meet the resistance before it had ever begun. Dagda looked to her with a troubled face and asked, "if we are to leave Hibernia to fight a war against an unknown race, who would be left to protect our home?" Lugh then spoke out hastily to add, "We can not leave our country, nor can we even begin to predict the power of this race. We must defend before siege. Learn the ways of these people." Nuada then interrupted by saying "why don't we have Dian Cecht create a staff that could be imbued with our powers and used to protect the lands of Hibernia even in our absence?" The heads of the Tuatha snapped to Nuada and the air became rather still. Dagda said calmly "Aye brother… I do feel that would be our best plan of action." The other Tuatha quickly agreed.

So it was decided that Dian Cecht's craftsmanship would be called upon again. He began crafting a shod staff made of duskwood with an emerald the size of a fist encased in its peak. After the staff was crafted the Tuatha met

once again to perform a ritual that would place their powers into this staff. As the ritual progressed the storm that had been bantering the hillside for days diminished. The sun peaked out between the clouds and shined upon the shrine illuminating it with a breathtaking aura. Small wisps of light began flowing through the bodies of the Tuatha into the staff. When the wisps of light disappeared Anu stepped forward and mumbled an ancient blessing. She then bent down and kissed the emerald, which was placed at the staff's crown. The staff began glowing a silvery green color and Anu named it "Bioran de Saorsa".

At this point the Tuatha decided they needed a place they could house this powerful yet destructive staff. Anu decided it was time to contact a mortal and instruct them to build a tower that could protect this staff. She sought out an individual so pure of heart that he would perform this task without questioning her motives or inquire about the origins of this