Characters Places Terms Hub

Sigils of Power – Using the Druidic (rune-based) language of Ogham, Druids create sigils as amplifiers of intent and typically incorporate one or more of the five Elements. They would etch them in wood, metal, or stone. Applying woad on one’s skin (called woading) could also have been used by a Druid to leverage such sigils.

Ollamh – Healers could seize the void to draw on the deep understanding of healing and pull power from the Tuatha realm to mend the sick and wounded. They wore green and red robes, typically commanding Aether and Earth or Water Elements to heal.

Laoch – Warriors focused on ensuring their Gaels had the expertise to protect their people. The most proficient of these warriors bore the title Laoch Draíochta, a Warrior of Magic. They could seize the void in battle and typically wield one of two Elements, such as Earth and Water or Air and Fire. Their strategy and battlecraft skills made them Battle Masters, with the most senior among them commanding all of the physical Elements.

Filídh – As history keepers, storytellers, and master musicians, a Bard used the void to retrieve the mass of words that comprised the entirety of the Gaelic people’s experience; none could recall that much knowledge without it. They wore yellow and green robes and were often Air Elementals, allowing them to cast their voices with ease.

Fáidh – Seers used their sight to touch the Cycle of Time, seeking to understand possible future timelines and listen to the voices of their Tuatha Dé Danann gods. Seers and Seeresses often would have an affinity for the Water and Aether Elements and wore green and red robes.

Breitheamh – Judicial sect of the Aos Dána known as Brehon that acts as judges, lawmakers, interpreters, and negotiators. Typically wore white robes and had an affinity for the Air and Aether.

Dagda's five Druidic Sects – Lawgivers, Healers, Seers, Bards, and Warriors, where he passed specific knowledge to each sect, along with how to seize the void and the sight when they needed to connect the realm of Erin with the Tuatha realms. Using the high council of each Druidic sect, All-Father also passed on the secrets of manipulating the five Elements: Air, Water, Earth, Fire, and Aether (the energy of life). Details on each of these sects can be found below. The singular form of Druid is Druí.

In The Dàn Cycle series – The first Druid was the Tuatha God All-Father. In the days when the Gaels first came to Erin from the coastal region of the Spanish region once known as Galicia, Dagda created five sects. He passed his magic to them once the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Gaels forged the Great Agreement, where they both would halt their battles in exchange for the Gaels paying homage to the Tuatha Gods. In turn, the Tuatha ceded the land of Erin to the Gaels, with some Tuatha remaining in the underhalls of Erin that Danu, All-Father, Badb, and Lugh had created. Dagda’s Druids were the skilled guides who ensured the Gaels remembered the myths and legends of the Tuatha and continued their worship of the adopted gods.

Capitalizing words referencing gods – I use the following conventions: Tuatha gods, gods of Asgard, Asgardian gods, or any general god. As with proper names, it is: Tuatha God All-Father, or just All-Father, Sun God (with or without a name like Lugh), Mother Goddess, Dark Goddess, Goddess of War, One God, Goddess of Language, God of History, etc. Additionally, Gaelic words for Druids and their English counterparts are capitalized, thus Bard (Filídh), Healer (Ollamh), Seer/Seeress (Fáidh), Lawgiver (Breitheamh), and Warrior (Laoch). Similarly, the Druidic Elements powers are Air (Aer), Water (Uisce), Earth (Talamh), Fire (Tine), and Aether (Eitear).

The Dàn Cycle Characters – As for the characters, I based some on historical figures and others on fictitious characters. The same goes for titles like Erin’s Hero. As to the use of names for gods, they are all of myth and legend.

The Dàn Cycle – A novel series that revolves around Gaelic and Celtic mythology, especially that of the Irish. Their myths, legends, and lore have been interpreted in many ways over the centuries. For authors in such a genre, we pick which threads to present among those posited by many historians. For those who follow Fae fantasy themes (which I also love), those myths emerged over a thousand years after the Tuatha legends were written. Thus, I used as close to a semi-historical setting as possible to build this world, so there are no faeries, only fairies, in this fairyland.

Canonical Notes (Destiny Cycle) – Norse gods are subject to oath, consequence, and imbalance, not absolute fate. Authority derives from structure and consent, not invulnerability. Time may be bent, but never without cost.

Vígríðr (VEE-gree-thur) – The vast plain upon which the final battles of Ragnarök are foretold to occur. Symbolizes inevitability once balance has entirely collapsed.

Vanir (VAH-neer) – A second pantheon of gods associated with fertility, nature, and prosperity. Once at war with the Æsir, they now exist in an uneasy alliance, representing forces the Æsir do not fully control.

