However, despite the Iron Imperator's conflicting reputation, at least some charr under his command believed in his vision as long as it led to less fighting in the future. A few charr considered Smodur's forward-thinking to be dangerous while others believed that his truce with humans was simply a temporary measure in order to become the ruler of all charr. While seemingly acting purely out of noble interest to promote peace between the two races, Smodur was also using the opportunity provided by the ceasefire to forge a stronger alliance with humans as a means to strengthen his position as imperator in Ascalon. When Ambassador Steelcrusher volunteered to be the head of the Iron Legion's delegation for the truce negotiations at Summit Peak, Smodur accepted his offer as the two charr knew each other well. Thanks in part to Tribune Mia Kindleshot's influence, Smodur became part of the truce faction of the charr and worked on the Ebonhawke Treaty with the humans upon receiving the Claw of the Khan-Ur which a Vigil group led by Dougal Keane and Ember Doomforge had retrieved from Ascalon City at the suggestion of Queen Jennah, General Almorra Soulkeeper and Imperator Malice Swordshadow in 1324 AE. Smodur was considered by some to be the most progressive of all charr. He also deliberately left some of the ruins of the fallen Ascalonian capital of Rin intact as a reminder that charr forces had both prevailed over humans and reclaimed a land the charr had deemed to be their home. Īs an architect and visionary, Smodur turned the Black Citadel into the famous Iron Legion capital it would be known as.
While he welcomed the presence of Ash Legion and Blood Legion reinforcements in Ascalon, he was well aware of the ambitions and ulterior motives of Imperators Malice Swordshadow and Bangar Ruinbringer and made it clear that the other two legions were just his guests while he would be in charge of the war effort in Ascalon. Following the death of Ferro the Butcher, Tribune Bhuer Goreblade successfully petitioned Smodur to erect a statue in Ferro's honor in the Black Citadel.ĭuring his tenure Smodur had to split his attention between incursions from the Flame Legion as well as the ever-present Ascalonian ghosts created by the Foefire, dividing his forces to deal with these threats.
At some point Smodur lost one of his eyes rumors claim that he took out his own eye in order to intimidate his opponent, which may have earned him the epithet "the Unflinching." Smodur proved himself to be a just, determined and cunning imperator who often acted as a mediator in arguments between the three High Legions in Ascalon. In the past, he served together with Aximus Steelcrusher on a tour of duty out on the Granite Front. I often thought of it but I never expected to be nominated, really,” he said.As imperator, Smodur is a direct descendant of the original Khan-Ur. And it's a declaration that I probably would never have received if I hadn't been in the army. "It gives you a sense that you achieved something. They had to be a very brave group to do that." “Because they were going on the beaches, they were taking care of the wounded while the shells and bombs were coming down around them. "We give the recognition to the guys who got up front and stood their ground against the Germans but the ones who were back were in just as much peril and danger,” he said. He says it's important to recognize all the jobs veterans did during the war. George was nominated by Saint John Legion district commander Larry Lynch. The award is similar to the Order of Canada, and is given to veterans for their role in liberating France. Over 70 years later, the French government is decorating George and 13 other New Brunswick vets with Rank of Knights of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour. I'm sure he died afterwards, but we dressed his wounds and sent him back."
And the right side of his skin all blown off and the arm was just hanging by the nerves and the vessels,” he said. "One of the fellas came through, he was on a stretcher of course. George was a Dalhousie Medical School graduate when he went to Normandy in 1944 to treat wounded soldiers on the front lines. He still remembers many of them well.
It was just a mental thing as far as I was concerned." "I knew I might die and be killed,” he said. The 97-year-old says he remembers it like it was yesterday. Frederick George received the French National Order of the Legion of Honour for his role in liberating France. A retired Saint John doctor was among 14 New Brunswick veterans honoured Tuesday for his work during the Second World Warĭr.