The Blood of Discord
An adventure for FIANNA
Two rival clans have been waging a blood feud for the last
three generations, and the cost in human life has been
steadily mounting. The Rí Tuatha (local tribal king) has
repeatedly tried to broker peace between the two clans,
but has so far had little success – every time a truce is
made hostilities ignite again at the first provocation, either
real or imagined. The Rí Tuatha has therefore appealed to
the Ard Rí (High King), who has sent his Fianna (our
heroes) to resolve the situation.
The Blood of Discord is first and foremost a "political"
adventure. The characters will have to display diplomacy
and wisdom, as each of the two clan leaders are as hateful
and intractable as the other – both are quick to violence
and neither is willing to listen to reason. Only a highly
skilled diplomat will be able to build the foundations for a
lasting future peace (or even a reconciliation, if he's really
lucky).
The Origin of the Conflict
The rivalry between the Sciath Dubh (Black Shield) clan
and the Trí Fuinseoige (Three Ash) clan dates back three
generations, to the time of the great-grandparents of the
current leaders. The origin of this tragedy is linked to the
custom of land debt (see the sidebar below).
Three generations ago a Sciath Dubh clansman became
obligated to the chief of the Trí Fuinseoige when he rented
land, serfs and a flock of sheep. According to the terms of
the contract between the two parties the obligee's brother,
a fili (professional poet) of great talent, was required to
attend the Trí Fuinseoige chief whenever his presence was
required, to sing the praises of both the chief and his
exalted ancestors. The head of the Sciath Dubh (who was
also the cousin of both the obligee and the poet) took
offense at this situation, and soon tensions arose between
the chiefs of the two clans.
In the spirit of good will the poet tried to calm things
down by dividing his time between the two clan leaders,
but this solution only intensified the problem. Each of the
two chefs constantly sought more praise and poetry to his
glory than the other, causing a deep rivalry to develop
between the two men.
As the situation began to intensify the Rí Tuatha started
to worry about the discord that was being sown in his
kingdom. Then the unforgivable happened: one morning
the poet was found dead, pierced by a javelin on lands
belonging to the Trí Fuinseoige.
This was more than just a simple murder, it was a
sacrilege. The poet's death undermined not only the honor
of the responsible clan but also the sacred integrity of the
kingdom itself. Furious, the Rí Tuatha ordered his Brehon
(arbitrator and judge of the law) to untangle the facts of
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the case as quickly as possible, so that the culprits could
be brought to justice and receive the punishment that they
so richly deserved. The truth never came to light,
however, as each clan accused the other of committing
the terrible crime.
The identity of the murderer has never been
established. Rumors, suspicions and public accusations
regularly rose to fuel the quarrel between the two clans,
which quickly escalated to armed confrontation as each of
the two parties demanded justice and revenge. On more
than one occasion clashes resulted in the death of several
men from both sides. After each outbreak of violence the
Rí Tuatha has tried to calm things down – in vain, as each
new incident serves to increase the hatred between the
two clans.
The Land Debt
Medieval feudalism does not yet exist in the Ireland of
FIANNA. Property rights and the use of land are
governed by complex laws and customs, beginning with
the concept of céilsin (land debt), which has been
outlined below.
According to this custom, a bóaire (landowner) has the
right to rent some of his land (along with the livestock
and serfs living on it) to another person, who then
becomes his céile (obligee), that is to say his tenant and
his debtor. The latter must then pay the owner for the
duration of the lease – generally in a combination of
provisions, cattle born during the year, military service,
manual labor or a favor of some kind, according to the
terms of the negotiated oral contract between the two
parties.
When the lease ends (usually after seven years) the
agreement can optionally be renewed – generally after a
new round of negotiations between the two parties.
Note that such an agreement does not make the céile
the landowner's "vassal"; the terms of the contract are
strictly limited to any payments and services rendered
that the obligee is committed to provide during the time
of his lease - it in no way restricts the obligee's freedom
of action, so long as he respects the terms of the
contract.
Adventure Structure
This is not a linear adventure. Events will unfold on the
fly, based around a series of three triads: three interviews
that the heroes will need to conduct, three mysteries that
they will need to explain and three dangers that they will
need to either face or avoid.
 The three interviews form the first act of the scenario;
on the narrative level, they constitute real obstacles that
the heroes will have to overcome by showing skill and
sagacity. Once the plot has been set into motion the
Storyteller will introduce the three mysteries and the
three dangers based on the decisions and actions of
characters.
This triadic approach is upheld with all of the non-
player characters who are integral to the plot. These NPCs
are divided into three groups of three: three chiefs (the Rí
Tuatha and the chiefs of the two clans), three young men
(the two lovers and the impetuous brother of the young
woman) and three advisers (the king's tribal druid, the
bard of the Sciath Dubh clan and the bard of the Trí
Fuinseoige clan, who is none other than the Black Druid
in disguise). The interactions that the heroes have with
these different characters will determine the course of the
adventure.
