Last war of the gods
With the creation of the intelligent mortal races (8-million years ago), such as humanoïds, fey and goblinoïds, the creator gods also created several races with near godlike or otherwise impressive abilities such as the devils and demons (who made their homes in the nine circles of hell) and the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Many of the powerful godlike creations felt that their race was superior to others, that they knew best and thus had the right to rule. As a consequence, many of these races went to battle with each other. Most of which had devastating consequences for themselves and the world around them.
The most famous of these battles is the last battle of the gods between the Tuatha Dé Danann, the current gods, and the Fomorians, giant entities that commanded the chaos of nature itself. This battle was known as the battle of Moytura.
The Fomorians were giant monstrous beings who utilised the chaos and cruelty of nature. They were wild, uncontrolled and merciless to most although not very smart. Most of their battles were won through pure overpowering strength.
The Tuatha Dé Danann, on the other hand, are far more humanlike and most seek to utilise nature in a way beneficial to civilisation. They are cunning and wise, preferring strategy and trickery over pure strength.
The Firbolg were split from the Tuatha Dé Danann in the beginning and they were creatures who valued the tranquillity and balance of nature over everything else. Moytura was heir original home base.
The Túatha Dé Danann came with a great fleet to Moytura to take it by force from the FirBolg. Upon reaching the territory of Corcu Belgatan, they at once burned their boats so that they would not think of fleeing to them. The smoke and the mist which came from the ships filled the land and the air which was near them. For that reason, it has been thought that they arrived in clouds of mist.
The battle of Mag Tuired was fought between them and the FirBolg. The FirBolg were defeated, and 100,000 of them were killed including the king, Eochaid mac Eirc. They were however not wiped out. Instead, the Túatha Dé Danann stripped them of their godlike powers and took it as their own. In exchange they allowed the Firbolg to live in Thieve as they wished.
Nuada's hand was cut off in that battle—Sreng mac Sengainn struck it from him. So with Crédne the brazier helping him, Dian Cécht the physician put on him a silver hand that moved as well as any other hand.
However, as time passed Bres's young mind was corrupted by power and he became greedy. He and his close aides demanded tribute from the other Túatha Dé Danann and all the living things in his territory until the prospering lands were plagued with blights. Seeing this the Túatha Dé Danann were furious and wanted to force him to abdicate, return their properties and reïnstate Nuada as their ruler. Being unable to suppress them Bres agreed but asked for seven more years to return the tributes which were granted to him.
Now, initially, the Fomorians and the Túatha Dé Danann had agreed to rule together as they were too evenly matched and a battle would surely mean a great loss. But Bres, unable to accept his loss of power and feeling wronged, made a journey of 2 years to the king of the Fomorians with his mother to ask his father for help to take kingship by force.
In all fairness, Elatha mac Delbaith was a peaceful and just king and he advised his son to not take by force what he couldn't get fairly. Unwilling to accept this, Bres told his father that he had only taken a few small morsels and trinkets as a tribute and the state of the land was due to the other gods being unwilling to listen to him. After a year of persuasion, the king of the Fomorians gave in and gave Bres his army to train for two years and then return.
Back with the Túatha Dé Danann Bres's absence made them suspicious and the Morrigan warned them of Bres's plan to take back the throne by force. As a direct battle would cause to many losses for the Túatha Dé Danann they had a meeting for a year and decided to rely on trickery to make the Fomorians believe that the land itself was on the side of the Túatha Dé Danann and shake their courage as to make the battle easier.
After seven years the last war of the gods and the second battle of Moytura started and the first days the battle was drawn up between the race of the Fomoire and the Tútha Dé Danann, but there were no kings or princes waging it, only fierce and arrogant men.
One thing which became evident to the Fomoire in the battle seemed remarkable to them. Their weapons, their spears and their swords were blunted; and those of their men who were killed did not come back the next day. That was not the case with the Túatha Dé Danann: although their weapons were blunted one day, they were restored the next and although many of their men fell they'd be in full health the next. This was due to Giobnu and Lugh who would forge new weapons every day and Dían Cécht and his sons taking care of the mortally wounded.
As such, the Fomorians attempted to assassinate one of them through the son of Bres and Brigid. However, the attack failed and the son died. Thus the Fomorians wanted to stuff the magic well of the Túatha Dé Danann which was used for healing with rocks from the nearby rivers so it could no longer be used. This time, they succeeded and the war became more serious.
When the time came for the great battle, the Fomoire marched out of their encampment and formed themselves into strong indestructible battalions. There was not a chief nor a skilled warrior among them without armour against his skin, a helmet on his head, a broad spear in his right hand, a heavy sharp sword on his belt, a strong shield on his shoulder. To attack the Fomorian host that day was “striking a head against a cliff.”
