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HISTORY
'But I who have written this history, or rather story, do not give faith to many of the things in this history or story. For some things therein are delusions of the demons, some are poetic figments, some are truth, some are not, and some are for the amusement of fools.'
- The Christian warning (written in latin) in the second colophon to- the Tain bo Cuailnge as it appears in the Book of Leinster
All Changelings are the fae children of dream, descended from the God like Tuatha De Danu, children of the Goddess Danu, represented in Legend as examples of all that is pure and right. Of their children; the Sidhe are those born from mortal dreams of beauty, awe and nobility. The Vague mortal memories of the time Gods walked the earth among them have shaped the modern Sidhe. Troll's, the undeniable pillars of honour and bravery, dreamed of as the things held sacrosanct by the earliest tribes of Ireland. Pooka, Boggans and Satyrs all represent dreams of higher aspirations or lofty goals, even the Nockers and Eshu have their places in this glorious lineage.
Then what of Kith such the Redcaps and the Sluagh? Children of Nightmare maybe, but not servants of the Fomori. So where do they fit in with the image of Tuatha de Danu as bright heroes? The answer is, simply they don't! They are descendants of another tribe, the Fir-Bolg. So possibly are the Animal born Satyr and Pooka, as least the Fir-Bholg believe so.
To understand this we must return to the Celtic myth's that speak of the Tuatha de Danu, the Fir Bholg and the Fomorians. The tales of the first and second battles of Moy Tura; back in the time before time when men, spirits and dreams walked side by side and interbred. The Tuatha De Danu and the Fir Bholg were two tribes of a race that called themselves Nemedians. They were the dreams of the Goddess and they bred with each other and with humans. The Tuatha de Danu held true to the ideas of Truth, intellect and beauty that they learnt in their sojourn in Mediterranean lands. The Fir-Bholg Adapted more the ways of the Humans around them. The Tuatha de Danu may be worshipped now as gods among the changelings, but the Fir-Bholg remember them as kinsmen.
"A blessing on all who memorise the tain with fidelity in this form and do not put any other form to it"
- the Tain bo Cuailnge as it appears in the Book of Leinster
The Fir-Bolg ( a work meaning men of Bags), led by Eochaí, settled Eireann. They had come from Greece and mediterainain lands, for they were the descendants of the Nemedians who had fled there after the battle of Conann's tower in which the Nemedians and the Fomorians almost destroyed each other. Eochaí was a good ruler, he held the title of high king longer than any who preceeded him, and his people flourished under his rule.
Eochaí was troubled by dreams and visions and called for his wise man César and had him translate his dreams. The druid foresaw that the coming of the Tuatha de Danu, another tribe of the children of Nemed were coming and it spelt death for the Nemedian Fir Bolg who dwelt in Eireann. A war of Kin folk was inevitable, the first battle of Moy Tura.
Eventually Eochaí learned of the Tuatha's building of a great fort in the Red hills and sent Streng as a spy. He prepared himself as for battle and approachewd the tuatha. The Tuatha sent out Breas the beautifull to parley and to examine each others weapons as was the custom. The difference between Breas thin pointed spears and Strengs thick handled spears was the starting point for a conversation that eventually led to them pledging brotherhood and friendship. They exchanged each a spear to show their people what they must face in battle. Streng advised peacefull division of Eireann among the people of Nemed, but the Fir-Bolg did not take his advice. Breas told the Tuatha of the Fir-Bholg's mighty warriors and hefty weapons and the Tuatha opted to move to the western coast to make a battle camp. They settled on the fertile plain of Magh nia.
The Fir-Bholg prepared themselves to battle for the land of their fathers. Eochaí led other tribes besides the Fir Bolg. His Kingship extended to the Fir Domhnann, the Galeoin and the people of Cú Roi, Laighin and Connacht. Rua the bloody and the twenty-seven sons of the tribe of Miled. All of them were later joined on the 4th day of battle by Fintan and his 13 sons and army of renowned mortal warriors from the distant hills of Corca Duibhue. They all gathered together at Tara in preperation for the battle against the Tuatha de Danu, numbering 11 battle hosts. Here Tallitu the queen of the Fir Bolg spoke an elegy for heroes for hours, tears in her eyes. Propecizing death.
Then the Babd arrived at Tara to spy upon the Fir Bolg and cast dark clouds, the beasts left the field. The standing stones began to sing, conjuring the lost souls of the damned to magnify their evil sorcery with its scream. Huge blood dripping spectres stalked the sky and fought in the thunder rent heavens. The Fir Bolg were gripped by fear. But it became worse as a sanguine mist rained blood and fire upon the host. Even the lightning of Cesar and his unheard calls to Crom-cruach were usless against the Tuatha sorcerresses magic. For three days he fought the magic of the Babd under the blood rain. Eventually he created a circle free of blood rain and spectres and knowing his gods had failed him, called on Crom-Cruach, the forbidden one in the long dead tongue of his forefathers. Only Tuan will speak of what occurred for no man ever will. Cesar summoned Crom-Cruach into his fires and smoke. The unspeakable horror broke the Babds enchantments and the spectres fled. But the Elder gods do not intervene in the affairs of men without price or purpose.
Envoys were sent from the Tuatha de Danu to ask the Fir-Bholg one last time to divide the land between all the children of Nemed. But the Fir-Bholg cried that the Tuatha could wait untill doomsday for that to happen.
So an armistice Was agreed so that all weapons and equipment were ready, and the battlelines were drawn. The custom was in those ancient days that each army should prepare weapons for the other side so that the valour of men and heroes might be seen more easily than the skill and wizardry of craftsmen.
It was also the custom to allow the challenger his choice of weapon and mode of combat. It is because of this that the Tuatha de Danu chose to fight 'equal combat, with equal numbers on each side' and that the Fir Bolgs strength in numbers did not aid them in the first battle of Moy Tura.
"this is indeed" said breas "a day for lamentations, for those fierce fair-haired warriors are of our own flesh and blood."
The battle was long, fierce and viscious. Many hero's died, and in the end The Fir-Bholg were beaten. The tales of the battles are told in various forms in many places and I advise you read The Book of Conquests by Jim Fitzpatrick among others.
"Then, sinking lower through the battle-cloud I saw pride and beauty of courage and youth made hideous by the slaughter of war. The earth ran with blood as the heads of men were hewn from their shoulders and bodies broken like spintered wood that kindles the fire of the hearth"
- Tuan