Visting the Sidhe (and maybe staying for a while)
After wiping the pig gunk off themselves, the Danger Gang heads back to the mound previously glimpsed. While the Fomorians are no longer BBQing on top of it, nearby two of their number lie ignominiously dead, having tripped over a pointy root and the body of their friend, respectively. No immediate danger seems about, though the door into the mound has been opened recently, by (as it happens, after some introductions) Diogenes, a flatulent Byzantine mystic, and Gwynn, a truculent Welshman who is in no way pleased at seeing heathens (well, him-heathens) traipsing about this hallowed place all willy-nilly. The DG solemnly swears to keep their voices down (lucky Karl's not along), and they explore the interior. Vaguely cross-shaped, and very well-lit for being underground (thanks to a likely-equinox-aligning slit over the door), the central chamber also features a spiral on the ground. Over Gwynn's protestations, the group does a sort of ring-around-the-rosy along the outer edge of said spiral, and . . .
. . . finds themselves in a much larger room, full of festive bonfires and festive feasting, engaged in by tall, slender, super HOTT and slightly translucent folk, who seemed a bit nonplussed to see them. They're not unfriendly, however--one introduces himself as Tethra, and informs the group that yes, they've made it to the Sidhe. The elves (for elves they are) were long ago vanquished by humans from Spain, and now inhabit the lower half of Ireland--that is, the half under the ground. Tethra seems quite impressed that Zombres knows enough to ask about the tribe of Dan; indeed, long ago the Danes ruled their land, and interbred with the elves. The DG presents them with a token of thanks, the elven rod of resurrection stolen by Shulgi from a different tribe of elves who once lived far to the south, in the Sahara. They also learn that Lia Fail's current mentally-challenged state is not in fact their fault, but that of Cúchulainn, who split it in two in a fit of pique. If the two halves can be reunited, it should be fine. As far as who'll know where the other stone is to be found, Tethra suggests we ask someone who's eaten of the salmon of wisdom. Sure, why not.
Speaking of eating: meanwhile, Arben has gorged himself on elvish food, which is like the #1 Don't of Visiting Fairyland, because now? He can't leave. The only hope to leave with the party intact is to try a strong purgative, says Tethra: "the hair of the chin of my father," Lugh, who has gone mad and is living in a cave (like you do) nearby, strewn with piles of gold and offal. In the depths of the cavern, hissing and weeping . . .
