The First 300 Years

Your mother Aoibh passed away after giving birth to the youngest of you. Though you grieved, her passing brought you closer to your father Lir. Bodb, the leader of your village, dotes on you almost as much as Lir. Wanting to keep a close connection to you all, he asked Lir and his daughter Aoife if they would be married. They both consented.

Things were good for a while, but Aoife, unable to bear children, became jealous of your mother. Jealousy eventually developed into resentment. Resentment developed into hate. Yesterday, you rode out of the village to go swimming in the Lake of the Oaks. When Aoife appeared before you, she seemed distressed. She placed a curse on you, transforming you into frail swans, though you retain the power of speech and the ability to sing. Unfortunately, it seems there is no way to break this curse. Even the magic of Lir or Bodb will not be powerful enough.

Before she leaves, she tells you the only way to undo the transformation is to remain in this lake for 300 years, then spend another 300 years in the Pious Straits, a stormy stretch of ocean, and finally spend another 300 years on the Isle of Tribute, a remote and deserted island. Once you leave this lake, it might be a long time before you see another person. You ought to make the most of these first 300 years…