Siabhal
Siabhal lies in the north of Tirneach and, with its ancient legends and great cities, is called the Heart of the Realms.
Quotes about Siabhal
“The Wildling boy smiled and beckoned to her, and his long curling hair caught the sun and dazzled her, creating a halo of light around his golden head. His strong sharp teeth were white as fresh milk, and Sorcha longed to kiss those cleft lips, red as blood. Before she could step towards him, her brooch dug into her collar and whispered in her grandmother’s voice ‘Did I not warn you to beware the corn-haired child, who is not as tame as he appears?’” – Sorcha of the Red Cloak, a Siabhlach Folktale
“Siabhal is rightly named the Heart of the Realms. What the Leasiar perfected in Uasa, they learned here, through careful work over many centuries. Here all the species work in concert for the greater glory of the Shaper to bring forth the Great Vision to Tirneach. Rolling fields, towers which scrape the sky, gentlefolk and honest labourers are all to be found in Siabhal. There are dangers here, few places in Tirneach are entirely safe, but if you do not venture too far afield they are unlikely to seek you out.” – Treasna an’Fanach, A Survey of the Five Realms
Geography
Known as the Heart of the Realms, Siabhal is the most northerly of the Five Realms. It is also the largest; its coast stretches from the Shaper’s Sea in the east, up to the Endless Sea in the north, and out to the Sea of Fortunes in the northwest. Siabhal is a cultivated land of rolling hills and plains, with some of the largest towns and cities in all the Realms.
The saying goes that there is no need to ask a Siabhlach where they are from, because they’ll tell you. The Siabhlaigh are justifiably proud of their Realm, as it is one of the most civilised and stable parts of Tirneach. The great city of Iomra is the oldest and grandest in the whole of the Five Realms, a testament to Leasiar architecture and engineering. The rolling farmlands and pastures of the Golden Valley, nurtured by the Field Wildlings, help to feed Siabhal’s large population and make Siabhal a powerful mercantile power.
Notable Settlements and Ridings
Dundesh (Small town) – Dundesh is located on the northern side of the inlet called Manann’s Finger, and glares across the bay at Rathclay, which is located on the Baol side. The two towns have always been at odds, legends say that in the past two siblings argued so much that the sea intervened to separate them, and they still wouldn’t give up the argument, founding a town on that very spot to prove their point. The valuable fishing stocks in the Finger are the subject of violent disagreement to this day, and any fishing boat going beyond “their side” of the inlet is likely to be sunk.
Barr (City) – If it was in another Realm Barr would have always been the most prominent city, but since it is in Siabhal it was often eclipsed by Iomra far to the north, until it was made the capital after unification. Barr was always a market town, and lies in the heart of the Golden Valley where the farmers of Siabhal bring their produce to sell. The citizens of Barr are proud of their capital status, and they provide barracks for many bands of gallóglaigh. The Iarlas of Siabhal maintain a scrupulous presence in Barr, ensuring it has all the trappings of a true capital, while they often foster their children among the great house of Iomra.
Iomra (City) – In ancient times, Iomra was the capital of the kingdom of Siabhal, and it is still the largest settlement in the Five Realms. Siabhlaigh are often heard to exclaim “by the towers of Iomra” meaning the three towers which were built by the Leasiar in the days of the kingdom of Siabhal. Some say there were more once but they have since fallen down, though the Leasiar reject this besmirching of their craft. Iomra is home to the self-styled nobility of Siabhal, most of whom can trace their lineage back to pre-unification days. Many of these folk are now Riders, though they visit their ridings out in the countryside only seldomly.
Cheilg (Riding) – Cheilg is a riding in the Grey Lands, on the border marches between Siabhal and Uasa, where the excellent farmland of Siabhal begins to give way to the moors of Uasa. Cheilg’s Rider is Gurvan the Bold, a Leasiar artificer of some renown in Iomra where he spends most of his time. His regular absences from his own lands might explain why he maintains such a large standing militia, but he is also one of those nobles who loudly talks about the glory days of Siabhal, so perhaps he has something else in mind.
Sciatrian (Riding) – Even though Siabhal is mostly safe for its many farmers and homesteaders, there are still areas where the Gwyllt’s influence is strong. In these places, the ridings are generally claimed by soldiers and warriors who can fight the evil creatures that emerge, and strangely few of the old nobility hold these ridings. Sciatrian is one such riding, and its Rider is a Wildling named Fiainfaobhar. Fiainfaobhar was once a gallóglach, and fought against the Gwyllt’s creatures many times in his career. Now a Rider, he leads his militia against them to protect what is his, to bring glory to the Shaper, and to dispel rumours about his people being more loyal to the Gwyllt than to the Réig.
