Into the Darkness Once More

Again we were forced to travel through a black gate and into the secret Underworld of the All-Mother, Lady Anu. A strange ‘clan’ had emerged, attacking without mercy across Caledonia from dark portals, blood seemingly weeping from their eyes and ears as they set about dragging sweet innocents to their deaths. An unknown tartan had ‘reappeared’ within the histories contained at Gartness, identifying them as the clan ‘McSeaga’.

One portal remained open, and the Lairds led a force of Caledonian heroes into the unknown. There was no scouting trip ahead of us this time, just darkness and uncertainty. But with faith and our hearts true, we entered. This time none remained behind, as all were pulled through the gate. However, our Queens were not present – for none wanted them to loose their links again.

We arrived scattered across a small island in a wide, black, void-like lake of emptiness and nothing. However, an eerie tavern at its centre drew us together like moths to the flame – a beacon of home, of hope, in a world of desolation and despair. Yet, though they could not be with us, yet we could this time still feel the strength and love of the Queens amongst us and with us. And this gave us hope.

It was not long before we began to discover our task. We were soon confronted by the Clan McSeaga and their leader, the aptly named Bile. We had been brought to the realm of pain, Caer Nennius, another punishment realm for the fallen of Caledonia – one for those who had done unspeakable evil and been banished for eternity by Anu in her wisdom. Here they were supposed to remain, but they had rebelled and found a way to weaken, almost banish their overseers, and fought for their escape.

Our initial confrontation opened with words as we sought to discover all we could, but soon came to blows when our heroic champion heard their leader insult and abuse our Lady. Bile was a fearful and terrible foe and many of his minions displayed fell powers, yet we crushed their initial assault… only to find that, like the Strathbraan hunters, they would soon reform when slain – for never could they truly ‘die’ and leave this realm.

We were plagued constantly by strange – presumably magical – effects and injuries, and the bleak horror of the realm proved dangerously effective, weakening resolve and causing tensions. Yet we remained focused and true, and I was witness to much Caledonian heroism as we fought enemies both seen and unseen. It was not long after we dispatched the McSeagas and made the bar our own that some of our number, ritualists it seemed, found ourselves presented with messages and thoughts to aid our plight – although the relaying of the information left a telling mark.

I myself was found a number of times badly wounded, or with my pattern unravelling, following such a vision. We later discovered their source, as we discovered the true foes of the McSeagas. Obum, forgotten daughter of Anu, was placed by her mother to watch over this realm – a ray of hope and island of beauty in this terrible place, the eternal listener to those that would repent their wrongs. As memory of and faith in her faded, and the McSeagas worked their evil, her strength dwindled and she was forced from power; her only companion, Grogan the Dwarf, lay locked within his forge within the heart of his tavern – his and not the McSeagas, as they claimed.

There were 5 elemental islands adrift in the bleak darkness, a map showed us, torn from their alignment by the McSeaga’s plots. They had bound the elementals there to captivity or their will, using the disharmony to escape to our Caledonia. We found many documents and scrolls which – when translated by the Druids and their volunteers – revealed how we could realign these places, aid those trapped within, to aid Obum and also free Grogan from his prison.

First, the island of fire beckoned and a party heavily made up of mages forayed there – returning with the ‘eternal flame’ from the fiery Queen. Then water called, primarily to our healers, and they were able to bring back a chalice that greatly supplemented our sorely stretched healing. As each island was realigned, the McSeagas defeated and the elements set free, Obum’s power grew – and she became able to appear to us, to talk with us without harm – even apologising for the pain her earlier messages had caused.

Next, the incantor’s were called forth to the island of metal, and – amongst others – I stepped through the gateway the Lady Obum held open for us. There we found an island of gleaming and smooth metal, spikes and holes jutting and dropping across its shiny surface. We located groups of McSeagas holding beautiful and shining metallic figures hostage and so we engaged, freeing various metal elements from their necromantic prisons. Once the 5 ‘brothers’ were united, a large and powerful metallic figure marched with us to do battle with the foe.

Alas I was knocked unconscious during this last battle, Mithril breaking once more into his 5 parts to engage the enemy as we exited through the gateway and returned home. But we were triumphant and carried back with us a mighty hammer. From wood we retrieved the ‘heartwood’ and, last was earth.

However, the tavern – or Watchtower as Grogan called it – was not quiet whilst these groups went out. The McSeagas sent in agents to waylay and mislead us, sowing dissent and misinformation, whilst others continually assailed the tavern’s defenders. When Grogan was released, his mighty presence was added against these hated foes, as powers both magical, necromantic and physical were unleashed.

Two clansmen, fighting heroically to the last, did not return with us to Caledonia - falling against the terrible foe: Charles MacFinn and Fulcrum MacGregor – both fine warriors and men. It was an honour to fight alongside them, an honour that strangely continued as their patterns fought on after their bodies had died, even though their fate was yet unknown. At the last, triumphant moment, Lady Obum was able to offer them release to rejoin their own ancestors or to remain with her, and aid her, as they wished.

We were able to send a far larger force to earth, lesser numbers defending against the receding McSeaga threat as they desperately tried to stop the last realignment. There, elementals had been bound into service by magical collars which had to be removed or taken to save fighting two foes. Creatures that could turn living to stone with a glare, or spread corruption, disease and decay were amongst the horrors awaiting our brave forces.

And yet they again returned triumphant, with a final fifth elemental gift. These five items Grogan combined within his mystic forge, creating an item to restore Obum’s full power and glory. Whilst he laboured, we had to face the McSeaga’s full – and respawning – fury, as they poured from a newly opened portal.

Again, with many fine displays of Caledonian heroism, we held them off until – at the last – the item was done. And all the McSeagas fell to their knees as Obum revealed herself in full and imposed her will upon them, all save Bile who fled, screaming like a terrified child, into the darkness.

So raise a drink to the memory of the fallen heroes, Charles and Fulcrum. And remember also Anu’s daughter, Obum the listener, the last ray of light and burning hope, who holds in the dark; and remember also her eternal companion, Grogan the Dwarf, a gracious host and masterful smith.

Now the McAylwyn brewery is complete, we intend to brew a whiskey which we shall name ‘Obum’s whiskey’ – for the warmth and hope it brings on a dark, cold night – so that her memory may long live on.

 

All Works are © Original Author

(OC Author - Paul Martin)