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Harnnish Legends

The Birth of The Cossan

Long ago, when we were but young in the land, the great Cossan River, which we are so used to seeing, thundering its way in the Old Hills, was not there. Instead, in its place, there were many smaller rivers, each one winding its own, separate path. Now, one day, this myriad of rivers stopped and for a month and a day, in the summer, there was no fresh water. And our people languished for the lack of it. We cried out “Why are there no rivers! Does the rain not fall on the mountains? Do the icy hats on the mountain not melt, as they always have?”

Mother Tresnaya heard our call, and, like a good mother should, she asked us what was wrong. She showed herself, in a dream, to each of the 17 wisest elders in the land, and asked “What is it that ails you?”
And they answered. “There are no rivers! Does the rain not fall on the mountains? Do the icy hats on the mountain not melt, as they always have?”
And she asked “Do you know why this is as it is?”
And they cried unto her “No, good mother, we are woefully ignorant.”
And she said “Then I cannot help you.”

She showed herself to each of the 17 most powerful lords in the land, and asked “What is it that ails you?”
And they answered. “There are no rivers! Does the rain not fall on the mountains? Do the icy hats on the mountain not melt, as they always have?”
And she asked “Do you know why this is as it is?”
And they cried unto her “No, good mother, we are woefully ignorant.”
And she said “Then I cannot help you.”

Dejected, she was about to leave back up the First Moon, where she lived, when a young girl, around your age, caught up with her, and said…
“I know why the rivers don’t flow.”
Tresnaya looked around at the little girl, and asked her “Why do the rivers not flow, young girl?”
The girl looked Tresnaya in the eye, and said “The rivers don’t flow because the ice blocks it.”
And so Tresnaya flew up to the mountains, to see if it truly was that the ice blocked the river from flowing. And, true enough, a great wall of ice had formed, and blocked up the paths that the waters usually took. Behind the wall of ice, a great lake of water sat, where the waters had been pooling up, instead of flowing the Ocean.
Tresnaya called down fire from the sky, and destroyed the wall of ice. All at once, all the water from the great lake rushed down, and, instead of breaking into a thousand small rivers, it had such power behind it that it made one single course, a single river, with only one break in it, where before there had been hundreds.

And, children, that is how the Great River Cossan was formed.


The Legend of the Ard-Ri Cormac ui Gairarn, of the Three

The first High King, or, in the old tongue, Ard-Ri, was the mythical Gairar. He managed to unite many of the tribes of Harnnes under one banner, his own. Noone knew where he came from, though he would always say it was the Mother Tresnaya that sent him.

Anyways, many of the other tribes, seeing one man so powerful, rose up against him, and aimed to fight him. He spent the rest of his life fighting to stop the two sides coming to blows, but, ultimately, failed. He was killed in the first battle of the Wars of Unification. His enemies, thinking their job done, dispersed their forces. However, Gairar's eldest son, Cormac, took up his father's cry, and, in a mighty battle against the hastily re-mobilized enemy, routed their army. They say he killed much of them himself. They say he lost an arm and an eye that day, which is why he is called 'of the three'. He captured many of them, and those he didn't went into hiding.

They say he took the prisoners to the River where it forked, and they feared he would drown them all. That is why it is called the River Cossan-Aelle, the River of Expected Death.

But he was merciful. Instead, he told them to head along the southern branch of the river until it met the sea, and never come back north again. In their fear, they agreed. He wove himself a crown of knotted nestles, and made them swear fealty to whoever should wear the crown, and crowned himself. And then they ran, as far south as they could go, to where the river met the sea.

Then the Ard-Ri Cormac told many secrets that he had been told by, he said, like his father before him, by Mother Tresnaya herself. He told them, chief among these secrets, how to burn coal for heat, and how it was a much better source of fuel than the wood logs that they had spent so much of their energy lugging around. Now, they could use the wood for other things, and, most important, he told them what other things to use the wood for, but, ah, that's another story.

