#Seventh brigade

[guerillas-of-history]

A member of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades stands in the Nuseirat refugee camp located in central Gaza, during the seventh prisoner exchange, February 22, 2025.

Note: Yahya Sinwar is depicted on the weapon magazine.

(Photo credit: Bashar Taleb/AFP)

[danaewrites]

you with the dark curls (you with the watercolor eyes)

part ii: i wanna hear you speak to me

james potter x reader // read it on AO3

word count: 3.6k

summary: “Falling in love with your best friend was never a good idea, but you’d managed to do the idiot thing anyway, carrying a torch for a boy who would never look past Lily’s emerald eyes to see the watercolor ones that had always been by his side.”

tags: best friends to lovers, angst with a happy ending, based on the song "dear arkansas daughter" by lady lamb, fem!reader

author's notes: new year, new chapter! i started writing this one back in SEPTEMBER and finally had enough time away from the terrors of calculus homework to finish it. thanks for reading my story so far and i hope you enjoy this incredibly self-indulgent chapter, because i had way too much fun writing it!! i promise that the angst in this chapter *will* be resolved, but it was too deliciously tempting to resist sprinkling a wee bit of hurt/comfort and dramatics in there as well. sorry not sorry!

read it all here: part i, part ii, part iii (coming soon!)

“I’ve got no bloody clue how Dumbledore can be so energetic all the time,” you groaned, head in your hands as you peeked out at the headmaster’s more-than-slightly manic grin from your seat at the Gryffindor breakfast table. You were far too sleep-deprived to process his latest choice of garish attire: a bright chartreuse robe covered in plaid polka dots, topped off with what appeared to be rhinestones and tinsel attached to his beard.

Perhaps if Kettleburn hadn’t assigned you three feet of parchment on the seventeen glorious properties of dragon dung yesterday and expected it done by this afternoon, you might have appreciated the headmaster’s creative fashion choices– oh, who were you kidding. There really was no understanding that wizard, even properly rested. James and Peter had made a bet during fifth year on how long it’d take Dumbledore to crack under a constant deluge of pranks in his office, but they’d quickly realized that the man was too far gone to do anything but take inspiration for school events– an idea that was quite frankly, comically frightening, and the sort of thing you weren’t keen on pondering on a normal Tuesday morning.

Sirius wrinkled his nose sympathetically and slid the pile of raspberry jam tarts closer to you. “Late night in the library again?”

You nodded sheepishly, gratefully taking a pastry from the pile. “I honestly don’t know why Pince allows me to stay past curfew. Marauder’s luck, I guess?” Your attention was diverted by the sound of hoots and flapping wings as the morning owl brigade arrived, apparently choosing a kamikaze dive-bomb approach to deliver this morning’s newspapers. Ah, the joys of living at the world’s most advanced magical school.

Sirius, ever the epitome of grace, slipped under the table as a rogue owl zipped past, popping himself back up just enough to throw you finger guns. “Exactly right, doll, exactly right,” he grinned. “Trust me, Marauder’s luck gets you everywhere. And I mean everywhere,” he winked, sending you a lecherous smirk.

“Ew, Sirius, I don’t even want to know,” you sniffed. “I’ve learned my lesson after the mental trauma your tales of Dorcas’ birthday adventures inflicted upon my psyche. Please, spare me the details.”

“What? All I meant was Slughorn’s Christmas Party, of course!” He batted his eyelashes angelically, still partially covered by the tablecloth.

Your mouth gaped open in shock. “Last year’s Christmas party? Sirius Orion Black, I refuse to hear another word! What on earth would your ancestors think, with you bragging about such exploits-”

He leaned over, eyes wide with laughter. “No, I meant the one Slughorn is throwing on the 21st, it’s exclusively for us lucky seventh years this time. Although, you bring up some very fond memories… okay, okay, I’ll stop, don’t kick me–”

“What are we kicking Sirius for?” James slid onto the bench across from you, eyeing a groveling Sirius with interest. Peter joined him, but wisely chose to stay away from the ruckus, piling his plate high with the bacon the owls had spared. Remus was noticeably absent, spending the morning resting in the infirmary after a rough night of shifting– which you assumed was much more peaceful than the current chaos at the Gryffindor breakfast table.

“Oh! Good morning, Jamie,” you beamed up at him, passing him the plate of desserts you’d been protecting from Sirius’ nefarious advances. “Morning, dove,” he greeted you, and then paused. “Ha, get it? Morning dove?” He puffed up his chest smugly and nudged Sirius with his elbow in a futile effort to make him laugh. You huffed fondly at his antics. Boys.

Sirius rolled his eyes and took advantage of your momentary distraction, retreating back onto his seat to nurse his wounds– to your ever-growing delight (and Sirius’ woe), you had recently discovered that the Hogwarts girls’ uniform shoes were quite sharp. “At this point we should call you Lames. ‘Cause your puns are lame,” he muttered.

You shooed him away with a brush of your hand, remembering what Sirius had mentioned earlier. “According to Sirius, Slughorn’s hosting a Christmas Party again this year. Let’s pray it won’t be like the last one.” You muttered. James and Peter both looked vaguely ill at the prospect, shuddering in unison. “My tie will never look the same again,” Peter griped, but suddenly sat up straight in his seat. “Hey, wait, we’re finally old enough to bring dates to this one! Without sneaking them in, I mean.” 

