Crone of War (2010) (edit title/settings)

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Characters edit see section history

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• Marcus Galerius Primus Helveticus: General Marcus Galerius Primus Helvetticus is Praetor under Gaius Julius Caesar while campaigning in northern Gaul, Samarobriva in Gallia Lugdunensis to be specific, around 55 BCE. His mission is to support his commanding general's efforts to aid Mandubratius in his bid to reclaim the Chieftainship of the Trinovantes in Briton, in exchange for trading rights for tin and pearls. Marcus is responsible for drawing up the plans for a reconnaissance mission of Briton, and will lead one of the legions in its efforts to meet up with Mandubratius' allies and gain a foothold in southern Briton. However, he could not believe how he would change over the course of the next few weeks, nor how those changes would affect events 600 years later.
• Mandubratius: Mandubratius, whose given name is Awvarwy, is the self-proclaimed Chieftain of the Trinovantes. His uncle had seized the Chieftainship after Mandubratius' father died. In 55 BCE, Mandubratius formed a pact with Gaius Julius Caesar to gain Mandubratius the Chieftainship of the Trinovantes in exchange for aiding Caesar acquire tin and other raw materials. Mandubratius sailed with Marcus Galerius Primus Helvetticus in an attempt to join forces with his comrades in western Britain.
• Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine: The surviving daughter of the chieftain of Beal Atha an Fheada. Éire (Ballina, Ireland), trained by her father’s family, Fergus Mac Aerlon Uí Máine and Sive Uí Fergus Uí Máine, to carry on the ancient religious traditions of the Celtic tribes.
• Bertius Lancastrius: A British merchant secretly serving the interests of the Deargh Du. Berti, as he is sometimes called, is a foppish gentleman who seeks pleasure and enjoyment in all things, and he would rather tell bawdy jokes than fight.
• Claudius Metrius Sertorius: Lieutenant under general Marcus Galerius Primus Helvetticus, the Praetor of Gaul, who traveled with Gaius Julius Caesar in his first attempt to conquer Briton in 55 BCE.
• Arwin Mac Alpin: A Scots warrior of the Ekimmu-Cruitne who fought against Romans long before Marcus Galerius Primus Helvetticus was born. Arwin forms somewhat of a friendship with Claudius and Marcus, though none would probably admit that a friendship exists. Arwin is also attended by his servant Edward, who is himself an alchemist. Arwin can never remember Edward's first name, and he doesn't recall that Edward has a surname... the authors don't even know what it is! Yet...
• Tertia Amata Antonia: Third daughter of a wealthy Roman merchant, Amata was forced to choose the life of a prostitute, after her husband died and his family had refused to take her in. Felician sponsored her as a Lamia.
• Sive Uí Fergus Uí Máine: Wife of Fergus Mac Aerlon Uí Máine of the Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland) and paternal aunt to Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine, Sive helped train Maél Muire to carry on the ancient druidic traditions of the Celtic tribes, even though Christianity had been in place for two-hundred years.
• Fergus Mac Aerlon Uí Máine: Husband to Sive Uí Fergus Uí Máine of the Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland) and uncle to Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine, Fergus helped train Maél Muire to carry on the ancient druidic traditions of the Celtic tribes, even though Christianity had been in place for two-hundred years.
• Cennedi Mac Lubdan Uí Máine: Chieftain of the Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland) soon after the death of his brother-in-law, Conghal, who was married to Deirdre Uí Conghal Uí Máine, the mother of Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine. Cennedi is married to Téa Uí Cennedi Uí Máine.
• Téa Uí Cennedi Uí Máine: Téa Uí Cennedi Uí Máine, wife to Cennedi Mac Lubdan Uí Máine, Chieftain of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland).
• Connor Mac Turrlough Uí Niall: Chieftain of Mhuine Conlon, Eire (Bonniconlon, Ireland). Connor has a son, Brian Mac Connor Uí Niall, who wants to marry Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine. Connor's mother is Seosaimhín Uí Turrlough Uí Niall.
