3.<><><><><><><>>>><><><<<><><><>><><><><><<<><><><><><>>><><>><

<><><><><>>><><><><<><><><<<><><><<<<><><><><<<><>><><<<><><><>

Page Three layout, “CLA-CLA-CLAUDIUS”

-Description: connected to style of page 2. Text Box 1 Written on parchment. Parchment of text box 1 to the right of page…

“Socializing with my stammer as a child was near impossible.”

“For this my royal siblings and cousins gave me nick-names that would stick onto me, like a curse, for my early adult life.”

The most sticking of these nicknames was “Cla-Cla-Claudius,” …

The name always struck a chord with me because it was eerily reminiscent of the temple Oracle, the Sibyl, who had told me as a child: “CLA-CLA-CLAUDIUS, beware the hairy ones.”

“In Latin, Caesar, of which my family line were a descendent through Augustus, roughly translates to ‘haired one’. It was ostensibly a warning for me to be wary of my own family, by the Sibyl.

This first appearance of my inevitable nickname in childhood was one of my earliest memories. Although I didn’t understand what she had said, at all, at that time, the message became clearer to me as time went on.”

Claudius: “So instead of chasing after popularity and the glories of combat, of which I had no skill whatsoever, and was in fact physically quite awkward in almost every imaginable way, and so, I instead decided to put my mind to use in some ‘other’ way.

I learned about the rites of our people’s religion, I learned the principles of running the state, the current days politics, and history of our empire—or as I would say now, our fallen republic… In conjunction with that magnificent trait of the written word– to be stable (unlike my stammer and that damned volatile and betraying “spoken word,” so fleeting and far out of grasp)… and so I endeavored to become a scribe and an Historian.

In this I could serve the Temple with which I loved, to some capacity, as well as stay out of my family’s ‘hair’.”

On top left of page, soldiers rallying to defend the Temple.

the long-necked, big nosed and droopy eyed Claudius, sitting with his withered legs, old-looking all throughout his life, with an unconfident smile at any age amidst his books, candles, and empty parchment. He was even that way when he was made Emperor, later in life.

Claudius: “Indeed, it pained me to be unable to adequately serve my Mother Rome in her times of upheaval…”

As a noble warrior, like Germanicus, or like a brilliant head of state, like my grandfather Augustus, I was helpless to serve her in her times of need… in such ways.”

“My family would probably add, in ‘any’ ways… but I feel like I made my small contributions where I could.”

Claudius: “I was resigned to my histories… on the Etruscans, and Carthaginians, and it was implied I was to avoid public for reasons of possible scrutiny, whenever possible, and I was okay with that, not particularly fond of having to trudge through the rites and regulations of the State if it wasn’t expected of me to do so… and so I got quite proficient in my studies of my family’s history, the history of Rome and her surroundings Allies and enemies, and I had even been tutored by the famous Greek Athenadorus for a time.

“I was to learn to stick stoically to the pleasures of the Library.”

“And I was okay with that.”

“Tucked away in the library—I would survive the stabbings, and the poisonings, the betrayals, and the scandal, which was to plague my entire family in the ensuing few years.

This is all culminating to the appearance of some of the maddest and most sadistic figures in human history ‘my’ family; Caligula, Tiberius, and Nero.

And real forces of history that you’ve never even heard about, like my grandmother Livia.

Germanicus rushing ahead, young soldiers behind him rush forward (from left heading right) with dull-tipped wooden spears, and wooden swords in their hands.

Germanicus alone has a metal sword at his back, another ornament for the officer. He rushes on horse, armed also with a wooden spear for the charge.

Claudius: “There is one story in particular that serves an important role in my narrative… of my beloved brother Germanicus.”

“,The story reflects also this time period of the Temple in which mine and Germanicus’s story is based, a story which was more of a Mythological Epic Than a true history–called a History nonetheless–because the children of my generation had picked this story up, by chance, and resurged a youthful fascination with the story’s idealistic aspirations to live by.”

