Bhertain Mor
Bhertain Mor is an old land. Its separation from the mainland, much like Jotunar to the east, has allowed it to chart its own path from history, mostly removed from the wild machinations of the mainland of Arnareth. Its history is full of internal strife, bloodshed, great heroes, dire villains, and much more. High Sovereigns have risen and fallen over the centuries, all leaving their marks on the land, and the remnants of their rule remain. Ancient tombs of old rulers, places of great magic thought lost, and great beasts bound to the land can all still be found in the wild places between villages. The Islands are a land of old woods and older creatures, where the gods often wander the roads, and monsters wait in the shadows, eager to snatch the unaware or careless.
People on the mainland often view Bhertain Mor as a backward and backwater place. The country's resistance to the Holy Quarant set it at odds with much of Arnareth, especially the people of Ralendall, their closest neighbors. Despite this dire difference in theology and gods, the two countries still trade and interact regularly when not at war.
Druids are the ultimate magical authority in Bhertain Mor, with the various great druid circles constantly vying for control and political power. Druids are greatly valued as advisors, seers, and healers, serving many of the roles clerics and wizards perform on much of the mainland. Wizardry is rare and almost exclusively taught in an apprentice/master relationship; there are no great mage academies in Bhertain Mor. Warlocks and Witches are the most common arcanists, with many a being willing and eager to make a deal and grant power.
The Seven Kingdoms
The country is divided into seven kingdoms, each holding sway over several mostly independent cities and loosely connected villages and farms. While the Sovereign of each Kingdom sets policies, collects taxes, and can muster or disperse the kingdom's army, the real power lies in with the Thane's, who govern the various cities and lands of the kingdom. It has been over 300 years since Bhertain Mor has had a single great ruler, though each of the seven sovereigns believes they should be the next one.
Cevalan
Capitol: Landren
The wealthiest kingdom, Cevalan, is the most diverse kingdom in Bhertain Mor. Due to its proximity to Ralendal, it has the first pick of all the trade coming up from the continent. Thanks to a series of political marriages, there is a direct connection between the Queen of Cevalan and the ruling family of Ralendal. The relatively gentle landscape, especially compared to the northern kingdoms, means that the people of Cevalan enjoy an easier life than many others in Bhertain Mor.
Cunda
Capitol: Wiohta
Cunda is a harsh land; most of it is taken up by either the lowlands and swamps of the south or the great forest of the west. This leaves little room for agriculture; most people make their living either from the waters of the many rivers or from the many goods to be taken from the Hewne Wood. An ancient compact with the elves of Anore allows a tithe of trees and other goods to be taken from the forest each year. Woe onto any who overstep, elven justice is often swift and permanent.
Carran
Capitol: Denan
Its two great lakes dominate Carran. Lake Ebi and Ida Lake are both ancient and full of secrets. A group of Aquatic Elves make their home at the bottom of Ida Lake, and though they trade with the surface world, they rarely share the goings on of their city. The easy access to fresh water, and the relatively easy landscape means that Carran produces more food than it needs. Trade and Raids are common between Cunda and Carran, leaving the Kingdoms in a constant state of minor conflict.
Saenius
Capitol: Innsten
Saenius is the largest and least unified of the kingdoms. The three great cities of Innsten, Walengren, and Brederen constantly vie for dominance in the region, sometimes escalating to the point of open conflict. Saenius is more parsley populated than Cevalan, making its large stretches of wilderness a great place for bandits and monsters to make their homes. Because of this, the Thanes of Saenius prefer mounted troops for patrolling and controlling their lands.
Aergus
Capitol: Baranor
Aergus is a wild and rugged land that produces tough and hardy people. Both the mainland of Aergus and the northern islands are stark and rocky. Most people live in clans of a dozen families or fewer that make their living through herding, monster hunting, and mining. Some of these clans also sell their services as mercenary bands or raiders. Thanks to both conflict and trade with Jotunar, the people of Aergus have also become masters of the longship, making them dangerous river raiders, often striking south in search of crops and other hard to come by resources.