Valhalla (val-HAL-lah) – The great hall of the slain, where the Einherjar feast and fight. A place of honor, boasting, and warrior culture—distinct from the halls of law and governance.

Valaskjálf (VAH-lah-skyalf) – The silver hall of Odin, within which stands Hliðskjálf. Valaskjálf is a place of judgment, observation, and divine legality rather than revelry or battle.

Thor (THOR) – God of thunder, war, and strength. Fiercely loyal to Asgard and openly contemptuous of deception. His power is immense, but his authority is constrained by oath, law, and Odin’s will.

Ragnarök (RAHG-nah-rohk) – The prophesied collapse of the Norse cosmic order. In the Destiny Cycle, Ragnarök is not a fixed destiny but a systemic failure brought about by imbalance, broken oaths, and divine overreach.

Skald (SKALD) – A Norse poet and historian, whose spoken verse preserves memory, honor, and truth. Skalds shape how history is remembered, not merely Recorded.

Midgard (MID-gard) – The realm of mortals, where human history unfolds. Though considered lesser by the gods, Midgard is the crucible in which divine consequences are ultimately realized.

Loki (LOH-kee) – A god of fire, chaos, and cunning. In the Destiny Cycle, Loki exists as a fixed temporal anomaly—present across timelines and resistant to permanent erasure. He cannot be destroyed, only delayed, redirected, or constrained, except through blood-oath of consequence.

Jötun (YO-tun) – Giants of chaos and primal force, often in conflict with the Æsir. Jötnar are not inherently evil but represent imbalance, inevitability, and unchecked raw creation.

Hliðskjálf (HLEETH-skyalf) – Odin’s all-seeing throne, housed within Valaskjálf. From Hliðskjálf, Odin may observe all realms and moments. In the Destiny Cycle, the throne serves as witness, not weapon—granting knowledge but not control.

Heimdallr (HIME-dall-er) – Guardian of the Bifröst and watcher of the realms. Possesses near-perfect perception and acts as a witness to oaths, arrivals, and cosmic thresholds.

Frigg (FRIG) – Queen of Asgard and consort of Odin. Goddess of foresight, motherhood, and the unspoken consequences of choice. Often perceives outcomes Odin refuses to name.

Einherjar (INE-hair-yar) – Fallen warriors chosen to dwell in the Halls of Valhalla, where they train endlessly for the final battles of Ragnarök. They represent valor without governance, strength without restraint.

Baldr (BAL-der) – A god of light, truth, and beauty among the Æsir. His death is one of the catalytic events that accelerate Ragnarök, symbolizing the loss of balance and innocence within the divine order.

Draupnir (DROWP-neer) – Odin’s sacred oath-ring, upon which the bearer of a source armband can issue binding vows, where those wearing a replicant armband are only oath-sworn to the source. Draupnir replicants can only be created by the source bearer every nine days, but the authority granted to the original ring bearer cannot be Recast. In the Destiny Cycle, each Draupnir functions as an oath-amplifier—binding obligation through willing consent rather than coercion.

Asgard (AZ-gard) – The realm of the Æsir, which exists outside mortal time, yet is deeply entangled with it. Asgard is governed by law, oath, and precedent, rather than raw force alone.

Æsir (EYE-seer) – The ruling pantheon of the Norse gods, associated with order, war, law, and sovereignty. Chief among them is Odin, All-Father of Asgard. Though powerful, the Æsir are bound by cosmic systems they did not create and are subject to the consequences of oath and imbalance.

Norse/Asgard – Central Characters, Places & Terms

Urghabháil an neamhní (ur-guh-vawl un nyow-nee) – Means to “seize the void.” This state allows some of the warrior class who have reached mastery level to access the magic of the Faerie realm, similar to the sight typically used by other Tuatha Aos Dána sects to access Erin’s Cycle of Time through Lia Dàn, the Stone of Destiny.

Ulicia (You-lee-see-ah) – An Earth Elemental Druí and Healer, known as an Ollamh in Gaelic, and one of the Aos Dána assigned to Dun Arrogh.

Tuatha Dé Danann Islands – Falais (Fall-eece); Findias (Fin-dee-us); Gorias (Gore-us); and Murias (Mord-us).

Tuatha Dé Danann (Too-ah-ha Day Dah-nahn) – Magical beings who came to Erin after the fall of Atlantis, some known as Sidhe or Sìth, often mistaken as faerie or fae, which originated as a new concept introduced in the sixteenth century. In Destiny Cycle, the author uses the mortal reference of fairies to depict the Tuatha.

