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Storyline & Lore
"Agree" Path
Chapter 5 Page 16a
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Bring 2 puppies under a year old to give to Bronagh. They must be weaned. They can be sick, but cannot be immortal, secured, in a trade, in a raffle or in training.
*Return to "Refuse" path
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Nudging the pups along with your nose, you guide them to the mouth of the cave. Quany is at your side, and Sirona and Maeve watch from a safer distance.
Bronagh's spirit focuses on the puppies, and her energy seems to practically thrum with happiness. Beside her paw, the trinket knot is shining.
"Oh, sweet ones, is that you? Come here, mother is here..."
The pups are confused at first, then they seem to recognize her as a wisp blinks in front of them briefly and then disappears.
"Mama? Mama!" They pad to the mouth of the cave, little tails wagging, and Bronagh leans down to nuzzle them.
"My puppies! You have returned! Oh I knew it, I knew those Faelcu would have to give you back. Come sweetlings, let's go home."
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Chapter 5 Page 17a
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Chapter 5 Page 18a
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Bronagh turns and, with the puppies following, disappears into the darkness of the cave.
The breath that the earth was holding seems to release--wind stirs the air again, and you can hear bugs and small critters moving around you.
No one moves for several moments. It's as if you're all waiting for something else to happen. But all is calm again, and the energy that once crackled all around you has disappeared.
Sirona pads past you and Quany to the mouth of the cave--still dark, but the darkness is more murky than sinister now.
She noses something out into the light--the knot!
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Gently grabbing it in her teeth, she pads over and then drops it at her paws as you, Quany, and Maeve all peer at it curiously.
"I would have thought she would have taken it with her..." Sirona trails off as she inspects it. It's no longer glowing, or giving off any sort of energy. In fact, it looks rather plain now.
Quany regards it with a thoughtful look. "The pieces of the knot were a physical manifestation of her memories... It was of this world even if she was not. It has no place except here on the mortal plane."
He turns it this way and that with a claw, as if looking for any sign that it's not just a normal trinket.
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Chapter 5 Page 19a
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Chapter 5 Page 20a
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"Bury it."
Maeve's voice is firm, almost commanding, as she joins you.
"Bury it, so that her soul finds peace in this world and she can't hurt anyone else."
She picks up the trinket knot in her jaws and pads a few feet into the cave before placing it gently on the ground.
"You took my Lowen. You took Conall. You hurt so many wolves... but it was all for your puppies. You just wanted your babies back." Her voice is near a whisper at the end, strained and full of grief. "That doesn't excuse what you did. Take your peace, for now... I will not give up. We will find a way to get back the wolves you took. One day. And if we have to go through you to do it, so be it."
The threat in her voice is undisguised, and without another word, she begins to dig.
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You join her, and Quany and Sirona join in too. Within minutes there is a deep hole in the ground, and Maeve stops digging. Picking up the trinket knot in her teeth, she unceremoniously drops it into the hole.
With a nod of approval, she then begins to kick dirt back in, and working together you soon have it covered back up.
"Wait here, I'll be right back," Sirona says, and lopes away. Where is she going?
She returns a few minutes later holding a cluster of yellow flowers, and sets them gently on the soft mound of dirt.
"St. John's Wort. For peace and healing."
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Chapter 5 Page 21a
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Chapter 5 Page 22a
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"Not so much thoughtful as a step to ensure she doesn't come back," she replies. "Herbs hold great power. Whether you believe in such things or not, the gesture can't hurt."
Maeve leans over and gives her ear a lick.
"Thank you Sirona. Hopefully we never have to deal with this again." Maeve looks at you in gratitude. "Thank you for all you've done, ___. At least for now, her search is over. I will not give up on Lowen. One day I'll see him again. But for now, my paws ache," she says with a sigh, and Sirona rolls her eyes.
"Gee, I wonder why. Come on Maeve, let's get you home," she says with a laugh, and padding side by side, they set off in the direction of their pack territory.
You feel a cold nose poke your shoulder.
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"Keep on your guard, ___. It may take some time for the effects of her search to wear off. Trust nothing, especially the lights." His expression brightens. "I'd best go after them or I'll be left behind. I don't move very fast anymore, you know." He lets out a husky laugh and nods respectfully at you.
"You are a good pup. You've done well to help us these past days. I've been around a while, I know a good wolf when I see it." He goes downward into a stretch, as if gearing up for the long trek back to his den.
"Don't be a stranger to the Chaorainn Pack. Come visit when you can. I have a feeling there will be more than one little reason for you to seek us out again." He has a mischievous look in his eye, and you think you know what he means.
He pads off, shouting ahead: "Would you two wait? I'm pretty sure you're supposed to let the elders go first, you know."