The Black Druid is the primary threat that the heroes
will face during the adventure; it is the hidden enemy
who has secretly manipulated events from the start. When
the heroes become aware of the Black Druid's existence
they will have to try and counter its influence and
unmask it, before they will be able to face it directly.
At the end of the adventure all of the heroes' choices
and actions will lead to one of three possible outcomes:
success, partial success or failure.
Introduction
Three generations have passed since the murder of the
poet, and the hatred between the two clans has not
subsided. If a tribesman from either clan is questioned on
the matter, he will say that it has “always been this way”.
Over time every family in the kingdom has ended up on
one side or another of the feud.
A few weeks ago a skirmish occurred between the
young warriors of each clan, killing three men from each
camp - rumors have begun to circulate of a real war
brewing between the two groups.
Fearing that the coming conflict will take its toll in fire
and blood from his kingdom, Rudraigh an Dearg
(grandson of the Rí Tuatha who reigned at the time of the
poet's murder) turned to his sovereign (one of the Rí
Ruirech, the four great kings of the island) - who,
unwilling to get involved in such business - decided to
appeal to the authority of Ard Rí and his Fianna. The
heroes are the members of the High King's Fianna who
have been chosen to carry out this delicate mission. Their
goal: to bring lasting peace back to the two warring clans
- a task that seems (at first glance) nearly impossible, but
if completed successfully will show everyone the power
and wisdom of the Ard Rí.
The heroes should act with caution and discernment -
they are meant to be the High King's negotiators, not
monster slayers. The group will be welcomed to court by
Rudraigh an Dearg, and their authority as the Ard Rí's
representatives should allow them to discern the three
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secrets intimately linked to the situation that they are
supposed to be unraveling - three secrets that constitute,
each in its own way, the keys to this adventure.
The Three Interviews
The adventure begins with an interview with Rudraigh an
Dearg. This interview is made (in accordance with
custom) in the Rí Tuatha's home.
Before meeting with the king a hero may wish to test his
Knowledge regarding the quarrel between the clans. If he
succeeds he will know that the feud has lasted for three
generations and originated from a serious dispute
between the two families. If he gets two successes he will
know that this dispute is linked to the murder of a fili, a
most serious sacrilege. Finally, if he gets three or more
successes, he will know all of the relevant history of the
conflict (see The Origin of the Conflict).
Rudraigh an Dearg is a stocky man in the prime of life,
with red hair and a full beard. His druid (an elderly,
nearly blind man named Cian an Sean) will also be
present. At first, the king and his druid will both remain
silent, unless the heroes invite him to speak first.
Rudraigh an Dearg will not hide how much the current
situation worries him. He will thank the Fianna for
coming, but he strongly doubts that they have any chance
of bringing about even a fragile peace between the
feuding clans, especially now that blood has again been
spilled.
If a hero takes advantage of the interview to carefully
observe the reactions of the Rí Tuatha and weigh each of
his words, he can attempt a test of Finesse.
With a single success Rudraigh's doubts as to the heroes'
chances of success will become obvious; with two
successes the hero will feel that the Rí Tuatha is not happy
that his sovereign appealed to the Ard Rí instead to trying
to solve the problem himself; finally, if the hero gets three
successes he will understand that Rudraigh an Dearg is
extremely anxious for his own sovereignty; if the two rival
clans enter into open war, the other clans of his tribe may
well decide to join them in battle, in the hope of
advancing their own position. This would weaken
Rudraigh's hold on his kingdom.
During the interview, the old druid Cian an Sean will
explain in detail all of the information found in The
Origin of the Conflict (see pg. 1), pointing out that he was
still a very young child when these events occurred and
that no other direct witnesses remain today.
He will then evoke the fact that about thirty lives in all
have been claimed over the course of the quarrel between
the two clans - a heavy and cruel loss for both the families
and for the tuath itself.
If asked if he has any idea as to the identity of the poet's
murderer, the old druid will explain that divinations were
performed at the time of the killing in an attempt to
unravel the mystery, but the mists of fate refused to step
aside... almost as if this secret was never meant to be
discovered...
 A test of Finesse will suffice to show that this situation
disturbs the old druid much more than he allows to show;
if the hero achieves two successes, he will understand that
the druid himself has, over the years, performed further
divinations and suffered the same failures; with three
successes, the hero will realize that the druid suspects that
some mysterious power is countering his magic
(something that he has never confided to his king, for
reasons on which he will remain strangely evasive).
If the heroes are insistent, the old man, stung, will
challenge them to elucidate this mystery that has defeated
three generations of druids. His attitude can be explained
both by his own pride and by the influence of the spell
that the Black Druid has placed over him (without his
knowledge) to keep him from unmasking its presence (see
below for more details).
