by Bart Fievez (Changeling: The Dreaming | Resources)
Ulysses, part I: Brugh Na Boinne
She stroked my breast.
"Join me," she said.
"Why leave Paris for Dublin?" I asked her.
"Well to destroy and create of course. That's what we have always done and should start again."
"But why? Order is strong."
"One court is back, the other is waking up. They are using the order to their advantage. Come back home, Stephen� like Ulysses�"
This is the first part into a C:tCC and C:tD look into the the modern Irish lands. I started out from the situation depicted in the excellent book written by the Changeling Developers Cassada and Rae: "Immortal Eyes 3: The Court of all Kings." Using the changes in the WoD I extrapolated my vision of what has happened over the last few years. My vision of the Changeling world is slightly different, however. As it is about Ireland I took the Celtic flavour as the main ingredient. This is the main culture in Ireland and as far as this interpretation is concerned the only relevant one for the Fae. I hope to extrapolate on the Norse culture, but I will try to do this in a future installment.
The main concept is the sacrifices that have to be made by the Fae and the changes they have to go through to survive the new millennium in the WoD. Themes are brought forward by setting them up against each other. There are two main themes in this setting.
Celtic vs Norse, Celtic vs Christianity. The main influence in this chronicle is Celtic. The Celtic ideas from Changeling and the WoD are the most important. The main Courts and characters are the Celtic. Next to that, the Vikings founded Dublin. Therefore, the Norse myths are the second main stream in the game. Of course the last but not least Christianity in general and the Protestant vs. Catholic struggle.
The new world seems to be banal. There are, however, possibilities for new Dreams. Technology does not have to be contrary to the Celtic beliefs and traditions. Some of the fae understand and try to change that, not all however.
The style is a mix of the old and the new. The old traditional Celtic meets the Matrix. Dangerous Liaisons meets the Snapper.
Most of the history used for Ireland is in Court of all Kings. These are my extrapolations on that information. In 1996, the troubles for Finn of Ulster came to a climax. Finn has fallen into total Bedlam. The seelie and unseelie pressures that come with ruling a county like Ulster are to high for one Fae to bear. King Bran of Leinster, King Fiachra of Connaught and Queen Nuala of Munster planned the inescapable: [VM1] a war. The raged and King Finn and the King of Leinster fell. Princess Elatha is too young to take control of Leinster. Meanwhile Meilseoir summoned Lady Slaine in her sleep. He called to her to set up a new Court in Leinster consisting of a Seelie and an Unseelie Court. She obliged and went to Dublin over Paris. There she met Stephen Muirgheal, a newborn mage with an old soul, a member of the hidden Hermetic House D�edne. She told him about her plans and seduced him. He joins her cause. They travel to Dublin and meet princess Elatha. They set up court. In winter Slaine shall rule and Bethany shall be the �opposition� as known in current politics. In summer it will be the other way around. A new hope, new and old ideas combined. The point will of course be to defend the new ideas against all others and the threat of the Fomorians.
Meanwhile Doireannara has taken Belfast and Ulster. She rules with Lorenzo on her side. The war for Ulster continues in a more peaceful manner. Duke Kestry and his Harpers have been taken underground and fight their battles for Ulster in secret. There also seem to be some prolbems within the camp.
II Brugh Na Boinne
In the county of Leinster the valley of the Boinne lies. Here some of the strongest magical places of the World of Darkness lie. Tara, the most important Caern of the Fianna wolfmen lies in the Boinne valley. Brugh Na Boinne is one of the most important mystical sites for the Celtic Fae. It is place where the Fae and wolfmen meet. It consists of three large megalithic sites, Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth.
This text is based on 3 main texts. Caerns: the Places of Power, Immortal Eyes: Court of all Kings, and a text in the webzine on Celtic tradition Tri Spiral, written by Deena McKinney and Buck Marchinton. The WW-books contradict eachother however. I try to resolve this and update the texts.
A whole of three power nodes near to one another. Before the mythic age Changing Breed and Tuatha De Danaan alike created the place. The Fianna and some Corax took Knowth for their own. Newgrange was taken up as the main summer Court and Dowth was taken as winter court.
After the Sidhe left it was fell into disrepair. The commoners and the Fianna tried to keep it in its former splendour, but failed. As most of the commoners fled into their Unseelie ways, Dowth was taken as their court and Newgrange was left permanently. With the new Court they want to reinstate Newgrange, but aren�t really sure how.
