Irish mythology

**Irish mythology** is the mythology
of Celtic polytheism, the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other
Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic
mythology and religious structure. Among Celts in close contact with
Ancient Rome, such as the Gauls and Celtiberians, their mythology did
not survive the Roman Empire, their subsequent conversion to
Christianity, and the loss of their Celtic languages. It is mostly
through contemporary Roman and Christian sources that their mythology
has been preserved. The Celtic peoples who maintained either their
political or linguistic identities left vestigial remnants of their
ancestral mythologies, put into written form during the Middle Ages.

The oldest body of myths stemming from
the Heroic Age is found only from the early medieval period of
Ireland. As Christianity began to take over, the gods and goddesses
were slowly eliminated as such from the culture, and the folklore
that remained reinterpreted them as fairies. What has survived
includes material dealing with the Tuatha Dé Danann and the
Fomorians. The Tuatha Dé represent the functions of human society
such as kingship, crafts and war, while the Fomorians represent chaos
and wild nature.

Although the Celtic world at its height
covered much of western and central Europe, it was not politically
unified nor was there any substantial central source of cultural
influence or homogeneity; as a result, there was a great deal of
variation in local practices of Celtic religion (although certain
motifs, for example the god Lugh, appear to have diffused throughout
the Celtic world). Inscriptions of more than three hundred deities,
often equated with their Roman counterparts, have survived, but of
these most appear to have been local or tribal gods, and few were
widely worshiped. However, from what has survived of Celtic
mythology, it is possible to discern commonalities which hint at a
more unified pantheon than is often given credit.

The classic entry about the Celtic gods
of Gaul is the section in Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello
Gallico. In this he names the five principal gods worshiped in Gaul,
and describes their roles, equating them to his own gods, to imply it
was more or less views on the same pantheon. MacBain argues that
Apollo corresponds to Irish Lugh, Mercury to Manannan mac Lir,
Jupiter to Dagda, Mars to Net, and Minerva to Brigit.

Many references to celtic myths exist
in the games. For instance, fairies play a large part in many of the
games, although rarely as main characters. And in devil survivor 2,
lugh is summoned and used as an important god by io. But most
directly is in iva, where dagda and danu are main characters, with
danu being depicted as the queen of the fairies, who passed this role
over to nozomi. This being because fairies as they existed in ireland
were actually a reinterpretation of irish gods after they stopped
being worshiped. IVAs depiction of nozomi taking over is subtly
different from Ivs depictions in which nozomi became the new danu
because danu changed form to black maria.

## Types of beings

**The Tuatha De Danann** (people's of the godess danu) are a
race of supernaturally-gifted people in Irish mythology, who
represent the main deities of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland, The
Tuatha Dé Danann were spoken of as having come from islands in the
north of the world or, in other sources, from the sky.

The Tuath Dé dwell in the Otherworld
but interact with humans and the human world. Their traditional
rivals are the Fomorians, who seem to represent the harmful or
destructive powers of nature. Each member of the Tuath Dé has been
associated with a particular feature of life or nature, but many
appear to have more than one association. Many also have bynames,
some representing different aspects of the deity and others being
regional names or epithets. They came to ireland, and fought against
the firbolgs and the fomorians to establish control.

The Tuatha Dé Danann brought four magical treasures with them to
Ireland, one apiece from their Four Cities: The dagda's cauldron, the
spear of lugh, the stone of fal, and the sword of lifhgt of Nuada.
They are associated with several Otherworld realms including Mag Mell
(the Pleasant Plain), Emain Ablach (the Fortress of Apples or the
Land of Promise or the Isle of Women), and Tir na nÓg (the Land of
Youth).

The tuatha de are referenced directly in iva. The new dagda refers
to himself as the high king of the tuatha de, who will strive to
bring prosperity to mankind. The implication seeming to be that while
the old dagda existed in that role, he rejected it, leading the new
one to replace the role of king. They are also mentioned in SMTIV, in a side quest involving brigid

**The aos sí** or
**sidhe** (also spelled **sith**)
is the Irish term for a supernatural race in Irish and
Scottish, who were also known as the **fair folk**, who are the main basis of the later medieval fairies. (Although later medieval interpretations
of fairies were a composite from multiple sources including norse elves, not just irish
myth). The aos sí are later, literary versions of the Tuatha Dé from
after christianization that tend to downgrade their interpretations
from gods to mere spirits. A common theme found among the Celtic
nations describes them a race who had ultimately been driven into
hiding by invading humans as well as other spiritual beings. But
christian folkloric sources could not settle on what they were meant
to be due to there being no realm in christian theology for other
spirits. Some described them as a different race of spirit
altogether, and some described them as a kind of neutral fallen angel
who was not bad enough to become a demon. Their bodies were said to
be able to appear and dissapear at will.

In folk belief and practice, the aos sí are often appeased with
offerings, and care is taken to avoid angering or insulting them.
Often they are not named directly, but rather spoken of as "The
Good Neighbors", "The Fair Folk", or simply "The
Folk". The most common names for them, aos sí, aes sídhe,
daoine sídhe (singular duine sídhe) and daoine sìth mean,
literally, "people of the mounds" (referring to the sidhe).
The aos sí are generally described as stunningly beautiful, though
they can also be terrible and hideous.

