Donald Críonna of the Tribe of Louth

(During his time as a teacher on a foreign university)

**Donald Críonna of the Tribe of Louth**, a.k.a. the "**Silver Fox**" or the "**Old Fox**" was from 2010 to 2018 the closest thing to a Minister of Foreign Affairs the Free Lands had due to him having been been Head of the Foreign Office. As the highest ranking diplomat of the Free Lands, he is usually the one to take trips abroad due to such matters being difficult with the Elder Council.

He has harsh back-problems and, since injuries sustained in 2018, troubles moving his arm.

Críonna stepped down as head of the Foreign Office and Ambassador of the Free Lands in 2018, shortly after the Liberation Day Celebrations. He retired to an old farm house between the Silver Mountains and the Great Woods, Scor House near Ysbyty.

## Biography

Donald Críonna of the Tribe of Louth was born in Cornwall's Palmwood, went to school there and became 20 without incidents. His mother was Lyra Críonna of the Tribe of Wexford, a well known aerobatic pilot, who had joined her husband's Tribe upon marriage, but kept her last name, reversing the usual custom. He had three siblings, two brothers and a younger sister, one of the brothers later becoming grandfather to Princess Aurelia of Kyrenaia, making her his niece.

He was among the best of his class when he graduated, excelling in social sciences and languages, but not so much in sports.
He earned himself a studying place for International Politics at the University of Silverport (despite that being far from the university's specialization in engineering) and participated in several student exchange programs, getting to know a lot of foreign lands, an experience, he is proud of until today.

After he finished with his Magister Studies, he became an advisor to the Foreign Office (today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) while he made his Doctor. He got to know his wife during these times, married her in 1975 - she died in 1978 due to illness without having children.

After he made his Doctor, the Foreign Office gave him a job, keeping him in service until he was Advisor in Foreign Matters to the Elder Council (1999 to 2010). At the side, he was Professor for International Politics at the University of Leuda, occassionally teaching the odd semester abroad, leaving the chair in Leuda to someone younger in 2008, becoming a *Professor Emeritus* in the process. During his time abroad, he sometimes wore a beard, one of the very few Selkie capable of doing so and using it as a symbol of his age and wisdom (Selkie-culture sees bearded people as foreigners).

The Ambassador Groups were his idea, their raising his responsibility. He also selects the Ambassadors of the Free Lands to this day and has his hands in the selection of the Ambassadors of the Selkie. His constant partner in these endeavours is Marla Cróimiam of the Tribe of Cork, a Swordmaiden and swordrider, daughter of an old friend of his, who also acts as a caretaker on these trips as well.

In 2010, he became the head of the Foreign Office of the Free Lands of the Selkie, a.k.a. Crionna's Office.

Most of the other members of the Ambassador Groups see him as *Daideo*, a sort-of honory grandfather, while the Business Delegations see him as a sort-of funny-weird uncle. He indeed adopted Kendra Sciamhach of the Tribe of Waterford, giving her a parental home, which allowed her to join the Foreign Office - both of them decided to keep her original name.

He has many friends around the world, thanks to his former occupations and experiences. He might seem like an old man, but he is far from it.

In 2016, Crionna attended the talks about the COSTAL-Accords in Inyursta, together with Marla Cróimiam of the Tribe of Cork as his companion on the trip and Vice-Admiral Amy Curadh of the Tribe of Wicklow as representative of the SDF-Navy.

During the visit to Berlin in 2018, for the Liberation Day Celebrations, the city came under attack. During the evacuation, Crionna was wounded in the left shoulder and lost the ability to use his left arm, forcing him to retire on the 1st of June 2018. He recommended Felicia Sciotóg of the Tribe of Monaghan as his successor, which was granted.

## Personal Relations

### Kendra Sciamhach of the Tribe of Waterford

To Kendra, who he gave a parental home to (read, adopted her), he is connected rather difficultly: He doesn't see her as a daughter and she doesn't see him as a father. That is only emphasized by her calling her grandfather, while he gaver her his mother's maiden name and Tribe.

### Princess Aurelia of Kyrenaia

To Princess Aurelia bint-Damir, Princess of Kyrenaia and granddaughter to Sultana Razia of Kyrenaia, Crionna has a heartfelt and warm relationship,

### Marla Steallaire of the Tribe of Wicklow

The relationship between Donald and Marla began in 2018, after his retirement. His injury in Berlin and worsening back had led to him requiring medical attention even at his retirement home, which became Doctor Steallaire's job. As such, she rode out from nearby Ysbyty to Scor House twice a week. It didn't take long until an autumn storm trapped her with her patient and made them bond.

Their friendship evolved, soon blooming into a sort-of love.

In 2023, he invited her to attend the wedding of a distant niece of his.