History of the Irish Empire

[woof6712]

OUT OF STORY INTRODUCTION

Howdy!

What begins here is a detailed account of the history of the Irish Empire. Here are the details of the campaign: Huge map with no barbarians, normal climate, temperate, 4 billion years old. Continents with 60% water. Difficulty is monarch with 13 random opponents and AI aggression set to normal. Only space race and conquest victory conditions allowed, accelerated production and scientific leaders on. I played the first world the computer generated, although I restarted once because on the first turn I mistakenly hit the enter key and lost a turn before moving my settler or worker!

I have chosen to play the Dutch and rename them the Irish. The Netherlands are a great civ to play because of the seafaring and agricultural traits. On a huge map (even with 13 random civs), REXing should be key. Also, seafaring and agricultural traits fit fairly well with the Irish (better than scientific, industrious, or expansionistic).

Please feel free to post comments and suggestions! I’ll appreciate your input and readership. And one last thing: I’ve taken the liberty of sprinkling in quotes from movies and books throughout the story. See if you can pick out the quotes and what movie or book they’re from!

Now the saga begins!

IN STORY TEXT

Triann Forannian sat with his hands folded in his lap. The antechamber was bare except for a holographic image or two of an Irish landscape. The obsidian walls and granite chair provided little warmth, and Triann found himself rubbing his hands together to keep warm. Since he reached 60 years old quite a while ago, Triann found it more and more difficult to keep the cold at bay. On the wall a metal plaque read, “IRISH GLORY IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT!”

The antechamber was quiet, like a church. A distant memory brought Triann back to his days as a youth in Dublin when he spent many days in church and university. That was a long time ago, and so much had changed …

The cool rush of air from a door being opened startled Triann from his memory. “You are to follow me, respected elder, and await Emperor Odhran in the High Reception Hall,” a middle-aged man said as he held the door open for Triann.

Triann was shown to a seat, again made of granite and lacking warmth, and he noted that the High Reception Hall hadn’t changed since he had last visited a month ago. Dim sunlight shown through the colorful glass windows some 30 feet off the floor. Within moments, a door opened and six men wearing fine suits of dark green and black entered. They wore sunglasses even though there was little light in the room and kept their hands to their sides as they stood by, occasionally glancing one way or the other. Behind them followed Emperor Odhran. Triann, who had meet the emperor once before and seen his face innumerable times on computer screens and television, was struck by how vibrant and strong the emperor looked. Rising to greet the emperor, Triann tried to stand as tall as he weakened spine would allow.

“Please, old friend, sit!” The emperor said in a loud, confident voice that echoed throughout the room. “You are welcome here in my halls as an elder of distinguished learning. Come, sit and let us have a warm glass of cider-ale together.” An aide brought a silver dish with drinks and placed it on a small table between Triann and the emperor, who had yet to sit.

“Your lordship, I am humbled once more to be in your respected presence,” Triann spoke the litany of words recited by so many before him. “As always, I am your obedient servant.”

The emperor, with dark red hair and a slightly protruding jaw, gradually grinned at Triann until the old sage sat back down in his seat. “Learned elder, first, thank you for accepting my invitation to join me so we might further discuss your work. Your punctuality is most appreciated.” Emperor Odhran moved to the table, picked up a glass and took a sip. “Let us not debate point and counterpoint as if we were in university together! We are not diplomats. I have finished your historical account of the Irish Empire I requested.” Odhran took another sip, carefully watching Triann.

“My lordship, your acumen at digesting such a lengthy and scholarly work in such a short time is to be commended,” the old sage said truthfully, for he believed it would take the emperor a year to finish the book. “Your intellect is matched only by your political prowess.”

Odhran laughed. “And not my skill on the battlefield? Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the exploits of my youth?” Odhran filled his glass. He knew his biography was required reading of every university student; he had made it a requirement.

“Of course not, your lordship. Your lordship’s valor in arms is well known by all of his loyal subjects. I stand corrected; Emperor Odhran’s proficiencies are indeed multitude.” Triann took a drink of cider ale. That was a hard line to utter by one who believed in only speaking the truth.

“You may dispense with the pleasantries, sage,” Odhran said. His face became taut. “I know when I am being lied to … and I know when I’ve read lies!” He took a computer memory chip from his pocket and tossed it at Triann. “Your historical account of my empire is wrong! I wanted a glorious recreation of history that our people could be proud of as they are about to embark on the greatest conquest ever known to man, not a fiction mired with facts that show our flaws! Rewrite it!”

Many had wilted under the intense glare of the emperor, but he was surprised to see Triann rise from his seat and look him in the eye. Age has a way of bestowing courage on any man. “Your lordship, I was not appointed to write a best-seller; I am a historian, not a novelist.”

