Episode 25: Part 1

Laura Gremory groaned softly and slowly began to crack open her bleary eyes. It was a strange feeling of disorientation as she tried to remember what had happened. She vaguely recalled standing near the campfire in the bogs before an odd mist rolled in and she collapsed to the ground... only she was no longer laying on the cold damp ground. As her vision began to clear, she found herself lying on her back on a soft bedroll with a warm blanket over her. The sounds of a crackling fire were heard nearby and she could smell the burning embers while the light and heat warmed her face. The Winter Knight tilted her head slightly to each side only to see the sleeping forms of Quinton and Noelle beside her. Even more strange, she wasn't outside anymore. Above her head was a wooden roof of some kind of log cabin. What was going on here?

Laura grunted softly and tried to sit up only to see Kristen walk over carrying a wooden bowl in her hands. Her Druid mentor put a gentle hand on her shoulder and steadied her while speaking quietly and soothingly, "Hey... easy does it Laura. Not so fast. You might get a little bit of a headrush still."

"Kristen? I... I don't understand. What's going on? Where are we?"

Kristen knelt down and handed her a warm bowl of what smelled like soup. It was a bit simple and looked to have some rice, chicken, and onion in it, "We've been taken into a small settlement of the Fir Bolgs, a old tribe of human hunters who live here in the marshlands."

Laura sat and blankly stared at the soup in front of her, "I still don't get it... what about that fog? Are the other knights okay?"

"Your friends will be fine. They will eventually wake up from the Unohda, a powerful enchantment used to protect our lands," said an elderly woman who shuffled into the cabin. She had long gray hair that was a bit wild and messy but she had a kind weathered face and spoke with a gentle smile. She wore dark patterned robes reflecting some of the colors of autumn with orange and brown stripes. In a way, the cut of the robes were a bit like Kristen's green Druid robes but they were much more worn and faded. "They've had a long journey. Best we let the young ones sleep a little longer, don't you think?"

Kristen nodded and tilted her head slightly toward the woman, "Laura, this is Helena. She is one of the village elders and she's going to help us. We're going to be safe here."

The Winter Knight nodded again and handed her bowl of soup back, "If it's okay with you, I think I need to lie down a little longer. My head is still a little muddled right now."

"We'll talk more with everyone in the morning," Kristen nodded as Laura put her head back and drifted off to sleep beside her fellow knights.

The next day, the knights awoke in surprise upon finding themselves in a wooden cabin with their clothes dried and folded. While the comforting glow from the fireplace provided warmth and light, they could see the skies outside were overcast and that they were in some sort of marshland settlement. Every so often fellow humans in savage looking animal skin clothes or shabby robes would go by. Many carried primitive hunting implements and looked to be on the wild unkempt side. After being calmed by Kristen, the five friends sat up in their bedrolls listening as the village elder named Helena joined them and addressed the newcomers.

"I know you may have many questions, but know that you are safe among friends here. These swamps are a dangerous place and the Fir Bolg people of Blackmoor will not deny aid to our fellow Tuathan humans... or to the respected Druids of the Juniper Order."

Kristen gave a small nod of the head, "Thank you for your kindness Helena. We are truly grateful."

"I'm sorry," Connor said rubbing his eyes, "I'm just a little confused still. Who are the Fir Bolg and what exactly are we doing here?"

Helena sat back in her wooden chair, "The Fir Bolg were once a great tribe of hunters who had carved out a small base of power here in the Faerie Realm. However, the master of Autumn, the Erlking did not take kindly to us competing with the power of his own Huntsmen. Long ago, the Elves of Autumn made war against us and scattered our people to the winds. The strongest and hardiest of our tribes came to settle here in Blackmoor where we scratch out a meager existence now. We keep to ourselves and the Elves of Autumn are content to leave us alone in return."

"I'm so sorry Helena. That sounds awful," Noelle said apologetically.

"There is nothing to be sorry for child. That is simply the way of things. Nature dictates the strong will always survive and impose its will over the weak."