Bolscar (Riding) – Located in the far northwest of Siabhal, looking out into the Shaper’s Sea, Bolscar has the honour of being the home riding of the current line of Réigs. It is said that growing up on the shores of the same sea the Shaper used to travel to Tirneach infused the line of Conchobhair with greatness. The Réigs still travel here every few years, to the combined honour and dismay of the current Rider, Úna Uí Chonchabhair, who finds herself and her riding inundated with visitors when this pilgrimage takes place. The most recent Réig notably never visited, it is said that she and Úna did not see eye to eye as children.
History
It’s true that Siabhal was the first of the Five Realms to take shape as a Realm of its own. Settlers of all species arrived on the rocky eastern coast of what would become Siabhal, determined to carve out a space to live from the deep forest and wild places under the sway of the Gwyllt. The struggle against the Gwyllt’s insidious power gave rise to great heroes, who formed the first of the noble houses which dominate Siabhal society to this day. Most Siabhlaigh can trace their lineage back to one or more of these heroes, and they all know the stories of their conquests and tribulations off by heart.
When the Réig came to Tirneach, Siabhal stood against the armies that came to spread the word of the Shaper. Siabhal stood against the Réig for many years, along with their allies in Draíod. In the end the Siabhlaigh were no match for the power of the Shaper wielded by the Réig, the determined fighters by the Réig’s side, or the cunning of the Uasaigh, the tribal people to the south who drew the Siabhlaigh into endless confrontations in their marshy homeland. There are many versions of the eventual surrender and unification of the Realms told in Siabhlaigh, many of them include betrayal and bloodshed under an oath of truce, but today Siabhal is firmly in the Five Realms.
After unification, the Réig commanded that the Iarla’s seat would be in a new town, closer to the border with the Crown Realm of Uasa. To that end, the Leasiar of Siabhal created the town of Barr, in a pale imitation of the glory of Iomra, the ancient capital of Siabhal. The Iarlas of Siabhal have maintained a scrupulous presence in Barr ever since, while sending their children to be educated amongst their relatives in Iomra, and retaining their ancestral estates.
The Ruby Court
Siabhal is a realm thick with history and tradition, and a vital part of that are the Ruby Families, nobility named for the Ruby Court in the great city of Iomra.
The Ruby Families claim descent from heroes of legend that fought against the Gwyllt at a time when the Gwyllt’s hold on Tirneach was all the more fearsome. The legends of Siabhal, preeminent among them the Legend of Lobhan, serve as a way of cataloguing the Hundred Heroes of Siabhal and the status of those descended from them. Noble folk from Siabhal generally style themselves according to their most famous ancestor, so “Cillian Mac Fhiona” or “Siún Nic Shiún”, referring to Fiona Who Slew the Red Prince and Siún Who Leapt the Flaming Wall respectively.
Most of the Ruby Families count at least one Rider among their number, but some keep lands without one, which shows the status the Ruby Families have maintained in their Realm. The Iarla of Siabhal has always been a descendant of the royalty of the Kingdom of Siabhal, themselves descended from the greatest of the Hundred Heroes, the iconic Finian the Brave.
Siabhal’s aristocracy predates the unification of the Five Realms, and it runs alongside the noble structures of the Realms themselves. Nobles of Siabhal are often Riders, but not always. This means that polite society tends to be a quagmire of hidden social hierarchy. Who is in favour or out of favour at the Ruby Court, where the nobility congregate for the many festivals and feasts, is perfectly evident to a skilled courtier but completely incomprehensible to an outsider.
Demographics
The long lived Leasiar and the Field Wildlings are the two most iconic species of Siabhal, with legacy and heritage being highly valued.
Culture
Despite its wealth, political power and proud history, Siabhal is not the foremost of the Five Realms. This is something of a sore point for the nobility of Siabhal in particular, but even the common folk will often say that the seat of the Réig should be in Iomra. After all, the Réig has acceded to the throne from Siabhal more often than any other Realm, and Uasa is no match for Siabhal on almost any measure you care to mention. The Uasaigh usually ignore such tired commentary, or say that loyalty counts for more than legacy.