The proud emperor flared and his nostrils went wide. For a fleeting moment, it appeared to Triann as if Odhran would strike him, but the emperor quickly regained his composure. He has more wisdom than his age shows, Triann thought.

“Triann, most respected elder,” the emperor said as he turned his back on the old sage and walked a few paces. “You are the most learned historian in the empire and have access to every historical work that exists. I would not dare to infringe on your scholarly judgment.” He turned to face Triann. “Our people need … motivation as they set forth for space. My goal is that you provide them with that motivation so that they may be proud of their ancestors and carry the Irish name forth into new worlds! I am sure that one so wise and knowledgeable as yourself can see the wisdom in that.”

- - - - - - - -

The new day brought no joy to Triann. He rose from bed sullen and dour. How could he find joy knowing what he must do?

The emperor had been kind, he realized as he ate a meager breakfast. He could have destroyed my reputation and the reputations of my sons and grandchildren. He could take their jobs, their homes, their savings and ruin their lives. Their fate is in my hands. What choice is their but to obey?

Triann finished breakfast. From his window overlooking the Liffey River he could see the massive towers rising in the distance. Huge plumes of smoke billowed from the towers as engineers and workers constructed the Irish Spaceship. It was scheduled to launch from Dublin soon. There wasn’t much time.

Is this really Ireland’s destiny? To dominate one world through military supremacy, cunning and guile, drain it of resources so that all that remains is a smoldering lump of dirt and then, when the real work of resolving crises and building consensus between nations remains, jump on a space ship and leave for a distant planet, only to start the process all over? What right have we, the Irish, to determine the fate of all civilizations?

Triann had never been one to obey blindly, especially when he knew what side right was on. He sat down at his work station in front of his computer. The file containing the true history of the Irish Empire was on his desktop, waiting to be dragged into the trash, but he hesitated. Instead, he opened a new file and then copied his life’s work onto a memory stick. He quickly placed the memory stick in his pocket and, leaving the computer on and the door open, walked out of his office. He knew he would never return. The computer screen contained an open file with a poem he had just written:

The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed
I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams …

Triann knew those words would most likely never be read by anyone but criminal investigators who would surely come crashing into his apartment in a few hours. Below his hastily written poem was the following quote:

“TWO PLUS TWO DOES NOT EQUAL FIVE!”

 

[woof6712]

Triann didn’t have time to explain. “You’re in great danger. You must leave with me, now.” The teenaged boy in front of Triann laughed. “Did you forget your medication, Grandpa? You sound like you’re on drugs.”

Triann took a step closer to his grandson. A slight breeze in the late afternoon sky rustled the green leaves in the trees. They were standing in Fernhill Gardens Park on the outskirts of Dublin. It was a place Triann’s grandson often went when he skipped school. Triann was tired. He had been racing around Dublin all day. “We’ve no time for this, boy,” he snapped. “You have no inclination the trouble you’re in.”

The boy’s face turned red and he scowled. “”What did they tell you, Grandpa? It’s a lie. I didn’t do it. It was like that when I got there!”

Triann smiled, his anger quickly faded. He was glad to have found Arlyn before the secret police did. “Please, Arlyn. I’ll tell you all about it later. You must come with me now. Our lives depend on it.”

Arlyn looked at his grandfather. He was a weird old codger, but something about his voice was earnest. Maybe there was real trouble after all. “Ok, Grandpa. Where are we going?”

“Away from Dublin to start, and perhaps on a much longer voyage.”

Before he knew it, Arlyn was following his grandfather through the narrow, deserted backstreets of Dublin. The sun was setting and the alleyways they traveled were dark. “Why are we skulking around, Grandpa? Your apartment isn’t even on this side of the Liffey.”

Triann stopped and peered around a corner. “We’re not going to my apartment. It’s too dangerous. We’ll take a train, but it will have to be the worker rail. Those aren’t watched as much.”

Arlyn perked up. “The worker rail is close by. I’ve been there a bunch … I’ve heard kids talk about it.”

“No matter,” Triann said. “Your past indiscretions are about to seem trivial compared to what lies ahead of you.” His grandfather always had a way of talking in riddles.

Once on the train and satisfied they weren’t followed, Triann handed his grandson a memory stick. “Read this. It explains everything.” He sighed. He still had to tell Arlyn about his family. Not yet, Triann thought. It will be hard on him.

Arlyn plugged the memory stick into a portable reading unit and began to read. The train sped away and Triann stared out the window, lost in thought, as mechanics and laborers talked loudly around them.