On the other side, the Túatha Dé Danann arose and left nine companions guarding Lugh, and went to join the battle. But when the battle ensued, Lugh escaped from the guard set over him, as a chariot-fighter, and it was he who was in front of the battalion of the Túatha Dé Danann. Then a keen and cruel battle was fought between the race of the Fomoire and the men of Moytura.
Lugh was urging the men of Moytura to fight the battle fiercely so they should not be in bondage any longer because it was better for them to find death while protecting their fatherland than to be in bondage and under tribute as they had been. The hosts gave a great shout as they went into battle. Then they came together, and each of them began to strike the other.
A fierce battle ensued until the Morrigan themselves attended the battle on the side of the Túatha Dé Danann and drove the Fomorians to flee. While running the took along all the cattle that crossed their path and stole Dagda's harp which could control the four seasons. Enraged and humiliated Bres escaped to the realm of dreams, determined to plague the mortals with terror for the rest of their existence.
Some of the Túatha Dé Danann chased the fleeing Fomorians to take back the tributes, the cattle and Dagda's harp. In the process, all the Fomorians but their king, Elatha mac Delbaith, had died and the Túatha Dé Danann told them of Bres fleeing to the dream realm. Elatha was distraught at his son's foolishness and the downfall of his people but did not bare hatred for the Túatha Dé Danann as the Fomorians had been the ones to break the agreement. In order to take responsibility and to keep Bres from bringing harm to the innocent, Elatha mac Delbaith entered the realm of dreams and became the god of night and dreams.
Many of the powerful godlike creations felt that their race was superior to others, that they knew best and thus had the right to rule. As a consequence, many of these races went to battle with each other. Most of which had devastating consequences for themselves and the world around them.
The most famous of these battles is the last battle of the gods between the Tuatha Dé Danann, the current gods, and the Fomorians, giant entities that commanded the chaos of nature itself. This battle was known as the battle of Moytura.
The battle of Moytura
The last battle of the gods was between the Fomorians, the Firbolg and the Tuatha Dé Danann. This battle was fought at Moytura, an mythical island, and decided who would become the gods of Thieve.The Fomorians were giant monstrous beings who utilised the chaos and cruelty of nature. They were wild, uncontrolled and merciless to most although not very smart. Most of their battles were won through pure overpowering strength.
The Tuatha Dé Danann, on the other hand, are far more humanlike and most seek to utilise nature in a way beneficial to civilisation. They are cunning and wise, preferring strategy and trickery over pure strength.
The Firbolg were split from the Tuatha Dé Danann in the beginning and they were creatures who valued the tranquillity and balance of nature over everything else. Moytura was heir original home base.
The first battle
In the first battle, the Tuatha Dé Danann fought against the Firbolg with the assistance of the Fomorians. This alliance was forged through a union between the king of the Fomorians, Elatha mac Delbaith (a surprisingly handsome Fomorians) and one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a woman named Ériu. From this union, a boy named Bres was born.The Túatha Dé Danann came with a great fleet to Moytura to take it by force from the FirBolg. Upon reaching the territory of Corcu Belgatan, they at once burned their boats so that they would not think of fleeing to them. The smoke and the mist which came from the ships filled the land and the air which was near them. For that reason, it has been thought that they arrived in clouds of mist.
The battle of Mag Tuired was fought between them and the FirBolg. The FirBolg were defeated, and 100,000 of them were killed including the king, Eochaid mac Eirc. They were however not wiped out. Instead, the Túatha Dé Danann stripped them of their godlike powers and took it as their own. In exchange they allowed the Firbolg to live in Thieve as they wished.
Nuada's hand was cut off in that battle—Sreng mac Sengainn struck it from him. So with Crédne the brazier helping him, Dian Cécht the physician put on him a silver hand that moved as well as any other hand.
The second battle
As Nuada was no longer 'whole' without his arm he could no longer be king of the Túatha Dé Danann as stated by his own law. As Bres had grown to be handsome with a just personality and to be a good warrior and leader, as well as being born of both the Túatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians, he was crowned the new king.However, as time passed Bres's young mind was corrupted by power and he became greedy. He and his close aides demanded tribute from the other Túatha Dé Danann and all the living things in his territory until the prospering lands were plagued with blights. Seeing this the Túatha Dé Danann were furious and wanted to force him to abdicate, return their properties and reïnstate Nuada as their ruler. Being unable to suppress them Bres agreed but asked for seven more years to return the tributes which were granted to him.