Laura nodded, "I can see where the philosophy of the Winter Court ties in here. Autumn was once a vassal state to Winter after all."

Helena shrugged before Laura continued, "What was that strange fog that knocked us out last night?"

Helena gave a rueful smile and folded her hands, "Ah, you must be referring to the Unohda. That is a little bit of spellcraft we picked up from the fey in order to protect us. The magic fog is quite harmless but tends to cause forgetfulness and exhaustion on living things that enter it."

Stephen nodded solemnly for a moment, "The way you're described everything, it sounds like living here has been a bit of a challenge. Between those dark brambles and natural hazards, it's a bit of a miracle you guys built a village in this place."

Helena rose from her seat and led them out of the warm cabin into the open air. "We are survivors young knight… we always have been. For you and your companions to make it this far... that says something about your will to live as well. Now it is my turn to ask. What are all of you doing out here in the badlands?"

The knights passed a shabby blacksmith's hut and looked around at the small swamp village. The Fir Bolg had indeed shown themselves to be ingenious and adaptable as many of their huts and walkways were built upon raised wooden platforms over the bogs. Other small lodges and shops had been constructed on firmer marshy banks but even they looked a bit crude and dilapidated. Several campfires burned nearby while some village women cooked food and hunters boiled strips of leather with the tanners.

"We came here looking for a treasure," Stephen answered as they walked through the village, "We had heard rumors of an enchanted tree in Blackmoor that bears extraordinary fruit."

Helena gave the knights a surprised look before frowning quietly, "If that is why you're here, then I'd caution you to turn back and preserve your lives. Few who have ever gone to retrieve the fruit from the Gallow Tree return to tell the tale. They say a terrible monster by the name of Hexus guards the treasure and slays anyone who dares to challenge it."

The young people gulped nervously while Kristen tried to maintain a straight face, "Can you still point us in the direction of the tree? It's important that we try because the fate of our own realm might depend on it later."

Helena grimaced, "I respect your order and your rank Master Bloom, but I cannot in good conscience show the way. I will not let more young people needlessly throw their lives away for some fleeting thrill or vain grab at glory."

"Maybe we'd stand a better chance," Noelle chimed in as she pointed to the Celtic ring on her finger, "We have powerful armor and weapons behind us."

Helena regarded her carefully, "Yes, it is a bit odd that a band of young humans would be wielding powerful faerie arms unless the situation was truly dire."

Connor clenched a determined fist, "Our own home town is under constant attack from the forces of Lord Balor and his Fomorian monsters. We're looking for a way to stop him and to bring peace to the quarrels of the Four Courts. Part of doing that lies in our finding that treasure."

Laura nodded and added to his point, "If you can help us in our mission, it will help to protect you too. Lord Balor means to invade the Faerie Realm and we intend to stop him from harming everyone… including the people here too."

Helena eyed the Winter Knight solemnly for a long moment, "The five of you have a lot of courage. I can sense that, but I'm still not certain if you're truly ready. Many a brave and brash warrior has gone out to challenge Hexus and has never returned. I am sorry. You may stay here and make camp, but I will not allow you to travel that pathway to the Gallow Tree. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few other matters to attend to in town."

The village elder excused herself, leaving the six travelers standing glumly in the center of the small swampy settlement. Quinton gave a sigh and looked up to the overcast skies before shivering from a cool breeze that began to blow, "Well… what now? Do we risk going back out there in the wild and chase our tails with the witchlights, or do we try something else?"

Kristen grimaced and tapped her staff on the ground in thought before walking back to their lodging, "Come on. If we're going to debate our next move, we might as well do it inside over a warm fire and some breakfast."

Meanwhile, a fair distance away, the Fomorian redcap Seamus waited as his scouts made their way back from the edges of the Fir Bolg settlement. He glanced back over into the marshy grounds behind him to see the rest of his company of spriggan troops biding their time. Despite being used to cruel and harsh conditions, the dark fey foot soldiers were tired, hungry and irritable. Seamus hoped that he could channel their aggression and ill feelings on a target soon before he'd have to start disciplining his own troops.