• Brian Mac Connor Uí Niall: Son of Connor Mac Turrlough Uí Niall, Chieftain of Mhuine Conlon, Éire (Bonniconlon, Ireland). Brian wants Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine as his dutiful and demure wife.
• Seosaimhín Uí Turrlough Uí Niall: Mother of Connor Mac Turrlough Uí Niall, Chieftain of Mhuine Conlon, Éire (Bonniconlon, Ireland). Seosaimhín is a druid who pursues knowledge of death and not life like other druids, and she is quite mad.
• Seanán Mac Declan Uí Máine: Son of Declan, Chieftain of Cill Ala, Éire (Killala, Ireland), who fought against the Uí Briúin to the north. Seanán and Maél Muire grew up together, as her father Conghal had fostered Seanán. Seanán's mother is Deidre Uí Declan Uí Máine.
• Lucretia: Sponsored by Mandubratius to become Lamia when she was a nun. She still carries a crucifix because it reminds her of her past. Mandubratius pulled her from her convent one night, and he gave her no choice in the matter. He wanted her, so he took her; Mandubratius promised me power in exchange for her obedience, or she would die.
• Patroclus Statilius Messalinus: Add a description of this character.
• Sáerlaith Ní Adhamdh: One of the leaders of the Deargh Du, Sáerlaith becomes involved in the investigation of the Lamia's encroachment on Eire.
• Sitara: Daughter of Nasid (Persian) and Devayani (Indian). Nasid is a trader, and he lead the caravan from Constantinople to Shiraz. Sitara has two brothers, Sarid and Nadeem, and one sister, Vivika. The family, after concluding their business in Shiraz, then set sail to Alexandria in a trireme as part of a merchant flotilla. Marcus Galerius Primus Helveticus and Bertius Lancastrius accompanied the family on both trips.
• Donal: Newly selected council member of the Deargh Du council of five. Finn, his father in darkness, along with Emer, was killed by the Lamia - both had been council members before being killed.
• Ruarí Mac Flan: Ruarí is the Arch Druid of the Deargh Du and has taught Deargh Du and mortal druids alike for many generations. He is the person who called down Morrigan upon Marcus Galerius Primus Helveticus after the general and his men had massacred the townspeople of Loch Garman, Éire (Wexford, Ireland) and murdered many of Ruarí's students in the grove.
• Caoimhín: Caoimhín is a Deargh Du, and along with Aodh, was ordered by Arch Druid Ruarí to find out what the Lamia had been up to in northwestern Éire near the village of Beal Atha an Fheada.
• Dana: The Irish mother Goddess
• Brigid: One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Brigid is the Irish goddess of healing, writing, water, and cats; she is also the daughter of the Dagda.
• Thorismund: One of the thieves who attempted to rob a caravan train moving through the Kingdom of the Franks. Unbeknown to him is that the caravan was actually the Lamia's army heading over land before boarding ships bound for Éire.
• Caile: One of Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine's cousins. Caile was also a seamstress.
• Konstantine: Lamia who traveled with Lucretia when she followed Marcus Galerius Primus Helveticus. Upon returning to Rome, on Lucretia's order, Konstantine served Tertia Amata Antonia.
• Druce: Butcher to Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland).
• Edward: Servant to Arwin Mac Alpin. Edward's family has served Arwin for generations. Edward is also an alchemist, and his creations have been known to be effective, yet unpredictable in sometimes disastrous ways. Armin Mac Alpin never gets Edward's name right, sometimes calling him Edwina or Edna.
• Taliesin: Pet cat of Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland).
• Aisling: One of the young men who participated in Meán Samhraidh and The Seilg with Seanán Mac Declan Uí Máine.
• Aidan: Chieftain of the Uí Briúin clan, neighbors of the Uí Máine tribe in Éire.
• Sarid: One of Sitara's brothers.
• Bearach: Armsman of Maél Muire Ní Conghal Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland).
• Oisín: Harker of the Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland).
• Idwal: An ancient Deargh Du warrior who served in the Red Branch with Cu Chulainn, Idwal wants to train the Deargh Du army, discounting Marcus Galerius Primus Helveticus' fighting style and competency.
• Basala: One of the servants of the Uí Máine of Beal Atha an Fheada, Éire (Ballina, Ireland).

