joined my retinue met grisly ends and this was their freaking profession!"Can I think about it? I mean, do any of you have any combat experience at all? Attacked someone in anger? Send off a blistering instant message?""Some of us have (combat experience I was assuming). We won't let you down.""You do realize Ms. Dubois is going to kill them, don't you Sir?" Chaz sent me a chilling look."Ms. Dubois?", "who is that?" and "kill us?" floated around."Ms. Dubois is my blood-hungry ferret who wears a 'naughty berserker' human suit to trick the masses.""Three of us have military training," one of the Finns spoke up.By that they meant they had volunteered for military service in their native countries, then left after their first term because they found military life to be boring. On the 'plus' side, all but one had martial arts experience and six of the twelve had been a member of a Gun Club of some kind. Yep, Buffy was going to kill them, all twelve at once by herself."I'll make you a deal," I offered. Chaz was giving me his 'I'm a stone yet clearly unhappy with you' face. "At 7:15 tonight, you will show up at Havenstone. I will sign you in, we'll go upstairs to one of the gyms and then warm up for fifteen minutes. When you are ready, or 7:30 rolls around, we are going to the sparing mats. If I lose, you can stay. If you lose, you will write this off as one of a legion of ideas that look good in print yet are foolish in practice. Do you accept?""How many of us do you have to beat for us to join with you and your Crusade?" the lead Irishwoman asked."All of you. I will fight you all at once. The mat space is quite extensive.""You mean all twelve of us against you at the same time?" one of the Turks blinked in disbelief."Yes. I am not disrespecting you, any of you. You've shown initiative, courage and a spirit of adventure. I found all three to be both admirable and worthy of reward (i.e. I will gladly have sex with you). What I am also telling you is of the three people with me, the only one I can most likely defeat in single combat is her," I motioned to Wiesława, "and I'm only saying that because she is 19 and relatively new to the art of killing."Their eyes flickered to Pamela. Chaz was scary without even trying. Pamela could be threatening, or appear harmless, as she wished."Chaz is a professional military man from a long line of diligent warriors and in a branch of service that requires close contact with hostile individuals, teams, tribes, clans and nations.""The woman behind me is much, much worse. I've met precisely three people who could possibly kill her and I killed one of them. Would you agree, Chaz?""Absolutely," he concurred."We know who you two are," a Finn spoke up. She had a dazzling smile and cleavage that had to obscure her toes when she stood."You do?" Pamela played nice. For once, it was technology biting her in the ass, not me. Yay?"You are Rhingyll lliw Siarl Yfory," the Irish lass looked at Chaz. That was Welsh, and meant Color Sergeant Charles Tomorrow, I imagined his superiors in the British military weren't going to be happy with any of us, him being a 'secret military operator', emphasis on the 'secret'."And you are Sverkhsekretnykh Shpiona Vsemed Svaya," the Turkish girl pointed at Pamela. Pamela snorted. In Russian that meant 'Super-secret Spy Pamela Pile'. Since Pamela in Russia was pronounced 'Pamela' they had gone back to the origin of the name of Pamela, a fictitious 17th English novelist creation using mangled Hellenic, which translated as 'all-honey'.'All-honey' in Russian was Vsemed. Pamela snickered. Oh yeah, those twelve had combed through millions of articles and pictures to figure out who Chaz was and who Pamela claimed to be. Actually, one of my Hungarian admires back when we were all in Eastern Europe had suggested Pamela was a remorseful ex-SMERSH agent turned Princely-sidekick. Pamela jabbed me, the unspoken 'sidekick' thing.(For those who don't know, in Russian SMERSH loosely means 'Death to Spies', it really existed from 1943 to 1946 and was resurrected by Ian Fleming as a foil for James Bond.)"Chaz, since Cáel is, without a doubt, already having a stupendously wretched day, we must insist he inform Addison of all three of these developments, in person. I want to see the look on her face," Pamela plotted with the man who had thrown himself between me and an explosive vest, probably out of some psychic impulse that I would suffer far, far worse later, like in today, within less than 24 hours of said act."Why am I here again today?" I lowered my head and groaned."Are you okay?" a dozen innocent voices cried out."We are here to pick up Odette," Wiesława reminded me."Oh yeah, fortune cookies," I mumbled."Is 'Fortune Cookie' a nickname for one of your other operatives? Many of them are real enigmas. We can't find out anything about her," one of the Hungarians said. Yeah, because SD doesn't have a Facebook page, or Twitter account. Odette, she was protected by a completely unremarkable lifestyle, but I had a feeling that was fading fast."Excuse us," I asserted myself. "I need to get something on the third floor. Chaz began pushing forward while Pamela had my back."What are you doing?" to me and "Hey, is that a gun?" to Chaz, then Wiesława. Pamela was too sneaky to get caught."I'm here to pick up Agent Fortune Cookie then head out to a meeting with some really shady characters and my fiancée," I informed them."Agent Fortune Cookie," Chaz mused. "She's going to love that,""And then," Pamela continued."She is going to want a gun," I groaned.Oh goddess! No! Chaz had joined Pamela and my 'group think'."No, I have not," Chaz corrected me, about my mental ruminations."I've been coaching him," Pamela faux-consoled me. As my new prospective bodyguards parted for my current bodyguards,"Do you have psychic powers?" "Where is your android?" and "Is it true you can have sex up to ten times a day?""Yes, but we can't talk about it," then, "Which one? We have six models," and finishing up with, "Yes, I can have sex up to ten times a day with each session lasting at least an hour, though I do need breaks for food, drink, quiet romantic conversations and showers, cause shower-sex is so damn fun."While they mulled that over, I unlocked my door in time to see a nicely-dressed (as if she was about to go out on an expensive lunch date) Odette spring off the sofa. Looking at the crowd behind me, she blessed me with an incredibly happy smile."Oh cool! Do we really have enough time for an orgy?"I wanted to cry.(A Family FUNction, minus the 'fun' part)My fiancée giving me a congenial and contented look. Good.My fuck-buddy/friend Libra giving me a salacious 'you and me are going to hook up soon' smile while dressed in a red, 'business suite/slinky number' combo with a plunging neckline. I put her invite on my mental day-planner. Fellas, if you can't keep it in your mind, forget about it. Print equals pain, believe me.Brooke had joined the lunch group, sharing a smile and wink with Libra with the secret agreement for a three-way. Sweet! I could do this, hmm, lunch break Friday, yum-yum-yum. She was wearing a beige business suit with slacks, minus the shirt. Only her cunningly cut jacket kept her goodies from exposure.Hana was a saint for putting up with those two, and me.Buffy was studying me with the clear desire to put me in a dog cage for the rest of the week. Technically she had to produce my body for work Monday. As for the hot, sweaty, intense Brooke-Libra-Cáel m nage trois, Buffy was reading the undercurrents and setting up a breakwater. At least her attire suggested well-paid, successful international assassin. I wondered if I had paid for her clothing as well. I'd given Chaz's wardrobe a serious upgrade courtesy of Pamela faking my signature.The gathering was rounded out by Mom, Imogen and Deirdre. Thank God they all had different hair styles and forms of dress. Mom was in 'casual-durable' attire, Imogen was going with the military-chic and Deirdre's get up was in the same style as Hana.I was pleasantly pleased that Hana had reserved two adjacent tables for what she assumed would be my support network, Pamela, Odette, Chaz, Wiesława and Juanita, plus Imogen's five and her (Hana's) two Illuminati minders. That made me squeezing my twelve newest over-eager admirers into the mix doable, if not comfortable. Better yet, none of the new girls was dressed for a restaurant this exclusive.Hana was quietly amused. Buffy was volcanic. Thankfully she was being a volcano on the mid-Atlantic ocean ridge ~ submerged."Chaz, Pamela, explain," Buffy seethed."I don't work for you," Pamela playfully bantered back, "Sweet-Cheeks.""They are part of a clandestine operation to provide cooperation and assistance from the European Union," I offered up in such a sincere manner. I almost had them. Buffy looked to Chaz who opted to channeled his 'inner- Cáel'."I can neither confirm nor deny their status as operators from four European nations," he nodded.Buffy forked a helpless appetizer shrimp then catapulted at one of my Finns, I thought it was Oili. It bounced off her bosom. She couldn't even claim to not have seen it coming."What?" Oili gasped."Operatives?" Buffy sizzled at me."Prince Cáel," Flannery asked, "why did that strange woman throw a, shrimp at Oili?""It was a hand-eye coordination test," Odette informed her. "Had Oili been a real spy, you would have snatched up a nearby napkin, deflect the item with the napkin and all while drawing down on her. It is what they do all the time. It is pretty neat to watch.""Why use a napkin?" Oili asked Odette while eyeing Buffy in case another decapod was coming her way."You use a napkin because the shrimp might have a contact poison on it," Odette rolled her eyes. "Buffy used a fork to flip it at you. She didn't use her hands, so the possibility existed." Pamela gave Odette an 'atta girl' high five."Prince Cáel?" Brooke giggled. "What have you been up to?""Okay. I got this. Ladies, may I introduce Annikki, Belgin, Berit, Flannery, Gizi, Ilkay, Kato, Neve, Nuray, Oili, Pirkko and Zsuzsi. These fine women have decided to put their productive lives on hold so they can be my bodyguards," I made the introductions."They have volunteered to be, basically the 'Hounds of Prince O'Shea/Nyilas/Archer'. My Hounds, please let me introduce Hana, my fiancée, Brooke, my close friend, Libra, a sweet & sincere childhood acquaintance, my Mother, Sibeal, my O'Shea aunts, Deidre & Imogen and Kalmarasērmi Buffy."Despite the absurdity of the situation and my clear irresponsibility, Buffy let a smile crease her frown. 'Kalmarasērmi' was my term for her in the Amazon language = my Mountaintop."I will volunteer my facilities to train them," Aunt Imogen offered me drolly. She was the primary trainer for all O'Shea guardians/Special Forces."Train us?" a half dozen voices murmured."Yes Child. I am Imogen O'Shea, Cáel is the greatest treasure in my life and I have serious doubts any of you can be anything more than distracting bullet-catchers for my favorite (and only) nephew. It annoys me to think you are yet another walking advertisement showing him to be both big-hearted and soft-headed.""I will offer prayers upon the mounds of my ancestors (lie, her only 'ancestor' refused to stay buried) for Cáel's safety. You should invoke whatever supernatural entity you place faith in to keep Cáel safe as well, because if he gets so much as a scratch defending any one of you, I will exercise my nearly endless knowledge of human pain to make you pay.""Is she Ms. Dubois?" Flannery asked Odette."That would be me," Buffy showered fury their way."Do you really want to kill us?" Neve tried to stare Buffy down."Until ten seconds ago, Yes. Now I want to hand you over to these two," she motioned to Deidre and Imogen with her fork."Prince Cáel, why are they all so hostile?" Flannery requested understanding from me. "We have come here to help you. We have skills. All we are asking if for a chance to prove ourselves to you.""To Us," Buffy snapped. "Cáel's vote doesn't count.""Chill, Buffy," I snapped back. "I'm dealing with this, and your lack of trust is pissing me off.""Buffy," Hana intervened. She placed a hand on Buffy's thigh out of sight, yet not outside of my notice. "When was the last time Cáel failed to take your advice on something life-critical? These young ladies appear to be honest and diligent. If not, Pamela and the Color Sergeant wouldn't have let them come here, or near Odette."If I dated dumber women I would have less explaining (lying) to do, but I'd miss the challenge both inside and outside the bedroom. Hana's deft touch and gentle words calmed Buffy more than anything (outside of a righteous cocking) I could have accomplished. I was suddenly seized with the realization there was a goodly number of Katrina's positive attributes in Hana. How had I missed it?"Marrying you is going to be Hana's first step toward mortal beatification," Brooke teased me. Normally only dead people were made saints."A Servant of, probably not Jehovah. I think everyone at the table can agree she has interacted with supernatural forces," Sibeal hid her joking well."Martyring her hopes of monogamy?" Deidre's fey gaze flickered over the women of note (the women at the main table)."Her Heroic Virtue is Prudence?" Buffy added. Buffy had been Catholic?"Ladies, I'm Lutheran. We don't normally venerate saints. Joking aside, I was given a reason to believe this lunch date was important on a social level between myself and my fianc . Food would be nice too."Brooke and Libra's presence regulated Pamela and Chaz to an adjacent table. A waiter slipped in, took my order, I decided to forgo an appetizer because I was late, then the conversation began."Hana, this is my Mother, Sibeal Nyilas. Imogen and Deidre are my family from Ireland," I made the introductions, most definitely unnecessarily. I was buying time to get a better read on the women around me."I know," Hana showered me with mature compassion."Get to it, damn you," Buffy huffed."Wow, I'm thinking of the best way to tell you this," I barely could meet Hana's eyes."I am pregnant with your fianc 's child," Imogen cut to the chase. What she said was delivered on purpose. Imogen wasn't as socially maladjusted as Rachel. The fewer women in my life, the easier the O'Shea would have roping me in. Imogen's words were meant to hurt Hana and drive a wedge between us."You too?" Hana's sad eyes studied Imogen. She hid her anger-disappointment-disgust well. In this crowd her efforts to obfuscate her feeling only worked on Libra and Brooke. Those two ladies were less astute at concealing their surprise."She's your aunt, right?" Libra's look settled on me instead of a blatant Imogen, or a pained Hana."No," Mom answered for me. "My sisters and I were born sterile. It is impossible that our paternal heritage has been passed along. Whatever Imogen's maternal contribution was, it is not from our DNA. My sister does have a child inside her, Havenstone verified it and will have the precise genetic make-up within 24 hours," she persisted (lying)."If Cáel has a failing, it is that he was seduced by my sisters who played upon his very confusing Mother-Son relationship. I faked my death when he was seven. I 'died' in a quite painful manner and he had to watch helplessly as he witnessed me wasting away. I did such a horrible thing to a young boy because the people who were hunting me down, the two O'Shea before you and the nine who aren't here, would have used numerous means of torture to verify my death."(Until they realized 'what' I was. Then my imprisonment would have begun)"My wonderful husband would have died without giving them the truth. It was too much to ask of our son. For fifteen years he believed me dead. He learned the truth at his Father's funeral. I believe every woman at this table knows my son doesn't handle emotional pain well.""Imogen's statement was a thinly-veiled stab at Hana's heart and a kick to my son's sense of responsibility to both Hana and his unborn child. How could this not hurt Hana? How could Cáel possibly respond, torn between the woman who has already sacrificed so much of her happiness for a man barely aware of his own maturity, and the woman bringing his child into the world?""Good one, Imogen. Those two are better than you, or I. By all means, make a mockery of my son, your nephew, who has pledged to fight for your life when he should clearly walk away and let the rest of you die. He asks nothing of you yet you feel no remorse at sullying his happiness.""There are ten good reasons for you getting up and walking out of here intact right now. There are six better reasons for making you pay for your cruelty," she threatened."Ten?" Brooke whispered."The sisters' five bodyguards, the two body guards they gifted me with, Deidre, Imogen and Cáel. You don't think he would let the woman bearing his child take a beating, do you Brooke?" Hana enlightened her."No.""The Six?" Libra scanned the room."My other two bodyguards won't act unless I am directly threatened. They won't be out to hurt anyone. If anyone tries to hurt me, they will jump straight to the making them dead option. The 'Six' are Buffy, Pamela, Chaz, Juanita, Special Agent Maddox and Sibeal.""We'd help," Libra insisted. Brooke was onboard with that proclamation."No," came forth from Hana, Mom and me."Brooke and Libra; you two, Odette, the other twelve and the wait staff will only confuse the issue. My sisters and their soldiers will use you and the rest to distract Cáel. Except for Ms. Maddox, the rest won't give a fuck so your best bet is to hit the deck and let the professionals deal with things," Mom clarified."Brooke, Libra, this is a wacko chicks with guns moment," I put things in perspective."Hana?" Libra put a hand on Hana's shoulder."Don't mind me," she patted Libra's hand. "I'm diving for cover and not getting up until you, Brooke, Cáel, or Buffy tell me to get up. Sorry Sibeal, but I don't know you that well yet.""I understand," Mom agreed.To punctuate the awkwardness of the moment, Aisha (the Arabic swimsuit model) and three other SD ladies waltzed into the place and took a table. When the maytre dee tried to impede them, Aisha threatened to exterminate his entire extended family with a look alone. Been there, done that, and the maytre dee was nowhere close to being in my league.I had to think that through. Had Buffy called them, the SD would have been here before I arrived. Pamela was a possibility, except the SD still hated her over Constanza's maiming. If she told them my life 'was' in danger, they would still show up. My life wasn't in danger and Pamela wouldn't yank their chain.It had to be Juanita. The head of my bodyguard telling Elsa that I was in an exposed position with 9 armed Illuminati would have elicited this level of response. Pamela prodded Odette. Odette had a 'what do you want me to do' non-verbal exchange with Pamela then got up and went over to Aisha.Odette even remembered to navigate the room in such a manner Aisha and her team could keep an uninterrupted view of the threat. Pamela and Chaz's lessons were paying off. They weren't training her in the lethal arts. They were showing her how to not be an obstacle, which was better, given our current circumstances."Hana, don't hate Imogen. The only parent she's ever known was Granddad," I returned my attention to the crisis at hand."Oh, I'm sorry," Hana sent sympathetic waves Imogen's way. If there was a hint of 'you bitch' hidden within those words, none of us would admit it."Yes, yes," Imogen smiled back. "Father was a real troll.""That's not true," Hana responded. "I've met him and he has always been very nice to me. It was easy for me to look past the nations of dead he's murdered, his propensity to rape his daughters and his plans to destroy my Cáel.""I don't hold you to blame for not protecting Cáel more than you have. He's a handful and reminds you of your Father, the mass-murdering rapist. And Imogen, don't try to hurt Cáel using me again, you Bitch. I'm not a part of your circus. That doesn't render me powerless. I love more than I hate. I count a person great by the lives they save, not those they take. Where there is Valor, there is Hope and my fianc has both in spades. Do we understand one another?""Proving you are smarter than Ms. Sievert is not something which equates to being a threat," Deidre countered."Cáel, why aren't you saying something?" Brooke whispered to me."Because he knows better," Mom grinned. "This is a battle Hana has to win, or lose, on her own.""Cáel has plenty of women willing to go behind his back and kill people, Brooke. Now, if Hana asks for such a favor, we know it is not over some petty bullshit," rolled menacingly forth from Buffy as her feral countenance made a few of the Illuminati at the next table nervous."That won't be necessary," I broke up the tension. "We are as dysfunctional a family as they come, but we are family and we will all treat one another as such by the standards of the only one who matters. Clear?""You?" Deidre soothed me."No. Ferko Nyilas', my Father and the best man I've ever known. He taught me to never make excuses for your own behavior. Surrendering our control over our lives is a cop-out. If you want to continue acting like the creepy-ass bitch daughters of Cáel O'Shea, so be it. That is your choice to make. I care for you.""I care enough for you to fight Granddad over your futures. I hope all of you know I mean what I say. Whatever you decide to do, no matter how you act, I will always love you. I've made my choices and I am going to hold you responsible for yours. Let's eat lunch. It has been a rough fucking day and it isn't over yet."If there was ever any doubt, I destroyed those twelve hopeful bodyguards on the mats. They possessed neither the skill nor the savagery necessary in a warrior culture. We Amazons didn't recoil from pain. Our sisters' lives were on the line. That was why you practiced no-holds-barred fighting with, or without, weapons."We can learn," the lead Finn protested. The rest were getting over the physical and spiritual pain of being so easily beaten."My normal bodyguards go through three years of intense 24/7 training. Being a member of that elite body means you train in all forms of weapons as well as hand-to-hand combat techniques.""Once you've mastered the core physical and skill baseline requirements, and this core training never stops, no point is considered 'good enough', you begin learning at least two specialties. Those are disciplines such as close-protection, sniping, small unit tactics, infiltration, battlefield medicine, electronics, computing, communication systems, linguistics and 'training' expertise.""In my current team, the ones who fought at my side in Hungry and Romania, all have three specialties. Discounting their regimen since the age of five, each had been on the job in a professional capacity at least six years. The leader had eleven years in.""Finally, when you are at that level of excellence, you need a specific mindset. What you need to do is think why you shouldn't kill someone, not if you should. If there is any doubt, you strike. If you hesitate, someone close to you might be killed, not just me.""Look around you. If you aren't ready to kill for any of your companions, you will never cut it. Now, I'm going to have you shown out. I will have taxis take you back to your hotel. Think about it. Seriously, think about dedicating yourself to more than some stranger you've met on the internet.""You will be dedicating yourself to the other elven women in your group, to the death. That is the level of spiritual dedication it takes to be at my side. Go, take a rest, talk it over, search your souls. Call me if any of you want to continue and we can have lunch Sunday and make plans. Questions?""Do the other women around you do this, make those choices?" one of the Turkish women frowned while nursing a bruised jaw."No. They have it worse. They have thrown their old lives away, never to return. Each and every one has either murdered a human being, or attempted to, before they are even considered for the task.""Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't be having his conversation. You would never be given the chance. You are woefully unqualified in every way except spirit. Your willingness to cross the Atlantic to make your offers resonates with me, so I am both warning you this is horrible, horrible path you are taking and I am explaining precisely how slender any of your chances are of accomplishing your goals.""I, I don't know," whispered one of the Hungarian lasses."At the Seven Skulls, I led three such women into combat (Rachel, Charlotte and Saku) against a group of warriors who were fighting free of 500 elite Romanian Mountain Troops. Of the Romanians, nearly 200 were either dead, or wounded. The FBI Special Agent we took with us was badly wounded."One of the three was killed, a head shot, and the remainder left her body where she had fallen because the enemy were still out there and they had to protect me. The world will not bend to your sensitivities. Life around me is exceedingly dangerous and unforgiving," I finished.No immediate consensus united them. Fear and disbelief were the major vibes I was picking up. None of them were angry, insulted, or overly terrified."Time for you to go," Buffy concluded our meeting. "Tigger Maeve and Dora Farānak, would you please see Cáel's guests to the lobby." A new pleasure of Buffy's was using the House names of the Full-bloods she interacted with.I have taken a few mystic liberties:Maeve was a Celtic War Goddess ~ the Enslaver of Men.Farānak was a Scythian Goddess also known as the Lynx Goddess and the Silent Huntress.As for the other new hires:Daphne was, as explained earlier, of House Cotyttia (Thracian Goddess of Sex, War and Slaughter)Fabiola was of House Minerva (Roman Goddess of War & Strategy)Violet Maza was in House Oshun, the Yoruba Goddess of Love, Sexuality, Beauty and Diplomacy; Lady of the Orisha ~ life spirits.Paula Wadena was of House Cybele (Phrygian Earth Mother, Guardian of the Lion Throne)}They were dismissed and smart enough to know that was the best possible answer to their current predicament, learning your romantic adventure was actually a gory supernatural battle for survival. A growing number of Isharans had been gathering while I dealt with the wannabes. A few were amused, perhaps even understanding, of my actions.Soon enough, using her position as Record Keeper of House Ishara, Helena cajoled the other Amazons into giving us peace and quiet. Not all left. Watching a jury-rigged House Ishara work through its business in a semi-public setting was an event both unlooked for and possibly enlightening.For this gathering, we had 122 of the 159 members. The missing members were not close enough, or were providing a critical function that wouldn't allow them to be in New York on this night."Sisters, a moment of personal prayer for each of us to seek guidance from our Ancestors as we seek to continue their legacy," I intoned softly, calling the meeting to order.I had barely opened my eyes, failing to get any inspiration from Yakko, when the struggle began."Why are we including them in a House Ishara meeting?" Madori pointed out the three 'new hires' who were sticking around."Memasant (Amazon for to speak true)," I answered her. Since Daphne, Paula and Violet had clearly been sitting among us before the meeting began, I gave Buffy a disappointing frown. "Ishara respects these three for teaching the rest of you the Amazon language so that we can teach it to others, thus all of you becoming able to engage all our sisters in our native tongue.""I doubt any other House would extend this honor to others. Thankfully, we are not like any other House. We know better. We have all been outsiders. We aren't a 'normal' House and I am working toward us never being one. We have to be kind and just when necessary, and forgive when it is what the Host needs.""We will do this because we Isharans alone will decide on the prestige of our sisters. If the other Houses make an issue of it, who cares? None of them have made the sacrifices necessary to be Isharans. I know that you have not all gathered here tonight to hear me pontificate. Who wants to be first?""Will you accept a challenge?" Madori stood up. We had spread out in a ring, two Amazons deep, along the edges of the mats. I had never sat down."Put forth your complaint," I responded."You emphasize duties other than that of a House Head. You don't take the time to show up at initiation ceremonies. In essence, you ignore your sisters to advance your own prestige.""Yes, I am not showing up at the initiation ceremonies.""Yes, I prioritize other activities over running the day-to-day operations of our House.""Yes, you are utterly ignoring the two Amazons sitting at either side of me. I chose Buffy Ishara and Helena Ishara to lead this House because I knew I would have others issues coming up in my life concerning the Host.""Buffy, are you challenging me?""No, Wakko Ishara," she responded angrily. She wasn't angry with me. She had chosen the majority of the assembly and they were turning on me, thus her."Helena, are you challenging me?""No Wakko Ishara. I am intimately familiar with your work and the dangers you constantly confront for the greater Host," she answered in an equally hostile tone."Now that the issue of relevance has been dealt with, I will accept any challenge from any of you selfish, bigoted, power-hungry cunts who wish to put your own self-interest above that of our House. By all means, stumble over one another for the top spot," I mocked them. I'd played nice. No more.It was telling that my classification of any challenger was completely ignored. Madori and five supporters stood. In theory, challenges were the rare 1-on-1 Amazon experience. Another Amazon, Arianne, stood with another supporter."Cool beans," I nodded.I backed up, stepped off the mats and picked up the four axes I had pre-prepared. Back on the mat I went past my handful of supporters, brandished two weapons and advanced a quarter way onto the sparring area. The mass of my opponents muttered in confusion and resentment."Ishara, we have not trained in archaic weapons. Most of our facilities never had then," Madori protested."Amazons don't play fair," I glared. Several migrated to the walls to pick out whatever looked the least daunting. Buffy, Helena, Marsha, Daphne Cotyttia, Violet Oshun and Paula Cybele did likewise."Is this how you want to answer a challenge for leadership?" Madori glowered. "Cheating, utilizing a clear advantage in a farce of equality and justice?""No. Please step back and call every member of JIKIT," my eyes narrowed. "How about this, call the Amazon's contact with the Earth & Sky? Can't do that either? How about convince the 9 Clans to help us pursue a House obligation?""You duties as Chief Diplomat are not that of Isharan House Head and actually make you less of a House Head," she countered. She had chosen a short spear, using it two-handed. And that made Katrina what precisely?"I should fucking kill you," Buffy snarled."Madori Ishara, Dot-Ishara is not the Goddess of Scrabble. She is not the Goddess of," and Madori tried to catch me flat-footed with a spear-thrust. I was appalled at how easy I dealt with her. My right axe diverted her spear enough so when I twisted my stance, she missed. I placed the head of my left axe on her shoulder, blade against her throat."Madori, you lose. Sit back down and contemplate that you were beaten by a 22 year old man," I seethed. There was no 'you didn't give me a chance' bullshit. She had struggled for advancement in the Amazon way. Such people weren't crybabies. "Next."Arianne approached me with a shield and short sword. My read on the situation was she was going to use acrobatics to compensate for my superior reach. I readied myself."I don't suppose you would accept a suggestion we fight unarmed?" she put out there. I took two steps toward her then dropped my axes."I trust you," I looked down at her. I could see the 'oh, fuck me' written all over her face. The unfairness had been tossed in her lap. She put the point of her leaf-shaped blade under the left side of my ribcage, close to my kidney."Yield.""Never.""Yield, or I will kill you."I took a quarter-inch penetration when I clamped down on her right wrist and slammed my elbow into her face. A quick exchange of footwork ended up with both of us on the mat, Arianne on her back, sword pinned to the mat and her shield trapped between us. Head-butt followed head-butt until she was unresponsive.I stood up, blood oozing down my side."Water!" I barked. A bottled water was rolled my way. Three more Amazons were sizing me up. This challenge phase was far from over. I splashed water down on Arianne's face until she sputtered into wakefulness."Pathetic," I sneered at her. "This House is worth any and all of our lives. If you were the best candidate to lead this house and I refused to yield, then why did you spare me? Not only could you not kill me when you clearly could, you failed to do so even when it became an unequal contest of arms."Arianne was shamed and furious. I was treating her like a presumptuous, outsider woman."I'm feeling particularly generous in victory, Arianne, don't you dare stand up," I growled when she tried. "I will not kill you for your disrespect. I will not exile you from our House because doing so would show both of us failing to grasp one of the key principles of our People, learn. Learn and keep learning. A loss is nothing more than a temporary setback. Learn, don't repeat the same mistake twice and never stop striving for success until you take yourself to the cliffs."One of the two newes

