Gaels are humans, the second
race born to the Mother Goddess Anu. Anu created the father of the Gaels out of
her desire to have a new race of children to replace the Fir Bolg, the firstborn
race who betrayed the goddess and suffered her eternal curse. Anu’s first
husband was the Horned God, and he was a force of nature, fertility and wild
places, but the Gael’s father Lahmfada was an energetic and brightly burning
star, so he was named Sun God. The Gael’s have much of the spirit of Lahmfada
about them, and though their allotted time is short they live it to the full,
attacking life with vigour and gusto whether they’re fighting, revelling or
conducting religious ceremonies.
Gaels live in a tribal society, ruled over by a warrior caste of kings, queens
and chieftains. A tribe is composed of a number of chiefdoms, each presided over
by a warrior chieftain. The chieftain is responsible for organising the defences
of the chiefdom and settling disputes between his or her people. Chieftains are
also bound to provide hospitality for important travellers passing through their
lands, such as other chiefs or kings. A king or queen, who manages the affairs
of the whole tribal domain, rules the tribe and they in turn are subject to the
rule of the Ard Righe at Taras, the High King of all the Gaels. The High King is
always a man, for he is also the Sun God and Anu’s mortal consort. Independent
of this structure are the druids, who are lore keepers and judges in disputes
between chiefs and kings, or rulers and subjects. Druids also act as advisors
and manage religious ceremonies dedicated to Anu.
The Gaels are situated around the southern and eastern coastal regions of Goria,
where they build great granite hill forts across hilltops and plateaus. The
largest of these is Taras, where the High King resides for most of the year.
Smaller farming and fishing settlements spread out from these areas, trailing
off into wilderness as they approach dangerous borders such as Kluruch’s Marsh
or the Mounds of the Old Kings. There are also a number of sites sacred to the
druids in Gael territory, mostly in forest groves or on hilltops in wild areas.
Gaels are athletic and skilled fighters who rely on skirmish tactics to draw out
an enemy’s forces so that they can be hit by heavier units such as Gael warriors
and cavalry. Unlike the skirmishers of other armies, for example the Fomorians,
Gael chieftains treat their skirmishers as a valuable resource, not to be
squandered needlessly on suicidal shielding missions for the better quality
troops. Once battle is joined the skirmishers usually retreat to a safe distance
where they’re ready to slow down enemy flankers or stragglers.
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