LANDS OF HIGH CLAN TAIRAN
The People
The leader of High Clan Tairan is a blood descendant of Tairan and the position is passed on through patriarchial blood-lines. All members of High Clan Tairan swear an oath to the missing High King and pledge to prepare Eyru for his return. Prior to the Divide, maintaining the status quo was the focus. However, the main goal of the leaders of High Clan Tairan now is to re-unite the clans under one rule and regain all the lands lost during The Divide.
The people of High Clan Tairan are stereotypically an honest and upstanding people. They still speak of the High King’s glorious reign and their optimism regarding his return has grown to a religious magnitude. This fervor seems to get stronger each year instead of diminishing. It is this entrenched belief that interferes most with their relations with other clans.
This fervor also makes their divine focus unique among the other High Clans. They do not directly worship their High Clan’s founder, Tairan. Tairan was given the duty of acting High King and ever since, no descendant of Tairan
has challenged that charge. They perform the duties of High King, but maintain the authority of the true High King and wait patiently for his return from across the seas.Each city maintains a church, outside of which sits a replica of the Lia Fail, the Stone of Destiny. The true stone is housed in the capitol of Lirshold at Dun Tara. It was from this stone that High King Ian Lirnaan ruled and all of the High Kings of Eyru before him. Originally crafted by druids for the first High King (Biccrhu) it is an artifact of amazing power. Most importantly it is said to release a piercing scream when the true High King sits upon it. It has been silent for three centuries.
Each town or fief also maintains a court in which all men speak as equals. The court is presided over by a local chieftain or druid. Charges can be brought against anyone and traditionally, the judgments are ones of law not of favoritism. Rarely though do the lower classes bring charge against the noble class. Many are content to see it as their lot in life to serve the kings and chieftains of the High Clan.
The Land
The central lands of Eyru hold some of the most fertile soil of the south. Farmers reap bountiful crops from the wide expanses of land found here. These green and fertile plains are broken by gradually thickening woods in the north and rolling hills to the east. The River Aber makes up the eastern border of this land, separating High Clan Tairan from High Clan Steairn. The northern border is lined by the ever deepening forests of the Wood Between, while the south is divided from High Clan Erinin's lands by wooded plains. To the west, High Clan Tairan's holdings stop just short of the bog laden Freeman's Lands.
Lirshold, the capitol of High Clan Tairan, is one of the largest cities on the continent. Many families of skilled workers have made the area around Lirshold their home for centuries. The location is key for trade within Tairan’s lands for many reasons. Many communities within High Clan Tairan are self sufficient farming towns. Trade, is less than profitable in such circumstances.
At Lirshold however, foreign entourages and powerful clan leaders often meet with the High King providing a steady customer base for uncommon wares. Further, twice each year, the clans that have pledged loyalty to High Clan Tairan pay tribute. This is collected and brought to Lirshold by the three most powerful clans, Mac Nechtain, Mac Nessa, and Mac Cormac. These processions of wealth always attract a near festival atmosphere and again provide ample opportunity for the craftsmen to ply their wares.
Lynn is slowly becoming another of the largest cities in all of Eyru. Seeing a coming economic shift from an economy of barter to that of trade, High King Horace has opened Lynn to merchants from all clans. While all goods entering the city are taxed and strict adherence to city law is required, the taxes are not enough to dissuade merchants from neighboring Steairn and downriver Erinin. Currently, Lynn is the only city completely open to trade between the High Clans on a regular basis.
While open, it is also well-garrisoned to fend off any challenges from neighboring High Clan Steairn who occupied the city during the Divide. Peace prevails at the present time, but this border has been a consistent war zone for centuries. High Clan Steairn continues to contest the land all along the River Aber.
