The Fomori

## Fomori

To some, the Fomori are the creatures of nightmares. The cursed grandchildren of Clíodhna hold a grudge against all the other races for the curse laid upon them by Lír. Most of all they hate the Aes Sídhe, who they see as the architects of their downfall. To others, the Fomori are creatures of great misfortune, forced to exist in exile, out of favour with their goddess. This creates a rather complicated relationship between the Fomori and the other races. There are those within the Fomori who embrace the image of creatures of nightmare. In her anger and madness at the death of her daughter, Clíodhna watches over her host of cursed Fomori. She steadily expands their numbers until they reach a critical point and then releases them en masse onto the land, watching in satisfaction as they ravage the people and Undriel.

The other Fomori, who refer to themselves as Síog, those untouched by the curse of Lír continue to search for further, and further experiences and passions, their concepts of morality and even life can be seen as at times arbitrary and alien to others who they meet. Yet, they do not bring the pain and suffering upon others with the purposeful nature that their counterparts do, but instead, people often feel they have been tested in some way, or something in them is gone, replaced by something else. So it is that these Fomori exist upon the earth, their lands hidden from the eyes of others.

The Great Fall was the result of a great act of revenge that Clíodhna and her daughter Fódla had planned for centuries. Over that time, gateways linking to Teach Duinn were created all over the land. When they struck, no one expected it. The first step was the destruction of the counsel, crushing the leadership of the people before launching their all-out assault. Led by the dark Lord Balor, they began attacking the outlying cities, relying on the seas and gates to give them the advantage, they stormed and took each city with comparable ease as the Galloglas were divided, trying to help the people.

If not for Dechtíre with the assistance of those Síog who opposed their mother, the armies of the Fomori would have succeeded, but the death of Fódla at the hands of Dechtíre crushed the spirit of the horde and turned the tide of the battle. Clíodhna's cry of anguish and her retreat from the field broke the Fomori. Their retreat was disorganized and brutal, turning quickly to a rout.

The Fomori continue to occupy their home city, closing the pathways behind them to ensure they could not be followed. Clíodhna spends her time with her grandchildren, mourning their loss while at the same time plotting and scheming. She sends her children out, spreading chaos and discord, testing the defences of the 9 city-states.

Given the nature of the Fomori and their confusing divisions, they can often travel the land in small numbers, once they fly a banner of peace as they travel the land and do not stop in a city or town. They are often observed by the orders of Knights and other military orders to ensure they do not bring the pain down upon the people.

### **Types of Fomori**

#### Nechtan

The Nechtan are the 9 high lords of the Fomori. Answerable to Balor and Clíodhna, they directly oversee the Fomori in each of the nine city-states. The Nechtan are potent creatures in and of themselves, intelligent, motivated and whose sole agenda is to further the wishes of their lords. It is said that the Nechtan crushed vast swaths of their enemies during the last battles with Dechtíre.

No one has seen the Nechtan since their defeat at the hands of Dechtíre. However, rumours abound of sightings of the behemoth creatures in the region of Hybrasil.

#### Cethlenn

Cethlenn are the daughters of Balor. The witches are powerful magic users who have mastered the arts of entropy and decay to spread the plague to the lands around them. The Cethlenn sow discord amongst their enemies, appearing amongst them, spreading plague and disease and then disappearing, leaving behind their laughter as a parting gift.

The exact number of Cethlenn are unknown, some say there are less than ten, while others say there are thousands. They can turn the course of a battle just by appearing.

#### Cichol Gricenchos

The winged warriors of the Fomori, the Cichol Gricenchos are merciless killers and masters of aerial combat. They will choose a town or village and then begin to pick off the children first, then the farmers, so all that is left cowering in their homes, afraid to come out. It is then that they will burn the village to the ground.

Those who are lucky enough to escape the Cichol Gricenchos are marked for death and hunted mercilessly.

#### Conand

Conand are the shock troopers of the Fomori. Toughened veterans, many old enough to remember the war with Dechtíre. They are the front line warriors who spend their time raiding the nine kingdoms and testing their defences. The Conand excel in hand to hand combat, preferring to be close to the enemy, so that they can feel the blood splash against their faces as they kill.

#### Elatha

The Elatha are soldiers of the Fomori. They are the cursed and wretched children of Fódla, angered at the loss of their shapeshifting and seeing Undriel as the land to vent their rage upon. The Elatha culture has developed independently of most other Fomori. There has been talk that the current Chieftain of the Elatha, Ethniu, has been in open confrontation with the Nechtan.

#### Tethra

The Tethra are the Warrior caste of the Elatha. They are brutal combatants, intelligent and shrewd as well as cunning tacticians. The Tethra form the bulk of the Elatha tribes, their swords relied upon by the Fomori in their battle for Undriel.

#### Far Darrig

The Far Darrig are the mage caste of the Elatha. They are the chieftains of the twelve tribes of the Elatha, wise men and shamans, their capacity to tap into the Essence that saturates the land of Undriel surprising to many who face them. The Far Darrig will always travel with their warriors into battle, and their ferocity matches that of their warrior cousins.

