TOMB OF THE FAIRY PRINCE

 

Hook: The day has waned and the evening rides closely on its heels, leaving the landscape in a state of growing quiet and peace as the night begins to settle over it. The old forest has turned to dark shapes all around you. It doesn't take long to set up camp, and, before the entire world is enveloped in total blackness, you are all sitting before a small, roaring fire, comfortable and warm, despite the late fall chill in the air. Your cloaks and furs drawn tight, you choose watches and recount the day before retiring... save for you, the first on watch, left on guard until midnight. It's not long before your eyes drift from the crackle of the fire to the perimeter of the camp. Something flashed out of the corner of your eye... It's near-pitch black, but, your elven eyes pierce the veil of night with ease. To you, it may as well have remained full daylight. The flash comes, again... You rise, check your kit and weapon at your side, and move off in the direction of the light, following the narrow stream you'd camped near... Soon, other flashes, not far off, lure you on... You decide not to wake your friends, yet, but, have the mind to bolt back to them, at the slightest sign of danger. The flashes are 'orbs' of light ahead of you, not much bigger than your hand... You know what this is, suddenly, and you realise that continuing would be a bad idea. Heading back, you settle in for the night, finish your watch, and wake your friend. The fairies are playing, not attacking, and you know they mean mischief, even to you. Best to wait until morning to investigate with your companions..

Details: The fairies are dancing as they do, around a magical mushroom ring girdling the roots of a large willow tree hanging over a pool. It's a sacred site for the faeries. They buried a friend nearby, in the cave, with the help of the friend's tribe. He had only been a boy, but, had been a friend of the forest, like his people are, and had died defending the area from a threat. He was interred with a stylised pink sandstone statue of his gryphon mount behind him. His sword was placed nearby in a heavily-carved granite stone, awaiting one worthy to pull it forth and bear it, again, in the name of goodly and green things. The stone will not chip. The only way to remove it is by testing it. Only a person of elven descent, of good temperament, and a friend of nature may wield it... It will come easily from its moorings, when such a person tugs it free... The fairies defend the sword, and will use their magic and attack, if the sword, or the prince's cairn, is threatened, in any way...

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