Aos sí are sometimes seen as fierce guardians of their
abodes—whether a fairy hill, a fairy ring, a special tree (often a
hawthorn) or a particular loch or wood. The Gaelic Otherworld is seen
as closer at the times of dusk and dawn, therefore this is a special
time to the aos sí, as are some festivals such as Samhain, Beltane
and Midsummer.

As far as megaten goes, the obvious thing to note is that in iva
danu is depicted as the old queen of the fairies who passed that role
on to nozomi. This being because fairies in irish folklore are
literally a reinterpretation of the tuatha de, the irish gods. The
reborn dagda even calls himself the high king of the tuatha de
in-game. Implying that the fairies may still use that term, and so
the reborn dagda will also preside over them. (interestingly, that
could make the new dagda and nozomi their king and queen together).

Fairies of course show up in many megaten games aside from this,
with the demon pixie being one that commonly shows up, often with
speaking roles as one of the main demons. Fairies are shown as much
nicer than many other demons, often not wanting to make problems for
humanity. Most of their depictions in game do not show obvious ties
to irish mythology, however. In SJ there is a side mission about
making a fairy village, but this is not presented in an irish light,
with the leaders being instead depicted as shakesperean characters.

Note that in keeping with them being depicted as a neutral spirit
between angels and demons, the fairy race always shows up as neutral.
However, never in game have they been depicted as a type of angel. Note that while many irish demons show up in the fairy race, the demon pixie was not native to irish myth, and so is not listed.

**The fomorians** are a supernatural
race in Irish mythology. They are often portrayed as hostile and
monstrous beings who come from the sea or underground. Later, they
were portrayed as giants and sea raiders. They are enemies of
Ireland's first settlers and opponents of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the
other supernatural race in Irish mythology. However, their
relationship with the Tuath Dé is complex and some of their members
intermarry and have children. The Fomorians have thus been likened to
the jötnar of Norse mythology. They are sometimes said to have had
the body of a man and the head of a goat. Or to have had one eye, one
arm and one leg, but some, for example Elatha, the father of Bres,
were very beautiful.

The Fomorians seem to have been gods
who represent the harmful or destructive powers of nature;
personifications of chaos, darkness, death, blight and drought. The
Tuath Dé, in contrast, seem to represent the gods of growth and
civilization. It has also been suggested that the Fomorians derive
from an older group of gods who were displaced by a newer group.

In megaten, fomorian shows up as its
own demon, and many fomorian leaders do also, such as balor. In
keeping with their depiction as chaotic nature gods, they tend to
show up on the chaos race, although some also show up for neutral.
Note that their opponents, the tuatha de, who became fairies are not
depicted as law, but rather neutral.

## Four cycles of mythology

Many of the Irish legends are made up of stories about adventures,
great battles, voyages, invasions and gods but today we categories them
into 4 main cycles: The Mythological Cycle, The Finn Cycle, The Ulster
Cycle and The Historical cycle.

**The Mythological Cycle** of Irish legends is made up of stories about
former gods and the origins of the Irish. One of the most popular
stories from the Mythological Cycle would be Children of Lir, a tragic
story of a step-mother jealously over 4 children that she had turned
into swans. Other stories from this cycle include The Wooing Of Étain,
Cath Maige Tuireadh and The Dream of Aengus.

Although The Mythological Cycle is the least preserved out of all the
 Irish Legend cycles sources can be found in Metrical Dindshenchas or
Lore of Places and the Lebor Gabála Érenn or Book of Invasions.

**The Fenian Cycle** is also referred to as Finn Cycle or Finnian Tales and is stories based around the Irish mythical hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his warriors, Fianna Éireann. The Fianna Éireann was warriors who lived in forests as mercenaries, bandits and hunters.

People also refer to the Fenian Cycle as the Ossianic cycle as Fionn
mac Cumhaill’s son, Oisín, was supposed to have written most of the
poems found in the cycle.

The famous story Salmon of Wisdom
 is part of the Fenian Cycle. This is when Fionn is admitted to the
court of the High Kings at Tara after passing three major tests which
then he became leader of the Clan Bascna. Fionn mac Cumhaill went onto
be leader of the Fianna Éireann after killing a goblin by the name of Aillén mac Midgna. Every Samhain Aillén would terrorize the people on the Hill of Tara
 by playing music on his harp leaving every warrior helpless. Fionn used
 a magic spear that left him immune to the music and killed the goblin.

**The Ulster Cycle** is about legends and heroes of Ulaid, eastern Ulster
 and northern Leinster. They are written in manuscripts from the Medieval period but some early stories can be dated the Early Christian period in Ireland.
 Events in the Ulster cycle are to have taken place during the time of
Christ with some historians believing the Ulster Cycle to be historical
when others believed they were actually purely mythical.

The most important story of the Ulster cycle was the Táin Bó Cúailnge
 (Cattle Raid of Cooley). The story tells of a war against Ulaid
(Ulster) by the queen Connacht Medb Medb  and her husband Ailill. They
set out to steal to steal a stud bull by the name of Donn Cuailnge.

There is also Deirdre of the Sorrows that tells a story of beauty, lust, and the death of Ireland’s most beautiful woman.

