The Fight For Freedom

[Easthaven I]

This is cool. And thanks for the maps, makes it all more interesting and involved.

[unscratchedfoot]

Keep the goods coming. How do you gawk at the map? Do you need to have civ3 installed to see it or just open it?

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, Im busy researching at the moment for the next parts of the story so you will have to be patient.

Scratch its done on paint and should download directly if you click the link.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Your pacing of the story is spot on, and one of the real strengths of this tale so far is in the "big speech" sections- there's some real "Hollywood moments" happening there.

The one thing I'd like to see is a spot of development on the characters- a bit more background. Do they have sppech impediments, or irrational fear of spoons? Were they once members of a bad folk band, or part-time sculptors? That sort of malarky- it helps flesh them out.

[Psycho1]

Excellent love the propaganda

[ChrisiusMaximus]

This is just a little bit of something I found the other day, two verses of a poem by William Butler Yeats, written in 1902. It sort of sums up the image I have in my mind of the band of men gathered in the wilderness and forming their movement "Free Celtica".


Verses 3 & 4 of "Into The Twilight"

Come, heart, where hill is heaped upon hill,
For there the mystical brotherhood,
Of sun and moon and hollow and wood,
And river and stream work out their will.

And God stands winding his lovely horn,
And time and world are ever in flight,
And love is less kind than the grey twilight,
And hope is less dear than the dew of the morn.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Part 3 The war of propaganda.


"RISE UP!! Break free from from your chains!

Open your eyes and witness the oppression,

See what they have done to your Brothers and Sisters,

RISE UP!! open your hearts and join our cause,

RISE UP!! and help FREE CELTICA!!"


read the leaflets being handed out to the crowd gathering at the gates of one of the armaments factory in the city of Stockholm.
Things were going well for the "Free Celtica" movement, only six moons into its campaign and all the rural areas of the central regions had been persuaded to help. In all the villages many of the clansfolk both young and old were helping to support the movement, raising funds, attending rallies, distributing leaflets and giving food and shelter to their heroes.

Many young men had volunteered to join the cause and had swelled the ranks to over five thousand, who were being trained by the Japanese in the arts of guerilla warfare and survival techniques. Yes things were looking good.

The Communist regime, preoccupied with its war against the English to the East had been taken almost completely by surprise at the speed with which this populist fervour had taken root. They were shocked indeed to find that their message had started to spill onto the streets of the major cities. The major industrial cities for that matter, the very source of the Communist parties grip on power.

Meanwhile at Communist Party HQ in Entremont,

"Sir! please excuse me for the interuption. I have just received reports of disturbances in several cities." Said comrade Svenson the chairmans most trusted aide.

"WHAT!! what do you mean disturbances? " yelled Chairman McGregor, leader of the Communist party.

"There are reports of large workers rallies being held in Stockholm, Alesia, Copenhagen, Bergen and Gergovia Chairman!"

"Call in my advisors Svenson, I want them here today. Get me General Thordarson on the phone immediately and send instructions to govenors of these cities to send in the troops to quell these so called disturbances. Oh and Svenson send out a comunique to all other districts and advise them to use any force necessary to prevent further troubles."

"Yes Sir Chiarman," Svenson said, saluting and clicking his heels as he left the Chairmans office.

Connel Murdoch and Kyle Donavon had been placed in the same unit six moons ago that had left Devils Bridge to undertake its mission to convert the masses of Stockholm. Stockholm was the main arms manufactoring centre for the Communists. A ripe target for the movement with its population of around two and a half million, many of whom were forced to work in its factories. Most of the cities inhabitants lived in poverty and even the children were forced to work from the age eight or nine.

A stark contrast to the luxurious lifestyle of the Communist elite who feed off the blood, sweat and tears of the masses. Here in the cities it is the Police and party members who are the oppressors. Out in the rural areas the Army are the ones responsble for terrible treatment of the peasants.

"These people are far worse off than we have ever been Connel," stated Kyle.

