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| Thread: A different Knight | |
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Azagal
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Smooth Snake
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posted August 18, 2008 12:00 PM |
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Edited by Azagal at 12:01, 18 Aug 2008.
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A different Knight
On the 15th of August Nils Olav the commanding Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard was visited by the King’s Guard. They were sent there because the King of Norway Harald the V. had decreed that Nils was to be awarded Knighthood. In a letter written by his majesty it said about Nils “qualified in every way to receive the honour and dignity of knighthood”.
Some of Sir Nils’s qualities are his supreme swimming abilities. In the history of the Norwegian military there has never before been such a supreme show of skill. He can dive to over 100m often over 200m long distances, his speed is unmatched not even Olympians can match him. Perhaps it is for his close ties with the sea that he eats no meat, nor vegetables only fish and squid. Yes Sir Nils Olav is in many ways a very different Knight.
He is a Aptenodytes patagonicus. A Kings Pinguin for all you non biologists.
Sir Nils Olav
Inspecting the King’s Guard
Being adwarded Knighthood
His medals
The History of the Nils Olavs
When the Norwegian King's Guard visited Edinburgh Military Tattoo of 1961 for a Drill Display, a lieutenant called Nils Egelien became interested in Edinburgh Zoo's penguin colony. When the Guards once again returned to Edinburgh in 1972, he arranged for the unit to adopt a penguin. This penguin was named Nils Olav in honour of Nils Egelien, and King Olav V of Norway.
Nils Olav was given the rank of visekorporal (lance corporal) and has been promoted each time the King's Guard has returned to the Tattoo. In 1982 he was made corporal, and promoted to sergeant in 1987. Nils Olav died shortly after his promotion to sergeant, and his place of honour was taken by Nils Olav II, his two-year-old near-double. He was promoted in 1993 to the rank of regimental sergeant major. On August 18, 2005, he was promoted to Colonel-in-Chief. He is the first penguin to hold this rank in the Norwegian army. At the same time a four foot high bronze statue of Nils Olav was presented to Edinburgh Zoo. The statue's inscription recognises the King's Guard and the Military Tattoo. A statue also stands at the Royal Norwegian Guard compound at Huseby, Oslo.
Norway presented the zoo with its first king penguin in 1913, the year of its opening.
In Norwegian he is consistently referred to only as the mascot of the King's Guard, although both the plaque on his statue, and the website of the Norwegian Government's Consulate in Edinburgh, refer to his promotion to Colonel-in-Chief.
Don’t believe me? See for yourself
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"All I can see is what's in front of me. And all I can do is keep moving forward" - The Heir Wielder of Names, Seeker of Thrones, King of Swords, Breaker of Infinities, Wheel Smashing Lord
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alcibiades
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
of Gold Dragons
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posted August 18, 2008 05:58 PM |
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lol!?
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What will happen now?
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keldorn
Promising
Known Hero
that casts green flames
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posted August 18, 2008 06:02 PM |
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I tought I had seen everything... until now.
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted August 18, 2008 06:24 PM |
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This is ****ing hillarious!!!!
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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mvassilev
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted August 18, 2008 06:30 PM |
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Awesome. Finally he's getting the respect he deserves. 
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Eccentric Opinion
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Adrius
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Stand and fight!
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posted August 18, 2008 09:16 PM |
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Lol, I saw this on tv... Cool tradition, but doesn't such medals have needles to stick them to your clothes? Or maybe the penguin's skin is static...
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zamfir
Promising
Supreme Hero
Allez allez allez
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posted August 19, 2008 05:39 PM |
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I dunno what to say, perhaps Ubi will include this penguin in the knight hero ranks in HoMM VI, so it can be together with Vittorio and Irina.
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5 Times TV
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