Partaking in an evening of revelrie as is my custom on eves from an adventure, I met a old soul, worn to a whisper, telling of quiet fantasies near a fire in the local tavern. Curious as to the tales, I crept closer to listen in, for I always seek to expand the knowledge of legends I myself can tell to a rapt audience.
He spoke of ancient betrayals, of great warriors, water sprites, and earthborn demons. As the evening went on, the crowd thinned, but I stayed close to hear every drop of mystery the weary storyteller had to give. Before I knew it, we were alone, the crackling of the fire dying to a low hiss, the cold creeping in.
He then told me of a final tale, wherein the ancient Aons of Hibernia's past had come again, their time forgotten now at an end. I could tell the man was near delirious, he had spoken now for many hours without end, so I offered aid to a room where he could rest. As I reached for him, he grasped my arm quite violently, and pulled me down to his fetid breath.
"Raelyr of Connla, it is not a matter of belief, but faith. You cannot deny your destiny, no more than you can deny your ultimate end. I served my purpose to the gods, and you in turn will serve yours."
He slipped into my hand a ragged collection of papers and parchment, scrawled with notes, littered with the scribblings of a madman. He relaxed then, signed heavily, and drifted to sleep in the armchair. I left then, ready to get some rest myself after such a night of drinking and storytelling, but something that eve made me dwell on the scrolls. Something inside me awoke that night, a desire not yet experienced, not of the body as so much of my life had been before then, but of the soul. Fictions became truth after that night, the scrolls leading to portents of ancient marvels, the coming of the sylvan, the trees with voices, and Old Ones caretaking even older magicks. I began then to collect my own research and writings on the gods, and learned for myself the truth of it all. In time I hope our work in Pantheon becomes known, for in time, the truth is the only thing that can save Hibernia...
...it can save us all.