The interview with King Rudraigh will end on the need
to visit the chief of each of the two rival clans.
The Interview with Bron an Cróga
The Fianna will be received with a great show of
hospitality by the chief of the Sciath Dubh clan and
members of his entourage.
Bron an Cróga, a middle-aged but still solidly built
warrior, will begin by recalling that the bard murdered
three generations ago belonged to his clan, which makes
him the offended party. He will prove both obstinate and
intractable, no matter the level of eloquence displayed by
the Fianna. If the heroes try his patience (which is quite
short at the best of times) he will declare that this case is
not the concern of the Ard Rí or his emissaries, and that
he will settle the matter "however it must be settled".
It is clear that after the last skirmish (in which the
brother of the chief of the Trí Fuinseoige was killed) the
Sciath Dubh clan expects retaliation, and are thus on a
war footing. In the midst of all this tension the heroes may
observe the reactions of three members of the chief's
entourage - Fintan an Fíochmhar (an impetuous and
aggressive young warrior), his younger sister Boan an Bán
and Tindell an Brónach, the clan's bard.
Fintan an Fíochmhar is the very definition of foolhardy
- a young warrior who is always ready to do battle, for
whom speeches and talking are just a waste of time.
Fintan is eager to prove his loyalty and his worth in
battle; he does not hide his impatience to shed the blood
of "those Trí Fuinseoige bastards". He has only one regret:
not having dealt the death blow to the brother of Fergus
an Bródúil during the last skirmish (in which he
participated).
In his eyes, the Fianna are "foreigners" who are
interfering in a matter of honor – a debt that can only be
settled by force of arms. During the interview he will not
hesitate to interrupt the heroes, until Bron an Cróga calls
him firmly to order; he will then remain silent for the rest
of the scene, brooding and plotting his revenge against the
heroes, who he considers responsible for his loss of face.
If during the bravado of Fintan an Fíochmhar the
heroes scrutinize the surrounding reactions, they will
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notice a very beautiful young woman who turns pale with
every aggressive word coming from the fiery young
warrior. She will often turn away to conceal her dismay,
though no one else seems to notice (all attention being
fixed on the Fianna). If they inquire about the identity of
the young woman (for example from the bard Tindell an
Brónach), they will learn that she is Fintan's younger sister
Boan an Bán, who many consider the most beautiful
young woman of the Sciath Dubh clan. Her discomfort
arises from a legitimate fear of seeing her brother perish
in the next clash with the Trí Fuinseoige. Any hero who
has had a secret love affair (an Exiled Poet, for example,
or a former King's Champion) will also recognize the signs
of a clandestine passion in Boan an Bán. Tindell an
Brónach has also uncovered the young woman's secret,
but will not entrust the knowledge to emissaries of the
Ard Rí; in his opinion the heroes would only make matters
worse or cause Boan harm.
Tindell an Brónach is the Sciath Dubh's grizzled old
bard. He is not a fili or even a great bard, but he is the
only man of the clan who can fulfill his role - his modest
talents are more than up to the task. He earned his
nickname (an Brónach means “the sad”) because of his
drawn-out face and the plaintive accents of his voice.
Tindell is more gifted at inducing melancholy with his
ballads than he is at setting hearts on fire with his speech.
For this reason, Bron an Cróga rarely asks him to speak.
By relegating Tindell an Brónach to the role of simple
harpist, however, the chief of the Sciath Dubh clan
deprives himself of a wise adviser and observer. Few
things escape the notice of Tindell an Brónach; he guessed
the story of the secret love between Boan an Bán and
Guair an Ciotógach, a young warrior of the Trí Fuinseoige
clan. The bard has, for the moment, kept this secret, and
will only confide it to the Fianna if he thinks that the
young woman is in danger.
The Interview with Fergus an Bródúil
The interview with the leader of the Trí Fuinseoige clan
will be even more tense - the chief's own brother was
killed in the last skirmish with warriors of the Sciath
Dubh clan. Fergus an Bródúil, a man of immense size
with a good-looking (if severe) face, has no intention of
letting the death of his younger brother Fergal go
unpunished. It doesn't matter to him who provoked the
confrontation or if wrongs were being righted; Fergus an
Bródúil dreams of only one thing: revenge.
The warriors of the clan have gathered around their
leader, and many are impatiently pawing the ground at
the thought of finally shedding the blood of the enemy.
Fergus an Bródúil holds the Fianna in contempt for getting
involved in matters that don't concern them. If it were up
to him he would just dismiss the group out of spite, but he
has always respected the laws of honor, including those of
hospitality. His bard, Manech an Tanaí, has also advised
him not to alienate the emissaries of the Ard Rí, so that
when the time comes he may convince them of the justice
of his cause.