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Beal Atha an Fheada, Eire (Ballina, Ireland)
• Dyrham, Briton (Portsmith, England)
• Almikhlaf Alsulimani, Arabia (Jizan, Saudi Arabia)
• Samobrivia, Gallia Lugdunensis <Gaul> (Amiens, France)
• Portus Itius (Gaul) (Wissant, France)
• Loch Garman, Eire (Wexford, Ireland)
• Divio, Kingdom of the Franks (Burgundy, France)
• Rome (Rome, Italy)
• Ard Macha, Eire (Armagh, Northern Ireland)
• Bath, Briton (Bath, England)
• Apona, Briton (Bristol, England)
• Mhuine Conlon, Eire (Bonniconlon, Ireland)
• Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey)
• Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel)
• Alexandria, Ægypt (Al Iskandariyah, Egypt)
• Leuphana <formerly Cundestorp> (Lüneburg, Germany)
• Cill Ala, Eire (Killala, Ireland)
• Caletum, Francia (Calais, France)
• Rathcrogan, Eire (Roscommon, Ireland)
• Newgrange, Eire (Newgrange, Ireland)
• Caesar's landing in Briton in 55 BCE (Walmer, England)

Organizations edit see section history

• Algul: An Arabic blood-drinker race, created by their God of war, Verethragna. Their known abilities include the power to create visual hallucinations in both mortals and other immortals. However, their vulnerability lies in strong smells. Their numbers are small, due to a genocidal war between themselves and the remnants of the Ekimmu.
• Deargh Du: An ancient line of blood-drinkers from Eire (Ireland) that trace their ancestry to the Goddess, Morrigan. Their true talents lie in their magical skills and their fae-like beauty, known as glamoury. They can fly, create glowing light, heal mortals as well as other immortals, and draw down darkness and shadow. Their major weakness is the metal gold. After the creation of the Ekimmu-Cruitne, the Deargh Du withdrew back to their native land and ceased interacting with other blood-drinking races.
• Ekimmu: A group of blood-drinkers originating in Assyria from Zaltu, their deity of strife. They grew in strength and power, eventually dominating the Middle East. However, other races, such as their enemies the Algul and the Lamia, began to hunt them down, decimating their population.
• Ekimmu-Cruitne: The Ekimmu, fleeing a genocidal war, removed themselves to the northern regions of Alba (Scotland). After meeting some of the Deargh Du, who traveled with the Scoti tribe, an Ekimmu and a Deargh Du conspired to tip the balance by creating a new being. Morrigan, in her rage, sought to confine them to their lands. They are struck by illness whenever they try to cross the ocean. Their greatest talent lies in their olfactory sense, making them excellent trackers. They can also heal others, fly, read minds, and enjoy manipulating games of chance. In addition, they can create the sensations of pleasure and pain in themselves and their victims.
• Lamia: According to legend, Lamia was a Queen of Libya who seduced Zeus. In retribution, Hera killed all of her children. Heartbroken, Lamia began feeding upon the people of Greece, and before long, she had many new immortal children. The Lamia infiltrated Roman society, and soon Rome became their seat of power. The Lamia’s skills lie in mind-bending, or manipulation. They even have an ability to enter dreams and manipulate the dreamer. While they cannot fly, they are fleet of foot and can leap to significant heights.
• Ouphe: An ancient Saxon line of blood-drinkers that moved into Briton during the Saxon conquest. Their strength is in their monstrous lycanthropic nature; many blood-drinking races can die from the wounds given by an Ouphe. Yet, the Ouphe are severely affected by silver. Their origin is a mystery.
• Strigoi: A line of blood-drinkers that began from a cursed Greek beauty named Iris. Aphrodite’s curse did not grant Iris and her victim’s immortality until later. Yet, they only survive fifty years after their transformation. The Strigoi are telepathic and unleash uncontrollable madness upon mortals and immortals alike. Affected mortals tear at their eyes and puncture their eardrums to escape the onslaught of sights and sounds. Despite their talents, Strigoi are physically weak, stunted, and are the ugliest of the blood-drinkers.
• Sugnwr Gwaed: A British group of blood-drinkers created by Cernunnos, the horned God of animals, wilderness, and the wild hunt. Their strengths include enhanced communication with animals and enhanced vocal persuasion; they can convince their victims of almost anything. They also fly, like the other Celtic lines, and have aptitude for healing mortals and immortals alike.