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Cáel Defeats The Illuminati: Part 1

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025

A Walk In the Park & Aya's Finest Hour.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.Professional, conscript, or volunteer, they all have run away from battle.A Note on terminology and the metaphor of Cael's WorldThe terms Weave of Fate and 'Weave ' are interchangeable. Weave expresses the intersection ~ the sieve that all the possible futures entered to create what we perceive as this 'now'. Fate is the keeper of the sieve. The Present is what is happening right now. It is that infinitesimal which we interpret as Reality.The Legend is what happens when the present is pulled back through the weave and becomes the past. It is called the Legend because, as the former presents fade into the past, they blur; each becomes less precise and more open to interpretations. (It is as if you were looking at one thing through a prism; as you shift your stance, what you see appears to change.) Within the Legend exist mystic creatures, divinities, demons, spirits, all the Paradises and Hells.The Endless Black Sands is the final resting place for all failed legends. It is the place where all is forgotten until even former realities break down into the Black Sands. That Alal found a way to cheat this doom and retrieved Shammuramat, was truly remarkable; even though Fate 'balanced accounts' with him by sending Ajax and his war band along that path as well.If you wonder how that was a balancing, consider this:The only people Alal cares for (in his own brutal fashion) are Shammy, now Sakura, and his only true offspring in 5,000 years, Cáel.Fate sent Ajax.With Ajax available to test Cáel, how could Alal resist the temptation to place one of the planet's greatest killer on a collision course with both of his loves in order to test Cáel?The Veil is a function of the Weave that protects sentient perception from perceiving the Weave and disguises the otherness of creatures of legend, unless they willingly allow themselves to be seen, which they usually do only so they can 'physically' interact with the Present. Some sentient minds, through horrific trauma such as the Augurs' self- poisonings, through the quirks of Fate via Holy Men, Mad Prophets and Doomsayers such as Temujin, or through the touch of legends such as Ishara, can sense the fluctuations in the Veil and the things behind it. Cáel, in truth, has been shaped by all three vehicles (Ishara, the Augurs and Temujin's legend.)Oblivion is what awaits Reality if the Weave ever fails beyond its ability to heal itself. This threat is what keeps the creatures of legend from constantly traversing the Weave. They have to weaken the Weave to do so or to use powers in Reality, the greater the distortion they create, the greater the weakening that occurs.End Note(Two days ago, with thirty days left)"That was fantastic, Lady Yum-Yum," I sighed."What did you just call me?" she panted softly. We were naked in one of our Task Force bedrooms that was actually used for sleeping, and now sex. I was still pressed against her reposed body, despite our recent exertions. She was on her stomach, arms stretched down her sides.She was sweaty and short of breath. She still had her wits about her and an awareness of our situation: victory sex, me still aroused and her fingernails scratching my thighs and buttocks. My equally sticky body was pressing down on her, even though I supported my weight with outstretched hands placed on either side of her shoulders."Lady Yum-Yum," I mumbled as I kissed the back of her head. "That was the first thing that sprang to mind when you introduced yourself." I could see her working that through her highly complex mind."When writing your memoirs, please remember to me refer to me that way," she began to flex her thighs and abdominal muscles, so that her ass was pumping against my hips."Only if this helps persuade you to give me a repeat performance.""I'll consider,," she purred, then paused to catch her breathe. "You are in phenomenal shape, young man. Do any of your other lady-loves have pet names?""Nope," I grunted as I withdrew.She had teased me with anal sex hints repeatedly, yet never delivered. She liked the game and the power she wielded. My body being on top of hers was only an illusion of a tactical advantage. She knew me pretty well already. I wasn't the kind of guy who would use physical strength to overwhelm her vulnerable position. This being so, a cerebral skirmish only excited her more.We waged a war that was based on intakes of breath, the shimmying of muscles and the trembling of fatigued flesh. The prize for me was the winning. Lady Fathom Worthington-Burke played tricky-clever, but I was better. And at times like this, she admitted it. She gave me what I wanted. I rolled her.Straight, face-to-face fucking. The Lady's pulsar gaze trapped my vision. She smiled, grudgingly at first, then more and more sensually as my glans returned to her g-spot that it had scouted out earlier. This was 'surrender by the Fathom method'. She gave me what I wanted, so I took what I wanted, and pleasured her at the same time."Mmm, you are a bad, bad boy," she lapsed into her trashy West-End Londoner accent. It was perfect and an erotic whiplash when added to her native, refined manner of speech. This wasn't a trick this time, it was a treat. It was a gift, reciprocated. The tactile sensation of her cervix becoming a soft, spongey chalice for my final penetrations was icing on an all-so-luscious cake.I tendered her a tribute worthy of my first love, Dr. Kimberly Geisler. It was strange to find a woman like her. Outside of Kimberly, I had found only one other woman who graciously offered her ultimate pleasure paean to the hundreds of lovers who had become before. That other woman, it still floored me, was Buffy Du, no, Buffy Ishara, First of my House."Oh!" and several heartbeats later, "Cáel!" several hissed series of breathes and then, "Goddess! You are better than good!"Two thoughts collided within me:A) I had never seen a more controlled orgasmic explosion in my life. I was going to have to tell Buffy about this, once we were safely in bed. If it was office talk, she'd punch me through a window and that would make Aya cry. I couldn't have that.B) Goddess? I thought she was Anglican. This needed further study. This treatment was really nice. I leaned in, kissed her. Lady Yum-Yum smiled. "Take me to the shower. Play time is over, Cáel," and she was back to all business."You are treating me like a fleshy vibrator," I pointed out."But you are a very finely-trained, fleshy vibrator, you wonderful boy," she stroked my cheek. "Shower! Now!" So, like a Good Boy, International Merchant of Death and Chosen Son of a Divine Amazon Goddess, I slid off her, then cradled her in my arms as I rose from our totally trashed mattress.I didn't smile when it was confirmed that I wasn't carrying her out of any romantic after-coitus gesture. She couldn't walk. Woot! It took a bit of effort to get us into the walk-in shower and to get the water just perfect, all while keeping her cradled. She helped out by keeping her arms tightly around my neck."Cheeky bastard," she whispered in my ear. "You are gloating." Then she nibbled on my earlobe for good measure."Damn right," I did gloat as I let her slide down to her feet. "You are pretty sweet for an Old Chick." She wasn't angry, oh no."If you were trying to get me to say, 'I'll get you next time," she licked, nipped and sucked on my nipple as if I was the one with the mammaries in this relationship, "it worked." Double-Woot! I was going to get that damn four-way! I did coax a vigorous shower-quickie out of my Lady. Afterward, she shifted herself so she could get under one of the steaming showerheads."Cáel, why didn't you use a condom," she mused. Gak!"You aren't on Birth Control?" I panicked. She laughed at me."No. I've never been a fan of hormones replacement. I like the way I am. Do you expect the women to do all the anti-pregnancy measures?""No," I gulped."Don't' be so worried," she laughed. "We had unprotected sex one time. The odds are astronomical that an 'oops' happened, right?" Yes, it was a single sexual encounter, but included three firings of the one-eyed hydra, sigh."You are asking a man who has five children on the way, Fathom," I cautioned her."Oh, I'll update my files and make an appointment to seen a local, reliable O B G Y N," she slipped back into her unflappable British resolve. "Get along. I need to get cleaned up," she cupped my scrotum, ", again. So scoot." I scooted.I had updated my condom supply despite the forbiddance Dot Ishara, my Matron Goddess, beamed to me from the Other Side. She could only complain so much. I'd upped my selection of fortune cookies and added a fresh raisin chocolate brownie for my next visit with her. I had to get over to the other side of the floor to get a fresh shirt, and boxers.Yum-Yum had ripped off my shirt (a little kinky) and boxers (a little painful). I wasn't going commando, so I decided to quick step it before something important happened that required me to yank yet another solution out of my sexually-fueled creative imagination.How Lady Yum-Yum and I ended up in bedThe Secret Societies' long awaited war had begun in Africa and in India. The Amazons couldn't effectively reinforce these two homeland regions. No, my people's edge came from my stupid stunts (e.g., the fight outside that club in Chicago), the judicious application of a few kind words and a whole lot of targeted killing on my part along with that of my Amazons.Those actions convinced the Booth-gan (aka the Thuggee, but we no longer say that because it irritates them) and the Coils of the Serpent to toss in their lot with their local Amazons. They did the whole 'hostage exchange' thing as well. Two children from each side. That was a no-brainer on my part. All three concerned parties were willing to let their adults die if necessary. Their children were another matter.In Asia, the Seven Pillars had made only minimal progress. We now suspected the 7P had planned to roll over the three of the 9 Clans that were in their Sphere of Influence, the now 6 Ninja Families, the Black Lotus and the Booth-gan in rapid succession. A preemptive strike against both the Khanate and the Ninja were supposed to cripple those two factions.Against the Khanate, that had been a dismal failure. In Nippon, the Ninja were in dire straits and would be decades recovering from the original 7P blitz. But the combination of US black ops help and the infusion of Amazons and Okinawans had staved off extinction for the moment. Strategically, these failed actions were tying down 7P resources that the largest Secret Society had planned to move elsewhere.In China, the Black Lotus exhibited the same resilience and deceptiveness they'd shown in combating the Seven Pillars by themselves for the past 65 years. The chaos gripping the PRC was a blessing from the Ancestors, the four sacred spirits (lung/dragons, phoenix, unicorn and tortoise), and the nine entities (I now really had to know this stuff.) Word that a 'dragon' had appeared in the West had only heightened their desire to aid in our new alliance.Those factors meant a reprieve for India. As the 7 Pillars began ramping up their operations; increasing racial tensions, minor terrorist action and military and industrial sabotage; the Booth-gan and Amazon united resources and purpose. The Booth-gan would assassinate 7P operatives and pawns while the Amazons would hit 7P front companies and businesses based out of the People's Republic of China. (This activity also helped ratchet up India-PRC tensions and anti-PRC public sentiment in India.)In Africa, the Condotteiri had squandered precious hours reallocating resources before launching their assaults. Like everyone but the 7P, they had been caught flat-footed by the renewal of the Secret War. The Coils of the Serpent had never been overly antagonistic toward the Condos, since their interests rarely collided. The same went for the Coils and the Amazons.Two factors inspired a deep Amazon-Coil bond. They were both groups with deep African roots and a shared Central-Western African spirituality. Added to that was the growing power of the Coils of the Serpent in the past fifty years. Their main opponents had been the Illuminati who had a Eurocentric view. Pan-Africanism was in the Coil's best interest, but ran contrary to European economic interests.Long term, allying with the African Amazons was a good investment for the Coils. The 9 Clans relationships had already proved to be advantageous on multiple occasions in the past. The leaders of the Coils knew their power was rising with the fortunes of Sub-Saharan Africa. To them, the rise of the PRC and the Seven Pillars was a looming threat in the East.They had been handed a golden opportunity to deal with this enemy before the enemy was ready to deal with them. They had been 'gifted' with over 2000 highly-skilled, fanatical Amazon warriors as stealthy muscle to add to their own, more subtle arsenal. For the Amazons, it was access to continent wide clandestine intelligence network that could unmask their enemies' hiding places.The Condotteiri wiped out an Amazon freehold in Cameroon and a few Coils safe houses in Lagos, Nigeria. In the Republic of Mali, over 250 Condo mercenaries were slaughtered at a 'secret' installation and their armory was looted. Ebola kept breaking out in the West. The dominant regional powers, the Republic of the Congo and Nigeria, were tottering as a result of decades of economic mismanagement, civic, ethnic, tribal and religious strife, corruption and unreliable militaries.The scene was ripe for a secret conflict as well as public carnage. For the Joint International Khanate Interim Taskforce (JIKIT), this presented a dilemma. They were involved with a growing global struggle that went far beyond the Khanate and Central Asia. Their secret society allies strenuously objected to bringing any more 'outsider' people into the group.Handing over covert intelligence to other governmental agencies in the US and UK, then telling them they wouldn't divulge their sources went over like scuba diving with cement goulashes. Explaining to upper level bigwigs that they had a 'trust-based' team went nowhere. Those officials didn't care about a bunch of domestic/international criminals' sensibilities.They wanted names and faces. They wanted addresses, phone taps and bank account numbers. It would all be 'Secret', 'Top Secret', or 'Eyes Only'. It would all be vulnerable to all kinds of governmental subpoenas too. No threats were made from 'my' side. They'd killed more people than the Black Death and the lives of a few thousand bureaucrats (and their families) in London and Washington D.C. didn't mean shit to them.Selena did offer to kidnap some family members to get the message across. Javiera put her hands over her ears and began singing 'la-la-la' as she stormed out of the room. Lady Fathom suggested that we arrange a private meeting with the UK Prime Minister and the US President. It took a few seconds for Mehmet and Javiera to realize she wasn't kidding.That was a nearly impossible task, which on this taskforce meant we had to give it a shot. Let's just say that the US Attorney General, Eric Holder and Chairman John Jay of the British Joint Intelligence Committee thought their respective representative had lost her God-damn mind. I went to the Khanate for help.Twenty-four hours later Azerbaijan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Armenia and Georgia (yes, two tiny Christian nations) joined the Khanate. The integration of the first two nations had been in the works since the formation of the Turkic Council in 2009. For me, Temujin upped the time table strictly for our benefit. Turkey and Azerbaijan became the two newest states within the Khanate.The third, Tajikistan was different and the shakiest addition. The unoccupied title of 'Khwarazm Shah' was created, suggesting the Iranian Tajiks had a special status inside the Khanate. 'Khwarazm' referenced the Khwarazmian dynasty that ruled the last of the great, Persian-led, Iranian Super-States and dated back to the 13th century AD. 'Shah' was Persian for King.The announced status of Armenia and Georgia was quite a bit different. They become 'Protectorates', i.e., semi-autonomous states within the Khanate who were 'vassal' states, responsible only to the Great Khan and his personal representative in the region (ah, that would be me.)So, the first three entries made sense, strong geographic, ethnic and/or religious ties, plus this was part of the Khanate's agenda anyway. But Armenia and Georgia? That was the doing of the other regional secret society, the Hashashin.The Caucasus Mountains were the backyard of the Hashashin. They knew who to blackmail, pinch and kill to make the 'take-over' possible. The main stumbling block was the long Khanate-Hashashin history: the Mongols had destroyed the historical stronghold of the Hashashin, Alamut, in 1256 CE. In a way, that disaster had transformed the sect, making it move away from their strict Nizārī Ismaili roots and into a more ethnically and religiously diverse group that was centered in the Caucasus region.Temujin made it clear to this group that he was making a deal under my auspices. Both Armenia and, Georgia (as well as the future Kurdistan, his plans for the creation of that last state were told to me under condition of secrecy) would be part of my palatinate principality (along with Hungary, if we ever got there). Riki Martin defined the terms for me: I was the voice of those three regions in the Khan's court.They wouldn't have to deal with Muslim Khanate officials. They would deal with me and 'my officials'. If the Khanate had a problem with my principality, they came to me to resolve the issue. That translated to me giving a nod to the existing regimes ruling in Armenia and Georgia (along with the infusion of a few Hashashin supporters.)Publically the future of those three political and ethnic entities would be confirmed later. The existing governments knew three things.1) I was that madman who had led the charge in Romania, clearly a man of bravery and humility. The odds were good that I was going to be a man they could rely on to adequately represent their interests with the government that currently mattered the most (aka The Khanate.)2) The Great Khan thought the world of me and in this nascent New World Order that meant way more than membership in NATO, or begging the United Nations to apply sanctions of dubious value.3) There would be a change of leadership by about 2040. Children of excellent ethnic parentage would succeed me in this ceremonial role in the region. These new princes and princesses would be the scions of the line of Nyilas and representatives of the various states (translation: I was going to be sexing it up with Georgian, Armenian and Kurdish members of the Hashashin).That would establish the three 'cadet' branches of House Ishara (Nyilas) (which I've listed because all three alphabets are so freaking beautiful) that could weave the Amazons, 9 Clans and the varying ethnic identities into a quilt that could stand together as a force in the Great Khan's inner circle. This new spate of aristocratic, 'Archer'-themed lineages would be:1. Moisari, in Georgia.2. Aġeġnajig, in Armenia.3. Ram- alsham, in Kurdistan.This fiction made the key named entities happy. The combination of all these events applied another jolt to the heart of the global power structure (after all, Turkey was in NATO) and made the US and UK governments back off.By tidying up the world map, we'd brought our governmental chiefs to the chilling revelation that their sole conduit for insider information regarding the ongoing global calamity had reacted to their intransience by simply letting them be blind-sided by events. After the fact, Javiera and Lady Fathom relayed that message very clearly.

god tv american amazon death head world children father chicago europe english stories uk china house mother lost secret hell law state reality land british care west africa brothers chinese european sleep government washington dc turning influence mom current brazil professional santa europa african bbc rome east turkey fantasy cnn boss park ladies iran beyonce captain laws hearing straight hunt mine council concerns narrative honest tears nigeria records worse nations sister weapons southern sisters honestly fate ninjas independence sexuality worlds united nations republic twenty internal wtf fool nato ot fantastic disorders pillars call of duty explaining ram bay bitch nepal sinners sorrow shut romania sake khan exile goddess congo afterlife hungary keeper northern correct congressional instructions shower veil chang budapest rat apprentice added booth illuminati hurry vietnamese sisterhood serpent mali sd auschwitz explicit casper nypd other side ancestors persian task force ebola new world order lagos tibet himalayas birth control summer camp runners sphere novels armenia sneak ajax crawl tibetans arial us presidents martial cameroon azerbaijan spidey oblivion armenian al jazeera defeats top secret malaysian georgian chung traitor strategically gong anglican gathered threatening secret societies yum good boys central asia weep u s condo madi erotica handing goddesses archery bengal black death mmm secret wars weave mongolian oaths south china sea kurdish ish messina sub saharan africa times new roman cheeky pla sakura kurdistan clans high priestess aye chuckie fathom kursk mockery prc gak woot mehmet tajikistan condos eurocentric nepalese caucasus coil tahoma mongols hells uk prime minister errand hittite finest hour eric holder party lines pan africanism yum yum arwen council meeting first house seven pillars lhasa black hand restrain claymore dali lama black lotus jian us attorney general coils in asia saku unconquered javiera gurkha squirts katmandu cael han chinese intelligence services tibetan plateau epona tisza council chambers temujin alerted holy men ismaili melena febe british sas doomsayers literotica okinawans death song caucasus mountains 7p niz spetsnaz free tibet house heads msolistparagraph house head publically mycenaeans black sands shammy great khan his english alamut paradises marda thuggee

