Historical Background

The events of the campaign happen sometime around the first century AD, concurrent with the founding and early years of the Roman Empire. The Irish people, a Celtic race, migrated from their original homelands in Central Europe, bringing with them a culture based on cattle-herding and the use of chariots and iron weapons.

The Celts invented and bequeathed to western civilization such things as chain mail armor and soap, as well as some of the most hauntingly beautiful music ever made. It was Roman snobbishness, not backwardness, that got the Celts branded as barbarians. Then again, the Celts did have this thing for collecting human heads ...

The Fourths of Ireland

Ireland at this time is theoretically divided into Fourths, each a kingdom to itself; Ulster in the north, Munster in the south, Leinster in the east, and Connaught in the west. In actuality, the land is a mosaic of petty tribal kingdoms with very fluid borders. The two most powerful rulers are King Conor mac Nessa of Ulster, who rules from Emain Macha, and Queen Maeve of Connaught, who rules from Cruachan.

Queen Maeve has just come into power, but already showing a deadly ambition that will inexorably bring the two kingdoms to war.

Within each Fourth are many tribes, or tuaths, each ruled by a chieftain or petty king, called the Righ. Tuath society is divided into five castes: the nobles (Flaith); the professionals (Aes Dana) comprising the priesthood (Druids), the bards (Filidh), the lawkeepers (Brehons) and the smiths; the gentry (Bo-Aire); the commoners (Betagh); and lastly the slaves.

Economy

There were no towns or cities in ancient Ireland. The largest settlements were the fortified dwellings of the chieftains, the raths (aka duns, if on a hilltop). The economy is based on cattle-herding and farming, with chieftains leasing land and cattle to their retainers in exchange for certain obligations like tribute and a promise to fight in his train when called.

There is some trade with mainland Europe, exchanging gold and amber for luxuries like Greek wine, olive oil, dyes, even silk from China. The traders are usually other Celts, but it’s not unlikely for Phoenicians from Carthage or Spain to visit once in a while. Coins are not used, as all transactions are in the form of barter. Three commodities are used as standards of value - grain, cattle, and slaves.

Warfare

There is always much rivalry between tuaths, and warfare is practically a national sport; cattle, slaves, and booty are the prizes. Any one warrior will always be in the center of at least several feuds which extend for generations. A king or chieftain’s army consisted of: a corps of chariots, made up of his flaith and wealthy bo-aire retainers; his fianna, or professional household infantry; and kerns, light-armed footmen from poorer bo-aire and betagh families.

Weapons are of iron, even good steel, though a few still possess and use antique bronze blades. Armor is rare, the best types being bronze scale, and very rarely, chain mail. The Irish at this prefer to rely on agility and large shields for defense, and some even fight naked to show off their tattoos. Bows are used only by the Picts. Polearms and the two-handed sword have yet to be invented. The battle-axe is known, but currently used mostly by the Picts. Irish horses are fast and hardy, but too small to ride when armored, so the chieftains and nobles use chariots.

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Legendary Background

The Irish believe they are the last of many waves of invaders; the inhabitants of the land before they came were the Tuatha de Danaan, whom they conquered with the aid of iron and the magic of the druid Amergin. The Tuatha de Danaan then disappeared, but still haunt the mounds called sidhe - giving them their new name, the Aes Sidhe, the People of the Mounds.

These are the lords of faerie, the Daoine Sidhe, and commonly referred to as the Shining Ones or the Fair Folk, euphemisms meant to show respect and avoid attracting their attention. The powers of the Aes Sidhe are dreaded and respected, and they are accorded courtesy as if honored guests or owners of the land even when they cannot be seen. Indeed, the great lords of the Tuatha de Danaan are revered as gods.

Other supernatural inhabitants of the land include the Fomori and the Fir Bolg, bitter enemies of the Tuatha de Danaan by whom they forced to retreat to their dwellings under the sea or other places of hiding. Aside from these, a whole host of faerie folk and beasts constantly wander through the land, incuding such things as puccas, cu sith, kelpies, nukalavees, brownies, knockers, redcaps, the Wild Hunt, etc etc. and fer the love of the gods, laddie, dinna go oot alone at night!

