Into the Shadow of Strathbraan

Well, a number of us arrived at the rendezvous ready to enter Strathbraan. Laird Obidask led us into the shadow, whilst Laird Cedric opened the gateway past the barriers surrounding the forest lands – a barrier preventing us from entering. Inside the forest was dark, gnarled and threatening – a sinister shade of the forest we knew. Alas but once in, there appeared no way to return.

We set up a base camp from which to explore and gain our bearings, thinking to meet with the element of the 22nd Army that had ventured before us. Alas for those poor souls – it seems that time passed very differently in this realm in which we had found ourselves, and the 22nd had endured several years trapped in this dark place.

We met up with the shades of several victims from the 22nd, and perhaps even before, trapped in this cursed place – which we discovered to be the haven of unbelievers and those that had lost or broken faith. These spirits were hunted by black-clad ghosts, archers and dagger-boys roaming the night. However, if we left them alone they occasionally paid us the same respect.

We had a chest full of documents – the last legacy of the 22nd, provided by their leader, Donald McKeller – sad reading indeed which a group of us combed and ploughed for information whilst the remainder guarded our camp. We also discovered a strange and cryptic alphabet which the Druids, myself and others strove to decipher, to gain knowledge from the clues we discovered and won.

We were visited by Gwyn, an ancestor placed over the realm by Anu, we later discovered. He had gained control of Aventa, and through him the Anima, and thus sought to expand his realm into ours. However, Gwyn’s tricks were thwarted by Caledonian faith and valour, the All-Mother herself and the enlightened Dagda appearing as projections of themselves to hinder his evil and offer us guidance. Alas for Donald McKeller, who had been too long tainted by the realm, for his life they were unable to save.

During the first evening, we were attacked by Gwyn’s minions, led by a huge and terrible monster known only as ‘The Beast’: greater and more powerful than even the greatest of were-creatures that the legends tell of. The Anima too, I believe, attacked us that night with his minions, but our defenders were stalwart. Also, Aventa and his fey appeared, and managed to steal the Wrath of the Morrigan before he fled our defence: the one weapon he feared above all else. Morale was boosted greatly in this fight and the next, by a precious harp left to us by the Dagda – but alas the Hunters stole this also.

During the next day, Gwyn returned with his pet Gamesmaster to set us a series of challenges in order to win the pieces of the puzzle to entrap the Anima once more. His Fey colleague, the lovely Ajnin, walked amongst us – and indeed aided our efforts, defying her master as she wished to be free of his realm. Whilst the Gamesmaster set challenges and riddles for us to solve, one by one our number disappeared as Gwyn selected members to run the real challenges – Quests to be accomplished to win the pieces we needed to free ourselves of his realm.

6 pieces there were, and 6 adventures. Some were simple fights, in which our warriors showed their true grit; some were more taxing in other ways. Myself, and my group, were tasked to bring peace to two tribes that had warred for generations, and to bring magic back to a defiled circle. All 6 quests were completed successfully, whilst the remainder of our number defended our camp from renewed hostilities from Aventa’s minions and the Hunters, and entered the Gamesmaster’s games.

A clansman died also this day, a member of Clan McTotty, caught wandering without sufficient company. A Bear should never walk alone.

Gwyn also selected members to visit his ‘palace’, I suppose, to try and corrupt them into serving him – but Caledonian faith once more was too strong. A black mace kept appearing within our number, also testing people’s resolve as it tempted them with power and glory – but, again, we followed the examples of men of faith and prevailed.

That evening, Gwyn released the Anima to us, who we were finally able to send back to his box – denied his minions by his fickle master. We sought to perform a ritual in a circle we had unearthed, to break back into Aventa’s realm, to deal with this pest. We stood firm beside Laird Obidask as Aventa and his minions, as well as the fearsome Beast, sought to halt our efforts of escape. A mighty and terrible battle raged, but eventually we triumphed.

And Jander, with his grandfather’s spirit within him, was able to lead us toward where we might break through to Aventa’s shadowy court the next day. We faced more foes as we collected the cups needed to break through each magical barrier, before storming through to engage Aventa’s minions and eventually the jumped-up Fey himself. However, he was joined by Gwyn, who wanted the items returned – for we threatened to bring an end to his worldly expansion.

And so the second great battle for Strathbraan began, more terrible and deadly than the first, as a walking ancestor and Fey princeling subjected us to their powerful magics and their lackeys assailed us. Once more, Caledonia triumphed, the three Queens and the Laochs leading from the thick of the fray – despite having lost their links to the All-Mother, for she could not tread in this realm she had given another.

Alas once more for Raymond Quinnell was lost in this fight, to Aventa’s minions, and his and the other lost souls were trapped behind as we escaped back once more into Caledonia… and sadly too, Ajnin was unable to follow where we led – she had helped us greatly, and her healing power certainly saved my life that day. I’m sure we will all beseech Anu in our prayers for her release.

And then we were back; Laird Cedric’s surprise confusing to us, as he claims we had been gone but half an hour. And the hosts regained the spirits of our Queens, and Queen Blodwyn began at once to lay her hands on the many wounded.

Strathbraan is ours once more, under the All-Mother. Praise be to Anu, and to the Dagda. There is much healing to be done...

 

All Works are © Original Author

(OC Author - Paul Martin)