 There is no fiery young warrior here – instead there is
an assembly of resolute and dark-faced fighters, who will
stand as silent as death and listen to the discussion
between the heroes and their chief. If a hero watches the
audience with attention (preferably while another hero
speaks with Fergus an Bródúil), a successful Finesse test
will allow him to notice a young warrior whose look and
expression differ from those of his comrades in arms:
while the latter wear stern and determined looks on their
faces, the young man looks rather concerned, even
worried. If the hero gets at least two successes on his test,
he will also notice that this pensive warrior is left-handed.
Manech an Tanaí, the clan's bard, is a painfully thin
man in his thirties with a piercing gaze. He speaks little
but Fergus an Bródúil will always heed any advice that he
gives, as he judges him wise and insightful. During the
interview Manech an Tanaí will only intervene to calm
any outbursts, and will give the impression of doing
everything possible to keep the talks as courteous as
possible, unnecessary as the may be.
In reality this is all just a subterfuge and an imposture.
As soon as the Fianna leave, Manech an Tanaí will
skillfully stir up the anger and resentment of Fergus an
Bródúil, prompting him to "act as quickly as possible".
Without (explicitly) prompting the clan chief to attack the
heroes themselves, the deceitful bard hopes to create an
event that would seriously offend the authority of the Ard
Rí, and in the process sink the tuath of Rudraigh an Dearg
into chaos. Manech an Tanaí has a hidden agenda you see:
he is really the Black Druid, who has been plotting the
kingdom's downfall for the last three generations. He took
the semblance of the real Manech seven years ago, after
killing the bard and devoured his entrails, in accordance
with the dark rituals that give the creature its powers. The
severed head of the real Manech the Skinny is kept in the
Black Druid's secret lair, along with the heads of the other
two victims that the creature has replaced over the years.
Words of Peace
This Bardic Secret would seem to be the ideal way to
initiate talks between the two rival clans, but it will prove
impossible to implement before the end of the adventure,
as its power only works if the different parties agree to
meet in the same place – this particular conflict moved
past the “agreeing to meet” stage a long time ago.
The two parties will refuse to meet, even if Rudraigh an
Dearg summons them. Even if the Fianna invoke the
authority of the Ard Rí (which is far from absolute, let us
remember) Bron an Cróga and Fergus an Bródúil will
flatly refuse to meet, or even to send emissaries to discuss
a peaceful settlement.
Once the Black Druid has been unmasked such talks
will become possible again, and will be greatly facilitated
if a hero with of this Secret agrees to act as referee.
Three Mysteries
This delicate situation will be complicated by three
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secrets, which the Fianna will have the possibility to
discover during their meetings with the members of the
two clans. The first of these secrets concerns the past, the
second highlights game the present and the third could
crucially influence the future ...
FIANNA is not an investigative game, so these hidden
truths are not intended to be discovered through patient
and careful investigation, but rather to emerge organically
during a fateful event or when a crucial decision must be
made. Some Secrets of the Way of the Bard ( Illumination
and Language of Birds) may, in addition, allow a hero to
fully (or partially) elucidate some of these mysteries (see
the sidebars on pg. 5).
The Murder of the Poet
This first mystery concerns the origin of conflict: a fili
belonging to the Sciath Dubh clan was ignominiously
murdered three generations ago (see The Origin of the
Conflict, pg. 1), and the culprit was never identified. If
the Fianna manage to elucidate this mystery, it will finally
become possible to bring peace between the two clans.
The truth is that the poet was not killed by a member of
either clan – he was murdered by the sinister Black Druid,
who was already prowling around in a different guise at
the time. In doing so the malicious magician sowed the
seeds of a conflict that was ultimately destined to topple
the little kingdom and bring its people under the complete
control of the cruel cult of Crom Cruarch.
For the last three generations the Black Druid has acted
in different semblances, stirring up hatred and discord
between the two clans. The creature's dark magic has
extended its lifespan far beyond that of a mere mortal; it
has patiently advanced its pawns, expanding its insidious
influence within each clan and the kingdom itself.
The creature first took the likeness of a warrior of the
Sciath Dubh clan (under which it killed the poet). It next
wore the semblance of a warrior of the Trí Fuinseoige
clan, which enabled the creature to continue its evil
scheming. It has spent years under the guise of Manech
an Tanaí, the appointed bard of the Trí Fuinseoige clan,
whom the Black Druid murdered and replaced. The
creature's monstrous knowledge has allowed it to absorb
the memories and knowledge of its victims by devouring
their hearts and keeping their severed heads in a secret
place known only to the creature itself.
In the guise of Manech an Tanaí the Black Druid exerts
its malign influence on Fergus an Bródúil, chief of the Trí
Fuinseoige clan, heating the chief's fury over the death of
his brother to white hot intensity.