As he contemplated his next moves while watching the distant fires of the settlement, some reeds parted and two spriggan scouts emerged and bowed before him. They spoke in their harsh chattering tongue and stepped back while Seamus nodded in understanding. "I see… so the knights are there. No doubt they'll be enjoying the feeling of safety among their fellow humans and letting their guards down for now."

One of the spriggans chattered curiously and Seamus grinned again, "Simple. I intend to attack that settlement and burn it to the ground. We'll catch the knights by surprise and cause a little mayhem. Do you hear that men? We're going to move! There's a human village down there with plenty of loot that's ripe for the taking. Are you with me?"

The other spriggan soldiers turned and drew their weapons giving an excited chorus of growls and cheers. The redcap smiled and turned back toward the Fir Bolg village, "Those primitive Tuathans won't know what hit them."

"I can't believe this," Stephen huffed in mild frustration as he and his friends sat eating some of the dry rations that they had brought along for their trip, "Helena doesn't think we're worthy enough? Hell, we came this far already! What does she expect us to do? Slay a horrible monster first or something?"

He was interrupted as a loud commotion was heard from outside. The smell of burning wood began filling the air as people began to scream and the sounds of weapons and armor began to ring out loudly. As Kristen and the knights rushed out of their shelter, they were met by a horrible sight. Villagers fled in panic as the Fomorian troops marched into the settlement setting buildings to the torch and raiding Fir Bolg homes. While some spriggans emerged carrying valuables and supplies pilfered from the houses, others burst in with weapons trying to kill any and all who resisted them. The knights could only watch in horror as Seamus led the violent marauding party in their cruel assault, doing exactly what the Elves of Autumn had once done to these people here.

"I think we're about to get our chance," Quinton muttered darkly as he pointed to a small group of Fir Bolg hunters and warriors rushing out to confront the villains. A small hail of arrows from Fir Bolg huntsmen flew at the invaders and struck down several of the spriggans but it was nowhere near enough to deter the attackers. The spriggans pushed on and began locking into hand to hand combat with several of the settlement's defenders. Amid the flames of some burning huts, Seamus marched forward gripping the elder Helena by the arm.

He roughly dragged the woman over and clamped down causing her to cry out in pain, "Look around you old woman. Do you really think you and your pitiful hunters can stand against the might of Lord Balor? Now tell me what I want to know. Where are those knights? Where are you hiding them?"

"Right here trollface," Connor shouted as he and the other knights stepped forward to challenge the Fomorian marauders, "Why don't you leave these people alone and run away while you still can."

Seamus laughed and pushed Helena aside to the ground while he stepped forward to address his foes, "Not until you tell me what you're doing all the way out here boy. No one goes this deep into the wastes of the Faerie Realm without a death wish."

"We're not here to waste our time dealing with you Seamus. Why don't you go back to your miserable cave where you belong," Laura called with a harsh edge in her voice.

The redcap took on his monstrous troll visage and picked up a large stave of wood from a ruined house to use as a club, "I think not."

"Well… we warned him," Stephen sighed as he slipped on his archer's bracer. The other knights raised their rings and called upon their shimmering faerie armor in a colorful flash of light, "Athru!"

The Fir Bolg people stopped and stared in shock while Helena gaped in awe from the ground as the five majestic warriors drew their weapons and formed up together, "Five swords, one heart! Hibernian Knights, to arms!"

As they parted their blades in the air, Seamus snarled and waved all his soldiers forward, "Attack! Kill them all!"

Connor and Laura led the counterattack, battering aside the center of the incoming spriggan formation. As they ignited their blades with searing flames and chilling ice, they slashed aside their enemies and cut through the enemy ranks, trying to drive the Fomorians back with their own momentum. At their flanks, Noelle and Quinton used their speed and skill to hold their ground and keep the spriggans from encircling their allies. The Autumn knight roundhouse kicked an enemy into some crates and parried aside another with her curved sword before mowing down a line of them with a whirling slash backed by her Autumn Wind element. Nearby, Quinton threw aside a foe with an arm throw before using his sickle to stop the blow from another enemy. Before the spriggan could move his spear, the Spring Knight used his other sword to skewer the soldier through the throat and vaporize him with a burst of Spring Thunder that carried through and stunned an entire rank of troops behind him.

