EPHES-DAMMIM, ISRAEL
C. 1000 B.C.
"This is the fortieth day I have come out! Will nobody meet my challenge? Do I face an army of men without stomachs? Yet another day do I defy the ranks of Israel!"
For the fortieth day this huge man had come out and made this same challenge. For the fortieth time, nobody dared fight him in single combat. He rose so far above him, carried a brutal spear, was protected by heavy armor. Yet still, one in the Israelite camp wanted to fight. David came up to Saul, King of Israel.
"Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight the Philistine."
Saul shook his head. "You are only a youth! Goliath has been a warrior longer than you have been alive!"
"I used to tend my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or bear attacked, I would seize it by the jaw, strike it, and kill it. I will do the same to this Philistine, who has insulted the armies of God."
Saul sat for several seconds before finally relenting. "Go, and the Lord be with you."
- - - - - - - - - -
David came out wearing only his normal clothes and bearing only a sling. The immense Goliath laughed, a horrible noise that terrified all the Israelites. "Is that all you think of me? Sending a child out? And am I a dog that you come against me with a staff? Come here, so I can turn you into carrion!"
David ignored this raving, and merely moved into a better spot. Goliath rushed in, ready to impale this boy on his spear. David took a stone out of his bag, set it in his sling, and threw it--right between the eyes. Goliath fell, and David cut off the giant's head. The army of Israel, encouraged by this, advanced across the field--and the Philistines ran for their lives.
- - - - - - - - - -
DONEGAL, IRELAND
15 JANUARY 1618
David O'Donnell was, without any doubt, the poorest man in Ireland. And that was saying something. All he had left was a small farm outside Donegal and a chronically ill father he had to find some way to support. Sometimes he was forced into acts which under normal circumstances he would never have condoned. And in those acts he associated himself with the common thugs and rascals of Donegal.
And among those common thugs and rascals was Michael O'Rourke.
To those unfamiliar with Donegal's criminals, O'Rourke was a prosperous landowner. Judicious use of bribes had allowed him to keep his land instead of losing it to English landowners.
To those who knew the alleyways and dark places of the town, O'Rourke was the practical ruler of the town. He would hire strong and skilled men--like David--to do his dirty work. The jobs paid well, and David made his way slowly out of financial trouble. But now, he had to do the work--he was a part of the O'Rourke "army," for good or bad. And today he was about to embark upon the biggest job he had ever been given.
They met, one hundred of O'Rourke's most veteran "workers." They were to go to Dublin and bring about the impossible, that which had not been for six centuries:
The total freedom of Ireland.
- - - - - - - - - -
THE GAME
1617 scenario, starting as England, inciting Ireland to revolt, then switching. I've done some minor editing that you will see as I go along. It's going to be everything I can do to make sure David survives the second time around...
C. 1000 B.C.
"This is the fortieth day I have come out! Will nobody meet my challenge? Do I face an army of men without stomachs? Yet another day do I defy the ranks of Israel!"
For the fortieth day this huge man had come out and made this same challenge. For the fortieth time, nobody dared fight him in single combat. He rose so far above him, carried a brutal spear, was protected by heavy armor. Yet still, one in the Israelite camp wanted to fight. David came up to Saul, King of Israel.
"Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight the Philistine."
Saul shook his head. "You are only a youth! Goliath has been a warrior longer than you have been alive!"
"I used to tend my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or bear attacked, I would seize it by the jaw, strike it, and kill it. I will do the same to this Philistine, who has insulted the armies of God."
Saul sat for several seconds before finally relenting. "Go, and the Lord be with you."
- - - - - - - - - -
David came out wearing only his normal clothes and bearing only a sling. The immense Goliath laughed, a horrible noise that terrified all the Israelites. "Is that all you think of me? Sending a child out? And am I a dog that you come against me with a staff? Come here, so I can turn you into carrion!"
David ignored this raving, and merely moved into a better spot. Goliath rushed in, ready to impale this boy on his spear. David took a stone out of his bag, set it in his sling, and threw it--right between the eyes. Goliath fell, and David cut off the giant's head. The army of Israel, encouraged by this, advanced across the field--and the Philistines ran for their lives.
- - - - - - - - - -
DONEGAL, IRELAND
15 JANUARY 1618
David O'Donnell was, without any doubt, the poorest man in Ireland. And that was saying something. All he had left was a small farm outside Donegal and a chronically ill father he had to find some way to support. Sometimes he was forced into acts which under normal circumstances he would never have condoned. And in those acts he associated himself with the common thugs and rascals of Donegal.
And among those common thugs and rascals was Michael O'Rourke.
To those unfamiliar with Donegal's criminals, O'Rourke was a prosperous landowner. Judicious use of bribes had allowed him to keep his land instead of losing it to English landowners.
To those who knew the alleyways and dark places of the town, O'Rourke was the practical ruler of the town. He would hire strong and skilled men--like David--to do his dirty work. The jobs paid well, and David made his way slowly out of financial trouble. But now, he had to do the work--he was a part of the O'Rourke "army," for good or bad. And today he was about to embark upon the biggest job he had ever been given.
They met, one hundred of O'Rourke's most veteran "workers." They were to go to Dublin and bring about the impossible, that which had not been for six centuries:
The total freedom of Ireland.
- - - - - - - - - -
THE GAME
1617 scenario, starting as England, inciting Ireland to revolt, then switching. I've done some minor editing that you will see as I go along. It's going to be everything I can do to make sure David survives the second time around...
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