The True and Accurate History of the Irish People
Long ago, when the world was new and the race of man was but one of many mammals struggling to survive, members of the One Great Tribe decided to separate and seek the ends of the world. A group of settlers who called themselves the Irish happened upon a river and followed it to its end, soon settling on the banks of the Irish Sea and the Liffey River.

These early Irish settlers were, for the most part, a peaceful people seeking only exploration and the discovery of knowledge. They pursued both with a passion and soon learned many of the ancient arts such as bronze working, iron smithing, literature and map making. They built tiny but sturdy boats called curraghs which they sailed with skill. Their curraghs plowed the seas and soon the Irish discovered other civilizations. As they explored, they discovered new lands to be settled and many Irish willingly left the comfort of their simple homes to start new villages.

One of the most notable historical events in early Irish history occurred in 3,250 BC when a band of settlers left Dublin to start a new town. This could have led to another civilization, but these settlers felt a degree of loyalty to Dublin. Note, however, how the historical account does not mention the rioting that occurred in Dublin in 3,500 BC after a band of warriors left to explore the region. The settlers’ account of their journey follows as told by Cormaec Cellic:

“We do not want for food or water, as we have followed the path of the coast of the sea. The weather has been fair and we have not encountered fell beast or hostile man along the way. Our group of people love Dublin. It is on a short bluff overlooking the sea, and we have always enjoyed the smell of sea air. Dublin also lies on the mouth of the Liffey River, which provides plentiful freshwater and fish. But we desire to explore the world and perhaps start a new town as fair as Dublin.

“Our journey has brought us to the mouth of a river, similar to the fair Liffey River. How fortune has favored us with a place along the sea coast with a river mouth nearby to settle our new town. This place is different, thought, as Dublin was nestled by soft meadow grasses, and the land here is a bit harsher and harder, but still ripe for sowing fields. We made camp and started fires and the elders met where the mouth of the river reaches the sea. After a great discussion they announced to all that the gods had spoken to them and it was decided that our travels were completed. We would start our new town here.

“The elders chose to name the new town Shannon after the fairest of the Dublin maidens, and so too shall Shannon be fair to us, and sustain us through the harsh winters, for there is good fishing near the coast and further to sea mighty sea beasts called whales like those harvested off the coast of Dublin. Also, there are cattle close to Shannon, and our settlers have already begun to corral the animals for food. How fate should choose us to settle here, a place so similar to our home of Dublin that we should feel welcome and safe. Although I must admit to one small regret that our new home of Shannon hasn’t any pipe weed! I do enjoy the fragrant smell of smoke, so we must toil to create a road to Dublin with all haste!”

 

[EvilConqueror]

Good start. I'm subscribing right now.

 

[woof6712]

Good start. I'm subscribing right now.

Thanks, EvilConqueror! Hey, nice name. With a name like that you could be a general in the Irish Empire!

 

[woof6712]

“Wake up, Arlyn. We’re about to stop.” Triann nudged his grandson, who had fallen asleep beside him. The dim light blue glow of the portable reading device (PRD) showed Arlyn’s young face. Too young, Triann thought, for the pain he would soon experience. But not yet. I mustn’t tell Arlyn what happened just yet.

“Where are we?” Arlyn yawned. A group of workers in dirty dark blue uniforms jostled past them as the hover train halted. “We’re in Shannon. We must change trains here to get to Dingle. Come, we’ll have to run.”

Arlyn rose quickly and shoved the PRD in his pocket. He stepped off the train to a noisy, dirty platform filled with people streaming past him seemingly in all directions. A electronic train whistle sounded nearby. Triann grabbed his arm and led him down the platform. Soon, Arlyn was supporting his grandfather more and more. “We should stop. You don’t look too good.” Triann, bent over nearly double because his back was hurting, smiled at his grandson. “Ok, but only for a moment. We have to reach Platform 23 in two minutes.”

As Triann and Arlyn made their way to Platform 23, they noticed the ever-present Ireland Guard in camouflage uniforms carrying sniper rifles and wearing helmets with visors raised. Triann always wondered why the IGs wore camouflage indoors. Triann could see multiple video cameras perched at various locations in the train station. It would be impossible to remain undetected.

“Come, Arlyn. This is our train. It will take us two days to reach Dingle.”

“Two days! I’ll miss school, which is fine, but what the hell are we doing? Does mom know you practically kidnapped me?”

Triann stopped as they were about to board the train. People were hurrying past them. It was difficult to hear in the noisy station so Triann bent closer to his grandson. “Arlyn, do you trust me?”

Arlyn looked around first, then at his grandfather. “Yeah, sure. Whatever. Just tell me where we’re going. This is getting ridiculous.”