Meanwhile, Stephen bounded up some crates and a wheelbarrow to reach the rooftops of one of the rickety wooden houses. A few spriggans tried to follow him to his to his perch, but the Silver Knight hammered them down with his bow causing one to fall into a trough of fertilizer. From his vantage point, Stephen quickly drew back and fired several arrows, sniping down other spriggan archers or ones that were threatening his comrades.

As Stephen cleared aside one more squad of Fomorian troops with a Silver Starburst shot, Connor and Laura burst through and made a direct charge against the redcap. Seamus growled and took a wide swing at the two knights but the Summer and Winter Knights slashed together and halted the attack with their own blades. They grunted and pushed back, holding Seamus in place just long enough for Quinton and Noelle to sweep in and attack with their own charged strikes. The troll pushed Laura and Connor aside to raise his club just in time to block the new attack. As The Spring and Autumn Knights struck together, their concentrated energy shattered the club and sent Seamus reeling backwards in a violent cloud of wood splinters.

The redcap staggered backwards off balance allowing Stephen a clear shot to hit him with a direct full powered arrow from the rooftop. A silver arrow streaked through the air and blasted the troll backwards into the deeper swamp waters at the edge of the village. As she watched the knights beat back the enemy, Helena stared on the ground before she felt Kristen hurry over and help her up, "Helena, are you okay? Let's get you out of here."

The Druid and elder got clear just as Seamus shook off the last attack and began to rise up in the muddy pond scum.

"You're going to pay for that knights! Now I'm really angry!"

Connor hurried forward and drove his blade into the swampy water, channeling his Summer Fire into it. Before Seamus could react, the intense fire and heat spread through the swampy pond causing it to boil and scald the redcap. Seamus screamed and tripped as both of his feet were burned and he fell back into the scalding waters.

The Silver Knight drew another arrow just in case before turning to Noelle, "Noelle? Would you care to do the honors?"

Noelle waved her sword about several times building up a swirling vortex of wind before setting it loose on her enemy. The whirling tornado swept forward into the pond and picked up the redcap. From the safety of the marshy banks, the five knights watched as the tornado continued to blow by and sweep away the Fomorian general off into the woods, all while he continued to thrash and scream in fury.

"Nice work Noelle," Laura smirked as she put a congratulatory arm over her female comrade.

By now, the last of the spriggan raiding parties had withdrawn and the Fir Bolg villagers came out to surround their new heroes. Some of the commoners began to applaud while other hunters raised their weapons and gave a tired cheer. One of the older men of the settlement came over and admired Quinton and Stephen's armor and weapons, "Incredible... human warriors from the mortal world who have command over faerie weapons and armor. How can this be?"

As the grateful crowds began to chatter and grow around the bewildered knights, a path parted and Helena approached flanked by Kristen and several of the village's best hunters. The elder tapped her cane on the ground and the people fell silent as she addressed the young knights, "Knights of Somerset Valley... our village owes you a debt for saving us. You have our thanks."

"It was no trouble," Noelle replied modestly, "You had helped us in the marshes after all. Returning the favor was only the right thing to do."

"Except you've done us a favor ten times over young one," Helena said, "You risked your own lives for us and have proven yourselves to be warriors of great power. That is why I'd like to speak with you in my lodge right now."

The knights exchanged a confused look with each other before she cleared her throat, "You had expressed a desire to journey to the heart of Blackmoor... to see the Gallow Tree."

Quiet murmurs of surprise and concern arose from the Fir Bolg villagers but they were silenced by Helena, "If you've shown this level of heroic selflessness and martial prowess, then I have some confidence that you may in fact succeed in your quest there. If it will help you defeat Balor, then doing our part to secure peace will be in our village's interest too. Come now children. We have much to discuss."