First Sentence edit see section history

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Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• The Balance: It is the Celtic belief that existence is balanced on a single fulcrum. Forces are at work to unbalance existence in order to plunge it into the abyss. The Deargh Du strive to counter those forces that seek to topple the Balance. Sometimes wrongs must be righted, but other times wrong things must be done for the right reasons. How people live their lives, the decisions they make, and the actions they take have a direct affect on the Balance within and throughout.
• The Quest: It is a divine mission given to those deemed worthy or those seeking redemption. It is a journey across great distances that transforms ones identity.
• Tolerance and Acceptance: Tolerance of others despite their cultural, political, social, or other differences, and beyond tolerance, the formation of friendships despite pressures to be enemies.
• Strong Female Characters in Leadership Positions: In an era where male-dominant Roman Catholicism has supplanted the earth-based practices of the Irish, women, who were once in a position of equality with men before the arrival of Roman Catholicism, find themselves in a diminutive role. Yet, the Irish Chieftain of of Beal Atha an Fheada in the 6th century CE defies convention and raises his daughter, Maél Muire Ni Conghal Uí Máine, by instructing her in the old ways, aided by his sister Sive and her husband Fergus Mac Aerlon Uí Máine, and teaches her the lessons needed to lead their clan.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Morrigan's Brood, and followed by Dark Alliance.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Heather Poinsett Dunbar (Author) - Lead author, responsible for tone, voice, setting, and overall quality controls.
2. Christopher Dunbar (Author) - Co-author, responsible for plot development, character development, dialog. and martial elements. Also responsible for layout, copy editing, promoting, marketing, and other publishing work.
3. Sarah E. Aalderink (Editor) - Editing for continuity, tense shift, readability, and other factors.
4. Khanada Taylor (Artist) - Cover design, interior art, and website

Other Contributors:

1. Jillian Rosenburg (Technical Editor) - Responsible for proofreading certain elements as part of the copy edit process.
2. Dayna Hartley (Artist) - Logo design

First Edition edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

The series strives for a level of realism that reflects the periods within which the stories take place. Therefore, the series contains elements that some readers may find objectionable. Some of these elements include war, murder, brutality, cruelty, torture, blood drinking, depictions of non-Christian beliefs and practices, and some eroticism. The content is similar to several television series recently released on premium cable TV stations, namely HBO's True Blood and Rome, Starz' Spartacus, and Showtime's The Tudors. The publisher recommends an 18 and over rating, though we have heard from some open-minded parents who, after reading, allowed their children to read books from the series as well.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Dark
• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Epic
• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Historical
• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Series
• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › Mythology

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Triscelle Publishing: Contains descriptions of each of the books in the Morrigan's Brood Series and our other works. Includes publication dates, author bios, fan contributions, reviews, and other content.
• Morrigan's Blog: The blog for the authors of the Morrigan's Brood Series, where we announce contests, book signings, festivals, and other events, as well as provide character interviews and background information about our writing.

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history