LANDS OF THE COUNCIL OF STONE

The Land

This thin strip of land is the only section of the human inhabited lands of Eyru which is "neutral ground"  in the clan wars. It is overseen by the current Council of Stone. It's holdings include Connacher's Keep on Loch Meath, the henge at the Battle of One Hundred Wounds and the small fishing village of Harknon where the first Fomorian invasion was spotted. More information on the council's past can be found in the clan history available from the main page.

The land owned by the Council stretches from Loch Meath, eastward along the road to Harknon. It is a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and emerald green peaks. Harknon has remained a small village. It never really recovered from the near total annihilation brought about by the Fomorian invaders nearly 800 years ago. On occasion, seaman and warriors embark on a pilgrimage to its quiet shores in honor of that event. They pay homage to Connacher's Hundred that drove the Fomorian invaders back into the sea and to the fisherman that reported the invading force.

There are no true exports from this area as there is no single ruler. Harknon is well known for its skilled fisherman though rarely do they seek to profit from their trade. The Council only meets twice a year at Connacher's Keep. On rare occasion emergency meetings can be called either by a majority agreement or by the Druids who maintain honorary seats. As such, Diplomacy could be said to be an export of this region.

Important Factions and Individuals

Currently, the Council is but a shadow of its former self. Since the Divide, the brave warriors that sat at its table have become more diplomat than champion. The Council barely survived the turmoil of the Divide, and this was due in part to the installation of clan puppets by the High Clan's Steairn and Tairan in order to discredit Erinin. The council of current days is one of questionable ethics and questionable loyalty to its original purpose: to provide protection to all of Eyru. Loyalties are evident among the council members and the majority of the descendants of the original heroes that graced it's halls have either walk away in disgust or, in some cases, been forced to give up their position under questionable circumstances.

The Council would be completely lost in bickering and subversive politics if it weren't for the dedication of a select few. While most of the fifty seated at the council are politicians in the worst sense, there are some exceptions. Three druids maintain honorary council seats and while they have little direct authority over the council, members are loath to openly challenge them. They sit in observance of the gathering ceremonies and see to the rituals performed. Rarely do they interfere with council proceedings, but their presence adds an air of tradition and makes would be conspirators uncomfortable. As tradition has always carried, these druids are anonymous, arriving in lime washed hair, painted faces and masks which recall visages and symbols of the Elder Gods.

There is a small minority of council members who claim to be descendants of the original one hundred. They make up only three of the fifty council seats (remember, according to the history, the last High King took fifty of the hundred council members with him to Tach.) While small in number, they have sway due to their ancestoral claims. They are often challenged by the remaining members, however who seek to mire them in politics and lessen their power. This minority isn't always in agreement (Corc's predecessors on the council conspired to frame Erinin and have her removed from office-a bitter point between he and Aengus) but they recognize the frailty of the Council and its corruption and hope to repair it. These three key council members are:

Corc Mac Cormac, a petty King from clan Tairan. He claims an ancestoral line that dates back to Oghma, champion of Eyru's first King, Nuada. Currently, Corc is most interested in protecting Tairan's interests, though maintaining the Council and restoring it to it's former glory is of importance to him. However, he constantly seeks to do this in such a way which will benefit High Clan Tairan. He believes (though not openly) that restoration of the High King of all of Eyru is a necessary step for the Council's continued existence.

Aengus, who's family line can be easily traced back to Diarmuid, one of Connacher's strongest champions. As testament to this, it is he who oversees Connacher's Keep year round and its small garrison. He is shown respect by the entire Council though many see him as a relic of ancient times. Those most ardent in opposition to him are content to wait: He is an aging man of fifty who has no heir to his position.

Nevan appeared before the council ten years ago during its Beltine session claiming to be the daughter of Bran, a famous adventurer long dead. Rumored to be insane by the majority of the council, she was granted a seat in an unusual event where one of the three Druids intervened on her behalf. Her only link to her claim was ownership of Bran's spear, Fuil Tann. She is erratic though has moments of illumination wherein she claims to be guided by voices from the Otherworld. Quite often, her advice during these  times does speak of a wisdom not wholly her own, but many of the skeptical council members dismiss her as a charlatan.  

Chief among the opposition to those who would restore the Council, is a priest from High Clan Steairn, Servant of the Flame Aeron. He holds a good deal of power in High Clan Steairn and is even rumored to be vying for the position of Master of the Flame. Through bribery and scandal he has managed to sway much of the Council in his favor and even extend his personal power beyond the lands of his own High Clan. He would like nothing more than to see the Council dissolved-but only after he has used it to see that High Clan Steairn become the dominant force on Eyru. He views the Council as a useless remnant of antiquity, despite his membership and his feigned public concern.

Other representatives on the council currently include: 20 members from High Clan Steairn, and 25 from High Clan Tairan. Only 5 from High Clan Erinin have managed to retain seats prior to Erinin's persecution.