Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Cadugan O’Ceallaigh (1421)

Cadugan O’Ceallaigh
Ghoul to Seysild O’Loingsigh

You have led a long and adventurous life. You were born Owain Glyndwr of noble birth. Connected to all the Welsh ruling families. You studied law in London and served with Richard II in France and Scotland. In 1400, the local Lord delayed summoning you to serve in the army in Scotland, and an uprising began. It resulted in your lands being confiscate. Over the next 4 years, the Welsh rallied around you and you racked up wins against the English. In 1404, you held the first Welsh parliament, and were crowned Prince of Wales. You signed a treaty with France, and independence was within reach. By 1408, England had cannons and turned the tide: your family was captured and you were left without a base. Most people think you went into the hills and died.

The reality is that you were critically injured in a small skirmish with English forces, left unconscious and allowed to die slowly. But you didn’t die. You woke under the moon to find someone pouring blood down your throat. The person who saved you (in a most unorthodox fashion) was the vampire Seysild O’Loingsigh. You knew that Malkavian Vampires existed in Wales because they came to your side, as long as you kept their secret. They helped a great deal until the Ventrue came in on the side of the English. Seysild gave you the option of remaining a ghoul or becoming Malkavian on the condition that you assumed a new identity. You chose to become his ghoul but remain his equal.

Now you are going to Ireland to hook up with someone sympathetic to your cause, Fergus O’Sullivan. He is a member of an esteemed Irish clan that would do anything to hurt the English. Recently, he has been burning their food stocks in Dublin while they suffer the plague.

You made arrangements through the le Waleys, relatives of some soldiers that followed you during the wars. They won’t recognize you because they’ve never been outside of Ireland. They had quite a bit to say about Fergus. Mostly that he’s quite crazy. They should provide strong help since they come from fine stock.

The le Waleys informed you that the meeting is at Dun Boyne, located beyond the Pale. It is a dance/jousting tournament and will be the perfect place to size up the English, as well as curry favor with the Irish. You know that the Irish need you as much as you need them. Dublin is reeling from the plague and Ireland proper is in famine. Since Wales is overflowing with food that the English are boating to Dublin, the Irish will be interested.

Since you are familiar with how diplomacy operates, you will likely take the lead when it comes to dealing with the main operators. Seysild will take care of business with the undead and see what can be done behind the scenes.

You are sure everyone wants to see the English pay for their persecutions, but the Irish have no strength. Maybe you can help them with that, and really screw the oppressors. With any luck, you can strike a real blow for the homeland.

What is this?