**Historical cycle**. During the medieval period in Ireland professional poets (bards)
would record the history of the family or king they served. They did
this in poems mixed with mythological and history resulting in stories
that make up the Historical cycle.

Stories from the Historical cycle included High Kings such as Labraid Loingsech or Brian Boru and also included stories such as The Frenzy of Sweeney (Buile Shuibhne).

## Specific gods or other beings

**Danu**. In Irish mythology, Danu
is a hypothetical mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann (Old Irish:
"The peoples of the goddess Danu"). Danu has no myths or
legends associated with her in any surviving medieval Irish texts,
but since the irish gods were called the people of the godess danu,
her existence as an idea was extrapolated from this fact. As such,
nothing direct is known about her as a figure, due to the lack of
remaining sources. Although some historians suggest that a similar
godess from welsh myths named Don may be based on her, and so used to
contextualize her.

In IVA she is depicted as the former
queen of the fairies who passed this role on to nozomi. This is
slightly different from her role in IV where nozomi herself became
the new danu, and danu became black maria. Danu is depicted as their
queen, since fairies comes from fair folk, who are a reinterpretation
of the irish pantheon. This implication is also given in iva, since
the reborn dagda refers to himself as the high king of the tuatha
de, and goes on to help with the fairies, implying that they still
use the term tuatha de. The implication here is that in-game as well,
they used to be seen more as gods, though were downgraded in status
to being seen as spirits. Though some still retain their god forms.

Both danu and dagda are shown as caring
about humans, wanting humans to succeed and fight off the gods who
want to wield power over them. Although danu planned to go on and
have humans assign new gods, but for this new relationship to be one
of more equal terms where the new gods see themselves as having more
duties to humanity, and so not being abusive or thinking they are
beyond question. The likely reason that irish gods were used for this role is because fairies are treated sometimes as the
“main” race of neutral demons (jack frost, the mascot of atlus
being one), and so since they wanted neutral gods for this role, they
used what would be depicted as high gods over what was one of the main basis-es of what became fairy race.

Danu is also shown in-game bearing some
christian symbolism, in keeping with the fact that after christianity
took over Ireland, their classical myths were reinterpreted in light
of a christian paradigm. One thing she has is the shamrock, in
keeping with it as an irish symbol of the trinity. And another is
that she is shown generating a shape that looks like a celtic cross
when giving birth to the new dagda.

**The Dagda**.
(meaning the good god, where here good means skilled) The Dagda was a
High King of the Tuatha Dé Danann after his predecessor Nuada was
injured in battle. The dagda is an important god of Irish mythology.
He is portrayed as a father-figure, chieftain, and druid. He is
associated with fertility, agriculture, manliness and strength, as
well as magic, druidry and wisdom. He is said to have control over
life and death, the weather and crops, as well as time and the
seasons. The Dagda has been likened to the Germanic god Odin and the
Gaulish god Sucellos, being considered potentially having derived
from a similar source. In part since another term for dagda is also
“all father” similar to odin.

He is often described as large man or
giant wearing a hooded cloak. He owns a magic staff or club (the *lorg*
mór *or* lorg anfaid*) which can kill with one end and bring*
to life with the other, a cauldron (the *coire ansic*) which
never runs empty, and a magic harp which can control men's emotions
and change the seasons. The Dagda mates with many goddesses,
including Boann and the Morrígan, and like zeus was also depicted as
a being likely to go out and do so.

Despite his great power and prestige,
the Dagda is sometimes depicted as oafish and crude, even comical,
wearing a short, rough tunic that barely covers his rump, dragging
his great penis on the ground. Such features are thought to be the
additions of Christian redactors for comedic purposes, as well as to
ensure that these beings were no longer seen as gods. The Middle
Irish language paints a less clownish picture: "He was a
beautiful god of the heathens, for the Tuatha Dé Danann worshipped
him: for he was an earth-god to them because of the greatness of his
(magical) power.

Dagda shows up in iva in an interesting
role. Namely that the being dagda rejects his role as the head of
that pantheon, wanting to be free from his nature. So while the
character does not share many personality features in common with his
mythological counterpart, this aspect may be deliberate, due to him
being someone who rejects having to be such. Nonetheless, he is
depicted as having the powers he is known for, such as the ability to
bring people back to life, and various magic skills. In-game he is
depicted as dark, looking like a god of death, but his early
character artwork looked more like the mythological figure.

When dagda is killed in game, and a new
dagda is made, the new one refers to himself as the high king of the
tuatha de. Which up until that point, this is a role dagda in game
was never associated with. Implying that it was the role he was born
into, but which he rejected, showing him as not functioning it. He
refers to the fairies (who are implied to be the same as the tuatha
de, due to in real life the concept of fairies being heavily a
reinterpretation of the irish pantheon, though mixed with other
influences) spitefully, in a way that implies rejection of his role
as their king. And is never seen associating with them.