Anyways, he showed them how to dig for the coal hidden under the foothills of the mountain, and, though they could not dig deep, dig they did, and the coal made their lives, for a time, easier.


The Kings of Old

You know, of course, of the age-long rivalry between Mumhan and Laighin? Of course you do. Well, it was not long after we began to settle in the cities, still divided into the tribes that the kings of old had divided ourselves into. It was around this time that a great tragedy befell this state of Mumhan. Conaire Mirfoire, the High King, died without any children (they say he suffered a horrible injury while fighting with a wild bull to prove his manhood. Ironic, that.). In Mumhan, a civil war broke out, as different cousins or uncles fought for the throne. It took the direct intervention of Bressal Mirmenach, King of Laighin after he took over from his uncles regency, and, now, High King of the Harnnes, to put an end to the fighting, and he put a pretender on the throne, one Sanbh Mirceit.

Mirceit was no more than a puppet of Bressal’s, and, when Bressal’s son, Crimthann Mirbress succeeded him, he did nothing. It took a long while for Mumhan to recover. For many long years, the High Kings of the Harnnes came from Laighin, and the people of Mumhan suffered as their kings grovelled. It was to this background that the people of Laighin began to settle in cities (especially around the Hill of Tyesfri), and commence serious business. They began to log the foothills in large amounts to facilitate their village’s construction. Meanwhile, the people of Mumhan struggled for food.

5 kings of Laighin enjoyed their greatness: Findchadd Mircrim, Froech Mircrim, Illan Mirfind, Ailill Talt Mirillan, and Cormac Mirail.

4 kings of Mumhan grovelled at the feet of Laighin: Aed Mirsanbh, Amhalgadh Mirsanbh, Nath Miramhalgadh, and, lastly, Ailill Molt Mirnath, last of the Pretender Kings.

It was the 6th King who redeemed his predecessors. Daiu Tenga Uma was the result of a peasant’s revolt killing Ailill Molt. He led a raid on the King, and killed him in retaliation for the taking of Daiu’s wife. We do not know Daiu’s real name, nor his father’s name. His tribe seemed to have disappeared, no doubt killed when the last of the Stargazing Kings was murdered. It was he who deemed that Mumhan should be the equal to Laighin.

First, he mimicked Laighin’s actions, sedentarizing the population, and starting up some proper mining of coal in the foothills. After that was done, however (and it was done with miraculous swiftness [some suspected direct divine influence]), he began what he really wanted to do: he built an observatory.

It doubled, of course, as a palace, but that did not make it any less awesome. Simply the fact it was built out of stone, the only structure from that time, would have made it unique. But no, it was more than that. The tower stretched 3 or 4 lengths into the sky, and, being built on a tall foothill, was the closest any Harnne could get to the stars without climbing the mountain (which a few did), or dying themselves (which many did).

Daiu’s son, Eogan Bel, was the first to relish the results of his father’s work. He moved into the structure, and a town slowly built itself around him. This town grew to be much larger than the town at Tyesfri. For a long time, Daiu’s Tower was the largest town in all of the Harnnish lands. Eogan was the first of the Stargazing Kings, who garnered knowledge and power from the skies. This power was what allowed him to gain the High Kingship: it is said that the unearthly power he had garnered from the skies allowed him to befuddle the king of Laighin, Coirpre Mircormac.

The 7 Stargazer Kings ruled for long time, and it was a prosperous time, before disaster struck again…

Sidhe Legends

The Descent of Madness

After many nights of the Mad Moon drifting though the heavens, a being descended onto the world. Its dress was alien, expertly woven and designed. The being's wild, fiery hair flowed not just from the top of its head, but around its mouth. The being smiled with pointed teeth, and spoke with a silver tongue.

Our ancestors were wary of the being, but it calmly introduced itself as friend of Mokaan. The being's name was Tome-La.

Our ancestors accepted Tome-La into their fold. They gave him food, told stories, and played music as all friends are treated. Tome-La enjoyed himself, entranced by the legendary music taught to our ancestors by Mokaan.