Sirius snickered and lightly punched his shoulder. “Why, Petey, got some lucky girl in mind?” Peter reddened and glanced over at the Hufflepuff table, where a certain freckled blonde was chatting with her friends– a move that didn’t go unnoticed by James, who gave a delighted wolf-whistle. “You got a thing for Lucy Abbott, huh? Might want to make a move before Smith does,” he grinned, gesturing to the tall brunette boy who’d just arrived and sharing a knowing smirk with you. You giggled at Peter’s increasingly pouty expression; he’d figure out sooner or later that Smith was definitely not interested in Abbott– or witches in general– but it was entertaining to see him out of his comfort zone. Peter had always been the quietest of your little group, and you privately thought that a bit of momentary romantic angst might spur him to be more assertive. An ironic opinion, considering how your own love life revolved around the fact that your best friend had feelings for someone else… and you couldn’t do anything about it except mope.

Peter scowled. “Easy for you to say, Prongs, you’ve finally got precious Lily-flower wrapped around your finger. I bet you’ve already asked her!”

There it was: another reminder that James wasn’t yours, and never would be. You watched as the Gryffindor boys good-naturedly jostled his shoulder and tousled his curls. James grinned sheepishly, shrugging off their teasing. “Not yet,” he admitted, glancing hopefully at the end of the table, where Lily was chatting with her friends. 

Peter rolled his eyes. “Aw, come on, we all know she’ll say yes this year.” Sirius winced, looking at you out of the corner of his eye. Peter glanced at Sirius, drawn by the movement. “What’ve you got to worry about? Half the population would kill Dumbledore to get one dance with you. The only person who’s got to worry about a date is me– well, and maybe Y/n, I guess.” His face suddenly turned contemplative, looking you up and down. “Are you going with someone?” 

Sirius’ grimace became doubly pronounced at Peter’s tactlessness, and you felt your face heating up. Peter had a way of accidentally hitting on the issues others tried to hide. It wasn’t his fault he’d never heard about your trips to Hogsmeade with a paramour– in fact, none of the boys had. Because there hadn’t been any. You’d spent your entire time at Hogwarts pining after James, and as a result had missed the romantic milestones your classmates had already blissfully bragged about. 

Peter looked at you expectantly, waiting for a response, and you opened your mouth to confess your lack of experience when you spotted a familiar redhead walking gracefully towards your side of the table– to James, you realized with a start. Something within you ignited as you watched her glow with confidence, carefree and lovely as ever. Lily would never pine after someone uselessly; she knew she could get anyone she wanted with the right amount of banter and flirty gestures. You... Well, you weren’t there quite yet, but maybe it was time to take inspiration from the Muggle saying and ‘fake it til you make it’. And before you could think about what you were about to do, you turned to Peter and smiled coyly. “I might.”

James’ and Sirius’ heads snapped up immediately from their perusal of the breakfast lineup as they let out an identical murmur of surprise. “What?” James furrowed his brow, looking you up and down– seemingly trying to discern whether you had taken a holiday from your senses, most likely via Bludger-induced concussion at the last Quidditch match. Sirius merely raised a questioning eyebrow at you. You groaned internally, knowing that you’d have to explain yourself later… although, if your half-baked idea worked, you’d be spending a lot more time with him anyway. For now, you beamed innocently at both of them and took a sip of your pumpkin juice. Apparently, the Sorting Hat had placed you in Gryffindor for a reason- you were either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish to commit to this plan, but with Evans quickly approaching, you saw no other choice.

Peter looked momentarily shocked, then glumly began to assemble an egg and bacon sandwich seasoned with the occasional mutterance of “unfair” and “perpetually single, my arse”.

James’ eyes were still trained on you. “Who is it?” he asked, searching your face again as if he was looking for some indication that you were joking. You shrugged, trying to look casual. “I guess you’ll just have to find out, won’t you?”

“Dove-” he began, but Lily finally reached his seat and placed one stupidly perfect hand on his shoulder, diverting his attention momentarily. “Sorry to interrupt your breakfast, but Professor McGonagall asked me to bring you to her office for Quidditch scheduling.” James blinked, glancing up at her and then at the rest of the table. He stood up and focused on you again, expression clouded. “I’ll see you in Potions, yeah?”

Sirius stood up quickly, ushering him out of his seat with a speed you’d only seen him use to gulp down cheap Firewhiskey. He gave you a significant look. “Actually, Y/n and I were just about to take a walk, isn’t that right? So we'll both see you in Potions, what a sublime coincidence, now don’t be late for your meeting–” he chattered on as he shoved James toward the doors of the Great Hall, the latter eyeing him suspiciously but moving nonetheless. Sirius turned to you and pointed to the courtyard entryway. “You. Me. Talk, as in right now.”

Once you were sure that you’d made it out of earshot of Peter and the rest of the Gryffindor table, you wheeled around to face him. “Okay. First of all… I didn’t plan that.” Sirius raised an eyebrow again. “Second of all, I need a favour,” you pleaded, staring up at him with the most adorable doe eyes you could physically summon. They were usually most effective on James, for some reason, but you were sure that Sirius wasn’t immune to your manipulation either. He groaned, resting his face in his hands. “How do you even have a date? Last time I checked, also known as yesterday, you were still head over heels for Prongsie, doll. So do I need to check you for Amortentia or somethi–” He peered out from between his fingers with annoyed realization. “You don’t have a date, do you.” 

