Days 319-320 (297-298)

Day 319 (297)
The day dawned gray and cold, the threat of storms hanging heavy over our heads. The leprechauns hoped we could reach Snathdubh before the storm hit. We did not run, but kept a brisk pace.
The clouds began teasing us, sprinkling us at irregular intervals. Dawn returned to us tooting. Snathdubh was not far ahead. We ran and saw the settlement in a sheltered vale. Every "building" was a tent or other non-permanent structures. Likewise, a "wall" surrounded the settlement was made of cloth and poles set in fresh holes. If it were permanent, I would place its population at one thousand easy, two thousand possibly, three thousand at most. Before us, however, we detected over five thousand people plus thousands of animals. We raced towards the "wall" as the skies opened up in an icy rain. A portion was pulled back to allow us to enter without stopping. A guard of sorts took us under a canopy.
"Welcome to Snathdubh. Anyone hurt, cursed, or otherwise afflicted?" he asked as he looked at all of us.
"Nay, good sir," Seoc answered, "These fine ladies are the Seven Sisters of the Swords and my wife Ceit. These beasts are their trusted companions and able guards. I am Seoc Buidsear."
"Seoc and Ceit Buidsear, traveling to and from Sgurrgorm for a wedding," the guard read from a ledger, "Good to see you arrived at both there and here safely. Seven Sisters of the Swords, plus companions, we were told to be on the lookout for you from Stahendring. Gorval will be pleased you arrived safely. Our magistrate will want to see you in the morning. Come, rooms are plenty, hospitality is open to you."
We bid Seoc and Ceit good-bye and followed the guard through the settlement on a covered path. Each tent bore a soaked flag or banner announcing it as a home or business. Some were split in two, telling its dual use as both. The guard took us to one who's name Gretta translated as "Blue-Eyed Ewe" and the home of the Gaothan family. Inside, warm and dry, others sat, drank, and ate. A mix of leprechauns and non-leprechauns sat at ease with each other. Our arrival was barely noticed. The guard presented us to an older leprechaun male, who looked at us indifferently.
"Calum Gaothan, these are the Sisters and their companions. Have you room?" the guard asked.
One could almost see Calum's mind working. With a curt nod, he replied, "Aye, got one big enough. Dem beasts housebroken?" he asked us, surly.
"Oh, yes," Gretta replied, "Well-mannered and educated."
Calum huffed and motioned for us to follow him. He led us down a "hallway" in this large tent-like building to a portion divided from the rest by more cloth. While there were no actual beds, ten places were prepared for resting. A small stove gave heat to this "room". Boxes lined one wall, which he told us were for storage. He handed us a list of what they served and left.
More tired than hungry, we all agreed on fruit and water for us and any scraps for our companions. Gretta, Anna, and I went to get it while the rest set up for sleep. Calum seemed pleased we did not make a fuss or ask for choice meat for our "beasts". He told us he would send our order to our "room".
Not long after we got back, two women and three men entered. The women carried the fruit and water while the men lugged a heavy barrel. We could see they were all Calum's kin, his children most likely. They informed us to leave the dishes and barrel outside the "door", a slit in the cloth, for them to retrieve. We thanked them as they left, which made them pause a moment before closing the "door". Our companions dug into the barrel, pulling out mainly sheep parts, and eating their fills. We nibbled at the fruit, trying to stay awake long enough to finish. Sleep won out and we transferred the uneaten fruit to one plate, gathered the other plates and cups, and placed them outside. I told Set to push the empty barrel next to the plates when they got done. With a full mouth, he acknowledged the instructions. We seven laid down on our mats, under the new blankets, and quickly fell asleep.

Day 320 (298)
Although there were no windows, the sun made the outer most wall brighter as it rose. The roof, likewise, lit up as the sun climbed.
Near the door, we found another list of what they served in the morning time, a pitcher of water, and a note from the magistrate that someone would be sent to bring us to him. We finished the fruit as we dressed and shared the water with everyone. We took the list and note to the common room along with some coin to pay for our stay.