Now, initially, the Fomorians and the Túatha Dé Danann had agreed to rule together as they were too evenly matched and a battle would surely mean a great loss. But Bres, unable to accept his loss of power and feeling wronged, made a journey of 2 years to the king of the Fomorians with his mother to ask his father for help to take kingship by force.
In all fairness, Elatha mac Delbaith was a peaceful and just king and he advised his son to not take by force what he couldn't get fairly. Unwilling to accept this, Bres told his father that he had only taken a few small morsels and trinkets as a tribute and the state of the land was due to the other gods being unwilling to listen to him. After a year of persuasion, the king of the Fomorians gave in and gave Bres his army to train for two years and then return.
Back with the Túatha Dé Danann Bres's absence made them suspicious and the Morrigan warned them of Bres's plan to take back the throne by force. As a direct battle would cause to many losses for the Túatha Dé Danann they had a meeting for a year and decided to rely on trickery to make the Fomorians believe that the land itself was on the side of the Túatha Dé Danann and shake their courage as to make the battle easier.
After seven years the last war of the gods and the second battle of Moytura started and the first days the battle was drawn up between the race of the Fomoire and the Tútha Dé Danann, but there were no kings or princes waging it, only fierce and arrogant men.
One thing which became evident to the Fomoire in the battle seemed remarkable to them. Their weapons, their spears and their swords were blunted; and those of their men who were killed did not come back the next day. That was not the case with the Túatha Dé Danann: although their weapons were blunted one day, they were restored the next and although many of their men fell they'd be in full health the next. This was due to Giobnu and Lugh who would forge new weapons every day and Dían Cécht and his sons taking care of the mortally wounded.
As such, the Fomorians attempted to assassinate one of them through the son of Bres and Brigid. However, the attack failed and the son died. Thus the Fomorians wanted to stuff the magic well of the Túatha Dé Danann which was used for healing with rocks from the nearby rivers so it could no longer be used. This time, they succeeded and the war became more serious.
When the time came for the great battle, the Fomoire marched out of their encampment and formed themselves into strong indestructible battalions. There was not a chief nor a skilled warrior among them without armour against his skin, a helmet on his head, a broad spear in his right hand, a heavy sharp sword on his belt, a strong shield on his shoulder. To attack the Fomorian host that day was “striking a head against a cliff.”
On the other side, the Túatha Dé Danann arose and left nine companions guarding Lugh, and went to join the battle. But when the battle ensued, Lugh escaped from the guard set over him, as a chariot-fighter, and it was he who was in front of the battalion of the Túatha Dé Danann. Then a keen and cruel battle was fought between the race of the Fomoire and the men of Moytura.
Lugh was urging the men of Moytura to fight the battle fiercely so they should not be in bondage any longer because it was better for them to find death while protecting their fatherland than to be in bondage and under tribute as they had been. The hosts gave a great shout as they went into battle. Then they came together, and each of them began to strike the other.
A fierce battle ensued until the Morrigan themselves attended the battle on the side of the Túatha Dé Danann and drove the Fomorians to flee. While running the took along all the cattle that crossed their path and stole Dagda's harp which could control the four seasons. Enraged and humiliated Bres escaped to the realm of dreams, determined to plague the mortals with terror for the rest of their existence.
Some of the Túatha Dé Danann chased the fleeing Fomorians to take back the tributes, the cattle and Dagda's harp. In the process, all the Fomorians but their king, Elatha mac Delbaith, had died and the Túatha Dé Danann told them of Bres fleeing to the dream realm. Elatha was distraught at his son's foolishness and the downfall of his people but did not bare hatred for the Túatha Dé Danann as the Fomorians had been the ones to break the agreement. In order to take responsibility and to keep Bres from bringing harm to the innocent, Elatha mac Delbaith entered the realm of dreams and became the god of night and dreams.
Prophecy
At the end of the war, Badb took the time to recount all that happened during the war and prophecised a long period of abundance as well as the end of the world.I shall not see a world
Which will be dear to me:
Summer without blossoms,
Cattle will be without milk,
Women without modesty,
Men without valour.
Conquests without a king
Woods without mast.
Sea without produce
False judgements of old men.
False precedents of lawyers,
Every man a betrayer.
Every son a reaver.
The son will go to the bed of his father,
The father will go to the bed of his son.
Each his brother’s brother-in-law.
He will not seek any woman outside his house
An evil time,
Son will deceive his father,
Daughter will deceive...
This Myth is mostly an alteration of the Cath Maige Tuired and may contain some inconsistent parts.
The original source I used can be read here.
The original source I used can be read here.
Date of First Recording
3000 years ago by mortals, 2760000 years ago by the Tuatha Dé Danann
Date of Setting
3300000 - 3200000
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