"Yes youre right Kyle, at least back home the air tastes sweet, and there are far less soldiers than there are police in the city."

Most of their unit had slipped back to the wilderness to attend the second council of war at Devils Bridge. Just three of their number remained in the city to assist the workers and their new unions in their efforts to gain better pay and working conditions.

The war of propaganda had scored a direct hit, whole communities were questioning their situation. Workers were forming Trade Unions and demanding better conditions.

"It looks like old Scratch was right my friend," said Kyle.

"This is not over yet Kyle!, this is far from over!, I cant see the government turning a blind eye to whats happening here," replied Connel.

"Aye, I reckon there will be blood flowing before long." Said Kieran Docherty, the third member of their unit who had stayed behind.

Suddenly sirens and gunfire erupted all around them, armed Police and Soldiers approached from every direction. The gathered people started to run in blind panic as the troops blatantly fired into the crowds.

The three young men of "Free Celtica" began to run as fast as they could for their lives, but Kieran was caught in a hail of bullets. His spent body fell to the ground, Kyle leapt over a barrier and dived for cover in some bushes. Looking back he saw Connel being beaten by four soldiers with their rifle butts.
Kyle realised he could not help his friend, he cried as he watched the pigs drag Connel away, half dead from the beating he had received.

[Easthaven I]

Where's the next part, man?

Rise up! Chrisius! Free Celtica!...

[Centauri18]

Celtica? I was under the impression that the Irish were descendants of the Celts.
Historically speaking, that is.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Yes the Irish are in part descended from the Celts as are some English, Scottish, Welsh and possibly other areas of europe, France for example.

The Celts are in fact a very ancient culture probably originally from the Balkans who spread over much of northern and western europe and into north Africa at their height. Also in my research I have learned that Alexander the great entrusted the Celts to take care of his holdings for him whilst he was travelling through Asia on his conquests.

They were well known as a warrior race and were often used by other nations as mercenary forces. I have read that Ceaser wrote about these people and admired their bravery. Their is said to have been two main tribes of Celts originally, the lowland Celts who were primarily farmers and craftsmen and the highland Celts who were far more warlike, and assumed much control over their pacifist lowland brothers.

Their is very little actual documented evidence of the true Celtic culture as the druids who ran their religion forbid the writing of their knowledge. A druid had to learn everything off by heart which could take a lifetime.

Although much of their beleif was incorporated into modern christianity to make the transistion possible especially in the British Isles. The Romans had started this process when they occupied Britain, comparing Roman and Celtic Gods they found their qualities to be similar and many joint gods were used to quell the tribes of England.

As history shows the Romans could not calm down the clans of scotland and had to build Hadrians wall to keep them out!.

Hope this answers your question but please ask if not.

BTW thanks to everyone for the continued feedback.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Continued,

Back at Communist Party HQ that evening Chairman Mc Gregor was holding an emergency meeting with his Advisors and Generals.

"There is no way I can spare any troops from the English front to quell these disturbances Chairman!" said General Thordarson.

"Chiarman, Comrades, could we not perhaps sit down and talk with the rebels! Perhaps some investment in Cultural building would be useful!" Interupted comrade Flanagan the Cultural Advisor.

BANG!!BANG!! two shots were fired from Chiaman Mc Gregor's pistol. "Svenson! clean up that mess and get me a new Cultural Advisor!!" Yelled Mc Gregor.

"Yes Sir, right away Sir," Svenson said quite nervously.

"Explain your statement General."

"Yes Chairman, our current status is stalemate with the English forces, and we have made no significant gains for over a year! If anything the English seem to be increasing in strength, and may be massing for an offensive."

"So what is our current training status ,and weapons/resources production? " asked the Chairman.

"Well Chairman we are corrently training new Infantry, Calvary, and Artillery regiments at full capacity. Every sizable city has a Barracks facility working flat out. As fast as we can train them they are being sent back in body bags, so as you can see we can not spare any men from the training centres either." Said comrade Jones the miliatary advisor.

