Faoladh
The Faoladh we meet in Tír na nÓg are fae men cursed by Queen Moriath. They retain their fae form during the day but become wolves when the sun sets. They can't speak in their wolf form, but their minds don't change. Moriath can also shift their forms at will.
The transformation spell is tattooed over their hearts, on the chest and back, in ink laced with enchanted gold dust.
Moriath's Faoladh are led by the Huntsman, who has an enchanted tattoo for each wolf, linked to their tattoos, that helps him track them and can compel them to obedience. The Faoladh have been sent on missions to find the lost princess, but their home is the kennel at Skyretaine.
One such story was written by Giraldus Cambrensis in his 12th century work, the Topographia Hibernica, which provided an account of a priest who was asked by a faoladh to administer last rites to its dying mate. The priest was told by the wolf that it was a native of Ossory and its current wolf form was the result of an ancient curse by a St. Natalis. Every seven years, a man and a woman were exiled from their homes in Ossory and transformed into wolves.The priest performed last rites over the gravely ill mate, and the grateful faoladh not only thanked him, but also shared its campfire and food for the night and promised to reward the priest when he regained his human form once again.
In another folktale, collected by Lady Speranza Wilde in her book, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland, a farmer discovers a family of werewolves living in a nearby forest. The faoladh family is kind to him because the farmer saved a young wolf once, not knowing that it was their son.
However, the most fascinating piece of lore I came across for the Irish faoladh was that of the Laignach Faelad. These were not doomed, kind-hearted or guardian werewolves, but vicious werewolf warriors mentioned in a medieval Irish text called the Cóir Anmann. According to the text, this tribe of man-wolf shapeshifters were from what is now known as Tipperary Island, and were thought to be followers of the bloodthirsty Irish god, Crom Cruach (the Bowed God of the Mounds.) These ancient warriors were mercenary soldiers who would fight for any king willing to pay their price. Their brutality in battle made them desirable to any ruthless and desperate king willing to hire them. - Folklore Thursday
Moriath’s faoladh were her greatest treasure, a collection of beautiful young fae men whom she'd lured in with promises of love and power. Each one had been her whole world for anywhere from a handful of days to a few months, or once—in Dylan's case—for a full year. But, inevitably, she tired of each one and added them to her pack. Fae by day, wolves by night. Fanatically loyal to their queen. And, as Huntsman, I was responsible for the whole bloodthirsty lot of them. - The Frost Gate
***
“None of your business. Let’s get back to you. You were implying that you’re a wolf, which is clearly ridiculous. I only date humans.”
Gavin let out a bark of laughter.
“Fine, then.” I rolled my eyes. “Show me your furry side.”
“I’m only a wolf at night. It’s a curse. Much like my incredible good looks.”
“You poor thing. If I keep rolling my eyes, I’m going to get dizzy. You’re trying to tell me that you’re a wolf by night, and a human by day? Like a werewolf?”
“Fae.”
“Pardon?”
“Wolf by night, fae by day.”
The transformation spell is tattooed over their hearts, on the chest and back, in ink laced with enchanted gold dust.
Moriath's Faoladh are led by the Huntsman, who has an enchanted tattoo for each wolf, linked to their tattoos, that helps him track them and can compel them to obedience. The Faoladh have been sent on missions to find the lost princess, but their home is the kennel at Skyretaine.
In Mythology and Folklore:
While there are no wolves in Ireland today, with the last one reportedly killed in 1786, wolves were at one time an important part of the Irish countryside. Ireland was even referred to as Wolfland up until the Middle Ages, due to the amount of wolves that once roamed there. It is no surprise then that they were featured prominently in Irish folklore. Stories of people transforming into wolves was a favorite subject in tales that were passed down from generation to generation. Although the faoladh shares the similarity to other werewolf traditions of it being a man or woman that shapeshifts into a wolf, it is often portrayed in stories as a protector or guardian of others rather than an unthinking, bloodthirsty creature.One such story was written by Giraldus Cambrensis in his 12th century work, the Topographia Hibernica, which provided an account of a priest who was asked by a faoladh to administer last rites to its dying mate. The priest was told by the wolf that it was a native of Ossory and its current wolf form was the result of an ancient curse by a St. Natalis. Every seven years, a man and a woman were exiled from their homes in Ossory and transformed into wolves.The priest performed last rites over the gravely ill mate, and the grateful faoladh not only thanked him, but also shared its campfire and food for the night and promised to reward the priest when he regained his human form once again.
In another folktale, collected by Lady Speranza Wilde in her book, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland, a farmer discovers a family of werewolves living in a nearby forest. The faoladh family is kind to him because the farmer saved a young wolf once, not knowing that it was their son.
However, the most fascinating piece of lore I came across for the Irish faoladh was that of the Laignach Faelad. These were not doomed, kind-hearted or guardian werewolves, but vicious werewolf warriors mentioned in a medieval Irish text called the Cóir Anmann. According to the text, this tribe of man-wolf shapeshifters were from what is now known as Tipperary Island, and were thought to be followers of the bloodthirsty Irish god, Crom Cruach (the Bowed God of the Mounds.) These ancient warriors were mercenary soldiers who would fight for any king willing to pay their price. Their brutality in battle made them desirable to any ruthless and desperate king willing to hire them. - Folklore Thursday
From The Books:
Moriath’s faoladh were her greatest treasure, a collection of beautiful young fae men whom she'd lured in with promises of love and power. Each one had been her whole world for anywhere from a handful of days to a few months, or once—in Dylan's case—for a full year. But, inevitably, she tired of each one and added them to her pack. Fae by day, wolves by night. Fanatically loyal to their queen. And, as Huntsman, I was responsible for the whole bloodthirsty lot of them. - The Frost Gate
***
“None of your business. Let’s get back to you. You were implying that you’re a wolf, which is clearly ridiculous. I only date humans.”
Gavin let out a bark of laughter.
“Fine, then.” I rolled my eyes. “Show me your furry side.”
“I’m only a wolf at night. It’s a curse. Much like my incredible good looks.”
“You poor thing. If I keep rolling my eyes, I’m going to get dizzy. You’re trying to tell me that you’re a wolf by night, and a human by day? Like a werewolf?”
“Fae.”
“Pardon?”
“Wolf by night, fae by day.”
***
“Faoladh,” Gavin said. “Fae who have been cursed to take the form of a wolf from sunset to sunrise. And there are five of us in Pilot Bay, actually. Dylan and I were the ones assigned to your grade.” - The Wolf Gate
***
“Those wolves. They aren’t normal wolves, are they?”
“Nope,” Tait responded cheerily. “They’re minions of the Unseelie Queen.” His voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. “She collects the most handsome young men as her pets. Wolves by night, faeries by day. Doing her evil bidding until their last breath.”
“Is that who cursed the castle? The Unseelie Queen?”
“I said no such thing,” protested Tait. “Be sure to mention I didn’t…if it comes up.”
“And yet, you’re an otter? Not handsome enough to be turned into a wolf?”
“I’m sure she didn’t get a good look at me,” the otter grumbled. - The Rose Gate
Appearance: Large wolves about the size of small ponies
Abilities: Fae by day and wolf by night
Kingdom: Unseelie
Notable individuals: Gavin, Dylan, Ruarc
Abilities: Fae by day and wolf by night
Kingdom: Unseelie
Notable individuals: Gavin, Dylan, Ruarc
Article by Channon and Hanna