Along one part of the Rosleigh coastline, the sea crashes against chalk cliffs, which at their top slope up from the ocean, then down into a long, broad vale. This place, the Faill Caball, or Cliffs of the Horse, is sacred. In times long past, druids carved away the turf at the top of the slope to create an enormous picture of a horse in the chalk to honor Efrona, goddess of horses.
A special order of holy men known as the Riding Druids tends this place, performing ceremonies to Efrona. As their name indi- cates, they also raise horses, riding them in swift races along the very edge of the cliffs, sometimes dying when a mount loses its foot- ing and pitches over the edge into the waves. The Riding Druids never sell their steeds, but at times make a gift of one to some king or noble. The Tualans consider such a gift a great honor, for the horses of the Riding Druids run as swiftly and tirelessly as those of Dundelgan, and some- times swifter.
Anluan the Black leads the Riding Druids. An unassuming man who wears an ordinary druid’s robes and car- ries a staff, he is often mistaken for one of the druids who serve him. Well-versed in magic, he has of late devoted much effort to protect- ing the Cliffs from the evil power he senses growing across the kingdom, and indeed all of Tuala Morn. He knows not yet what the power may be, but he is determined to protect Efrona’s shrine from it, even at the cost of his own life.
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DRUMCAVNAR AND DECHARA
Those parts of the shore of Loch Leene that the King’s Lands do not occupy belong to the Duke of Drumcavnar and the Baron of Dechara.
Duke Cadwal of Drumcavnar rules over a land that suffered much during the battles of the Lords’ Strife. Villages were burned and sacred sites profaned as the king’s men fought to defeat the rebellious lords. Cadwal supports the king, but his vassals are divided. Some blame him for the losses they suffered, while others believe the only honor- able thing to do is remain true to King Ballogh. Cattle-raids may turn into open warfare if the Duke cannot calm his fractious vassals.
Baron Wulfring of Dechara, like his ancestor Baron Odran, has little love for the Rosleigh kings, but has not moved against Ballogh directly — yet. His support of King Flinn during the Strife was middling at best, the bare minimum his caelshain obligations would let him get away with providing.
CORMALEN
Like Mersia in Dalriada, Cormalen has long stood as Parlas Rosleigh’s bulwark against invad- ers who come over Belric’s Wall. Few Dalriadans so dare, but those who do come face to face with the looming presence of Cathair Cormalen and the strength of Duke Magraethe’s hero-band. Magraethe, eldest son of the executed Duke Scell, had many years to nurse his thirst for vengeance against King Flinn, but with Flinn’s death seems to have formed no such desire regarding King Bal- logh. Though not an enthusiastic vassal of the man whose father slew his father, he has remained loyal — at least for the present. No one doubts he could easily change his mind.
FINCROS
In the east of Parlas Rosleigh lies the Duchy of Fincros, between the shadowy hills of the Drimnarth and the unwholesome waters of the Slough of Airith. Because they rule so threat- ened a realm, the Scarlet Dukes (Duchas Dearg) of Fincros (so called for their characteristic red hair) have long enjoyed a reputation as fearsome and skilled fighters of trolls and other fell crea- tures. “Like a Fincros man seeking trolls’ heads,” the Tualans say to describe someone possessing dogged determination.
The Fincros (so all the dukes are traditionally called) who currently rules from the strong dun at the head of the Vale of Fincros is a man who knows his lands well. In his youth he was a seilgar who trod the paths of both hill and marsh, and his men say he can hit a bird in flight with an arrow at a hundred paces. Though not a favorite of the king, he enjoys enormous popularity among his people, who follow him and the other leaders of Clan Mac Fincros unquestioningly.
MADRON
The other earldom in Parlas Rosleigh is Madron, in the far east near Lochs Neagh and Masc. Tor Rehgion, burial place of High Kings, is located in the west of Madron where it borders the Drimnarth. The shadow from the hills has fallen most heavily on Madron, leaving its people to live in fear and hatred. Earl Brendan has had much dif- ficulty keeping his realm whole, despite frequent visits from King Ballogh; some of his nobles have become nigh-openly rebellious against him.
Earl Brendan lives under an unusual geas: he can only be killed at noon or midnight, while bearing with him a horn, by an enemy wielding no weapon. He takes great comfort in this destiny whenever he goes into battle.
N
amed for a clan now long dead, Rath- marda is a kingdom where the cattle- raid and clan feud dominate life in much the same way as they did hundreds of years ago. This has bred disunity and weakness, leaving the realm vulnerable to outsiders who see it as a rich prize to be conquered.HISTORY
The first Tualans to settle in the region now called Rathmarda came under the banner of Ardan Mac Marda, a bold warrior and adventurer who fought beside the Three Brothers against the trolls. He built a large and ostentatious rath on the shores of Loch Langren, and thus Rathmarda got its name. Ardan ruled his realm as king for many years, and his sons after him. But the high-handed and arrogant ways of the Mac Mardas bred resentment among their once-loyal allies. Finally, resentment gave way to hatred, and a cabal of nobles conspired to kill Broskey Mac Marda, Ardan’s great-grandson. They assassinated him in the feasting-hall of his own rath, slaying him with daggers while he was drunk rather than giving him the chance to earn an honorable death on the battlefield.
But treacherous men make poor allies. Soon the conspirators turned against one another, each seeking the crown for himself. After many years of fighting, Callough ConAillech, a powerful knight who controlled much of the Moy Corom west of Rath Marda, defeated enough of his enemies to declare himself king. Though his peers grudgingly accepted this, the nobles of Rathmarda remain a fractious lot to this day, often difficult to control.
KING ARDAL
The only king who ever inspired true loyalty from most of the nobles of Rathmarda was King Ardal, known as “Falcon-Eye” for his penetrating, far-seeing gaze. The bards say King Ardal could stand atop the tallest tower of Cathair Marda (for Ardan’s ancient rath had long ago been made a castle) and see to the far side of Loch Mairog.
It was during King Ardal’s time that the Fomorians came to Tuala Morn, and though the Rathmarda kings often have little to do with the rest of the land, Ardal recognized the seriousness of the threat. He called the Rathmardan war- bands to him and led them to battle. So valiant did he prove in combat, so deadly and masterful of feats, that all the other Tualan kings chose him to be their first High King.
THE FAERIE WAR
It seems that the Good Folk who make their homes in Rathmarda are as contentious a lot as their human neighbors. More than once a group of faeries has kidnapped some knight or burly peasant to help them win sporting contests or battles against some other shee.
A few generations ago, the faeries of Darshae- ghla Shee went to war against their brethren of Bellivar Shee. No druid or wizard has ever learned what dispute causes the princes of those shees to marshal their forces, but many people witnessed the awesome spectacle of the fighting. Unfortunately for King Ailbe and his court, Cathair Marda is located between the two shees, and so the battle was fought above the castle. One night the king and his men watched in awe as the skies above them were lit by terrible faerie magics as the swiftly-flitting knights of the Daoine Sidhe fought each other among the clouds. None could tell which side won, but eventu- ally the fighting came to an end, leaving behind only one token of the battle — a broken half of a faerie blade, which fell from the sky to land at King Ailbe’s feet. The blade remains a relic of Clan ConAglish, though it has never displayed any powers.