In the peaceful realm of Tequende, all second-born children at the age of fifteen must journey to the Alcazar to fulfill the mandate of the Oath of Guilds. There they train to earn a place among the queen's legendary Second Guard, or work as indentured servants. Talimendra has always wanted to join the Guard, but there are dark rumors in the queendom that she may not be ready for. Rumors that whisper of greed, traitors, and war. There is very little time and too many unanswered questions, but one thing is for certain: if there is a traitor among the Second Guard, then everyone???including the queen???is in grave danger.
All is not well in Tequende. The Earth Guild, frequently looked down upon by the Sun and Moon guilds, is beginning to demand fairer treatment by the queen, and whispers of revolution are spreading like wild fire. Brindl Tacora of the Zipa Mines, an earth guilder and now Master of Messages for the Princess, might have to choose sides: join the rebellion, or stay loyal to the crown. But their true enemy remains hidden, and Brindl may be the only one who can help unite the rebels against their foe before it's too late.
The story of a critical but relatively unknown branch of the navy involving some 144,000 men who served in the US Naval Armed Guard. There are 150 first-hand accounts from former guardsmen, as well as historical data telling how the US Naval Armed Guard's 6000 merchant ships transported supplies.
BJ PENN—UFC World Champion, Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, and best-selling author of Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge—sheds new light on the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with this unprecedented examination of the closed guard. Through step-by-step color photographs and descriptive narrative, Penn shares his elaborate system for gaining control of your opponent's body while fighting off your back, and then unleashes more than eight fight-ending submissions. He divulges his most vicious strangleholds, including collar chokes, arm chokes, and triangle chokes. He demonstrates how to apply bone-breaking pressure to your opponent's wrist, elbow, and shoulder using his most ruthless straight arm bars, inverted arm bars, kimura locks, Americana locks, and omaplata locks. And to ensure your offense never gets shut down, Penn unveils your opponent's most common submission defenses, and then teaches you how to capitalize on that defense by transitioning into secondary submissions and a host of sweeps. Detailing dozens of ways to chain your attacks together to form fluid combinations, this book leaves no stone unturned. Whether you are new to the grappling arts or an experienced practitioner, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Closed Guard will take your game to the next level.
A Native-American Wrestler's neck is broken causing him to enter a realm he can never be sure is quite real, even after he wakes up from a coma. Struggling to come to grips with a lost love (or trying to win her back) and learning to walk again, he begins a journey to find his place amongst his tribe and in the world.
All is not well in Tequende. The Earth Guild, frequently looked down upon by the Sun and Moon guilds, is beginning to demand fairer treatment by the queen, and whispers of revolution are spreading like wild fire. Brindl Tacora of the Zipa Mines, an earth guilder and now Master of Messages for the Princess, might have to choose sides: join the rebellion, or stay loyal to the crown. But their true enemy remains hidden, and Brindl may be the only one who can help unite the rebels against their foe before it's too late.
Actors on Guard, Second Edition is the most comprehensive book covering the current practices in learning, rehearsing and performing safe and dynamic swordfights with the single rapier and the rapier and dagger for both stage and screen. Focusing specifically on the Elizabethan rapier and dagger – the most popular weapons used in stage fights – Actors on Guard provides actors, directors, teachers, stage managers and technicians the skills and knowledge essential to presenting safe and effective swordfights. The book takes the reader through the complex process of selecting safe stage weapons, learning the basic handling and management of the rapier and dagger, as well as how to safely move and interact in the potentially dangerous process of learning, rehearsing and performing choreographed swordplay. This new edition has been revised with current industry practices, featuring hundreds of step-by-step practical exercises in the care and handling of prop swords, footwork, guards, parries, cutting and thrusting techniques, blade taking actions, disarms, wounds and kills using the rapier and dagger, with revised diagrams and photographs. An excellent sourcebook for university stage combat classes as well as self-learners, Actors on Guard provides the reader with the historical, theoretical and practical basis for mastering the art of sword fighting for the stage and screen. The book includes access to a wealth of online resources, with additional information that expands upon specific mechanics, techniques and concepts covered in the text as well as some video demonstrations of solo and partnered techniques and exercises.
Join the Mouse Guard and defend the Mouse Territories against predators and dangers, in this roleplaying game based on the acclaimed Mouse Guard comic book series! Players form their own Mouse Guard patrol and attempt to complete missions while the Game Master takes on the roles of the weather, animals, and the wilderness, all trying to thwart the fearless mice. Designed by Origins Award-winning game designer Luke Crane for beginners and veterans alike, the game comes complete with three sample patrols and three sample missions, so you and your friends can get started playing right away. Includes art and extensive background material on the Mouse Territories specially prepared by Mouse Guard creator David Petersen, as well as character sheets and maps.
An inventive study of relations between the National Guard and the Regular Army during World War II, Guard Wars follows the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division from its peacetime status through training and into combat in Western Europe. The broader story, spanning the years 1939--1945, sheds light on the National Guard, the U.S. Army, and American identities and priorities during the war years. Michael E. Weaver carefully tracks the division's difficult transformation into a combat-ready unit and highlights General Omar Bradley's extraordinary capacity for leadership -- which turned the Pennsylvanians from the least capable to one of the more capable units, a claim dearly tested in the Battle of the HÃ1⁄4rtgen Forest. This absorbing and informative analysis chronicles the nation's response to the extreme demands of a world war, and the flexibility its leaders and soldiers displayed in the chaos of combat.
Collects Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #1-4 plus Bonus Materials! Collects the first volume of Legends of the Guard, a new Mouse Guard anthology series featuring the work of artists and storytellers handpicked by series creator David Petersen. Bonus content includes an all-new Epilogue illustrated by Joao Lemos (Avengers Fairy Tales), cover gallery, character lineup, floor plan of the June Alley Inn, and creator bios.