“I’ll tell you once we’re on the train.” Triann went inside the train, paid an attendant and disappeared. Arlyn stood for a moment outside the train. He was jostled a few times. A barely discernable voice over the announcement speaker started to talk. The train’s engine whirred as the motors were cranked up. “Grandpa finally lost it,” Arlyn thought. “Not that he ever had much to begin with. Man, he’s weird.” Arlyn looked around. He had only been to Shannon once, and while he was sure he could make his way back to Dublin, he didn’t have much money. He could always steal a couple of wallets, but why go back just yet? The only thing waiting for him at home was school and his mother, who would probably yell at him for something.

“Here, take the seat by the window. It’s a scenic view over the river as we head out of Shannon,” Triann moved aside to allow Arlyn to sit by the window. The train was cleaner than the last. This train was used by office employees and visitors to Shannon. There was even a cart service for breakfast and lunch, although the rolls were almost always stale and the juice warm.

“Were you able to read much?” Triann asked as he bought breakfast.

“Yeah, I read a lot.”

“You were always a good reader, Arlyn. You should take more interest in language at university.”

“It’s not for me,” Arlyn said, feeling like he was disappointing his grandfather. “School’s not for me. I need to work with my hands. I’ll probably join the military.”

Triann glanced at Arlyn, then handed him a roll and coffee. “Two sugars, right?”

“I’m up to three. Mom gets me up pretty early.”

“Three it is. Here you are, lad.”

Arlyn took a bite of roll and drank from the plastic cup. “Where are we going? I’d like to think I’m allowed to know. I’m almost 16.”

“I am aware of your age and your rights, Arlyn,” Triann said gently. “I apologize for not telling you sooner. There really wasn’t time.”

Arlyn felt the train begin to shudder as it slowly rolled out of the station. Within minutes, the darkness of the station gave way to the brilliant light of early morning as the train slowly crawled over the Shannon River. Arlyn looked outside. He could see for miles as the early sun illuminated the vast fields of tan and brown. In the distance, he could see the ocean. It truly was a remarkable view.

“Great view, isn’t it? Ever since I was a boy, I loved crossing the Shannon. It’s still one of the most picturesque rivers in all of Ireland, despite the pollution.”

A moment of silence passed between them as the train picked up speed and passed over the river. A few other riders on the train were craning their necks to look out windows at the river.

Leaning in and speaking softly, Triann said, “We’re going to Karakorum.”

“Karakorum! That’s days away!”

“Arlyn, please, speak softer. We must be careful.”

“Ok, Grandpa. I’ve followed you on wild trips before, like that time you didn’t tell anyone you were taking me Inishmore and the ferry almost sank and mom wouldn’t talk to you for months, but this is really crazy. You’re acting weirder than normal.”

“That’s an interesting way to put it, ‘Weirder than normal’” Triann said. “And what is normal? What you’ve been spoon-fed in school or by the government? Do you believe everything you read?”

“You mean like the story you’ve written about Irish history? Do I believe that?”

Triann smiled. “Such a smart boy, I mean young man. Yes, even what I ask you to read must be questioned. Always remember, Arlyn; question everything!”

“Why?”

Triann sighed. He was getting sleepy and the seat was comfortable. He closed his eyes. “We’re going to Karakorum. I have always loved visiting the Sistine Chapel, and I have some friends of Mongolian descent who will be … friendly to our cause.”

“Mongols! We can’t trust them, they hate the Irish!”

“Read what I’ve asked you. There’s not much more to do, other than sleep.”

“It’s boring, even for history.”

“You want battles. You’ve been trained by video games and television to love war. Keep reading. There are parts about war, too.”

Triann was soon asleep. For minutes Arlyn sat watching his grandfather snore. Then he reached into his pocket, turned on the PRD and settled into his seat.

The True and Accurate History of the Irish People (continued)

For the first three and a half thousand years of Irish history, there is no record of armed conflict. Indeed, throughout the world, it appears that civilizations mostly cooperated with one another or tolerated the existence of other nations. That changed as land became scarce. In the meantime, the Irish, skilled in farming and sea travel, met the Mongols, an aggressive people who also sought to settle the lands near the Shannon River. The Irish quickly settled the region along the Shannon River and to the east while the Mongols settled the lands to the south of the Shannon. Another tribe, the English, slowly began to encroach from the far east.

