Schleswig-Holstein

[Ekaterina]

Schleswig-Holstein , .6050 sq mi, A state in NW Germany. Kiel (the capital and chief port), Lübeck, Flensburg, and Neumünster are the major cities. Flanked on the west by the North Sea and on the east by the Baltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein occupies the southern part of the Jutland peninsula and extends from the Elbe River northward to the Danish border. It includes some of the North Frisian Islands of the North Sea and the island of Fehmarn in the Baltic. The Kiel Canal links the North Sea and the Baltic. Schleswig-Holstein is drained by the Eider River, which forms border between the former duchies of Schleswig (in the north) and Holstein (in the south).

A low-lying region with excellent natural harbors along the Baltic coast, the state has fertile agricultural land except in the center, where heaths and moors predominate. Farming (grain, potatoes, and vegetables) and cattle raising are pursued, although agricultural production accounts for less than one tenth of the state's yearly output. Shipping and fishing are important along the coasts. Manufactures of Schleswig-Holstein include ships, paper, beer, and clothing. The islands of Sylt and Föhr and the southern Baltic coast are popular tourist resorts, while Eutin, Lübeck, and Schleswig are trading centers.

With respect to the history of Schleswig-Holstein, Lord Palmerston once proclaimed it to be so complicated that only three men had ever fully understood it—one being Prince Albert, who was dead; the second, a professor, who had become insane; the third, Palmerston himself, who had forgotten it.

Holstein, former duchy, N central Germany, the part of Schleswig-Holstein S of the Eider River. Kiel and Rendsburg were the chief cities. For a time part of the duchy of Saxony, Holstein was created a county of the Holy Roman Empire and was bestowed on Adolf of Schauenburg. In 1459, Holstein's Christian I, a Danish heir to the throne, established a personal union with Denmark, to the great displeasure of the German majority. In 1474, Emperor Frederick III raised Holstein to a duchy under the immediate suzerainty of the Holy Roman Empire

Schleswig , former duchy, N Germany and S Denmark, occupying the southern part of Jutland. The Eider River separates it from Holstein. German Schleswig forms part of Schleswig-Holstein. Danish Schleswig, known as North Schleswig includes the cities of Åbenrå, Haderslev, Sønderborg, and Tønder.

The duchy of Schleswig, created in 1115, was a hereditary fief held from the kings of Denmark. King Waldemar III (who had been duke of Schleswig as Waldemar V) conferred Schleswig on his uncle, Gerhard, and granted a charter forbidding the union of Schleswig and Denmark under a single overlord. In 1386 the count of Holstein received Schleswig as a hereditary fief. His descendant, Christian I of Denmark, inherited (1460) both Schleswig and Holstein, but he was obliged to recognize the inseparability of the two territories and to affirm that they were bound to the Danish crown by a personal union only.

Christian I , 1426–81, king of Denmark (1448–81), Norway (1450–81), and Sweden (1457–64), count of Oldenburg, and founder of the Oldenburg dynasty of Danish kings. In 1460 he also succeeded to Schleswig and Holstein; the terms of the settlement have been cited to justify both Danish and German claims to Schleswig-Holstein. A weak monarch despite the vastness of his lands, he made large concessions to the nobles, particularly in his German dominions, and barely controlled Sweden. His attempts to assert his authority in Sweden ended in 1471 with his defeat at Brunkeberg, near Stockholm, by Sten Sture (the elder). He was succeeded by his son John.
In the 16th cent. Schleswig and Holstein (which had also become a duchy) underwent complex subdivisions, although theoretically the principle of the inseparability of the two duchies was not violated. The three main divisions were: a ducal portion, including parts of both duchies, which was conferred on Adolphus, duke of Holstein-Gottorp, younger brother of Christian III of Denmark, and on his descendants, the dukes of Holstein-Gottorp; a royal portion, including parts of both duchies, ruled directly by the Danish kings; and a common portion, ruled jointly by the Danish kings and the dukes of Holstein-Gottorp.