History: For early history see Court of all Kings page 85/86. The battles and death of her guardian Bran left her in despair. She fell to her unseelie side and threw everything overboard. She left her boyfriend, nearly killing him. She has killed some of the swan friends of her best friend, Branwyn. After a time of freaking out, she found herself drawn to the forests where Meilseoir found her in her dreams. It was here, through an Ailil, that she refound her Seelie nature. She know nows that both sides where important and had to be taken into consideration. The morning after her encounter she met up with lady Slaine and the mage Stephen Muirgheal. They talked about their dreams and found they had to found a new court of Leinster. They agreed upon exchanging the winter and summer court, as had been customary.
They formally the court has been founded. Elatha is still prone to fun, but determined to rule. Elatha greatly respects the commoners in her court. She holds the story of Lord Gwydion in high esteem and parries a lot of discussion with the argument of care for others that powered the House in it�s beginning. She has begun to rekindle her relationship with Branwyn, hoping this will mend some of the problems between nobles and commoners. Not everyone agrees, of course. But that is a new way of life.
Kith: Sidhe
Court: Seelie
Season: Spring
Class: Warrior
House: Gwydion
Lord: She is a lord herself.
Attributes: See CoaK 85/86
Abilities: See CoaK 85/86, add the knowledge Academics 1.
Branches: Dana 1, Math 2.
Backgrounds: See CoaK 85/86, Faerie Blood 1, Title 5, Treasures 1.
Merits/Boons: Hour of Birth 2
Flaws/Bans: Season�s Touch 2, Dana Bans (1-must make offering at Lughnasadh), Math Bans (1-may not use the feats of this Rank on Lughnasadh, 2-must buy an antique Irish book every season).
Antipathy(banality): 2
Treasures: Courtly Treasures
Image: See Court of all Kings p. 85/86. She most wears black and grey, tight fitting clothes in a minimalistic style. She still has her though aspect, by using leathers and latex. By the simple lines of her mostly designer outfits her beauty shines even more. In courtly functions she wears a white leine, a garment similar to a toga.
Roleplaying Hints: A young, but strong women. Be lighthearted and flirting, at first sight. When in a problem be stern a show your innate regal prowess.
History: See Book of Houses 2 for general history. Meilseoir came to Lady Slaine in her sleep. He called to her to set up a new Court in Leinster consisting of a Seelie and an Unseelie Court. She obliged and left the States for Dublin over Paris. There she met Stephen Muirgheal, a newborn mage with an old soul, a member of the hidden Hermetic House D�edne. She told him about her plans and seduced him. He joins her cause. They travel to Dublin and meet princess Elatha. They set up court. In winter Slaine shall rule and Bethany shall be the �opposition� as known in current politics. In summer it will be the other way around.
Slaine enjoys being in Dublin. She likes teaching Elatha and has built a real liking as well as a sexual attraction to Elatha. Elatha has been quite strict in this sense till now, but is slowly startin to change. Slaine recognizes the threat lord Gildas poses. She is however very strong in her opinions to stay and keep Elatha at her side.
Kith: Sidhe
Court: Unseelie
Class: Loremaster
House: Ailil
Lord: She is her own lord
Attributes: see War in Concordia (maybe)
Abilities: see War in Concordia (maybe)
Social: see War in Concordia (maybe)
Branches: Math 3, Dana 3, Morrigan 1, Rhiannon 2.
Backgrounds: Contacts 5, Demesne 2, Resources 4, Retinue 4, Title 5, Faerie blood 1.
Merits/Boons: Seldom Sleeps 2
Flaws/Bans: Dominion 2, Math (1-Must celebrate autumn by dancing in autumn leaves, 2-cannot enter a library on a friday, 3-must care for all Mistletoe she comes across.), Dana (1-Must care for a horse once a month, 2-can�t enter a trod on a full moon, 3-must protect all trods), Morrigan (1-must help someone take revenge once a year), Rhiannon (1-must celebrate in Beltaine rituals, 2-must fool someone every full moon)
Wyrd (glamour): 7
Willpower: 8
Treasures:
Image: Slaine looks like an unremarkable lady. She is beautiful as are all sidhe, but not her. She does impress when she enters a room however. Her beauty is more of an integral part than it is physical. She dresses in fashionable suits in greys, black and purple. For court functions she�ll wear a severe looking dress in a style that best suites her purposes.