As the Irish explored the world and met other civilizations such as the mighty Celts, Koreans, Russians, Hittites, Vikings and others, they continued their exploration of knowledge. It should be noted that the Irish were particularly skilled at sea travel. One curragh, captained by Cathal mac Gofraid, successfully traversed the Great Ocean from Dublin and discovered new land with the landing of the continent Omelas around 1950 BC. Remarkably, Gofraid’s journal survived and was rewritten by scholars in the 200s AD. The original text of Gofraid’s journal has been lost to history, but what remains is a startling account of his journey:

“Being the break of day I summoned the men to gather in a circle and pray to the great sea god for aid. We had been at sea for more months than I can recount. The men were dispirited and longed for home. Our sails of animal hides were stripped bare; our food had long ago run out and what little fresh water we had to drink came from the open rains. But later that day, one of the sailmen spotted a shore bird aloft in the sail. The men were gleeful, realizing as I did that a shore bird meant land close by. Two days later and we happened upon land. It was a dry desert with sand as far as we could see, but we were overjoyed to leave the open ocean. It appears the gods are testing us, trading one barren landscape for another. But we will endure and prevail in the name of Ireland!”

Gofraid’s journey was historically significant for the Irish because it helped Ireland establish contacts with many nations on the continent of Omelas. Skilled in diplomacy and trading, the Irish utilized these skills to trade knowledge with the nations of France, Scandanavia, Byzantines and Hittites, and then bring that knowledge back to Dublin.

The construction of the Irish curragh is notable in history as it marks the beginning of a long tradition of sea commerce and naval affairs for the Irish. The ability to successfully navigate the sea led the Irish to travel great distances in these tiny wood boats powered only by small sails of animal hides. The Irish constructed several curraghs to journey to new lands and explore. This led to the discovery of the Aran Islands of Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer and contact with many civilizations.

 

[woof6712]

In his dream, Arlyn had the vague sense of being pursued, from what he didn’t know. He ran heedless into woods to evade unknown pursuers. They were closing in …

Arlyn woke with a slight gasp and looked around. His grandfather was asleep beside him. The train was dark except for small, dim running lights on the floor and ceiling. He could hear a few snores and the eerily loud sound of people breathing. The engines weren’t making any noise—the train had stopped.

Arlyn shook his grandfather. “We stopped. And we’re not at a station.”

Triann opened his eyes and reached for his coat. Without looking around he stood up. “We have to go. They’re searching the train.”

“Who? What are they looking for?”

“Us. They tracked us.”

Arlyn followed his grandfather as they hurried down the train car to the large sliding doors. Passengers on the train were still asleep and the train was dark. Arlyn glanced outside. It appeared they were in the middle of rough hills. There were no lights to be seen.

As the door opened, Triann and Arlyn heard a loud bang at the other end of the car. They turned around and saw flashlights peering through the door window. They jumped aside between the cars and hopped down onto the ground. The cool night air startled Arlyn, who had become accustomed to the train’s constant temperature. Arlyn went first and helped his grandfather. Arlyn couldn’t see his grandfather wincing in the dark.

With his feet on the ground, Triann looked back and forth down both sides of the train. In the distance, at the front of the train, searchlights flashed randomly from the train, to the ground, and into the dark. His heart racing, Triann grabbed hold of Arlyn’s hand. “Grandson, if they catch us they’ll kill us. Do you understand the severity of our danger?”

Arlyn was wide-eyed. He nodded his head.

Triann led Arlyn down the graded slope of train tracks into a small ditch. They could hear muffled voices in the distance. There was no moon, and it was difficult to see. Triann guessed they were in the foothills to the north of Derry along the shore of Loch Derg. There were a few small villages spotted along the shores of Loch Derg and some resorts for wealthy nobles, but not much else. The region was far enough away from Derry to warrant little attention.

Triann looked up and made out the shape of the foothills faintly silhouetted against the night sky. He scrambled up the other side of the slope and picked his way through brambles and small trees. Arlyn followed. After 15 minutes of rugged crawling through underbrush and loose stones, Triann stopped and looked back. In the distance they could make out the train. There were still searchlights flashing. Now there was light shining through most of the windows of the train. “Everyone’s awake,” Arlyn said. “Will they know where we went?”

“They’ll check the passenger manifest and realize we boarded the train,” Triann said. “They didn’t find us immediately, which will prompt the IGs to lose time deciding the best course of action. No one will want to make the wrong decision, so they’ll think about it for a while and make the decision as a unit. By morning they’ll realize we jumped the train and they’ll spot our tracks. By noon they’ll start pursuing us. That gives us about 10 hours.” Triann exhaled. In his youth he enjoyed hiking and frequently made trips to the Mourne Mountains. But that was many years ago, and he was old and weak. It would be a difficult journey. They would need help, and they were alone in the wild, hunted by the soldiers.

