Member Bio

Fóghnan (Thistle) am I called, and Neónach (Strange), by the Sidhe. I was a prickly child, willful, stubborn, and above all curious. I am a man of Clan MacAisling. We were an old Caledonian tribe of warriors, poets, and mystics, and Brigid is our goddess. We were driven from our homeland when the MacAlpines united the kingdom of Dál Riada with the kingdom of the Picts. That was before my time. Now my people, human though they be, dwell amongst the Duine Sidhe.

I was raised in Tir Nan Òg, on the banks of Loch Dòchan-caillte. As a child I was never satisfied with just hearing a tale. Having heard of some wondrous or terrible thing, I had to see it for myself. The Sidhe would often find me wandering in places a child should not. This was something of an annoyance to them. To discourage my wandering, under a geas was I bound. Now, whenever I should step beyond the bounds of home, I must find what I sought at that moment before I can find my way home again. You might think this prospect would cow a child into behaving, but I knew little of fear in those days, and even less of common sense.

After hearing the tales of Arthur, I got to wondering what happened to the Stone. Everyone knew what happened to the Sword, but not a single bard could tell me what became of the Stone that held it, so off I went to find it. The paths Under-hill lead many places (and some say many times). While I tried to make my way to Wales, I found myself in Aratari lands instead. A contentious lot of petty kingdoms were the Aratari then, endlessly shifting alliances in a constant state of war. I was conscripted by the Glendorian Border Guard, and I fought under their banner for three years under the nom de guerre of Silmar. When our small border outpost was finally overrun, I resumed my Quest for the Stone, wandering far to the west.

When I tired of wandering, I would settle for a time, learning a trade to pay my way in the world. Then I would get restless and homesick, and I would wander once more in search of the Stone, never finding it. One day I found myself back in Aratari lands, where I wandered into a tavern called the Wheel and Rose. There I met with Morgan Graymael, whom I knew from my Glendorian days. Then he was with the White Rose, one of our sometime allies. Now he was the Duke of the Guard, and he was recruiting. So I have settled again for a time, to fight with the Guard and to share some of my knowledge of other crafts. For my craft-work I have been named a Master of the Guard, and for my service to the Guard I have been Knighted (but not, thank Brigid, promoted to the officers ranks).

~Fóghnan Neónach fear-cinnidh MacAisling Master and Knight of the Guard