Velin
Capitol: Hagdarul
Velin is the home of the great dwarven citadels of Hagdarul and Again. The mountains of these islands are rich in ore, gems, and other riches. They are also home to some of the most dangerous monsters in Bhertain Mor, from Red Dragons to Fire Giants to ancient slumbering bests far below the earth. While dwarven ships are not the sleekest or fastest vessels on the open seas, they are famously sturdy and near impossible to sink. The magical items, especially weapons and armor, crafted by the dwarves of Velin, are prized throughout the land.
Galien
Capitol: Snaserine
The great island of Galien is said to have once been connected to the main island of Bhertain Mor. Centuries ago, the great elven sages grew tired of the constant fighting between the human kingdoms and separated the land their great forest rested on from the rest of the island. The elves of Galien are an insular people, hardly considering themselves citizens of Bhertain Mor. They are secretive, and outsiders, especially nonelves, are rarely welcome deep into the forests. The items that are made and traded by the elves are beautiful, elegant, and often magical, making them prized by the nobility of both Bhertain Mor and Ralendal.
Gods and Goddesses
The Tuatha de Danann
The great gods of the Bhertain Mor, the Tuatha de Danannan, came to the islands from somewhere beyond the Raging Sea millennia ago. They brought with them the blessings and power of their own great goddess, Danu, and several of her most powerful artifacts. They found an island filled with monsters under the rule of a terrible tyrant named Balore. After many years of wars and battles, the Tuath de Danann drove Balors and his terrible brood from the land, bringing stability and peace to the islands. When humans and dwarves came to the island some centuries later, the Tuatha de Danann retreated to the outer plains and became the gods and goddesses of the land.
The High Court:
The five Tuatha de Danann, who are the most powerful and influential, are known as the High Court. These five, while not rulers of the pantheon, hold sway and power over many of the others, making them effectively in charge. It is rare for the other Tuatha to oppose a decision made by the High Court.
Brighid
Titles: Lady of the Forge, Truthseeker, First Among Equals, The Songstress, Fire Haired
Domains: Smithing, Poetry, Rulership, War, Fire
Followers: Rulers, Poets, Smiths, Warriors
Favored Weapon: Spear
Goddess of creativity, fire, crafting, poetry, passion, and war, Brighid is the current leader of the High Court and is considered the First among Equals, giving her voice great weight among the Tuatha. She is a great crafter, and her work with enchanted armor is unparalleled amongst all the people of Bhertain Mor. She has given this love of crafting and a gift for creativity to her three sons. Her control over fire is unmatched in the pantheon, as is her ability to inspire passion or fear in those around her. She possesses a great power, the ability to speak in three voices at once, when she asks questions with this ability the listened is compelled to answer truthfully. The Tuatha de Danann have enjoyed a long spell of relative peace and stability under her guidance.
The Dagda
Titles: The Green Man, The Great Father, The White Stag
Domains: Nature, War, Animals, Magic, Family, Protection
Followers: Druids, Rangers, Parents, Herders, Monster Hunters
Favored Weapon: Great Club
The Dagda is the creator of Druidry on Bhreatain Mor and the father of all druids. He is also a god of the forests, fertility, and children/childbirth; he has had many of them, some of which became gods in their own right. He is associated with Stags and is said to spend a lot of time as a great stag in the forest. Many a wanderer has been led astray or to safety by a noble stag, only to later realize that The Dagda guided them. The Dagda was, for a time, married to The Morrigan, and while their marriage ended centuries ago, they are still close friends and occasional lovers. Many monsters that make their homes throughout Bhertain Mor can trace their origin to one of the Dagda's many amorous interactions with creatures of all shapes and sizes.