Exports from this area include wheat, corn, potatoes, barley, and a wide variety of livestock. All of these are well served by the mild climate and open spaces afforded by the plains. Copper, some tin, and iron ore can also be found in the east and northeast of the territory. Another valued export is lumber harvested from the southern most reaches of the Wood Between. Lumberjacks of these northern areas are well paid for their services. This is partly due to the fact that the faye, and an occasional dire animal from the woods make work conditions dangerous. (Though the faye rarely allow themselves to be seen, preferring silent acts of sabotage for their enjoyment.) The high pay is also warranted by the excellent quality of wood available. Carpenters across Eyru pay a premium for this "enchanted" wood, and its no coincidence that High Clan Tairan lays claim to some of the finest carpenter's in all of Eyru.
Important Factions and Individuals
In the years just prior to the Divide, Tairan was a powerful chieftain who was Ian Lirnaan's staunchest supporter and one of his closest friends. When Ian decided to sail for Tach to quell the Fomorian attacks on that city, Tairan counseled him to reconsider. Ian however, was determined to relieve the besieged city and be the first King to establish a steady trade route to Tach. Ian Lirnaan left Tairan in charge and temporarily granted him all the power held by the High King. Tairan reluctantly accepted his new duty and swore to keep Eyru strong for the King's return. The High King however, never returned. Since then the descendants of Tairan have watched over the High King's seat though they were unable to keep all the clans unified (see the Divide).
Currently, the seated High King is Horace Tairan, named for the great Horace Lirnaan of the North. Horace Tairan operates out of the city of Lirshold which surrounds the ancient site of the keep at Tara. Here lies some of the holiest ground in Eyru. All the major historical Eyrian powers have chosen Tara as their seat of sovereignty. In ancient times, it was from here that King Nuada ruled the most powerful clans of the Tuatha De Danaan and centuries later, the first High King Biccrhu Lirnaan ruled from here as well. The castle Dun Tara is also the resting place of the Lia Fail, the Stone of Destiny.
High King Horace Tairan is a middle aged man who rules with considerable wisdom. He has a great presence which demands respect and his decisions are rarely questioned. In secret, he has abandoned the idea of unifying all clans under the banner of the High King and has sought peace for several years. His progressive policy regarding the annexed city of Lynn is evidence to that.
Horace has three daughters and one son, all of whom may be heir to his position. He is married to a daughter of king Corc Mac Cormac. Her beauty is renowned throughout Eyru and she is supposedly an indirect descendant of the beautiful Etain of Tuatha De Danaan lore. His closest advisor is a bard by the name of Fergus who is well-versed in the ways of the ancient ancestors and by all accounts a sly and charming man.
In his station as High King, his control is much the same as it has been for millennia. The High King ever since Biccrhu Lirnaan, has simply requested a pledge of loyalty from the clans around him. Through his leadership, the clans are kept strong and, in the beginning, the largest benefit was that their power was consolidated against foreign enemies such as the Giant-kin and Fomorains. The clans would pay tribute to the High King in his honor and he was honor bound to provide leadership and a united defense through his embrace of all the clans of Eyru. In his position of rulership, the High King rarely exercised any stringent control over any individual clan or their lands. Now the station is much the same however the common enemies are the other High Clans.
Since the Divide, the rule of Tairan’s remaining lands has slowly consolidated. There are three leaders who answer directly to the High King and oversee their own respective regions of High Clan Tairan’s land. Their control is much the same as the High King’s; quite limited in any sort of direct intervention of the various clans living on their lands. However, they are given a good deal of latitude in any issue which may relate to the overall welfare of the region and all clans which have sworn loyalty to these three petite kings (and thus the High King) grant them a good measure of respect.
King Corc Mac Cormac controls the western half of Tairan’s lands and the clans that inhabit them. He is a stern ruler and a skilled warrior who is always eager for military conflict. Thus, his position far from the more active border with High Clan Steairn, frustrates him as well. Perhaps due to this, he is relentless towards any banditry by the Freemen and does not shy from the occasional (and rare) conflict with High Clan Faough. From within his lands come the lion’s share of crops produced by High Clan Tairan.
