Day 5 of Midwinter, Midday
In the Wild, Emain Ablach
Annwn
The council of my friends said their goodbyes that morning. Most of us, at least. Fíadan had disappeared immediately after the last meeting. I’m not going to lie, I was a little upset that she hadn’t bothered to say goodbye.
Ruadan and I set off to what I guessed was the northeast, if cardinal directions were a thing here. Morias had decided to stay in Gorias to help watch over things while Brigid was away. His only words of advice to me were, “Don’t ride any white horses near the coast.” It seemed strangely specific, but it seemed important to him, so I agreed that I would beware any such beasts of burden near the water.
The last thing that Brigid had said to the group before each of us departed was to keep the knowledge of Bres’ death a secret even from our most trusted friends and allies. Apparently the notion that the Tuatha could die would be a very dangerous thing for the makeup of society in Annwn, particularly in light of the recent declaration of war on the Slaugh.
“Makes sense now,” Roo said as we trudged through the hills and grasslands of the plains east of Gorias. “Why the Fae in Unseelie were less than thrilled to see us.”
I walked beside or sometimes behind Ruadan as he led us away from the road that connected Findrias and Gorias. We walked away from civilization and into the wild, just as Strider had done with the hobbits. I had begun thinking of this trip as my own personal trip to Weathertop. The thought of who my Ringwraiths would be terrified me. We had already fought off a band of highwaymen, which we had quickly dispatched. Roo reminded me not to get too confident, though, as we hadn’t yet battled anything with offensive magical abilities. For the moment I just enjoyed the dulcet sounds of The Dagda in my head.
Name: Bren Búachaill
Race: Undetermined
Current Power Rank - Level 5
Current Progression Status:
Physical Progression +4
(currently bound by Power Rank Level)
Mental Progression +3
(currently bound by Power Rank Level)
Spiritual Progression +4
(currently bound by Power Rank Level)
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You have been gifted with the following boon:
Control Energy
Four magic items are in your possession.
You have acquired:
The Rings of Identification
Urias’ Meshmail of Adaptation
The Dagger of Transmogrification
Fernawen’s Shell of Promise
One relic is in your possession.
You have acquired:
The Stone of Destiny
Relic abilities unlocked:
Shrink/Enlarge- Stones of Destiny
Return to Sender- Stones of Destiny
Telekinesis- Stones of Destiny
When the Power Rank rank notification ended, I realized I had fallen behind Ruadan. I ran to catch up to him as we reached the top of a small hill.
“Question for you.” I panted, trying to catch my breath.
“Is this another existential Otherworld question?” He took a sip from his canteen. The liquid had a sweet smell.
“I guess. I don’t understand domains and the difference between the Tuatha and changelings.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like a question.”
“Fine…” I sighed. “How can I tell who is a changeling and who is a member of the Tuatha?”
“Use your Rings.”
“No, I mean…” I paused, thinking about how I should phrase the question so that Roo would actually answer it. “How does it work? Originally, I thought that all of the descendants of Danu would be considered part of the Tuatha, and all would have magical domains.”
“You aren’t far off. But it gets a little complicated at times. All direct sons and daughters of the Goddess of Life received control over a magical domain of nature. Grandfather’s is Magic. The High King’s is Hunting. Mother’s domain is Fire.”
“But that’s what I mean. Your mother is not in the first generation of Danu. How does she even have a domain? She’s very clearly considered part of the Tuatha.”
“You didn’t let me finish, Runt. All first generation offspring of the Goddess of Life received a domain, and are therefore immortal and part of the Tuatha. Those gods sprang out of the Heart-shaped Pool fully formed and with immense power. Only SOME offspring of that first generation were granted domains upon conception. Those like my mother and the children of Ernmas and Cian are Tuatha, and always have been Tuatha.”
“What about you?”
“I had to earn it.” He looked a bit irritated. “I was born a changeling, like Tadg. Once I achieved a certain Power Rank level up, I earned my domain and, therefore, a spot in the family.”
Something new occurred to me at that. “So, you spent some time in my world, then?”
“I did. Many years.”
“And now you are Tuatha?”
“Yes.”
“How often is a new member of the Tuatha born?” I asked him, thinking of what I’d been told about my own emergence from the Pool four years ago.
“There hasn’t been a new member of the Tuatha, born of the Pool, in a millennium. And I am the last to earn their evolution from changeling to Tuatha.” He wagged his finger teasingly. “So, I wouldn’t get your hopes up about your own ignoble existence.”
“No… I mean…I wasn’t thinking…”
“Yeah, okay, Runt.” He laughed. “I still like you even though you are of lowly birth. But who knows what you will evolve into once you reach your designated Power Rank?”
I was embarrassed that he had called me out on exactly what I had been thinking. I guess somewhere deep down, we all want to be special. Time to change the subject. “Remind me where we‘re going again.”
“They say it is the journey not the destination that is important.” He clearly loved drawing out the suspense. “That is not true in your case.”
“Are we there yet?” I asked and cracked a grin.
“We have arrived.” He gestured grandly with his right hand, motioning to an oddly colored body of water in the distance. “That is Lough Dearg.”
“It looks like a lake of blood.”
He nodded sagely. “That is what happens when a demon wyrm manifests.”
“Did you just say ‘demon wyrm’?” I hoped desperately I had misheard.
“Mother wanted me to get you more experience…This should be a good challenge.” He began walking down the backside of the hill toward the red-hued waters of Lough Dearg.
“How big are we talking?” I asked, scrambling behind him. “Like Loch Ness monster-sized or a little bitty worm?”
He smiled gleefully. “Today we will fight Caoránach the Oilliphéist in her lair. You best prepare yourself for this one. She doesn’t like uninvited guests.”