Tir na Nog

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Tir na Nog, also known as Tír na nÓg, is one of the worlds participating in The Game. It's based on Celtic mythology and European folktales and is named after Celtic otherworld.

Its World Representative of Tir na Nog is Balor.

Its exile is Lugh.

Overview

Landscape

Tir na Nog is an expansive fairy realm populated by humanity, sprites, giants, dwarves, pixie cats, and all kinds of other fairies. [1]1 17 Many kingdoms rule the lands, such as the Realm of the Pixie Cats.

Inhabitants

The fae of Tir na Nog neither age nor degrade, and as such, they cannot comprehend pain as others know it. They are perfection incarnate, making them seem fearsome and cruel. They possess the Rule of the Changeling, through which any injury they suffer can be transferred onto someone else. Those with this sort of power are plentiful in the world, and the only way to defeat them is to kill them instantaneously, such as the power of Balor's Eye.[2]4

To be a king in Tir na Nog, they must maintain absolute control over the notoriously capricious fae. For royalty, this means that the concept of protecting others never enters the equation. Those others do not exist to be protected, but to be corralled and tamed. The primal fear Balor instills in others is how he proves himself to be the perfect ideal of a king. Balor also adds that while a king will say or do whatever is needed to force obedience upon their people, a good king will also come to learn both what he may wish to impart onto others and to whom it is best to impart it to. Despite this, he believes that a king acts upon every of their whims, making every desire a reality as it is their right.[2]5 7 13

System

Tir na Nog runs on the System of Changelings.[2]13

The faith of this world believes that all those who live in it are eternally young. In exchange, all of life's burdens are pushed onto others, the fairies specifically. These burdens were not created by the fae; Rather, humans founded the belief first and the fae came from it afterward. No one is born without a burden placed upon their shoulders as life is imperfect. Whether it be injuries or old age, humans would push their problems towards someone else, anyone else, and a new fairy would be created to shoulder these expectations, granting them existence and power. The inconveniences of others are the seeds of new life in this world.[2]13[1]16

For example, if someone were to find that their garden is miraculously weed-free, the people of the world would more likely attribute it to being the work of the fairies rather than their neighbor. If a plague spreads among the local population, the fairies are to blame. If they hear a dog howl while sick, they would claim a fairy dog cursed them with an illness. If a young poet dies unexpectedly, they were kidnapped by fairies. If an unwanted child is born, they would quickly accuse them of being a changeling instead. Humans have used fairies as a means of explaining away mysteries, tragedies, and even their own shortcomings.[1]16

Relatedly, a king of a fairy realm is born to shoulder the heavy burdens and wishes of his people, the responsibilities they wear much greater than what the fairies deal with. As such, the whole world's existence is dependent on its rulers' willingness to carry such a burden. Among the kings of Tir na Nog, a select few of them are responsible for shouldering the world's eternal youth such as Balor and Grimalkin, leading them to being one of the few in the world to age. Over time, these kings are forced to turn their people's desires into wrongs. The longer they rule, the more they grow old and weary from their responsibilities, necessitating the need for a successor to take their place once they are no longer fit to be king. The responsibility is so heavy that many rulers are more willing to drive their would-be successors from the world altogether than have them suffer the same fate.[1]16 17

Changeling Ceremony

The Changeling Ceremony is the day when the current king transfers their Rule, throne, and fate onto their successor.[1]17

Representative and Exile

The World Representative of Tir na Nog is Balor, the King of the Giants. It is said that the shadow of the dragon Crom Cruach looms behind him whenever his left eye needs to be opened.[1]16[3]

The exile of Tir na Nog is Lugh, son of Cian, Balor's grandson, and would-be successor who wielded the ability to cut gaps. Prophets foretold that he would kill Balor and take his place as king, but instead he was exiled by Balor.

History

Lugh's Destiny

In Lugh's past, his father Cian was slain by his own grandfather Balor. Those around him tell Lugh that he must avenge his father's death by killing Balor in return, taking his place as king. He is given a sacred sword and told to move onwards towards the path of the warrior, given no choice on the matter if he wanted to avenge his father or not. Balor looks back at this moment recognizing the cycle of vengeance pushed by the masses of the world.[2]15

Transients

Transients of Tir na Nog

Balor
【Representative】

MacRoich
【World Pillar】

Nodens
【His other identity
Nuadha】

Fisher King
【Exception】

Witch of Orleans
【Exception】


Notes

  • Tír na nÓg translates to "Land of the Young" is the name of the Celtic otherworld in Irish mythology.
    • It is described as the home of the Tuatha Dé Danann or "the folk of the goddess Danu", the gods of pre-Christian Ireland, who engage in poetry, music, entertainment.
  • The world itself in-game is composed of multiple mythologies belonging not only of Celtic origins but also of many other European myths and tales.
    • Alberich is a character in the play Der Ring des Nibelungen written by a German composer debuting in around 1876. The characters are based loosely from Norse stories and Nibelungenlied an epic poem in Middle High German. Alberich's character himself borrows heavily from the Norse dwarf Andvari.
    • Balor, in Irish mythology, was the leader of the Fomorians, a group of malevolent supernatural beings, but he was defeated by his own grandson who was part of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
    • Barguest is primarily of Nothern English folklore, described as a large black bear or dog that serves as an omen of death.
    • Cu Sith, Leannan Sidhe, and Cait Sith are supernatural beings of Celtic origin and depending on the region is spelled differently; often called "sith" when in the Scottish Gaelic language or "sídhe" in the Irish language.
    • Fisher King comes from the story Perceval, the Story of the Grail by a French poet though the character's roots may have Celtic origins.
    • Krampus is a Central European creature that punished children who misbehave on the Christmas season.
    • Leib is a deity in Sami mythology and worshipped by the Sami people inhabiting the cultural region of Sápmi, which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula within the Murmansk Oblast of Russia.
    • MacRoich is a character of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. His full name is Fergus mac Róich.
    • Melusine has stories that vary in multiple parts of Europe though is usually connected to and associated with the northern and western parts of France.
    • Tomte is a being from Scandinavian folklore.
    • Yule's origin in Tir na nOg is through his connection as being one of Santa Claus' reindeer, who is often noted as a Westernized depiction of St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas, a legendary figure in some European countries.

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