#### Changelings

Changelings are the infiltrators and assassins of the Fomori. Their ability to change to look identical to any duineoid creature they can get into physical contact with makes them unpredictable and terrifying enemy. They are often used for sowing the seeds of discord in their enemies, destroying trust through a well-placed knife in the back.

#### Dullahan

The Dullahan are the cavalry of the Fomori. The Dullahan are part of The Order of The Morrígan, an ancient order of knights that date back to the Aes Sídhe. They worship the three aspects of the war goddesses, who care not who wages war as long as it is in their name. The Dullahan serve the Fomori in return for the blood sacrifices that are made on the battlefield in the name of their patrons.

#### Merrow

The Merrow are the sea folk of the Fomori. They exist in the dark waters of Undriel, waiting to trap the unwary sailors. They are the terror of fishing towns and villages, as well as harassing ships that pass through their territory.

#### Leanan Sídhe

The Leanna Sídhe are a tribe of blood witches that occupy a small island between Falias and the Kingdom of Reynes. They have not taken an active role in the affairs of the other Fomori, mainly due to their Smog nature although they are known to respect the commands of the Nechtan. The Leanna Sídhe typically stay on their island city of Slieve Gullion, but venture forth on occasion to the kingdoms, passing through the lands in search of people or artefacts that they bring back to their city for their own purposes.

#### Abarta

The Abarta are the warped forms of the Sídhe Draoi that were captured by the Fomori during The Great Fall. Their spirits were drawn from their bodies, and they were cast into the bodies of deer that existed within the forests. These deer warped, reflecting the conflict between both creatures and the anguish that Sídhe Draoi suffered from this imprisonment. When the Fomori retreated, they left the Abarta within the forests, where they created territories for themselves, carefully guarding their land and awaiting for new souls that they could capture and inflict the same suffering upon. The Abarta are creatures of rage and torment, who await any who should enter their darkened forests.

#### Alp-luachra

The Alp-luachra are creatures of unquenchable hunger. They continuously are driven to consume the flesh of the mortal kind. They hunt together in packs of two to three, finding hunters or lone patrols and rushing down upon them. A single bite from an Alp-luachra can result in paralysis which slows their victims and keeps them conscious as they are slowly consumed by the pack. The alpha of the pack will finally consume the soul of the victim, trapping him within. When enough souls are captured, the Alp-luachra will bring a suitable host to the Leanna Sídhe on their dark isle from which will be born another to add to their pack.

#### Bean Nighe - Fomori or Síog

The Bean Nighe are the messengers of the Fomori. The Bean-nighe are always female in appearance and will enter a dialogue with any who wish of it if they are under the oath of parlay.  If one is careful enough when approaching, three questions may be answered by the Bean Nighe, but only after three questions have been answered first. If a mortal passing by asks politely, she will tell the names of the chosen that are going to die.

#### Banshee

The Banshee are the harbingers of death. Their scream, if heard curses the listener to an early grave. The souls that die as a result of a Banshee's cry become the eternal property of the creature, who takes nourishment from their torments and suffering. The more souls a Banshee controls, the more powerful she is. However, these souls only last for so long, and so the Banshee returns to her hunt every full moon.

#### Cat Sídhe

The Cat Sídhe are great hunting beasts akin to tigers or other cats of prey. They are intelligent and cunning, hunting together to outwit larger animals and armoured prey. They are favoured by the Fomori as guardians in open territories. Their capacity to naturally camouflage with their surroundings and to move incredibly silently and quickly makes them fearsome predators.

#### Cù Sith

The Cú Sith are huge hounds that are used by the Fomori for hunting down their prey and as intimidation tools against their enemies. The Cú Sith are loyal to their Fomori masters and will protect them even in death. The aura of terror that emanates from them can cause even the bravest to quake with fear.

#### Fachen

The Fachen are fearsome creatures that dwell within the icy tundra regions of Undriel. Brutal beasts, they hunt during the nights, seeking out breathing prey to drag back to their lairs. They are tamed by the Fomori and used to track the nomadic tribes that exist in that cold desolate atmosphere.

#### Fear Dearg

The Fear Dearg is the bloody-handed executioner of the Fomori. This creature lives for the destruction of life as an example to those who would oppose the Fomori. They are wardens of the prisoners that are taken and enforce the rules with malicious glee.

#### Fuath

The Fuath are the spirits of the fallen Fomori, enraged creatures that are cursed to walk the lands for eternity, a byproduct of the last pronouncement of Lír as he died. They are spiteful creatures, gathering together in a mutual need to inflict misery on others.

#### Gean Cánach

The Gean Cánach is the seducer of others. This creature appears before their victim as a man or woman of their kind that reflects their deepest desires. It feeds off the emotional resonance of its victim, slowly draining them of their capacity to feel anything but hate and despair. They then direct them towards another and watch with glee as they destroy those around them.