You blinked innocently up at him. He let out a long-suffering sigh and ran his hands through his hair. “This is what you need the favour for? You want me to go with you to Slughorn’s party so you can pretend in front of the rest of Hogwarts that you’re not madly in love with Jamie?” 

You grinned confidently up at him and slung an arm around his shoulders. “Aw, Siri, you know me so well. It’s almost as if you were maaaade to be my date for the party...” You fluttered your eyelashes up at him one more time for good measure, trying to hide a smirk. “Alright, alright, stop with the Bambi act, I’ll take you.” He scowled good-naturedly. “You know, this is going to ruin my dating pool for the next month.” 

You scoffed. “As if! If anything, you’ll just have more people fawning over you– temptation of the forbidden apple and all, you know.” 

Sirius brightened up considerably at this revelation. “Well, why didn’t you say so in the beginning, doll! I vote that we match in purple velvet, it does wonders for my complexion–”

You gave a very unladylike snort at the thought of you and Sirius swanning into the party in some sort of horrendous plum-coloured disco getup, and shooed him away towards the Potions classroom. That was an eyesore to imagine sometime when you weren’t about to get a headache from the dim dungeon lighting.

Slughorn greeted you and Sirius by directing you to the front of the classroom with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Oho, a pair of latecomers, I see!” He winked at you and Sirius in exaggerated motion. You winced as Snape jeered and nudged Malfoy, who was busy enjoying Flint’s crude gestures at you. Ugh, Slytherin boys. The worst of the lot. Their snickers were quickly stopped by James chucking a handful of powdered wormwood at their heads when Slughorn turned away, making Malfoy’s prized hair appear covered in soot. You shot him a grateful smile. 

“Since you two missed my initial remarks, let’s see if you can make it up by identifying today’s potion, hmm?” Slughorn gestured dramatically to a shimmering green brew in a cauldron next to his desk, cherry-coloured smoke curling off of the top invitingly. 

Sirius shot you a panicked look, clearly not expecting to be put in the academic spotlight, but you shook your head and stepped closer. You smelled something rich and incense-like, which meant that Bumburrel leaves were a key ingredient. And combined with the way the smoke was drifting lazily around your wrists, curling higher and higher… “Brew of Mandelian, sir. Used for sharpened acuity under times of pressure.”

Slughorn gave a delighted chuckle and clapped his hands. “Well then! Ten points to Gryffindor for paying attention in lectures!” He dismissed you and Sirius with a wave, moving on to explain the finer points of ingredient preparation to a very bemused George Goyle as you slipped into your usual seat beside James.

You worked in quiet harmony for a moment, methodically slicing and crushing the slippery beetles needed to give the brew its signature green colour while James handed you the insects. He broke the silence after six beetles (not that you had been counting or anything) with an awkward, “So… you have a, erm, date?”

You huffed, motioning for him to hand you the foul-smelling Moorish tubers next. “Honestly, James, is it that surprising?” He scratched the back of his neck, frowning. “Well, I– yeah, I guess.” he trailed off, seeing your expression. 

“The tubers, Jamie, thank you. I mean, you looked at me like I was a ghost back in the Great Hall!” You were decidedly not making eye contact with him, trying your best to focus on the slimy plants in front of you and not the fact that your best friend-slash-unrequited crush doubted your romantic potential. What a way to be humbled– and while covered in tuber juice, no less!

He huffed, running a hand through his already messy curls. “Come on, Y/n, it’s not like that. What did Sirius want to talk about in the Great Hall, anyway? You two looked… chummy.” 

You glared down at the copper slicing board. “Well, it’s none of your business how chummy we are, is it? I don’t interrogate you every time you converse with Peter. In fact, it’s rather expected that Sirius and I speak to one another on occasion, considering the amount of time we all spend together thanks to you.”

You moved to grab another tuber from the jar, but James reached out and grabbed your hand, forcing you to look at him. His hazel eyes were alight with frustration, a look you knew by heart thanks to the hours you’d spent tutoring him in History of Magic after he napped his way through the entire first semester. “Are you serious? You’re actually going with someone?”

“Please, Jamie, do enlighten me on whyever you think I couldn’t possibly get a date with my numerous and diverse charms,” you sniffed, hoping to Merlin that he would just leave the entire subject alone. 

“No, it’s–” he groaned, leaning back in his seat. “The other boys, they don’t know how– you’re so, I mean, just look at you!” he exclaimed, gesturing at you. He stopped, frowning to himself, looking more confused than before. He glanced over at Lily, expression becoming even more muddled, brow furrowed and hard to read to anyone but you. 

Your mouth parted in shock, and to your dismay you felt tears bubbling up again. You blinked fiercely, refusing to let him see you cry. James thought the issue was… your looks? You suddenly wanted to crawl under Slughorn’s desk and never come out again, except perhaps to find a shovel to dig your grave with. This was far, far worse than watching him transfigure chocolates for Lily every Valentine’s Day. Now you knew for a fact he didn’t find you attractive– thought other boys didn’t either, even! And the way he’d clearly mentally compared you to Lily after what he’d admitted… well. There was no recovering from that. Teenage boys could be dense, but Merlin, how you had wanted him to at least let you down gently. 

