Location: The grand Library of Rathcroghan
Φ As I land at the bottom of the hill, I stare at the wonderbeast known as the Ellén Trechand. A three-headed beast with wings made of copper red flowers that scatter throughout the area.
It lies in the middle of a river with a large town built around it, and within it. The wonderbeast is completely integrated with the city, almost like it was made for this.
Amazed by all of this I keep moving forward until I reach the main entrance, and standing outside it I say, "Now what am I going to do first?"
Suddenly one of the giant heads of the Ellén looks down at me and starts to scream, and the other two heads stretch from its body and come down right next to me.
All those around Ellén and me have shocked expressions, and I prepare to hit the giant head of the 60-meter beast, yet I know it would be pointless to try.
From each of its three heads, I see blood rush into their mouths that suddenly turns gold as it lights ablaze. I quickly prepare to move before I am set ablaze, but it quickly turns its head towards the sky and shoots three golden fireballs that explode.
The head then pushes against me in a goofy fashion, and I say, "Are you happy to see me?" while rubbing it.
It soon pulls its heads back and returns to its former position, and I then look around to all of the faces looking at me, and say, "YES IT IS I, THE DECENDANT OF AMERGIN HIMSELF, SETANTA Ó FAOLÁIN!"
Many of the people start to swarm me, and say, "Are you really his descendant?"
"We have always wished the Faoláin would visit our city!"
"Hey, could you bring Ellen's head close again, I would like to touch it as well?"
"What a handsome young man you are."
This is why I love travel. All the people around me tend to talk down to me and treat me like I am some agent of chaos, but when the lower class meet me, they treat me like what I truly am, the future king of GORIAS!
"Please come stay at my hotel young king of Gorias, I am sure we will be able to give you a wonderful stay."
"Come eat at my shop, I am sure the food would be so delicious that you would never stop coming back."
"Are you in need of servants, my children are amazing in that regard?"
"If you ever need some produce, I can assure you nothing is as nice as what you could get at my farm."
As they now start to pull and tug on me, I remember the other reason I hate this. I AM NOT A TOOL!
I should fling them all off but there are so many people of different physical abilities huddled around me, that I don't know if I might accidentally kill someone. This is starting to get really annoying!
I hear a voice say, "ALL OF YOU BACK AWAY!"
Then a group of boys in and around my age range circle around me, and with spears in hand start to press back all of the people surrounding me. Then a boy standing in front of them, says, "Do you people even know who this is? Stay away!"
All of the people start to disperse and then the boys all drop onto one knee and bow, then the boy in front walks up to me and says, "It's been a long time my friend."
I sniff him a bit, and then I say, "Oh aren't you, money is all I got going for me, and the stupid troop."
The boy in front of me has a bright smile in response to my insult as if it made him happy. Maintaining a creepy level of eye contact with me, he says, "What a cute name. But no, I am Ruairí Ó Éire son of the king of Falias, and this is the boys' troop, you know the ones from Emain Macha."
"Oh yes, the group that tried to assault my charioteer."
"Wait, wasn't the group it was only one particular member who has been severely punished for his action."
Ruairí points to a beastkin who has all of the hair on his head shaved, and countless marks on his forehead. Looking directly at me, he smashes his head into the ground and says, "Setanta, I do so apologise for my arrogance. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!"
"No."
The boy brings his spear to his neck, and I kick him in the face onto the ground. "Stop being annoying!"
Turning to Ruairí, I say, "Please control your men!"
Ruairí says, "What are you talking about they are your soldiers first and foremost, did you forget after you defeated us, we became your group and fell under your protection?"
"I forgot I said that," I say with a pained expression.
Getting close to me, Ruairí says, "We were mesmerised when we saw you and that boy fighting Scáthach till you couldn't stand. We realise we were living life too easy and have started to train to become excellent warriors like you and lead our houses as you can. You're an idol to us!"
CREEPY! They are overzealous but not in the way I like, I feel like I could spit on them right now and they would be happy to receive it. How annoying!
An idea springs into my head, and I say, "Ok then, now all of you leave and never let me see you again. I don't want to deal with this nonsense any longer."
Ruairí and the rest of the boys' troop look like they are about to cry, and then he grabs me saying, "Why!"
"Because you're all off-putting."
They all fall to the ground as if their brains have been pierced with spears. Their eyes are so lifeless, and their bodies are so unresponsive, that they actually look like corpses littered across the ground.
Ruairí suddenly springs up and says, "If you let us follow you and become your private army, I will pay you."
"No amount of money will allow me to agree to that."
"60%."
"60% of what?"
