Lugh Lámhfhada

Lugh’s Scions like to say their divine father isn’t God of anything — he’s God of everything. It’s an exaggeration, but not by much. Lugh was born of Dian Cécht’s son Cian and the Fomorian Ethniu. Lugh’s parentage was another deliberate attempt to forge peace between the peoples, but while Bres stood with the titanspawn, Lugh stood with the Tuatha. He was raised by foster parents, Manannán mac Lir and the Fir Bolg Tailtiu, who showered him with gifts that he passes down to his Scions as Birthrights, including the water-striding horse Aenbharr and the truth-seeking sword Fragarach. His keen eye and strong arm with his legendary spear earned him the name Lámhfhada.

Lugh earned his other title, Samildánach, and his position as the Irish God of excellence when he asked for admittance to Nuada’s court while the People were planning their strategy against the Fomorians. Master of all skills and arts, he offered his services one by one but the court already had a God of each. Finally, he challenged them to produce someone else who was God of all of them. Once he proved he could best the Gods at their own games, Nuada not only accepted him, but let him lead them to victory against the titanspawn.

The Samildánach knows the secret art of sorcery as well as mortal ones. He can assume the mystical posture of his Fomorian cousins by covering one eye, using one hand, and standing on one foot. His Scions inherit this Titanic magic too, in various forms. Lugh’s most famous child, Cú Chulainn, could undergo a hideous battle transformation and wield a terrible rage against which none could stand.

Lugh’s Scions are constructive sorts who make, do, and win. They’re overachievers, champions, athletes, helpers, and enablers. They work hard but make it look easy. Scions of other pantheons grow uneasy around those children of Lugh who display obviously Fomorian powers, but the Irish Gods see nothing strange about it.