[st.patrik]

The world has grown old. Corruption and evil omens have filled the land. Strong foes assail us. Lesser men’s hope would fail.

Yet we are not lesser men, but warriors of renown come from the land of youth. Our enemies will yet rue the day they raised blade against us.

After the defeat of the hideous sea creatures in the south we drove eastwards, til we reached the shores of the sea the creatures had first come from. There we set a watch on the waters, and raised many prayers to the silent god. The underwater fort we had gained was manned and provisioned, and we encountered the original inhabitants of this strange undersea land. They were formed as men yet not, and rode great undersea steeds into battle. Their numbers were few and yet their hatred was strong against those who had despoiled their homes. With their help a mighty army was slowly raised, ready to go down the river to the sea and pursue the enemy to the last.

And so would all our strength have been behind the stroke, when it fell, had it not been for war also in the north. For a long time our people had lived peacefully between the western slopes of the great mountains and the western sea. In only a few places were the high mountains cut by a pass. From north to south our people began to see a foul people fill the land on the eastern side of the mountains. Like men and yet furred like beasts, wielding swords and bows and crazed with blood, they cast down all in their path.

The silent god caused a watch to be set, and at the southern end of the mountains a fort was raised. Alas for now it has been taken, and those within slaughtered - many sisters of my race in quiet study cut down. Unmerciful revenge will come swiftly.

In the north the cursed Fomorians grew in strength and well we knew they bore us no love. And so we found ourselves faced with three foes, and we prepared ourselves for war.

I was summoned to the presence of the silent god, and he entrusted to me two things: a mighty artifact and a bold mission. I was to go alone into the deep north to destroy as many of the cursed ones as my sword could reach. Ever they would strive against me and ever I would prevail. Hundreds were to assail me and be thrown back. I was to be the sword that does not turn in the hand, the high tower that cannot be taken, the thorn lodged deep in the flesh, the light in the northern sky. The shield he gave me, for such it was, was a mighty artifact of another time, painted with the faces of monsters whose very appearance would turn the one whose unhappy eyes took in the sight to stone.

And so I set forth, hatred and glory in my heart, to maim and destroy the unholy cursed ones. I passed out of our forests, bidding farewell to the last outpost of our people and faithful Seaghdha and into the fields of Fomoria. As before, I invoked the name of the silent god, prepared myself with such protections as my skill afforded, and fell upon the enemy. I left none to tell the tale, save the mute witness of their mutilated bodies for all of heaven to see.

As I passed north, the skies began to darken. I perceived by my arts that this was no natural thing, but the oppression of their cursed king. In these godless lands where the Fomorians hold sway their king steals hope from the people, ruling by fear and intimidation.

And yet I went on, passing from field over hills to a great wasteland, where distant mountains could be seen beyond. Each place I found a temple raised to the cursed god I tore it down and destroyed it.

At length I turned eastward because I perceived a great host dispatched to fell me issuing from a mighty fortress in the eastern mountains. I met them under a dark noon and scattered them, and yet I, as one alone, was not able to take their citadel. Those too cowardly to face me on the open field jeered from the walls of their fastness. Eventually I passed on, to seek more enemies to kill.

I found that as I had pressed north the cursed ones had come back to fill again the lands I had passed, and so I returned south, destroying all in my path, until I reached the borders of my own land and heard about the grievous doings in the east and south, for not against all foes had we fared so well as against the cursed Fomorians.