Olengael
Olengael (/ˈəʊ lən.ɡeɪl/) is an island in the Ocean Sea located off the northwest coast of continental Anvoreen. Extending roughly 350 miles from north to south and some 200 miles at its widest from west to east, it is the second largest of the Hibernic Isles, separated from larger Saesanna to its east by the treacherous Straits of Móllaenna and the narrow, turbulent Gaelish Sea.
Many rivers, several of them navigable, extend inland from the sea. The longest and most significant river in Olengael is the Shanawain, which flows for over 300 miles southerly and westerly from Braefení through the center of the island, before pouring into the Ocean Sea at Shanawain Bay below the port of Dúnlaemna in Mugaenna. Other major rivers include the Slaene, the Crib, the Baen, the Bóin and the Laefe.
Thousands of clearwater laecs and ponds, some of them quite large and containing islands, can be found across the land. The largest laec on the island of Olengael is Laec Glán in Rudria. Other large laecs are found along the course of the River Shanawain, including Upper Laec Aernú, Lower Laec Aernú and Laec Daerg.
The principal mountain ranges of Olengael are the Crúagorma Mountains of Caerbraega in the north, the Cualú Mountains of Cilvántain in southern Slaecatha, the neighboring Nocmaedún Range across the River Slaene in Contae Clára, and the Crúadubha Reeks on the southwestern coast. The highest point on the island is the summit of Garuántúl Peak, located in heart of the Crúadubha Reeks, south of Traelí in Contae Caera.
Thick woodlands cover a goodly portion of the island, with marshes and bogs occupying a notable part of its midlands. Nevertheless the majority of the countryside consists of scenic rolling pastures covered in lush vegetation, watered by the abundant rainfall that blows in from the Ocean Sea. The mild climate is heavily affected by the influences of the sea, resulting in cool summers and mild winters.
Many fine towns can be found in Olengael, the most noteworthy of which is Taerú, traditional seat of the High Cings. Other significant towns include the ports of Ballyclaeth, Garmanphort, Laergephort and Dúnlaemna; the royal seats of Faernas, Dúncorc, Clogher and Dúngaer; and the monastic centers at Drúmlaen, Dúnaelinn and Caesiel.
Gaelish cings are chosen through a system of taenástry, whereby the heir apparent is selected and approved by the senior nobility during the reigning monarch’s lifetime. This often results in several generations of patrilineal rule, and even peaceful transitions between competing royal bloodlines. However, some say that the more common outcome has been conflict and contested crowns.
The High Cing is selected by consensus or conflict, as the case may be, from among the sovereigns of the eight cingdoms, resulting equally in times of strong High Cings commanding the support of the powerful Clonns, and periods of factionalism, contested rule, violence and civil war.
For many generations the High Cings of Olengael were drawn from the ancient Royal House of Clonn Niall, but in the recent centurí new Houses have risen to challenge the supremacy of the deNiall, noteworthy among them Clonn Bóram, Clonn Conur, Clonn Dármott and Clonn Rórc.
Other races present in small but significant numbers include the Lochlainn, both Norvae and Dannae, who occupy small enclaves in several of the eastern and southern port towns, having intermarried with Gaels during the Lochlainn occupations of the tenth centurí, and remained after their countrymen were vanquished by High Cing Brán Bórama in 1019; as well as Tarli and Saesani from across the Gaelish Sea; and slaves of various races taken in trade and as the spoils of foreign wars.
The Gael are a prepossessing race, fair of face and strong of body, with even the lowest of classes displaying a keen eye and proud carriage. Though of a common ancestral bloodline, there are nevertheless some regional distinctions between the various Gaelish folk, which may be discerned by the careful observer.
In the north the men are of a sturdier build, as are the women, with hair of flaming red, which men and women alike braid into long tresses. The men of the north forswear the shaving of their faces, taking great pride in their magnificent rusty beards. In the east the people are of a fairer aspect. They also plait their fair hair, and the men allow the hair of their upper lip to grow in long, flowing trails, in the fashion of the Lochlainn.
The folk of the south are taller, and darker in appearance, with black hair and ruddy faces, and nearly always clean-shaven. And finally, the people of the west are very similar in appearance to their cousins from the south, with the exception of their red hair, which is more similar to their northern relations.
Etymology
The island is named for its native race, the Gael, who have inhabited the place since earliest times. The name is a combination of the Old Gaelish oilaen (island) + gael, meaning "Island of the Gael." The term Gael is from Middle Gaelish Gaídel, which is in turn from Old Gaelish Goídál, the name of the race’s eponymous ancestor, Goídál Glása, believed to have lived in the twenty-fourth centurí B.C.Geography
Olengael is characterized by a broad central plain, surrounded by hills and relatively low-lying mountains at the coasts, which rise considerably in the west to form the prodigious cliffs that dominate Olengael’s rocky western shores.Many rivers, several of them navigable, extend inland from the sea. The longest and most significant river in Olengael is the Shanawain, which flows for over 300 miles southerly and westerly from Braefení through the center of the island, before pouring into the Ocean Sea at Shanawain Bay below the port of Dúnlaemna in Mugaenna. Other major rivers include the Slaene, the Crib, the Baen, the Bóin and the Laefe.