You wished you’d never opened your mouth to lie about having a stupid date in the first place, but you forced yourself to laugh and mutter something trite about how that could all be fixed with a couple glamour charms anyway so it really wasn’t an issue for the party, thank you very much. He looked even more confused, opening his mouth to respond, but Snape chose that moment to interrupt.

“Hey, Potter!” James turned to scowl at the greasy Slytherin as you thanked your lucky stars for Snape’s interruption (a rather disturbing thought– potentially a harbinger of an imminent apocalypse. You’d never thanked Snape before in your life and hoped to never do it again). “Here’s payback for earlier,” he smirked, checking that Slughorn had dozed off and the other students weren’t paying attention before whipping a mottled yellow bottle at James.

James’ carefully honed Quidditch reflexes kicked in and he quickly dodged the object, but as the vial soared up, up, past your carefully diced tubers, over James’ messy notes, it hit your arms and shattered. You flinched in pain, crying out as the glass shards embedded themselves in your arm and the congealing, repulsive liquid dripped down your hands and onto your thighs. James lunged towards you, but it was too late– the potion had already seeped into your skin, causing an awful sparking sensation. 

You gasped, grabbing onto the desk as the feeling bubbled upwards. “Jamie, I don’t– I don’t feel–” you stuttered, suddenly lightheaded, and you heard someone gasp as you began to taste something metallic. You absently touched your nose. Why was it so cold and wet? You had been so careful not to touch your face around those horrid tubers and oh, oh Merlin and Morgana what was that pain in your hands and legs, please no make it go away someone help me help me HELP

You vaguely registered someone whimpering in the background. It might have been you, but you weren’t entirely sure what was happening outside of the electric symphony of agony crescending in your nervous system. The pain built swirled flooded through until you weren’t sure where you ended and the potion began which was a funny thought because of course you were you, but you couldn’t remember who you were before this so you laughed but that really hurt, oh how that hurt no no no no no bad idea–  

“Fuck– no–” James? Was he here too?

You blinked– when did your eyes open?– and saw him reach for you, frantically pushing his dark curls off his forehead. Why would he do that? You loved his hair, even when you were feeling funny awful things from the potion. You felt his arms scoop under you, lifting you off your seat as he caught your head from falling back. You heard a door slam open, footsteps, darkness clouding your vision–

His voice. “Sweetheart, no– don’t do that, I need you to keep your eyes open.”

You blinked again, trying to focus on James’ face. He looked pale, jaw set and tensed like it was before his Quidditch games. Were you moving? You couldn’t tell whether James was walking or the hallways were walking around you. He glanced down again, exhaling with relief once he saw whatever he was looking for. “Yeah, just like that. Keep those pretty eyes focused on me, okay?” 

He thought your eyes were pretty? 

James gave a tight laugh. “Yeah, I think your eyes are pretty, dove. Hold on a bit longer, we’re almost there,” he choked out. 

Oh. Had you said that out loud?

But you thought– he had said something, before, you couldn’t remember now but it was important and it hurt–

Some part of you, deep where the potion hadn’t reached, had melted at his words. That part was tinged with pain, too, but in a different way, raw and honest and hopeful and all for him. Or maybe that was the potion, you were pretty sure witches weren’t supposed to melt unless they were green and lived somewhere much further west, but your thoughts on the whole process evaporated as you reached a white door and a woman and your words started to swirl until they melted too and everything went black.

taglist: @magpiencrow @that-kid143 @itmustbegreattobecalledtheitgirl @lilly-aliyah @milivanili99 @stars-havefallen @spidergwnn @prongs-moon @joeytribbiani18 @yeahright0h @ronancebot @ropickle @regulusblacksposts @lovelywritersgarden @helloitsmeeeeeee @xobridgertonblues @azuredgalaxies

please comment if you'd like to be tagged for any of my works/fandoms in the future! :)

[xdevilrushx]

Summary: 'tis the season, and Yuffie is feeling… combative? Being surrounded by lovey-dovey couples leaves the young ninja feeling nauseated in an entirely new way, leading to a slight romantic fracas, miscommunication, and a sudden change of rules about certain mistletoe traditions. Hilarity (and potential heartbreak) ensues. Will things work out in the end? Maybe. Either way, someone's halls are getting decked.

Pairings: Clerith, Zifa

####

Two years had elapsed since the Deepground incident, and the Avalanche crew was gathered at the new Seventh Heaven for its annual holiday celebrations. Fresh snow covered the ground, presents were nestled under the tree, all ready for unwrapping, and the party's elaborate holiday dinner was reaching its final stages of preparation.

All in all, it was a rare chance for them all to enjoy a night of peace and quiet. Except for Red XIII, who was busy avoiding Yuffie's incessant attempts to dress him up as a reindeer.

"Yuffie, cut it out," the four-legged beast chastised her. "Why can't you act your age for once?"

The young ninja scoffed. "Like YOU would know anything about that, Mr. I'm-a-wise-old-sage-trust-me," she retorted, mimicking Red's grumpy old man voice.