The Irish believe that the Faerie are constantly present, and may interact with mortals at given times and places. The barrier between the worlds is thought be specially weak on Samhain Eve and other religious holidays. Because these events hinge on the movements of celestial bodies, astronomy is one of the main skills of the druids.

Many children are thought to have been sired by faerie fathers, or borne by faerie mothers (like in Homer’s epics, where a lot of the heroes had one divine parent). Many families still claim descent from either the Tuatha de Danaan or the Fir Bolg, which explains the fantastic powers shown by some heroes. The most famous scion of such unions was the child Setanta - the future champion Cuchulainn - whose father is rumored to be Lugh himself.

Your Characters

Your characters are of the flaith caste, the chariot-chieftains, the equivalent of knights in a medieval milieu. You are of the Red Branch clan, descendants of Rory of the Red Branch. Red Branch warriors have had a reputation for excellence and chivalry for generations, a tradition you are sworn to uphold. You live for fame and honor; death is nothing, so long as the bards sing of your name ever after. Anyone who insults you must pay - only a bard is immune from your vengeance. You strive to be a good friend and a terrible enemy. You are proud of your fighting skills, ready at any time to champion the Ulaidh against an enemy hero in single combat, armed with a repertoire of special feats called cleasa.

You have just come of age (18 - 21), after several years spent as fosterlings of King Conor mac Nessa, in the stronghold of Emain Macha; here you were taught the arts of war, the history of the tribe, etiquette, and the tangled web of laws that hold your society together. Your teachers were the best of their field; I have reflected this with your option to take some of the Red Branch personalities as mentors. Some of you may even have gone to the island stronghold of the amazon Skathe, a renowned teacher of the martial arts, and there learned feats unknown to anyone else.

Now you are full-fledged warriors, and for the past few months you have been on duty patrolling the borders against cattle-raiders; the story begins with Conor’s summons inviting you all to celebrate Beltaine at Emain Macha. From the events of this feast will your fates, and the fate of all Ulster, be woven …

Your Place in Society:

As flaith and royal retainers, you are wealthy men; each of you has the right to farm and pasture your herds on a sizable tract of land, and your homes are fortified strongholds called raths (or duns, if on a hilltop). You own a chariot, horses, weapons, armor, and a personal herd of some 50-100+ cattle.

You have many dependents - a personal band of fighting men, tenants who have pledged to you a tithe of their produce and their services, charioteers, and some slaves. Your personal charioteer is chauffeur, servant, weapon-carrier, personal medic and bodyguard all rolled into one, and though he is a commoner he is accorded the respect due to a warrior; likely as not, he is also your best friend. Other people living in your household may include a lesser druid, a harper, a shanahy or storyteller, and some craftsmen.

You divide your time between home and stints in Emain Macha, on duty with the king’s warband, or on border patrol fending off cattle-raiders. Every year, you are expected to entertain the king and his warband in a feast at your own dun; this reinforces the ties of mutual loyalty as well as ensuring the king gets enough to eat (since it’s easier to go to the food than have it brought to Emain Macha).

These feasts are also the opportunity to meet other noble’s daughters and sisters and introduce eligible warriors to your own. Frequent exchanges of gifts also help establish friendships and mutual obligations; a reputation for generosity raises other people’s regard for you, and anyone to whom you give a gift is obliged to respond with an equal or greater gift, or be in your debt.

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Geasa

Religion is woven into every facet of life. When your character was born, and on significant occasions thereafter, a bard or druid may proclaim a geas upon you; a geas is a taboo or required observance that will prevent bad luck or loss of the gods’ favor. Most geasa require you to avoid certain actions at particular times and places, or to never refuse a certain course of action under certain conditions. Fergus mac Roy, for example, is geased never to refuse an invitation to go drinking. These are permanent geases, which a character must observe for life.

