Fantasy Core Ireland Setting--Groups Part 2

Fantasy Core RPG
(c) Jerry Harris, 2013
Published here as Open Game Content.

Index

Dal Cais: During the Danish conquest of the Munster province, this small clan lead a guerilla war until their leader, Brian Boru, defeated them and took back the province. He later became king over all of Ireland. They are still fighting Norse invaders.

Fianna: The army of high-king Cormac MacArt. The group was lead by Finn MacCool. They lived in the forests of Ireland, repelling invaders and keeping the peace. The group was eventually destroyed over the course of three battles and scattered across the country. This group was the inspiration for the characters’ group. Knowledge of this group’s exploits may still be useful in the present day.

Red Branch Knights: Famous warriors loyal to the king of Ulster, who were headquartered at Emain Macha. This is another inspirational group. The group is still around, in a diminished capacity, and might be something of rivals to the high-king’s men in the Ulster province. All of the minor kings of Ireland have groups of warriors serving them of varying capabilities.

Bards and Druids: In the current period, these groups have diminished power, but in pagan Ireland, they were as respected as kings. Druids had their magic and mystical knowledge. Bards had their feared magic weapon of satire (in a country full of fierce warriors and proud families, reputation was everything) and their extensive genealogical knowledge (that helped determined who owned the lands).

Now, in a Christian land with the native magic slowly fading away (the wizard tradition taps magic from unearthly sources and is unaffected and paladins have divine sanction), they are considered out-of-date and old-fashioned and unnecessary. Bards, in particular, abused their powers to the point they were nearly outlawed altogether. Some have leveraged their special skills into useful professions. Others, have husbanded their powers and are jealously holding on to their positions and subtly undermining the church, wizards, and anyone else getting in their way.

Kingship: There are over 100 petty kingdoms in the five provinces, and a king is only a king in his own territory. It is important to note that king may only rule if he is without blemish or disfigurement. At one time, bardic satire could cause boils on a person, even kings, which would get them kicked off the throne. (Just one reason why bards were feared, though currently no one is known to have this power. Perhaps.)

Worse, there was never an orderly succession to any throne. The death of a king opened up the throne to virtually all of his family members, including uncles and cousins. Small wars were constantly ignited over succession and lead to the use of outside (and foreign) mercenaries. (Which had dire consequences in real Irish history.)

Irish Classes of Society:
- Kings, nobles, (they owned the land), bards (traditionally), poets, lawyers, druids (traditionally), doctors, harpers, entertainers, clergy, wizards (grudgingly)
- Freemen: rented the land, but owned property on it.
- Non-free: slaves, squatters, laborers, fugitives, reprieved criminals (these usually served in a king’s army).