. Zoom in on face of Horse and the Spartan helmet, maybe a book or toy or something in the boy’s room of Achilles, like a Superman action figure today.

Claudius: “Adults had always found it interesting to observe which stories would resurge from the past and accrue popularity once again.”

“… would be that the kids, unfettered, and as if by magic, would gravitate towards.”

Zoom in on face and eyes of Germanicus.

. Claudius: “In truth, it had often more to do with boys like Germanicus which decides which texts regain temporary relevance again… With the apt and able Germanicus, and those now particular to him, it had to be a story based on the Warrior culture–one that embodied what Strength and Duty were required by the fighting men of the Temple, a ‘Homeric Culture.’

Claudius: “It had to be a story to capture their imaginations, for them to put posters up on their barracks walls so they could daily admire… And that ceaseless stories are digested so as to stockpile these motivational golden Coins/CD-ROMS moments with which to later draw from and ultimately to expend in the cultivation of the realized-self.

Text Box 6, Broken up, page three. Claudius: “The Story beckoned us to bring it back to life.”

“The story of The Iron Ravens.”

4.<><><><><><><>>>><><><><><><><<<<<<<<<<<^<><><><^<><><^<><^<><^<><

()()()()))))()()()()(((()()()()()()()()())()()((()()()()()())())))))))()()()()()()()(((((()()(

****Fourth Page, First Panel: “Iron Ravens.” Title a little under the waistlines of the children. Large and radical red letters, bordered by thick white line. Germanicus escorted by guards, Claudius and some other high borne are with him. They carry books and bags. “Little Boots” is with them in comically oversized soldier boots. He has his wooden sword and leather cap. There are three girls about the same age, clearly some sort of royalty. First panel takes up entirety of most of the upper half of page.

****Page Four, Panel 2:

Description: A boy jumps down from the trees. Posthumous, A Cousin to the Claudians. The escort guards on the ready. Lots of small square panels in line for next panels in page, under the Iron Ravens title Panel.

****Page Four, Panel 3:

Description: the guards point their spears at the boy who just nearly landed on top of them. Everyone has a look scared look of surprise.

Chat Bubble 1, Page Four: (Guards) “Are you looking to get yourself run through boy? I nearly skewered you just now.”

****Page Four, Panel 4:

Description: Young Posthumous’s face takes up panel. Dark rings under his eyes, though a good-looking and fair-skinned boy.

Chat Bubble 2, Page Four: “Guerilla training, ser. We are in the middle of an ongoing conflict, and these boys are under the Saint’s Cross of the Blue Banner.”

****Page Four, Panel 5:

Description: Two of the guards look at each other, remembering their guerilla games as youth.

Chat Bubble 3, Page Four: (Guards) “Ah, Guerilla training. Those were good times. Okay boy, make your demands. May the saints be with ya.”

Chat Bubble 4, page Four:” I challenge the Captain, my cousin Germanicus!”

****Page Four, Panel 6: !!!!needs revision!!!

Description: Germanicus standing with Castor in foreground, Claudius looks from behind Germanicus’s left shoulder, Agrippina over his right, and the no-named officer of Germanicus stands a bit back and to the right of Castor.

Chat Bubble 4, Page Four: (Germanicus) “Stick fighting alone in the woods, Posthumous? I have two of my best men with me.”

Chat Bubble 5, Page Four: “Your man?! I have my own banner Germanicus.”

*****Page Four, Panel 7 (final panel):

Description: Germanicus sticks his wooden spear pointing down to young Posthumous, who is fully geared and at the ready. He’s a ferocious little one, but Germanicus will teach him a lesson in how far he’s got to go in becoming a true warior. A look of worry under the looming shadow cast by Germanicus.

Chat Bubble 6, page Four: (Germanicus) “Yes Castor, you may do, but at the moment you stand as alone as young Posthumous here, and still wearing MY Blue. To your merrit though, you have the mind to avoid a beating.”

Chat Bubble 7, page Four: (Castor) “Ho-Ho, Germanicus–I’d like to see you try it!”