His in-game goal comes off like an uber
individualistic and antisocial interpretation of the nietzschean
ubermensch concept for humanity that would make it harder for gods to
incarnate into their world to interact with them. Despite this not
having much in the way of a direct association with his myths, and in
many ways seeming to fly in the face of them, it does however have to
do with their christianization. In-game he is depicted as reacting
against, in part, what form yhvh forces on him. Which is a reaction
against history of the fact that christianity reinterpreted the irish
gods as fairies. Presumably this association was meant to lead him to
reject all external influence, wanting to exist outside the bounds of
observation. In contrast to danu having a shamrock to symbolize tolerance of christianity, dagda uses a four leaf clover as a symbol which represents the opposite.

A side note is that it may however be a
loose association with his myths in the christian era of the tuatha
de retreating from the human world due to losing fights against
humans, (and other supernatural figures) and so planning to leave
humans be for the most part. That association may however be
coincidental. (More information about dagda's plans on the cosmology
and ethics pages).

In keeping with the historical
possibility that him and odin derived from the same earlier myths,
in-game odin mentions how he and dagda used to be the same god,
before splitting off into two gods. Implying that for this reason,
dagda would know his mind, and as such realize that the part where
the divine powers pretended to be defeated was a ruse. Though it is
not specified how he knew, dagda was aware of this in-game,
describing the events as a farce as they were going on, and being
noticeably amused when he saw shesha in the form of flynn.

**Fionn mac Cumhaill** is a hunter-warrior in Irish mythology whose given name means "white, bright, lustrous; fair, light-hued; fair, handsome, bright, blessed; in moral sense, fair, just, true." In the Irish stories, Fionn was the posthumous son of Cumhall, leader of the Fianna, by Muirne with many of his followers. Fionn wields a sword with the epithet Mac an Luin.

As a child, Fionn was raised by druids and studied under the poet Finnegas, who was prophesied to eat the Salmon of Knowledge. When he finally catches the salmon, Fionn is tasked with cooking it, and in the process burns his thumb, instinctively putting it in his mouth. His thumb, having caught some of the salmon’s fat, imbues Fionn with its knowledge. Upon seeing this, Finnegas gives him the whole fish to eat, thusly granting Fionn all the salmon's wisdom.

Fionn first ambushes the protagonist when they accompany Tao Isonokami to rescue the students abducted by Lahmu. After the protagonist holds him off, Tao explains that they were looking for the students abducted by Lahmu. Fionn then apologizes as he believed that the protagonist, being a Nahobino demon, was bringing another victim to the Lahmu and told them he had rescued as many humans as he could from Lahmu's forces to a friendly fairy village, warning the two to be on guard as they ventured deeper.

The protagonist can later find Fionn at Motoasakusa, Taito. Should the protagonist have completed certain criteria, presumably after completing 30 quests, regardless of whether they're main or side quests, as well as completing Fairy Village-related subquests, such as "An Unusual Forecast," and likely "The Root of the Problem," "The One I Love" and "The Goddess Stolen," he will thank the protagonist for helping the fairy village and admits that he has no interest in the throne, but looking to serve a rightful lord. He will offer the quest "Fionn's Resolve," asking for a rematch; if the protagonist accepts and defeats him, he will join their party, provided that there is space for him and also unlocks him for fusion, requiring a special fusion of Cu Chulainn, Scathach and Baihu. He in turn is one of the required demons for the special fusion of Danu.

Fionn may speak to an enemy Setanta if he is in their party and the two will briefly converse about the state of Da'at; Setanta will give Fionn an item before leaving.

**The Morrígan** was a tripartite battle goddess of the Celts
of Ancient Ireland. The Morrigan (phantom queen) or Mórrígan
(great queen) is a figure from Irish mythology who appears to have
once been a goddess, though due to christianization of the myths no
records referring to her as such exist. She is associated with
sovereignty, prophecy, war and death on the battlefield. She
sometimes appears in the form of a crow, flying above the warriors,
and in the Ulster cycle she also takes the form of an eel, a wolf,
and a cow. She is generally considered a war deity comparable to
Germanic Valkyries, although her role with cattle also suggests a
role connected with fertility, wealth, and the land.

In the Ulster Cycle tale of Cu Chulainn, she appears under the
guise of a young woman to give Cu Chulainn her love and aid. After
being rejected, she reveals herself by transforming into a black bird
and promises death for Cu Chulainn's slight against her. The Morrigan
is later wounded by Cu Chulainn when she attacks him in different
animal forms. She tricks Cu Chulainn into healing her injuries by
appearing as an old hag to give him milk from a cow. In one version
of Cu Chulainn's death-tale, as the hero rides to meet his enemies,
he encounters the Morrígan as a hag washing his bloody armor in a
ford, an omen of his death. Later in the story, mortally wounded, Cu
Chulainn ties himself to a standing stone with his own entrails so he
can die upright, and it is only when a crow lands on his shoulder
that his enemies believe he is dead.

She is often depicted as a triple goddess, although the membership
of the triad varies. The most common variation is Badb Catha, Macha,
and Nemhain, but other accounts name Fea, Anann, and others.

Although most tuatha de show up as neutral demons, she shows up in
SMTII as a law demon, as do the three beings that make her up. This is in keeping with the fact that most winged beings, birds, or entities with bird wings in-game tend to be depicted as law aligned.