Red XIII looked up at her, speechless, unable to think of a proper comeback.

Yuffie grinned. "Boom! Somebody call the fire brigade, 'cause you just got roasted!"

"Yuffie, calm down," Tifa said, suppressing a giggle as she passed them by.

"Nope," Yuffie replied, crossing her arms. "Can't stop, won't stop! Now, where was I?"

She looked at the red plastic nose and pair of fake antlers in her hands, then turned towards Red XIII again with mischief in her eyes. "Ah, right… c'mere, Rudolph!"

Red XIII promptly bolted upstairs before she could get any closer. She'd given him a good chase earlier, but spry as she was, she was still no match for Cosmo Canyon's finest. She huffed, reluctantly accepting her defeat.

"… Spoilsport."

[athena5898]

(Quds) Footage captures the moment Al-Qassam Brigades fighters release three Israeli soldier captives in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, as part of the seventh batch of the prisoner exchange deal.

[eretzyisrael]

by ALAA AL-AMERI

Youssef’s historical sketch conforms to the prevailing narrative of our time. Namely, that the conflicts that have beset the Middle East since the end of the Second World War are the product of decisions made by white Europeans, and imposed on a world filled with passive, innocent ‘indigenous people’. This means that the rampant anti-Semitism in the Middle East is effectively cast as a Western, European creation.

As an Arab and a Muslim, I recognise this story only too well. It is one that I inherited and told myself for a very long time. That was until I could no longer ignore the dishonesty of this account of Arab and Muslim history.

After all, if this tale is close to the truth, why have pro-Hamas protesters around the world been shouting ‘Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud’ – a reference to the seventh-century murder and expulsion of Jewish tribes from the Khaybar oasis in the Arabian Peninsula – rather than something that relates to Deir Yassin? If a massacre and the formation of Israel in 1948 was the catalyst for Muslim anti-Semitism, why did Izz ad-Din al-Qassam – the cleric after whom Hamas names its rockets and murder-brigades – form the anti-Semitic Islamist group, the Black Hand, as early as the 1930s? And why was the grand mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husseini, (considered by both the British and Nazi Germany to be the leader of the Arab world at the time) so keen to bring the Nazi Holocaust to the Middle East?

If you had asked me those questions when I was younger, I would have reeled off a list of grievances about Jewish refugees from Europe infringing on native Arab populations in the 1920s and 1930s. But in recent years, I changed my mind. I looked around at my home city of London, which has been utterly transformed by immigrants like me, and saw the arrogance and hypocrisy of my position.

I was casting Jewish refugees from Europe as villains, while regarding myself as a worthy victim. I was justifying the actions of those who violently rejected Jewish migration into Mandate Palestine during the Holocaust, while considering myself unquestionably entitled to refuge in the West.

This same hypocrisy runs through the ‘pro-Palestine’ demonstrations that have erupted across Europe. These protests, shot through with pro-Hamas sentiments, have made Jewish communities fear for their safety in countries that promised they would never have to again.

[ginandoldlace]

The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn photographed in the uniform of Colonel of the Scots Guards, an appointment he held from 1883 to 1904.

The Prince Arthur was born on this day in 1850 at Buckingham Palace to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

As the third son and seventh child, Prince Arthur had the freedom to enjoy a long military career. The Duke served in the British Army for over 40 years and saw service in multiple parts of the British Empire, serving with the Royal Engineers, the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Rifle Brigade.

During his lifetime, he also served as the Governor General of Canada and as Commander in Chief of the British Army in Ireland and during the Second World War, Prince Arthur maintained his affiliation with the British Army by motivating troops.

The Duke died at Bagshot Park. His funeral service was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. He was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore.

He was the last surviving son of Queen Victoria.

[cluethegirl]

Isreal is pulling it's troops out of Khan Younis, and i've seen several people celebrating thinking that the end is near, and I would just like to remind you that at every point in this entire "conflict", the only thing that has been consistent is isreal finding crueler ways to kill people. While most of the force has been called out of the city, it's reported that atleast one brigade remains, and please keep in mind that isreali brigades number in the thousands.

Please read more here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/7/israel-pulls-out-troops-from-southern-gaza-as-attacks-enter-seventh-month

[theimperialnuisance]

Character info for ffxiv write 2023!

Here is the cast of oc's that will appear in this year's challenge! :3 Kien is always my main focus but I have two new alts that I'd love to introduce/write for because I don't know when to stop making alts in this game without further ado!

Kien Eilath (Main Wol) Half Keeper, Half Seeker Miqo'te from Meracydia (raised in a Keeper tribe)

Closed off but kind, cautious sometimes, impulsive the next, learning to know what it's like to be loved and cared for by others. Will do anything to protect his friends and loved ones. Despite his title as Warrior of Light, he can be a bit aloof and awkward at times but his heart is in the right place and he can really be a goofball when he's around his found family. It's rare to see him angry, but never rare to see him practically asleep on his feet from working too much. Main class: Gunbreaker, dabbles in Bard Profession: Scion of the Seventh Dawn, Warrior of Light

N'noah Wiloh (alt oc, non-wol, doesn't have the echo) Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te from Ul'dah *Is the only oc who shares the same universe as Kien*