Cáel Leads the Amazon Empire, Book 2: Part 16

Proactive - Interviews for investors

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2025

Back Home, One week later.By FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.There is something worse than waking up and not knowing where you are: you could wake up and not know who you are.Note: World Events Stuff ~ aka Why things are happening in Cáel's lifeThe phone was from Iskender. His boss, Oyuun Tömörbaatar (OT), the former UN ambassador from Kazakhstan and now the informal and unrecognized UN representative and chief diplomat of the Khanate to the same august body, wanted to talk with me, immediately. OT wasn't being diplomatic at the moment, that would come later.{Now this is going to get convoluted}Any inquiries to the Khanate that didn't also include immediate official recognition of the Khanate currently were being steered my (and Hana's) way. For all the behind closed doors crap, he had me, his loyal ass-monkey mutton-head. I held faint hope that this latest meeting would work out to my benefit. For the meeting, I traveled light, only Naomi (the Amazon) and Chaz (British SRR) watched over me.Now fathers who know me, hide their daughters. I'd earned my 'scoundrel' reputation. T. Sarangerel, OT's daughter, was in the room when Iskender ushered me in. She gave me an uncertain look, I shrugged and she smiled. It took me 3 nano seconds to figure that out, OT was scoping me out as a potential son-in-law. I was in Temujin's Inner Circle and a man who he trusted (a rarity). Any union with me would strengthen OT's clan's standing in the new regime.The genetic footprint Temujin, and his immediate family collectively, had put down in the 13th and 14th centuries CE today was vast. He needed that to make his plans for the internal reorganization of the Khanate work. The old republics would go away, to be replaced by a system akin to the Byzantine 'themes, the re-organization of regions based on the recruitment of the Tumens.The Khanate was aiming for an 'Autocratic Republic' ~ a term invented in the 19th century. My use of this terminology was based on my gut instinct, Alal's host of memories involving every form of governance, and my experience with human nature. That clued me in to what Temujin was up to, his Greater Plan. He wasn't going to form a false-front government. He was going to retain the decision-making powers and do so openly, thus 'Autocratic'.He also planned to have a bicameral legislative branch. The Upper House would be based in Tumens and bureaucratic leadership, intellectual standing, religious sects, and tribal entities. This body would be based on merit, not primogeniture. The Lower, main chamber, would be a democratically-elected assembly (aka a democratic republic) that advised him on policy matters, thus 'Republic'.All the power would remain in the Great Khan's hands and would be exercised by his genetic descendants (which some geneticists estimated as being as high as 25% of the Central Asian population.) Marrying into that extended family would be easy, the 'family' itself would have a vested interesting in supporting a state that benefited them.Men and women could exercise power in the government through marriage alliances, identical to the manner Hana was working through me. Being surrounded by very populous countries in various states of belligerence, empowering women wouldn't be an issue since every willing mind and pair of hands mattered. Outsiders who shone through could be offered a spouse and brought into the ruling elite since polygamy was permissible.In the Khanate there would be universal compulsive suffrage (everyone 18+ was legally required to vote) to decide on the representatives in the new legislative body. Everyone was expected to fight, so everyone voted. It would be modeled on the Duma of early 20th century Imperial Russia. Unlike the ill-fated Tsar Nicholas II, Temujin would be much more attentive to the voice of the people, in the Information Age, he had to.Or so I hoped. I spewed forth my ideas to OT who didn't agree, or disagree with my vision. Perhaps Temujin and I did share a bond that went beyond obligation. OT then pulled a 'Pamela'."He told me he knew immediately you were his brother when you and I shared that vision," he commented out of nowhere."His words: You (Earth and Sky) are the old. He (meaning me) is the new. He (me again) will show us the way." My, that was nice, obtuse and not at all helpful. What did OT want? My good buddy, the Great Khan, wanted to cash in on Hana's and my sudden popularity. His most pressing need remained 'time'. He needed to have a cease-fire in the wings when his offensive resumed the next day.The Earth and Sky had moved, well, the Heaven and Earth to get the Tumens and their accompanying national armies up and running after only a two day respite. Thanks to me, Manchuria was a mess. The Russians had carried out my 'Operation: Funhouse' with mixed, mostly positive results.Dozens of smaller Chinese military police units along the border went, 'inactive' was the term most often used in the media. They didn't disarm, yet they didn't fight the Russians either. They sat back and let events unfold. The issue wasn't the Chinese's willingness to fight and die for their country. It was the schizophrenic government in Beijing.The PRC didn't want to wage a war with the Russian Federation at that moment. The Khanate was the priority. There were two fundamentally incompatible courses of action favored for dealing with the Russians:One large group advocated a passive Option A: let the Russians step in and shield the three remaining provinces making up Manchuria that were still in Chinese possession. Later, China would use military, economic and political means to edge the Russians out, once the Khanate was dealt with.A sizable faction favored a more aggressive Option B: play a game of chicken with Vladimir Putin. Tell the Bear not to come across the border while threatening him with a bloody and pointless (for him) guerilla war if he did intervene. Events on the ground were not providing a lot of support for that school of thought,However, this split at the highest levels of leadership left the local and regional commanders to try and muddle through as best they could. To the local commanders defending the Amur River side of the Chinese-Russian border, common sense dictated that they not oppose the Russian crossings, because the Russian 35th Army would kill them.All their military units had gone west to the Nen River line. With no heavy weapons and little air support, the People's Armed Police (PAP) (paramilitary) and the Public Security Bureau (regular police) units would be wiped out for little gain.Russia's GRU (Military Intelligence) sweetened the pot by allowing the police units to remain armed and in formation. It could be argued that they weren't even committing treason. At any time, they could throw themselves into the battle, or form the core of a resistance movement. 'Conserving your strength' had been a hallmark of the Communist Chinese struggle against the Imperial Japanese and Nationalists forces from the 1920's until 1945 and it had served them well.For the party officials, civil authorities and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Army Air Force (PLAAF), and Army Navy (PLAN) who had gone with Option B, things weren't working out. In the north of Heilongjiang province at Morin Dawa/the Nen River line, the regional commander of the ad hoc forces facing the Khanate decided to duke it out with the Russian 36th Army as well. He was boned from the get-go.The PLAAF's overall command and control had been badly disrupted in the first few hours of The Unification War and had never fully recovered. Of the 22 air regiments that the PLAAF had started the war with in the Shenyang Military District (NE China), only 5 remained as effective formations flying, on average, a meager 20% of their original complement of advanced Shenyang J-16's, J-11's, Chengdu J-10's and Xian JH-7's aircraft.Replacing their aircraft losses meant sending up aged Shenyang J-8's (rolled out in 1980) and Nanchang Q-5's (in 1970) to fly and die in droves fighting their technologically superior Khanate foes. To add insult to injury, China's fleet of 97 Su-30MKK/MK2's (built in Russia) had suffered numerous suspicious mechanical and electronic failures, rendering them either flying coffins, or space holders in bomb-proof shelters.Furthermore, of the forces arrayed in the far north, only two of the five air regiments were responding. Two of the other three had begun displacing south into the Beijing Military District and preparing to defend the capital city. The fifth formation had another problem, North Korea (, more on that later.)In opposition to those two Chinese air regiments (roughly 60 aircraft of mixed types) stood seven complete and fresh Russian air regiments (over 400 front-line aircraft) and that didn't include the regiment and elements of the Far East Naval Aviation which was ALSO watching North Korea (, again more on that later.) The latter was of small comfort to the forces trying to hold the already compromised Nen River line.Behind those valiant troops, along the much more defensible Amur River line, the commander of the key city of Heihe sided with the Option A group and let the Russian 35th Army cross the river unopposed. By the time the PLA commanding general of the 'Nen Force' (the 69th Motorized Division and the subordinate 7th Reserve Division) figured that out, he was already in a shooting war with the Russians. So his supply lines weren't in danger, they were lost.The final indignity took place at Zalantun. The commander of the 3rd Reserve Div. had died during the attempt to recapture Zalantun. His replacement died when his helicopter was shot down as he was coming to assume command. In the absence of these officers, the divisional chief of staff told his men, including two hastily hustled forward mechanized brigades, to put down their arms. That meant 'Nen Force' was completely cut-off and surrounded.One battalion of the 36th Russian Motorized Brigade (yes, too many 36's running around) disarmed the Chinese troops while the rest, plus the 74th Independent Motorized Brigade raced for the prize, the city of Qiqihar. The last major mechanized formation of the 36th Rus. Army, the 39th MB was following them. However, instead of manning Qiqihar's defenses, the Chinese garrison in that city was waging war on its own populace.It wasn't only in Qiqihar; chaos reigned throughout Heilongjiang province. The Provincial Head of the Communist Party, Wang Xiankui, supported Option A. The Provincial Governor, Lu Hao, went with Option B. Both figures were rising stars in the PRC. Wang had ordered the still forming Reserve Divisions and the PAP units to disperse, thus avoiding any untimely confrontations with the Russians.Lu, without consulting Wang, ordered the same forces to launch a violent crackdown on all dissident forces, specifically all racial minorities. (It turned out that Lu was also a member of the Seven Pillars and his witch-hunt was aimed at getting the Earth and Sky organization operating in Heilongjiang).For the men and women on the other end of those phone conversations, there was no 'right' answer. Lest we forget, their organizations were already degraded by the Anthrax outbreak. Both men were powerful and represented China's future leadership, so if the person in charge at the ground level obeyed the wrong one, they could be assured of being roasted by the other.Some did try to do both, repress and disband at the same time. That meant that in the process of making mass arrests among an already war-fearful and plague-fearful populace, the law enforcement infrastructure began disintegrating.The problem with Lu's/7P's plan was that there was no 'revolutionary' organization to round up. That wasn't how the Earth and Sky operated in North-East China. They remained in tiny sabotage and reconnaissance cells. While they were scurrying for cover from the police crackdown, an opportunity presented itself.The afflicted minorities were getting furious with their treatment. These minorities saw themselves as loyal Chinese, yet they were being dragged out into the streets, put in detentions centers and (in a few cases) summarily executed. Being less than 10% of the overall population, resistance had never crossed their minds. It seemed all that those defenseless people could do was pray for Russian intervention forces to arrive.Within that mix of fear, betrayal and rage, the E and S discovered a way to start the dominos falling. The small, well-armed and well-trained E and S cells began ambushing police detachments. Weapons from those dead men and women were turned over to the pissed off locals before the cell went off to stalk the next police unit.Wash, rinse and repeat. It became a perverse and bloody case of wish fulfillment. Lu and the 7P's had been looking for an insurrection and they started one. Even though a miniscule portion of the population was involved, from the outside looking in, it reinforced the Putin Public Affairs initiative that portrayed Putin (and his army) as coming in to restore order to a collapsing civil system, which he was helping disrupt.From Moscow, the PRC's indecisiveness looked like Manna from Heaven. For the massive numbers of Russian soldiers riding through the Manchurian countryside, it felt like they were rolling into Arkham Asylum. Unlike the NATO countries' professional armies, Russia remained a largely conscript force whose normal term of service was only one year. These unseasoned troops could never tell if the local military, military police and police would attack until they rolled up on the Chinese units.At the start of that Day One of Operation: Funhouse, the Russian ROE (Rules of Engagement) was 'Ask and Verify'. It was tactically advantageous for the belligerent Chinese forces to lie about their intentions, then begin shooting at the Russians when they got close enough to hurt them. By Day Two, the standard front-line Russian soldier had adjusted that ROE to 'if they look at us wrong, light their asses up'. By Day Three, the officers had stopped trying to enforce Moscow's ROE orders.That was fine for the combat and rear echelon support troops because both the Chinese and Russian governments had another series of problems and they all centered around Pyongyang and Kim Jong-un's declaration that North Korea would intervene as well, without letting anyone know who he was 'intervening' against. To keep everyone guessing, the North Korean' People's Army was massing on all three borders, facing off with the PRC, Russia and South Korea. To prove his diplomatic intentions, Kim pledged to only mobilize half of his reserves, merely 4,250,000 extra men and women to go with his 950,000 strong standing army.It didn't take a military, or economic genius to realize the North Korean's chronically 'near death' economy was stampeding off a cliff. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was in the middle of an oil crisis and Kim was increasing their fuel consumption by 400% while decreasing his workforce by 10%. To put it in perspective, the US unemployment was around 6%. Now imagine that in one week's time it would become 26%. One week, no severance packages. Would the population become unsettled?But wait, it gets better. The Secret War was colliding with the Real World in more places than Manchuria. Setting aside the assassination attempt (Grrr) of Hana Sulkanen, my fiancée, six Nipponese elders (two women and four men) appeared in the personal quarters of the Japanese Prime Minister on the first full night of 'Funhouse' and relayed their urgent requests.Those six were the Head of the Six (formerly Seven) Ninja Families and they were there at, my urging. Cause I'm an idiot and requiring the deaths of Romanians in my personal crusade obviously wasn't enough. Now I was asking the Japanese Defense Forces (JDF) to pony up as well. So take a deep breath and put on the hip-waders.You might be wondering why I would want the JDF, see, there was part of Operation: Funhouse that was hitting a predictable snag, namely the Korea People's Navy Force (KPNF) and the uncertain determination of the PLAN:The KPNF's vessels were rather old, small and crappy. They also had a love affair with anything that could launch a torpedo and they listed over 700 of these floating deathtraps (only 13 of which could be classified as surface warships) and the fanatical crews to take them into battle.The PLAN's numbers were far more realistic and the fleet generally more modern. Only their North (18 surface warships) and East Fleets (22 plus 5 'elsewhere') could play any role in an upcoming FUBAR, and both fleets were heading out to sea, mainly to avoid the sporadic, but increasingly effective Khanate air strikes.The FU to be BAR'ed was the Russian Far East Fleet (RFEF) (6 warships strong, ) that had seized on this crazy idea (per my suggestion) to sail south, around the Korean peninsula so they could land elements of the 55th Guards Red Banner Marine Brigade (the 165th Marine Regiment and the 180th Marine Tank Battalion).Theoretically they were going to be the 'Southern Shielding Force' that would interpose itself between the Khanate and Beijing. It should surprise no one that the RFEF's flotilla was unequal to the task of taking their destination, the port of Qinhuangdao, by amphibious assault. Fortunately for the Gods of War (which did not include me), there were five other navies involved.Meanwhile, South Korea was having kittens because their always crazy northern kin were slathering on the insanity. (In how many Buddhist countries do people flock to the temples and pray that their neighbor attacks someone, anyone else, but them? That wasn't a religious conundrum I wanted to deal with.) N.Korea mobilizing meant S.Korea had to mobilize, which sucked down on their GNP as well.Besides, N.Korean dams and coal-powered plants kept the lights on in Seoul. Erring on the side of caution, the S. Korea (aka Republic of Korea, ROK) Army suggested calling up only one million of their three million person reserve force in order to assure Cousin Kim that this was a purely defensive gesture. It didn't work. Kim Jong-un castigated the ROK for antagonizing him, despite his declaration that he 'might' feel like invading the South in the immediate future.Into the emerging crisis, the ROK Navy could sortie nineteen small surface ships. Japan's Navy wasn't up to its old imperial standards, but could still deploy 45 surface warships. The 800 lb. gorilla in the room was the core of the 7th Fleet stationed at Yokosuka, Japan, the USS carrier George Washington and her 14 escort vessels.If the George Washington was the gorilla, RIMPAC 2014 was King Kong. 22 nations, 50 ships, including the USS carrier Ronald Reagan were engaged in war games in the Central Pacific. With them were 5 vessels of the PLAN, had Kim Jong-un just kept his mouth shut, this wouldn't have been an issue. Hell, if the Khanate had not come into existence and launched its Unification War, but he had and they did,To show the US was taking this escalation seriously (without tipping their hand that they knew about Funhouse, Carrier Strike Group One (CSG 1) (the Carl Vinson +10) was rushing across the Pacific from San Diego. CSG 3 (the John C. Stennis +2) was being assembled hastily so that they could rendezvous with CSG 1 ASAP. So many brave souls running toward the danger, sometimes I hate myself.So now does it make sense that I found myself in a room with a US Senator tasked with riding herd on me?Anyway, there were the other three navies still unaccounted for, Taiwan / the Republic of China (ROC) (22 surface ships), Vietnam (7) and the Philippines (3). Taiwanese involvement was easy to explain, the PRC refused to acknowledge them as an independent country and probably never would.The Vietnam People's Navy was tiny in both numbers and tonnage. Five of the vessels were 1960's Soviet frigates. What Vietnam did have was a huge grudge against the PRC. The PLA invaded Vietnam in 1979 and devastated the northernmost provinces, killing as many as 100,000 civilians.The PLAN had walloped the VPN in 1974 (technically South Vietnam) and again in 1988. Out in the South China Sea were two island archipelagos; the Paracel (occupied by a small PLA garrison and claimed by the PRC, Vietnam and the ROC) and Spratlys Islands (disputed by Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, the PRC, the ROC, and Vietnam).The Philippines had a grand total of three frigates (all between 50 and 70 years old). 99% of the time, they faced a hopeless struggle enforcing Philippines' South China Sea claims, except they were now experiencing that 1% where the PRC found itself in a life and death struggle. Even then, the PLAN's South Sea Fleet was hands-down the biggest player with 26 surface warships centered on the Carrier Liaoning.Except (and there always seems to be an 'except') virtually all the PLAN's naval aviation had gone off to fight the Khanate and it wasn't coming back, ever. In the air, the Philippines was next to useless. What did they have of offer in the struggle for the South China Sea? Bases. The ROC and Vietnam had much more to bring to the table.The Vietnamese People's Liberation Air Force (VPLAR) had about 50 front-line aircraft and 175 nearly obsolete models ~ the same models the PLAAF was now piloting. The ROC Air Force could put up 325 almost-new fighters that were now superior to their opponents on the mainland. Why would I give a shit?Things cascade. The Khanate Air Force took a two-day long deep breath as Putin's 'Policeman that only looks like an invading army' started their intervention. Forty-eight hours later, the Khanate started the fourth stage (the first lunge, defeat the PLA's counter-attack then the second lunge) of the campaign.Their initial air power was still skating on thin ice where maintenance was concerned. They need more time to thoroughly rest their pilots and bring all their top-flight equipment to 100% working condition. Against them, in two days the PLAAF's assets increased by over 250 fighters.In turn, the Khanate had added their constituent state air forces plus nearly 80 new cutting edge air planes and 25 drones. Phase Four saw rolling airstrikes all along the forces massing in front of the northern and central Tumens. For a few hours, the PLA thought they knew what was going on.They were wrong and this was where my meeting with OT came in. Jab with the right, cut them down with the left. The left in my case was Tibet. Yeah, Tibet. Economic value = not nearly enough. From the very start of the war, a small number of seemingly inconsequential air strikes had seriously eroded the PLA and PLAAFs combat power in the Tibetan Plateau while leaving the roads, bridges and towns intact.Common military logic dictated that the Khanate had to punch their way further east into Qinghai (to the south) and Gansu (to the north) provinces. That was where the population and industry where. Farther east were even greater numbers of people and factories and the Khanate forces in the North hadn't been strong enough to threaten to cut off the Qinghai-Gansu front. Then the Russians showed up and the Khanate forces threatening that flank doubled overnight.The PLA hastily reinforced their northern flank, using troops from their strategic reserves. The move resulted in incredible attrition by airpower to the freshly equipped formations. The PLA was about to get flanked, but not from the north. Southwest of Qinghai was Tibet. A third of the Khanate's mobile forces now swept around in a huge left haymaker to the south.My job? I needed the 'Free Tibet' forces in the US and UK to provide public and moral support to the Khanate move. As Khanate Special Forces seized crucial bottlenecks in Tibet, they needed the locals to keep their 'liberators' informed of PLA presences and undermine any attempt to create a guerilla movement.The five Tumens dedicated to being the Schwerpunkt (point of maximum effort) of this flanking maneuver were going to be on a tight timetable if they were going to surround the PLA forces in Central China.My plan was to convince the Tibetans that the PRC's 55 years of occupation was coming to an end and the Great Khan wanted to sign a 'Treaty of Mutual Respect' (my invention). This would require both the Khanate and Tibet to recognize each other's right to exist the moment a cease-fire was reached. That was it. No 'armed presence', or 'mutual defense' agreements.The treaty would be formally signed in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, when the city was safe ~ as determined by the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile, CTA). Riki came up with an additional sweetener and proved she was quickly adjusting to our group's extra-governmental capabilities.

god love new york amazon time head canada world father chicago stories earth uk china house men japan action hell state americans british west research race war russia ms chinese sleep japanese russian reach army events south plan san diego north congress afghanistan gods bear indian turkey fbi world war ii fantasy ladies iran empire leads vietnam engagement beyonce captain britain navy sons vladimir putin council narrative islam records roe v wade worse cia shit boy philippines indonesia weapons korea bones honestly minister economic taiwan fate prophet bar ninjas sexuality agent korean south korea presidential pacific fuel proud brazilian bc republic pakistan senators amen lower stuart nato ot moscow beijing north korea buddhist malaysia oil houses wash southwest nepal end times parliament iranians messenger outsiders khan exile goddess real world reader islamic keeper soviet turkish day one congressional mach forty ronald reagan george washington rolls replacing booth recall wang illuminati homeland security us navy seoul allah hallelujah sd king kong kabul skull explicit hq foreign policy nsa south koreans sir somalia digest bases dodge tibet roc kazakhstan north korean himalayas novels dozens romanian inner circle pakistani armenia forcing vpn hush corp fleet ajax newfoundland tibetans world war iii manna sis tunisia south asia tehran marrying liberia taiwanese azerbaijan ishmael chaz mb ids axe back home colossus cta offshore schwerpunkt patents pap compounding bhutan kim jong downing street madi communist party turks erotica dali sarajevo anthrax secret wars sneaking south china sea u haul priestess belles lng her majesty messina saint john us senators times new roman jab funhouse nationalists byzantine farsi pla shia verify rok rus us state department clans information age high priestess central europe regency pyongyang sunni ism fathom benjamins prc national intelligence brunei mehmet tunisian tajikistan farther major general condos russian federation terribly nobility fubar nepalese theoretically isi afghani mongols xerxes arkham asylum korean peninsula duma central asian mofo uss south vietnam assumed phase four indian army seven pillars manchurian lhasa imams tigerlily triumvirate rfef manchuria mutual respect dali lama option b csg black lotus urchins kibble sunni muslims kpn okinawan grrr caspian sea upper house asw gatling communist chinese javiera second tier gnp japanese prime minister mangal national police us naval arunachal pradesh imperial russia han chinese democratic people jurisdictional jsoc erring pashtun humint tibetan plateau gansu yokosuka swiss guard afghan national army tsar nicholas ii jdf temujin marine regiment afghan taliban imperial japanese chinese russian central pacific hgs literotica okinawans 7p central china rimpac free tibet qinghai house heads xinjiang uyghur autonomous region great khan heilongjiang tartars secret intelligence service marda near eastern affairs glorious leader tajiks aksai chin sengoku period thuggee carl vinson fpso john c stennis unification war katrina love

Ethio-rencontre avec Théo Ceccaldi de Kutu

Musiques du monde

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 48:30

Immersion dans l'univers éthiopien de Théo « Kutu » Ceccaldi. Depuis 2020, Kutu, le collectif imaginé par Théo Ceccaldi, trace sa route en égrainant sur son passage des séries de concerts survoltés plongeant un public curieux dans une expérience libre et collective où l'improvisation, le jazz, et l'électro s'harmonisent à merveille avec la pierre angulaire de Kutu, la tradition orale des Azmari d'Éthiopie.Petit retour en arrière ! Kutu naît à la suite de la crise Covid quand Théo Ceccaldi s'envole en Éthiopie, au cœur des nuits d'Addis-Abeba, où il fait une rencontre déterminante avec l'Azmari, Hewan Gebrewold. Souvent comparé aux bardes ou aux griots, l'Azmari est un ou une artiste, maître de l'improvisation et d'histoires satiriques, ancrées dans le temps présent et non le passé, déclamées, slamées ou chantées dans des lieux publics, le plus souvent dans des bars ou dans les rues.Kutu naît ainsi dans la ferveur des nuits underground, mixant à merveille, la voix puissante et hypnotique d'Hewan avec les curiosités artistiques et transes hypnotiques du jazz et de l'électro de Théo Ceccaldi. Ils seront rapidement rejoints par Cyril Atef, batteur (frère de route de Vincent Ségal dans Bumcello), Akemi Fujimori aux claviers (souvent aperçue avec les Naive New Beaters, Thomas de Pourquery, Prudence, etc.) et Valentin Ceccaldi, frère de Théo, qui a troqué pour l'occasion son violoncelle pour la basse.Après un premier album, Guramayle, paru en 2022, Kutu va entreprendre une tournée de plus d'une centaine de concerts, portés par une énergie fiévreuse où l'improvisation et la transe sont le cœur de leur performance scénique. Kutu, qui signifie «On y va !» ou «Aller de l'avant», va livrer à chaque concert, une expérience musicale unique, mettant à l'honneur le collectif, le partage et les rencontres interculturelles.Aujourd'hui, Kutu qui vient de signer sur le prestigieux label Naïve, annonce la sortie, début 2025, de leur deuxième album Marda, à l'origine le nom d'un collier traditionnel éthiopien.Théo Ceccaldi - «Marda représente bien la transmission d'un héritage culturel pour les générations futures. L'image de ce collier, que l'on offre aux jeunes filles lors du passage de l'enfance à l'âge adulte, exprime pour nous le deuxième âge de KUTU ! un collier précieux que l'on chérit, et que l'on gardera toute notre vie, comme une protection»..).Titres joués extraits de l'album : Lem Lem, Asheweyna, Namuna feat. Pongo et Set.► Album Marda(Naive / Believe 2025)► Concert de sortie d'album 29 avril au 104, Paris.YouTube - Facebook. Playlist Ethio Now choisie par Théo Ceccaldi :- Rophnan Shegiyé clip - Jemberu Demeke & Mulatu Astatqé Faram clip audio - Sertsebrhan Tadesse Halal Meret clip- Tariku Gankisi Dishta Gina clip.L'intégrale Ethio Now, la playlist éthiopienne de Théo Ceccaldi sur Spotify.