By the Treaty of Roskilde (1658) the Danish crown renounced its suzerainty over ducal Schleswig; the resulting quarrels between Denmark and the duke of Holstein-Gottorp were a major factor in the Northern War (1700–1721), which ended with the dispossession of Duke Charles Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp and the union of the ducal portion of Schleswig with the Danish crown. Grand Duke Paul (later Emperor Paul I), renounced the ducal portion of Holstein, yielding it to the Danish crown, in exchange for Oldenburg. Thus all Schleswig and Holstein were once more united under the Danish kings

From 1773 the kings of Denmark held both duchies—Schleswig as full sovereigns, Holstein as princes of the Holy Roman Empire; both duchies were in personal union with, but not part of, Denmark. The Congress of Vienna did not change the status of the two duchies, except that the German Confederation had succeeded the Holy Roman Empire in its suzerainty over Holstein. A constitution for Holstein was guaranteed by the German Confederation.

[Ekaterina]

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
And no one knows
What it's like to be hated
To be fated to telling only lies


But my dreams they aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

No one knows what its like
To feel these feelings
Like i do, and i blame you!
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through

But my dreams they aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free


No one knows what its like
To be mistreated, to be defeated
Behind blue eyes
No one knows how to say
That they're sorry and don't worry
I'm not telling lies

But my dreams they aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

No one knows what its like
To be the bad man, to be the sad man
Behind blue eyes.

Imagine yourself choking. Not being able to get air into your lungs because your throat is closing up inside from something unseen, congesting and constricting the tissues like invisible hands. Your chest feels like it's ready to explode and your lungs feel like they are on fire. Finally, able to cough, clumps of bright red blood spew from your mouth as the inner walls of your lungs have started to disintegrate. The buzzing and dizziness that you feel in your head is from the constant fever you keep and made worse by the lack of oxygen going to your brain. Capillaries explode in your eyes due to the violent coughing spells and leave your eyes spotted with broken capillaries or a violent crimson red. Your skin has now turned a ghastly pasty white color because your body has stopped producing enough red blood cells to keep the pigment in your skin.

Ekaterina Von Drasek

[Ekaterina]

What are your darkest desires?.

Those blue eyes that glimmer like the ocean when kissed by the light of the sun. Long silken hair seemingly created from spun gold. Five foot six, weighing one hundred and twenty-five pounds. Fair in complexion, not one who's soft skin has been abused by the sun's harsh rays. Youthful looks was something she was blessed with, appearing to be no more than eighteen years of age, when she was pushing twenty and four.

What will you be willing to pay to fulfill your darkest desires?

Living in a war torn lands, where control was a matter that extended beyond the battle fields. Another game was to be played, one in which the players consisted of three types:


1. Those who wanted what another has....

2. Those who have what others wanted....

3. Those who are hired to do those things only whispered, to grant the other their darkest desire, of gaining, or retaining what the other wants.

There are those who are gifted with grace, charm, and beauty. Add a mind that is cunning, along with being the Master, or in this case, the Mistress of deception, it makes for a deadly individual Toss in the arts and skills of weaponry, there is very little that she isn't able to do..

To gaze upon that sweet face, and into those baby blue eyes, that seemed to brim with innocents, one would be hard pressed to believe the youthful beauty could be capable of any form of monstrosity. Just pray your name isn't one that's been whispered near her ear, for you just might find out, just how much of a conscious she actually lacks..

[Ekaterina]

Born and raised in Schleswig-Holstein , A state in NW Germany. Kiel (the capital and chief port), Lübeck, Flensburg, and Neumünster are the major cities. Flanked on the west by the North Sea and on the east by the Baltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein occupies the southern part of the Jutland peninsula and extends from the Elbe River northward to the Danish border. It includes some of the North Frisian Islands of the North Sea and the island of Fehmarn in the Baltic. The Kiel Canal links the North Sea and the Baltic. Schleswig-Holstein is drained by the Eider River, which forms border between the former duchies of Schleswig (in the north) and Holstein (in the south).

A low-lying region with excellent natural harbors along the Baltic coast, the state has fertile agricultural land except in the center, where heaths and moors predominate. Farming (grain, potatoes, and vegetables) and cattle raising are pursued, although agricultural production accounts for less than one tenth of the state's yearly output. Shipping and fishing are important along the coasts. Manufactures of Schleswig-Holstein include ships, paper, beer, and clothing. The islands of Sylt and Föhr and the southern Baltic coast are popular tourist resorts, while Eutin, Lübeck, and Schleswig are trading centers.

A need to lie low, due to whispers floating about the low lying areas, of one who was responsible for many deaths of the Royal and Noble lines, would have her on the move. Setting sail to an unknown destination, finding herself on foreign shores. Enjoying life until she happens to find a place to settle, or returns to her homelands, be it by will or by force. Depending upon whether her past catches up with her or not.

