Nuada Airgetlám

The Tuatha Dé Danann know their first king as a wise leader who commands from the front lines and inspires loyalty as easily as breathing, upholding Enech in spades. Nuada was king when the People came to Ireland and led them to victory against the Fir Bolg. Long would he have held the throne of Tara, had he not lost an arm in the battle. At the time, the law insisted that such an injury barred him from ruling, forcing him to step down. In his place, the Tuatha chose Bres the Beautiful as their new king, but Bres betrayed them. Dian Cécht gave Nuada a new arm fashioned of silver and he took the name Airgetlám, “silver-hand.” He assumed the throne again while Bres gathered his forces for war, but when Lugh Lámhfhada proved his mastery of a vast array of skills, Nuada relinquished command of the Tuatha to him to better their chances of victory.

Nowadays, Nuada rules only his sídhe domain, where the inhabitants of the Otherworld love and respect him. Others come to his Scions for counsel, or to ask blessings for wealth and success. Ever since Dian Cécht’s son Miach regrew Nuada’s original fleshly arm, the kingly God uses his silver one as a gauntlet of war to appease the physician’s wounded ego, and lends it out to Scions when their need is great.

Nuada’s Scions pursue justice and prosperity. They’re judges and police officers, activists and therapists, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. In particular, they champion rights for the disabled, citing the disaster of Bres’ kingship as proof that some of the old traditions are garbage, despite the anachronistic way the Fomorians and fae cling to them.