✖ mythology — the fianna.

[broduil]

Truth in our hearts. Strength in our hands. Consistency in our tongues.



general;
the Fianna did not use chariots, instead preferring to be more mobile on horses alone. they were made up of members from many different tribes who travelled in bands of up to 3000 men across the country, protecting the land from invaders. by the time of the Fianna, iron was being used in weaponry as opposed to the use of bronze by their ancestors. iron was much stronger and less liable to bend. the average sword was 3 feet in length, the hilt comprising 6 inches of the total length. the swords were used to cut and hack rather than stab, later on shorter stabbing swords would have been used. the Fianna probably used both types. spears were also used-- these had barbs attached. they were easy to thrust into a body but always tore when being withdrawn, causing the most damage. slings would also have been used but not as often.

the Fianna's greatest task was the defence of the coast. they had a system of look-outs and signals posted on top of cliffs and at fords and passes of importance. signals were passed by relays of runners or by beacons at night-- therefore the Fianna were alerted very quickly of any encroachments and could defend the land straight away.

the Fianna were made up of hree classes of Irish men, each under obligation to give a certain number of their days in service to their chieftain; after which they could return to their normal duties. they also comprised of mercenaries from various countries such as Scandinavia and Britain who were paid a regular wage for their services by the reigning high king. ordinary peacekeeping duties were also under their jurisdiction.

membership;
first, there had to be assurances from the patrilineal as well as the matrilineal line of the family that none of them would sue for compensation in the event of the death of the member-- conversely, if a member of the Fianna caused damage to anyone or their property, then his family would not be held responsible for his actions.

no man was taken until he was a prime poet versed in the twelve books of bardic literature.

no man was taken until he could defend himself from within a large hole in the ground up to his belt, with only his shield and a length of hazel rod, while nine warriors having nine spears and being a distance of ten furrows away from him let fly at him together. if he let anything past his guard and got hurt, he was not accepted.

no man was taken until he had woven his hair into many braids and he was set at a run through the woods, while the ones seeking to wound him were sent after him with there having been just one forest bough between them at first. if he was overtaken and wounded, he was not allowed entry. if his weapons had quivered in his hand, he was not taken. if his hair was disturbed in any way out of its braiding he was not taken. if he cracked a dry stick under his foot as he ran he was not taken. he also had at full speed to jump a branch level with chest and stoop under one level with his knee without breaking stride or else he was not accepted. he also had to extract a thorn from his foot without pausing in his stride, or else he was not taken.

if he could manage to do all the above successfully, then he was accepted into the Fianna.

what this means for lancer;
as the first of the fianna, lancer would have been incredibly competent and trained in all these requirements-- aside from his lances, he was skilled enough with two swords to have the potential to be summoned into the saber class, and likely has a passing familiarity with slings as well. he would also be a skilled horserider, and well-versed in literature.

( adapted from here. )