Ard-Rí

"We no longer have the luxury of warring with each other. We must cleave to each other, or the Fae will destroy us all."

— Airgetlám

The Ard-Rí is the High King of Oileán Fiáin. They coordinate the interactions between the individual kingdoms of the Fir Fáinne and the enigmatic Fae courts. Their primary responsibility is to navigate the complex and unpredictable nature of the Fae, who possess strange and fickle sensibilities. The High King acts as a diplomat, navigating the potentially devastating consequences of living alongside the Fae. The role has grown over time to include all negotiations with powers external to the island, and the Ard-Rí is also known as the "Guth an Fir Fáinne", or the "Voice of the Fir Fáinne".

The seat of the Ard-Rí is at Baile Ríoch, in the Kingdom of Eirin. This town was built for the purpose by the command of Airgetlám, who was the first to hold the office after the overthrow of the Clarati sorceress, Celestina.

Appointment

When the current Ard-Rí dies or steps down, the five Rís of Oileán Fiáin come together to form the Coiste Ríochta. This council selects the new Ard-Rí. Any adult of the Fir Fáinne is a viable candidate, save for the Rís themselves - if a sitting Rí were to be appointed to be Ard-Rí, they would be required to abdicate their current throne.

History

When Celestina conquered Oileán Fiáin, she used her magic to bind and imprison the Fae courts, so that they would not interfere with her rule. When this binding was finally removed, the Fae emerged from their captivity enraged by their imprisonment, and they blamed the humans of the island for allowing it to happen. Airgetlám was able to negotiate a truce with the courts, and established a delicate balance between the Fae and the Fir Fáinne. Part of the truce was that the Fir Fáinne would appoint a single person to negotiate with the Fae from then onward, and that this negotiator would have the authority to bind all the kingdoms of Oileán Fiáin to the agreements made. Thus was born the office of the Ard-Rí. Over time, the Ard-Rí became responsible for all negotiations that impacted the island as a whole, and spoke for the five kingdoms when dealing with governments beyond Oileán Fiáin.

Arms of the Ard-Rí

Type

Royalty, Non-hereditary

Alternative Naming

Guth an Fir Fáinne

First Holder

Airgetlám

Current Holders

• Cianán Líathdhuine

Related Locations

• Oileán Fiáin

Related Organizations

• Dalriada
• Fennell
• Ardena
• Eirin
• Liria