Manannan Mac Lir
Titles: The Misty One, Lord of the Waves, The Shrouded Shepherd, The Great Enchanter
Domains: Death, Travel, The Sea, Magic, Storms, Weather
Followers: Sailors, Druids, Sea Elves, Travelers, Fisherpeople, Enchanters, Shipwrights
Favored Weapon: Fragarach(Shortsword)
God of the sea, storms, travel, and weather. Manannan Mac Lir is also the shepherd of the honorable dead to Tir Na Nog, the land of eternal youth and the chosen dead. He is often a cooling force on the High Council, helping to keep the more hot headed and reactionary members from acting rashly. Due to his great ability for crafting magical tools and trinkets, Manannan Mac Lir has been associated with many a magical item over the years, including A magical bag that can hold any amount, a boat that doesn't need wind or sails to propel it, and a cloak of mist that can obscure the wearer from all divination. He is also well known for his affinity for breeding magical animals, including pigs that can make magic bacon that restores the eater to full health and a horse that can run over water.
The Morrigan
Titles: The Chooser of the Slain, The Battlecrow, The Eater,
Domains: War, Death, Magic, Prophecy, Fear
Followers: Warriors, Adventurers, Seers
Favored Weapon: Longsword(Claiomh Marbh) and Battleaxe(Tua Marbh)
The goddess of battle in many facets. You pray to the Morrigan to cause confusion in your enemies, to strike fear into your enemy's hearts, to give yourself protection from death in battle, and to be victorious in war as well as battle. She is a gaunt, thin woman with long, raven black hair and severe features. She stalks battlefields, choosing those who are slain in battle. She wields two fearsome weapons Tua Marbh, an axe and Claiomh Marbh a sword, both of which kill anyone they touch. She also has a cloak of crow feathers that she uses to transform into a crow. Her domain as the Chooser of the Slain also gives her powers of prophecy in general, and it is unwise to ignore one of her portents. She was once married to The Dagda, and though their split was not amicable, they have long since buried the past and are now on good terms.
Nuada SilverHand
Titles: The Maimed King, The High King, The Honorable One
Domains: Rulership, Dueling, Honor
Followers: Rulers, Adventurers, Duelists
Favored Weapon: Dueling Blade
The first king of the Tuatha de Dannan is still worshiped by those who wish for wisdom while ruling. He is known to be wise and kind and a deadly duelist. He lost his hand in a duel with Balore and had to, for a time, give up the high throne. He later received a new hand from the great healer Dian Cecht and took back his throne from the usurper Bres, killing him in a duel. When the Tuatha de Dannan left the material plane, he abdicated his throne, making way for the Dagda then Brighid to sit on the high throne. He is prayed to by rulers seeking wisdom and those seeking favorable outcomes in honor duels.
The Sons of Brighid
Brighid has had three sons, each of whom has has risen to the status of a god of their respective craft. These three gods are constantly pushing each other to greater and greater feats of craftsmanship, seeking to outdo themselves and each other. Many of the items used by the great heroes of legend throughout Bhertain Mor's history were made by one of the brothers.
Goibhniu
Titles: The Hammer, Dwarf Father, The Great Smith, The Curious One
Domains: Creativity, Smithing, the Forge
Followers: Dwarves, Smiths, Artisans
Favored Weapon: Warhammer
The oldest of Brighid's three children. Goidhinu is a god of craftsmen, smiths, and tinkerers. Dwarves particularly love him, and he is honored highly in their cities. He has a particular affinity for metal and stoneworking. He is known to have one of the most inquisitive minds of any of the Tuatha de Danann. He loves his brothers and, values their creativity and tenacity, and is always seeking to make creations worthy of their praise.
Creidne
Titles: The Laughing One, The Golden Lord
Domains: Wealth, Crafting, Jewelry
Followers: Merchants, Jewelers, Traders
Favored Weapon: Dagger
The middle brother of Brighid's three sons, Creidne, is a master of working with precious metals and gems. His jewelry and engravings are praised and treasured by the Tuatha and the people of Bhertain Mor. He is also known to be an incorrigible prankster, often playing jokes on his brothers and other members of the pantheon. While these are mostly harmless, they sometimes go too far.
