Cinn Oir looks around for a decent campsite
where they can safely recover from their encounter with the
giant-kin. In the post-battle confusion, Dierdre has disappeared
from the party, leaving them to wonder if she too has deserted
them. After a short time, Cinn Oir finds a well hidden spot.
There is a large tree not too far to their north. The base of the
trunk has a hollow which is actually large enough to fit three
party members at a time. They clear it out and setup camp,
leaving a rotating one person watch just outside the tree.On Cinn Oir’s watch, she sees what appears to be a large wolf moving among the trees. She wakes the rest of the party and they watch it for a few moments. It seems to be watching them though making no aggressive moves. Bebe, tired of staring at it, stamps her foot and starts shouting. The wolf, apparently startled, disappears into the woods. Cinn Oir and Bebe head over to where they last saw the wolf. Cinn Oir takes a look for tracks and does find those of a large wolf, though she is unable to determine the direction they are traveling.
In the morning, Cinn Oir and Liam stock up on cure spells and heal the wounded members of the party. The decide it's best to spend another day at their present campsite and replenish spells before heading out back out into the woods. After a short debate, they plan to continue searching for Ceridwen, and hopefully find Dierdre and Ciara as well (whom Bebe still vows to kill the minute she sees her.) Since all they have to go on is the word of the faye who mention that Ceridwen makes residence somewhere "northwest of the road", they intend to search in that direction.
During the day, Cian places an Arcane Mark on the tree: a short message to Ceridwen in case she too is looking for them. A simple "Ceri" with an arrow pointing northwest; the direction the plan to journey in. Cinn Oir takes note of his actions and, unsure of his intention, grills him about what he is doing to the tree. Cian assures he isn’t going to harm it. Cinn Oir then goes off to scout out the woods in the immediate vicinity. She discovers that it is much the same is the rest of the woods they have traversed. Very healthy as far as plant life goes. However, she observes a notable lack of small prey animals in the area. Soon after she discover more large wolf tracks and apparently has the answer to her riddle.
That night, they follow the same watch pattern. This time, it is Bebe who notes something during her watch. Just an abrupt snapping of twigs near the camp then silence. Taking it for normal forest activity, she keeps a wary watch but doesn’t inform the party. When morning comes, the group packs up and heads off to the northwest-the only clue they have to Ceridwen’s possible location.
The party begins a rough march through the heavily wooded terrain. Bebe and Cinn Oir take the lead with Liam in the middle and Cian taking up the rear. By midday, the forest has grown even darker and the trees more foreboding. They loom taller than any tree they have ever seen and the canopy is as dense as a thick winter blanket. As the afternoon wears on, Liam spots something to his left. Its about 100 feet or so into the woods. It appears to be a wolf. Quietly, Liam fishes out his sling and readies it, looking to take a shot when he has a clear line of sight. Cian, walking behind him, asks why he has readied his sling. He mentions the wolf and Cian warns him against attacking it. Minutes later, Liam once again spots the wolf and lets a stone fly which bounces harmlessly among the trees. Once again, the wolf disappears. Not long after, the party catches a fleeting glance of three more wolves to their west.
The party keeps on the move but discusses their observers. Liam suggests the wolves may be trying to herd them while Cian appears more optimistic and suggests they may just be curious as to who is passing through their land. Bebe seems unconcerned about their intentions but ready to brain one if it gets too close. Cinn Oir is interested but keeps her speculation to herself. They continue on in silence, considering the possibilities.
Not long after, any questions they may have had are answered.
Cian’s hawk is suddenly startled and telepathically transmits its surprise to its master. Something is approaching from behind. Whirling around, Cian just takes notice of an enormous wolf tearing out of the woods toward him. With well honed reflexes, Cian manages to fire off a Sleep spell as it closes. Unfazed, the beast hurls itself at Cian, its jaws sinking into his leg and nearly throwing him to the ground in the process. At the same moment, two more wolves lunge into the party from the flanks. Liam is grabbed and badly bitten and Cinn Oir narrowly escapes the jaws the other wolf. As the next round begins, after another short exchange, the wolves back off as suddenly as they attacked. Cian, attempts to speak in Sylvan to the wolf which attacked him. Cian tries to apologize for trespassing on what must be the wolves' land. Then, to everyone’s amazement, the wolf answers back in a growled out form of common. "You will die in these woods." With that, the wolf disappears back into the woods. Liam fires a few parting shots from his sling, grazing one as it leaves and Bebe fires off a few parting obscenities.