Mischievous, a bit of a flirt, will spare no expense to get the information she wants and needs, and will probably talk your ear off if you let her. She isn't one to shy away from a challenge and she isn't afraid to cheat her way out of a situation. While she seems very charismatic and open, there's actually a lot she doesn't like to share for the purpose of just moving on to brighter things. 1/3rd of the Red-head brigade and no, Bastian isn't the leader. Main class: Dancer, dabbles in Monk Profession: Immortal Flames private, former Scion of the Seventh Dawn

Syren Ligeia (alt wol) Half-Elezen, Half-Veena Viera from Ishgard

Hot-tempered and quiet, fiercely loyal, will most likely give you a nod or a one-worded answer half the time. Bluntness and sarcasm are his moods of choice. Despite the fact he looks disinterested, he's actually very observant and driven, and if you stick around long enough, more of his soft-hearted personality will shine through. Main class: Currently a Dragoon but will be Dark Knight by mid-Heavensward Profession: Former Temple Knight, currently the Warrior of Light and a Scion of the Seventh Dawn (though you'd never know as he doesn't like to share that. Bijou is the Warrior of Light, thank you very much)

Ciel Fyth (alt oc, non-wol, has the echo) Rava Viera from the Golmore Jungle

A literal ball of sunshine, (think golden retriever puppy) whose energy knows no bounds. He's extremely loyal, and kind, and will definitely talk your ear off about how great his older brother Malek is. He has a driving need to ensure the happiness of those around him because it's the only thing that keeps him from falling apart from what he had to endure in his past. Main class: White Mage Profession: Traveling healer, soon to be a Scion who accompanies the Warrior of Light with his brother

Atticus Wolfram (alt oc, non-wol, doesn't have the echo) Half-Elezen, Half-Garlean from Garlemald (with very little connection with aether)

Charismatic, Sarcastic, quick-witted, and will definitely flirt with anyone to get his way ("is it really manipulation if you make them feel good about themselves?") He tends to never give the full story as he doesn't like to get close to anyone but all he really wants is to find a place where he can belong. Known as the Raven to some, or an all-around wanted thief to the rest. Oh, and don't piss off his voidsent. (The last guy who did, well, it didn't end well) Main class: Parades as a Gunbreaker to his clients but only a few know that he's a very skilled Reaper Profession: Wandering body-guard/fighter for higher

[b3crew]

REVIEW | "Mission: Yozakura Family" - Vol. 7| B3 - Boston Bastard Brigade

Action, humor, and storyline twists come in waves in the seventh volume of Mission: Yozakura Family. And it starts with a hot springs dip...

[guerillas-of-history]

🟢 Martyr Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades:

Photographs from the seventh batch of zionist prisoners in the Gaza Strip as part of the first phase of Al-Aqsa Flood Deal for prisoner exchange.

[enyementv]

The Head of Operations held a comprehensive meeting in Marib, emphasizing the importance of enhancing readiness.

Military Leadership Holds Strategic Meeting in Marib Marib, Yemen – Today, Major General Khalid Al-Ashwal, the Chief of Operations for the Armed Forces, convened a significant meeting in Marib. The gathering included his assistants, directors of various departments, the Engineering Fortifications Unit, the commander of the Sixth Drone Brigade, and leaders from the Third, Sixth, and Seventh…

[darkmaga-returns]

April 15, 2025

Ukraine Confirms Sumy Strike Target - Russian Build Up For Summer Campaign

Yesterday I reported of Sunday's missile attack in Sumy, Ukraine:

There was a ceremony planned for the seventh anniversary of the founding of the 117th Territorial Brigade. This was to take place in the congress center of the Sumy State University. Medals were to be presented for the recent participation of the brigade in the attack on the Russian oblast of Kursk. Invitations to the commanders of neighboring units were sent out. ... The Russian military got wind of the event and destroyed the congress center (pics) with two Iskander missiles. There were military and civilian casualties. But under the rules of war the strike was on a legitimate target.

Ukrainian politicians had alleged that the head of the Sumy Oblast State Administration Volodymyr Artiukh had send out the invitation for the event and had arranged for the military ceremony to take place in the middle of the city.

The government of Ukraine essentially confirmed that today by removing Artiukh from his position:

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the dismissal of Volodymyr Artiukh from the post of head of Sumy Oblast State Administration and the appointment of Oleh Hryhorov to this position. Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin accused Volodymyr Artiukh, Head of Sumy Oblast State Administration, of organising a gathering of soldiers from the 117th Brigade for an award ceremony in the centre of Sumy on 13 April. Artiukh acknowledged that an award ceremony for servicemen took place in the city centre, but did not name the initiator.

Do not expect any western mainstream media to report these facts.

I have for quite some time not reported on the progress of the war in Ukraine. That is not because nothing is happening there. The Russian forces are pressing on all fronts while building up their reserves. Most of the many small pushes are successful but the current progress isn't measured in miles per day.

This is an attrition war. The capturing of land, which still happens, is not the measure of success. The destruction of the enemy's material and personnel resources is what matters. In this regard the Russian forces are making good progress. Over the last month the daily Ukrainian casualties as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense have crept up from a low of about 1,200 per day to some 1,500 per day now. That is still far away from the 2,500 per day reported during the summer and fall of 2024 but still a noticeable increase.

