Alba & Eire
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Contents |
Geography
The lands of Alba and Eire are two islands to the north of Terre d'Ange; Eire is to the west of Alba and is somewhat smaller. Geographically the two islands are fairly diverse, enough so that whatever one country is lacking the other can usually provide. This gives them a fair degree of autonomy while being free of mainland influences. Three islands gathered to the side of the straits between Alba, Eire and Terre d'Ange is called the Three Sisters and was home in the past to the Master of the Straits. The Master of the Straight has kept ships from passing through the channel between Terre d'Ange and Alba, without the say so of the Cruarch of Alba and the Monarch of Terre d'Ange. But with his recent silence, the storms that normally protect the channel have been silent and the protection that they have enjoyed from him is becoming questionable.
The capital of Alba is Bryn Gorrydum, the seat of the Cruarch, though a number of other smaller towns and cities are scattered through the lands; old Tiberian roads connect them even still, reminders of their period of occupation by the Caerdiccian city state. In Eire, the capital is Tea Muir and the seat of the High King of Eire. Both nations retain an individuality of their own and individual tribes within the countries are in a loose coalition. Innisclan, on Alba is an Eiran population, held by the Dalriada, the Erian tribe.
The Culture
The people of Alba and Eire are a fairly barbaric lot, compared to the civilized and refined D'Angelines or Caerdicci. They are a tribal people, living in clans within their country; the loyalty of a person to their clan is of paramount importance. The lands are divided very loosely between each clan, though territories shift as each clan raids or invades the other from time to time in seriousness and in sport. Like the Aragonians, their disputes rarely dissolve into true civil war and the chieftains are quite quick to make peace with their neighbors. There are four known clans of the Alba, The 'Four Folk of Alba', all with very distinct personalities. The Eidlach Ór, The Fhalair Bàn, The Tarbh Cró and the Cullach Gorrym. The Cullach Gorrym is the clan that rules the Island nation, the oldest clan and the Cruarch descends from their line.{1}
At one point, at the height of Tiberium's occupation of a large portion of the known world, Alba was overtaken and under Tiberian rule. A governor sat and ruled the people till a High Priest/Magician of the goddess Maghuin Dhonn asked to become the living incarnation of her spirit and slew the Governor, in turn, causing the foreign populace to flee. History of the people claims instead that it was Cinhil Ru who accomplished the act, with the uniting of the four folk and revolting against the Tiberians. It was not long after that the Master of the straits was placed on the three sisters and Alba came under his protection.{2}
Alba
In Alba, the society is nominally matriarchal - the leader of the clans, the Cruarch, is passed from the current Cruarch to his sister's eldest son, not through the Cruarchs offspring. Marriage in Alba is not much different from D'angeline marriages. You meet, you fall in love, sometimes you marry for duty to cement relations with another Clan or Tribe. You cleave to your spouse and create children, expand the clan. The difference being, that marriage in Alba come in two forms. There's the standard bound for all eternity to death do us part handfasting. Preformed by an ohllam, and in a sacred grove. The second is a marriage that binds for only a year and a day. The couple go about the marriage as usual, and it's pronounced at the end. Should either party, come the year and the day wish to separate, they do. Simple as that. No mess no fuss, no stigma, even if a child is involved. Both marriages are common, the trial marriage is not a surprise to others when it is announced usually. The festivities surrounding a marriage last for 3 days from sunrise to sunset and "Boundless Hospitality" is the tradition. The bride and groom are seperated, men with the men and same for the women{3}
Eire
In Eire, they use a traditional High King patrician monarchy, descended through the offspring. One of the many differences between Alba and Eire. Both women and men are afforded the same status in society and the military. Marriage does not hold the same importance to the Eirans as it is to the Albans; this is where they differ a great deal culturally. Children need not even be from the same father but instead, born when a trait that is found appealing is a prospective mate. Monogamy, much like with the D'angelines is not the standard practice.
The People
Physically, the people from both nations are fairly tough and sturdy. The Eirans with generally pale skin and red or blond hair. The Albans tend to favor darker skin, more tanned, and darker hair and eyes. They are fairly uncivilized compared to most other nations (except the Skaldi), and like the Aragonians, tend to lack subtlety - though there have been some most definite exceptions before and people are unlikely to underestimate their potential. The people of Alba and Eire are a mix of distrusting and envious of the other nations, and quite willing to make deals with any of them should the situation arise.
They wear Torque's around their neck to denote those who are nobility from those who are not. They tattoo the symbols of their caste and accomplishments on their face and bodies in blue woad-ink, giving them a fairly fearsome appearance both in and out of battle. Warriors have dots across their forehead denoting their particular endeavors.
The Religion
Before the birth of Elua, and the fall of the Tiberium empire, Alba and Eire worshiped the "Maghuin Dhonn" a female deity who, when she took to land, assumed the shape of a great bear. Magicians were her laypeople and High Magic was the belief. She was their Diadh-anam, their reason for existing, their Lodestone.
Over time though, the worship of that deity changed after the denouncement by Cinhil-Ru of their practices and a more earth bound religion was produced. Magicians gave way to Daughters of the Grove and Brothers of the groves; Priests their religion called Ollamh's. Belief in the Maghuin Dhonn has switched to belief in multiple deities that are representative of nearly everything that you can see. From the grass, sky, animals, tree's, blacksmithing, water, poetry, battle; If it's something, there is a patron god or goddess that is associated with it. Lug, Saolas, Nerthus, Macha, Brigid, Aengus, Bel, Manannan, Hengest, Danu, Crom, Aine, Cailleach are only a small few of the Alban Gods and Godesses. Thousands of names for thousands of things. The color red also has great religious significance to the Albans and Eirans. Another aspect is their current Diadh-anam. Four guiding spirits, each belonging to a tribe. The Black boar, the Red Bull, the Golden Stag and the White Horse.{4}
One of the significant religious days is the "Feast of the Dead" When the veils between the living and the dead are at their thinnest and those that passed before are seen. Once that has occurred, the feasting commences. No tribes raid another on these days, it is a violation of tradition and dishonor.
Sources
1. pg.240, Kushiel's Justice.
2. Pg.241, Kushiel's Justice
3. Pg.292, Kushiel's Justice.
4. Pg.292, Kushiel's Justice.