The wealthiest and most populous of the realms, Siabhal is home to the majority of Tirneach’s agriculture as well as most of its political intrigue. Despite Uasa being the capital realm and the seat of the Réig’s power, many feel that honour should belong to Siabhal, especially as Réigs have hailed from this realm more often than any other.
Siabhal Fashion
The nobility of Siabhal will always look to Iomra for the latest fashions, which become more ostentatious with every new season as the courtiers of Iomra seek to outdo each other. Rich reds and yellows are often in evidence, evoking the majesty of the Golden Valley, and the ancient blood that every Siabhlach has flowing in their veins. Siabhalaigh Gallóglaigh don’t take to the battlefield wearing ballgowns and dancing slippers (or at least not often), but presenting yourself well is still hugely important to a character who comes from Siabhal. This applies to all levels of society in Siabhal, and a visitor to even the smallest town in Siabhal would be forgiven for asking if there is a festival taking place, as the clothes worn by the least prosperous worker in the fields will match or better the feastday best of any other Realm.
Siabhalach Opinions on the other Realms
Baol (Highlands): A place that should be consigned to ancient romances, and never visited. A people that should have died out centuries ago, and yet insist on making a nuisance of themselves.
Baol (Lowlands): This brooch is from a very gifted jewellery maker in Rathmaebh, see how it catches the light? They may not have a single drop of truly noble blood in their veins, but the lowlanders have clever hands and they know when to offer respect.
Bruid: Imagine it, forest as far as the eye can see! You could command a Riding as large as you liked, so long as you were willing to live knee-dip in mud and raise your children alongside your pigs.
Draíod: Of course both Realms are loyal to the Réig but in case there came a day when the Five Realms fell and Siabhal again rose to preeminence in Tirneach, the Draíodaigh are bound by ancient compact to take our side. They may not know how to dress or hold a proper conversation, but they are mighty in magic.
Uasa: You know my dear I speak most highly of the Réig. Truly the people of Uasa did the first Réig a great service when the Five Realms came together before we had quite realised that the first Réig was the right sort of person… but surely they have been honoured enough and the Réig should stop living in the middle of a swamp and transfer their capital here?
Playing a Siabhalach Character
As the most populous Realm, Siabhal is well represented among the gallóglaigh. It is far from the privations of Bruid or the ructions of Baol, so the Siabhlaigh often grow up well fed, well adjusted and eager to prove themselves. The Fifth Oath is the most important for gallóglaigh who hail from Siabhal. By serving as a gallóglach, you carry your family legacy with you, venerating the heroes of the past and adding your own chapter to your family’s story. Dedicated service as part of a band is a common way of determining which child shall inherit the majority of a family’s wealth and social standing, and rival siblings or cousins might join different bands to gain the greatest chance of coming out on top.
The nobility of Siabhal will always look to Iomra for the latest fashions, which become more ostentatious with every new season as the courtiers of Iomra seek to outdo each other. Rich reds and yellows are often in evidence, evoking the majesty of the Golden Valley, and the ancient blood that every Siabhlach has flowing in their veins. Gallóglaigh don’t take to the battlefield wearing ballgowns and dancing slippers (or at least not often), but presenting yourself well is still hugely important to a character who comes from Siabhal. This applies to all levels of society in Siabhal, and a visitor to even the smallest town in Siabhal would be forgiven for asking if there is a festival taking place, as the clothes worn by the least prosperous worker in the fields will match or better the feastday best of any other Realm.
Siabhlaigh characters grow up knowing exactly their station in life, what they owe to their family (everything) and what they owe to anyone else (as little as possible). Their Loyalty Undivided Feat allows them to ignore the effect of Charm by spending 1 Vigour. Their heads will not be turned so easily!
Siabhlaigh value the skills and knowledge which have made Siabhal great, and most noble children will get some grounding in the “civilised arts”. Each family has a responsibility to educate their children to inherit the legacy of their forebears, and to defeat their opponents both on the battlefield and in the halls of power. Even Siabhlaigh from poorer backgrounds are proud of their family’s history, and committed to being the first of their line to rise to greatness.
Characters from Siabhal
- Doran
- Rumann MacUltan
- Cruach
- Caoltan
- Duarcan MacUltan
- Fiven
- Ambrosio de Costana
- Brigid Gobhann
- Rígan Diavall
- Iascaire
- Fiadh Ó Daimhín
- Doireann