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Ethio-rencontre avec Théo Ceccaldi de Kutu

Musiques du monde

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 48:30

covid-19 spotify concerts aujourd ils depuis petit aller rencontre immersion souvent pongo titres vincents ethio marda ceccaldi pourquery naive new beaters bumcello cyril atef

Just the Facts: Leeuwin Metals readies for first drilling at Marda Gold Project

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 1:52

Leeuwin Metals Ltd is preparing for its first-phase exploration program at the Marda Gold Project in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields. The company has engaged a drilling contractor and submitted a program of works for the initial round of drilling. The acquisition of Marda is also progressing and is expected to be finalised at a shareholder meeting on March 17, 2025. Once complete, exploration will begin immediately. The project spans more than 500 square kilometres of granted mining, exploration and prospecting leases, hosting eight open pits and several historical workings with significant exploration potential. Leeuwin has conducted a comprehensive data review and target generation program, leading to plans for a 10,000-metre multi-phase drilling program, funded by a recent $3.25 million share placement. The company has also hired a senior geologist and applied for additional tenure surrounding the existing Marda leases. The initial drilling phase will target high-priority areas, including extensions of previously mined pits and untested anomalies identified through historical data analysis. Once the acquisition is complete, drilling crews and equipment will be mobilised to commence the 2025 exploration program. #LeeuwinMetals #GoldExploration #MiningNews #WesternAustralia #DrillingUpdate #GoldMining #ExplorationDrilling #MineralExploration #MardaGoldProject #ResourceDevelopment #MiningIndustry #Geology #GoldProspects

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Just the Facts: Leeuwin Metals secures A$3.25 million for exploration and Marda acquisition

Proactive - Interviews for investors

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 1:36

Proactive's Tylah Tully breaks down ‘Just the Facts' of the latest news from Leeuwin Metals Ltd (ASX: LM1). Leeuwin Metals has raised A$3.25 million through a two-tranche share placement priced at A$0.098 per share, reflecting an 18.3% discount to the last closing price. The placement attracted strong interest from institutional and sophisticated investors, with contributions of approximately A$250,000 from directors and management, subject to shareholder approval. The placement comprises two tranches: Tranche 1 raised approximately A$1.55 million, while Tranche 2 is expected to raise A$1.7 million, contingent on shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for February 2025. The funds will support exploration and drilling activities across Leeuwin's Australian and Canadian project portfolio, working capital and placement costs. A key focus is the Marda Gold Project in Western Australia, which Leeuwin is acquiring from Ramelius Resources. Announced in December 2024, the acquisition is anticipated to conclude in Q1 2025. Leeuwin's management highlighted the strategic significance of the Marda acquisition, located in a renowned goldfield, as a growth opportunity for shareholders. The funding positions the company to advance its exploration programs across its highly prospective assets. #ProactiveInvestors #LeeuwinMetals #GoldMining #CapitalRaising #MardaGoldProject #ASXUpdate #InstitutionalInvestors #SophisticatedInvestors #GoldExploration #WesternAustralia #CanadaMining #MineralResources #SharePlacement #RameliusResources #MineralExploration #MiningProjects #CorporateUpdate #ExplorationFunding #InvestmentOpportunities #GoldFields #ASXNews

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Just the Facts: Leeuwin Metals acquires WA's Marda Gold Project

Proactive - Interviews for investors

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 1:49

Proactive's Tylah Tully breaks down ‘Just the Facts' of the latest news from Leeuwin Metals Ltd (ASX: LM1). The company has announced the acquisition of the Marda Gold Project from Ramelius Resources Ltd. This acquisition includes mining, exploration and prospecting leases spanning over 500 square kilometres in the Western Australian Goldfields, located 120 kilometres north of Southern Cross. The project features several existing pits, historical workings and underexplored areas with high-grade potential. Leeuwin plans to focus on these advanced and underexplored regions to define resource extensions. Targets are spread across four main areas: Marda Central, Marda North, Marda South, and Marda West. The acquisition, structured via a share sale agreement, includes an upfront payment of $500,000 in Leeuwin shares and milestone payments of up to $1.5 million tied to resource definitions. Upon completion, Ramelius Resources will become a strategic shareholder in Leeuwin. Leeuwin's management emphasised the strategic value of the acquisition, citing significant exploration potential and the opportunity to quickly develop resources from existing mineralisation. The company plans an initial exploration campaign focused on high-priority drilling targets and resource growth strategies. #ProactiveInvestors #LeeuwinMetals #ASX #MardaGoldProject, #GoldExploration, #WesternAustralia, #MiningNews, #ASXStocks, #MineralExploration, #GoldMining, #ResourceDevelopment, #Geophysics, #DrillTargets, #StrategicAcquisition, #GoldPotential, #ShareholderValue, #MiningInvestment, #Mineralisation, #WAProjects, #ExplorationStrategy, #RameliusResources, #MiningInnovation

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Fixing main streets is throwing us for a (Marda) loop

This is Calgary

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 20:54

The City has plans to improve some of the main streets all across Calgary. But just like a home reno, construction often takes longer - and is a worse experience - than you ever expect. So what is even happening when it comes to these main drags? We head to ground zero of Marda Loop's revamp to hear from the people who live there, the businesses that work there, and the City itself.

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Cáel and the Manhattan Amazons: Part 16