Tome-La stayed for many nights, but was never demanding. His curious eyes seemed watched all of our ancestors activities.

Tome-La remained with our ancestors, but the power of their music began to fade. In his strange mind, Tome-La devised a new way for our ancestors to express themselves.

The fruit of the forest came to Tome-La, sacrificing themselves for his new art. Colors flooded bowls, and rocks were covered in the images within his mind. Our ancestors did the same, but paled in comparison of a being like Tome-La. He continued to smile, a sign of his approval.

Our ancestors used any surface for this new art, even their own skins. This practice continues today, preserved and passed down through generations. None of Tome-La's paintings have survived, lost in conflict, forgotten, or taken by the being onto his Mad Moon.


The Days of Madness

The land itself was influenced by Tome-La's maddening presence. To the west, the ocean floor rose, creating new land for our ancestors. Fields of grasses grew, waving as if calling to our ancestors. They bloomed and shined with enrapturing colors. Fungus of all kinds fed on the decaying matter underneath. Most of our ancestors were wary of this new land, but Tome-La and his loyal followers frolicked among the dancing plants.

Tome-La later returned with large bushels of every plant from that virgin field. Smoke filled the air as the bushels were heaped on top of campfires. The sweet air clouded our ancestor's minds, leaving them susceptible to Tome-La's more sinister insights and knowledge.

Our ancestors either forgot or resisted what was whispered in their ears. Others were not as lucky, as their minds were either totally shattered from madness, or slowed by the substances they constantly consumed. The confusion prevented our ancestors from rooting out the culprit, despite it staring them right in the face. A great upheaval was forming under our ancestors feet, one that defined who we and the Alsidhe are in this age.


The Rout of the Depraved Ones

And the Children of Mokaan learned of the depraved debauchery of the Alsidhe, and they sorrowed and were driven to rage and fury. And they took up sword and spear and bow, and drove the Alsidhe from their land in the Night of Kinbreaking.


The Days of Madness Continued

As the alsidhe (Not Sidhe in the old tongue) fled from our ancestors on that fateful night, the clouds parted and purple light shined down upon them. The Mad Moon transformed the Alsidhe, causing their eyes to glow in madness and bleaching their hair to match the grasslands. Time seemed to affect the alsidhe differently, causing them to skip further and further away from our pursuing ancestors.

The alsidhe were cursed, losing the favor of Mokaan. Our ancestors drew out the border between their land and the cursed land, carefully watching for the day the alsidhe return in an influenced rage.

Woods and grasses were placed under suspicion, for they all carried some loyalty to Tome-La. Our ancestors forbid the consumption of the most traitorous of Tome-La's cursed plants, to prevent the creation of more Alsidhe. Creative sidhe were watched as well, should they show signs of becoming radical. Our ancestors continued to play their traditional songs, never straying far.

To the surprise to our ancestors, the alsidhe settled in the eastern grasslands of our ancestor's home instead of starving or collapsing into one another. The will to survive had some power over their will to 'live'.


Blessings of Mokaan

And Lord Mokaan returned from his travels afar, and his homecoming was bitter. Tome-La's Alsidhe had made his children afraid of creativity and imagination, fearing that they would become the twisted Alsidhe themselves.

Mokaan spoke unto his children in every Caer, traveling across the land. He said: you must have imagination and creativity, like Tome-La said. He said: you must have virtue and responsibility to temper them! He said: fear not the woods, for there you have my blessing! He said: I will not dance in the wind or across the world any more, but stay with you upon this isle forevermore!


The Hero Rath

Not long after the schism between our people and the Alsidhe and the return of Lord Mokaan, the terrible wyrm Calastrix came to dwell in our lands. He struck swiftly without cause or reason, laying waste to the forest and slaying many brave warriors. Our protectors, the Firstborn Awsh and Elyna, set out in search of the beast but were never successful in locating his lair. For a time we lived in constant fear, never knowing when or where the wyrm would strike next. Three years passed.