The True and Accurate History of the Irish People (continued)

While the Irish attempted to establish positive relations with other civilizations around the world, they also focused on domestic issues. Around 1870BC, the Irish discovered horses and iron along the Shannon River. Soon Irish settlers founded Galway to mine for iron and corral the horses. These resources proved irreplaceable as the Irish military was able to forge swords and train horses for combat. The significance of these two events should not be overlooked. Though the Irish had yet to engage in warfare, nearby rival nations had to be aware of the fact that the Irish were skilled in making swords and training horses for battle. While the Celts and Mongols were perhaps the two most powerful nations in the world at the time, neither had yet been able to harness iron or horses, giving the Irish a significant advantage. The English had neither iron nor horses at their disposal, putting them at a severe disadvantage militarily.

Roughly 120 years later, the Irish completed a network of roads from Dublin to Dingle on the Mongolian border. This road became a significant trading route, but also an important route for troops to reach Mongolia during the War To Suppress Mongolian Aggression. Irish foot soldiers and knights traveled this road on their way to campaigns in Mongolia for several hundred years.

Scientific Research
Early Irish history is replete with accounts of shamans and later alchemists making startling discoveries. Indeed, the Irish were at one time the most learned people on the planet. Contrary to glorified historical accounts, however, the Irish were not scientific by nature. That is to say, they did not build libraries of learning and their alchemists weren’t necessarily the most learned researchers. Instead, the Irish bought or traded most of their technology from rival civilizations. Once they achieved a new technology through research or trade, they bartered it on the world market to the highest bidder, reaping huge rewards. The Irish were able to do this because they had made contact with the nations on the continent Omelas thanks to the curraghs and their courageous journeys.

Something in Irish history went amiss around 1,900BC, however. Instead of remaining a peaceful nation of traders, explorers and researchers, the Irish began military pursuits. Perhaps the discovery of iron and horses near Galway led Irish leaders to realize their military potential. Perhaps fear of encroaching Mongol settlers caused the Irish to ready themselves for war. In any event, the Irish began to pursue military strength that led to the victory in the War To Suppress Mongolian Aggression. This reliance on military power to solve problems remained an Irish trait for centuries, and later generations of Irish military leaders improved on their success by building the Heroic Epic in Derry and the Military Academy in Dublin. With the construction of the Heroic Epic, the Irish were raised to adore the military. There are accounts of children throughout the Irish Empire being required to visit Derry and view the Heroic Epic. The Military Academy ensured Ireland’s soldiers were of the finest in the world. It could be said that the temptation to use the military became too great once Ireland’s political leaders realized the power they had at their disposal. Perhaps Ireland’s generals simply threatened to take over the country if the politicians didn’t obey their commands and wage war. In any event, the future course of Ireland would be irrevocably changed as the nation began to pursue military domination of the continent Krynn. First, though, Ireland had to expand beyond the borders of Dublin.

 

[woof6712]

“Grandpa, you need rest. You’re pale.” Arlyn was worried about his grandfather. He hadn’t spoken in over an hour and he looked sick.

Triann collapsed against a tree and fell to the forest floor. “I … need … a few …” He wiped his brow and closed his eyes.

Arlyn looked around. They had climbed hard for nearly four hours. The light of early dawn was making the climbing easier, at least for Arlyn. They stopped looking behind them a while ago, once they could no longer see the train in the distance.

Triann had said once they reached the top of the bluff they would be able to see for miles and know how to get to the lake shore. Why they wanted to go there, Arlyn didn’t know. He had never been there before, but that choice seemed to lead them deeper into the woods where they didn’t know anyone.

Arlyn straightened his back and took a sip from a water bottle he had bought on the train. It was almost empty. During the night while they were climbing, Arlyn and Triann didn’t speak much. The skills Arlyn learned in the Guard Scouts returned to him as he walked. He had spent six years of his youth in the Guard Scouts going on wilderness trips, learning which nuts and berries could be eaten and which were poisonous and how to field dress a wound. It was neat stuff to learn, but Arlyn never thought it would be useful. Until now.

“I’m better. Let’s keep going,” Triann rose, wobbled and took a few steps. He looked like an infant learning to walk.

“I’ll get you a staff, Grandpa.” Arlyn returned a few moments later with a stick good for walking. “It isn’t as good as it would be if I had a knife to shape it, but it’s better than nothing.”

“You learned well in Scouts, eh?” Triann tested the stick. It supported his weight. “Now I look like a mad wizard!” Triann’s eyes flashed as he waved his arms. His gray hair was wild from sleeping on the train and there were twigs and leaves sticking out. He did indeed look like a mad wizard.