Undaunted, the group decides to press on to the northwest, though they travel with extreme caution. They assume a tightly knit formation with party members keeping an eye out on all sides. After another hour of travel and occasional wolf sightings to their left, right and rear, they spot some wolves up ahead. A small group of three that aren’t padding stealthily through the woods. They are sitting side by side directly in the adventurers path. Tired of the games, Bebe leaves the group and approaches the wolf in the middle which appears to be the leader and also the same one Cian spoke with. A battle of heinous charisma takes place as Bebe demands to know what they want. The lead wolf simply responds "your blood".
At this point, Cinn Oir and the rest of the party has approached and Cinn Oir tries her own brand of true animal empathy (minus the sarcasm) to sway the wolf’s view. The wolf simply ignores her. Unimpressed, Bebe reaches out to the wolf, in what appears to be an attempt to pet it. The wolf, sneers and lets her stroke its fur as she says "Nice doggie". Then, as much as a wolf can, it smiles a big toothy grin, and promises Bebe that he will make her death quick. With that, the wolf and its companions begin to back away from the party. As the wolves depart, the lead wolf leans back and howls into the night. The woods around them answer back, full of howls. Bebe too throws back her head in a howl and slowly follows the lead wolf. The wolf allows her to follow for awhile, continually motioning her to come along and then disappears into the woods. When the party catches up, they decide to make camp.
The night is disturbingly quiet save for the howls of wolves. During Cian’s watch he sends up his hawk to scout. The hawk doesn’t appear to see anymore wolves but it does however communicate something to the effect of "small fire" to the north. When the party wakes, they decide to follow the wolves to the north. The trek is not far from their original planned route. By mid-morning, the forest has gotten so thick that they have no more light than on a moonless night. Not long after, just through the darkness, they spot what seems to be a clearing ahead. The party approaches warily and wisely, instead of entering, decides to check the perimeter first.
Just as they begin to circle to the east, they spot three wolves ahead in the darkness. Stopping to regroup for an attack, they notice a light suddenly appear behind a tree on the far side of the clearing. It almost resembles torchlight and is presumably something similar to what Cian’s hawk saw the previous night. At the same time, the large wolf which spoke to them earlier walks into the clearing and invites them in. Bebe verbally refuses the offer with some choice words then asks what’s so special about the clearing in the first place. The wolf responds simply that "it is a place where four humans will die." During the conversation, Liam has been quietly preparing a spell, Doom. He casts and the wolf suddenly seems to lose its appetite for destruction. Tail slightly lowered, with a suddenly nervous look on his face, the wolf begins to back off from the party.
Even as the spell is cast, Bebe rushes into the clearing, though her target isn’t the wolf. She breaks into a dead run for the tree which conceals the light on the far side of the clearing. When she reaches the tree she takes a quick peek around its trunk. Before her is a globe of light floating in midair. Unsure what to do, she turns her attention back toward the wolf in the clearing which is still backing away from the party. Not long after, Cian joins Bebe near the tree and continues on around its trunk to stand in close proximity to the floating globe. Liam and Cinn Oir wait on the edge of clearing, watching closely.
As the wolf tries to leave the clearing, the strange globe of light zooms into the clearing. With a static "pop" it zaps the wolf with a jolt of energy. Wildly, the wolf looks around—alternating nervously from the globe to the party. Meekly, it barks a few orders and the woods around the clearing come alive. Ten more wolves begin to stealthily close in, but with a great deal of hesitation. Bebe, seeing an opportunity to maybe deprive the pack of its leader, moves in to engage it in single combat. Meanwhile, Cian engages the globe of light and Cinn Oir rushes forward to assist him. Liam enters the clearing last after Blessing the party.