The common room was only half-full and nearly all non-leprechauns. Calum was at his previous place by shelves of bottles. There was no "bar", just a table where he mixed and poured drinks. Gretta handed him two gold coins, one for the lodging and one for the food. Calum seemed surprised and pleased. Alice told us they all assumed, as "celebrities", we would not pay for anything and demand the best of everything. Our payment improved Calum's disposition, which was passed to his children, who actually smiled and were friendly.
We seven did not eat much beyond the fruit, but our companions cleaned out another barrel of scraps. Tormod, Calum's eldest, commented on how much money and work our companions were saving them by cleaning out the barrels. As a movable city, there was no place for garbage and all things not consumed were burned and the ashes buried. Everyone paid for this service by weight. With Set and the rest eating what would otherwise be thrown away, they did not have to pay for its removal.
The magistrate's man arrived to find us as the only occupants of the common room. I watched his emotions as they were sorted out. He was slightly afraid of us, in awe of us, and excited to be chosen for this duty. Nervously, he approached.
"Seven Sitters, I mean Sisters, I am Eanraig (Henry) Bileagcaol, asset, I mean assistant, to our Lord Magistrate. He requests your presence at his office. Follow me, please."
We rose to follow Eanraig. Tormod called that our room would only be cleaned while we were out and none of our property would be disturbed. We waved and thanked him as we stepped out into a cold bright day.
Eanraig cast nervous glances, making sure we were still with him. The magistrate's office was not far, but it was one of the more solid structures in Snathdubh. Wooden walls and a true door marked it apart from its cloth neighbors. At the corners, we saw where it could be taken down rapidly, should the need arise. Eanraig opened the door for us, still very nervous. For a leprechaun city, it seemed build to easily accept other races as this door was almost six feet in height.
Inside, behind a massive desk, an older male leprechaun sat, a very serious looking man dressed very somberly. A female stood next to him, also somberly dressed and serious. Seven chairs awaited us before the large desk. Eanraig did not enter, but closed the door and stood guard outside.
"Sisters," came an amazingly deep voice from the Magistrate, "please sit. We've much to discuss."
We sat and our companions positioned themselves on or near us. The Magistrate gave us hard looks before he spoke again.
"What do you know of the situation?" he quizzed.
Gretta began telling him what Seoc Buidsear had told us. Not smiling, he nodded, pleased we had some inkling of the problem.
"Have you formed any ideas as to why this is happening?" he asked with only a slight indication he didn't expect any.
"We have one," Gretta replied.
Outwardly unchanged, I saw the surprise in his glow. He motioned for us to tell him and for the woman beside him to write it down.
"Approximately the same time the forgotten palace was seen with lights and movement, the Baaloc leader and the demons he served were killed. We think, if this 'governor' was of high rank, some of the power back lash re-animated his corpse and set him to regain their 'lost' territory. As undead, other undead would be his primary source of soldiers and agents," Gretta explained.
The two leprechauns exchanged looks. While they found it hard to believe, they did see the plausibility in our theory. The woman finished writing before the Magistrate spoke.
"Based on what you were told, that makes sense. The survivors you were told about were not the only ones. Others have returned. The 'governor' did not die. When he saw Maalicus was not aging, he sought ways to extend his own life. He abandoned any attempts to rule this area and, with his men, sealed themselves for the sole purpose of prolonging their lives. They kidnapped wizards and tortured them for the process. Some they killed. Those that survived reported they demanded the procedure to create a lich, a being that never dies and retains its powers in undeath. We have kept a tab on their place and activities. Of the two dozen that started, barely five remain, including the 'governor'. He is a lich, actually calls himself a lich king. The other four, well, reports are conflicted as to exactly what they are, but they serve him without question."
"Magistrate," Gretta interrupted, "why is he targeting leprechauns? What do you have he or they could possibly want? Is it something to do with 'the Hoard' we were told about?"
The leprechauns exchanged panicked looks before they schooled their expressions back to seriousness. The Magistrate gave us a hard look.
"Who told you about that?"
"The Faerie Queen," we answered in unison.
Pure shock. Even Eanraig entered to make sure he had heard right. The looks on the other two confirmed it and he gently shut the door. The Magistrate regained his voice.