You watch him disappear, and look back at the trinket knot burial site one last time before turning and heading back to your pack.
Return home
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Chapter 5 Page 23a
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You have successfully completed the Coigreach storyline! You have been given the following rewards:
You got a Base Applicator [Clover] and +100 Smoky Quartz!
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The storyline continues on 20th November!
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Chapter 6 Page 1
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The air is fresh today. You raise your nose to the breeze and let the myriad of scents wash over you, sorting through them for prey. Your ears listen for the tell tale rustling that signals something is moving around. You can feel it--prey is close!
Suddenly you hear small yips and growls carried to you from a short distance away. It halts your hunting, and you follow the noise curiously. What are pups doing all the way out here?
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You round a cluster of trees and are greeted with a pleasant surprise: it's Maeve, watching two strong pups play and tumble with one another. They are stumpy and not very coordinated on their little legs, but they have full bellies and clean fur and clearly don't lack for energy.
One of the pups stops playing as it notices you, looking at you quizzically with overgrown ears and wide eyes.
"Auntie Maeve!" it squeaks, and the she-wolf glances up from grooming her paw.
She gasps and leaps to her paws in delight, tail wagging as her lips peel back to reveal a toothy grin.
"___! It's good to see you!"
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Chapter 6 Page 2a
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Chapter 6 Page 3
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You greet your friend, touching noses briefly. Maeve looks well. Her coat is shiny and her eyes are clear and bright.
Before she can get a word in, one of the pups walks boldly up to you and fixes you with a distrustful glare.
"Who are you?" she demands. Her little tail is bushed and pointed straight up, and she's puffed out her chest to make herself look bigger.
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The pup frowns, hesitating. Not so bold after all, is she?
Before she can answer, Maeve shoves the pup with her nose, forcing her to stumble backwards into the she-wolf's leg.
"Oonagh! Where are your manners? That's no way to greet an elder!" Maeve looks at you sheepishly, as if embarrassed on behalf of the pup.
"Sorry," Oonagh mumbles, looking down at her paws.
Maeve licks her ear gently, not truly cross with the pup, and Oonagh looks up at her.
"This is ____. Remember, from the story?"
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Chapter 6 Page 4a
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Chapter 6 Page 4b
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The pup's eyes go wide with fear, and she stumbles back. Mean, perhaps, but at least she's learned a lesson.
Maeve leans down and glares at the pup disapprovingly.
"Oonagh! Where are your manners? That's no way to greet an elder!" Maeve looks at you sheepishly, as if embarrassed on behalf of the pup.
"Sorry," Oonagh mumbles, looking down at her paws.
Maeve licks her ear gently, not truly cross with the pup, and Oonagh looks up at her.
"This is ____. Remember, from the story?"
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Before you can finish, Maeve shoves the pup with her nose, forcing her to stumble backwards into the she-wolf's leg.
"Oonagh! Where are your manners? That's no way to greet an elder!" Maeve looks at you sheepishly, as if embarrassed on behalf of the pup.
"Sorry," Oonagh mumbles, looking down at her paws.
Maeve licks her ear gently, not truly cross with the pup, and Oonagh looks up at her.
"This is ____. Remember, from the story?"
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Chapter 6 Page 4c
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Chapter 6 Page 5a
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The pup ignores you. "Wait, that story was real?" Her eyes grow huge, almost taking over her tiny face.
Maeve rolls her eyes and turns to the other pup, quiet as a mouse sitting between her front paws.
"Go on, say hello, Malachy," she encourages him. He wags his tail hesitantly and meets your gaze with big doe eyes.
"Hello."
He falls quiet again and Maeve leans down to nuzzle him fondly.
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Maeve grins, wagging her tail, and you can see true happiness radiating from her.
"They are. My dear ones."
She leans down to nuzzle them, and they squirm under her attentions. She shoos them away with a murmured word to go play, and after hesitating a moment they go back to their tumbling.
Maeve turns back to you. "Strong, are they not? They remind me of him."
She is practically bursting with pride, and it's hard to resist getting caught up in her happiness. There's a sadness behind her eyes, too; she misses her mate.
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Chapter 6 Page 6a
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Chapter 6 Page 7a
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A thoughtful look crosses her face, and she is silent for a few moments as she formulates an answer.
"I am proud of my pups and the strength they carry of Lowen. I smile as I watch them and teach them what they need to know. If that is happiness, then yes, I am happy."
She turns her attention back to the pups, ever the vigilant mother, and seems to be at peace as she watches them.
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You move and stand by her side, enjoying her company for a while as the pups play.
It's a peaceful scene, and one that will stay in your memory for a long time to come.
"You seem to have a talent for finding our friend, Maeve."
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Chapter 6 Page 8a
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