Campaign guide plight of the tuatha (1) 43

Campaign Guide
that your siblings shall bring you death. Forevermore shall
you be shattered.’
Balar was moved by these sad words and the blood
rage left him. He was Volsung once more and he wept for
his rash actions.

Paladrus’ Return and Aeliode Forms
And it came to pass that Palasrus returned from hunting
the Great Hind. As he reached Tulhesa’s resting place he saw
a horrible site for there she lay broken upon the ground,
blood flowing from her many wounds. Kneeling by her
side, covered in her blood was the great hunter Volsung.
Volsung raised his gaze to meet Paladrus’ and a tear fell
from his eye.1
‘Paladrus, it was I who slew Tulhesa and in doing so I
committed a great sin for I was misled by her children that
spoke of her terrible nature. I slew her believing she meant
harm to her own children, but such was not the case. I give
myself to your mercy.’
Paladrus felt rage build within him and for a moment
threatened to strike Volsung low where he knelt. Then
his rage turned to sorrow, and he knew the slaughter of
Volsung would not correct the great wrong that had been
committed.
‘Volsung, for killing Tulhesa you yourself should be
slain. But as your sorrow is plain upon your countenance, I
know that you regret your actions. You shall not go without
punishment however. As you have felt Tulhesa’s blood upon
you, you are now a divided being. You are now Volsung
who is Balar. All you create from this day forth shall bear

your division, perhaps ultimately to its destruction.’2
Paladrus then turned his gaze to Tulhesa and he spoke
thus. ‘Tulhesa, often we spoke of a creation we wished
to have built together. And together we shall forge this
creation. Your remains shall be the foundation of all creation so that none shall forget you. Your death shall not
go unnoticed.’
Paladrus then took the skin of Tulhesa and held it aloft.
‘Your scales shall make the sky and their glistening shall
glitter in the darkness and be glorified in the light.’
1. It is from here that that one of the holy symbols of Paladrus is derived. The image of a single eye with a tear
falling.
2. This is the point in which it seems that Ochesa who is
Volsung completely attains his third form of Balar. With
this final curse from Paladrus, he becomes Ochesa who is
Volsung who is Balar. This curse can be seen playing out
in many tales such as Volsung’s creation of the dwarves.

42

Paladrus contained her blood and spoke, ’Your blood
will sustain life, gathered into oceans, seas, rivers and lakes.”
Paladrus gathered her bones together and spoke, ‘your
bones shall be the lands that rise from the oceans as great
mountains.’
Paladrus then called the Great Weaver to his side and
spoke thus. ‘Great Weaver, your skills at the loom are
matched by none. I ask that you weave a shroud to cover
the remains of Tulhesa, a shroud more perfect and beautiful than any other weaving you have created. In this way
Tulhesa shall be glorified’
‘I shall do this for you dear Paladrus replied the Weaver.

’I shall not weave just one shroud, but many layers of my
finest work. Thus she will be protected always.’
The Great Weaver worked and worked under the gaze
of Paladrus. She created cloth the likes of which had never
before been seen. She wove one shroud and placed earth
upon it. She lay another over the earth and placed fire on
this second shroud. Layer upon layer she wove and placed
upon Tulhesa, alternately placing air, water, thought, and
many other elements between the shrouds. Finally she laid
the last shroud upon all the rest and stepped back to look
at her work.
Though the blood of Tulhesa soaked through the
shrouds in some places, it was indeed a beautiful sight to
behold.
‘I call this last shroud the Prime as it encompasses all
the rest.’ she said to Paladrus. ‘But this creation is very
fragile. I must place my children upon the shrouds so that
they may repair any areas where the treads may wear.’
Paladrus looked down upon the work and was pleased.

Volsung Creates the Dwarves
…And lo did Volsung watch as the Great Weaver spun
Tulhesa’s Burial Shrouds and placed them upon her body.
He watched as she placed soil, air, fire, and water between
the shrouds just as ritual dictates. He watched her place
the last shroud upon the body of Tulhesa and then take
her leave.
Volsung remained while the others prepared further
honors for the dead god.
And as he watched he saw her blood begin to seep

through the shrouds and pool. He began to worry that
her blood would stain all of the shrouds and ruin her great
memorial.
‘While the Great Weavers children will repair the
cloth she has spun, they can do nothing about its staining,’ thought Volsung. ‘I shall create creatures to aid in the