"The... the Hoard is a collection of treasure. The 'pot of gold' that humans claim all leprechauns carry is only partly true. Many centuries ago, when our population was smaller, we did carry our individual pots. However, when our population grew, there was not enough for everyone to have a proper pot. We decided to collect it all together and let a select number have a pot to continue the tradition. While gold is the only item in the pots, the Hoard has many other precious items. Including what he is after, gems of high quality. Our reports indicate he aims to increase his powers and become a demilich. For that, he needs high quality gems to make soul gems, prisons for trapped souls for him to feed upon. Since the dwarf cities are too difficult to find and quality gems nigh impossible to remove without a fight, he is hoping to scare us into 'paying' him to leave us alone with the gems he seeks. What is hampering him is the fact very few of us know where it is or how to get there. All of his tactics are only fueling the desire to stop him."
We absorbed the information. Apparently, it was only a coincidence that this lich upped his activities at the same time Maalicus and Tharinzar were killed. Still, this was serious and he had to be stopped.
"Sir," Sarah began, "we know very little about liches and ghosts. Is there an expert here, one who could teach us so we can help?"
The pair let out a relieved sigh. The Magistrate called for Eanraig, who nearly fell through the doorway.
"Take these ladies to Sim Darach. They should learn from the best."
Eanraig bowed crisply. We rose, thanked the Magistrate for his time and information, and followed Eanraig out the door.
"You might want to retrieve your things from the inn. Sim Darach's place is a couple hours away and he may want you to stay a while."
We saw the logic in that and we all headed back to the Blue-Eyed Ewe. As we walked, we saw all the signs were in the leprechaun language, none in the language common to this continent. Even the names of the people were not translated. We asked about it.
"Our leaders made the decision not to translate anything. They chose not to 'cater to idiots' who refuse to learn other languages and demand other races know their language. This makes some avoid doing business with us, but we find others who will and don't lose out."
We, also, asked about the "over-sized" buildings that are way too big for leprechauns. He laughed.
"That is on purpose. It makes everything interchangeable. A tavern wall can replace a private dwelling's wall or a government building's wall. Plus, expansion or reduction is simpler if everything is uniform. The Magistrate's desk and building actually can be reassembled as a wagon to carry important items and documents securely. Besides, the height traps more heat for winter so we don't have to burn a lot of wood."
We found Tormod and explained our change of plans. He yelled to his family as we went to retrieve our gear. Some of his sisters met us there and asked if we needed help. Politely, we declined, but gave them another gold coin for holding our things. As we assembled, they banked the fire to a very low flame and removed some of the wood. We left shortly after they had. Eanraig smiled when we reappeared.
"Expert travelers, I see. Any bills?"
"Nay, lad ," answered Calum, "all paid up plus. Fine lasses these. Ladies, a treat and a pleasure," he actually bowed to us.
"Bha e math tachairt ruibh," Gretta told him.
Calum smiled broadly, placing his hand over his heart. Gretta told us the leprechaun for farewell. As we left, we called, "Mar sin leibh" to all his children. Some of them teared up.
Eanraig was pleased as he led us out of Snathdubh and into the wilds around it. We passed herds of black sheep as we made our way down a well-worn path. The woods protected us from the coldest of the winds and made the trip more pleasant. Eanraig told us that Sim Darach was a wizard who, due to the area, specialized in ghosts, spirits, and undead. Not an actual necromancer, he studied them to protect his people. He lived in one of the few permanent structures beyond the fishing villages. Eanraig explained that this area was riddled with "soft spots" that made permanent structures beyond a few houses or a medium-sized castle unstable and dangerous.
Towards afternoon, Sarah and I stopped in our tracks. A feeling like a punch to the gut caused us to double over, trying to catch our breaths. Our other sisters and companions turned to us as we gasped.
"What's wrong? What is it?" some asked.