"Further Chairman our cities are flat out producing miliatary hardware with currently no scope for any increase. Unless we can build power plants to increase factory output and production, but this would slow down arms production in the short term." Added comrade Davidson the domestic advisor.

"The only suggestion I can offer is that we open peace negotiations with the English. If we can secure favourable terms then we could switch our attention to the rebels and unions Sir!" Commented comrade Davis the foreign advisor.

"NEVER!! do you hear me? We will never surrender to the English! I shall not rest untill they are wiped from our continent." Shouted the Chairman, "You would do well to be more careful what you suggest fool!! Unless you want to end up like comrade Flanagan!!"

"Please forgive me Sir," Davis uttered shaking in his boots. "I must also inform you that Rome is again making threats, and Japan has severed diplomatic ties with us due to our continued aggression towards the English. As a result of this action they have ceased trading with us and refuse to send any further consignments of wine in tribute."

"Why those treacherous dogs! Damn them to hell! Thordarson when we have finished removing the English from Celtica, I order you to head south and destroy those traitors!"

"Yes Sir Chairman! By your command."

"Sir Chairman, Comrades I feel I must add something to this discussion. We must increase funding to science and research if we are to stay ahead in world power. Sir I fear that unless we increase funding then we shall fall behind our enemies in the arms race. Our spy network already has evidence to suggest the English are carrying out secret research into two very disturbung areas. We believe they are developing some kind of flying machines that will be able to bombard our cities, and some sort of motorised cannon with untold firepower that will be capable of decimating our troops in the field." Said comrade Simpson the science advisor.

"Very well make it so Davidson, redirect 10% of the treasury to research and raise taxes imediately," said Mc Gregor.

"Yes Sir right away Sir."

"Sir Chairman, comrades I would suggest that we have a national draft and conscript all men aged 20 yrs to 22 yrs into the army. Although these troops would not be very well trained they would greatly assist in quelling any further disturbances in the cities." Said comrade Jones the miliatary advisor.

"Excellent suggestion Jones, get on with it right away," said the Chairman.

"Good news Sir, reports have just come in that order has been restored in all the cities where rallies were being held today. All city govenors report that all is quiet this evening," interupted Svenson as he arrived back at the meeting from taking care of comrade Flanagan.

"Excellent, excellent! Right gentlemen be gone and return to your duties. I want some good news from the English front and soon. I also want this Free Celtica thing crushed imediately! Do not let me down," the Chairman warned.

Kyle had stayed out of sight untill darkness fell, there were troops patrolling everywhere. He did not want to get caught, and let Connel down. He knew he had to get back to Devils Bridge and get some help to rescue his brother. Before he left he made a vow to the gods to return to Stockholm and avvenge the death of his brother Kieran and to rescue his brother Connel Murdoch.

As he made his way stealthfully through the side streets and Alleys he spied his chance, a clumsy calvary officer had dismounted from his horse and was relieving himself into a grid. Kyle crept up behind the man taking his knife from his boot, in one swift movement he leapt out from behind the man and grabbed his head with his left arm while his right hand sliced deeply into his victims throat.

He quickly comandeered the dead mans tunic, weapon and mounted his horse, making his escape disguised as an army officer. Once clear of the city limits he spurred on his steed and galloped as fast as he could go, back to the wilderness.

[Centauri18]

I was just wondering, that's all. Awesome stuff.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Thank you most kindly Centauri18.

To every one who reads my stuff please be patient with me on this if I take my time. Unfortunately my Father is very ill and in hospital right now and things are a little difficult.

Thanks for your support.

[unscratchedfoot]

I hope you dad gets better soon. Why don't you read him my bush vs saddam showdown? He might like it.

Waiting for more of the goods.

[vovan]

How come nobody told me about the second Chrisius story?

Awesome stuff again. A very engaging and original plot. Even though it might lack the 180^o twists for now, I am sure it is nonetheless going to be a great story, with potentially an unexpected end. I also definitely see great improvement in style over the previous story of yours, which could only be good.

Patiently looking forward to the next installment.

Hope your father gets well.