They started climbing again and as the sun rose fully over the horizon, they reached the top of the wind-swept hills. There was a large, open area of solid rock spotted with sparse vegetation. They could see for miles in all directions. An old, rusted fire tower stood off to the side with warning signs nailed on the ladder. Arlyn climbed to the top and looked around. He could make out Galway in the distance to the southwest and Dingle to the southeast. He looked for the train but only saw a thin ribbon of what he supposed was the train track, or at least the clearing through the land for the track. He turned and saw Loch Derg.

“Well? Are we surrounded? Have we no choice but to fight?”

Arlyn laughed. His grandpa always liked adventure. “Why do you want to go to Loch Derg? There aren’t many towns there.”

“A former student of mine from long ago lives on the southeast coast of Loch Derg. She should be able to help us. Come, it can’t be more than a full day’s march!”

Arlyn sighed. A full day! At least it was downhill. He reached in his pocket for his PRD. I suppose I’ll read while the brush isn’t too thick. He panicked. The PRD wasn’t there! He looked up and his grandfather was smiling, holding the PRD. “You forgot this on the train before we left,” he said. “Pay attention to small details! Small details provide big clues! This is why they’re after us!”

Before Arlyn could ask, Triann had turned and was walking downhill. Arlyn turned on the PRD and began to read, keeping an eye out for loose stones and low branches.

The True and Accurate History of the Irish People (continued)
The Empire Expands
The period between 1700BC and 1250BC are important in Irish history as they mark a period of great expansion. Irish settlers struck out in all directions to start new towns. They remained loyal to the Irish cause and pushed further and further east and south, and also settled the Aran Islands.

During the Great Irish Expansion Era, the towns of Belfast, Wicklow, Limerick, Inishmore, Athenry, Roscommon, Sligo, Inishmaan, Kilkenny, Inishkea, Donegal, Tralee and Carrick were founded, creating an extensive network of villages and towns within the Irish Empire. The Irish also successfully colonized the islands of Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer. Ivory was harvested and brought to these villages in 1225 BC and embassies with the Russians, Vikings, Hittites, and Spaniards were built, allowing the Irish to benefit from positive relations with foreign nations.

Many settlers experienced relatively peaceful and satisfying lives on the frontier of the expanding Irish empire. Many of the small towns struggled at first to survive on the fringe of the empire, and corruption was rampant. Projects like temples and barracks took much longer to complete because local governors were corrupt or inefficient. Gradually, as these towns grew in size, production increased and civic projects were completed with greater rapidity. Remarkably, a scroll written by Macha Mong Ruad, an Irish domestic advisor in Dublin, survived and has been translated:

“Our people desire peace and knowledge, but also to explore the great lands beyond The Known World. Therefore, throughout our history, bands of settlers gather supplies and set forth seeking new land to establish new towns. These settlers are hardy folk; they willingly give up the pleasures of hearth and home to start anew. They know not what they will encounter in The Wild, and they travel with no weapons, only tools of farming. They are commoners, not of noble stock, but they carry themselves with the pride of one confident in his abilities to accomplish a task. These people are the future of the Irish Empire, for they add to the grandeur of Dublin by starting new towns in her image.”

The People Revolt
As the Irish Overlord Cutugh the Magnificent continued to urge settlers to explore and populate the world while Irish shamans discovered new knowledge, the Irish people suffered. Cutugh, like the long line of despots that ruled Ireland for nearly three thousand years before him, came to power in 1230BC with grandiose ideas of power and conquest, often at the expense of his citizens. Citizens in towns like Dublin and Galway at times died during the building of temples and libraries because of poor living conditions and lack of basic food and health care. The Irish citizenry, which had for generations upon generations borne the demands of their rulers with stoic obedience, finally had had enough.

In 1225BC, just five years into Cutugh’s reign, the Irish people revolted and Ireland was thrown into a period of chaos that lasted 125 years. Out of the ashes of anarchy arose a powerful family, the Borus, who would rule Ireland for more than a thousand years during a tumultuous time in the republic’s history.

During the 125 years of chaos in Ireland, the general populace suffered greatly. Citizens starved to death as workers rioted and refused to work. Mobs roamed cities, brigands patrolled roads and despots rose to power in every city. It took decades for anything resembling a government to begin to take shape in Ireland, and for some time it appeared that Ireland would simply fall into a perpetual nation of city-states ruled by powerful families. One family, however, proved strong enough to unite the clans throughout the empire and force the others into joining the new republic. That family, the Borus of Dublin, became the most powerful family in all of Ireland.

 

[woof6712]

Arlyn tucked the PRD into his pocket as a light rain began to fall. Distant rumbling thunder threatened rougher weather, and Arlyn and Triann picked up their pace. Triann was breathing heavily, but the outdoor air and exercise seemed to be doing him good.

