Fiaigh
The God of the Hunted
"The great Wolf has seen fit to bless us this day. We’ll eat like kings tonight lads!"
Summary
Contrary to the meekness you would anticipate from a god that represents animals of prey, Fiaigh may be mild and flighty, but they are far from tame. With unrivaled survival instincts and a deeper understanding of the circle of life than all the other gods put together, Fiaigh is just as powerful as their siblings Sealgaire and Tabhair.
It is Fiaigh's task to maintain balance in the universe, a silent observer until divine intervention is necessary. However, though Fiaigh is distant, they are not apathetic. They have their favorites, and they have a mighty soft spot for the most helpless creatures of their domain. But they learned long ago the importance of keeping nature's balance the hard way.
When Fiaigh was yet a young god, still learning the ways of the world, they loved every creature of their domain deeply, and took care to know each of them by name. So deeply did Fiaigh care for their creatures, in fact, that they would often fight with their parent gods Raidhse and Fìrinne, pleading for the power to protect them from their brutal sibling Sealgaire. They did not understand why their domain was made to sustain such fearsome creatures, and they longed to defend them.
One day, as Fiaigh made their rounds of the forest, checking in on the many friendly critters within, they found the orphaned fawn Lapanach clinging to life, crying for its mother. Moved by the poor beast's cries, the young god took in the small fawn, determined to save it. They raised Lapanach into a strong, healthy, powerful buck, and as he grew, so too did their love for the beast. Fiaigh taught Lapanach the secrets of the land, showing him to defend himself and evade the predators creeping in the shadows.
When Lapanach was full grown, Fiaigh made a decision that nearly brought the gods to their knees. As a parting gift for their beloved Lapanach, Fiaigh secretly showed him the long hidden path to the sacred pool of the gods, hoping that doing so would keep their child safe from whatever ills may befall them.
For two years, Lapanach wisely kept Fiaigh's secret, only visiting the pool of the gods in the most dire of circumstances -- but good luck never holds, particularly for such a healthy, beautiful buck as Lapanach. A band of huntsman stumbled upon the young buck one day, and immediately set chase, all eager to claim him as their trophy. Soon, Lapanach became exhausted, unable to outpace the biting, yowling hounds at his heels. Desperate for a way out, the young buck did the only thing left to do, and led the hunting band straight to the pool of the gods.
These men, the first to ever set foot in this sacred place, immediately understood that they had stumbled upon something divine. A fight broke out among them over who would claim this blessed pool, blood spilling out over the sacred hollow, summoning Raidhse to the shocking scene. Knowing the threat that would befall the gods should man discover the power within these waters, the mighty war god was forced to smite every last one.
Lapanach did his best to keep Fiaigh's secret, but no truth is safe from the watchful eye of Fìrinne. As punishment for acting against the very laws of nature, Raidhse and Fìrinne called on Scrios to bind the god of the hunted, transforming them into the thing they most feared -- a massive, mighty wolf. At the sight of their hulking, slobbering form, Lapanach was terrified, and ran from the god they once called mother.
This is the burden of Fiaigh: to live for all eternity as that which their domain most fears, and to find sustenance in the creatures they once called friends, so that they might truly understand the natural balance of life's vast circle. They do their job diligently, always balancing the scales, never faltering in their duties. And yet, after all this, you may still find the great wolf god taking pity on their beloved beasts of prey, granting them life for one more day.
Worship and Ritual
In honor of Fiaigh, a wise man will whisper a prayer of thanks to every creature they kill. Any part of the animal that is not used must be returned to the earth, never wasted, so that the cycle of life may continue. You are only to kill creatures that are healthy and whole, and take mercy on those that are injured, on mothers and their young, and on the wounded. In this way, you may garner the favor of the great wolf god.
Those that claim Fiaigh as their patron must complete two rights of passage, in order to understand the balance of the universe through the eyes of the god they worship. The first of these tasks is to raise an animal of Fiaigh's domain -- nurture it, earn its trust, treat it kindly, help it grow strong -- and when it has fully matured, they must slaughter it with dignity. Through this right, a follower of Fiaigh may understand the trial of their god. The second right of passage calls for man to live as prey for seven days and seven nights, wandering and living off the woods with no shelter, no weapons, not even a shirt for protection against the harsh winds. In this, Fiaigh's followers may understand what it is to live as prey, and find mercy and pity for the creatures they hunt.
Killing for sport is the most heinous offense of all to Fiaigh, and this has lead to a constant battle between the followers of Fiaigh and those sworn to their sibling god, Sealgaire. But to hunt for sport is one thing -- to tip the scales is another, and a surefire way to find the great wolf god hot on your trail.
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