A loner by nature, due to the lifestyle in which she lived. Of course, she has partied in the largest castles and stately mansions about. A member of the "In Crowd", due to that noble position in life to which she was born. Quite a cloak in which to hide behind, a socialite, a woman of breeding and stature. As elegant as she is eloquent, soft spoken, slow to anger. Let not the slender figure fool you, for she is as dangerous as any Warlord !

"It's not how big the dog is that enters the fight, it's how much fight is in the dog!"

[Ekaterina]

Those who dwell in the realm of shadows, have a tendency to remain within their grasp, or at least near enough to blend if need be. Such would be her way. Though not shelved in at some corner table like most, hiding in the darkness that is more a state of mind, than actual existence. So much easier it is to hide, out in the open. All just pass by, not even an acknowledgement of existence to be given. As the old adage goes, alone in the midst of the crowd.

She stood out not, far from some blazing beauty who's attributes look to spill out in the open with just a simple move, or breath's intake. She considered herself plain, although youthful was her appearance, save for those icy shards of crystalline blue. Youthful innocents and naivety would be easily assumed if one happened to glance her way, and she'd let them believe what they wanted, or wished.

A tankard of mulled wine, sat before her, untouched since it's delivery. Naked hand lifted to brush back an errant tendril of spun gold, where it drifted to lay against her cheek. A simple gown of velvet, no fancy adornments to cover the warm material, a dark crimson in coloration, complimentarily encased her. Perfectly proportioned for her five foot six, one hundred and twenty five pound frame. Curves were subtle, instead of grossly exaggerated. Slow drumming of fingers upon the bar's surface, while baby blues drifted over the room, her thoughts roamed over various matters.

Matters of the past that continued to rear their head and demand notice. People and places drifted through memories brought to the forefront of her mind. One might consider it a culture shock, that from which she come, and that to which she had been cast. Not she, an existance within the realm of humanity to which she had accepted with open arms. A loner who perferred crowded rooms.

Civility could be maintained when called upon, the social graces of a lady to be displayed. Though, if angered or pushed beyond her limit of acceptance, like the black panther in the wild, she could become a formable preditor. A likeness to which she could be easily associated, for that was her ultimate path in life, to prey upon those whom others paid to see their life snuffed from existance.

She could move from one style of life to the other with ease. At one moment, a socializing debutaunt, and in the next breath, while she stood before you with a pleasant smile on her lips, your life will come to an end. She would then simply turn and walk away in a casual motion, to engage conversation on the other side of the room, as if nothing transpired. A means to an end, one in which some pay a great price to see accomplished.

Love had never been introduced into her life, so it was something she missed not. In truth, it's something she never thought to seek, nor care to find. It fit not into her chosen way of life, and would only be considered a hinderance. Cold and distant she chose to remain, it was safer and easier that way. Never associate yourself with anyone or anything, that you couldn't walk away from in thirty seconds, without a glance back. The day you do, is the day you alter your chosen path, and complications set in. Perhaps this could be for the best, but for now, it wasn't something she cared to research out, she had a job to do.

After months of traveling, keeping on the move constantly, she was completely caught off guard in finding a place to where she could settle. Still unsure of her surroundings, and those within it, although slowly, as time passed, friends were being made. More acquaintance than friends, but the closest she's ever come to title one as such.

It isn't that she's arrogant, just excessively careful. Unsure as to the lands that she now claimed as home, and the people who lived within them.

Considered young by most, yet she's lived a thousand life times, in her heart and mind. A mortal, not one who harbors special powers or abilities, as it seemed many of those within these lands could lay claim. In many ways, that in and of itself was a bit intimidating. Kat didn't like being intimidated, and she despised those who made her feel insecure.

Her chosen way of life, demanded that she always be a loner. Never get too close to anyone, for it's usually those ones who paid the ultimate price when revenge was to be played out for actions of the past.

It was much easier to remain cold, distant, and guarded toward all she met. However, she did find a few here, made it easy to lower that guard for a moment, and enjoy what life had to offer. This was a rarity for her, and left her somewhat puzzled.

By the most part, she could be found drifting through the thickness of the forest. It was here she felt free and unrestricted. One who lived within the realms of shadows, instead of light as the masses did. Not in the sense of the inability to be exposed to the brilliance of the sun, and enjoy it's warmth upon her flesh, but in the sense, that it was her chosen path of existence.