There is also an intensification of air and drone strikes on military factories far behind the frontlines. Instead of once or twice per week these are now a daily occurrence. The results of these strikes are only rarely reported. They do not have an immediate effect on the fighting. But they will over time diminish Ukraine's resources and its supplies of weapons and munition.

The ground in Ukraine is still muddy. Only when it dries up will we see a general campaign by the Russian forces.

They will look for weak spots in Ukraine's defense lines and push on each of those until one or more breakthroughs occur. Fresh forces will then moved up to exploit the breaches.

[literaturereviewhelp]

George S. Patton. Patton enrolled in the US Military Academy and had to repeat his “plebe” first year because of his poor marks in mathematics. This notwithstanding he graduated the Academy with honors in 1908 and received thus his commission as a cavalry officer. George Patton took part in 1912 Summer Olympics Stockholm. He placed seventh in 300 meter swimming. Furthermore he placed fourth out of almost 30 fencers. It was he who made American Modern Pentathlon team for the 1916 Summer Olympic games which had been scheduled for German capital yet were cancelled due to World War that broke out2. Nevertheless Patton succeeded to won his fame as a military leader but not as a sportsman. Instead of going to Berlin he took part in 1916 Punitive Expedition in Mexico. Being assigned to the 8th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas Patton served as adjutant to then Brigadier General John Pershing in the latter’s pursuit of Mexican warlord Pancho Villa. The latter had trespassed American border and having killed several American citizens looted the town of Columbus. During this campaign Patton commanded the first armored vehicle attack in the history of American military. The raid resulted in killing two Mexican warlords, including Villa’s personal bodyguard General J. Cardenas. The corpses of the killed were strapped to the vehicles in a manner resembling game-animals brought home by hunters. It was this action for which Pershing labeled Patton as his “bandito”3. At the outset of American entry into World War I Major General Pershing promoted Patton to the captain’s rank. While in France at General Pershing’s request Patton undertook establishment of US troops Light Tank Training school. Seven years after the United States declared war on Germany, Patton left French capital reported to French General Garrard. On 23 March, 1918 Patton received his first tank at the Tank School which he commanded. He was the only American that had tank driving experience so it is no wonder that he himself was backing light Renault FT tanks off the train. For his successes in organization of the training school, George Patton was promoted to major, lieutenant colonel and then the colonel. In August 1918, Patton was put in charge of the First Provisional Tank Brigade. On 26 September, 1918 Patton was wounded in his leg while leading his unit in attack on Germans during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Patton and Private First Class Joe Angelo, his orderly were the only survivors of that offensive. Furthermore it was Joe Angelo who saved Patton. The orderly was rewarded with the Distinguished Service Cross. While Patton was recovering from the wounds Compiegne Armistice was signed putting the end to the War and coinciding with the hero’s thirty-third birthday. Patton also was rewarded for his service in European operations. He was brevetted full colonel and rewarded with the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal. For the combat wounds received in France Patton was rewarded with the Purple Heart. Having returned to the US Patton reverted from his wartime temporary rank of colonel to the one of captain. In 1919 he met Dwight Eisenhower who eventually played in Read the full article

[randaahmed4012]

⚡️BREAKING: Al-Qassam Brigades:

The handover of captives Elia Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Fankert, as part of the seventh batch of Zionist captives in Gaza.

“Look at this olive tree, it’s older than our state, it’s horrible what Israeli soldiers did to it.”

At 2:47 The resistance revealed two Israeli captives who have not yet been released. They witnessed the release of other captives but remained in captivity.

Later on they thanked Al-Qassam for taking care of them and said “They were afraid for me and protected me.”