Corc also sits on the Council of Stone and 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. He believes that restoration of the High King of all of Eyru is a necessary step for the Eyru ’s continued existence. His High King’s current press for lasting peace and open policies irk him to no end, though he follows the High King’s bidding without fail.
Queen Boann Ni Breriu controls the clans within the southeastern portion of High Clan Tairan's holdings. She was interested at an early age in being a Defender of the Crown, the clerics of High Clan Tairan. She has devoted her life to spreading hope to the people of High Clan Tairan that the one true High King would return one day and reunite all of Eyru.
Her brother, who was a king under High King Tairan, was grievously wounded in a battle with High Clan Steairn. She returned from her wandering pilgrimage to try and heal his wounds. Despite all her attempts to save him, her brother died within a week. On his death bed he asked her to take his place and she agreed. Since then, she has watched over her loyal clans with widely acclaimed vigilance. She has often rallied them to turn back invasion attempts by High Clan Steairn along the River Aber. She is also renowned for her wisdom in judicial matters. Many among her lands (and from beyond) seek her council or request her to arbitrate legal proceedings.
King Teigh Mac Eoghan oversees the northeastern lands of High Clan Tairan. Quite apart from the other two leaders, Teigh’s ancestors long ago gained prominence as fierce warriors. Just after the Divide, the Mac Eoghan clan returned from the North with very little left to call their own. They carved a place in the middle of current day High Clan Steairn’s lands and refused to leave. For years they fought off rabid assaults from clans who had sworn allegiance to Steairn. Despite overwhelming odds, they always managed to defend their land, barren and mostly worthless as it was. Tairan took note of this. Tairan knew the northern points of the River Aber were strategically important to maintaining a foothold against the upstart followers of Steairn. He offered clan Mac Eoghan rule over a section of land just at the mouth of the River Aber.
A proud clan, Mac Eoghan at first refused the offer of land but finally accepted after seeing the quality of the tract and learning that they would not be short of battle there. Wisely, this tract that Tairan granted included the recently recaptured city of Lynn. The placement of such a capable military clan within its walls help insure it would not be taken again.
Teigh is the current patriarch of this long line of warrior-leaders. Often times he calls upon the High King in assistance for matters of diplomacy as he has no patience for it. In matters of war however, he is always prepared and defends the northern lands with fierce abandon. His own personal entourage of highland (barbarian) warriors is greatly feared across Eyru and has even earned a nickname: Gealach Fuil (Blood Moon; named such for their effective use of a double bearded axe which is often symbolic of the moon.)
The Gealach Fuil are the most feared military unit in Eyru. It is largely to their credit that the city of Lynn has remained in Tairan’s hands. They are said to be able to win a battle by their mere presence. When engaged they favor the heavy battle axe with which their skill is unmatched. They are also well known for an apparent inability to feel pain through their ferocious rage. It is said one member of the Gealach Fuil is worth twenty warriors and they have oft proven this boast to be true.
The Defenders of the Crown is the name for the group of clerics who see to the spiritual guidance of this High Clan. They are ever vigilant and prophesy the imminent return of the one true king. They perform religious ceremony , provide healing and alms to the populace though rarely interfere with politics.
The group originally started as a secular organization, simply devoted to providing a source of morale to the citizens of Eyru. They were intent on trying to quell rebellion and unrest in the High King’s absence so that he would return to the same land he left behind. As time passed and High King Ian’s departure became increasingly recognized as a crisis, the group began to strengthen its message. Over the past centuries, they have developed into a religious order and have elevated their status to priests of the people of High Clan Steairn.
In most major cities one can find a church devoted to the High Kingship and the missing Ian Lirnaan. There is little in the way of a hierarchy to the church though every year a new priest is called to serve at Dun Tara. There they care for the Lia Fail. There they spend much of the year in prayer beside it.
Aside from this duty, they also meet on a regular basis with representatives from the various communities within High Clan Tairan. Most often these are the priests of those regions. They give council to these priests and provide funds from the High Clan coffers when necessary.
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