'Schild en Vriend' is an old Flemish battlecry, used in the rebellion of the city of Brugge against the French, May 18, 1302. Legend tells that it was used to differentiate between the French-speaking (who could not pronounce 'schild') and Flemish-speaking citizens. Nowadays, historians tell us that it was probably 'Des Gilden Vriend'.
For a few tusks more:
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Some time later, one group of the askaris that were sent ahead reached at the villa of Fritz von Trapstein-Hohenschlieffen, the colonial administrator for the Lake Walfriede area. Knowing to grab an opportunity when it presents itself (that's how he ended up in Congo in the first place, but that's another story), Fritz immediately emprisoned the askaris, destroyed the telegram and set about the business of pursuading his prisoners to reveal the location of the graveyard. However, when even the ultimate threat of handing them over to the neighbouring Ngurmé tribe - without garlic - did not overly impress the askaris, Fritz had to resort to a last, truly inhumane tactic, one which he normally would not wish upon even his worst enemy: he showed them a picture of his wife Walfriede (in fact, when the Geneva convention was drawn up several years later, the signatories demanded inclusion of a paragraph explicitely forbidding this very practice). Unfortunately, this tactic backfired on Fritz when, upon being shown the photograph in question, pure terror lent the askaris super human strength, resulting in them breaking the ropes binding them and escaping screaming into the jungle (they were last seen halfway up Mount Kilimanjaro, showing no signs of slowing down). Things went from bad to worse when word reached Fritz that a second group of askaris had reached another station further downstream, and had managed to get their telegram sent out to the world... Several weeks later, as hastily gathered expeditions from France and Britain were converging on the Lake Walfriede area, Butch and Molto were finally nearing the Congo river again, when they ran into the Ngurmé tribe, who unfortunately for them had a major state holiday - with accompanying feast - planned for the very near future. To keep a long story short, the Ngurmé, not impressed by the meagre offerings the two explorers could give them (they had exhaused their supply of garlic several weeks before), promptly grabbed the two with the intention of making them the main attraction of their upcoming feast. This is the situation at the start of the game: two expeditions are bearing down upon the lake Walfriede area, hoping to outbid (or, if necessary, outfight) each other for the location of the elephant graveyard. Unfortunately, the very people that found the graveyard are being held captive for culinary purposes by a neighbouring tribe of natives. To make the picture complete, there is also Fritz von Trappstein-Hohenschlieffen who will undoubtedly will want his say in the whole situation.... Will the elephant graveyard remain peacefull and undisturbed? Will the British or the French go to war over it? Will they be bringing garlic to the Ngurmé? What will happen to Butch and Molto? Will the Ngurmé have a good barbecue? And, the most pressing question of all, will Fritz show the picture of Walfriede to anyone? Stay tuned and all will be revealed... (well, maybe we'll keep the picture under wraps).
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