**Macha** is a presumed goddess of
ancient Ireland; associated with war, horses, sovereignty, and the
sites of Armagh and Emain Macha in County Armagh, which are named
after her. A number of figures called Macha appear in Irish
mythology, legend and historical tradition, all believed to derive
from the same deity. Macha is also commonly depicted as a member of
the Morrigan. It shows up as a demon in SMTII, and a few other games.
Like morrigan, and the other figures who make it up, all of these
beings are referred to as neutral-law in SMTII.

Various sources record a second Macha as the wife of Nemed,
 leader of the second settlement of Ireland after the flood. She was the
 first of Nemed's people to die in Ireland – twelve years after their
arrival according to Geoffrey Keating, twelve days after their arrival according to the *Annals of the Four Masters*. It is said that the hilltop where she was buried was named after her: *Ard Mhacha*, "Macha's high place". The surrounding woodland was cleared by Nemed's folk and named *Magh Mhacha*, "Macha's plain".

**The Badb Catha,** literally Battle
Crows, are a figure in Irish mythology. She is described as a
demoness or goddess who frequents battlefields, delighted with the
deaths that occur there. She would at times fill the soldiers with
rage and fury, confusing them into going berserk. It shows up as a
demon in megaten.

In Irish legends, Badb is associated with war and death, appearing
either to foreshadow imminent bloodshed or to participate in battles,
where she creates confusion among the soldiers. As a harbinger of doom,
she appears in a number of different guises. In *Togail Bruidne Dá Derga*, she takes the form of an ugly hag who prophesies Conaire Mór's downfall. She appears in a similar guise in *Togail Bruidne Dá Choca* to foretell the slaying of Cormac Condloinges, as well as taking the form of a "washer at the ford"—a woman washing Cormac's chariot and harness in a ford in what was considered an omen of death.
 The cries of Badb may also be an ill omen: Cormac's impending death is
foreshadowed with the words "The red-mouthed badbs will cry around the
house, / For bodies they will be solicitous" and "Pale badbs shall
shriek". In this role she has much in common with the bean-sídhe.

**Nemhain**. Along with Badb Catha
and Macha, Nemhain was part of a trio of goddesses that represented
various aspects of the goddess Morrigan. She represented the state of
frenzy and panic and often created such feelings in armies, causing
those of such states to attack both allies and enemies in rage.

She is the spirit-woman or goddess who personifies the frenzied havoc of war. In the grand Irish epic of the Tain Bo Cuailnge, Neman confounds armies, so that friendly bands fall in mutual slaughter. When the forces of Queen Medb arrive at Magh-Tregham, in the present county of Longford, on the way to Cuailnge, Nemain appears amongst them: “Then the Neman attacked them, and that was not the most comfortable
night with them, from the uproar of the giant Dubtach through his sleep.
 The bands were immediately startled, and the army confounded, until
Medb went to check the confusion.”

**Lugh.** The god appearing most
frequently in the tales is Lugh. Lugh Lamfada or Lugh the Long Hand,
the name Long Hand came from his long spear, Brionach. The great sun
god of the Celts, also called Ildhana. Grandson of Balor, whom Lugh
killed in the great war between the Tuatha D'anaan and the
Formorians. He fathered Cu Chulainn with Dectera, daughter of the
Ulster's chief druid, Cathbad.

He is evidently a residual of the
earlier, more widespread god Lugus, whose diffusion in Celtic
religion is apparent from the number of place names in which his name
appears, occurring across the Celtic world. Lug is described in the
Celtic myths as the last to be added to the list of deities. In
Ireland a festival called the Lughnasadh (Irish: Lúnasa
"August") was held in his honor.

In devil survivor 2, Io summons lugh to
use as a source of power, giving herself the ability to float and use
more magic directly in the process. She is one of the neutral leaning
characters, in keeping with the other depictions of the tuatha de as
mostly neutral. Although in this case, this may not be intentional.

**Brigid** is goddess of the hearth
in Irish mythology. Her husband Bres is a Fomorian and she is the
daughter of Dagda. She is the goddess of all things perceived to be
of relatively high dimensions such as high-rising flames, highlands,
hill-forts and upland areas, as well as wisdom, excellence,
perfection, high intelligence, poetic eloquence, craftsmanship
(especially blacksmithing), healing ability, druidic knowledge and
skill in warfare. In the living traditions, whether seen as goddess
or saint, she is largely associated with the home and hearth. Saint
Brigid is theorized to be based on her, as she is associated with
sacred flames, specifically one maintained by 19 nuns in Kildare,
Ireland. Men were not allowed to visit this sacred flame.

In the Middle Ages, the goddess Brigid was syncretized with the
Christian saint of the same name. According to medievalist Pamela
Berger, Christian "monks took the ancient figure of the mother
goddess and grafted her name and functions onto her Christian
counterpart," St. Brigid of Kildare. St. Brigid is associated
with perpetual, sacred flames, such as the one maintained by 19 nuns
at her sanctuary in Kildare, Ireland. The sacred flame at Kildare was
said by Giraldus Cambrensis and other chroniclers to have been
surrounded by a hedge, which no man could cross. Men who attempted to
cross the hedge were said to have been cursed to go insane, die or be
crippled. Both the goddess and saint are associated with holy wells,
at Kildare and many other sites in the Celtic lands. Well dressing,
the tying of clooties to the trees next to healing wells, and other
methods of petitioning or honoring Brigid still take place in some of
the Celtic lands and the diaspora.

