Hound of Culann
Fionn the Fair
Cauldron Bearer
The Three Kings
Radiant Visage
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| CuChulainn Hound of Culann |
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| Doubtlessly the best known of early Hibernian heroes, he was ultimately mortal but of partially divine heritage for his father was Lugh. Tales of CuChulainn are numerous and extensive, and he figures in to many legends and heroic cycles. Originally called Setanta he received his name at the age of 7 when he inadvertantly kills the watchdog of the smith Culainn. He offers to take the place of the dog for a while, and is known as the Hound of Culann ever since. Described as short and dark, his battle-frenzy was legendary, shaking him and distorting his features until it seemed certain he would explode. Trained in martial skill by Scathach, he is the quintessential Celtic hero, leading a frantically active life in constant battle with enemies and seducing countless women. Early in his career he was given a choice between a long and peaceful life or a short but heroic one, and he chose the later. Thereafter he finds himself often in conflict with one or another aspect of Morrigan. In his final battle, he has himself strapped to a pillar so that he might die standing. Afterwards, Morrigan sees to it that his blood is scattered over the soil of all Hibernia. | |||||||||||||||
| Fionn MacCumhaill Fionn the Fair |
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| Fionn is the Hibernian hero, ultimately mortal, but inhabiting that gray area between mortality and divinity for as it happens his is the maternal grandson to Nuada. He is the subject of thousands of tales and has been suggested that he is from a time so ancient that the clans at the time worshipped a deity named Ui Niall, unheard of to any outside of Fionn's exploits. His character in the tales varies from telling to telling; at times he is paragon of the martial and huntsman virtues, and in others he appears bumbling, crude, and oafish. In either case he leads in incessantly active and vigorous life, constantly wooing maidens, fighting various opponents, or getting involved in complex adventures. He has connections to divine knowledge as well - one important tale has him encountering (while still a child) a druid who has caught the Salmon of Knowledge and is roasting it on a spit. Fionn reaches out to take a piece, but, burning his thumb, sucks it and thereby receives inner wisdom. Fionn's true race is unknown so each make grand claims to his racial heritage. | |||||||||||||||
| Llasar Llaes Gyfnewid Cauldron Bearer |
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| The great elven hero who first discovered the Cauldron of Daghda, hidden from sight by the malicious Afnisien. He is the husband of Cymidei and eventually grants the cauldron to Bendigeidfran at the time of his death to continue watching over it and keeping it safe. Those who defend the cauldron from those who would steal it invoke the name of Llasar Llaes Gyfnewid every time they wade into righteous battle. | |||||||||||||||
| MacCeacht, MacCuill, MacGriene The Three Kings |
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| The three Kings are married to the three Wives from the Valkyrie domain. MacCeacht married Fotla during her time as a mortal, MacGriene married Eriu when she was but a damsel. MacCuill is the only King to have proposed marriage to Etain, but was rejected when she took the hand of another. These Kings ruled over the ages the lands of the Tuatha de Danaan and went down in history as great heroic leaders of the people. | |||||||||||||||
| Talisein Radiant Visage |
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| Talisein is believed to be a semi-mythical figure whose life has become deeply intertwined with the Realmwars. He was apparently the premier bard of the age, and a book of his works decended through time. He figures in many tales, but chief among them is the story than he began as the boy Gwion, transformed into a mouse, and servant to Ceridwen. When he was finally released from that form, he was fully grown, and became the great bard Talisein. | |||||||||||||||