Geadhwaigh's Tribe

Also now known as the 'Queendom of Mérthaigh' Geadhwaigh's tribe are the matriarchal descendants of a tribal elder named Geadhwaigh , living on a large river island a couple of hundred kilometres north east of what is now Raidhsénia. The island recieved many of thousands of refugees during the Ghrgii invasions of the late archaic age.
Geadhwaigh earned a reputation as a pervert. The tales say that Geadhwaigh and his sons used to trade information for young virgin girls as that is the custom amongst his people to give such gifts to the village elder. They also say that during his 69 years of life, before he turned blind, he once saw a man from the south-east, from the land of Wanna, the Goddess of Fertility, who claimed there once lived a man named Afwyneddean who fell in love with a magnificent white mare, driven mad by obsession in said mare. Afwyneddean went to the river of Silmínwed where he bargained with the three fay living in the brook, which broke the spell and turned the white mare into a beautiful lady in a white dress.
Thus making love with her, she bore him a son who was half-horse and half-man, and this son became the king of the Geóthreddu. He slayed the man-eaters from the north when they invaded the Vale of the White Horses.
He tells that horses are ferocious animals when disturbed, but that the kings of the west use to capture unmarred white horses, as they are a divine gift from the goddess Wanna. They also kill all strangers who try to kill or take their holy animals.
When he was younger, he used to run around in the woods dressed as a bear and raping girls from neighbouring tribes.
The hut and remains of the old man have long since been burnt to the ground.
Geadhwaigh's seven sons feared that the old man, who had reached seventy-five years of age, would live on forever. So the seven sons sacrificed a newborn baby to King Lógh of the Realm of the Underworld. And Lógh appeared in the flames and promised the seven sons the kingship over the island of Geadwaigh.
So Raisénan , the third and most fearless of Geadhwaigh's sons, went into the place where his father was sleeping with a stone, and he crushed the stone against his father's forehead, until Geadhwaigh's brain splattered all over his arms. Then his brothers burnt the corpse of the old man and shattered his bones with clubs, due to the fears that he would be reanimated. Geadhwaigh's skull was lifted up by his fifth son, Gawdlan, and it bit the finger off him. Or so they say.
The Geadhwaigh people have built a fence around their chief's roundhouse. It consists of tarred poles with skulls, which every full moon night are stained with the blood of captured crows to keep Geadhwaigh's spirit resting. It is said that Geadhwaigh sold his soul so his people would be chosen by "The Dark Lord Chról-Shar, King of the Underworld", and that his progeny forever would be in possession of that island. 
==Current Status==
The tribal territory is now a fully fledged nation state with an established city and would appear to have entered the bronze age with a ruling monarchy in power.
The nation has also gained significant territories on the river banks surrounding the main island that hosts the city.
It is now ruled by Queen Rýdl , after she elbowed her way to power, seizing command of the Royal Guard following the death of her mother Maedb. Not having the beauty of her siblings due to a harelip under her nose and taking advantage of Maedb's death,  she arranged the murders of many of her siblings to secure the crown, while others and their families were exiled from the country, such as her sister, Princess Gýlla.
==Relations==
Geadhwaigh's tribe is now a matriarchy, governed by the descendants of the warrior queen named Eithéssia . It traditionally has enjoyed fruitious relations with Raidhsénia, and they were the ones who originally brought the warning of the Ghrgii hordes. However conditions seems set for this to potenitally deterioriate, since Rýdl's coup in the year 14 TFD  and the exile of Fátháin and Gýlla from the island.
==City of Ceball Learraigh==
The city of Ceball Learraigh was established by Queen Maedb, following a war between Geadhwaigh's tribe and the Ghrgii. It is said the city was formed from the rubble of a trap that she had laid out for the invaders.
==Geadhwaigh culture==
The crow is a deeply revered animal in Geadhwaigh culture and a integral part of their folklore.
Geadhwaigh people, while mainly hospitable, can be quite insular and suspicious against foreigners.
The process for marrying Geadhwaigh royalty is particularly bizarre and far fetched. They place a high value on warrior merit and physical skill. To marry a Geadhwaigh princess or Queen, the prospective suitor must be able to claim descendency from a deity. If they can do that, they must swim around Geadhwaigh's island in a race against other competitors with an egg in their mouth without breaking it. If the egg breaks, they are disqualified.
2 out of 7 competitors drowned for the prize of Queen Maedb's hand in marriage.
Category:NPC tribes
Category:Abhainnia
Category:States
Category:NPC tribes of Abhainnia