Triple Dàns (Triple Dawns) – A magical construct woven by Badb Catha; comprised of the Lann Dàn (Blades), Lia Dàn (Stone), and Ćroí Dàn (Heart); she weaved together each into a time-bending power even she would not invoke. Together, they enable the wielder to envision a new timeline for Erin, with the Heart of Destiny casting that vision through the Blades of Destiny and into the Stone of Destiny, the time-governing anchor of the Triple Dàns.

Toal Mac Kyras (Toe-al Mak Ky-rass) – Dun Arrogh Red Branch warrior of Clan Dálaigh, cousin of Breanna; newly a Warrior of Destiny and leader of the archery unit; bears the Lugh gifted sigil that allows him to see distances as calculations.

Teachers – A new Druidic sect, Múinteoirs (Moon-tyor), created by Breanna in Heart of Destiny; led by Ence and Sinéidin.

Tir na nÓg (Teer-Na-Nug) – Alternate name for the Tuatha realm of Falais (Fall-eece); Findias (Fin-dee-us); Gorias (Gore-us); and Murias (Mord-us).

Sinéidin (Shin-ay-deen) – Tuatha Goddess of Languages, Daughter of the Tuatha God Ecne, and mate to Fergal.

Sight – A common name for the vision state of the Aos Dána used to touch the Cycle of Time to see a past or possible future.

Sidhe (shee) – What the Gaelic people call fairie or Tuatha mounds and living places; also spelled as Sìth (shee) in the northeast part of Ireland and the western coast of Scotland, in the region once known as Dál Riata.

Rome – In Heart of Destiny, when Breanna sees what happens to Erin and Pretainnia after Rome abandons the isles, she sets out to change the past to protect the future. Her clashes with the empire occur in the mid-first century BCE and again in the mid-first century CE. Several Roman figures appear, including Julius Caesar, Gaius Octavius, Marcus Antonius, Marcus Scaeva, Aulus Plautius, and Tiberius Claudius.

River Shannon – Divides the Kingdoms of Connachta, Mummu, Laigin, and Mide.

Ogham (Oh-am) – Typically only used by the Aos Dána, it is the written language of the Gaels and Celts.

Red Branch – A band of warriors in old Ulaida led by Rory the Red; in Gaelic, they were called Craeb Ruad (krayb roo-ad); it was a name resurected by Eoin Mac Cairbre of Clan Mórdha when he organized the young warriors in Dun Arrogh to fight the Dreadlord in the before-time.

Ollamh (O-lam) – Healer sect of the Aos Dána.

Nimuë (Nim-oo-ay) – Lady of the Lake, daughter of the Sea God, Mannanan Mac Llyr, bestower of the magical blade Caledfwich, which inspires the tribes of Pretannia (Preh-tan-nee-uh) to unite as one

Niall Noígíallach (Nye-al Nee-Gal-ach) – High King during the middle of the fifth century in Ireland, also known as the Ard-Rì; the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasty, which governed significant parts of the Emerald Isle for many centuries; his son, Lóegaire Mac Néill, would likely have followed him as the next High King if not for infighting between the provinces; son of Caireen and mated to Rignach.

Nevan – Warrior mate to Morna, brother of Kyras, father of Breanna, and member of Clan Dálaigh; died before Breanna was born in the after-time created by the casting of the Triple Dàns.

Myrddin Wyllt (Mutth-in Uhlt) – Cymru Druí Seer, mate of Eigyr Ferch Amlawdd, and Father to Livie.

Morna Ban Cahir (Mor-na Bawyn Kah-hee) – Mate to Nevan, mother of Orla, Ronat, and Breanna of Clan Dálaigh.

Mórrigan (Mohr-ree-gan) – Goddess of War, Fate, and Knowledge, also known as Badb Catha or the Dark Goddess; takes her battle crow form in the mortal realm.

Maorgairme (May-or-gair-mee) – An amulet ring created by the Dark Goddess to aid the bearer with fickle magic, and can also summon the Tuatha Gods if there is a great need.

Mannanan Mac Llyr (Man-nan-an Mak Leer) – Tuatha God of the Sea, commands the ship Wave Sweeper, weilds the sword Fragarach, as well as Gáe Ruadh, the dual-pronged Red Javelin, and Gáe Buide, Yellow Spear.

Livie Ferch Myrdinn – Water and Earth Elemental Druí and Seeress from Cymru, and a Warrior of Destiny; half-sister to Lotte.