"The Éire family has 60% of all of the empire's wealth. We are a trading family which are the ones solely responsible for keeping goods and services moving throughout the entire empire, and currently hold 60% of the empire's wealth. IF YOU ALLOW ME TO STAND AT YOUR SIDE, I WILL GIVE IT ALL TO YOU!"
Suddenly a series of things I want to do flow into my mind, the first of which is a giant statue of Minagrain the size of a castle, which is edible.
Wait Setanta, control yourself. This boy is the son of the House of Éire, a lineage of cruel businessmen who value coin over pride, many think they have enough money to even overthrow the high king.
But now that I look at the face of this pervert in front of me who looks like he would break down in tears if I don't accept his request, I cannot imagine a man like this would ever pose a threat to anyone.
Sighing, I say, "Fine."
The boys jump for joy like a gaggle of little girls, and I say, "Only on one condition."
They all have faces of fear, like me when I call Scáthach a hag.
"You must all work to surpass me and reach the rank of Ollamh through only your own efforts. If I find a single one of you tried to use your family's position to reach that point you forfeit your lives."
They all nod their heads in agreement with me.
I walk forward finally ready to enter Ellén, but then all of them crowd around me in a defensive circle which feels like a bunch of pillows being pushed against my skin, so I say, "Did you know what the best kind of protectors are?"
"No?"
"Those who stay in the shadows and protect their lords from all sorts of harm without their lord even knowing. Keeping it out of sight, and out of mind."
The boys quickly disperse and hide in the shadows watching every single threat with the exception of Ruairí who stays beside me, causing me to ask, "Why are you still hear?"
"I am not a strong combatant; I am a lover at heart. So, I can't really pull of things like that."
"But you were the leader of the boys' troop?"
"Yes, because I had status and money."
"I forgot you people don't properly reward merit."
"DO YOU WANT ME TO CHANGE THAT!? I PROMISE I WILL IF I BECOME THE HEAD OF FALIAS!"
I knock him in the face away from me, and say, "Please back up away from me."
As he moves away and composes himself, he says, "Though I do spend a lot of time here performing research due to my father's instructions. So, I should be able to show you around better than anyone."
"Ok then, go ahead."
Both of us finally walk into the Ellén and inside I see many different things.
First is a library built into the beast's flesh and bones. Second is a golden light that shines down everywhere. Third is a series of small little wonderbeasts running around, and fourth is a series of people in green and red robes with tree branches growing out of their heads; Druids. And finally are the banners of the two red branch houses, Cumhaill and Biorg.
I stare at them for a moment, and Ruairí says, "Cumhaill the wise, a group of historians and scribes who made great efforts to write down and record the achievements of the beastkin, and the Biorg the Spiritual, the religious sect of the beastkin who are in charge of all our ceremonies and all other religious practises across the land.
I whack Ruairí in the face and say, "I already know that."
Holding his nose, he says, "A true servant's job is to help his master even when it comes to simple thoughts."
"How annoying," I sigh.
My annoyance fades, as my attention is quickly taken by a golden light coming down from above me.
Looking up I see a little golden baby-shaped creature with golden vein-like tendrils coming from its body. It is those same tendrils that shine a golden light throughout the area.
Suddenly it lands on my head, and I feel the excess heat coming from it, I take a moment to truly appreciate the beauty of everything around me as all those who see the creature stare at it, and me as well.
The family line of Faoláins
Faoláin: First head of the family who fought during the beastkin war of liberation. Died in a battle where the Ellén Trechend appeared on the battlefield and destroyed both sides.
Amergin: Son of Faoláin, who attempted to avenge his father by hunting Ellén Trechend but befriended her instead, and was the one who went on the found his house after the war came to an end. Though the wounds he suffered in battle never fully healed and he died sometime later.
Cethern: Son of Amergin, who was a rather unremarkable king to the beastkin, at least in the era he lived. He wasn't a warrior, but an excellent ruler who put in place many of the practises that earned the Faoláins the reputation of the perfectionist they are. His lack of care for tradition is something the Faoláin still carry.
Súaltam: Son of Cethern, and became the king unexpectedly after the death of his father, and his sister. He was a prideful man who hated the fact he got his position only because his sister died. So he constantly rushed into battle after battle dragging his sons along which lead them all to a quick death.
Lugh: The only surviving son of Súaltam. A prodigy who had skills surpassing Amergin, and wisdom surpass Cethern. His leadership of his house was so great he became the first Faoláin to be awarded a providence to rule over stripping the position that was once held by the Fuinseogs in Gorias. He was the last known ruler of Gorias.