Cinn Oir and Cian flail at the globe of light which flies with amazing agility as Liam and Bebe engage the now reluctant leader of the wolf pack. As Bebe strikes the wolf with her axe, the globe pulsates. Cian, sensing something amiss, stops swinging at the light and Cinn Oir follows suit. Meanwhile, Bebe and Liam continue to fight the pack leader. With each successful strike, Bebe makes sure to turn and scream at the half circle of wolves behind the party. Each time she does, they seem even more confused and less sure of aiding their leader. Soon, the wolf falls dead. As its body hits the ground with Bebe’s axe in its skull, the globe of light pulses again. Turning on the rest of the pack, Bebe orders them to back off and they slink into the night. With the lead wolf dead, the globe of light winks out. Still puzzled by the strange events, the party stays long enough to skin the wolf and head off further north to find a suitable camping spot.
Cinn Oir finds a decent spot which has a natural wall of enormous above-ground roots sheltering one side. However, a restful night is a bit too much too ask. Not long after camp has been made, just as Cian settles into the first watch, he hears something tearing through the woods toward them. The noise is accompanied by a suspiciously familiar flash of light. Within moments, a large wolf, slightly singed, has burst into the clearing. Cian steps in its path and casts a Sleep spell which has no effect. The obviously frightened wolf flattens Cian and tears through the camp. As it reaches the farthest end of the party’s camp, the odd globe of light appears in its path and gives chase. With blinding speed it circles the wolf, forcing it back toward the party’s camp.
Bebe, walks to the edge of the camp, still perplexed by what she sees. As she does, the globe of light herds the wolf in her direction. Cinn Oir, the druid, is appalled by the wolfs treatment. She walks forward and reaches out to calm the animal as Bebe moves to place herself between the wolf and the globe of light. Cian joins them and together they surround the wolf, fending off the globe of light which buzzes angrily around them. The globe viscously zips between Cian and Bebe and zaps the wolf which yelps in pain. Cian, struck by an interesting idea, grabs a bag off his belt and lunges at the floating globe of light. With uncanny grace, Cian snags the globe in the bag and pulls it shut. Instantly the bag begins to violently jerk around and Cian wrestles to keep hold of it. Cinn Oir leaps forward and grabs the drawstrings, looking for a nearby root to tie them to while Bebe begins bashing the bag with her shield. Just as they have the bag tied down it begins to smoke and electrical "pops" can be heard from within the bag. Emptying another bag, Cian wraps it around the second as Bebe continues to pound at it with her shield. As the second bag begins to smoke, Liam douses it with a Create Water though there is no effect. Within moments, the bag burns open and the flying globe bursts free and disappears. The party notices that the wolf too has fled.
The rest of the night in camp is quiet and the party gets some well deserved rest. Early the next morning however, their respite is interrupted. Not far in the distance, they see what looks to be the same globe of light, flitting among the trees. It closes on the camp and blinks rapidly, zooming toward them and away, as though motioning to follow. Despite their reservations, and hoping to find out more about its behavior, they follow the creature which takes up a due north route. They travel for sometime and notice the surrounding terrain becoming increasingly rockier with a slight upward grade. Cinn Oir also notes that despite the rockier terrain, the enormous trees still loom above them, apparently rooted well into the topsoil and anchored on stone.
As they bound down a small rise, they notice the flying globe zip ahead, disappearing into a cave opening in the side of a nearby hill. Shortly after it disappears, an electric flash lights up the cave, accompanied by a ferocious roar. Cinn Oir is unable to distinguish what roar is from but it has the sound of a bear with the lingering resonance of….an owl. The glowing globe comes flying out of the cave and disappears as it hits the tree line. Close on its heels is a bizarre mixture of owl and bear, its feathered tail smoking. The ferocious beast looks around the woods, throwing back its head and taking in a deep breath through its nostrils. With a wild and berserk look in its eye, it charges the party with a feral howl.
Bebe draws her axe and rushes to place herself between the creature and the party. Cinn Oir steps forward behind Bebe and Liam and Cian move to take up rear flanking positions. In a flurry of talons and beak, the beast savagely attacks Bebe, but not before Cian is able to step in and protect her with Mage Armor. Only one claw strikes home and Bebe’s axe follows suit. A pitched battle ensues as Bebe and the beast trade blows and spells fly from the rear of the party. Cinn Oir’s Flare is resisted as is Cian’s Daze. Sticking with what has proven effective, Liam fires off a Doom spell which the animal does not resist. It suddenly appears to lose confidence but sticks with the attack on Bebe. Sensing the animal’s fragile condition, Cinn Oir calls for Bebe to hold her attack and steps forward to cast Calm Animal. The creature’s demeanor instantly changes and it steps back from the party, its talons at its side. Taking the opportunity, the party leaves.