In SMTIV, Brigid appears in the Challenge Quest, The Cauldron. She
is found in Daiba at the International Exhibition Center, where she
waits for Flynn to bring Dagda's Cauldron. Brigid introduces herself
when he arrives with it and mentions she is a member of the Tuatha De
Danann. She asks what became of the others, but does not let her
emotions get the best of her when she learns all save Fortuna were
killed by angels. She places the Cauldron upon an altar and will now
protect it until the resurrection of the Tuatha De Danann's mother,
Danu, as she will be able to revive all of the slain using the

Cauldron. Her final words are to thank him before Flynn leaves.

**Banshee**. The story of the
bean-sidhe began as a fairy woman keening at the death of important
personages. In later stories, the appearance of the banshee could
foretell the death. Banshees were said to appear for particular Irish
families, though which families made it onto this list varied
depending on who was telling the story.

The banshee can appear in a variety of guises. Most often she
appears as an ugly, frightening hag, but can also appear as a
stunningly beautiful woman of any age that suits her. In some tales,
the figure who first appears to be a "banshee" is later
revealed to be the Irish battle goddess, the Morrígan. The hag may
also appear as a washer-woman, or bean-nighe (washing woman), and is
seen washing the blood stained clothes or armour of those who are
about to die.

Although not always seen, her mourning call is heard, usually at
night when someone is about to die and usually around woods. In 1437,
King James I of Scotland was approached by an Irish seer or banshee
who foretold his murder at the instigation of the Earl of Atholl.
This is an example of the banshee in human form. There are records of
several human banshees or prophets attending the great houses of
Ireland and the courts of local Irish kings. In some parts of
Leinster, she is referred to as the bean chaointe (keening woman)
whose wail can be so piercing that it shatters glass. In Kerry in the
southwest of Ireland, her keen is experienced as a "low,
pleasant singing"; in Tyrone in the north, as "the sound of
two boards being struck together"; and on Rathlin Island as "a
thin, screeching sound somewhere between the wail of a woman and the
moan of an owl".

The banshee may also appear in a variety of other forms, such as
that of a hooded crow, stoat, hare and weasel - animals associated in
Ireland with witchcraft. Banshees show up as a demon in some of the
games.

**Cait sith** is a fairy that takes
the form of a cat. Its name means "fairy cat". The Cait
Sith can converse in human tongues and walk on two legs, making no
sound as it moves. It normally lives as a cat that travels back and
forth between the Cat Kingdom and the human world. It has a white
star-shaped mark on its chest. The Cait Sith appears in Irish and
Scottish legends and served as the model for Puss-in-Boots.

**Cailleach** is a divine hag and
creatrix in the native religious traditions of Ireland and Scotland.
She is possibly a deified ancestor or ancestral goddess. In Scotland,
she is credited with the creation of many mountains and she is known
as the Queen of Winter. She shows up as a demon in SMTII.

**Crom Cruach** or Cromm Crúaich,
also known as Cenn Cruach, was a deity in pre-Christian Ireland.
Crom's followers reputedly propitiated the god with human sacrifice
in exchange for good yields of milk and grain. This practice was
supposedly ended by St. Patrick, who destroyed the deity's statue
with a sledgehammer. It shows up in the demikids games and first
persona.

**Cu Chulainn** is an Irish mythical
hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in
Scottish and Manx folklore. The son of the god Lugh and Deichtine
(sister of the king of Ulster), he was originally named Setanta, but
gained his better-known name as a child after he killed Culann's
fierce guard-dog in self-defense, and offered to take its place until
a replacement could be reared. At the age of seventeen he defended
Ulster single handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht
in the epic Tain Bo Cuailnge. It was prophesied that his great deeds
would give him everlasting fame, but that his life would be short –
one reason he is compared to the Greek hero Achilles.

He is known for his terrifying battle
frenzy, in which he becomes an unrecognizable monster who knows
neither friend nor foe. He fights from his chariot, driven by his
loyal charioteer Laeg, and drawn by his horses, Liath Macha and Dub
Sainglend. Many say he acquired a lot of power by submitting himself
to some geis, two of which are "I'll never eat dog meat"
and "I'll never refuse a meal offered by a woman." But then
a woman offered him some dog meat, as so he had to choose what geis
to break and he accepted the meal. After that, he was forced by Queen
Mab to break his geis one by one, as so he met his death at the hands
of Lugaid (child of Cu Roi, a man he had to kill to defend Ulster).

Although he shows up as a demon in most
games, Cu Chulainn appears in SJ in the EX Mission A formal search
request, in which his mother has traveled to the Schwarzwelt to find
him. Near the entrance to Sector Antlia, Cu Chulainn will be found
with Enemy Search. He will leave for Sector Carina to meet with his
mother; once met there, he will reward the protagonist by unlocking
Cu Chulainn fusion, giving him Gae Bolg, his spear and giving him the
item Knight's Oath, which contains a Demonica code to summon him. He usually shows up in either fairy or genma race.