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024

Ash Men, Sins, and the Will of the Ancestors. In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected.. ‘Do you think you know who you are? Step outside your comfort zone.' 11:00 p.m. Thursday Night. Rhada stood by the Lily Pond. She'd looked at her phone once. A couple had walked past, causing me to delay my approach and heightened Rhada's unease; an unexpected bonus. It wasn't too difficult of a shot with my air pistol. The only light functioning in the area went out in a crash of light. She jumped slightly then crouched and scanned the surrounding overgrowth. The light had robbed her of her night vision which allowed me to get close. I snapped the air pistol off into its three parts. Running around with any kind of gun in NYC wasn't wise. In the same vein, the 'stun gun' I now brandished was all light and no shock. It was all theater for Rhada's imagination. With the flash of my weapon, Rhada's eyes bore in on my location. Her small knife was now over-matched, so her only option was flight. A smart 'victim' would race for the well illuminated road close by. Hunters who hunted hunters did what Rhada did; she raced into a geographic feature in Central Park called the Ravine. It was tough, uneven terrain off the beaten path. I had walked it once before, in dim light. This night I was aided by a half-Moon and the faintest clue of where the chase was leading while Rhada was having to figure things out as she ran. At the last second, she sensed she had lost the race. She spun around to slash at me; she was playing for keeps. I swung down, losing my false stun device while I knocked her knife free. I had lashed downward so that I could find her knife later; it was important to her. My tool cost $3 and I could live without it. We struggled. Rhada tried to scream so I covered her mouth with my sweater-covered forearm. Dutifully, she bit down. More close body wrestling ensued and I could tell Rhada was truly famished for the attention. I cuffed her hands behind her back, slapped some Christmas tape over her lips; I swear that stuff has no adhesive; and retrieved her knife. ‘What is it going to be, little Sweet-meat?' I taunted her softly as I caught my breath. I had Rhada pressed face-first in the loam. Despite her strenuous efforts to keep her legs together, I rubbed my hand between her legs. ‘Fuck it,' I mused. ‘You are a real whore. You are soaking wet over some guy running you down and making you a fuck-hole.' I wasn't sure she was wet and being called 'fuck-hole' really excited her. ‘You are probably so loose I couldn't feel a thing if I did fuck you,' I kept up the pressure. ‘Maybe I'll strip you down and leave you tied to a lamp post; write 'Free Slut' and see who is desperate enough to screw you. If I said '$5 per hole', do you think anyone would leave some sort of payment?' She whimpered. Soon enough, I located her knife. Without warning, I slipped it past her waistband and began sawing/cutting her pants down past the crotch. She was wet alright. I loudly unzipped my pants. After slapping against her molten labia a few times, ‘What? You don't want to be used by every diseased homeless deviant and drunk rapist roaming the park?' Rhada shook her head rapidly in the negative. ‘Do you really think you can do a damn thing to make me want to keep you?' I egged her on. Rhada thrust her ass back. Rhada whined, repositioned and managed to capture on her second attempt. She wept with rapture as I began pushing. All I had to do was lean forward slightly and let Rhada do all the work. She hammered with a voracious yearning. I was rather concerned what she would have been like if it had been a whole month. Rhada was sobbing and shuddering as pleasure wracked her body. I almost missed the soft crunch of leaves right behind me. I snatched up Rhada's knife and rolled halfway over. Oneida, tears in her eyes and her face etched in horror, was poised to strike me. ‘No,' Oneida groaned in a small, devastated voice. Yeah, this was going to be hard to explain. Rhada, on hearing the noise, rolled on her side so that she was mostly shielded by me. Do not scream 'this is not what it looks like', or 'let me explain' to a traumatized girlfriend. Wait until they are not traumatized to escape the disaster. ‘What are you going to do?' I whispered. Suggest that she make a decision because, guess what, she needs to make decision, not stew in the madness of the moment. ‘How could you?' Oneida lowered her attack stance and took a half-step back. ‘There is no way I can explain this,' I sighed. My legs came up to shield my exposed crotch plus I dropped Rhada's knife. ‘Even if I could make this sound rational, I wouldn't put you in that spot. This is an impossible reality.' Okay, that last bit was bullshit. ‘Is Rhada okay?' Oneida began to focus on the immediate and relegated the past five minutes and the forthcoming repercussions to 'things to do later'. I freed Rhada's hands and then removed the tape. Rhada picked up her blade and readied it. ‘Ask her yourself,' I suggested. Sensing Rhada's insanity rising up. ‘No Rhada, you cannot stab her. I won't allow it.' Rhada glared pure, un-distilled hate at Oneida, something the poor girl couldn't understand. ‘Rhada, I came here to save you,' Oneida gasped. She also prepared to fight. ‘You came to take my Cáel for yourself,' Rhada spat. Oneida was back to not understanding anything. It would come soon enough. Women are women after all. ‘I need to; get something from my backpack,' I warned them both. No one attacked me so I pulled out a set of black jeans and black panties for Rhada. ‘You brought a change of clothes for her?' Oneida was still playing 'kinky games' catch up. ‘Of course he brought me clothes, you insipid fool,' Rhada seethed. ‘How could we bind our souls into one if I had to walk around; ?' Rhada stopped. The idea of walking around naked in my presence appealed to her. ‘None of this makes any sense,' Oneida protested. It didn't matter. ‘Oneida, are your guardians close by?' I asked. I knew the answer, but getting that information out to these to ladies was relevant. Oneida nodded. ‘Rhada, get dressed and go home. Oneida, go home. I'll try to have this make sense to you one day,' I said. ‘No!' Rhada yelped as if I'd stuck her. ‘I cannot wait any longer.' ‘Rhada, unless you want Madi to find out and then have ringside seats as starving dogs tear me to pieces, you have to go,' I insisted. I wasn't afraid of hungry dogs. The Amazons wouldn't waste the time when they could slit my throat and be done with it. We all three heard a rustle of footsteps maybe fifteen meters away. Rhada looked at me as if she'd witnessed the murder of every kitten on the planet, then shot venom Oneida's way and finally snuck off, new clothes in hand. Oneida gave me a different look, one etched in sadness and unspoken heartache. She went off to bump into her bodyguards. I holstered my 'junk' and sat back, wondering why I dated crazy women. The answer was always the same; the sex was fantastic. I'd pay the bill later. (Friday Morning) I was damn tired getting into work. I locked my bike, walked into the lobby and realized something was horribly wrong. A dozen pairs of eyes riveted me with their aggression. The security chicks were in their usual places and unsettling in their nervousness. The dozen sets of eyes; those were Full-Blooded killers, not the standard 'Runner' security types. Adding to my discomfort, there was no Constanza, or even Naomi. A few of the normal ladies from the Security Detail where there; sadly, I had never caught their names, but they didn't look like they were waiting for me specifically. I walked up to the security booth, took out my ID badge and offered it up. What followed was mere formality. Of all of the hundreds of males in biker clothes coming into this masculine version of the Sixth layer of Hell, they needed to be absolutely sure it was me. ‘Cáel Nyilas,' the women at the guard station intoned and in they swarmed. Armed with personal defense weapons (read: SMG's) with hair-triggers, I had a split second to decide who I really was. A few were clearly SD. The rest; House Guard for families I didn't recognize. ‘Have I just won Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes, or what?' I grinned foolishly. I'm sure you can be very cool, calm, collected and rational while you laugh at death. I'm not that guy. One of the brutes tried to run off with my valise, a quick tug of war developed and four gun barrels were pushed into me. ‘Let go,' one of them hissed. ‘Do I at least get a claim check?' I countered. What I got was a gun barrel slammed down on the back of my hand. My fingers automatically flexed and my carrying case was taken away. The remaining seven members of the Welcome Wagon hustled me to a stairwell; not an elevator and down I went. Two proceeded me into a moderately sized conference down two levels with the rest following behind. We were doing fine until the coffle chains came out. That was my 'screw it' moment. It took me two seconds to realize they were no longer going to shoot me. I came to this revelation when I smashed the face of the guard right behind me. She stumbled into guards four through seven behind her. Guards one and two, already in the room, holding my chains, rushed in. One came in with a low sweeping kick. I went even lower, caught her leg and whipped her into the wall. I was on my back as number two advanced. Our legs tangled up, we both grappled, but I had strength and leverage. I pounded her temple against the corner of the table twice; hard. Then came the pain. The rest flooded the room. Number two was down, number one was momentarily stunned and the other five were deadly serious and coming on fast. To all our credits, they didn't try to overwhelm me with numbers. They closed in from both sides of the table, backing me against a wall. I was pretty good at fighting. I had damaged three of them striking from surprise. Surprise was gone now, as was their sloppy arrogance. This was all business and there was no way I could take on even two of these skilled warriors at the same time. Any advantage I gained over one, I'd lose to the other one so down I went. I was chained up before I could stop seeing double. Collar, hands cuffed at the back, leg shackles and all linked by twin chains. I wasn't going anywhere fast. I wasn't done yet. I tried to squirm around to a sitting position. ‘Stop that,' one of the guards stated. ‘I'd like to sit up, please,' I requested. With barely a pause, two guards came up, put my back to a wall then went back to their positions. ‘Thank you,' I responded. Several guards looked at me and smirked. Huh? ‘They all said you would fight,' the leader grinned. ‘We were getting a little disappointed then you chose that chokepoint to make your stand. That was clever,' she informed me. ‘Actually it was the sight of the chains that set me off,' I said. ‘Against seven of you I had no realistic chance. If I let myself get chained up, I knew I was completely out of options.' Several of the women nodded. Were any of them pissed? Apparently not. Even the one I'd cold-conked rubbed her temple and smiled at me. I worked in an insane asylum. ‘Is there any way I could make a video message?' I inquired. ‘No,' was the reply. ‘Please. Aya of the Epona is at Summer Camp and I want her to know that I'm okay, but won't be able to see her for a while,' I pled my case. ‘You will never be able to see her again, so why bother?' another asked. ‘I love her. Better to give her the illusion I may one day return than the harsh reality that she is doomed to end up like the rest of you,' I explained. ‘Save some of that defiance for your relocation,' the leader snickered. ‘You'll need it.' ‘Thanks. I will,' I sighed. There was a pause. They were being rather gregarious. ‘You've accepted your fate?' the one I'd knocked out questioned. ‘The fate you want for me? No. That this will mean my death; yes,' I shrugged. ‘Bravado,' a different Amazon snorted. ‘You think so? Once I am relocated I have nothing left to live for. Every ounce of my being will be devoted to ending the hollow parody of an existence I'm left with,' I stared at her. ‘I've beaten your ilk enough times to know I'll escape that life before too long.' That earned me some silence. They began talking amongst themselves. The group was a mixed group of House Guard and Security Detail reinforcements from other facilities. They either knew each other, or knew someone in common. An hour in, this had become incredibly boring. ‘When is the meeting?' I asked a women temporarily not in a conversation. She didn't look surprised. She hid it well. ‘What meeting?' she countered. I lowered my chin to my chest. ‘Do you know where I work, what I did yesterday, or how easy it was to figure this out?' I looked up. ‘What do you know?' she prodded. The others were now watching. ‘I work for Executive Services, I spent much of yesterday making housing arrangements for a ton of emergency visitors, and since I've been doing so many stupid things, plus my reception this morning, I assume the New Directive is under attack,' I laid out my case. ‘If you figured all that out, why did you show up today?' the leader wondered. ‘I work here. I have a 6:00 am session on the firing range. Work starts at 7:00 and normally goes to 5:00 with a 3:00 pm break for knife training. Then I either bike home, or work out in the gym, or the pool. Barring being called back to work on a special order, I get a date, a meal and then sex until midnight,' I mused. ‘I came to work today for the same reason I came in yesterday and last week; I work for a bunch of homicidal lunatics, a few of whom I care for,' I answered. ‘Their friendship and affection is pointless. I'm good-looking and amusing, a passing distraction in their lives and none of that matters one iota to my survival. I face my condemnation alone and I am okay with that.' ‘You sound angrier than your words indicate,' an Amazon noted. ‘I am angry. I don't desire death,' I shrugged. ‘I don't think I deserve this fate yet here we are. Personally, I know I put my hope in karmic rewards for all of us.' ‘What would that be?' the leader said. She was making small talk to alleviate the boredom. ‘Today; today I think you deserve a lingering, 24 hour torturous death. Starting with the very youngest followed by the next youngest and the next youngest proceeding in quick succession so that the oldest of you watch your lineages waste away. I want you gripped with hopelessness and despair as you are rendered powerless to control your futures. That's a fitting ending for the Amazon race today,' I stated. ‘Does that fantasy make you feel better?' she pressed, somewhat amused. ‘Of course not,' I laughed. ‘That is surrendering to hate and that would make me as bad as all of you.' ‘You know nothing of us,' she said and the others laughed. ‘Yeah; right. So, how many of you have murdered your paternal unit? Did you herd them into gas chambers, shoot them in the head, or slit their throats?' I grinned. ‘Do you dump those men and your sons in a massed unmarked graves, or burn them like rubbish? Those poor bastards have gotten the last laugh,' I chuckled. ‘Sterile females, deformed babies; you taught those men a lesson alright.' ‘You are all such epic bad-asses, you've butchered your way to extinction. But, hey, you've got your racial superiority, right?' I chortled. ‘You should shut up now,' the leader's eyes narrowed. I shrugged. This time, I had killed the mood so we sat in silence. An undetermined time later, Constanza stormed in and threw my clothes at me; no sign of the rest of my gear, or valise. ‘Get dressed,' she ordered. ‘Why?' I asked. She kicked me. The kick was aimed at my ribs, but I able to set up a knee block up in time. ‘You will do it because you've been told to do it,' Constanza snapped. I stayed where I was. ‘Help me get him dressed,' she addressed the room. I lost the fight if there was any doubt. I looked like a re-dressed corpse. No one would think I'd dressed myself. A few minutes later, the whole troupe plus Constanza frog-marched me to the elevators. I was shackled up thus taking small steps. I ended up farther down that I'd ever been before. Along the way I was given several quick examinations before being taken to two massive wooden doors with two SD guards, one being Naomi. She looked at my chains speculatively. ‘He has been summoned,' Constanza informed the door guards. One of my initial capturers began unlocking my restraints. I debated putting a knee to her head. That seemed rude so I refrained from violence. Naomi took me by the elbow while the other guard opened one of the doors. She led me into the nearly empty, cavernous room. Eight SD troopers were along the walls and Elsa stood at attention close to what I reasoned was Hayden's chair. ‘Stand there,' Elsa pointed to a large piece of slate with a rune upon it. ‘Sure,' I did as I was instructed. ‘Why am I here?' ‘Your only real hope is to be quiet and well-behaved, Cáel,' Elsa told me, resuming her statuesque stance. I honestly figured this was it for me. My jacket came off. I threw it to the closest chair. The tie came off next, looping it through my belt; because it looked weird. I kicked off my shoes and removed my socks, stuffing the socks in the shoes and tossing them to the chair with my jacket. Then I started my morning warm up routine. Sure enough, groups of paired women began entering the room, giving me odd looks before taking their seats. I was doing some handstand push-up (thanks Yasmin) when Katrina walked in with a woman I didn't know. ‘Good morning Cáel Nyilas,' she said. ‘This is my cousin, Arwen.' The push-up, tuck, flip and finishing up with landing on your feet ain't easy. I added to the difficult by successfully landing on my designated piece of slate floor. ‘Did your clothing magically fall of, or did they fail to finish dressing you?' Katrina smirked. ‘Cut me some slack, Boss. I'm three insults away from slinging poo,' I grinned back. ‘Nice to meet you, Arwen,' I offered my hand. She looked at it, but didn't shake. ‘She's your apprentice?' I groaned to Katrina. She nodded. ‘That is so not good for me. What did I do wrong this time?' ‘She thinks I have invested too much of our House prestige in this New Directive and you in particular,' Katrina enlightened me. ‘What is her survival stratagem then?' I ignored Arwen while addressing Katrina. ‘Have her cake and eat it too,' Katrina mused. ‘She thinks we recruit males then kidnap them and make them our slaves; because that has worked so well for us until now. To be fair, she favors genetics while ignoring such things as spirit, courage and loyalty.' ‘I'm about to die so any insight I might provide is pointless,' I shrugged. ‘Take care Katrina.' ‘Male, we are not here to kill you. You will be taken to a facility for breeding,' Arwen 'clarified' things for me. Katrina and I both broke out in laughter. Arwen didn't get it. More and more women came in. With them arrived more House Guard. Soon the once vast room seemed to not be big enough. Among other fans of yours truly was Ursula, the woman who sent Leona to kill me with her bow. It didn't take me long to determine there were four distinct groups. The smallest group hated my heart for daring to beat. The largest group seemed uncertain that me having a functioning cerebral cortex was a good thing. The second largest group was worried; about their very existence, but weren't sure I was the answer. The final group, nearly as big as the next largest group, was Hayden's pro-New Directive faction. As a plus, they also weren't afraid to show me some affection personally. When there were only seven chairs left unfilled, Hayden rose for the opening prayer. The 'junior' members started the chorus as the last 'senior' joined the main intonation. When the chanting ended, everyone but Hayden sat back down. ‘A small number of issues necessitate this unheralded meeting,' Hayden began. ‘A male knows our language, our nature and the secret. I seek guidance.' And then the shit-storm began. The only people not involved were Hayden, Saint Marie on Hayden's right, and an unknown older Amazon I didn't know. My life was being debated and I was losing in a bad way. Beyoncé rallied support for me. She was sadly outnumbered but persistent. Among the oldest houses I saw Oneida sitting junior with house Arinniti. Her house was the only one silent, which seemed rather odd. A consensus was reached. I would get to live, but I would be imprisoned for the rest of my existence; not even a breeding male. That was my 'reward' for channeling the ancestors thus saving Oneida's life. Hayden rose once more, took a hand count and raised her hand for quiet. ‘I will consult with the ancestors on this matter,' Hayden announced. ‘Does anyone have other salient points to add?' That was perfunctory. Everyone had already spoken so when the head of House Arinniti stood up, everyone around her whispered in confusion. She lightly slapped her hand on the table for attention. ‘I do, High Priestess,' the woman stated. Even Oneida looked worried and confused. ‘I recognize Shawnee, Head of House Arinniti,' Hayden nodded then resumed seating. ‘My sisters, I seek your agreement that you refrain from comment before I have made my three key statements,' Shawnee requested. She looked around the room, getting nods; some reluctant. (1)'First, I must confess to a crime against the Host and the Council,' Shawnee began. There were hushed murmurs. ‘At the end of the Second Betrayal, my house argued tirelessly for the salvation of the males who remained loyal. The Council voted against us so the head of my house defied the council and spared three of our sons.' Murmurs became shouts of outrage. Hayden used a subtle voice of menace to restore order. (2) ‘Second, Two Ash Men arrived after the rest; a veteran fighter of three and a half decades and a young man of twenty years. Knowing there was no hope for our sons, we took these two aside and instructed them to take our sons south, to a dubious future. That was our crime and it might never have been revealed if it wasn't for the New Directive.' ‘As you now know, Oneida, my granddaughter and heir, gave her Death Pledge. Cáel Nyilas intervened and, acting as a vessel for the Ancestors, he showed Hayden that her pledge had been rejected; for the first time in 3000 years,' Shawnee looked around the table. ‘At first I was simply grateful for my granddaughter's life.' ‘As that euphoria faded, I began to ask why he acted as he had. I began wondering why, while in dire pain, Cáel refused water and comfort, instead asking for songs in our tongue? That made no sense; unless,' Shawnee's face deepened in thought as she let the implications of that thought hang in the air. ‘Thus I had Cáel's genetic identity tested, to see if; ‘ ‘To see if he was one of your bastard male offspring returned after all these centuries,' Ursula stood and seethed. Hayden slapped her palm on the table for order. ‘Oh Ursula,' Shawnee smirked, ‘the ancestors are wiser than you, or me. Had I received my heart-wish and had one of those boys return, they would be condemned by Arinniti's sins and the Council's decision.' ‘But;' Shawnee persisted. Several Amazon's looked my way, clearly bewildered. ‘We had to check the skulls of the ancestors for that,' Shawnee stated. ‘We took a tooth and it confirmed his lineage. He is the descendent of the young man. He never broke faith with the Host. He was unaware when ordered by the Arinniti what the Council had decided, thus he was guiltless.' ‘Who?' Hayden demanded. Shawnee looked down the table, but not far. (3)'Cáel Nyilas is of the blood of Ishara,' Shawnee stated. I waited to see which house leader freaked out. None did. Then I realized they were all staring at an empty chair and it just happened to be one of the chairs closest to Hayden. Not good. The screaming, shouting and yelling began. The house leaders were standing up, shaking fingers and launching threats at one another. Me? I was trying to recall who Ishara was. She eventually became Ishtar, Goddess of War. In the Old Kingdom Hittite she was also the Goddess of Oaths, Love and Medicine. The only three people at the table not going nuts where Saint Marie, Hayden and the woman at her side. That woman was looking at her tablet intently. Once more the group reached consensus and I was still boned. I was still a male, so my lineage meant nothing. I wasn't part of the Host. Hayden took another deep breath, acknowledging this second decision. ‘You are all incorrect,' the unknown tablet-reader spoke. Everyone looked at her and nobody was yelling. ‘Elsa, who is that?' I whispered. ‘Krasimira, Keeper of Records,' Elsa quietly informed me. ‘What; what do you mean?' Messina, Fabiola's Mom stammered. ‘Only nine males went unaccounted for at the end of the Second Betrayal. The rest are recorded meeting their deaths in battle, or death by our hand. Of those nine, only one was of House Ishara and he would have barely been of mating age,' Krasimira related. ‘So?' Ursula remarked. ‘He's still a male.' Krasimira looked at Ursula as if she was talking to a five year old. ‘He was a member of the Host. If Shawnee of Arinniti is to be believed, Vranus, Cáel's ancestor, lived and died in service to the Host. He was never removed from our records, so he died a member of the Host, so his descendants are also members of the Host.' ‘He married without permission of his house, thus he is illegitimate,' an old enemy from Egypt chimed in. ‘Perhaps,' Krasimira nodded. ‘That is a matter he must take up with the Head of House Ishara.' ‘There is no Head of House Ishara!' Ursula stated the obvious and pointed at the empty chair. ‘Again, you are incorrect,' Krasimira shook her head. She half turned in her chair. ‘There is a Head of House Ishara and he's standing right there.' Even Hayden had a problem with that. ‘But he's male,' Hayden declared. ‘That is Irrelevant,' Krasimira said. ‘To be the head of a house, one must either be elected by the peers of your house, succeed in accepted ritual combat, or, in extremis, it shall be the eldest surviving member of the Host of that house. Cáel Nyilas is clearly the oldest member of House Ishara currently in the Host,' she quoted Amazon law, ‘so he is House Ishara's head.' Silence reigned. ‘Gun,' I extended my hand to Elsa. She looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. ‘Don't make me repeat myself.' I growled. Elsa didn't look for guidance. She wasn't that type. She drew her 45 automatic and put in in my hand. ‘The safety is engaged,' she enlightened me. I left my spot and began rounding the table to 'my' seat. ‘One more step and I'll shoot you where you stand,' Ursula threatened. ‘No you won't,' Saint Marie stood. ‘I'll kill you first.' ‘Ursula of Marda, you have no justification to attack House Ishara,' Hayden explained. ‘I don't like this anymore than you do. We do not pick and choose which laws to follow. Accept the will of our ancestors.' There were between fifteen and twenty women close by aching to put bullets in me. I didn't stop because that wouldn't be me. I ended up by the chair and absorbed the essence of this tiny shard of reality. Was I the son of some lost 'First' House? Without a doubt, the placement of this chair was in the top ten on this side. The ones across from me were all clearly 'First' Houses as well. The chair was old; maybe two hundred years. It held a sadness to it; no one had ever sat in it. It had been built knowing no one would ever sit on it. I thought about Pamela. I thought about holding Oneida up and refusing to let her die. That effort was me, physically conditioned over years, but I had never discounted willpower. It was possible that man could indeed be found back somewhere in my ancestry. Few invaders wipe out all the indigenous inhabitants. Usually they intermarry with the invading culture overwhelming the previous one. I couldn't forget my present and future while examining my past. I put the gun down. Hostility washed over me in palatable waves. I pulled back the chair. The room was about to explode. I kept moving it back, farther and farther until it was clear I wouldn't be sitting in it. ‘I will stand for House Ishara,' I announced. ‘I will not vote though I will speak my thoughts on matters. I will hold this spot until I have a daughter of age.' ‘No man of House Ishara has ever voted in the Council of the Host and no man will now,' I kept going. ‘Outside of those concessions to my Mothers, I am House Ishara. I am right here. If you have a problem with me, I will be easy to find. I have never hidden from you bitches and I'm not going to start now.' ‘You insult us,' Messina stood up. Five other women joined her. ‘By all means,' Katrina stood, ‘we eagerly await your challenge.' Eight other women joined her. I hadn't suddenly become more popular. Between my refusal to vote, the bizarre revelation of Shawnee and the gravitas of the 'First' Houses, the more conservative women were retiring to regroup. Messina's backing down lasted only seconds. She immediately proposed that no male be allowed to be a member of the Host; disqualifying me by fiat. Krasimira wasn't going for that. Amazons could not legislate a member of the Host, or a House, out of existence. That's why they had killed the Ash Men in the first place. Technically, they had been Amazons. They couldn't make them 'not-Amazons' and there was no exile in this society. Eminently practical, they made them dead instead. That was coming back to bite them in the ass now, because they killed them; they'd never taken them off the rolls. Poor, young Vranus had loyally led his charges away on orders. Had he fled, they would have put him under a death sentence; which I would have to fulfill. No, my ancestor was unsurprisingly pig-headed. One senior warrior and three children; sure, let's walk off into the wilderness with hostile tribes all around. Why? They told him to and like a loyal little mutton-head he'd obeyed. If I believed in magic, or mysticism, I'd worry about how I ended up in that first board meeting speaking this screwed-up language. I'd re-examine how Leona had missed that crucial first shot because Aya had missed hers. Aya herself and the same spiritual twist that caused Oneida to hurl her life into my unsteady hands. I'd like to put that to accident and genetic abnormalities. Then there was Pamela. I'd like to think she was delusional, suffering from an acid flashback, or whatever. Shawnee slid a wooden box; a meter by 70 cm; to me. Whatever parliamentary etiquette Amazons followed was unknown to me. I opened the box. Inside was what looked like a lamb, or sheep, skin pressed in some kind of glass. The artifact looked horribly old and was faded to the stage where it was barely legible. I let the buzz die down around me as I squinted at the picture. There were five figures; from the left was a tall one with a shield and spear, three small figures, and another tall man; with two axes. That was; no I couldn't accept that, not right now. Along both sides and the top were prayers of some kind, though they were too faded to make out accurately. On the bottom were five names. The right-most was Vranus. Oneida hadn't been trapped by madness and pride. She'd been a slave to destiny. She had seen this skin, I was sure. She'd seen me with my two axes and when it turned out to be more than show, she'd had to save me and she couldn't tell anyone why because of the Arinniti sin. Perhaps she had some delusion we were distantly related. Now wasn't the time to ask. I closed the box and slid it back. In my absence, the verdict for House Arinniti was narrowed down. Some wanted Shawnee's head because she was the inheritor of those lies. Others wanted Oneida's head because it would be a more terrible lesson for her house. I didn't like those ideas. ‘Are you seriously arguing about the paint on the doghouse while your home is burning down?' I mocked them. ‘You don't; ,' a different, yet still hostile, Amazon choked out. ‘They didn't sell your sisters to the Roman coliseum,' I glared. ‘They valued bravery and loyalty over conformity. Did they defy the Council? Yes. I think we all agree with that. Put in context though, the rest of you screwed up.' Tons of 'how dare you' and descriptive insults to my family, gender, species and intelligence. ‘Answer me this; Ursula, can you turn around right now and slit your 'apprentice's' throat?' I posed. I could see the 'no' forming on her lips before the Great Wall of Implications fell on her head. ‘Everyone in this room that voted for the slaughter of the Ash Men broke your own laws,' I explained. ‘You had every right to kill your sons. They were legally and physically helpless. The Ash Men; they were members of the Host; and there is every indication you butchered them without trial, or attempt at redress. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those men did not break the law; you did.' ‘You are correct,' Krasimira said. ‘All members of the Host must be informed of their crimes and seek trial if they disagree. Any sentence of Death can be appealed to the High Priestess, who can commute the sentence, assign an ordeal of some kind, or have it carried out.' What doomed Leona was the obvious nature of her crime in front of the High Priestess. The only person who protested was Ursula, the Mistress of Leona's house. Looking back on things, Ursula had acted insanely sending Leona to kill me. Yes, she would have derailed the New Directive for a few years. She would also have alienated every neutral member of the Council. The vote for the New Directive was distasteful yet deemed necessary by enough houses for it to pass. The vote at the end of the Second Betrayal; that was the issue now. Miss Senior Egypt made one last end-run around the process. ‘What is to stop him from bringing more men into the Host?' she muddied the water. Me? I pulled out my shirt and looked down at my chest. ‘Is someone making fun of my A-cup sized breasts?' I appealed to Hayden. A tiny smile crossed her lips. ‘I am not sure Cáel,' Hayden responded. ‘Fatima, be precise with the nature of your worries.' ‘He should not be allowed to recruit into his house until his status is decided,' Fatima stated. ‘His status is not in question,' Hayden purred. That was the 'I'm about to lose patience with you' purr. ‘I would never recruit anyone into House Ishara who was not qualified. It is insulting to think otherwise. Is there a specific male you are worried about?' I inquired. ‘I don't know you, or your ways,' Fatima spat. ‘You need to think about what you just said, Fatima,' I snorted. ‘So, not knowing anything about me you are making assumptions about what I might do? As you said yourself, you don't know me.' ‘If you did, you would know that while I wish virtually every Amazon alive would drop dead, thus making the world a much better place, I would never embarrass Katrina, or betray her. Now, are you going to keep looking stupid, or are you going to accept that House Arinniti not only acted in accordance to Amazon law 2500 years ago, they continue acting so today,' I stated. ‘After all, they risked everyone's anger for the restoration of one of your eldest houses. When I turned out not to be one of Arinniti's long-lost sons, they could have kept quiet. They did not. Arinniti bravery means one day a daughter of Ishara will bring her voice to this council once more. They certainly didn't do this for themselves. Ask yourself if you would have the courage to bring such possible shame to your family prestige,' I challenged the Host. ‘You trained your monkey well,' Messina mocked Katrina. ‘Ah;' I mused as I picked up my pistol. ‘Safety.' I got a feel for the weapon. ‘Messina, what's the name of your 'apprentice'?' ‘You wouldn't dare,' Messina hissed. ‘You dare to insult me and my House, Whore-Bitch,' I smiled insanely. ‘Why do you think I'll let you get away with that? I'm not going to kill her; just gut-shoot her.' ‘Pull that trigger and you will die,' Messina spat. Her junior looked far less pleased with the turn of events. ‘Not relevant. My House Prestige is too great to suffer such an insult. You did call me, the choice of a hundred generations of House Ishara ancestors, a monkey,' I pointed out. ‘Cáel of Ishara, put the gun down; please,' Saint Marie sort of asked. I clicked the safety and put the gun back down on the table. Messina was looking terribly pleased with herself, ignoring 'The Golden Mare' coming around her side of the table. The hair-yank Saint Marie inflicted made me recoil in shock and I was some distance away Messina. Slap-backhand-slap-backhand. Saint Marie released Messina's hair. Messina stumbled back, fearful and furious at the same time. ‘Are you going to exert some common courtesy, or shall we continue?' the Marshal of the Amazon Host glared at Messina. ‘I don't like him, or where he stands, but I am far more embarrassed by your behavior. At least the male exerts some restraint. The rest of you are acting like he is a weakling-idiot. He is not. Know your opponent dammit.' ‘Wait! Hayden, now that I'm;' I got all excited. ‘No, Cáel, you still may not refer to the Marshal of the Amazon Host as 'Pony-Lady',' Hayden scolded me. I snapped my finger over the lost opportunity. A pregnant pause was suddenly vacated by a snicker and then several more until half the table had to hold their hands over their mouths. ‘Did you really call (dead word spoken) Saint Marie, 'Pony-Lady'?' this unknown House Leader asked. She wasn't one of my fans. ‘Only after she kicked my ass, totally humiliating me,' I revealed. ‘I got one punch in. Next thing I knew I was wondering how regularly they changed the fluorescent lighting in the Firing Range while I was on my back, soaking up the cold comfort of the concrete floor.' It took them a second to figure out what I meant. Saint Marie was already marching back to her chair. ‘You are very poetic,' another commented. ‘That is how I learned your tongue; I was taught Old Kingdom Hittite erotic and love poetry. I know the same in nine other forgotten languages, as well as four current languages,' I informed them. ‘Hayden, you would not dare chastise any other Head of House the way you treated; him,' Ursula griped. ‘In what possible universe would Cáel Nyilas be considered normal?' Hayden countered. ‘He is not like any other Head of House. He forgoes voting because He values our traditions.' ‘He does not sit in his designated seat at our table because he takes into consideration our sensibilities. This from a man we all decided to imprison forever not five minutes ago. If any of you think he does this out of fear, you are sorely mistaken. He is a person of many failings without question yet he is courageous to a fault,' Hayden lectured the room. ‘Saint Marie, what was the first thing he said to you after you crushed him?' ‘He said 'What. Had enough already?'‘ she snorted. ‘Those were his exact words, lying on his back, looking up at me. I thought I had concussed him.' ‘This is not a humorous matter,' Egypt Senior was still cranky. ‘I don't know about that,' Saint Marie reposed. ‘I found it to be fun actually.' ‘Even the part where he had the gun pointed at me was interesting. I was certain he was about to shoot me,' Saint Marie continued. ‘Pity he missed you,' Messina glared. ‘He didn't miss me, Messina,' Saint Marie sneered. ‘I told him to give me the gun and he gave it to me. He's not disloyal, just pugnacious.' ‘What of Arinniti's crime?' Beyoncé prodded. She wasn't feeling self-righteous. Quite the opposite; the mood had shifted away from bloodlust to uncertainty. Amazons liked decisiveness. They also liked only having to do something once and being done with it. That was the riptide of the New Directive; some houses couldn't let go of the fact they'd lost. That constant pecking away at the plan were the half-measures Katrina was complaining to Hayden about. From my experience, the Ash Men was Katrina's goal all along. Had she been open and honest with this desire, there was no way any aspect of the New Directive would be implemented. If you believed in conspiracy theories, Katrina had groomed me for some time. If you believed in luck, Katrina was cosmically lucky our paths collided. If you believed in mysticism, I was screwed. Let's not forget that there were three millennia of bad ass bitches on the other side of the spiritual divide who thought nothing of guiding me into a life full of fear, heartache and pain. A lengthy debate ended in a classic Amazon compromise; they forgot about it. Literally, they erased the crime against the Ash Men and Arinniti's 'omission' of sparing three of their sons. What had happened to all my 'Ash' brethren? Whoops; they were misplaced. They weren't erased from the rolls; that would make my existence inexplicable, so we remained honorary Amazons. I was sure their angry ghosts were totally mollified. I was sure me and the first female Pope would get it on too. As the meeting was breaking up, one of the 'unfriendly' Amazons shot me a remark. ‘I supposed you are elated,' she grumbled. ‘Really? You think so? Here, let me sell all your underage daughters to Romany gypsies so that you never see them again and you'll have an inkling of how I feel,' I smiled serenely. ‘You should be happy you are allowed to stand in our presence,' she got truly pissy. ‘Lady, I won't be happy until I get to hunt hate-filled monsters like you for sport,' I kept smiling. ‘Until then, I'm afraid we are both going to have to live unsatisfying lives,' I added. ‘Perhaps we should handle this with a blood feud?' she salivated at the prospect. ‘Sure. I'll get the Neutron Bomb we have in the Armory. You chose whatever you like. I'll meet you downtown at noon,' I proposed. It is much better to make a nuclear weapon joke and not have every authority figure in the room glance at you nervously. Did we really have a nuclear warhead in the basement? Fuck if I knew. They'd have never told me if there was. I felt a hand on my shoulder and recalled the touch. "Cáel Nyilas, you are forbidden from engaging in blood feuds - in your case, feuds of any kind until one lunar cycle is completed," Hayden instructed. "Thank you. I appreciate that," my honesty, heartfelt reply slipped forth. "My judgment wasn't for you, Cáel. You've caused catastrophic trauma to our society as an outsider. I tremble to think what you can do now that you are one of us," Hayden gave me a truly serene response. "Give me a little time to prepare." "Oh! Great idea," I exclaimed. "Gotta go!" and I raced for the door, tossing Elsa her gun. "Should I shoot him?" Elsa suggested. "Only to slow him down a bit." I made it to the elevator carrying my jacket and shoes. With me were four sets of Amazons that wanted me dead and one set who were rather ambivalent about the whole matter. I caught one of the 'hater' juniors looking at me. I turned my head enough so we could make prolonged eye contact. I smiled. Reluctantly she smiled back. I leaned in slightly. "Can I borrow your phone? SD beat me up earlier and stole all my stuff," I innocently requested. I was pretty sure she was as surprised as every other man-hater in the box that she handed it over. Like shooting fish in a barrel. I began making a few quick texts to the three crucial people in my scheme. "What did you do that for?" her senior hissed. With my brand new Stinky Pooh-Bah status, she couldn't knock the device out of my hands. "I don't know," she pleaded to her superior. I finished up then handed it back. "Your 'apprentice' has rendered House Ishara an important service that shall be entered into our records of boons and debts," I nodded gravely. "What is your name?" "Gale," she batted her eyelashes. "What did I do?" "What are you doing for lunch tomorrow?" I magically conjured up her hand in mine with my fingertips coursing over her palm and wrist. "I'll explain it then." "You may not spend time with this...person," Senior insisted. "We should not overlook an opportunity to make an alliance with a First House," Gale countered. Bang! Looking like trout for lunch. Gale won, I won and we were meeting at my place so we could figure out where to eat - yummy. Somewhere in the episode, I'd introduce Odette into the mix. It was only fair. I was asking her to hide in Timothy's room until I got Gale warmed up after all. I was the first one of the 'team' to arrive. I was nervously pacing Katrina's office when Desiree and Paula showed up. Desiree took a casual seat on the sofa while Paula hovered around my desk. "Is this going to be really bad, or really good?" Desiree mused. "Why should you have to choose?" I laughed. "Besides, we are aiming for epic status today." "Why are we here?" Paula worried. I stopped. I had a 'Eureka!' moment. There probably was a Bible for what I was planning to do, but they hadn't given it to me. I ran to the bathroom and came back with a glass. "Desiree, I need two things. I need your sharp, pointy thing and for you to slap me until I cry," I looked at her expectantly. "My pleasure," Desiree rocked up from her seat. "Slapping then knife?" I nodded. I was still in the painful smacking process when Buffy and Violet entered. "Can anyone join?" Buffy asked Paula. "I...I don't think so," Paula shook her head. "He's got a plan. I don't know what for." I dodged Desiree's final swing. I had gathered enough tears - I hoped. "That was truly therapeutic, Cáel," Desiree stated. "Let me know if you need a repeat performance." She handed me her small knife. Helena and Daphne finally strolled in. I wove past them, retrieved a piece of paper which I tore in two and two pens. "Helena and Buffy, please write your names down on these pages," I requested. "What the hell?" Buffy growled. "What is this about?" "Trust me," I met her gaze. "Buffy, Cáel is an ass, but he's not crazy. He's up to something," Desiree intervened. Helena stepped up and wrote her name. Buffy followed suit. I took the pages to Katrina's desk. "Come forth and kneel before me," I commanded. This was the point in the ritual when I figured my death was most likely. Buffy shot an evil look at Desiree then very reluctantly complied. Helena followed. Hmmm...Amazons kneel with both knees on the ground. That puts their mouths almost...I had to keep with the program. I burned the two autographs and scattered the ashes. "There is no Buffy DuBois. There is no Helena Shultz," I began. I dipped a finger into the shallow pool of my tears. I ran one down under the left eye of each lady. "With this, I open your eyes to the joys and sorrows of our ancestors." That brought on a hush and the anger in Buffy's eyes evaporated. I cut my left forefinger then motioned them to do the same. First Buffy: I linked our bloody digits. "With this, our blood is mixed. You are Buffy of House Ishara from this moment forth. You are the first of this House. You are our spear and shield," I met her gaze. She started crying. "You are Helena of House Ishara from this moment forth," I continued on. "You are the second of this House. You keep the records of our Host, keep track of our deeds, sins and accounts." Helena began weeping too. Had I said 'just joking', the cleaning team would have been finding torn pieces of me weeks later. "House Ishara is dead," Daphne stated the obvious. "Suffice it to say, long ago, House Ishara brought a male into their ranks as a member of the House," I started. I motioned for my two House-mates...members to rise. "The Second Betrayal," Violet interrupted. "Yes. During the Second Betrayal, some males remained loyal. My descendent was sent on a mission for the Host. The mission took him past his lifespan. His offspring continued on until you end up with me - being here - today. Suffice it to say, he was never removed from the rosters of the Host, thus every offspring was a member too," I recalled recent edited events. "By Amazon law, House Leaders are selected by their peers, victors in a challenge for leadership, or..." I continued. "The eldest of the house," Daphne gasped. "Since Ishara is...since all the female members of the Host are dead, you are the eldest member of the Host." "You don't have to be a female?" Desiree muttered. "That's insane. We are Amazons." "There hasn't been a male in the host for over 2500 years," I explained. "It never came up. Back when they had them, there simply weren't enough men to worry about. Afterwards, there were NO men to worry about. Apparently your ancestors thought writing down 'eldest female' was redundant." "That had to have gone down like a mouse passing an elephant turd," Paula muttered. We all looked at her. "What? Since I met Cáel, I've been writing down little phrases to use in situations like now. This was the first one I could recall." "Actually, they wept tears of joy, lifted me up on their shoulders and sung paeans to my glory," I lied. "So, when do you think the first assassination attempt will be?" Desiree shook her head. This was a lot for her to take in. Not only was my tale fantastic, Buffy was her friend and Desiree knew that Buffy bled for a chance to join the Host and had done so for years. "Why do you think I called Buffy first?" I snickered. "I won't let you down," Buffy declared with grim determination. "Calm down, Buffy," I assured her. "I don't think me being casually snuffed out is on their agenda. They've already gone through a torturous compromise to end up with this screwed up situation." "So why did you pick me...and Helena?" Buffy studied me. "Buffy, you are the most amazon-Amazon I know," I told her. "You like Helena and she said nice stuff about Daphne which showed her character, so I chose her next." "Hey, this means I can finally slap Fabiola around," Buffy's eyes grew bright. "Which reminds me - can I get any volunteers for Old Kingdom Hittite lessons for these two," I begged my 'new hire' companions. "I'll take two nights a week," Daphne offered. "I'll take one night," Paula added. "I'll take a fourth," Violet completed the set. "Damn it," Desiree cursed. "This means Buffy must be taught the Prayer of the Ancestors." "You are right," Buffy gasped. "I accompany Cáel to Council meetings now." "One note - I don't vote," I informed them. "I made that decision. House Ishara has never had a male vote for it and I'm keeping that tradition. I can speak, but not vote. When my daughter comes of age, she will have full rights." Desiree, Buffy and Helena were confused. Daphne, Violet and Paula, on the other hand, were enraptured. This was the only life - only traditions - they had ever known and I had sacrificed something of importance to them out of respect to their sensibilities. "Cáel's decision makes it easier for you, Buffy and Helena," Daphne explained. "This allows the other Heads of House to get used to him being there - less of a culture shock," she continued. "In a few years he may end up getting a vote anyway as they learn to respect him and House Ishara. You are one of the First Houses - reborn, I imagine." Buffy's eyes grew wide and her mouth gaped open. "Yeah Buff," Desiree shook her head. "One of the first twenty war leaders of the Host. You have the blood of Mycenaean warriors on your hands." "Cáel, I..." Buffy began. "I gave you nothing, Buffy. If you think there is someone more deserving than you, please point them out," I touched her tear-drenched cheek. "I do want something from you," I said compassionately. Buffy was attentive. "I want you to undergo a sex change operation and become a real woman." Ow! Buffy punched me. "Buffy, you might not want to damage your House Head in public. It is bad for his prestige," Paula pointed out. "Good point," Buffy frowned. "Cáel - bathroom - now." "Uh-oh, no way, no how," I back-pedaled. "Today has been painful enough. I had a run in with some Security Detail and House Guard on the way to the podium." "What did they do to you?" Helena inquired. "For starters, they haven't given me back my valise," I complained. "Also, who do I report these additions to House Ishara to? Finally, Buffy promised me she'd wear a thong and those little, circular Band-Aids if I got her into the Full-blooded gym again." "Decorum, Buffy," Desiree stopped Buffy from punishing me. "Decorum." "Why don't you have to behave?" Buffy glared at me. "I'm the ghost of a man dead for over 2500 years," I winked. "I'm allowed to be eccentric." "I'll start calling around to find out who gets told what and where your stuff is Cáel," Helena grinned. She was full-blooded now; the goal of every Runner who joined. "What is next for you now?" Daphne questioned. "I imagine I have a job to do," I replied. "I mean, Katrina works and she's head of House Epona. I'm an intern, just like I was yesterday. That hasn't changed." "Oh goodie," Buffy smacked her hands together, "you can still work for me." "Oh - yay," I groaned sarcastically. "What's wrong now?" Katrina said as she waltzed into the room. I caught sight of a few SD chicks hanging around outside. "There are for your protection if you feel you need it." "Nah," I shook my head. "I have that taken care of. I brought Buffy and Helena into House Ishara." Katrina stopped and looked at me. There was definitely some tension between us. "You might want to consult with - others before you do something like that again," Katrina cautioned me. "I'll definitely consider your offer. For now, I chose the best for the future of Ishara," I said, "as is my duty and responsibility." We locked gazes once more. Things had changed between us. They had to have. "I seem to have missed my Firing Range practice today as well as the morning meeting," I reminded Katrina. She'd known what fate awaited me when I walked in the door and not warned me. I didn't blame her. That was what she was looking for - the anger. Before, I couldn't have acted on it. "Cáel, get dressed. I saw Helena running off on some sort of errand which I imagine is your fault, so you are working with Daphne for the rest of the day," Katrina resumed her pace to her desk. She examined the nearly empty glass. "My tears," I answered. "It is part of my ritual for induction into House Ishara." In case you missed it, I never said 'my house'. This was on purpose. As long as I made no open claim to such a lofty spot, they could ignore me hanging around a bit better. "You may want to talk with House Arinniti, or Šauška about such rites," Katrina advised. "He burned their old names to ash, scored their left cheeks with his tears to remind them of his ancestors and mixed his blood with theirs so they would be known to all as members of House Ishara from this day forth," Daphne related. "It was very touching - simple and to the point." "That's Cáel for you, simple and straight to the cultural jugular," Katrina shook her head. "He did nothing wrong," Buffy protested. I was getting dressed. "Buffy, I have wanted to initiate you into House Epona for years. Family politics have prevented that. Sixty years after the First Initiative, fewer than a fifty 'Runners' have been brought into the Host. Mutual condemnation has kept each house in check - restrained from recruiting new blood into the Host." "And now we have Cáel," Desiree groaned. "Who does care not one bit about social ramifications of bringing a hundred runners into one of the oldest houses of the Host," Daphne sighed. "But, we deserve this," Buffy proclaimed. "That, Buffy, is the point and the problem - you and others like you do deserve it," Katrina fondly regarded her 'now-Full-blooded' friend. "Most of the other houses would disagree though, but they won't be able to convince Cáel of this - thus begins the next quagmire of Cáel's creation." It was the prejudice laid bare. The 'Runners' knew they had very little chance of being accepted into a House. They had a long history of neglect to look back on. The few who had graduated had been virtually superhuman to be accepted. Then I came along. Suddenly, for some of the best and brightest of the 'Runners' there was a serious likelihood they could be brought into a highly prestigious House, because its leader was a nutjob. This morning, when the meeting adjourned, House Ishara had been a tiny blip on the Council's radars. Those women so disregarded the 'Runners' they hadn't even thought about my reaction to the dilemma of the miniscule size of my house, despite the answer being all around them (though safely contained upstairs in their minds). House Ishara with a lone member, a male at that, wasn't a threat - not really. The specter that Katrina foresaw was something different. She saw a House Ishara with a thousand members, and all hardened, dedicated and trained Amazons - formerly 'Runners'. Loyal to me?