They also said that this all didn’t need to happen including the other captives that died because of the airstrikes, one of them said that his parents are from turkey and Morocco and he has no idea why they came here to begin with.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Cesar Manzoki brought down by a challenge from Pratik Chaudhari. Source: ISL Media Mohammedan SC’s woes in their inaugural ISL season continued as the Black-and-White brigade saw their winless run extend to six consecutive matches after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against Jamshedpur FC. Despite a resilient first-half performance, Andrey Chernyshov’s men faltered in the second half, leaving them second from the bottom of the table. The absence of midfield stalwarts Alexis Gomez and Mirjalol Kasimov was keenly felt as both players were suspended, having accumulated four yellow cards each. Their absence disrupted the Kolkata side’s midfield structure, leaving gaps that Jamshedpur FC exploited effectively. Mohammed Sanan opened the scoring for Jamshedpur FC, while Javier Siverio and Stephen Eze added to the tally. Mohammed Irshad managed to score a consolation goal for the visitors, but Khalid Jamil’s team held their defensive shape to deny Mohammedan any further comeback. Mohammedan SC had a golden chance to reduce the deficit in the seventh minute of added time when Pratik Chaudhary fouled Cesar Manzoki inside the box. However, Brazilian forward Franca’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Albino Gomes at full stretch, denying Mohammedan any late resurgence. .@AlbinoGomes07 showing why he has the most number of penalty saves in #ISL history! #JFCMSC #LetsFootball #JamshedpurFC #AlbinoGomes | @JamshedpurFC @JioCinema @Sports18 pic.twitter.com/BMfa5zvduf — Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 2, 2024   After the match, Chernyshov admitted that his team needs to improve. “I said before, in football, you need to have quality and you need to be lucky,” he remarked. He also expressed dissatisfaction with certain players’ performances. “But I am not worried about the result. I am worried some players did not perform to our expectations. They need to bring more to the matches and play with more confidence.” Mohammedan SC’s decision to rely on the core of their I-League-winning squad has backfired, as many players have struggled to replicate their previous form in the ISL. The team next face Punjab FC on December 6. If they fail to secure a point, they will match Punjab FC’s record for the worst start by debutants, with Punjab having managed only five points from 10 games last season. However, Punjab staged an impressive comeback in the second half of that campaign, pulling off stunning results against stronger teams to finish eighth. For Mohammedan SC, such a turnaround seems daunting but not impossible. Chernyshov, who is already under scrutiny, has significant challenges to address. Key reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window could be pivotal in strengthening the squad. Defensive frailty has been a major concern. While Gaurav Bora, Florent Ogier, and Joseph Adjei (recently recovered from injury) show potential, the backline lacks cohesion and compactness. Goal-scoring woes compound the issue. Mohammedan SC have managed just five goals in ISL 2024-25, tied with Jamshedpur FC for the joint-lowest tally for a debut team after this many games. Strikers Franca and Manzoki have underperformed, leaving the club management facing difficult decisions ahead of the transfer window. Fan frustration has flooded social media, with many criticising the team’s performances. Currently second from the bottom of the table, Mohammedan desperately need a strong showing against Punjab FC to revive their campaign and restore some pride. Despite the challenges, Chernyshov remained optimistic. “Now, we need to analyse this match and prepare for the next one,” he said. “In a few days, we’ll have another away game, and we need to be ready.” Also Read: Greg Stewart: The Magician Mohun Bagan Needed Once Again The post Mohammedan SC’s Winless Run Continues with 3-1 Loss to Jamshedpur FC appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Cesar Manzoki brought down by a challenge from Pratik Chaudhari. Source: ISL Media Mohammedan SC’s woes in their inaugural ISL season continued as the Black-and-White brigade saw their winless run extend to six consecutive matches after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against Jamshedpur FC. Despite a resilient first-half performance, Andrey Chernyshov’s men faltered in the second half, leaving them second from the bottom of the table. The absence of midfield stalwarts Alexis Gomez and Mirjalol Kasimov was keenly felt as both players were suspended, having accumulated four yellow cards each. Their absence disrupted the Kolkata side’s midfield structure, leaving gaps that Jamshedpur FC exploited effectively. Mohammed Sanan opened the scoring for Jamshedpur FC, while Javier Siverio and Stephen Eze added to the tally. Mohammed Irshad managed to score a consolation goal for the visitors, but Khalid Jamil’s team held their defensive shape to deny Mohammedan any further comeback. Mohammedan SC had a golden chance to reduce the deficit in the seventh minute of added time when Pratik Chaudhary fouled Cesar Manzoki inside the box. However, Brazilian forward Franca’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Albino Gomes at full stretch, denying Mohammedan any late resurgence. .@AlbinoGomes07 showing why he has the most number of penalty saves in #ISL history! #JFCMSC #LetsFootball #JamshedpurFC #AlbinoGomes | @JamshedpurFC @JioCinema @Sports18 pic.twitter.com/BMfa5zvduf — Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 2, 2024   After the match, Chernyshov admitted that his team needs to improve. “I said before, in football, you need to have quality and you need to be lucky,” he remarked. He also expressed dissatisfaction with certain players’ performances. “But I am not worried about the result. I am worried some players did not perform to our expectations. They need to bring more to the matches and play with more confidence.” Mohammedan SC’s decision to rely on the core of their I-League-winning squad has backfired, as many players have struggled to replicate their previous form in the ISL. The team next face Punjab FC on December 6. If they fail to secure a point, they will match Punjab FC’s record for the worst start by debutants, with Punjab having managed only five points from 10 games last season. However, Punjab staged an impressive comeback in the second half of that campaign, pulling off stunning results against stronger teams to finish eighth. For Mohammedan SC, such a turnaround seems daunting but not impossible. Chernyshov, who is already under scrutiny, has significant challenges to address. Key reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window could be pivotal in strengthening the squad. Defensive frailty has been a major concern. While Gaurav Bora, Florent Ogier, and Joseph Adjei (recently recovered from injury) show potential, the backline lacks cohesion and compactness. Goal-scoring woes compound the issue. Mohammedan SC have managed just five goals in ISL 2024-25, tied with Jamshedpur FC for the joint-lowest tally for a debut team after this many games. Strikers Franca and Manzoki have underperformed, leaving the club management facing difficult decisions ahead of the transfer window. Fan frustration has flooded social media, with many criticising the team’s performances. Currently second from the bottom of the table, Mohammedan desperately need a strong showing against Punjab FC to revive their campaign and restore some pride. Despite the challenges, Chernyshov remained optimistic. “Now, we need to analyse this match and prepare for the next one,” he said. “In a few days, we’ll have another away game, and we need to be ready.” Also Read: Greg Stewart: The Magician Mohun Bagan Needed Once Again The post Mohammedan SC’s Winless Run Continues with 3-1 Loss to Jamshedpur FC appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link