The Lovers' Secret
A young man of the Trí Fuinseoige clan and a young
woman of the Sciath Dubh clan are madly and secretly in
love with one another: Guair an Ciotógach and Boan an
Bán. This Romeo and Juliet situation could end very badly
if the families of the two lovers ever discovered the truth.
As it turns out the young woman's brother, Fintan an
Fíochmhar, has a suspicious and skittish character; for
some time now he has suspected that his sister is hatching
something in secret, and has started to watch her a little
more closely.
If he ever finds out the truth Fintan will prove quite
capable of killing his sister's young lover... and even his
sister herself, if that's what is required to wash the stain
from his family's honor. If events are heading toward this
tragedy the heroes must have a chance to intervene in
order to prevent the worst - but their intervention itself
may prove to be the catalyst that escalates the overall
conflict.
This part of the story calls for emotion and humanity
from the characters. The Storyteller should use it to
increase tension and revive the action if things seem to be
bogging down. The Storyteller will have to try and
personally involve the heroes in the situation – he could
decide, for example, that the young Guair an Ciotógach
entrusts one of the Fianna with his secret, then asks them
to keep an eye on Fintan an Fíochmhar in return for
valuable information on Manech an Tanaí. Guair an
Ciotógach will inform the heroes that Manech stirred up
the anger of Fergus an Bródúil once they were gone,
prompting the Trí Fuinseoige chief to move quickly before
the "High King's spies" can jeopardize his plans.
Divinations
The Bardic Secret of Enlightenment enables a hero to
obtain more or less clear answers to questions about the
present or the past.
This Secret requires a Knowledge test, with three or
more successes: the player can then ask the Storyteller a
question of his choice, who will then have to answer
with either yes or no or provide an enigmatic image that
the hero will have to decipher.
Suffice it to say that this Secret is the asset of choice in
situations like the one the heroes find themselves in - but
as the druid Cian an Sean told them, the truths that
Enlightenment would normally reveal remain stubbornly
veiled, as if another power was being used to mask and
obscure things - which is indeed the case (see the
description of the Black Druid and his powers).
Even if they are cloudy, however, the answers brought
by Enlightenment may prove to be valuable clues in the
search for truth.
Remember that if Enlightenment fails (less than three
successes are obtained) the hero will no longer be able to
call on this gift for the rest of the adventure; they had
better formulate those questions carefully...
Here are some examples of questions that may be
asked by a hero holding this Secret:
Who killed the sacred poet? The only answer what the
soothsayer will get will be a vision of a moonless night,
whose unfathomable darkness seems to hide something
ancient, sinister and terrible.
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Was the sacred poet killed by a member of the Sciath
Dubh clan? Here the answer will be a clear "no". It will
be the same if the same question is asked about the Trí
Fuinseoige clan. Cian an Sean's predecessor asked these
same questions and got the same answers, but didn't have
the wisdom to interpret them correctly (his mind was
already being influenced by the powers of the Black
Druid). In his eyes, they meant that the truth was elusive,
not that the fili had been killed by a murderer foreign to
both clans.
Is someone in this tuath hiding the truth? Yes - but that
should be obvious without appealing to Enlightenment!
Does anyone in this tuath know who killed the fili?
Again a positive response, but without further details.
Who knows the truth about the murder of the fili? This
question will reveal a brief and disturbing vision: a dark
unrecognizable silhouette, surrounded by three
blackened, severed heads. The heads are too decayed to
positively identify.
The Lovers and the Birds
Like her late mother and her mother's ancestors, Boan an
Bán knows the Language of Birds (see the Fianna Core
Rules, p. 56). It's thanks to this (and the goodwill of a
kindly raven) that the young woman is able to discreetly
rendezvous with her lover, Guair an Ciotógach. The
young warrior, however, does not speak the Language of
Birds: when Boan an Bán sends the raven to her beloved,
the bird guides him to the chosen spot where the young
woman secretly waits. All of these stratagems are
imposed by the need to keep their affair a secret, each
dreading what Fintan an Fíochmhar would do to his
sister if he ever discovered the truth...
If the heroes decide to discreetly watch Boan an Bán, a
successful Instinct test (to allow them to sneak discreetly
behind her) will allow them to see her giving a
whispered message to a docile raven. If one of the heroes
also knows the Language of Birds, this Secret will allow
him to discover the truth.
The raven is faithful to Boan, and will refuse to reveal
anything to strangers - he is not the only raven in the
region, however! His brother ravens will be more
helpful, giving warning and guiding the heroes to the
next meeting between the young woman and her suitor.
Ravens being ravens, they do not know Boan or Guair's
names; they only know only that the "beautiful young
woman" secretly meets a "young man of another hand”
(an expression that any character speaking the Language
of Birds will know to mean "left-handed").