Thousands of clearwater laecs and ponds, some of them quite large and containing islands, can be found across the land. The largest laec on the island of Olengael is Laec Glán in Rudria. Other large laecs are found along the course of the River Shanawain, including Upper Laec Aernú, Lower Laec Aernú and Laec Daerg.
The principal mountain ranges of Olengael are the Crúagorma Mountains of Caerbraega in the north, the Cualú Mountains of Cilvántain in southern Slaecatha, the neighboring Nocmaedún Range across the River Slaene in Contae Clára, and the Crúadubha Reeks on the southwestern coast. The highest point on the island is the summit of Garuántúl Peak, located in heart of the Crúadubha Reeks, south of Traelí in Contae Caera.
Thick woodlands cover a goodly portion of the island, with marshes and bogs occupying a notable part of its midlands. Nevertheless the majority of the countryside consists of scenic rolling pastures covered in lush vegetation, watered by the abundant rainfall that blows in from the Ocean Sea. The mild climate is heavily affected by the influences of the sea, resulting in cool summers and mild winters.
Many fine towns can be found in Olengael, the most noteworthy of which is Taerú, traditional seat of the High Cings. Other significant towns include the ports of Ballyclaeth, Garmanphort, Laergephort and Dúnlaemna; the royal seats of Faernas, Dúncorc, Clogher and Dúngaer; and the monastic centers at Drúmlaen, Dúnaelinn and Caesiel.
Government
The island of Olengael is seperated into eight cingdoms -- the four "Ancient Cingdoms" of Caedcatha, Mugaenna, Rudria and Slaecatha; and the so-called "New Cingdoms" of Braefení, Caerbraega, Maenach and Tyrcaenna. Each cingdom is further divided into various contaes, barúnaes and traves, organized under a system of reciprocal feudal obligations, with the High Cing of Olengael at the apex.Gaelish cings are chosen through a system of taenástry, whereby the heir apparent is selected and approved by the senior nobility during the reigning monarch’s lifetime. This often results in several generations of patrilineal rule, and even peaceful transitions between competing royal bloodlines. However, some say that the more common outcome has been conflict and contested crowns.
The High Cing is selected by consensus or conflict, as the case may be, from among the sovereigns of the eight cingdoms, resulting equally in times of strong High Cings commanding the support of the powerful Clonns, and periods of factionalism, contested rule, violence and civil war.
For many generations the High Cings of Olengael were drawn from the ancient Royal House of Clonn Niall, but in the recent centurí new Houses have risen to challenge the supremacy of the deNiall, noteworthy among them Clonn Bóram, Clonn Conur, Clonn Dármott and Clonn Rórc.
People
Despite the division of the island into several cingdoms, the people of Olengael are of a single race, united by the bonds of common ancestry, language, religion, laws and customs. The Gaelish race have dominated Olengael since their invasion and conquest of the Danúi in the fifteenth centurí B.C.Other races present in small but significant numbers include the Lochlainn, both Norvae and Dannae, who occupy small enclaves in several of the eastern and southern port towns, having intermarried with Gaels during the Lochlainn occupations of the tenth centurí, and remained after their countrymen were vanquished by High Cing Brán Bórama in 1019; as well as Tarli and Saesani from across the Gaelish Sea; and slaves of various races taken in trade and as the spoils of foreign wars.
The Gael are a prepossessing race, fair of face and strong of body, with even the lowest of classes displaying a keen eye and proud carriage. Though of a common ancestral bloodline, there are nevertheless some regional distinctions between the various Gaelish folk, which may be discerned by the careful observer.
In the north the men are of a sturdier build, as are the women, with hair of flaming red, which men and women alike braid into long tresses. The men of the north forswear the shaving of their faces, taking great pride in their magnificent rusty beards. In the east the people are of a fairer aspect. They also plait their fair hair, and the men allow the hair of their upper lip to grow in long, flowing trails, in the fashion of the Lochlainn.
The folk of the south are taller, and darker in appearance, with black hair and ruddy faces, and nearly always clean-shaven. And finally, the people of the west are very similar in appearance to their cousins from the south, with the exception of their red hair, which is more similar to their northern relations.
Olengael
CONTINENTAL ISLAND
Map of Olengael
Sheep Grazing Near the River Slaene
Cings of Olengael
High Cing
Turlú deConnur
Cing of Caedcatha
Turlú deConnur
Cing of Mugaenna
Turlú deBóram
Cing of Rudria
Ulad deDúnlaeví
Cing of Slaecatha
Darmod deMorrow
Cing of Braefení
Taernán deRórc
Cing of Caerbraega
Domlán deLufflin
Cing of Maenach
Maelán deSaechlain
Cing of Tyrcaenna
Doncad deCaerol
Turlú deConnur
Cing of Caedcatha
Turlú deConnur
Cing of Mugaenna
Turlú deBóram
Cing of Rudria
Ulad deDúnlaeví
Cing of Slaecatha
Darmod deMorrow
Cing of Braefení
Taernán deRórc
Cing of Caerbraega
Domlán deLufflin
Cing of Maenach
Maelán deSaechlain
Cing of Tyrcaenna
Doncad deCaerol
A Gaelish Nobleman of Rudria
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