The Defense of Cathal's Keep

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Tuesday, 6 April 3098 – Cathal's Keep near Wicklow

Morning

I wake up with the sun and join Dan, one of Cathal's squires, up in the crows nest where he's keeping watch.

"Aeyden left early." Dan says without elaborating.

He seemed eager to join our group. "Have you any idea if he's coming back; should we wait to leave for him?"

"I wouldn't." Dan replies. "He's been anxious to leave for some time. He headed out West--he figured you would be continuing West."

Cathal later confirmed this and informed us that Aeyden left with his blessing.

"A band approaches!" we hear Dan call. We're all up and enjoying breakfast. Tom already has a pint of ale.

It turns out to be an old friend of Cathal's from the war against the Dark Elves. It is Bran Corin; his twin sons, Dan and Bran; and a rather imposing bodyguard, Cormac. They inform us that Athy is burning. Athy is a major city to the West. This is dire news indeed. I invite them to breakfast with us, and Bran tells a tale that Cathal, it seems, would have preferred Cathal'd kept quite.

THE BATTLE AGAINST THE DARK ELVES OVER THE WYRD STONES:

Gaelen Lóegaire (a warrior/sage), Bran Corin, Cathal, and Gar the Mighty fought against the Dark Elves near Sereg over a wyrd stone that had recently fallen from heaven. The Dark Elves had enslaved some Dwarves to dig the Wyrd stone out of the crater its impact had caused. Cathal got to the wyrd stone first and attempted to smash it to bits with his war hammer. He did manage to break it into about 11 main pieces (each about 6" across), and in the process rain lighting and destruction upon both sides of the battle. Few survived the battle. When the smoke cleared, Gaelen suggested that the pieces of the stone be scattered to prevent the Dark Elves from ever wielding it's total power. Gealen took a piece, Mug (father of Baron of Wicklow) took a piece, and a 3rd unnamed human took a piece. Bran wanted to take a piece, but found a stone too great a burden to bare. The wereabove of the remain 8 pieces are unknown. In addition to the 11 main pieces, there are numerous shards, on of which lodged itself in the head of Cathal when he smashed the wyrd stone some 25 years ago.

Since then, Gaelen gave his piece to Cathal and has apparently taken up residence in an old family castle near Sereg.

"A band approaches!" we hear Dan call again. This time it's no friend, but foes: a band of beastmen, scores of them, marching from the West. A band of about a dozen break off and head toward our keep.

THE DEFENSE OF CAHTAL'S KEEP:

Cathal seems confident his keep can withstand their seige engines, so we decide to wait and see against Cormac's protests. It turns out, Cormac was right. A while later, more beastmen arrive, in mail armor. There is also a cloaked figure among them.

I'm convinced the cloaked figure is a dark elf and that various beastmen bands are able to communicate with each other over long distances. Since it appears the beastmen under the leadership of this dark elf might actually be smart enough to wait for a tactical advantage to attack, we decide to go out and meet them in battle. It seems waiting will only serve to allow them time to call more reinforcements.

Tom, Bran (senior), and Cormac hold shields in front of Tristin, Tree Climber, and I as we march towards the beastmen, who are currently laying about or working on the siege engines. We launch arrows once we're in range. Tom breaks ranks and charges, forcing me and the others to follow suit, except Tree Climber who is much more effective with his bow.

We overcome the beastmen, and Tree Climber manages to pursue and overcome the fleeing dark elf. Do to the dangerous and mysterious nature of Dark Elves, I decided not to take changes; I executed him on the spot. His death was quick.

See Also

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