As they walked through a copse of fir trees, they saw an open green meadow that rolled gently to the banks of Loch Derg. Through the rain and mist, Arlyn could see the dark water as it disappeared into a thick fog. The temperature was dropping, and Arlyn was getting chilly, not to mention hungry.

Triann led the way around the edge of the loch. They walked close to the water along the gravely shoreline and listened as waves lapped against the shore. Soon in the distance Arlyn could see smoke rising above the trees in a slight valley.

They came upon a small village of perhaps 10 buildings, including houses. There was one building that appeared to be a tavern. Triann opened the heavy, wooden front door and he and Arlyn entered. It was dank and quiet and an overweight middle-aged man was behind the bar leaning against the wall watching television. He looked at them for a moment, then asked. “What’ll ya have?”

“Ah, thank you,” Triann said, wiping rainwater from his face. “Two Guinnesses and a menu, if you don’t mind.” The bartender nodded and went for glasses. Triann and Arlyn sat down at a table in the corner beside the window with a view. They could see the muddy dirt road pocked with tufts of green grass here and there as it wound past a few stone buildings with dark shingles.

The bartender returned with two pints of Guinness and two menus. Triann took a long, deep drink while Arlyn looked at the menu. A few moments later, the bartender returned and they ordered a large lunch.

“Grandpa, what is this town?” Arlyn asked between bites of fish and chips, his favorite meal when not at home.

“I believe it’s a small village the locals call Kells,” Triann said as he inched closer to the fireplace. “I’ve never been here before, but I think it’s within walking distance of Tullymore, which is where we’re headed.”

The bartender, who had been watching television but paying attention to the curious pair of travelers, suddenly appeared. “Ya, tha’s right. Yu’re in Kells an’ Tullymore’s jus’ down tha’ road.”

Triann smiled politely and when the bartender didn’t walk away, handed him a few bills and asked for another Guinness.

“I’ve been thinking, Grandpa. Why do you want me to read your history of Ireland? Is this some special assignment to keep me from failing out of school?”

Triann laughed. “If I had thought of that, I would have done it. No, Arlyn, this is no assignment. It’s real and we’re … we should be cautious.”

Triann settled further into his seat and appeared to be enjoying the warmth of the fireplace and the Guinness. Arlyn, who had finished his meal, realized his grandfather would want to wait out the rain here in the comfort of the pub. He took out the PRD and began reading again, not realizing as his grandfather dozed off that the curious bartender had left them some time ago.

The True and Accurate History of the Irish People (continued)

The Borus
During the Lost Century (the 125-year period of anarchy in Ireland), powerful families with money ruled cities. There was no central Irish government. The ruling families came to power after the general populace overthrew Cutagh by promising reforms and better living conditions. When the ruling families weren’t able to immediately provide these benefits, the citizenry continued to revolt. The ruling families at times battled the citizenry to protect their estates and control of their cities.

The Borus, based in Dublin, were a powerful merchant family with connections in several major cities, including Galway and Shannon. Through their merchant and political connections, the Borus gained power during The Lost Century and soon came to dominate Dublin’s political and military landscape. Towards the end of The Lost Century, Brian Boru, then a young man in his early 20’s, rose to power in Dublin by promising the citizens and other ruling families equal power in a new government of Ireland that would value its citizens and nobles alike. Desperate to end more than a century of anarchy, the ruling families joined Boru and soon the citizens followed. A new government was established in Dublin, and Boru was installed as the leader of the Irish Republic with the consent of the ruling families, who retained control of their cities in return for tribute to Boru in Dublin.

The line of the Borus continued despite repeated attempts by the ruling families to usurp his power. The ruling families for generations grew to gradually dislike and ultimately despise the republic and what it stood for. They had seen their cause for revolt as one to give greater power and control to the local governors of the cities of Ireland, and to an extent this was true. But the cities and ruling families were still under the control of Dublin and the Borus. The ruling families disagreed with many of Dublin’s policies, chiefly the war against Mongolia. Between 1,100BC, when Brian Boru came to power under Ireland’s newly formed Republic, and 130AD, when the War to Suppress Mongolian Aggression ended, a total of 53 times Irish cities staged demonstrations and riots against the war and Dublin’s rule. Even after the war ended, stripping the ruling families of their main cause of grief, cities continued to demonstrate against Dublin rule. A schism arose between Ireland and Dublin, with many Irish nobles viewing Dublin as acting against the best interests of Ireland.

 

[Midnight-Blue766]

So what happened to the Irish next? I'm sorry for bumping a year-old thread, but this is a very interesting story.

 

[BuckyRea]

I was all into reading this and didn't bother to look at the posting dates. But you're right, this is a well written piece--I like the framing device being used as a different story.

Perhaps the OP has to be PM'd in order for this to catch his attention.