**Setanta** is Cu Chulainn's given
name. He obtained his more famous name when he killed Culann's guard
dog in self-defense and volunteered to take its place ("Cu
Chulainn" means "Culann's Hound"). Setanta appears in
the Challenge Quest, Cu Chulainn's Training, where Cu Chulainn has
been turned into Setanta by his master Scathach. She requests that
Flynn teach Setanta the "way of the warrior" in the
Bugeikan stadium. Arrogant, he proclaims that killing them will be
easier than killing the guard dog as the battle starts. He is
surprised when he loses, and realizes the lesson his master wished to
teach him by fighting Flynn, and is returned to his true form, Cu
Chulainn.

**Dullahan**. The Irish Dullahan
(also Gan Ceann) is a type of unseelie faerie. It is headless,
usually seen riding a headless black horse and carrying his head
under one arm. The head's eyes are massive and constantly dart about
like flies, while the mouth is constantly in a hideous grin that
touches both sides of the head. The flesh of the head is said to have
the color and consistency of moldy cheese. The dullahan's whip is
actually a human corpse's spine, and the wagons they sometimes use
are made of similarly funereal objects (e.g. candles in skulls to
light the way, the spokes of the wheels made from thigh bones, the
wagon's covering made from a worm-chewn pall). When the dullahan
stops riding, it is where a person is due to die. The dullahan calls
out their name, at which point they immediately perish.

In SMTIV, A Hunter who appears after
the Challenge Quest *C*orpse Disposal reveals that he had been
giving out red pills to people in an act of defiance against Tayama
and the Ashura-kai. Furious that the prentice Samurai slayed them and
are getting in his way of opposing Tayama, the Hunter eats a red pill
himself and becomes Dullahan. Free of her anxieties and fears as a
human, she gloats that they can't defeat a human turned demon. After
her defeat, Flynn is given a choice to either kill her or spare her.
Killing her earns Law points while sparing her earns Chaos points.
Sparing her also has her run away.

**Kelpie**. In Celtic mythology, a
Kelpie is said to be a supernatural water horse that haunts rivers
and lakes in Scotland and Ireland. Its mane is black, but its skin is
said to be cold as death. It is said to lure mortals into water,
specifically young children, into drowning so it can eat them. The
kelpie tempts children to ride on its back, and once the victims fall
for the trap, the kelpie's skin is said to become adhesive.

In SMTIV, A group of Kelpies that
resided in the Ueno region until Pellaidh forced them out. They act
as a bridge for certain humans to cross the Kanda River near Ueno.
They have a vendetta against Pellaidh for his previous actions
alongside the humans and offer Flynn a deal in exchange for bringing
them his head. After obtaining his head, the head Kelpie tosses it to
his brethren to be eaten. Afterwards he offers to act as a bridge
whenever the Samurai need one for helping them.

**Lenan sidhe**. In Celtic folklore,
the Irish leanan sídhe is a beautiful woman of the Aos Sí (or fairy
folk) who takes a human lover. Lovers of the leanan sídhe are said
to live brief, though highly inspired, lives.

The leanan sídhe is generally depicted as a beautiful muse, who
offers inspiration to an artist in exchange for fame and glory;
however, this exchange frequently results in madness for the artist,
and often premature death.

They seek the love of mortals. If they refuse, she must be their
slave; if they consent, they are hers, and can only escape by finding
another to take their place. The fairy lives on their life, leaving
the object of a Leanan Sidhe's affection to waste away. The name
comes from the Gaelic word "leannan," a sweetheart,
concubine, or favorite. Also, Sídhe, "of the fairy mounds."
In strange journey she shows up as a demon a crewmember wants to
date, although she seems to barely remember the person who is interested in her.

There are also some myths where she will give an artist an enhanced amount of inspiration all at once, but then consume their life force. This is the inspiration for the side mission that involved her in the first area of SMTV where she did something similar to this.

**Leprechaun**. A leprechaun is a
type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old
man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief.
Like other fairy creatures, leprechauns have been linked to the
Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology. Popular depiction shows them as
being no taller than a small child. They are depicted as having a pot of gold that if you find you are capable of having them grant a wish of yours. They show up as a demon in soul
hackers, though strangely with a flag of the wrong country.

The leprechaun originally had a different appearance depending on where in Ireland he was found. Prior to the 20th century, it was generally held that the leprechaun wore red, not green. The connotations of the color green coming from the associations of the color green with Ireland itself. The leprechaun is described as a solitary creature. Many other figures ended up with parts of their myths merged with leprecuans since leprechauns were often substituted for less known types of creature, to make stories more relateable.

**Scathach** ("Shadowy") is a figure in the Ulster
Cycle of Irish mythology. She is a legendary Scottish warrior woman
and martial arts teacher who trains the legendary Ulster hero Cu
Chulainn in the arts of combat. Texts describe her homeland as
"Alpi," which commentators associate with Alba, the Gaelic
name of Scotland; she is especially associated with the Isle of Skye,
where her residence Dún Scáith (Fort of Shadows) stands.