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Cáel and the Manhattan Amazons: Part 8

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024

Cáel's tombstone: For the love of women, women put him here.In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..

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attorney dare norway ninjas trick sexuality sense kicking stepping oz alpha flesh korean secure picking gps tests failing offering raiders sword denmark outdoors bodies odds fuel belgium shoot pope drunk flowers heads entering scream sucks fuck egyptian brazilian gaza faces twenty guys connected confusion highways thousands constitution bbq lying equality jail hunting east coast albert einstein heading bang honesty new hampshire walls congratulations tasks factor boxing funeral guilty qatar lent defeat bright laughter fatherhood loyalty lonely traffic sort bass steal astrology delivery neighbor ot lift long island eleven cold war fantastic wearing beating implications sins dracula pillars logic heritage jedi investigation physicians harder civil uganda pants lunch mafia holistic knock ecuador explain confused crimes best friend cpa treating publishers armed finished cancel hanging swiss ram personally warm cheap ash buddy eyes ottawa worried quitting cows contest bitch serial killers fed mount hundreds nun delaware excuse drinks uncle clothes polish finishing idiots stealing prey samaritan houses careful denial domestic violence southwest nepal janeiro virgin nirvana shut doc pulling assistant smoking esp missionary upset sad catholic church selfish constant vengeance southeast asia goddess slap cliff punch domestic human resources bahamas soviet union buddha professionals ethiopia rapid mexico city antarctica badass legion portuguese menu batteries discrimination hook valor padre needless northeast afterlife hungary selection ark psycho quebec islamic keeper psychologist soviet thai thirty bmw sharp tlc arm mutter home alone northern correct amendment conscience rios subway turkish great britain lie indians washington state won competing horn retire champagne warfare arctic gemini worked thank god laughing goodbye cgi top ten knife hoping celtic touching runner old man day one shirt warner gamble plague defend arab halfway contrary spring break chose recycling mourning fifty bullshit terrorists silly nah ladder household protocol compassionate tested tight bdsm cosmos liar lighting jerks conduct penis smooth new york giants nobel prize carnival canceled lemon theft ignoring arabic little mermaid blink fascinating painful hern orders grandmothers cycling knives tide gremlins syrian masculine ding taxi possession afghan eastern europe translation hunters bit lands communists belly grandpa myanmar acid rolls mp bedroom added recall saturday night wild west brotherhood mumbai foolish kindergarten handbook minimum crap physically forgetting illuminati homeland security companion hurry screw cobra almighty petty bro unc vietnamese remind babe hierarchy real housewives relentless burned serpent allah secret service guinness irishman sd libra peter pan goodnight bluetooth mansion mri king kong cheer pops ranger roman empire abyss btw tango homer bing smaller dmv salmon girl scouts gangs explicit jehovah good morning blonde hq martian ak sixth charging grandparents glasses casper yahweh fucking fiscal appeals newark planned parenthood grandfather adultery acquisitions belarus nypd state department pole aunt murdered rude bibles heavens central park ancestors holy grail libertarians breach fuego mister anal wisely santa fe winds plea nsa boy scouts momma patagonia feds bordeaux device ballet bounce sasquatch converting rope south koreans administrators lemonade shore estonia 401k monday night atm mano puerto rican meth sir bastards predators dwellings rockies clever underworld menace knees hungarian torn apologize promising protocols warner brothers slaughter naples cpr diaspora tend laden tender slayer south asian unable cape bitches cargo scandinavian jaguar lay immortal homicide tibet technically underwear condoms cheerleaders copper refer pd lacking asians guarding al qaeda devo stevenson appalachian esquire virtually ambitious larger ro benjamin franklin automatic nile life insurance sunday night mare fist summer camp runners taurus novels personnel oath equally midway std dwayne johnson thursday night lithuania angola nazi germany liquor conversely stephen hawking insults hmmm kerr hamsters respecting ems middle ages swinging atlantic ocean pile pratt tarzan hush sneak ajax mecca wwi lost ark seduction cock verbal mistress kkk scotch morals tibetans slovakia special forces smiling justice department east africa friendzone my father business management odd free will erotic placing dominican affordable care act swear sixty asshole excessive accuracy flavors lebanese goth halls internship illusions martial cort dunkirk day two jefe azerbaijan band aids pointing reception conqueror mysticism british empire tuna alps underneath latvia stupidity bow milfs sully anima pin workday buttons papua new guinea sexually windy city grinding allied lone dumbledore hm spear wham duh muay thai understood professors ids western europe guards supreme court justice introspection repeating hooters vacuum burma males nikita kinky green beret democratic republic defy interpol charlie chaplin trojan virginity cheetahs bce freemasons big one angelic hamptons kill bill oak pity ear missing link parasites mccabe jason statham year one behave nutcracker futurama thrilling irrelevant george carlin convincing vessels mothering white christmas eastside depaul yugoslavia al capone secret societies yum yummy slight neanderthals ran serbian central asia cha extensive grizzly cougar pinnacle vulcans storming sweaty liking whore tragically lesbians sikh morons chinese communist party reminding triple crown great wall magnum exiting heavily airborne osama grappling obama administration pleased savor u s missing person state fairs dispelling generals man up stud pocahontas bulgarian deep south caucasians emergency rooms lawless state senators gf madi nipple obtain suffice canada day shampoo inuit turks tandem erotica maldives sensing goddesses brownies speeding soviets archery purple heart strangely cambodians sob fp rising sun spinal tap atf fdic oh god nerf marshal mmm anthrax helium god almighty hostility weave lk renfield ghost hunters mongolian apologizing comforting federal court moor holy cross princess leia ncis old world cyclops trojans cicero grandson oaths restraint barnum rasputin good guy reload oh my god assyria brewster grenades sop roman catholic church sz collar new england journal east asian kurdish referring ade creeping amazonian jason voorhees janus my dad jonestown special agents ish dg braille horace belles jokers fraternity third reich ballroom medical center carmichael diplomatic tad stalkers federal bureau eurasia christmas holiday taser seti messina timer feinstein legalize genghis khan winslow sub saharan africa soaking spirit world arabian laguardia farsi animaniacs hecklers goddamn wiccans patriot act pla district court nimrod carnegie mellon testicles directive slavic iliad stasi peeling peugeot bohemia poo luxemburg chalmers columbian endo chicagoans truce equestrian catholic school orgies modernism home loans village voice recount faults kurdistan clans kneel harmonious sipping glock team lead my mother high priestess invading resonate draco lcd precinct ancestor keyes lombard donetsk foe emergency services burnham coroner krav maga forc celts bushido magna carta hubby rhodes scholar rorschach penetration assyrian violating congolese grace kelly fabiola asc bolivian frat snape ako atwood second language mah enrique iglesias darwinian blush friday morning medico ancient world umm prc germanic i won big boss buster keaton hippocrates pinhead woot eurasian world domination snapping kama sutra bum ishtar swiss alps dumbass coal mine holy crap life plans tigger armory holy shit prick improper my son sizzling appoint beg hunting season holy cow four days coughing castello amusement neapolitan speedo park rangers vassar college athleticism orphan black central africa felicit omniscient his house eharmony timothy leary wha hadrian great pumpkin amazonia father daughter naughty list alphas pandering little sister finnes propelled ursula k le guin infighting birthed umami pluck timur magyar us navy seals chuckles solar plexus amway evasion hittites eek geisha intensive care barring my house legions danube motherfuckers cowardly mongoose hilton head restraining orders western united states evil empire black forest zen masters brainiac iron age intercourse yakima silky acp ow vietnamese american disrespecting trust funds bacchus bad girl assistant manager abed internal affairs kindergarten cop taunting mein kampf cavemen trojan war padawan 3f canadian american anat mesoamerican old spice hellas shotguns lumpy crouching tiger ramses consulate top shot last place medical examiners patching hittite oliver cromwell boohoo chicago pd intensive care units east river crewe cunt scathing your father hippocratic oath constanza imhotep rolling thunder sick leave saturday afternoon dominicans groan scythians ash ketchum deyoung developing world northern district octopussy fuckers flatbush fifth amendment laughable evian jacking atta voa maoist tasmanian devils ssr aerospace engineer nonviolent girls gone wild wonder twins bbc america troika hidden dragon firemen khmer ruger huns vassar surrogates exceptionally every member soe arwen security services insulted big wheels saint james chicago police department ace hardware incan extermination granddad gibbon writ good hope wies united states district court sterile bravado alternating humping nubian cunnilingus littering ohio valley little bighorn ragged ngozi sex addicts first house sparing united states attorney seven pillars colonial america ravine witness protection baring iridium clearinghouse cleverly other half flailing bitchy central european invariably overt sky blue mafioso holy mother hic international finance black hand sapphic tigerlily braulio inadvertently oink moorish azerbaijani brawling your mother other' errands bouncers murmurs mmmmmm pharos moose jaw bestiality lashing quebecois smg stanhope sot retrieve uzbek southern india mountie gruff supremacists sex god modern american black lotus searing kibble wmds estere shoshone miranda rights augur sperm whales matron durex olmec sheath caress amory coils grans madame butterfly gutless big sis main man minoan jaywalking belafonte lead investigator sinaloa cartel foolishly slaughtering genghis unconquered long island medium slavs romany squirts javiera mumbling normals hey dad muay caller id yalda bolingbrook friendless cherrie yuppie latin kings egg mcmuffins wakefulness ibew sunni islam blood feud garden gnomes you god tri state area issue one picts holy fuck low countries han chinese mossberg cloaking western roman empire bereft marilynn we americans un charter rusty nail misinterpreting amateur night new agers peregrine falcon reichmann corporate security tabriz weeee mississippi valley magyars inflicted bwana dutch east indies ninja assassin death certificate professor snape momma bear kyrgyz christmas elf communist russia cambodian americans englishwoman tamerlane bomo casus belli amerindian counter intelligence epona angel falls lothario paranormal witness subcontinent otolaryngologist dcup council chambers temujin negative reinforcement pillow guy george anderson wakko arpad fbi headquarters wagnerian obedience training my aunt welcome wagon miyako genoese hey bro nazg british sas good golly literotica wiggling chip coffey zombie survival guide divulging mediterranean world my sisters personal defense bumpkin yes ma charlie horses savate hron new york county free tibet me let director c unluckily motherfu collapsible house heads century bce dual survival italian deli lucky bastards mycenaeans lilliputian natural born killer eminently black sands shammy hey lady daniel burnham dacian english midlands policia federal cheese puffs thorazine nicorette 2x4 'thelma marda in soviet russia dimwit us tax code brian fung currying firing range cherry vanilla every 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Cáel and the Manhattan Amazons: Part 6

israel politics personal star wars columbia nascar diaspora high republic free palestine refugee camps marda

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024

Cáel deals with wounds, lies and the clash of cultures.In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..“The words 'I love you' inspires joy, relief and terror.”I missed my entry to the infirmary. I was returned to clarity by the two female attendants. The younger went straight to cutting my left pants leg off while the oldest Amazon I'd seen to date began an excellent rendition of 'beef' inspector while pretending to be a physician. It was almost hilarious when she looked to Sydney, addressing her in Old Kingdom Hittite."Was he being disciplined, or did he do something stupid?""I did something stupid," I griped. "I showed up to work today." Since it was their native tongue, both of the medical attendants' eyes bugged out."He volunteered to help Aya of Epona with her archery lessons by letting her shoot at a fruit out of his hand," Sydney related."This; this isn't a wound caused by a practice arrow," the physician observed."No, that was from Leona of Marda. She attempted to kill him. When Leona threatened his controller, he presented himself for slaughter," Sydney clarified. "Hayden stopped Leona, Leona disobeyed and we need to plan Leona's funerary arrangements now.""How did you come to speak our language?" the junior attendant asked. The tone of her voice and the look in her eyes was chilling and sensual at the same time. It was chilling because of the transformation she went through as I went from a piece of equipment to a close approximation of a human being in her eyes. I was getting tired."Erotic poetry," I humored her. "I had a lover some time ago; a scholar; who wanted to share Old Kingdom Hittite; Amazon love poetry and songs in the voices of their creators. I know multiple languages no longer spoken."#Your eyes are stolen from the waterfalls descending from the highest mountains##Your hair robbed from the threads of the night sky##Your body is shaped by the Mother Rivers##Your beauty is the gift of the Goddess who knows both tears and love#I recited it in the original Chaldean Babylonian. They were all staring at me, so I translated it into Hittite. It didn't flow as smoothly."What language was that in?" the security guard inquired."Chaldean Babylonian. It is a love poem from a prince to his dead wife," I answered."It was nice, even eloquent," Sydney remarked."Wow," I sighed. "It is tragic to think not a single woman in this room has ever been romanced.""I am pretty sure every woman in this room has been with a man before," the security guard countered."After sex, what did the two of you talk about?" I regarded her."That's not what we use men for," the doctor spoke up while she began examining my wound. Pain. "We use artificial insemination and surrogates for procreation. Beyond directing them in our physical stimulation, there is no need to talk to men.""Oh," I mused sadly. "That makes sense and is richly rewarding to know. If I was more like the rest of you, I'd be laughing. Unfortunately, I have a heart and compassion, so I'll pity you all instead." The doctor didn't take my honestly well. "Ow! Good bedside; Ow!; manner there, Doc.""We don't need your pity," the security guard threatened."Sure, but then I've not bred myself into extinction out of fear of cuddling either," I grinned. "Treating men like livestock makes sense; if you are evil. You refused to allow yourselves to get attached to any male so it would be easier to kill us when our time came.""Tread carefully," Sydney cautioned me."Okay Sydney. Since you are the only female present capable of having offspring, I'll be good," I got in my parting shot. By the silence in the room, I had hit the nail on the head. "I apologize for disturbing you ladies. I'll be a good male and keep my mouth shut."That declaration didn't last long. Apparently pain-killers were not part of their medical credo. When I asked, the doctor implied I wasn't hurt nearly enough; in other words, not being amputated or decapitated. I asked if being castrated would earn me a hammer to the head. They smiled. They thought I was a funny guy once more. It was the whole 'laugh at death' mystique again.This tender, motherly moment was punctuated by the doctor's application of the staple gun (instead of stitches) to both entry and exit wounds. Sydney offered to give me something to bite down on. I insisted on sharing my pain as I screamed my lungs out during the torturous procedure."I thought you were a tough guy," the security guard sneered."And not screaming would have made me tough? Bitch, those are some fucked-up priorities. Screaming meant I didn't jolt when she was stapling my wounds shut. I've been stabbed and stitched enough to know that much," I glared.The assistant had been walking her hands over my body during the process."You have been stabbed fourteen times," she muttered."You missed the one on the right foot," I corrected."You've been stabbed fifteen times? What do you do?" Sydney wondered."I date women. You are a surprisingly dangerous breed, even without the extreme training you ladies possess," I confessed. "To be concise, I have the bad habit of dating women and their friends, acquaintances, and even family members; usually without their knowledge. It always ends badly; thus the wounds.""You betray the women you sleep with?" the doctor stared."We could banter terms and expectations about, but essentially 'yes', I do," I sighed."You seemed like such a well-behaved male," the security guard looked confused."Huh? What does my love of sex have to do with my demeanor?" I mused."I've never beat a lover, or forced myself on a woman. If you want to hold my lack of forthrightness against me, please remember you are part of a secret society that embraces kidnapping, rape and slaughter as daily practices," I smiled. "Comparatively, me not telling one woman that I'm dating her neighbor is small potatoes.""We do what we do out of necessity," the doctor insisted."That flimsy excuse is about as useful as 'you wouldn't understand; you aren't a woman/amazon/nutty-nut bar," I shook my head. "I give up. Your society has equaled, if not exceeded, every inhuman deed men have ever committed.""Congratulations; you have become crueler and more depraved than your enemies," I lauded them."Because of your ignorance, I will let that outburst go unpunished," Sydney stated. I wised up and shut up.My shirt was returned and they had to synch a large towel around my waist because my jeans were ruined and they didn't have scrubs in my size. They gave me my bloody dockers too. Sydney walked me to the front entrance. By the looks of the women we passed they knew something had happened, if not the precise nature.Security's opportunity to 'get me' on the way out was stymied by Caitlyn and family, Desiree, Tigger, and Buffy hanging around. The moment Aya saw me, she called out my name and came running. The only thing worse than the pain of her impacting me would have been the look on her face if I warded her off. I caught her in my arms and lifted her up."Cáel," she exclaimed. "Does it hurt?" I kept lifting her until I blew loudly on her belly."Does that hurt?" I teased her."No," she giggled."Then I'm fine. Really now, I've been hurt worse by a splinter from a toothpick," I exaggerated for her."You are lying to me," Aya shook her finger in my face."The lesson being 'don't lie to winners'," I sighed."Yep," Aya mimicked me. "Is our date for tonight still going to happen?""Oh; Aya, I can't," I groaned. "I've got three smoking hot babes coming over tonight.""Don't make me punch you," Europa play-threatened. She and Loraine had sneaked up on me while I was entertaining Aya."I don't know," Loraine gave a cautious laugh. "I like being called a smoking hot babe.""Aya, I really like you, but do you always have to drag those two around with you?" I wiggled Aya up in the air. "It's kind of creepy." She giggled."Those are my sisters, Silly," she snickered. "They will be your daughters one day too.""Time for us to go," Caitlyn intervened. As she ushered her children away, she shot me a look over my shoulder that strongly suggested she wanted to play house. Desiree moved to within a meter of me and looked me up and down."You are an idiot," she remarked, turned and left. I looked to Buffy."I'm your ride," Buffy snorted. I hobbled to her."I'm glad you are okay," Tigger waved then followed Desiree out."Thanks for a great time," I looked over my shoulder at the Amazons. "As soon as my blood supply has replenished, I'll be sure to come back and play some more."We were in the car, exiting Doebridge when Buffy finally spoke."Why do you keep thinking you can keep getting away with talking like;” she was glaring at me. "Oh Goddess; you really are laughing at death. You really believe you are going to die, don't you?""Absolutely. The moment they started chanting I realized it was unlikely I'd get out of this experience alive," I admitted."Why are you holding us to the 78 day rule?" she asked."Recall what I said about backbone, Buffy?" I reminded her."I am attached to the lifestyle I've created and I'm not going to change it to scrape out a few more days of existence," I grinned. "I hold Havenstone to that countdown because I would do it if I thought I was going to be okay." A few more minutes passed. I tried to cut the radio on. Buffy kept cutting it off. I was getting sick of it and my annoyance was showing."Did you really tell the whole dome that you would sleep with me first?" she whispered."Of course," I replied. "I said that was my intention at work and I mean to keep to it.""What about Hayden?" she asked."Well, unless you agree to a three-way, I think this is going to be an issue we'll have to work around," I shrugged."I'm not even sure I like you," Buffy mumbled. "I want you. I am not sure I like you, though.""Buffy, that's fine," I murmured. I unbuckled my seatbelt and began twisting around in my seat. My thigh was killing me, but I was a man on a mission. I put my head in Buffy's lap, gazing up at her."What are you doing?" she grinned."Annoying you; taking advantage of you; take your pick," I smiled. We drove for a while.

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Michal Šmarda: Krajské volby jsou důležité, i regionální politici můžou řešit palčivé problémy

Press klub

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 15:54

Blíží se opět volby, tentokrát do vedení krajů a Senátu. Proto jsme pro vás pozvali řadu lídrů stran, aby dostali prostor představit své plány. Jako první přišel do Press klubu předseda Sociální demokracie Michal Šmarda. Romana Navarová se ho ptala, čím chtějí sociální demokraté zaujmout voliče. Podle něj je to především snaha spravedlivě odměnit všechny profese nebo řešení bytové krize, která trápí mladé lidí. Poslechněte si celý rozhovor.

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Šmarda: Sociální demokracie už nikdy nebude lpět na pozicích, Suverenita se na nás přiživuje

PoliTalk

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 43:26

Sociální demokracie si měla umět v minulosti mnohem víc dupnout, říká v podcastu PoliTalk její předseda Michal Šmarda. Strana podle něj už nikdy nebude lpět na pozicích. Do evropských voleb chce nést téma vyšších mezd. Suverenita, která straně vzala značku ČSSD, se podle Šmardy snaží na straně přiživit.Celý rozhovor si můžete přehrát i na videu na serveru Novinky.cz

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The Star Wars Diaspora - Marda Ro and Her Personal Storm

Sithty Minutes

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 56:44

Welcome aboard Kyber Squadron! This week, Andrés is solo and talks about diasporas in Star Wars alongside the unique position of being an AfroLatino in 2023. Columbia has a new Star Wars collaboration, and Israel can't stop tripping over their words. It's a jam packed episode, so strap in and lock those S-Foils in attack position! Follow us: Blue Sky/Hive: @SithtyMinutes(Blue Sky) @Sithty_Minutes (Threads) Instagram: @PaulaBear92 @RBW3000 @General_Leia_The_Pup @aaa__photog Show Notes: Star Wars x Columbia x ....NASCAR?! Mexico GP Brazil Qualifying Tales of Light and Life Evereni Pew Research on Black Ancestry AfroLatinos in Black Spaces Israel Bombed a Refugee Camp ...and an Ambulence Convoy

Star Wars: Inquisitor, Rise Of The Red Blade By Delilah S Dawson – Book Review & Plot Summary: Falling To the Dark Side, Iskat Akaris/13th Sister, The Clone Wars & Pkori – A Prequel Era Novel

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2023 56:49

A JEDI FALLS INTO THE DARKNESS, BUT WHAT DOES THE INQUISITORIUS HOLD IN STORE FOR HER? This ep is another canon book review, but this one takes place from Attack Of The Clones through The Clone Wars and into years after Order 66, following Iskat Akaris' journey from Jedi Padawan to The Thirteenth Sister (an inquisitor) and the many situations she finds herself in along the way, including searching for other members of her mysterious species. In this episode, Mike first introduces the book & mentions connected content, then provides his spoiler-free thoughts, before giving slightly more details and finishing with a full spoiler warning and detailing his full thoughts on the novel and some connections. This is the perfect companion to episode 74 of SWCIC, where Mike delves into issues 19-25 of the 2017 Darth Vader comics, which take place when the epilogue of Rise Of the Red Blade occurs! Check out each episode of the weekly Ahsoka discussion shows; found on the podcast feed of Comics In Motion and video versions on YouTube; https://pod.fo/e/1f4b32 & https://youtu.be/6mGPxSnMxhw The last episode, was the final High Republic book review for Phase 2; Path Of Vengeance by Cavan Scott, where MARDA & YANA RO'S JOURNEY WRAPS UP IN THE FINAL PIECE OF PHASE 2 HIGH REPUBLIC! In this sequel to Path of Deceit, we see Marda & Yana's perspectives while the prior events in Phase 2 occur, including the Battles Of Jedha & Dalna, with more information on the mysterious nameless creatures, the identity of The Mother and more from Matthea Cathley & Oliviah Zeveron! More Free Content: 5 episodes of Mike, Maff & Dave's show; Rebels Reviewed is out now, so listen to their thoughts on seasons 1, 2, 3 & 4 and a bonus prediction/wrap-up episode, all found on any podcast app and on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1defff⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/BrZrvENUlTM⁠⁠⁠ Mike speaking with Thomas Rochester of Reckless Rebellion to talk about the 3 Thrawn book trilogies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1df29c⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mike also appeared on Star Wars Timeline to talk about Ahsoka: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/-qo3tVHyC1U⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To support Mike, you can rate/review the show, you can share the show or support financially. You can give a one-off payment/donation at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/genuinechitchat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or you can subscribe monthly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Patreon.com/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Subscribe to the Pop Culture Collective Newsletter for weekly updates on both of Mike's shows and plenty of other incredible creators, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pccnewsletter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find all of Mike's social media & links at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Outro read by BZ The Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.bzthevoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro theme arranged by Mike Burton, backing music by Eric Matyas at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.soundimage.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:35 What To Expect 04:08 Delilah S Dawson's Other Works 05:48 Book Brief & Iskat Introduction 08:10 Spoiler-Free Thoughts & Themes 23:00 Thoughts On Iskat, Prequels & The Dark Side 31:24 Spoilers: Full Plot Summary & Thoughts 48:25 Final Thoughts 55:25 Support, Coming Up & Outro --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/comics-in-motion-podcast/message