Before we could form an answer, all seven of our pendants began to glow. Eanraig's eyes widened at the sight. Gretta turned to him and told him about our pendants and the reason they would glow. This caused him to look around wildly for who or what had caused them to react. Once we could breathe, we began feeling for the source. Not far off the road, we found a place where Anna and Alice began receiving histories. Soon, we found the likely source, a tree with rotting ropes entangled in its branches and deep grooves that told of other ropes long gone. The pendants were tiny suns, glowing bright in the shade of the woods. Set sniffed around and announced bones and "parts" under the tree. The gut-wrenching feeling seemed focused on this tree.
"Now what? Do we call or something?" Sarah asked between pain-clenched teeth.
"Away! Away with you! Torture me no more!" echoed a pleading voice from somewhere nearby.
Eanraig jumped and began looking for a place to hide from the voice and its owner. I tried to keep my pain out of my voice.
"We have not tortured you. Show yourself so we may speak to you."
From the trunk of the tree, a human male slid out. He and his clothes were as pale as moonlight. A spectral rope dangled from his neck.
"Speak to me? Why? What game do you play?" he asked angrily.
"No game. We only wish to understand your situation. What binds you to this tree? What keeps you here?" I asked to calm him.
"I will not play nor answer your questions. Leave me before I harm you!"
"His name is Jamas Dueloc, a simple farmer. He was hung for murder and treason," Alice told us all.
"Lies! I killed no one! It is not treason to argue with liars and thieves. They claimed they were our new lords and began taking my crops to stuff their faces. I fought. They knocked me out. Next thing I know, I have a noose around my neck and begin pronounced guilty of crimes I did not commit. I tried to pray for deliverance, but was hung before I could finish."
"Which is why you are still here," Sarah explained, "It is not unheard of to find souls trapped when they were unjustly punished or not properly buried. The Abbot of the monastery near my convent told me of these occurrences."
"If we finished his prayer and/or declared his innocence, he could leave?" Lisa asked.
"It might work. Can't hurt to try," Anna commented.
"By whose authority can we pronounce him innocent?" Eanraig asked, "None of us have titles or ranks here."
Pushing past Jamas' pain, I felt for any presence. We found each other and I smiled. The rest gave me questioning looks.
"There is an authority here who has been listening. Elder, please join us," I requested.
Cracks and snaps preceded the arrival of a large Treant, who bent to avoid damaging the non-sentient trees. Even Jamas looked shocked.
"I am the guardian of this area. By my authority, I proclaim the human known as Jamas Dueloc innocent of the charges for which he was unjustly hung."
Sarah stepped towards Jamas and gave him his death rights. He started to glow and happiness shone on his face. As he and his voice faded, we could hear him calling to long-dead family that he was joining them, weeping happy tears. Just before he faded completely, he silently thanked us. Then, he was gone as was the pain.
"One less spirit heals my ward. Besides, his presence was damaging one of my trees. With him gone, I can do this."
Speaking in his wind-like language, the Treant dissolved the remaining ropes, filled in the grooves, and made the sickly tree strong again. We returned to the road as he went back to the deep forest. Eanraig was still shaky and nervous, jumping at every sound.
Evening found us looking upon Sim Darach's home, one tower and part of a ruined castle. Except for his corner, the rest tilted into the softer and weaker ground it had been unwisely built upon. The opposite corner was nearly invisible under vines, branches, and mushy earth. What had been the main gate was where it cracked, splitting as part of it sank. Eanraig guided us to a secondary door that was now the entrance to Sim's home. It was partially open, but we knocked anyway. From above us, a male voice called down to us.
"Enter, enter, young ones. Just setting up for tonight. Come on up," an older leprechaun male told us over the edge of the turret.
We walked into what looked like an apothacary shop, antique store, forge, and laboratory crammed together. We threaded our way to the steps that led us up to the roof. Up there, the male, Sim we guessed, was setting up an odd collection of telescopes, spy glasses, mirrors, and lenses.
"Welcome, all, I am Sim Darach. This is my home, shop, and work place. What may I do for you?" he said as he continued to work.
"Sir, these are the Seven Sisters of the Swords and their companions. They wish to learn about spirits and the like," Eanraig told him in a shaking voice.
"Sisters?... Oh, yes! I have heard of you. Good job in Selvis, you did. Nasty bunch, those Baalocs. Well, as he probably told you, I am the resident expert on such things. Let me finish here and we'll discuss that subject. Boy, stay or go?"