Lugh (Loo) – Sun God and wielder of Tuatha’s magical Jewels and other items of the Tuatha Dé Danann, sometimes seen as a great white stag in his animal or familiar form known as Cernunnos.

Lotte – Fire and Water Elemental Druí and Spearwoman from Dál Riata (Dawl Ree-uh-tuh), and a Warrior of Destiny; half-sister to Livie and daughter of Eigyr.

Lissa – Mate of Kyras, Toal’s mother, Master Dyer, Weaver, and a member of Clan Dálaigh.

Lia Dàn (Lee-ah Dawn) – Stone of Destiny, a round crystal brought to Erin by the Mother Goddess Danu. It enables those holding it to see both the past and possible future timelines via the Cycle of Time.

Laoch (Lay-ukh) – The nearly forgotten name for the Warrior Druid Sect, once referred to as Laoch Draíochta (Dree-ukh-tah), or Warriors of Magic.

Kyras (K-eye-rass) – Dun Arrogh Smith of Clan Dálaigh, brother of Nevan, mate to Lissa, Toal’s Father, and Breanna’s uncle.

Lann Dàn (Lanna Dawn) – Blades of Destiny, created by Badb Catha, the Goddess of War; they were a pair of long diamond-bladed weapons with oak hafts imbued with the power to battle invaders wielding magic.

Keegan (Key-gan)– Seneschal of Dun Uisneach.

Isobel (Is-o-bel) – An Air and Earth Elemental Druí and Swordswoman from Galicia (Ga-lee-thee-ah), who is a Warrior of Destiny and Healer; also known by the names Izzy and Bee, she is Breanna’s Chief Spy and Head of Security.

Goibniu (Gohv-nyoo) – A Master Smith and god to the Tuatha pantheon, who created most of their magical weapons with help from Badb Catha and his brothers, Credne and Luchta.

Erin | Éire (ay-rah) – The Emerald Island, also known as Ireland.

Gaelic (Gay luhk)– A people who came to Erin after the Tuatha, arriving from a part of the Celtic empire known as Galicia, also called Gaels.

Fragarach (Frea-gar-thach) – A sword, also called Answerer, brought from the otherworld by Lugh, the Celtic God of the Sun; known to be able to pierce any armor, and later gifted to the Celtic God of the Sea, Manannán Mac Lir.

Fomorians (Foh-mawr-ee-uhn) – A race that settled in Erin after the fall of Atlantis and was subsequently defeated by the Tuatha.

Fir Bolg (Feer Bulg) – The original people of Erin who were subjugated first by Fomorians and then by the Tuatha.

Filídh (Fee-lee) –The Bardic sect of the Aos Dána, keepers of the histories, storytellers, and master musicians of the Aos Dána, commonly known as Bards.

fíanna (fee-un-nuh) – Initially, freeborn Fir Bolg warriors – and after a time, interbred Gaels – who once made up the army when the High Kings in Tara ruled in Royal Mide; the fíanna were made up of fíans (fi-anns), or bands of nine, who eventually served local Chieftains and kings when the first reign of the High Kings ended.

Fergal Mac Conall (Fur-gul Mak Koh-nawl) – Dun Arrogh Red Branch warrior of Clan Conall, a subordinate clan to Clan Mórdha (Mur-dha) and cousin of Eoin Mac Cairbre. Eventually, a Warrior of Destiny and Sinéidin’s mate.

Faolán (Fae-o-lawn) – Chief of Dun Uisneach and mate to Falyn.

Falyn (Fa-lyn) – Chieftess of Dun Uisneach and mate to Faolán; her children are Dáithí (Daw-hee), Oisín (Uh-sheen), and Teagan (Tea-gan).

Fáidh (Faw-ee) – The prophetic sect of the Aos Dána, typically called Seers or ovates.

Falias (Fah-lee-us) – One of four fairie islands where the Tuatha resided with Danu and Lugh; often called Tír na nÓg (Teer-na-a nug) by the Gaels.

Erin (Eh-rin) – Four primary provinces or Kingdoms comprised what the Gaelic called old Ireland. Connachta (Kon-akh-ta) is in the northwest; Mummu (Moo-moo), later called Munster, is in the southwest; Ulaida (Ul-ay-duh) is in the northeast; and Laigin (Lay-gin) is in the southeast. Royal Mide (Roy-uhl My-de) was carved out of the latter two provinces, which held the High Kings in Tara. Unfortunately, this last Kingdom did not survive as a province on its own after the heroic period of the fifth century passed; High Kings would not reemerge for another four to five centuries.

Eóghan Mac Cathal (Oh-an Mac Cah-hal) – Second to Chief Connall Cas Ciabhach at Dun Gaillimhe.