SWCIC: Path Of Vengeance By Cavan Scott – Book Review & Plot Summary: Marchion Ro's Ancestors Marda & Yana, The Night Of Sorrow, The Mother & The Path Of The Open Hand - High Republic Phase 2, Wave 2

star wars vengeance st louis nameless yana high republic planet x book discussion lee ann nihil open hand cavan scott huong high republic phase marda

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2023 52:51

MARDA & YANA RO'S JOURNEY WRAPS UP IN THE FINAL PIECE OF PHASE 2 HIGH REPUBLIC! This ep is the final High Republic review/summary for Phase 2 and it's the adult novel Path Of Vengeance by Cavan Scott. In this sequel to Path of Deceit, we see Marda & Yana's perspectives while the prior events in Phase 2 occur, including the Battles Of Jedha & Dalna, with more information on the mysterious nameless creatures, the identity of The Mother and more from Matthea Cathley & Oliviah Zeveron! In this episode, Mike reads the crawl and gives his spoiler-free thoughts, he then reads the publisher's summary/blurb which leads into giving some minor plot details and some thoughts on characters & themes. He then gives a final spoiler warning and providing his detailed thoughts on the whole book including characters, plot details and more, all while providing a plot summary/overview! Mike finishes off the episode with his thoughts on Phase 2 as a whole, talks a bit about Phase 3 and the future episodes of Star Wars: Comics In Canon! Cavan Scott wrote Path Of Vengeance, it's the final novel in Phase 2 of The High Republic and was released May 2nd 2023. Interviews with Claudia Gray, Cavan Scott, George Mann & more can be found on this feed or in this YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcO1Ib_BGD8aBx1DlANwSaxC09kD-CQuM&si=8l9x_mim-lbkbxh2 Check out each episode of the weekly Ahsoka discussion shows; found on the podcast feed of Comics In Motion and video versions on YouTube; https://pod.fo/e/1ee8f3 & https://youtu.be/D_CsRBhWx58 Phase 2 book reviews were released; Path Of Deceit on 7th Jan, Quest For Hidden City on February 14th, Convergence on March 18th, The Battle Of Jedha on April 22nd, Cataclysm on June 17th & Quest For Planet X on July 15th. Mike has also tackled every Dark Horse & Marvel High Republic comic to date, plus all 3 volumes of the Edge Of Balance Manga – check this podcast feed or the High Republic playlist on YouTube! In the last episode, ep 137, THE WOOKIEE JEDI ARKOFF FIGHTS IN THE BATTLE OF DALNA, WHILE AZLIN RELL IS FACED WITH THE NAMELESS! Mike delves into another volume of original High Republic manga; Edge Of Balance, but this is a prequel to volumes 1 & 2, named Precedent! More Content: 5 episodes of Mike, Maff & Dave's show; Rebels Reviewed is out now, so listen to their thoughts on seasons 1, 2, 3 & 4 and a bonus prediction/wrap-up episode, all found on any podcast app and on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1defff⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/BrZrvENUlTM⁠⁠ Mike speaking with Thomas Rochester of Reckless Rebellion to talk about the 3 Thrawn book trilogies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1df29c⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mike also appeared on Star Wars Timeline to talk about Ahsoka: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/-qo3tVHyC1U⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To support Mike, you can rate/review the show, you can share the show or support financially. You can give a one-off payment/donation at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/genuinechitchat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or you can subscribe monthly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Patreon.com/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Subscribe to the Pop Culture Collective Newsletter for weekly updates on both of Mike's shows and plenty of other incredible creators, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pccnewsletter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find all of Mike's social media & links at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Outro read by BZ The Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.bzthevoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro theme arranged by Mike Burton, backing music by Eric Matyas at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.soundimage.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:44 What To Expect 02:31 Timeline & Phase 3 Info 03:45 High Republic Author Interviews 04:25 Brief & Crawl 7:15 Spoiler-Free Thoughts 18:47 Blurb/Publishers Summary 20:22 Thoughts On Themes & Characters, Minor Spoilers 36:30 Spoilers: Full Plot Summary & Thoughts 48:46 Final Thoughts & Phase 3 50:38 Support, Coming Up & Outro --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/comics-in-motion-podcast/message

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“Star Wars: Path of Vengeance” (The High Republic) Book Discussion

Friends of the Force

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023 138:13

The High Republic Phase 2 comes to a shocking conclusion in "Path of Vengeance" by Cavan Scott, and we're excited to finally chat about it! We dive into the Path of the Open Hand's transformation into the Nihil, Marda and Yana's conflicting motives, Matty's greatest test yet in the face of fear, and much more. Plus, we turn #EggTalk all the way up by defining the sin done to the Nameless, Planet X's paracausal properties, and, most importantly, why Azlin Rell is the key to all of this (!!!). Independent Bookstores of the Week: ⁠Left Bank Books⁠ (St Louis, MO) Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/friendsoftheforce Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Threads: https://www.threads.net/@friendsoftheforce?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsoftheforce/?hl=en YouTube: https://bit.ly/36w7bsd Thank you to all of our Patrons, including our Luminous Beings: Brian, Dylan, DSizzle, Emma, Huong, Jenn, Lee-Ann, Lucy, Travis, and Tom. #StarWars #TheHighRepublic #PathOfVengeance

Ep249: Finding Ideal Clients with Philipp Marda

More Cheese Less Whiskers

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2023 57:57

Today on the More Cheese Less Whiskers Podcast, we're talking with Philipp Marda, the founder of theglobalresident.com, as we explore his journey from professional soccer to becoming a global citizen and entrepreneur, helping others investors become global citizens. We discuss the importance of targeting the right market and identifying the different types of entrepreneurs and investors he can help. We also touch on the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) concept and the advantages of maintaining a low budget to preserve financial independence. Summary 1. Philip Marda, founder of theglobalresidents.com, helps entrepreneurs and investors become global citizens by lowering their taxes, improving their lives, and diversifying their assets. 2. Marda's unique multinational background, experience living in various countries, and fluency in multiple languages make him a leading expert in helping people navigate global residency. 3. The transition to "Cloudlandia," where geography no longer matters, has opened up the world for many people, making it easier to live and work internationally. 4. Marda focuses on entrepreneurs and investors who can live wherever they want, as they can get better deals in different countries. 5. There are various options for global residency and citizenship, and Marda helps clients find the best fit for their needs. 6. Tax optimization strategies and global citizenship can be used to build wealth and improve lifestyle. 7. Marda shares his approach to living a global lifestyle, including the time spent in each location and how to maximize the benefits of working with him. 8. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) group concept is discussed, as well as the benefits of having a low budget to stay financially independent. 9. Marda targets high-income entrepreneurs and investors looking to become global citizens and build wealth through tax optimization. 10. Digital content creation is important for establishing oneself as an inspirational leader in the field and building a successful business.

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166: The High Republic: Path of Vengeance with Laura from Force Toast!

Rogue Rebels Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 95:26

Sal and special guest Laura Kelly (From Force Toast) talk The High Republic: Path of Vengeance! Marda, Yana, and ghosts! Jedha jailbreak! The Path of The Closed Fist! Zealots with lightsabers! Mission to Planet X! Grown-ups with costumes! The Mother, The Herald, and The Guide! Baby Nameless! Oliviah Zeveron and the connection! So… what does it all mean for Phase I? Check out our guest on the interwebs! Check out Force Toast Podcast! Follow @ShutUp_Laura on Twitter! We want to hear from you! Check out our questions and polls on Spotify! Click here to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Check out the Rogue Rebels The High Republic playlist here! Follow us EVERYWHERE! IG: @TheRogueRebels Tweets @RogueRebelsFam The Rogue Rebels on FB RogueRebels on Twitch where we are streaming LOTS of Jedi: Survivor!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rogue-rebels/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rogue-rebels/support

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Star Wars The High Republic: Path of Vengeance Roundtable - The Living Force Ep 218

The Living Force: A Star Wars Podcast by Youtini

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 68:58

Cavan Scott's YA novel Star Wars The High Republic: Path of Vengeance rounds out this era by adding nefarious context to events many readers have already encountered. Through his exploration of standout characters Marda, Yana, and Matty, Scott reaffirms the necessity of Phase II's expansion of the horrifying Nameless and further confirms his place as one of the best Star Wars writers in the game. Eric is in the pilot's seat tonight as we discuss the end of Phase II and the evolution of the Path of the Open Hand.

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Episode 582 - The High Republic: Path of Vengeance

Podcast Stardust

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 43:03

Cavan Scott puts his stamp on phase two of The High Republic with the story of the fate of the Path of the Open Hand in Path of Vengeance. In this fully armed and operational episode, we discuss: How this book largely features the “villains” in Marda and Yana Ro, How Marda was indoctrinated by the Mother and the beliefs of the Path of the Open Hand, The visions that Marda and Yana were experiencing during the novel, The mission to Planet X to find more of the Nameless, The reveal of the Mother's identity and backstory, Azlin Rell's madness and verse about the Nameless, and How this book and phase two sets up phase three of The High Republic. Thanks for joining us for another episode! Subscribe to Podcast Stardust for all your Star Wars news, reviews, and discussion wherever you get your podcasts. And please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts. Find Jay and her cosplay adventures on J.Snips Cosplay on Instagram. Follow us on social media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube. T-shirts, hoodies, stickers, masks, and posters are available on TeePublic. Find all episodes on RetroZap.com.

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Episode 36: Phase II is Basically Mean Girls feat. Lia (@deusexvalerate) and Mac (@ardokranch)

Kessel Run Relay Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 93:34

Welcome back to another episode of Kessel Run Relay! Thank you for listening to our episode. This episode is part two of our recap of The High Republic Phase II with our friends Lia and Mac.-This episode includes: Marda, the Krennic to the Mother's Tarkin, SSWS (Secret Star Wars Sisters), "Hm. Fucked up I did", plant magic top surgery, the emotional support bad vibes egg, checkpoint: you have unlocked Mari San Tekka!, the San Tekka clan backstory, and sex pollen (canon).-Follow Lia on social media:Twitter: @deusexvalerate-Follow Mac on social media:Twitter: @ardokranchTikTok: @macktoreality-Check out Mac's Etsy store Glup Stitcho for all your High Republic merch needs!-Follow us on social media:Twitter- @KesselRunRelayTiktok/Instagram- @kesselrunrelaypod-Email us: kesselrunrelaypod@gmail.com

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Ausgelesen #48 – Die Sache mit der Rache

JediCast

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2023 124:36

Anfang Mai erschien mit Path of Vengeance von Cavan Scott der zweite YA-Roman der zweiten Phase der Hohen Republik. Gleichzeitig handelt es sich dabei auch allgemein um den letzten Roman der zweiten Phase, wodurch das mit Path of Deceit begonnene Prequel nun auch im YA-Sektor abgeschlossen wird. Wo also viele Fäden aufgespannt wurden, sollen sie nun wieder zusammengeführt werden. Platz dafür ist bei über 500 Seiten genug, die Frage ist nur, ob das Autor Cavan Scott auch zufriedenstellend gelingt. Genau darüber wollen Ines, Patricia und Tobias in dieser Ausgabe sprechen und sich die Frage stellen, welche Figuren besonders spannend und nachvollziehbar geschrieben wurden, was es mit Planet X auf sich hat, woher denn nun wirklich die Leveler kommen, mit welchen Fragen sie auch nach dieser Phase alleine gelassen werden und schließlich, ob sich das Prequel am Ende nun belohnend anfühlte oder nur unsere Spannung für Phase 3 hinauszögern sollte. Ebenfalls geht es darum, wie ein Charaktervideo die Spannung eines ganzen Romans beeinflussen konnte und welche Geschichten wir jetzt noch brauchen, um zufrieden in Phase 3 gehen zu können. Zeitmarken spoilerfreier Teil 00:00:00 - Begrüßung 00:01:24 - Bisherige Einstellung zur zweiten Phase 00:03:07 - Erwartungen an Path of Vengeance 00:05:48 - Rechtfertigung der zweiten Phase? 00:07:15 - Figurenvorfreude 00:08:30 - PoV mit vielen PoVs Spoilerteil 00:10:58 - Comic und Hörspiel vereinigt euch! 00:18:58 - Quest for Planet X 00:29:11 - Militarisierung und geschlossene Fäuste 00:40:16 - Damit hätte niemand gerechnet (solang er keine Charakter-Videos schaut) 00:49:12 - Das gestresste Ende 00:55:17 - Kollektiver Wissensverlust 01:00:25 - Die beantworteten Fragen 01:07:38 - Marda und die drei Phasen der Selbstverwirklichung 01:20:22 - Yana und die Liebe einer Cousine 01:25:25 - Mother und die Blumenwiese 01:32:31 - Matty ist netty? 01:37:41 - Die Unympathieträgerin 01:41:58 - Sunshine reggae 01:48:58 - Fazit 01:58:24 - Welche Stories brauchen wir noch? Blick in die Datenbank Zur Werksübersicht von Path of Vengeance (Pfad der Rache), geschrieben von Cavan Scott Der englische Roman erschien verfrüht auf der Celebration und regulär am 2. Mai 2023 bei Disney-Lucasfilm Press Eine englische Hörbuch-Version, gelesen von Emily O'Brian, erscheint am 6. Juni 2023 Die deutsche Übersetzung wird im Sommer bei Panini erscheinen Die Rezension Ines hat das Werk für euch zum englischen Release rezensiert und dem Buch einiges abgewinnen können. Für sie schafft es Scott einen "fulminanten Abschluss" zu schaffen. Am Ende wirkt der Roman "[d]urch seine komplexe Struktur, seine Multiperspektivität und seinen Umfang [...] fast schon eher wie ein Erwachsenenroman als ein YA-Roman". Den JediCast abonnieren Wir sind auf allen gängigen Podcast-Plattformen vertreten! Abonniert uns also gerne auf Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts (etc.), oder fügt bequem unsere Feeds in euren präferierten Podcast-Player wie Podcast Addict ein. Alle Links dazu findet ihr oben unter dem Player. Sollte eurer Meinung nach noch ein wichtiger Anbieter fehlen, teilt uns das gerne in den Kommentaren oder per Mail an podcast@jedi-bibliothek.de mit! Nun seid ihr dran! Wie hat euch der Abschluss der Phase in Romanform gefallen? Welche Fragen bleiben euch am Ende noch und worauf freut ihr euch jetzt in Phase 3? Star Wars: Die Hohe Republik ist ein mehrjähriges Buch- und Comicprogramm, dessen zweite Phase 380 Jahre vor Episode IV spielt und einen neuen Einstiegspunkt bietet. Weitere Infos, News, Podcasts und Rezensionen gibt es in unserem Portal und in der Datenbank. Beachtet auch unsere Guides zur Lesereihenfolge von Phase I und Phase II.

The One Where A Guy Robbed A Marda Loop Bank With A Snake (March 20th, 2023)

Virgin Mornings in Calgary with Tyler, Danaye and Fuzzy Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2023 28:32

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042: Sheila Rittenberg & Marda Stoliar - Finding Your Passion & Sowing the Seeds of Change

Mindful Money

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 62:42

Upcoming Event!How Can Mindfulness Give You a More Abundant Retirement?Are you ready to let go of anxiety and find the peace of mind you seek as you prepare for your golden years? Your Answer Lies in These 5 Critical Retirement Questions: Am I on track for financial independence?What do I need to do to get on track?How do I design a mindful investing portfolio?How do I manage that portfolio and my income over time through changing markets?How do I prepare non-financially for retirement? What are the dominant variables in a happy retirement?Learn more: https://courses.mindful.money/mindful-retirement-review-workshop/Marda Stoliar has improved the world in war torn countries and countries with repressive regimes as well as wealthy and poverty-stricken U.S. neighborhoods. She didn't do it through politics or activism; she did it through baking. Sheila has had a life and career that has spanned across geographies, years, and roles. She's worked in health and medical research. She was a community organizer, has worked in public broadcasting, started a nonprofit and has raised money for documentary films.A few years ago, as Marda started telling Sheila about her students and their special reasons for learning to bake, Sheila was lit up by Marda's work and the impact it had on the world. Today, they join the show to talk about discovering a passion, persisting through hardship, and how pursuing your vocation - your passion work - can enhance your impact on the world.

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SWCIC: Aphra Possessed By The Spark Eternal, Ancient Sith Darkseekers Plus Sana Starros & Magna Tolvan (Doctor Aphra #22-26) – Ep 117

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2023 37:25

APHRA IMPRISONED IN HER OWN MIND WHILE THE SPARK ETERNAL RUNS RAMPANT! For ep 117, Mike delves into the 5 issues of Doctor Aphra set after Crimson Reign, but before the Hidden Empire crossover event, which features an ancient being called the Spark Eternal possessing Aphra, trapping her inside her own memories with no one to speak with aside from a long-dead Chadra-Fan. While this unfolds, Sana Starros puts a crew together to find Aphra while Just Lucky is hotly in pursuit! As well as this plot, Mike provides further information on Cortosis, the Mairan species, the Droid Crush and more! This story is set after Empire Strikes Back & after the Crimson Reign & War Of The Bounty Hunters events, but before Hidden Empire & Return Of The Jedi. Doctor Aphra 22-26 are written by Alyssa Wong, with Minkyu Jung as artist on all issues and Natacha Bustos also as artist on issue 22, and Rachelle Rosenberg is colour artist on all issues. Issue 22 was released July 27th 2022, issue 26 was released 16th November 2022 and the trade paperback collection (for issues 21-25) was released December 27th 2022. Mike covered the prelude to Crimson Reign in episode 97 of SWCIC, and all volumes/crossovers 1-5 in episodes 102, 104, 106, 108 & 110 and for all War of The Bounty Hunters comics, check episodes 60, 64, 68, 72, 77 & 84. Mike tackled the first Aphra comic (of the 2016 run) in episode 34, the Accresker Jail issue was in episode 51 and the first volume of 2020 Aphra comics was tackled on episode 67. Last week, Mike gave a review & overview of Path Of Deceit; the first book in Phase 2 of The High Republic. He gives his spoiler-free thoughts on the novel, provides more information on the book, then gives his spoiler-filled thoughts, giving an overview of the book's plot, some connections to other content and more! The book centres around the Path Of The Open Hand, Marda & Yana Ro, Kevmo Zink, Zallah Macri and the mysterious Mother. To hear Mike's exclusive book reviews, including l A New Dawn and the Legends books Shatterpoint, the Darth Bane Trilogy & Darth Plagueis, plus movie & TV “Afterthoughts” episodes, support the show at http://patreon.com/genuinechitchat Guest spots Mike has been involved in: Indie Comics Spotlight to talk Miracleman Books 1-4: https://pod.fo/e/156d91 Mike went on Ike's Flame podcast to talk about The High Republic here: https://pod.fo/e/143ce4 Find Mike @GenuineChitChat on Twitter, @Genuine_ChitChat on Instagram & /GenuineChitChat on Facebook, or check out linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat Outro read by BZ The Voice: http://www.bzthevoice.com Intro theme arranged by Mike Burton, backing music by Eric Matyas at www.soundimage.org Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:28 Timeline & Comic Info 02:45 Personnel & Release Info 03:14 Crawl 03:34 DA22 08:46 DA23 15:10 DA24 19:12 DA25 20:48 Cortosis In Legends/Canon 23:10 DA25 Continued 25:09 DA26 29:11 Coming Up 32:12 Support 33:24 Guest Spots 34:05 New Podcast Feed 34:45 Bonus Content & Patreon 36:20 Outro --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/comics-in-motion-podcast/message

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Star Wars: Path Of Deceit (A High Republic Novel) By Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland; Overview & Spoiler-Free Book Review – Phase 2, Wave 1 of THR; Set 350 Years Before The Skywalker Saga

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2023 45:50

PHASE 2 OF THE HIGH REPUBLIC KICKS OFF WITH A CULT, A CONSPIRACY & CHAOS! Path Of Deceit is the focus of this episode; where Mike provides an overview of Phase 2 of The High Republic, before providing his spoiler-free thoughts on the novel. He then provides more information on the book, before giving a spoiler-warning his spoiler-filled thoughts, giving an overview of the book's plot, some connections to other content and more! This book is the first in the second phase of the High Republic and centres around the Path Of The Open Hand, Marda & Yana Ro, Kevmo Zink, Zallah Macri and the mysterious Mother. Path Of Deceit is a young-adult novel written by Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland, is set in Phase 2, Wave 1 of THR; 350 years before the Skywalker Saga and was released October 4th 2022. Mike has tackled every piece of the High Republic content on this show! For the HR comics, check episodes 84, 86, 87, 88, 90, 92, 93, 94 96, 98 & 99. For the 9 book reviews, check Light Of The Jedi (March 2021), A Test Of Courage (August ‘21) & Into The Dark (October ‘21), and The Rising Storm (November ‘21), Race To Crashpoint Tower (February ‘22) & Out Of The Shadows (March '22), as well as The Fallen Star (April '22), Mission To Disaster (July '22) & Midnight Horizon (November '22). For Starlight Stories, check episode 113! All episodes on YouTube can be found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcO1Ib_BGD8bsER_4sqfhNFfd5aoWT_YX Mike spoke with fellow High Republic architect Cavan Scott in April 2022 which can be found on this very feed or on YouTube, which has their conversation with video! Last episode, Mike embarked on a book review for Padawan by Kiersten White; a novel centred around a young Obi-Wan Kenobi shortly after being taken on as a padawan by Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan travels to a new world, after being guided by a Jedi from the High Republic, he meets a group of children who seem to have strange force abilities, but there is more than meets the eye! To hear Mike's exclusive book reviews, including l A New Dawn and the Legends books Shatterpoint, the Darth Bane Trilogy & Darth Plagueis, plus movie & TV “Afterthoughts” episodes, support the show at http://patreon.com/genuinechitchat Guest spots Mike has been involved in: Indie Comics Spotlight to talk Miracleman Books 1-4: https://pod.fo/e/156d91 Mike went on Ike's Flame podcast to talk about The High Republic here: https://pod.fo/e/143ce4 Find Mike @GenuineChitChat on Twitter, @Genuine_ChitChat on Instagram & /GenuineChitChat on Facebook, or check out linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat Outro read by BZ The Voice: http://www.bzthevoice.com Intro theme arranged by Mike Burton, backing music by Eric Matyas at www.soundimage.org Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:38 Book/Release/Timeline Info 06:02 Phase 2 Overview 07:57 Technology Comparison To Legends 08:59 Spoiler-Free Thoughts & Overview 16:39 Blurb 18:04 Themes, Character Briefs & Mild Spoilers 25:05 Relationships & More Character Info 31:47 More Plot Info & Connections 36:53 Full Plot Overview (Major Spoilers) 40:23 Other High Republic Episodes 41:35 Coming Up 43:31 Support 45:02 Outro --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/comics-in-motion-podcast/message

“This Cup” by Marda Messick

Reformed Journal

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 11:56

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Marda Messick about her poem "This Cup." Marda's poems have appeared in The Christian Century, Delmarva Review, and several other journals. Marda is also a retired Lutheran pastor. She used to pastor at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Tallahassee, Florida. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/reformed-journal/message

Can Democratic Norms Catch Up with AI Surveillance? A Conversation with Vidushi Marda

Power 3.0 | Authoritarian Resurgence, Democratic Resilience

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 27:09

Through tools such as facial recognition cameras and social media monitoring software, artificial intelligence (AI) is offering governments new ways to keep tabs on people's conversations, movements, and activities. Advocates warn that in the absence of clear-cut rules, these new capabilities could erode the rule of law in some settings and deepen authoritarian control in others. In this episode of the Power 3.0 podcast, featured guest Vidushi Marda discusses the global AI surveillance market, the struggle to set ground rules for emerging technologies, and how governments' race to adopt cutting-edge tools could threaten the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. Vidushi Marda is a senior program officer at Article 19, where she leads research and engagement on the human rights implications of machine learning. Christopher Walker, vice president for studies and analysis at the National Endowment for Democracy, and Beth Kerley, a program officer at the International Forum for Democratic Studies, cohost the conversation. The views expressed in this podcast represent the opinions and analysis of the participants and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for Democracy or its staff. Photo Credit: Scharfsinn/Shutterstock.com

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Poems by Kathleen Hellen & Marda Messick

Vita Poetica Journal

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2022 7:30

Kathleen Hellen reads her poem, "compass my eyes to speed of light," and Marda Messick reads her poems, "Spiritual Exercise" and "Beachfront Prophecy," from our Summer 2022 issue. Kathleen Hellen's collection meet me at the bottom is forthcoming in Fall 2022 from Main Street Rag. Her credits include The Only Country Was the Color of My Skin, her award-winning collection Umberto's Night, published by Washington Writers' Publishing House, and two chapbooks, The Girl Who Loved Mothra and Pentimento. Marda Messick is a poet and accidental theologian living in Tallahassee, Florida. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Christian Century, Delmarva Review, Literary Journal, and other publications. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vita-poetica/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vita-poetica/support

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EP66: The Gift of Baking: Marda Stoliar

BAKED in Science

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 28:10

Bakers have a special knack of seeing opportunities instead of risks. It's a gift that allows food to make an impact on the world, even if it just starts by helping one person. In this episode, your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke interviews 81-year-old Marda Stoliar about her adventures baking around the world. Originally with a career in shoe design, her work took her to Europe. While there, she fell in love with an Italian hard roll and was determined to learn how to bake it herself. So, over the next few years she worked in the fashion world during the day, and then got two hours of sleep before working in a bakery all night. This kicked off a life journey of baking that wound through France, owning a bakery in Oregon, teaching baking classes in Asia, and operating the International School of Baking over the last 30 years. Still teaching, Marda helps bakers from around the world, helping them design and launch their own bakeries. Marda shares some of her favorite experiences, like: - Mastering delicate french pastry - Running a bakery during a recession in the 1980s - Her friendship with Julia Childs - Teaching international students - The importance of a bakery layout for saving money - Her signature wedding cake recipe and a $5,000 fruit cake What's next for Marda? She is currently the focus of a documentary of how she has helped over 300 people refocus their lives through teaching the art of baking. Many have gone on to open their own bakeries all over the world. In changing their lives, these novice bakers have also given their families and their communities a new direction too. Check out the documentary kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mardasgift/mardas-gift-film-changing-peoples-lives-through-baking

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Marda - What Healers Academy with the Modern Mystery School was really like

Modern Mystery School UK & EU

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022

Marda Hull Is passionate about empowering people and assisting them to connect with the Divine within. In a time where the world seems to be upside down, there is an ever-increasing need to find true meaning to life and the reason for us being on this planet. Her aim is to assistpeople to have hope; to transcend beyond the constraints of the daily struggle; to manifest and create the life of their dreams. She is a Life Activation Practioner, Healer, Guide and Kabbalist with the Modern Mystery School. She is married and lives in Cape Town, South Africa.