Ah, where was Mokaan? His place was with his people. It was he who put out the fires in the ancient forest and he who tended to the injured. He saw that our spirits never faltered, but even his great magic could not locate the wyrm's hiding place, nor divine where he would attack.

On the Autumn Equinox of the third year there came a hero from across the sea. He claimed that the winds had whispered to him of our strife and in turn he bid the winds carry him to our lands. He was not one of us. His skin was fair as one who only walks in moonlight, and he was broad in the shoulders with a thick chest and arms; stronger than any Sidhe, even Lord Awsh. He carried an enormous ebony bow that none could string and an obsidian blade that felt like lead in the hand of any who tried to wield it. His name was Rath the Slayer.

As soon as he had arrived, Rath boldly set out to slay Calastrix, but Awsh would not let him go alone and Elyna could not bear to see them both go. However, it was decided that one of the three must stay behind to protect the people should the wyrm appear while the others were hunting. So, Awsh and Rath began the search.

It was not the hunters who found their prey. Calastrix set upon the two when they were deep in the forest, attacking from the sky and belching fire, hoping to catch the two warriors off-guard and clench an easy victory. A dragon's weakness is his arrogance. Awsh had Lord Mokaan's blessing and Rath's strength and skill were unmatched. They fought the beast to a standstill; Calastrix bleeding from a hundred wounds, Awsh half broken and Rath nearing exhaustion. In the last moments of the battle, Rath was thrown to the ground with a vicious slash from Calastrix's claws, but in that moment Awsh went under the dragon's belly and dealt a mortal blow. The wyrm began his death throes and immediately Awsh went to the side of his fading friend who had fought so valiantly; as he approached, Rath instead rose up and threw himself behind Awsh, shielding him from a parting inferno spewed by the vengeful dying dragon.

The dragon's breath left Rath in such a state that none had the heart to record fully the extent of his injuries. His whole body was left charred and broken. The deed had spared Awsh's life.

Rath, still clinging to life himself, was brought into Awsh's home where Elyna would tend to him for years after, feeding him and treating wounds that never healed. Though his body was nearly reduced to ash, his mind was strong. Night after night he told stories to Elyna as she cared for him, enchanting her with descriptions of lands beyond the sea and great battles he had once fought. And, when he found the strength, he would pluck out a heartbreaking tune on the lyre.

Awsh, meanwhile, was consumed with grief for the ill fortune that had befallen Rath at his expense. He poured his soul into the study of the sword so that he would never fail in battle again; in doing so, he neglected his mate, and Elyna was lonely. So she spent more and more time at Rath's side, all the time falling deeper in love with the beautiful heart that lay beneath the bandages.

After twelve years, Rath passed quietly in the night and the Imp King came to collect his soul. He had made a compact long ago to become the greatest warrior in the world and at last the Imp King had come for payment in full. Elyna awoke and begged the Imp King not to take her love to the Netherworld. The Imp King would not release Rath's soul, but told Elyna that she could stay with Rath forever in his realm. Elyna agreed at length, for she realized she could not bear to be parted from Rath. The lovers went down to Nethril to dwell forevermore.

When Awsh had learned of the Imp King's cruel bargain, he flew into a rage and made his way to the realm below to have his revenge and reclaim his mate. He barked a challenge to the Imp King, but the Imp King refused to fight. He drew his blade and the Imp King was still. He hammered blow after blow, but the Imp King only parried and blocked with his cruel black sword.

At last, Awsh screamed that the Imp King knew nothing of love. Swiftly, the Imp King's blade plunged straight through Awsh's heart...


The Return of Rath

The Twelve Black Blades of Rath exist in six pairs, each a +6 Jagged Bastard Sword carved from a shard of obsidian. Each pair is passed from master to apprentice, regardless of family ties or even race. Through the ages, many of the blades have become mismatched or altogether lost. Inevitably, the blades fall into the hands of a tyrant...or rather, the blades make a tyrant. Legend says they were crafted by the Imp King and stolen by the Sidhe hero Rath. Only an Arcana Check of 40 might reveal otherwise to future heroes.