Eoin Mac Cairbre (Owen Mak Kar-breh) – Before-time Chief of Dun Arrogh Clan Mórdha, cousin of Fergal, and a Prince of the Blood via Aife, his mother’s Ulaida Dál nAraidi Clan. Eventually, Erin’s Protector (aka Cosantóir), Taoiseach, and the Warriors of Destiny co-leader. He weilds the Sword of Light and spear Gáe Assal, both gifted to him by Lugh. In Warriors of Destiny, Eoin joins Breanna as a Time-Walker through a gift of magic from Badb Catha during their handfasting ceremony.

Eochaid Mac Énnae (Yoh-khid mahk Ay-nuh) – Son of Énnae Cennsalach, who challenged and killed Niall Noígíallach, the High King of Erin.

Énnae Cennsalach (Ay-nuh Ken-sah-lakh ) – One-time King of Lagain, and accepts being just Head Chief of Lagain at Breanna’s demand.

Eigyr Ferch Amlawdd (Eye-geer Verkh Am-louth) – Cymru Seeress, mother to Livie, and mate of Cymru Seer Myrddin Wyllt; also mother to Lotte by a Dál Riata Warrior Druid father.

Ecne (Ehn-yuh) – the Tuatha God of Wisdom, History, and Cultures; Grandson to Brigid; father of Sinéidin.

Dun Uisneach (Doon Ish-nach) – A substantial Gaelic ringfort located in southwest Mide along the High King’s Road, also known as Slíghe Mor (Slee-geh More). Chief Faolán and Chieftess Falyn oversee the formidable fortress.

Dun Tara (Doon Tah-rah) – The seat of the High Kings of ancient Ireland, located in eastern Mide.

Dun Gaillimhe (Doon Gal-yiv-eh) – A fort and settlement on the west coast of Erin, north of the River Shannon; its Chief is Connell Cas Ciabhach of Connachta.

Dun Fearna (Doon Far-nah) – The seat of the Provincial King Lagin, located in southeastern ancient Ireland; its last King was Énnae Cennsalach of Lagin.

Dun Arrogh (Doon A-ruhg) – A moderate-sized ringfort where Clans Mórdha and Dálaigh splinters settled.

Dun (Doon) – Earth mounds and pickets that usually surround a settlement of several clans for defensive purposes; duns or ringforts typically consisted of the main hall and several small conical-shaped huts serving as living quarters.

Druid (Drew-id) – Aos Dána are the masters of law, music, storytelling, foreseeing, and healing. Under the guidance of Dagda, most wield Tuatha magic, such as the sight, void, and Cycle of Time. Some are known to be Elementals, who can also manipulate the elements of Air, Earth, Water, Fire, and Life.

Danu (Dah-noo) – Mother, Earth, and Moon Goddess of Erin, also known as the Triple Goddess and the Silver Huntress, when she takes her wolf form; she is co-creator with the Dagda of the entirety of the Tuatha Dé Danann pantheon.

Dagda (Dahg-duh) – All-Father of the Tuatha pantheon, Dagda is the God of Life, Death, and Fertility over the land and its people; he is also the first Druid and a master of all things magical, often considered wise, witty, and wily. Dagda typically resides on the Tuatha island of Murias.

Dál Riata (Dawl Ree-uh-tuh) – An area claimed by Gaelic Clans that became known as Scotti territory in ancient times of the many Celtic tribes of Albion; it once comprised the northeastern part of Ulaidia in Erin and the northwestern part of what is now Scotland, then known as Argyll; ruled by King Fergus.

Dál Fiatach (Dawl Fee-uh-tukh) and Dál nAraidi (Dawl nuh-Rah-dee) – Each a significant tribal influence in the Ulaidian Province, with the latter claiming the Ulaidian Provincial Kingship when King Fergus renounced his claim on his lands in northeast Ulaidia to rule in Scotland entirely. Sárán Mac Cóelbad is the Provincial King during this time.

Cuilcagh Mountains (Kwil-cah) – Northwest of Dun Arrogh.

Cycle of Time – The Stone of Destiny’s magical bridge through time, allowing those with the sight to see the many possible timelines of Erin and the world. Also, the Druidic yearly cycle of Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas, Autumn Equinox, and Samhain.

Ćroí Dàn (Kree Dawn) – Created by the Mother Goddess, Danu, and known as the Heart of Destiny, Ćroí Dàn is a heart-shaped ruby pendant that endows heroes of the land to rise above their mortal beings, become true defenders of Erin, and rally clan warriors to their cause.