Untitled - Curious Pastimes

lands from the Keltoi amongst others invaders. Each year these games are held around the festival
of Lughnasadh in honour of the sun god Lugh at the ancient and mystical Circles of Atholl. These
games are governed by ancient laws that would ensure that no matter any man or woman’s status
they could all enjoy the games equally no matter the game or task at hand.
When the factions arrived they found the area already set up and waiting for them with an
impressive arena, stalls and other competition areas ready for them. Also within the area near to
the Ritual Circle was a mysterious Faerie Glade which few dared to try to enter and even fewer
it transpired could actually enter as it seemed that certain offerings were needed to enter that
mysterious place. Those brave or foolhardy few who did enter and returned seemed quite confused
and spoke as if they had been away from their friends for months when in reality it had been but
a few hours, some returned seemingly enriched by their experiences but some seemed diminished
in skill somehow and yet others seemed just as they were before. Whatever they experienced or for
how long matters not really the fact remains that entering a Faerie Glade is not a matter of whim
but should be treated with caution by all!
Rumours also abounded of a strange gigantic creature called a Haggis causing trouble within
the area which also appeared almost impervious to any attempts to drive it away however it is
rumoured that it was driven away by of all things children! It seems that this world has no end to
the surprises that it harbours for all of us. There also seemed to be some type of power struggle
going on between two members of the MacDuff clan to decide who should rule the area but how
this ended I know not.
Whilst in Caledonia the strange box which allowed access to a seemingly different realm appeared
once again and so those who had vowed to attempt to discover it’s secrets once again dared to enter
it and once again did battle with it’s inhabitants but still could not find a way to stop them leaving
the box to complete their mysterious tasks within our world.
There were of course many games and contests of skill and lore, far too many to name here but one
of the final one’s and most keenly contested was the Faction Tug of War which was eventually won
by the Teutonians famous ‘Teutonia Ton’ team. It is rumoured that heavy bets were wagered on the
final of this contest with much of those placed on the Lions team that had advanced to the final
with some ease, when they lost it is rumoured that King Lucas of Albion was not best pleased along
with some other notables who it has to be assumed had also wagered on a Lions victory! Despite
such niggles all agreed that the FirCruthen had been excellent hosts who had truly lived up to their
reputation in this area and that the Highland Games had been an excellently organised event and
one which would live long in the memory.
So it was in good cheer and refreshed by their time in Caledonia that the war hosts set sail for
Norsca and the fields of Odinsheim to celebrate the festival of Renewal and to also hopefully bring
an end to the uncertainty in that land brought about by Jarl Jarfin’s revolt for he had again surfaced
in Norsca and was even now gathering the support of other disaffected nobles and peasants alike to
try once again to gain control of that fair land. Who would rule in Norsca Bothvar or Jarfin, only
time and probably blood would tell!
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