Porthenys - Curse of the Bean Nighe - Manannan's Quest

Porthenys is found just east of the Karnak lands. These people are the Seys are not too fond of either the Karnaks or the Runics. They are not hostile however. The Thane of Portenys will ask the party to destroy an annoying bunch of bandits in the area called the Scum how hideout at (2,64) and will harass the party until they are removed. Their hideout is accessible through a hidden entrance to a canyon at (10,69).

Porthenys is strangely quiet, people are drifting away to the east. Noone knows why. In fact they are joining the ranks of the Grey God's minions. The Grey God is attracting all those with evil in them to himself.

The local inn, the White Hart, holds a usful NPC wizard, a sergeant who has information regarding the curse of the Bean Nighe and the second floor contains a clue for Manannan's Quest.

Curse of the Bean Nighe

The Bean Nighe is a vengeful spirit of a woman who died in childbirth. This one is encountered endlessly trying to wash out the blood stains from the garment she died in along the river at (63,77). The party will be given a command by her to find her body and have it buried properly or her curse will manifest itself periodically. If the party speaks to the Thane of Portenys' wizard about this he will recall that the sergeant in the inn lose his wife in child birth. Visit the sergeant who is deep in his cups and full of remorse. He will indicate that in his jealousy and confusion he buried his wife in an unmarked grave at (32,65). The party should go there dig her up and bury her with her family on the sacred island off Porthenys at (30,80). The curse will then lift.

The Urisks

The satyr-like humanoids live and sport in the forest just east of Porthenys. The party will meet them during the Rut, when they fight to decide on their leader. If the selected party member wins the party gains three things: a useful NPC Urisk called Kerdrad, a pipe which summons Urisks to battle and the party will be able to enter the Vale of the Urisks (84,36) much later (where they will the opporunity to choose one of four useful but not essential items).

The Great Forest

To the north of Porthenys is the Great Forest wherein live the Ents. (see Gallowgaes). However some of the forest beings are not benevolent like the Ents and will prey upon the party. The worst of these are the malicious shapechangers known as the Quicklings.

The Fomorian Tower

North and west of the Great Forest is a white tower. It is long abandoned. Black roses prevent the party from travelling through its upper levels. The Belt given to the party by the Ents (see Gallowgaes) allows the party to move through it. Beyond this the party will find the directions to a hidden shrine to the Fomorian goddess Domnu and on the top level the party will encounter a family of Blue dragons.

The Shrine of Domnu

Hidden in the cave at (25,32) is the entrance to the Shrine of Domnu. The Fomorians are long dead at the hands of the Bone Shavers. However, Domnu will have her revenge. She will ask the party who her people were, say 'Fomorians'. She will then reward the party with the Fomorian Hammer which she has imbued with her own essence. It is the only item which is capable to penetrating the invulnerability around the Grey God's Avatar and is essential for the final encounter with Him. Rowan will demand that the party find it before they encounter him.

Manannan's Quest

This is a large and mostly hidden parallel plot concerning Manannan, the Sealord. The party will first find a map and coded phrase among the slain victims of the outlaws in the forest south of Tre Mordin and west of Porthenys. The map indicates a rendez-vous at (48,72) where the party will be met by a mysterious stranger who waits for the correct code which the party will not give. Assuming the party has killed his messenger he will attack. He possesses a second message and a map leading to the White Hart in Porthenys. The party should get a room, go upstairs and  inspect the library. A book on Manannan will contain a third message. If the party places the three messages on top of each other and reads down the letters they will see instructions. The need to inspect the statute in the library and receive another map. This one indicates a spot at (44,75) where the party must walk straight south into the ocean to arrive at Manannan's temple which is a lighthouse. The party will be able to walk on water to arrive at the temple.

The Priestess of Manannan will assign a holy quest for the party - to find the sword of Manannan - Fragarach 'The Answerer'. The party will need to journey far to the Frozen North to find it. They will need to travel to the lands of the Nordmen. In the Nordmen villaeg they should see the priest at (23,50) who will direct the party to find Hreidmar the mariner at his hunting lodge at (53,28) through a Griffon infested pass.

Hreidmar will allow the party to use his boat at (20,57) the party can then sail north until they find an abandoned village and a well which strangely enough is not frozen (23,25) The mischievous and aggressive Korrigans who love to collect bright and shiny objects and who spread the rumour that throwing coins down wells is lucky.

If the party climbs down the well and battles the Korrigans- at (27,2) they can swim down and retrieve Fragarach if they have cast the spell Waterworld on themselves. They should take Fragarach back to the temple of Manannan where the High Priestess will reward them by allowing them to keep the mighty blade.