"I... I shall stay the night. I could not get back before dark," Eanraig answered.
Sim nodded and continued his work. Alice, mentally, explained that the device saw and recorded the spirit activity at night for Sim to examine in the morning. He seemed to be stuck on one part, cursing it under his breath.
"Need any help?" all seven of us asked at once.
Startled, he turned to us, "Help? Oh, I suppose. My old hands are not as strong as they use to be. This seems stuck."
We saw the part he indicated. A spyglass was facing straight down. He said it needed to point out towards the surrounding forest. It was, indeed, stuck. Between us all, we managed to get it pointed correctly. Satisfied, we followed him across the parapet to another door and into another part of the stable section of the castle. We went to a parlor, furnished in more antique furniture, human or elf sized.
"Sit, please," Sim indicated as he got comfortable in "his" chair, "So, is this interest personal or professional?"
"I guess professional," Gretta answered, "We need to understand liches and the like to defeat the governor and his men."
"Ah ha, I see. Come to clean up our corner of the world, have you. Well, that is an involved subject. Food would make it more pleasant."
Sim clapped his hands twice. Before us, food and drink materialized. Eanraig seemed suspicious, but we got no indication it was anything but normal food. Our companions found nothing amiss and dove into their portions. Sim laughed at their eagerness. As we ate, Sim hinted that his information and instruction was usually paid for by those seeking it. However, he also spoke of not needing coins or money as he was almost completely self-sufficient. Getting the hint, we produced Set's scales, Dawn's feathers, and some of Bo's skin. Seeing what we had, Echo shook a few scales loose to add to our collection. Once gathered, Gretta handed the whole pile to Sim. He kept his face blank, but his emotions shown his pleasure. He snapped his fingers and a tray appeared. Sim transfered the pile to the tray and it floated away.
With that settled, Sim became much more open and willing to speak. He repeated some of the Magistrate's information but added some details.
"Becoming a lich is a very arduous process. First, a very expensive device that takes nearly two weeks to build must be constructed. This houses the lich's soul because, during the process, the body dies. The second part reanimates the body, but it becomes an evil looking thing, a walking corpse. As such, the lich is now immortal, untouched by time. Normal attacks cannot kill it. It will appear as if it has been destroyed, but it is an illusion, a trick. In a matter of days, it is back, just as powerful and just as dangerous. Only releasing its soul from the device can destroy it forever. However, they hide them well and guard it even better."
Eanraig looked near to fainting. We, however, were planning. The swords hummed, searching their vast memories for encounters with other such beings. Our companions, save for Set, seemed to understand. Set was lost. He whimpered, conveying his confusion. I promised to go over it with him later.
"These guards," Lisa began, "are, likewise, undead or similar?"
Sim tapped his nose, "Perceptive,  very perceptive, young lady. Undead, most undead, have no wills of their own, blindly following whomever or whatever has the power. Those undead that retain their wills: vampires, spectres, or other liches, stay around for a variety of reasons. My instruments on the roof may find a concentration of such beings. While we know he is at the 'palace', his device may not be."
We agreed to check his results in the morning with him. Sim got up. We followed him to the habitable section of his home. He found a barrack-like room, obviously unused for a long time. Bo swept through the room, pulling the dust in a whirlwind and sending it out a crack in the wall. Sim called in some wood as we cleaned up a small stove to warm the cold room. Eanraig tried to find another room, but we insisted he stay with us, since it was only for tonight and the room had space to spare and was already clean and warm. Sim bid us good-night and headed to his own room. The matresses were useless so we stacked them against the wall. We laid our mats in the bed frames. Anna and Eanraig, as the two smallest, worked out a way to share her mat so they would both be comfortable. Once laid out, they realized, due to the mat's size and their heights, they each only took up half and there was little chance of waking in an embarrassing position.
As we laid down, I tried to get Set to understand Sim's lesson. To his credit, Set tried to understand, but found the idea of walking dead and killing yourself in order to live forever to be concepts his young brain could not fathom. We decided to shelve the idea until morning and went to sleep.