Scathach's instruction of Cu Chulainn appears in Tochmarc Emire
(The Wooing of Emer), a foretale to the great epic 'Táin Bó
Cúailnge.' Cu Chulainn and Emer fall in love, but her father Forgall
forbade the union until Cu Chulainn has completed his warrior
training. Cu Chulainn and his friend Ferdiad travel to Dún Scáith,
where Scathach teaches them feats of arms, and gives Cu Chulainn his
deadly spear, the Gáe Bulg.

Cu Chulainn begins an affair with Scathach's daughter Uathach, but
accidentally breaks her fingers. She screams, calling her lover
Cochar Croibhe to the room. Despite Uathach's protests, he challenges
Cu Chulainn to a duel; Cu Chulainn dispatches him easily.

To make it up to Uathach and Scathach, Cu Chulainn assumes
Cochar's duties, and becomes Uathach's lover. Scathach eventually
promises her daughter to him, without requiring the traditional bride
price. Scathach also grants Cu Chulainn the "friendship of her
thighs" (they have sex) when his training is almost complete.
When her rival, the warrior woman Aífe, threatens her territory, Cu
Chulainn defeats her in battle and forces her to make peace. Aífe
also sleeps with Cu Chulainn, producing his son Connla, who Cu
Chulainn kills years later without realizing he is his son.

In SJ, She appears as a summonable demon and as an NPC in Sector
Antlia, in Morax's old lair, as part of the EX Mission A formal
search request, in which she received the help of Cu Chulainn in one
of her endless battles. She expresses her appreciation for her
student, though she chides him for believing she needed his help in
the first place. She tells the protagonist that Cu Chulainn heard of
the search for him and that he now was searching for the protagonist
himself. She also shows up as one of the demons working on the law
side in the law ending.

**Selkies** (also spelled *silkies*, *sylkies*, *selchies*, Scots: *selkie fowk*) are mythological creatures found in Irish, Scottish, Faroese, and Icelandic folklore. Selkies are said to live as seals in the sea
 but shed their skin to become human on land. The stories frequently
revolve around female selkies being coerced into relationships with
humans by someone stealing and hiding their sealskin, often not
regaining the skin until years later upon which they commonly return to
the sea, forsaking their human family. The legend is most common in the Northern Isles of Scotland and is very similar to those of swan maidens. In-game the demon is referred to as silky, which is likely an alternate spelling rather than a distinct type of demon.

According to the book *The*
Fairy Bible: The Definitive Guide to the World of Fairies *written*
by Teresa Mooney, the Silky is a female fairy from the Borders of
Scotland, who "wear rustling silk as she does household chores"
and "terrorizes lazy servants".

**Balor**. In Irish mythology, Balor
(Balar, Bolar) of the Evil Eye was a king of the Fomorians,
a race of giants. His father was Buarainech and his wife was
Cethlenn. According to legend, he lived on Tory Island. Balor was
notable for his one eye, which could kill anyone it looked upon. He
gained this power as a child when watching his father's druids
preparing poisonous spells, the fumes of which rose into his eye. His
eye was normally kept closed, only to be opened on the battlefield by
four men using a handle fitted to his eyelid, or, in some versions, a
system of ropes and pulleys. According to prophecy, Balor was to be
killed by his grandson. To avoid his fate, he locked his daughter,
Ethlinn, in a tower made of crystal to keep her from becoming
pregnant.

However, Cian, one of the Tuatha Dé
Danann, with the help of the druidess Birog, managed to enter the
tower. She gave birth to triplets by him, but Balor threw them into
the ocean. Birog saved one, Lugh, and gave him to Manannan mac Lir,
who became his foster father. He was called Lugh Lamhfada and became
a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Lugh led the Tuatha in the second
Battle of Magh Tuiredh against the Fomorians. Ogma disarmed Balor
during this battle, but Balor killed Nuada with his eye. Lugh shot a
sling-stone which drove Balor's eye out the back of his head, where
it continued to wreak its deadly power on the Fomorian army. In other
versions Lugh blinded Balor with a spear made by Goibniu, or
decapitated him and used his eye against the Fomorians.

Balor shows up as one of the demons on
the chaos side in strange journey, reminiscing about the days back
when humans were theirs to command. Which is in keeping with the depiction of fomorians as chaotic nature spirits.

## Weapons

**Lorg Mor**. Dagda owns a magic
staff or club (the *lorg mór* or *lorg anfaid*) which can
kill with one end and bring to life with the other. This does not
show up in game however, with the powers of ressurection being
ascribed to dagda himself.

**Caladbolg** (hard cleft), also spelled as Caladcholg, is the
sword of the former tricked king of Ulster, Fergus mac Róich, and
associated with another king of Ulster, Fergus mac Leda, implying a
relation between the two legends. This sword was said to make a
circle of rainbow-like arcs each time it was swung, along with having
the power to slice the tops off hills and slaughter an entire host.

Caladbolg is thought to be a source or analogue of King Arthur's
sword Excalibur, which in early Welsh is called Caledfwlch. It shows
up as a weapon in various megaten games.

**Gae bolg** is the legendary weapon of Cu Chulainn, which was
given to him by his master Scathach. It shows up as a weapon in
various megaten games.

**Claimh Solais**, also known as **Claim Solais** or **Claíomh Solais** is a weapon in the series. Meaning **"Sword of Light",**
it was the weapon wielded by Nuadha and is one of the four sacred
treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann.