"Five chieftains, who were at the same time brothers, landed in Ireland. They found it uninhabited and divided it in equal proportions amongst themselves. When these five brothers, namely Gann, Genann, Sengann, Rudridge and Sláine had divided the island, each had a little section meeting at a certain stone in Meath said to be the Navel of Ireland, as it were, placed right in the middle of the land. As time went on fortune varied and, as is her want, turned many things upside down in a short time, Sláine became the High King of the whole of Ireland. As a result Sláine is called the first King of Ireland."

Extract from The History and Topography of Ireland by Gerald of Wales 12th century AD

Sláine and his Allies

Sláine - Sláine is Gaelic for health and wholeness, wholeness being the prime attribute of Celtic kings. This applies in body as well as spirit, which was the fate of King Rudraige, who lost his hand in combat, and by this lost his "wholeness" and the opportunity to become High King.

Sláine is based on the Celtic hero Cuchulain, a hero whose life was short but glorious, as was Sláine's.

Warp Spasm - A mystical battle frenzy in which earth energy pours through the body warping the warrior, the Irish Cuchulain is the most famous warp warrior, but other Celtic warriors had similar battle frenzies - King Arthur for instance, at the battle of Bath.

The Earth Goddess - For the first 200.000 years of human life on earth, a Goddess was worshipped world wide. Only about 5.000 years ago was she gradually replaced by male Gods. The Earth Goddess has many faces and aspects. Like the seasons and the land itself, she changes, like the cycles of the year. This stands in contrast to the male Gods of western culture who are linear and monolithic. This acceptance of the cyclicity of life's rythms is central to Celtic believe.

The Triple Goddess - The Goddess could constantly change her form, sometimes splitting into maiden, woman and hag, othertimes earth, moon and sea. Three of her most famous names were Blodeuwedd (maiden), Morrigu (woman) and Ceridwen (hag). The three witches or fates in Macbeth are the Triple Goddess.

The Horned God - The first of her Gods, he is depicted in cave drawings dancing with witches. Worshipped under many names, he was called Cernunnos or Carnan by the Celts. In Christian time he was transformed into the Devil, because of his associations with fertility and nature worship. His cult is still remembered in folk customs such as the Abbot's Bromley Horn Dance.

Tribes of the Earth Goddess - Fir Bolg (Men of Lightning or Men of the Belly) was the name sometimes given to Sláine's tribal confederacy. In the Book of Invasions, the Tribes of the Earth Goddess were a separate warring group who arrived in Ireland 30 years later. In this saga the two invasions have been merged together. Although Sláine is not intended as an exact reconstruction of Celtic myths, purists should note that both tribes would have been Goddess worshippers and the second invasion is generally regarded as an artificial one.

The Four Gifts

The Four gifts of the Goddess were holy and empowering objects, called the Hallows, objects that underlie Gaelic tradition and form the mystical regalia of the rightful king. The four hallows derive from the otherworldly cities of Falias, Fineas, Goreas and Murias, according to Celtic tradition, brought hither by the powerful tribe, the Tuatha de Danaan or Children of Danu.

Cauldron of Blood - A symbol of the Goddess and the original basis of the Graal legend. Inexhaustible cauldrons and huge feasts were a feature of Celtic life.

The Stone of Destiny - Near the Hill of Slane is Tara, ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland. A pillar stone on the hillcrest is reputed to be the Stone of Destiny. In the churchyard is another version with an engraving on it said to be the Horned God.

The Enemies

The Drune Lords - Led by Slough Feg, they are the enemies of the Tribes of the Earth Goddess. They worship Carnan and Crom-Cruatch, the Worm God controlled by the Dark Gods of Cythraul (the Celtic hell).

The Formors - Sea Demon allies of the Drune Lords, led by Balor of the Evil Eye. Their outpost on Earth was Tory Island of the coast of Northern Ireland.

Cave of Beasts - This is based on a great underground cave in the Pyrenees, Les Trois Frères, featuring hundreds of engravings of wild animals and above them a painting of the Horned God. This famous Sorcerer is the basis for the Lord Weird Slough Feg, Sláine's enemy.

Crom-Cruach - The Bloody Maggot God was worshipped on the Plain of Adoration where great was the horror and scare of him.

General

Death of a King - In traditional societies the King was ritually killed at the end of his reign. In one instance in Malabar when the ruler's twelve year term of office was at an endit was customary for him to stand up before the cheering croud and generously slit his own throat.

Celtic Pronunciation

Sláine: Slaunyeh (although there is another Irish version where it's pronounced Slain)

Medb: Maeve

Niamh: Neeve

Tir Nan Og: Cheer Nan Oge