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PPC Season 3 Episode 3: Social issues and requirements for vaccination in children

Pandemic Podcast Coronavirus

Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 31:22 Transcription Available

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Click VDAY20-20%OFF at checkout as Valentine's Day Promo today.AskVet-#1digital resource for pet parent A 24/7 virtual access to a US-licensed veterinarian & a personalized pet plan.Web Registration-FREE!Copper Compression-joint&muscle stabilit Copper infusion offers anti-microbial properties. Save 20%OFF -first order. Get Copper infusion maskWorld of Hyatt-Accommodations& Vacations Points to sell Hyatt rewards to members for booking a hotel room. Purchase 5000 points &get 30% moreCGTrader licensable stock&custom 3Dmodel A self-service showcases 1,330,000 3D models&managed community of 4.68 million users. Trainer Academy-fitness certifications. A 99% pass rate. Study by clicking the link - https://traineracademy.sjv.io/c/3164594/1023242/13054Art Text 3-text design software for macO Watercolor& aquarelle lettering, retro-style titles, 2D calligraphy, neon & glow typography effects.Bulletproof-signature Bulletproof Coffee Coffee,MCT Oil,etc.Commissions for one-time purchases&subscriptions(Save 10%).Free shipping over $35Vosges Chocolate-Gift,Stationery,Food,et Woman founded company w/power of storytelling through chocolate, in a more loving way. SALE-10% OFFSoul Poles-Outdoors, Recreation & Sports Soul Poles is a leading provider of sustainable, performance-driven, & eco-friendly bamboo ski polesFeather Home Inc Home-Pet,Garden,Kitchen Home furniture -to buy, swap, or return pieces of furniture. Hurry up & join Feather now. Get$100OFFWisdom Panel™- know ur dog&cat's DNA now To know your pet's breeds, traits,&health for their best life possible. 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Episode 159- MARDA ANGUS BULLS for Sale...with Cody Quam

Brand Champion Marketing Network

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 14:36

This episode features Cody Quam of Marda Angus discussing bulls they have coming up for sale at the Midland Bull Test Sale April 8th, 2022 in Columbus, MT and also available on the farm at private treaty.

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Konec levice v Čechách? Musíme stranu zachránit a uspět v komunálních volbách, říká šéf ČSSD Šmarda

Seriál Radiožurnálu

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 2:36

Letos v říjnových volbách se sociální demokraté a komunisté nedostali do Poslanecké sněmovny. Obě strany si v reakci na volební debakl zvolily nová vedení. Kateřina Konečná z KSČM i Michal Šmarda z ČSSD slibují plán na záchranu levice v Česku. A upínají se přitom ke komunálním volbám v příštím roce. „Usiluji, abychom se spojovali s dalšími politickými subjekty. Především by to měla být demokratická levice a progresivní síly, jako jsou Zelení,“ myslí si šéf ČSSD Michal Šmarda.

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DVTV DNES: Epidemiolog Prymula, nový předseda ČSSD Michal Šmarda, europoslanec Zdechovský a spor o vánoční kapry a na závěr interview s Otcem Šebestiánem

DVTV

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 18:25

Je chyba neprodloužit nouzový stav? Čeká nás nejtěžší období epidemie? Odpoví epidemiolog Roman Prymula. Bude nový předseda ČSSD Michal Šmarda tím, kdo zachrání stranu a přivede ji zpět do sněmovny? Jaký má plán? Zeptáme se. A také spor o vánoční kapry s europoslancem Zdechovským a interview Daniely Drtinové s Otcem Šebestiánem.

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Tvrdě jsme zaplatili za to, že jsme kryli Babiše. Budeme bojovat proti novým mocným, říká šéf ČSSD Šmarda

DVTV

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 5:12

Dělali jsme špatné kompromisy a báli se to lidem na rovinu říct, kryli jsme, že Babiš čerpal neférově dotace, za to jsme tvrdě zaplatili. Teď budeme bojovat proti novým mocným, nová vláda šije opatření horkou jehlou, velká škoda, že nevyužili 8 let v opozici, říká nový předseda ČSSD Michal Šmarda. Naše klíčové téma bude dotažení důchodové reformy a investice do dostupného bydlení, dodává.

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Interview ČT24 - Michal Šmarda (14. 12. 2021)

ČT24

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 27:01

Host: Michal Šmarda, nový předseda ČSSD https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10095426857-interview-ct24/221411058041214/

marda

Dvacet minut Radiožurnálu: Inspirujme se spojením pravice. Chceme být centrem levicového myšlení, říká předseda ČSSD Šmarda

Radiožurnál

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 24:33

Jak chce nový předseda ČSSD změnit, s kým na tom chce spolupracovat a kdo může za to, že se jeho slovy ČSSD dostala na pokraj ekonomického kolapsu? Tomáš Pancíř se ptal Michala Šmardy, starosty Nového Města na Moravě, kterého si sociální demokraté zvolili do čela strany.

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Inspirujme se spojením pravice. Chceme být centrem levicového myšlení, říká předseda ČSSD Šmarda

Dvacet minut Radiožurnálu

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 24:33

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Polední publicistika: Šéfem ČSSD se stal Šmarda. Hrozí v Bosně a Hercegovině nový konflikt?

Hlavní zprávy - rozhovory a komentáře

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2021 20:01

Jaký záchranný plán připravil pro ČSSD její nový předseda Michal Šmarda? Co bude sociální demokraty při pokusu o návrat do Sněmovny nejvíce brzdit? Hrozí v Bosně a Hercegovině nový národnostní konflikt?

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Hlavní zprávy - rozhovory a komentáře: Polední publicistika: Šéfem ČSSD se stal Šmarda. Hrozí v Bosně a Hercegovině nový konflikt?

Radiožurnál

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2021 20:01

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Michal Šmarda: Lidé nám zkrátka přestali věřit, že jsme schopni hájit jejich zájmy

Press klub

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 19:49

Hostem Čestmíra Strakatého v Press klubu Frekvence 1 byl starosta Nového Města na Moravě a kandidát na šéfa ČSSD Michal Šmarda. Sociální demokracie podle něj zklamala své bývalé voliče. To je podle něj důvod, proč u říjnových voleb propadla. Šmarda si taky myslí, že výsledky voleb přinesou velké zklamání. Řeč přišla i na energetickou krizi.

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36 - Battle of the IPAs (ft. Brother Andrew) (Analog Brewing Company vs. Marda Loop Brewing Company Inc. vs. Left Field Brewing vs. Dominion City Brewing Co.)

Domestic Pints ONLY

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2021 84:22

NOTE: A loud shotgun noise at approx 1:03:53 "The legends are true..." The long awaited Battle of the IPAs is finally here! Domestic Pints ONLY is happy to be joined by Alex's brother Andrew, coming to us from the 'centre of the world' in Toronto, Ontario. Each of us brought an IPA today from our respective cities. First one up? Tom "Billy D" with his selection from Edmonton, the 'In Another Castle' Peach Mango IPA by ANALOG BREWING COMPANY. Alex is up next with his colourful selection from MARDA LOOP BREWING COMPANY INC. - The Big Juice NEIPA. Moving out East, with the bases loaded, Andrew pulls out the Greenwood IPA by LEFT FIELD BREWING. John brings back a selection from DOMINION CITY BREWING CO. with Two Flags IPA. Probably one of our most pleasant drinking episodes in a while, we all enjoyed these selections - but there can only be one winner! Special thanks to Andy for joining us, we hope to have him on again for future IPA episodes. Stay tuned next week as we return to our domestic stomping grounds as we sample Coors Slice! Timestamps: 6:26 Beer #1 (IN ANOTHER CASTLE) 23:06 Beer #2 (THE BIG JUICE) 40:21 Beer #3 (GREENWOOD) 01:00:02 Beer #4 (TWO FLAGS) 01:17:42 Wrap up, final scores, and conclusion Credits: Random Free Use Shotgun sound Check out https://analogbrewing.ca/ for more info on their beer. Check out https://www.mardaloopbrewing.com/ for more info on their beer. Check out https://www.leftfieldbrewery.ca/ for more info on their beer. Check out https://www.dominioncity.ca/ for more info on their beer (also check out our Ottawa City Spotlight, where we tried out Sunsplit IPA). Intro and closing song: "Drink Beer (Till the Day That I Die)" by Dazie Mae (www.daziemae.com) Artwork: IG @natalierivetartist (www.natalierivet.com)

Wegmans explores children's health and nutrition

Shelf Confidence

Play Episode Play 51 sec Highlight Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 25:28

During Children's Health Month this October, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association welcomes Marda Heuman, RDN, LDN, Wegmans Food Markets Pennsylvania Division Nutritionist, to chat about children's health and nutrition. Hear how to develop good eating habits as a family and strive for balance when it comes to what goes on your plate.Marda provides great resources for families from Wegmans, including:- Getting Ready for School - Wegmans- Back To School Shopping Made Easy – Supplies, Lunches, and more! - Wegmans- www.Wegmans.com/feelyourbestBook: How to Get Your Kid to Eat…But Not Too Much, Ellen Satter, RD

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Episode 56- Marda Angus Farms Pt 2....Cody Quam Oct 24 2021

Brand Champion Marketing Network

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 16:09

This is the second of two episodes featuring Marda Angus Farms. If you missed last weeks episode be sure and go back and listen to the story of this nearly 80 year old Angus cattle farm and their rich family history. This episode discusses in detail the upcoming sale held there at the farm October 24th, 2021.

farms angus quam marda

Episode 47- Marda Angus Farms....Cody Quam Oct 24 2021

Brand Champion Marketing Network

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 17:36

This episode features the story of Marda Angus Farms as told by family member Cody Quam. A very fun listen discussing their rich Angus history back to the 1940's right up to their production sale coming up October 24th, 2021.

farms angus quam marda

Tarihte Bugün #162 | 11 Haziran

Tarihte Bugün

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2021 2:41

11 HAZİRAN 2021 DÜNYA TARİHİNDE BUGÜN YAŞANANLAR 1940 - II. Dünya Savaşı: Britanya Kuvvetleri, İtalya'daki Ceneviz ve Torino kentlerini bombaladı. İtalya Hava Kuvvetleri, Malta adasına ilk saldırılarını gerçekleştirdi. Norveç, iki ay süren direnişin ardından Alman Orduları'na teslim oldu. 2001 - 5 Aralık 1791 yılında 35 yaşındayken ölen dahi besteci Mozart'ın ölüm nedeni olarak Trişinoz hastalığı gösterildi. 2004 - Elvan Abeylegesse, Golden League yarışmasında Norveç'in Bergen kentinde koştuğu 5000 metre yarışındaki 14:24.68'lik derecesiyle 7 yıldır kırılamayan 5000 metre Dünya rekorunu kırdı ve Dünya rekoru kıran ilk Türk atlet oldu. TÜRKİYE TARİHİNDE BUGÜN YAŞANANLAR 1868 - Kızılay, "Mecruhin ve Marda-yı Askeriyye İmdat ve Muavenet Cemiyeti" adı altında kuruldu. 1913 - 31 Mart isyanını bastıran Hareket Ordusu'nun Komutanı, Sadrazam ve Harbiye Nazırı Mahmut Şevket Paşa düzenlenen bir suikast ile öldürüldü. 1919 - Mustafa Kemal, kendisini İstanbul'a geri çağıran Vahdettin'e geri dönmeyeceğini bildirdi. Damat Ferid Paşa, Paris Barış Konferansı'na katılmak üzere, İstanbul'dan Paris'e gitti. 1933 - Cumhuriyet'in ilanının 10. Yıl Dönümünü Kutlama Kanunu çıkarıldı. 1979 - Cumhuriyet tarihinin 5. devalüasyonu yapıldı; Türk lirası'nın 1 Dolar karşılığı değeri 47 lira 10 kuruş oldu. 1981 - Bülent Ersoy'un sahneye çıkması yasaklandı. 1999 - Bakanlar Kurulu, 13 Mayıs 1999 tarihinde Fazilet Partisi'nden Milletvekili seçilen Merve Kavakçı'yı vatandaşlıktan çıkarma kararı aldı. Merve Kavakçı, kararın iptali ve yürütmenin durdurulması istemiyle Danıştay'da dava açtı. BUGÜN DOĞANLAR 1923 - Türk şair Özdemir Asaf, dünyaya geldi. 1987 - Özbek asıllı Türk millî tenisçi Marsel İlhan, doğdu. BUGÜN ÖLENLER 1942 - Türk roman ve hikâye yazarı Selahattin Enis Atabeyoğlu vefat etti.

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Summer skincare swap with Defensins: the benefits of retinol without the side effects

Art Beauty

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 31:20

Summer is in full swing, and by now you've probably swapped your heavy winter coats and boots – but what about your products? Skincare products containing retinol are a favorite of ours during the colder months, but we tend to shelf them in the summer. Retinol boosts cell turnover, eliminating dull skin cells and making way for healthy new ones. But left unprotected, these new skin cells can easily burn. According to Marda Levy of DefenAge, there might be a safer alternative that delivers the same benefits – skin rejuvenation, boosting brightness, epidermal thickness and cell turnover– without any of the side effects or sensitivity. Defensins are small messenger molecules that are released in our body when we have a wound and are responsible for starting the cascade of healing with new fresh skin. When used in skincare, they activate dormant stem cells to encourage a new epidermis to grow, leaving behind a “fresh” top layer of skin, improving fine lines, wrinkles, texture, sagging, pigment, and pore size. We talk to Marda about the clinical results from using defensins with DefenAge, including improved small and large wrinkles, reduced pore size, and lightening discoloration.

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Episode 22 - Mike De Jonge, Owner - Marda Loop Brewery

Let's Meet For a Beer

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 47:56

This episode of the Let's Meet for a Beer Podcast is part of a series that we created with our friends at Brightside. Each episode in this series showcases a unique Calgary-based craft brewery that is part of Brightside's “Friends With Benefits” Program. Today I sat down with my friend Mike De Jonge, owner of Marda Loop Brewing to find out what led him to build the brewery, how his team has navigated the challenges of the current pandemic, and what his thoughts are on the future of the craft beer industry.Mike, along with his wife (and mentor) Lolly, opened Marda Loop Brewery in 2018 to be a “second home” for the people and businesses in the neighborhood. They have weathered the pandemic with the mantra “stick to what got us here” - which is community support, an amazing team and a willingness to embrace change.Mike is an optimistic entrepreneur and it was great to learn more about his journey - I hope you enjoy our conversation.More on Brightside:Join Brightside and experience the banking app that helps you do more. Download the app to sign up in minutes from your phone to get spending and saving - all for free. You can learn more about Brightside by ATB here. Brightside is giving all you lucky listeners $10 when you sign up using the code BEER. Download the app, sign up and minutes and put that $ 10 to good use (let's face it, we know you'll likely use it on beer!)Brightside: Download | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TwitterLet's Meet For A Beer: Website | Twitter | InstagramAlberta Beer Festivals: Website | Twitter | Instagram

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215 x 410 w/ Marda Yg

Think B4U Speak Debate Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 67:55

The team is back this week in full swing and with a special guest Marda Yg. Marda Yg is a artist coming in from Philly to add to the vibe as well as give us the "No Hype" song for the week with "Khaleesi". Check it out!

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Sustainable Swimwear with August Dyrberg

Start Small

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 20:18

Have you ever been frustrated at the pollution of our oceans, the waste that gets dumped into our beautiful bodies of water? Well, that's exactly what happened to August Dyrberg. An avid adventurer and scuba diver, as August learned about the mass amount of plastic waste in the ocean he decided to do something about it, and thus Marda Swimwear was born. Using recycled plastic bottles August worked with other experts in the clothing industry to use the bottles to create a luxurious and one-of-a-kind bathing suit. MARDA is a modern men's swimwear brand obsessed with creating a better world by using plastic from our oceans and landfills to make premium swim shorts that are made to last. Our philosophy finds the harmony between plastic and design to create highly sustainable swim trunks brought to life with the best in Japanese fabric technology. August also shares with us what it was like to begin such an arduous task with no background in business, and how he figured out the process and built such a successful business in the process. Topics Discussed: Making fabrics from recycled plastic bottles. Going into business without a business background. Making sustainable clothing that is high-end and functional. Ensuring the quality of the product and those making it from start to finish. -- SUBSCRIBE TO START SMALL: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-small/id1537390467 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49cOe3NI7OHSXACpUsQSkC Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcjQKGox5xnowa3nD1J5vGQ Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/start-small TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/Start-Small-p1380487/ Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tb3lhYXNoZWFidXR0ZXIubGlic3luLmNvbS9wbGF5ZXJmbQ Connect with Marda Swimwear: Website: https://mardaswimwear.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marda_swimwear/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mardaswimwear Twitter: https://twitter.com/mardaswimwear Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.dk/Mardaswimwear/_created/ Connect with us! Website: https://www.moyaasheabutter.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moyaasheabutter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/moyaashea Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moyaasheabutter/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcjQKGox5xnowa3nD1J5vGQ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/moyaashea/_created/

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Zemana asi baví týrat Babiše, ale šaráda s výměnou ministrů nikomu neprospěje, říká Šmarda

DVTV

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 2:51

Petříček dělá dobře svoji práci, nemá důvod odcházet. Jsou to politické hrátky prezidenta, na které teď nikdo nemá čas. V historicky největší krizi České republiky už premiér vyměnil ministra zdravotnictví dvakrát a posílilo to chaos, říká místopředseda ČSSD Michal Šmarda. Kdyby Babiš potřetí vyměnil ministra, bere se to jako manažerské selhání, dodává.

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K věci 9.2.2021 - Michal Šmarda

K věci - CNN Prima NEWS

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 23:13

Navštivte web CNN Prima NEWS na https://cnnprima.cz Sledujte CNN Prima NEWS na sociálních sítích: Facebook: https://facebook.com/cnnprima Instagram: https://instagram.com/cnnprima Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnprima Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CNNPrimaNEWSCZ #CNNPrimaNEWS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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PARTIE Terezie Tománkové 6.12.2020 - Jan Bartošek, Jiří Dolejš, Mikuláš Ferjenčík, Michal Šmarda

Partie Terezie Tománkové

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2020 45:42

Tah dámou! https://cnn.iprima.cz/porady/partie/06122020-jan-bartosek-jiri-dolejs-mikulas-ferjencik-michal-smarda See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

mikul barto tah marda

Episode 20: Syzygy

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 52:20

Welcome to The Otherplace The dead walk. Chauncey, Marda, and Peck search for whatever dead creature is lurking near the River Elk. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Balthazar is voiced by Doug Eberhardt Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- Join our Discord to hang out with other Otherplace fans and chat about the show. For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 18: Teeth

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 33:01

Welcome to The Otherplace Something happened to Marda. Morwen runs through Volk, trying to accomplish her dark deeds. Meanwhile, Chauncey and Peck try to figure out what's going on and find their friend. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 16: Circles

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 55:26

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. They find a passage that hasn't been seen in thirty years and follow it into a strange, strange place. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 15: Passage

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 48:38

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. The trio explore the mysteries Belmin's home. A voice leads the way. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 14: Homecoming

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 41:58

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. The trio make their way back to Belmin's home. Theories abound as they uncover stranger and stranger things in the old house. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 13: Histories

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 39:54

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck explore the city of Volk for supplies and information. They head to the local apothecary, an old man who knew Belmin when he was alive. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 12: Iron and Bone

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 36:16

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. Today is market day and the trio head out to replenish their stocks and gear up to deal with the ghost. Marda and Peck head to the blacksmith to get some iron while Chauncey heads off on her own in search of sometime special. Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----more---- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 8: New Chapter

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2020 45:59

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. Their mission forgotten, the trio reel in the aftermath of an encounter with a long-dead denizen of the town. Chauncey, Marda, and Peck talk through some of their issues and formulate a plan for their future. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 7: Time

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2020 35:47

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. Their mission forgotten, the trio reel in the aftermath of an encounter with a long-dead denizen of the town. Chauncey recovers. Marda and Peck learn some of Volk's secrets from someone who was there 30 years ago. ----------------Ø---------------- Go listen to our friends Battle Buddies as they launch their new podcast today! Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 6: Touch

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2020 30:15

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. The Fellowship of the Seven Rivers has sent them on a mission to place Sunlamps around the perimeter of town. An argument breaks out in the library of the old Belmin house and unfortunately, the haunting is the last thing on anyone's mind. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 5: Negative Emotions

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Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 39:53

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. The Fellowship of the Seven Rivers has sent them on a mission to place Sunlamps around the perimeter of town. Peck follows her delinquent young employees to a long abandoned mansion where all is not as it seems. Something may be lurking in the dark corners as they do their best to investigate the Belmin House. ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. We are inspired by Final Fantasy, Lockwood and Co. by Jonathan Stroud, The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, The Dark Tower by Stephen King, Fallout, Skyrim, Zelda, and our own imaginations. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

Episode 4: Memories

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2020 38:57

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. The Fellowship of the Seven Rivers has sent them on a mission to place Sunlamps around the perimeter of town. Peck follows her delinquent young employees to a long abandoned mansion where all is not as it seems. What will they find in this supposedly haunted house? ----------------Ø---------------- Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----------------Ø---------------- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. ----------------Ø---------------- The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. We are inspired by Final Fantasy, Lockwood and Co. by Jonathan Stroud, The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, The Dark Tower by Stephen King, Fallout, Skyrim, Zelda, and our own imaginations. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 3: Dissonance

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2020 43:15

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. The Fellowship of the Seven Rivers has sent them on a mission to place Sunlamps around the perimeter of town. Friction continues to build between the trio. They continue their mission on Volk, swapping a favor with some locals along the way. Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----more---- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. The Otherplace is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. We are inspired by Final Fantasy, Lockwood and Co. by Jonathan Stroud, The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, The Dark Tower by Stephen King, Fallout, Skyrim, Zelda, and our own imaginations. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2020 All music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2020

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Episode 2: Ghost Story

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2020 50:01

Welcome to The Otherplace Chauncey, Marda, and Peck find themselves far from their homes, on the Isle of Volk. The Fellowship of the Seven Rivers has sent them on a mission to place Sunlamps around the perimeter of town. After hours, Chauncey and Marda head down to the tavern and find out a little more about the Isle of Volk's dark past. Chanucey is played by Mary Frances Miller Peck is played by Nikki Smetters Marda is played by Sarah Joy Mark Eberhardt is GM ----more---- For news and extras, follow us on Twitter or on Instagram. Visit our website to find out more about The Otherplace and our other podcasts and projects. Support the show by visiting us on Patreon, donating through Ko-fi, or leaving us a review on your favorite podcatcher. The Other place is an RPG actual play. In our live play podcast, we use the Genesys role playing game system to tell our stories. To find out more about the land of Fenrayne, visit our website. Genesys is a product of Fantasy Flight Games ©2021 The world of The Otherplace, all music, audio, characters are owned by Night Cast Creative ©2021

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Episode 1: Sunlamps