1217 1218 1219 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227

Winter 1222

Carolus of Criamon approaches Marcus with a curious book on The Irish Mercury. He offers to lend the book, copying permitted, in exchange for another season of reading at Elk’s Run.

Summer 1222

Cast Una, Marcus, Richard, Rufus (Dasvant), other mercenaries.

The Irish Mercury tells about a little known mystery cult worshipping Lugh-Leih, an Irish/Celtic analogue of Mercury. The Cult descends from some of the most ancient invading peopls of Ireland, and count their legacy back to Greek cults of Hermes. The book is written by a Lorcan of Bonisagus who appears to have found a path equivalent to the Cult of Mercury.

Marcus and Una decide to travel to the cult’s site of worship in Ulster. The journey is uneventful until they cross the border to Ulster and leave the main road, to take a less known path through the forest. They are attacked by crows, and slay about 30 of them before the rest flee. The crows contain vis, and Marcus and Una distill it into 19 feathers each containing 1p Animàl vis.

Soon after the encounter with the crows, they arrive at the last farm, described as such in the book, where Liam and his wife Orla live. They are invited to stay the night even with intimate, and unsolicited company in their beds. They learn that Liam is member of the cult, but given that they are wizards, they are referred to Lorcan. Liam appears to be unusually wealthy for a peasant in a remote farm.

The next day they proceed uphill to where they understand the ancient stone circle is. It is overcast, with black looming clouds, and most of the party feel moody and depressed as they walk the muddy paths.

Just before they reach the stone circle, there is a well where they meet an old woman, who accuses them of sinful behaviour during the night. She calls herself Bordelia.

Entering the stone circle, they see goats lurking in the high grass outside the circle, watching them.

At the far end of the circle they find the entrance to the underground temple. The entrace is between two huge slabs of natural stone, with a third one resting on top. Going downstairs, they meet the helbardiers, who let them pass into a larger chamber with 13 statues. The caves are lit by a faint, amber, glowing light. Marcus botches his attempt to improve the lighting and goes into twilight. The helbardiers are alerted by the boom, and come after them to evict them. While they are fighting, Lorcan appears suddenly behind the party.

Three exits lead from that room. They later learn that one leads to Lorcan’s great library and one to Lugh-Leih’s temple. The third they are not allowed to explore.