Roleplaying Hints: Be strong and civil. Stay silent to listen to what people have to say, then use their words for your purpose. You have a strong urge to make this work, but realise that your ideas are different from most.
History: Gildas came from Wales to observe the new coalition between Gwydion and Ailil. Like most Gwydion he hates Ailil. He also disdains commoners, as he thinks they should take and know their place. In this he has forged alliance with Queen Nuala of Munster, which again makes strange bedfellows. But the time call for new alliances.
He does have good reasons to fear for Elatha. He lost his younger Kinain sister to one of the horrors from the White Court. He projects his grief, fear and anger on Elatha, thinking that by regaining her confidence his sisters� death will not have been in vain.
Kith: Sidhe
Court: Seelie
Class: Warrior
House: Gwydion
Lord: Elatha n� Gwydion (Nuala n� Eiluned in secret)
Image: He is the classical hero. He has long blong hair, shining blue eyes and flashing smile. The ladies like him and he cares for them. He wears flashing brigh clothes in everyday he can. He seems to look like a rather strange figure in daily life, but his looks make people forgive his eccentric choice of clothes. He dons armor for courtly functions, coming to the fore shining as a beacon, to the dismay of a lot of commoners.
Roleplaying Hints: Be there and be square. Make yourself known, be very civil and expect nothing less. Command commoners at your whim, and give them your rage when they anger you.
History: Enchanted by the Fianna, Finnula petioned High King David to become official delegate from the fae to the Fianna. She was granted this great honour. She decided to travel to Ireland, because this was were the main Fianna Caerns, and of Brugh Na Boinne lay. She was not welcomed at first. There had been cooperations between the Fae and Fianna before, so then she came along. It was then that she met Goath. It was love at first site for the Fianna and Fiona and the Brugh Na Boinne flared with passion. As the Fianna Righ of Brugh Na Boinne became Righ of all Fianna a new place opened up. Goath took this place and thereby changed his name to Goath Mac Fionn.
Kith: Sidhe
Court: Seelie
Class: Warrior
House: Fiona
Lord: Elatha n� Gwydion
Image: See Book of Houses.
Roleplaying Hints: Be silent. You have found a new respect for nature and for what Goath calls Gaia. You try to work your passion into nature, but nature seems to have a stronger �passion� then you. Goath laughed and said you couldn�t battle the Wyld, as it was alway stronger. Your slowly learning more of their ways and thereby yourself.
More information on the garou of this Caern can be found in Caerns: the Places of Power and possibly in Rage across the World. For numbers and accute descriptions see these sources.
Bron Fior Righ is the most important Fianna of all at this moment. He has but one great flaw. He is enchanted by the Fae. He has greater interest in working with them to battle the Dark, then seeing the real and immediate dangers that are coming to his tribe.
�Wind across the Hills�, Cormac means wind, is in seventh heaven. He loves his Finnula with all his heart and looks forward to rebuilding Brugh Na Boinne to it�s former splendour. He knows that there are some dangers, but hasn�t looked into them till now.
Stephen Muirgheal
Birth Name: Stephen Muirgheal
Craft Name: Daedalus Chanti D'Ulysses, bani D�edne
Shadow Name: Daedalus Stephen Muirgheal Chanti D'Ulysses, bani D�edne, Nuada Sword Seeker,
True Name: Dedalus Stephen Muirgheal Chanti D'Ulysses, bani D�edne, Nuada Sword Seeker.
Essence: Primordial
Nature: Martyr
Demeanor: Visionary
Heritage: Sidhe
Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2
Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 2, Appearance 2 (4)
Mental: Perception 2, Intelligence 5, Wits 3
Talents: Altertness 1, Awareness 2, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 2, Expression (Poetry) 1, Intuition 2, Subterfuge 2
Skills: Drive 1, Etiquette 2, Firearms 1, Meditation 1, Melee 3, Research 3
Knowledges: Academics (Philosophy) 4, Academics (Anthropology) 2, Academics (Fine Arts) 2, Computer 1, Cosmology 3, Enigmas 3, Enochian 2, Investigation 1, Linguistics 5, Lore (Fae) 3, Occult 3, Science (hypermath) 2
Backgrounds: Avatar 5, Dream 3, Faerie Blood 4, (Feth Fiada 3), Kenning 3 (=ability).