There are also transitory geases, which last only until a certain condition is fulfilled. These may be imposed in war, by victor upon the defeated; by a champion, dictating the terms of single combat; by those taking oath; and by women, when being courted. Breaking these transitory geasa is not as serious a violation as breaking a lifetime geas, but results in loss of honor and forfeiture of whatever was granted under geas. In other words, geasa are fallbacks that keep society in line through the common fear of the supernatural, in a milieu where laws are difficult, often impossible, to enforce.

Some universal geasa are: Never attack your host or guests after partaking/giving hospitality; Never kill a filidh; No king may keep the throne if maimed in any way; No king may keep the throne if impotent; Never refuse hospitality to one who asks, even if an enemy; Never ask a guest his purpose for visiting; Never break an oath; Never defile a holy place (including sidhe mounds); and most important of them all, be nice to the GM …

In the game I will be using your geasa as plot hooks.

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Important Characters in the Ulster Cycle

Conor mac Nessa: king of the Ulaiti. Son of Fachtna the Giant and the princess Nessa. Conor was not of the righ domna of the Ulaiti, but his mother married the king, Fergus mac Roy, on the condition that should he leave for more than a year, Conor would be king for as long as he was gone. Fergus did leave, but when he came back, the Ulaiti had voted to keep Conor on the throne. Conor is known for his great generosity, pride, and lustiness. He owns a sidhe-made shield that gives him +5 Battle and roars when his life is in danger.

Fergus mac Roy: former king of the Ulaiti, who yielded his throne to Conor then found he could not get it back. Now the king’s champion and arms instructor of the Boys’ Troop at Emain Macha. Fergus is very scrupulous about his honor and his geasa, which happily includes one forbidding him never to refuse an invitation to go drinking.

Athairne, Fedlimid, Fingan, Sencha, Cathbad: the resident aes dana of Emain Macha, being respectively the king’s chief poet, harpist, phyisician, brehon and druid. Your teachers in the ways of the tribe.

Cullen the Smith: smith, so wealthy he lives in his own dun. He is as famous for the huge, ferocious hound he keeps to guard his gate as well as the quality of his work. Setanta was attacked by this hound, but killed it with nothing more than a hurley stick; when Cullen demanded restitution, Setanta volunteered to stand in the dog’s place until a replacement could be trained, giving him the nickname Cuchulainn, the Hound of Cullen.

Setanta: son of Conor’s sister Dectera, the boy who will later be known as Cuchulainn. His father is rumored to be either Conor himself (which makes him guilty of incest), or a sidhe lord. The most promising student in his batch of the Boys’ Troop, with a sunny disposition and very deep sense of honor, but prone to berserk rages.

Ferdiad mac Daman: Setanta’s best friend and the only member of the Boys’ Troop who can even begin to match his prowess. Rumored to be of Fir Bolg descent, which gives him an unusually dark appearance and enormous strength.

Naisi, Ardan, Ainnle: the three sons of Uisnach, known for their reckless bravery, merry dispositions, good looks, and skill at hunting and handling horses. However, Cathbad the druid foresees some doom hanging over their heads that he has yet to identify.

Bricriu Bitter-Tongue: a wealthy flaith follower of Conor with a guileful and malicious streak; ever since he was pierced in the kidneys by an enemy spear, he has dedicated himself to sowing discord and making others as miserable as he is himself. Whenever he visits the royal dun, there is sure to be a brawl in the mead hall. Not a nice person.

Maeve: queen of the Connachta, ruling from her citadel of Cruachan. A very ambitious warlord full of guile and a deep hatred for Conor mac Nessa. She is also a most beautiful redhead, despite being the mother of a very beautiful daughter and seven strapping sons. All her sons are named Maine, because it was once prophesied that a man by that name will slay Conor.

Ailill: Maeve’s husband, a prince of Leinster. Being of subordinate rank and wealth when he married Maeve, he never was able to acquire the privileges and powers of king, so it is Maeve who rules.

Skatha: a faerie amazon hag or cailleach living on the Isle of Skye, she is a formidable master of all weapons and is sought after by heroes as a teacher of the martial arts.

Ayfa: a young and beautiful amazon who also lives on Skye, and is Skatha's irreconcilable enemy. She used to be a student of Skatha, then broke away to become a marauder.

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