The Plans of the Black Druid
As the heroes will realize from their interview with him,
the chief of the Trí Fuinseoige has been blinded with
hatred since his brother was killed in a skirmish with men
of the Sciath Dubh clan.
 Obsessed with revenge, he's being manipulated by his
bard, who is actually the Black Druid! The foul creature
has been manipulating events from the beginning, with
the aim of tipping the kingdom into chaos, in order to
restore the ancient and monstrous cult of Crom Cruarch.
The arrival of the Fianna represents both a risk (of
being unmasked) and an opportunity (to make things
even worse than they already were). If the men of the Ard
Rí fail to restore peace between the two clans, the High
King's authority will be significantly weakened, and with
it that of the Rí Tuatha who requested the intervention - a
decisive step toward the Black Druid seizing power in the
region.
This is the primary secret of the adventure. "Manech an
Tanaí" will not be unmasked unless the character's actions
and decisions force the Black Druid to use its powers
directly in order to thwart the heroes. At the Storyteller's
discretion, a hero speaking the Language of Birds will be
able to discover the creature's deception, with the
indispensable help of an ancient raven.
The Wisdom of the Crow
The Storyteller is free to either use or ignore this optional
meeting, depending on the abilities of the given group of
heroes and the evolution of the current game. If things
are stalling or the players are stuck in a dead end, the
characters can receive help from a providential ally, in
the form of an ancient raven.
This wise bird has lived for three generations in the
territory of the Trí Fuinseoige clan, and is the last living
witness to the murder of the fili by the Black Druid. He
has kept an eye on the actions of the latter, waiting for a
human to finally have the wisdom to question him.
If a hero knows the Language of Birds, the character
will notice the raven when the Fianna first arrive on the
outskirts of the home of Fergus an Bródúil. After the
interview is finished, if the hero seeks him out, the raven
will come to him and reveal that "the bard of Trí
Fuinseoige is dead and another" bears his face” - a
revelation that will of course precipitate events. Even if
none of the heroes speak the Language of Birds, the
raven may intervene in a another way - for example by
guiding the Fianna to the secret lair of the Black Druid,
the location of which he is the only other being to know.
Members of the Trí Fuinseoige clan have noticed the
old crow, who has been seen more and more often near
the home of their leader; blinded by their hatred, they
interpreted his presence as a sign sent by the terrible
Morrigan, prompting them to take up arms and avenge
their honor with blood. A hero who knows the Language
of Birds (or who passes a Knowledge test) will know that
this interpretation is incorrect - while the Morrigan's
birds are often called "ravens" (including by the bards),
they are actually crows, very different from the sacred
ravens of Brân the Blessed, who is renowned for his
wisdom.
6
Three Dangers
This adventure includes three great dangers: two that the
heroes will have to try at all costs to avoid or defuse and
one that they will have to face during the last part of
adventure, once the Black Druid is unmasked.
Escalation of Conflict
The most direct and obvious danger is that the conflict
between the two clans will descend into open war, with
the resulting deaths on both sides. Beyond the more
immediate consequences, such an event would also
weaken the sovereignty of Rudraigh an Dearg - the other
clans would be encouraged to question his authority, or
even to challenge it openly. Such a situation would serve
the purposes of the Black Druid, whose aim is to sow
chaos in the region so that the kingdom will fall under its
control and that of its hidden allies (see the sidebar below).
After their interview with Fergus an Bródúil it will be
evident to the heroes that the Trí Fuinseoige clan is
planning a punitive expedition against the Sciath Dubh
clan, following the death of their chief's brother. The
heroes must do everything within their power to prevent
this from happening. The best way to prevent any
bloodshed is to stay with one of the two clan leaders and
stop it by persuasion... or (if necessary) by force. It's not
about the heroes "choosing a side", its about keeping the
two sides separate. If the players are thinking of dividing
their characters into two groups, the Storyteller should
emphasize that this strategy will only divide their forces.
The Sciath Dubh are the clan most likely to accept the
presence of the Fianna as "guardians of the peace”,
though the heroes will have to succeed in calming the
most impetuous members of the tribe (starting with
Fintan an Fíochmhar). If Fintan were to discover the truth
about his sister and Guair an Ciotógach, the heroes would
no doubt have to put him out of commission "for his own
good", to prevent him from escalating the situation.
If, however, the heroes prefer to remain with the Trí
Fuinseoige clan (because they seem to be on a more
warlike footing than the Sciath Dubh), they will almost
certainly become aware of the way Manech an Tanaí (aka
the Black Druid) stirs up the anger and resentment of
Fergus an Bródúil, using insidious words guaranteed to
sting the pride of the clan head. By doing so the Black
Druid will be at risk of revealing his part in the game, but
unless the heroes have further information they will have
little reason to see Manech an Tanaí as anything other
than a bad adviser who prefers to flatter the pride of his
leader rather than addressing his sanity. The tensions
arising from such a situation may however be conducive
to the later revelation of the truth.
