The Ádairiad is a collection of epic poems in Áes Camáir folklore penned by an ancient bard, Gwytheon. It tells a series of tales about Ádair ap Uedán, a baseborn lad chosen by the gods to unite the Sonaide Bri against goblin invaders. Once the goblins were beaten back, Ádair built a great palace called Trevena where he reigned until the palace was destroyed by a powerful demon named Baylígûr.
Major Figures
The major figures in The Ádairiad include:
- Mother Una – In the early years of the Goblin Wars, before Ádair ap Uedán ascended to the throne, Mother Una saved her people during the Siege of the High Reaches
- Ádair ap Uedán – Baseborn lad chosen by the gods to unite the Sonaide Bri and serve as their High King. After the goblin wars, he built the greatest palace ever known, Trevena, which was later destroyed by Myogan in an effort to destroy Baylígûr, a powerful demon inadvertently brought from the outer realms.
- Queen Whenfara – Wife of King Ádair. Tragically, all of her babies were stillborn until a final set of twins was born a few years before Trevena was destroyed.
- Myogan, the Kestrel – A great wizard who served as advisor to King Ádair.
- Gwytheon – Bard figure to whom many of the oldest ballads about King Ádair are attributed. A collection of ballads about King Ádair, collectively called The Ádairiad, are believed to have been written by Gwytheon.
- Lafáil Ravenwyrd – Dark and powerful sorceress who appears in some legends of King Ádair. Some also conflate her with the Raven Queen of the Shadar-kai.
- Numaria – Female apprentice of Myogan who later inadvertently summoned Baylígûr, a powerful demon who brought down Trevena.
- Baylígûr – Powerful demon or devil whom Numaria was tricked by Lafáil Ravenwyrd into summoning in the final days of Trevena.
Summary of the Ádairiad Tales
The Siege of the High Reaches
In which a goblin army, under cover of a snowstorm conjured by a goblin shaman, attacked the High Reaches hoping to starve out the defenders so that the goblins could travel through the mountain pass and attack the Sonaide Bri communities below. But the defenders did not starve, and were able to hold the pass, for Mother Una, grandmother of the King, prayed to the gods and was able to keep her people fed throughout the autumn and winter storms.
The Coronation of King Ádair ap Uedán
The Sonaide Bri needed to unite to fight against the goblin hordes, but could not agree on a High King, for everyone wanted the throne themselves. Then the mage Myogan, called the Kestrel, proclaimed that it was written in the stars that a bastard boy, Ádair ap Uedán, would lead them to victory. Though the mighty lords refused to follow him, a priestess of Damán Allaid, the Weaver, was able to show that the gods had anointed Ádair to be be their warlord and High King, for they delivered to him two mighty relics: the Fáebar dé Gérat and the Lía dé Ordae.
King Ádair and the Goblin Wars
In which King Ádair ap Uedán, wearing the Lía dé Ordae and wielding the Fáebar dé Gérat, united the Sonaide Bri and led them to victory against the goblin armies.
King Ádair and the Castle of Trevena
In which King Ádair ap Uedán sets out to build the Castle of Trevena, the greatest palace ever seen, and marries Queen Whenfara.
Lafáil Ravenwyrd's Betrayal
In which Queen Whenfara is unable to carry children to term and the sorceress Lafáil Ravenwyrd, purported kin to King Ádair ap Uedán, seeks to have her own son proclaimed heir.
Queen Whenfara's Children
In which the mage Numaria helps Queen Whenfara overcome her pregnancy difficulties.
The Man of Fire
In which a stranger who bursts into flames whenever he is angered sets fire to the realm until the mages Myogan and Numaria take protective action.
Lafáil Ravenwyrd Deceives Numaria
While Myogan is in foreign lands, Lafáil Ravenwyrd tricks the mage Numaria into summoning the demon Baylígûr.
The Fall of Trevena
In which King Ádair and Myogan are forced to bring down the walls of Trevena to stop the demon Baylígûr.