Luchta
Titles: The Master Carver, The Woodwarper
Domains: Crafting, Patience, Trickery
Followers: Archers, Gamblers, Thieves, Woodworkers
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff
The youngest of Brighid’s three children, he is a particularly gifted woodworker and archer and is worshiped by both. His youthful and mischievous nature often gets him and his brothers in trouble.
Other Members of the Tuatha de Dannan
Lugh Lamfada
Titles: The Shinning One, Bright Lord, Leader of the Sidhe, Balore Breaker
Domains: Sun, Light, War, Fire
Followers: Warriors, Farmers, Kings, Peasants
Favored Weapon: Longsword(Claiomh Solais)
Also known as Lugh the Bright One, he is worshipped as a god of kingship, rulers, the sun, light, and fortune, especially in battle. He wields the magic sword Claiomh Solais, the sword of light that can cut through anything. He is best known for killing his own grandfather, Balore, bringing the great war to an end. He is a frequent partner of Aine.
Aine
Titles: Suntouched, The Seedstress, The Giver
Domains: Agriculture, Family, Home, Sun, Love
Followers: Farmers, Families, Herders
Favored Weapon: Shortbow
Aine is the goddess of summer, farming, the sun, and wealth, especially from the land. She is also the goddess of familial love, both between parents and their children and between partners. She is seen as the protector of families. She is worshipped as a partner and lover of Lugh. Her chosen animal is the horse, especially red ones to match her hair. She is also known to have a magic bag of seed that can grow crops without ever needing to be tended.
Ogma
Titles: The Great Brewer, The Scribe, Broad Arm
Domains: Writing, Knowledge, Brewing, War, Commerce, Wealth
Followers: Dwarves, Brewers, Wizards, Scrives, Bards
Favored Weapon: Warhammer
Ogma is the master brewer of the Tuatha De Danann, making all the mighty drinks that they consume. He is also a god of commerce, trade, cooking, and the home. His love of storytelling and story collecting led him to create the Bhertnor language and alphabet, the same still used in Bhertain Mor. He is loved by scribes and bards who live by the word.
His hammer is magical and used in his crafting, as is his magic cauldron, which never runs out of food, and one bowl of its stew restores you to full strength it is known as Anraith Draíochta and is one of the four great treasures brought by the Tuatha when they sailed to Bhertain Mor.
Aenghus Og
Titles: Aenghus the Young, The Beautiful One
Domains: Love, Lust, Beauty, Poetry
Followers: Lovers, Poets
Favored Weapon: Dagger
God of love, beauty, and poetry, Aenghus Og, is worshipped by those in the early days of courtship. He is known to flit from lover to lover like a hummingbird, quickly trying of people but ever insatiable. He considers himself to be the most lovely and fair of the gods and resents that he must share worship with Brighid over matters of beauty.
Fand
Titles: Queen of the Fairies, Lady of the Winds
Domains: Wind, Weather, Nature, the Wilds
Followers: Druids, Rangers, Wanderers
Favored Weapon: Dueling Blade
Goddess of wind, nature, small creatures, and fairies. She is the daughter of Flidais and is married to Manannan Mac Lir. She is often known as the Queen of the Fairies. She is said to have particular sway over the small folk of Faerie, such as pixies, brownies, nixies, and gnomes.
Flidais
Titles: The Huntress, The Stalking One
Domains: Woodlands, Hunters, Archery
Followers: Archers, Hunters, Rangers, Druids
Favored Weapon: Hunting Bow
Goddess of hunting, stealth, trickery, beasts, and the wilds. She is an untameable goddess and a staunch ally of Brighid. Her wildness is reflected in her unkempt and wild hair. Many of her followers replicate this, allowing their hair to grow wild and long. She has a magic cloak that allows her to become completely invisible and a flying chariot that is pulled by stags.
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