Most of the men from both clans are Ordinary fighters
(Danger level 1).
The best warriors are Accomplished fighters (Danger
level 2). This includes Bron an Cróga, Fergus an Bródúil,
Fintan an Fíochmhar and Guair an Ciotógach. No one in
either clan is a Formidable fighter (Danger 3).
The Lovers' Tragedy
The love story between Boan an Bán and Guair an
Ciotógach will play either a minor role in the course of
the adventure or perhaps even a major role, depending on
the decisions and actions of the heroes and the
importance that the Storyteller wishes it to have. If the
heroes are indifferent to the danger that the two lovers
are in, things will come to a tragic end: Fintan an
Fíochmhar, already suspicious, will surprise his sister with
Guair an Ciotógach, which could well lead to the death of
all three young people.
Fintan an Fíochmhar and Guair an Ciotógach may well
kill each other in a bloody duel, and the unfortunate Boan
will die of grief - unless she falls victim to the blind fury
of her brother first. Whichever the case, things will end in
tears and in blood - unless the heroes intervene at the
fateful moment, either to take the young lovers under
their protection or to stop the whole sordid mess from
happening in the first place.
Whatever its conclusion, the story of Boan and Guair
will provide the Storyteller with a rare opportunity to
explore the feelings and the humanity of the heroes, by
playing on their reactions toward the two young people
and their secret. If the characters manage to save the lives
of the two young lovers they will have earned their
eternal gratitude.
Fintan an Fíochmhar, for his part, will remain angry,
stubborn and vengeful - at least until the truth about the
Black Druid and his actions opens his eyes. He will then
make peace with Guair an Ciotógach and treat him like
his own brother - a powerful gesture, symbolizing the
possible reconciliation of the two clans - but we're not
there yet!
The Fury of the Black Druid
The adventure will enter its final phase at the moment
that the Black Druid is unmasked. There are several ways
to achieve this, and the Storyteller must choose the one
that best matches the actions of the heroes as the plot
unfolds.
The heroes may start to suspect that Manech an Tanaí is
playing both sides (thanks, perhaps, to the information
given by Guair an Ciotógach - see The Lover's Secret on
pp. 4-5), before realizing that he is not at all who he
seems to be (thanks to the revelations of the ancient
raven). If the Storyteller does not want to use the bird as a
source of clues, particularly vigilant (or suspicious)
heroes might also follow Manech an Tanaí to a cave in the
forest, which would turn out to be the lair of the Black
Druid (see the sidebar below).
Another interesting possibility is that Fergus an Bródúil
could, in a flash of lucidity, realize that his bard is
manipulating him, and that he is an impostor. The Black
Druid would then murder him in secret and accuse the
Sciath Dubh clan of the deed. He may even attempt to
incriminate the Fianna themselves, knowing that no one
thinks to question the word of a bard!
7
A variant of this theme would be making Cian an Sean
the one who ends up unmasking the Black Druid, before
being assassinated by the latter. Rudraigh an Dearg would
then throw caution to the wind and commit his own
strength to the conflict, waging war against one clan or
the other – or perhaps against both of them at the same
time!
This last option will work best if the heroes specifically
asked the old druid about his divinations. By doing so they
will have awakened the doubts that were put to sleep by
the insidious influence of the Black Druid. These doubts
will turn into suspicions - which will prove fatal for him!
If the Black Druid, in the guise of Manech an Tanaí,
murders either Fergus an Bródúil or Cian an Sean, there
may well be a witness, in the person of Guair an
Ciotógach (if the victim is Fergus an Bródúil) or Tindell
an Brónach (if the victim is Cian an Sean). In this case,
the heroes must do everything in their power to protect
this witness, who will be terrified and in great danger.
In any case, it will be up to the heroes, through their
decisions and their actions, to bring out the truth. When
the real troublemaker is revealed it should constitute a
critical turning point in the unfolding of the adventure.
Once unmasked, the Black Druid will resume its true
form and use every power at its disposal, which will
obviously make it a very dangerous opponent. If
necessary, the creature will call on its hidden allies to
come to its rescue: for more details, see the sidebar below.
If it has no alternative the Black Druid will drop its
disguise without hesitation in order to sow death, chaos
and destruction around it – in one way or another, this
also serves its dark designs. In this case, it will focus all of
its malice on the heroes - other mortals are only pawns in
its eyes.
Hidden Allies?
While the Black Druid acts mostly alone, it does have
allies that it may choose to involve, if the need arises.
This decision must be made by the Storyteller, depending
on the course of adventure. This will only happen after
the Black Druid has been unmasked - and only if it adds
something to the plot.