After making sure they aren’t pursued by the strange creature and keeping an eye out for the annoying globe of light, the party tries to regain its bearings. They head off in a northwesterly direction again, picking up their search for Ceridwen and still hoping to find Ciara and Dierdre. By nightfall, they have made little progress. The woods are pitch black now and the terrain more mountainous. They begin to set up camp and discuss their options. Liam is nearly ready to just head back to the boat unless they can find some more specific clues regarding Ceridwen’s "home". The rest of the party is also weary of travel and concerned about whether they will ever find her. Some aren’t sure they want to.
Their
discussion is interrupted by a sudden eruption of sound to their west. The sounds of a large camp
meet their ears.
Fires roaring, drunken singing and merriment as if they had been
there all the while. Confused the party looks and sees nothing and Bebe notes that not even a firelight can be seen. The party goes
to investigate. As they walk toward the noise, it slowly
increases until they can swear they are standing exactly in the
middle of it. They hear voices and small snippets of conversation
accompanied by raucous laughter and head ringing pipes and drums.
They look around closely and find no clue as to its source. Cian
speculates it is possibly and auditory illusion…though it
seems too real. Cinn Oir suggests perhaps an extra-planar source
and Cian verifies the possibility with his spellcraft. They begin
to examine the area more closely and Bebe, bored by the lack of
progress, heads back to their own camp. Through careful examination, Cinn Oir discovers a three foot standing stone partially hidden among the enormous tree roots and slightly rocky terrain. Seeing what looks like an inscription, she and Cian begin to clear the stone. As they do, the voices around them take up a unified song. Cinn Oir, familiar with a wide array of songs, especially those relating to the wilderness (through her skills in wilderness lore and as a wilderness guide) notes it to be an ancient hunting song. It is the song of the hunt of the Boar of Ben Bulben in which a great hero, Diarmuid, dies but with his dying breath dashes out the nearly indestructible boar’s brains with the hilt of his broken sword. The song is further augmented by the carvings that Cinn Oir can now make out on the stone. It is in ancient Ogham Script and says simply "Ben Bulben." Cinn Oir, nervous of the implications of a "hunt" returns to camp. Not long after she has left, the song ends and the invisible group lets out a mighty roar. Footfalls and the braying of hounds can be heard in all directions as they fan out from the site. Soon, they have all faded into the woods.
Cian, intrigued, decides to stay the night at the stone and Liam accompanies him. In the middle of the night, they are awakened by an interesting sight. A swan flies down from the treetops to land at their feet. As they watch, she transforms herself into a beautiful maiden. She curtsies and introduces herself as Fionnuala, daughter of Lir. Before Liam and Cian can respond in kind, she asks if they are by chance, kings from the north. They both answer no (to which the maiden seems disappointed, but remains cordial) and then introduce themselves. Cian, gives his name and when he fails to give a clan, the swan maiden presses him. He admits to not truly knowing who his ancestors are. Now it is the swan maiden who is intrigued, and a bit sympathetic. She invites Cian and Liam to meet her family. They agree and run off to get Cinn Oir and Bebe. Bebe, not happy about being woken up, agrees to go though seems put off about the idea of walking into more trouble. Cinn Oir also agrees to go and the party meets Fionnuala back at the stone.
They travel further into the woods to a small lake surrounded by oak trees. Fionnuala declares it to be her home, Lough Derravargah. Paddling to shore are three more swans, each of which transforms into a handsome young man. Fionnuala introduces Aed and a pair of twins, Conn and Fiacara. They talk at length and Fionnuala reveals that her and her brothers are held to this site by a curse and forced to spend most of their time as swans. She tells the group that she had asked about a King since it is only by marrying a King from the North that their curse can be lifted. She is unsure how long her and her brothers have been cursed but Cian, from their conversation (and his knowledge: arcane), guesses it to be many centuries.