O'Deaghaidh Family/History of the Celts Volume II: The Early Era

Preface

The Early Era is a time in which we have stone tablets inscribed with primitive Celtic writing on these events. These stone tablets are thought to have been from the Middle Era so the historical accuracy of this era is also up for debate but Celtic scholars believe most of these events actually happened.

Part I: The Four Tribes

After the Separation of the Tribes, many other new ethnic groups had sprung up around the continent known today as Beluaterra. On the Western Coast in the area now know as the Beluaterran Badlands, four different tribes fought for supremacy. These four tribes were of Celtic descent and the desert we know today was once lush green fields and forests. There was also a large island off the coast of the Western Shore but that is a story for another time. Back in the Early Era the land was called Neamh (Translated into Atamarian means Heaven.) and how it became a desert will be revealed in Volume IV of this series.

These four Celtic tribes were Mac Airt, Baro, Mac Watt and O’Hlomhair. The current modern city of Latlan is now built on top of the ruins of Cathairtir (Cityland) and it was here that the Baro Clan resided. The city of Heen is built on top of the ruins of Coilltir (Forestland) and the Mac Watt Clan ruled over it and the surrounding lands. The city of Joppo is built on top of the ruins of Ciumhaistir (Bordercity) and this is where the O’Hlomhair clan ruled. Finally the Stronghold of Tahgalez is built on top of the city of Tara (believed to be named after the Celtic Goddess Tara) and this is where the Mac Airt Clan ruled over the center of the land of Neamh.

Part II: The Prophesy of the Child

These tribes fought for decades with little or no success, usually just caravan and village raids were the product of their war. No true strategy was used because no real tactician existed in this time in the land of Neamh, only cruel despot warlords and chieftains. One thing all the tribes had in common was the faith of Na Diaga, led by mystics called druids. Na Diaga is a polytheistic religion with hundreds of Gods and Goddesses, so each clan worshiped who they felt best represented them. Druids tended to be the judges of their clans, support their chieftain or warlord.

A nameless druid of the Mac Airt Clan prophesized the birth of a child. One with red hair like fair and skin white like snow, it is said he is would be the reincarnation of the first man. Born to Chieftain of Tara, this child would conquer the other clans and create a Kingdom with all the cities of Neamh under his banner. Decades past after this prophesy was shared with the Mac Airt Clan until it had almost been forgotten, but then a child was born with red hair and skin as white as snow, his father named him Fionn. Red hair was an incredibly rare hair color and only women seemed to carry this feature and a man had never been seen to have this hair color.

The boy’s birth shocked the people and druids from all tribes came to witness this phenomenon. The Fionn’s father had him tutored by the wisest druids, taught the art of the sword by the mightiest of swordsmen and led into battle by the bravest of warriors. The boy grew in knowledge and power until his father past and he became the chieftain of the Mac Airt Clan. Fionn knew that he must be quick to consolidate his position for he had rival chieftains looking to place claim on his land.

Part III: Battle of Sliabh Searchaid

Usually in Celtic society only noble warriors were aloud to take up the sword and fight but Fionn knew fighting a conventional war would lead to his defeat. So he did what no other chieftain had done and invested his own personal wealth into the production of weapons and armor for the peasant tribesmen of his clan. By doing this he increased the size of his army from a mere twenty-five men to near two hundred. In this Era the earth was sparsely populated and battles were fought with only a handful of men, so this new technique gave him a huge advantage in numbers.

Upon hearing of Fionn’s father’s death, the chieftain of the Alleyn Clan marched his small army of noble warriors towards Tara. His army was only a few dozen strong and Fionn’s scouts reported this movement and Fionn moved his army to meet him. They met at a pass near modern day Tahgalez Mountains, Fionn with his twenty-five noble warriors lined up and faced their enemy. When the Alleyn’s charged Fionn and his men retreated, this only encouraged the Alleyn’s men and so they charged carelessly through the mountain pass. Then at once Fionn’s men turned and charged directly into the Alleyn warriors shocking them by this sudden move. Then the peasant warriors came rushing from their hiding places and charge into the back of the Alleyn warriors. Panic broke out in the ranks of the Alleyn warriors and they attempted to escape, only the Alleyn Chieftain, his son and his sword bearer escaped the savage slaughter by the Fionn men. This battle would be know as Battle of Sliabh Searchaid, (Battle of Mountain Pass.) and would change the history of warfare.