The nature and number of these hidden allies is left to
the imagination of the Storyteller. It could be a tribe of
Warriors of the Old Race (see the Core Rules, pg. 69),
worshipers of Crom Cruarch (hidden in the surrounding
hills on the edge of the tuath), a group of three Fir Bolgs
(see the Core Rules, pg. 86) living in nearby caves, or
even a combination of two of these types of opponents.
Depending on how the situation has evolved during the
game, the heroes may receive help from warriors of one
(or both) of the two clans, or even from Rudraigh an
Dearg and his men; in this case, the Storyteller may just
decide that the tribesmen overcome a portion of the
group's opponents, leaving each hero engaged in the
battle an opportunity to shine by facing only the most
dangerous enemies.
The Black Druid
The Druid Black is over 150 years old, owing to the
power of its dark magic. In its true form the creature
resembles an emaciated old man, with blackened,
mummified flesh and a long gray beard. Its cadaverous
face lacks a nose, and its empty eye sockets burn with a
cold blue balefire, which reflects its cursed essence. The
Black Druid draws its powers and its monstrous
longevity from its dark knowledge and its links to the
terrible god Crom Cruarch, whose it wants to restore to
worship on the island, once the authority of the Ard Rí
has been undermined.
Even without weapons, the Black Druid is a formidable
adversary (Danger 3); its long, black horn nails are as
deadly as the claws of any wild beast. Its magic gives it
the equivalent of Prodigy of Semblance (see pg. 82 of the
FIANNA Core Rules), but it can only adopt the
appearance of a person that it has previously killed and
partially eaten. It also has the frightening power to
absorb the memories and knowledge of the people that it
has murdered; in order to do this the creature must
devour its victim's flesh and magically preserve their
heads.
It also possesses the power to fog any divination
attempts that would be likely to unmask it. Over time, its
occult influence even allows it to allay the mistrust of
diviners, who will eventually stop questioning their
inability to unravel the mystery.
As long as it possesses the preserved heads of the
people whose lives it has usurped, the Black Druid is
immortal. If it is defeated it will disappear in a burst of
black flame, only to later reappear in its lair, near its
precious heads. The only way to kill the creature
permanently is to find its lair and destroy the three heads
it has stored there. If the heroes force the creature to
disappear, however, the Black Druid will leave the tuath
in peace, its efforts to sow chaos having been thwarted. It
will hide in its den until all involved think that it is dead,
before emerging again to unleash its avenging anger
against the heroes who dared to challenge it.
The secret lair looks like a wild beast's den. It is located
in a cave, less than a hours walk from the home of
Fergus an Bródúil. The cave contains the Black Druid's
most valuable possessions: a crude statuette of the
monstrous god Crom Cruarch (depicted as a half-
human/half-worm) and the three preserved heads of
those who, over the previous generations, have fallen
afoul of the Black Druid. The oldest head is that of a
young warrior of the Sciath Dubh clan (it was under this
guise that the Black Druid once killed the fili), the
second is that of a warrior of the Trí Fuinseoige clan and
the third is that of the real Manech an Tanaí, who died
seven years ago. If these heads are destroyed with fire,
the Black Druid will cease to exist forever.
Denouement
Depending on the events that occurred during the game,
the actions of the heroes and their overall level of success,
the adventure can end in one of three ways:
Failure
If the Fianna fail to unmask the Black Druid, no one will
be able to broker peace between the Sciath Dubh and the
Trí Fuinseoige. The struggle between the rival clans will
soon plunge the tuath into a state of perpetual war, and
Rudraigh an Dearg will lose his sovereignty to a rival who
will skillfully capitalize on the chaos. The Black Druid will
be free to continue its secret machinations, and soon
enough the monstrous cult of Crom Cruarch will
reappear in the region. Perhaps stopping the cult will be a
new mission for the heroes, and an opportunity to make
up for their first failure?
Partial Success
In this case, the Fianna will have successfully unmasked
the Black Druid and put their foe to flight, but were
unable to prevent the strife between the two clans from
boiling over and causing more death and destruction. The
tuath has been weakened a little more, leaving deep
wounds in the hearts of its inhabitants that only time can
heal. The worst will have been avoided, however - and if
the heroes managed to defeat the Black Druid, this victory
will count as an achievement.
Complete Success
Ideally, the Fianna will have succeeded not only in
unmasking and overcoming the Black Druid, but also in
preventing new violence between the two clans, thus
leading to their lasting reconciliation. The tuath is intact,
and the sovereignty of Rudraigh an Dearg has been
strengthened; the heroes will always be welcome in the
lands of the tribal king and the two formerly enemy clans.
The peace can be sealed by the marriage of Boane an Bán
and Guair an Ciotógach, an event to which the heroes will
be invited, occupying a place of honor along with
Rudraigh and the two clan chiefs, who are now
reconciled.
Olivier Legrand (2020)
Thanks to Fr.-Xavier Cuende for his wise proofreading.