Spheres: Correspondence 2, Life 3, Mind 3, Prime 1, Spirit 2, Time 3.
Arete: 4
Wyrd (Glamour)/Quintessence: 4
Antipathy (Banality): 3
Willpower: 7
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Gaul, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh Gaelic, Irish Gaelic, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Enochian.
Merits: Fae Blood [supernatural] 4.
Flaws: Conditional Magic [supernatural] (cold iron) 5, Geas [supernatural] 2, Faerie Eyes (Ban) 3 or Changeling eyes [faerie marks] 1, Inherited Frailty [faerie marks] 5.
For C:tD Fae Gifts: An-Da-Shealladh 2, Honored Birthright (Sidhe) 5, Weakened Mist 2.
Background: Born on Samhain eve 1975 in Brittany, France. He grew up a strange boy. His eyes made him a stranger in his own community, where he learned the local dialect (Gaul) at an amazing speed. His parents died in a mysterious accident at age 7. Heavily traumatized he was brought to a psychological facility. He was found to be Kinain in at age 8 by a local Boggan. She immediately adopted him. He was amazingly intelligent and by then spoke 3 languages. She helped him regain a 'normal' life and thaught him the various Gaelics and introduced him to fae life.
In 1989, at age 14, he was picked up by a mysterious mage, one of the D�edne that had returned. Stephen awakened and was dropped in Paris with a member of the house Merinita.
He began his apprenticeship as Neophite. He finished his apprenticeship in 2 years and went on to Zelator. This took him one year. Stephen studied like his life depended no it. If he didn't study he went to the local Seelie court. He kept himself far from the politics of the Hermetic houses. His Antinomiant praxis was a Samhain night with the local fae population. He did everything you shouldn't, he had his first sexual experience a this time, and drinking. He has till this day not been able to liberate himself completely from the alcohol. He went to college, the prestigious Sorbonne at age 17. He was thaught by the various post-modernists, like Derrida and Lyotard.
He developed a magic theory based on his knowledge of the fae, his teachings by the Order of Hermes and these philosophical theories. He tries to envelop lots of different worldviews as possible next to eachother, opening the way for fantasy and horror, for possibility.
For his endeavors he was made Initiate Exemptus. Normally you first have go through the Initiate phase, but his work have gathered great respect among the Hermetics, that knew him. He was picked up by lady Slaine. By coming to the forest of the hidden king, he has found his avatar was of a Diedne mage. He has taken up this house, he keeps himself to the faerie court, frightened of the changes in the Houses of Hermes.
Image: He is a young man in his twenties. He is 5�10. He has a thin frame, yet slightly athletic. (jeans waist-size 29/30). He�s either dressed in a thin tight black t-shirt with a light sheen to it, tight black trousers and high black boots, laced and with buckles on the legs. Or, he wears a bkacj sharp suit. For court occasions he wears Druidic robes. He has clean, natural dark brown hair, not long nor short. He wears it slightly brushed to the sides of his head, leaving hairs on his forehead.
The retaking of Newgrange
As the Courts return, Slaine rules as first queen holding court in Dowth. As the Summer Court needs to shine in all its former splendour they plan to reclaim Newgrange as the summer court. How will they retake the old court. It is clear that Newgrange is under great clarifying influence, what the Fianna call the Weaver. How will they inspire new energy and myth into this public attraction? Players get the important quest to look into this question. Combine a mythical quest, with the modern problems of tourism and preservation. A mythical item from Underhill is all good and well but it won�t keep the tourists out. Give them a chance, don�t think of one solution to the problem, but have them brainstorm and work with their ideas to create an interesting cronicle.
Marchinton, Buck (Dyfn ap y Cynydd), Tri-Spiral, Lushnasadh 2000 issue. http://www.sidhe66.atfreeweb.com/trispiral.htm
Cassada, Jackie and Rea, Nicky, Pour L�Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, Clarkston, White Wolf Publishing, 1999.
Heckel, Harry and Gavigan, John, �Fianna: Ireland� in: Caerns: Places of Power, Clarkston, White Wolf Publishing, p. 46-55.
Rea, Nicky, Immortal Eyes, Court of all Kings, Clarkston, White Wolf Publishing.
