Gallóglaigh

The Gallóglaigh (pronounced gallow-glee) are the empowered warriors central to the story of Five Oaths.

Standing of the Gallóglaigh

All Gallóglaigh serve the Réig and the Réig is the only person in Tirneach permitted to maintain such a standing force of warriors. To meet the military needs of the Iarlas and Riders, the Réig allows their Gallóglaigh to work for them in exchange for coin.

The Gallóglaigh are employed to many ends but commonly they are called upon to defend settlements from bandits and the Gwyllt, to fulfill security and bodyguarding duties, or to begin and end border disputes between Iarlas. It is not uncommon for bands of Gallóglaigh to be employed in direct opposition to one another but these conflicts are generally limited in lethality as wanton destruction of the Réig’s forces is not something any band or their employers wants to be accused of. The Gallóglaigh form an elite warrior class and it is common for the ambitious to join up to build a reputation to rely on in a future political career.

Becoming a Gallóglach

Not everyone can become a Gallóglach. There are four ways an individual can become part of the Gallóglaigh:

• Members of the High Families, the Leasiar species, and the children of the Tiarnaí are allowed to join by birthright
• People who were fostered to another household as a result of a treaty are always allowed to join.
• People who are sponsored by another gallóglach are always allowed to join.
• Weeping are always allowed to join the gallóglaigh, following the ancient Atosú Edict.

Joining the Gallóglaigh is considered an opportunity for someone to prove themselves and therefore it is never used as a punishment.