#### Gille Dubh -Síog

The Gille Dubh are solitary figures by nature, lone warriors that seek out an opponent worthy of their skills to duel in single combat. The Gille Dubh are masters of their chosen art, whether it is the sword, stave or bow and can cut through those that oppose them with ease. If one manages to kill one of these creatures, they are both blessed and cursed. The strength of the beast imbues them with a kind of almost supernatural force for days equal to the time it took to kill the Gille Dubh. However, that same hero draws others of this kind to themselves, the Gille Dubh wishing to see if this warrior can outdo others of their kind.

#### Glaistig

The Glaistig are powerful spirits that are supposed to haunt seven old abandoned castles. They are terrifying creatures, intelligent and driven, who guard their territories jealousy. They await those heroes who think they can combat them and devour their souls for sustenance. Any on their lands know that they must leave a living sacrifice at their front gate every year to appease them for a year. Those villages that ignore this tithe do so at their peril, as the Glaistig will take five times the levy over the year. It is said that Glaistig live in these areas around Undriel.

#### Dearg Due

The Dearg Due are the night haunters of Undriel. They travel from village to village, draining their victims and leaving their desiccated corpses upon their beds, but no sign of entry or a struggle. Those that hunt these creatures talk of their elusive nature, their ability to obfuscate their presence, a challenge to stopping them.

#### Sluagh

The Sluagh are the wraiths of Undriel. They are vicious spiritual creatures that feed upon the Essence found within the living. Their capacity to drain Essence of those around them make them especially dangerous to Mages, whose magic has no real effect on the creatures. They are especially drawn to wells of Essence, and any who wish to access such places often have to clear the Sluagh out first.

#### Carman

The Carman are the elite guard to Balor. These are sorcerers and warriors without peer, fearless, skilled and deadly. They are never far from the master's side, watchful for threats that might seek to do him harm. The Carman never speaks but can seem to communicate easily with each other despite this. It is said that to become one of their numbers, the aspirant must find and remove the claw of one of the ancient Oll Phéist, a challenge that is almost impossible to achieve.

#### Balor

Balor is the Lord of the Fomori, the husband of Fódla and second only to Clíodhna in terms of power. It is said that Balor was the most beautiful of all the Fomori, one whose intelligence and strength almost matched that of the gods themselves. His love and adoration for Fódla is still the thing of legends amongst the Fomori, and he was always on the front lines during The Great Fall. It is said that Balor hunted and corrupted a number of the Oll Phéist, turning them against their brethren, an act of revenge for their possible involvement in the final battles with the Fomori.

Now Balor sits upon the dark throne in Teach Duinn, waiting patiently. The Nechtan and Carman are his only counsel, following his orders and moving the pieces across the great board that is Undriel. It is said that when Balor strides forth from his seclusion, the greatest battle of all will take place and will truly decide the faith of Undriel.

#### Oll Phéist

The great wyrm that occupies Undriel. They are creatures of immense age and intelligence, almost god-like in their abilities and powers. The Oll Phéist are consummate shapeshifters and spend a great deal of their time travelling amongst the people of Undriel, learning from them and studying them. They are not violent by nature but seem closer to scholars, the world their personal laboratory.

It is said that the Oll Phéist can affect the very course of history by being present in a particular area and that they have often been directed by the gods for the very purpose of realigning fate in a certain way to ensure the unfathomable will of the deity in question comes to pass.

No one truly knows the intent of the Oll Phéist though, they are beyond the true understanding of mortals, but one thing is true of them; they are no friend of the Fomori. It is said that Balor corrupted a number of their youth and since then the Oll Phéist have shown an intense hatred of the Fomori whenever they meet. Strangely, however, they seem reluctant to engage directly with the Fomori, preferring to direct others in this regard, manipulating events so that their enemies are dealt with.

While sightings of Oll Phéist are not common, there have been several sightings of them in their true form, dwarfing everything around them, their wings can block out the sun as they pass. One can very well argue that while there have been few viewings of them in their natural form, it is not uncommon for one to unwittingly meet them in the streets or on the road.

Whatever the machinations of these creatures, they are respected by all for it is believed that through them the Essence of Undriel flows. If the Oll Phéist ceases to be, they will take all magic and wonder from the world.

#### Fathách

The Fathách are creatures of legend. It is said that the last of their kind fell long before the races of Undriel truly began to exist. Others say that they were the children of the gods, creatures not wholly of either world and trapped within. Still, others say that they are still here, sleeping and awaiting the call for the last significant event in the existence of the land. Whether any of these ideas are true or not does not detract from the fact that the Fathách did, at one stage, exist in Undriel.

Within the Great Library of Mag Mell, some records speak of sightings of these immense creatures that date back into the times of legend. Their purpose is almost as mysterious as that of the Oll Phéist. Many scholars and seekers of knowledge have spent decades attempting to decipher the landmarks of these creatures. They wish to find ways to access the crypts that their bodies are said to be contained within, unknown treasures and wonders can be found there if one is willing to believe the legends.