Campaign Chunk Volume 11.03 – Giants Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, which was the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Called Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in Irish, the Giants Causeway is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills.
The legends of the Causeway tell tales of the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool), from the Fenian Cycle of Gaelic mythology, was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. In one version of the story, Fionn defeats Benandonner.[9] In another, Fionn hides from Benandonner when he realises that his foe is much bigger than he. Fionn’s wife, Oonagh, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the ‘baby’, he reckons that its father, Fionn, must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn could not follow. It should be noted that across the sea, there are identical basalt columns at Fingal’s Cave on the Scottish isle of Staffa.
In 1986 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The site is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland and much of the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site is owned/managed by the National Trust.
Hooks & Rumours
- Several years ago, a famous eccentric heavily hinted that he left a key to his vault under one of the columns. Leaving clues as to which one it might be, it began a treasure hunt. As of this time, no-one has discovered the keys location. A new clue is due to be released any day now
- A week ago a tourist found a body wedged in a gap in the Causeway. The body appears to be female but had no official forms of identification. The cause of death appears to be a massive blow to the head and looks like murder, even though some are saying that it was an obvious accident
- A film is being planned to tell the legend of Fionn and the making of the causeway. The filmmakers are on the lookout for new stars to play Fionn, Benandonner, and many others
- A group of students was arrested for defacing and damaging some of the columns. For some reason, thew news has spread globally and drawing much attention to the case and area. Some are saying what they did was a harmless “prank” and others that they should be prosecuted with the full power of the law
- A conservation group has started a funding drive to help preserve an area of the Causeway. Sadly their efforts are being hampered by the fact that one of their main opponents is a well known and influential industrialist with a history of destroying locations to get the resources she wants
Inspired by – Giant’s Causeway
Volume 10 of the compiled and updated Campaign Chunks is available at DrivethruRPG.com
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