Gael

= Gael Uí Néill =

Gael Uí Néill is a human from Lirgal. He is currently a Deralyn of Asitir, and a member of the Lirgal Lunar Council. Gael is known for his contributions to Asitir Theology, as well as for his stewardship of Lirgal both as an Astral Councillor, Lunar Councillor, and City Syndicate.

Gael made a name for himself through the literature he produced whilst a citizen of Lirgal, eventually being promoted to the status of Taiveredai, or Astral Councillor. Whilst on the Astral Council, he oversaw the massive expansion of Lirgal into several new districts-as well as the erection of the Lirgal Academy. Eventually he was promoted to the status of Lyredai, or Lunar Councillor, paired with his role as City Syndic-to act as Executive alongside Raeden Seeker should the rest of the Lunar Council be incapacitated.

As Lunar Councillor, Gael has overseen numerous projects; the erection of Lirgal's long awaited City Hall, a redevelopment of the Temple of Asitir, and several Treaties regarding both internal and external affairs. He currently resides in the Morowo Bailey distract of Lirgal City.

Early Life, Arrival in Lirgal
Gael was born to a minor family of farmers in the Empire of Aldovir, Gael remained largely ignorant of the political landscape of the subcontinent for much of his youth. When the Brothers War brought ruination to his home, he fled into the countryside and wandered for a time, somewhat aimlessly.

Gael arrived in Lirgal late one evening having spent many years travelling from town to town in an attempt to find work as a scribe. He found brief and sporadic work producing brief tomes pertaining to local history or culture, but was unable to make enough money to settle down. Eventually he arrived in Aldovir, sailing upriver from the west. It was at this stage that he came across the city of Lirgal, entering through the open gates to find a large plaza drenched in moonlight. He was greeted by one of the residents, Nitlovis Tliavan. Tliavan spoke briefly about the city and its faith, before suggesting a tour. The tour took the pair on a moonlit walk through the streets of Lirgal, and eventually to the Temple of Asitir. Whilst exploring the city, the pair were joined by Aldara Ellan, who explained some of the history behind the Temple and other landmarks of the town. At the end of the tour, Gael explained his situation to the pair, as the sun slowly rose over the city. After a brief discussion about what Gael hoped to find in Lirgal, Aldara and other city officials presented him with the deed to his own house in Lirgal. With that, Gael Uí Néill had found his home. As the weeks went by, Gael became more radily involved in the everyday business of Lirgal; he would speak regularly with members of the Lunar Council, and spent many hours in the Asitir Temple Library studying the Asitir faith. Having established himself as a permanent resident of Lirgal, Gael was entrusted with various tasks pertaining both to archival and logistical work. With help from the Lunar Council regarding the unique Lirgalyn architecture, Gael planned and constructed several new buildings in the Castle District of the city. By this stage, he had made clear his intention to eventually convert to Asitir-but he believed that his journey to do so was not yet complete.

Early Asitir Literature
Gael's relationship with Asitir was slow burning, at first. He immersed himself in the Holy Texts provided by Aldara Ellan, and travelled to various parts of Aldovir to learn the history of Lirgal and Asitir. In his view, Lirgal and Asitir were intrinsically linked-a view reinforced by the fact that Aldara Ellan was attempting to revive the scattered Asitir faith, and that she was using Lirgal as a means of doing so. Exactly when Gael began to worship Asi is not known; some speculate that it was shortly prior to the release of his first book on the faith, while others believe that he found the faith whilst travelling Aldovir in search of religious inspiration. Regardless, he began work on a series of books that would contain his own thoughts and beliefs on the Asitir religion and its practice. These books were known as "A Commentary on Asitir", or simply as "Commentaries." There are 3 known books in the series:

Volume 1: Good and Evil in the Adaere Namu

Volume 1 focused on the Adaere Namu, a set of practices and principles adhered to by most of the Asitir faithful. In Gael's view, some of these practices or beliefs were either outdated or unfinished, and therefore required further discussion and development. His book suggests some potential answers to the questions pertaining to concepts of "Good" and "Evil" in Asitir.

Volume 2: A Second Conference of Divines

While Volume 2 is the second book in the series, work on it began prior to Volume 1. Whilst Volume 1 was a commentary on the established paradigm of Asitir, Volume 2 was much more radical in its outlook. Having read of the "Conference of Divines" in the ancient Seraan city of Kaliné, Gael believed that the Asitir faith's continued revival required widespread reform. Volume 2 lays out potential paths to reform, as well as how both the city of Lirgal and the Asitir faith could benefit.

Volume 3: (Title Unknown)

After the publishing of Volume 2, rumours began to circulate of a third Volume existing within Lirgal. Gael's work on a potential new book in the series was kept secret, as he stated simply that "the time has not yet come for the Asitir faithful to posess it."

Whilst writing and Commentaries, Gael became involved in what is now known simply as the "Asitir reformation", a movement which sought to restructure the Asitir religion now that it had gained a secure base in Lirgal. Each book published by Geralt became focal points of the reformation, calling for alternative interpretations and ideas to once again be brought together and debated by the Asitir faithful. Before long, Gael was meeting with members of the Lunar and Astral Councils of Lirgal to discuss a potential reformation of the faith, in closely guarded meetings within the Temple.

The Asitir Reformation
When the Asitir Reformation began, Gael was invited to the Temple to take part in the several-days-long debates over the future of Asitir. Using both his arguments in Commentaries and other ideas he had penned about the faith, he became an integral part of the discussion and wider reformation effort. Lirgal filled with crowds, eager to hear the results of the debates, but the doors remained locked as the brightest minds of Asitir continued their exchanges inside.

Eventually, a consensus was reached and a date was set for the Reformation Ceremony. Gael took his place in the Temple of Asitir, as the new structure of the church was revealed to the many people who filled the room. A new Dáiorei (Lightbringer) was to be chosen along with a set of new Deralynor (Divines); the Dáiorei acting as the Head of the Church, and the Divines being answerable only to the Dáiorei. Gael was surprised to discover that he had been chosen as a Deralyn (Divine), due to his work as a Scholar of Asitir and his work in developing Lirgal. As a result he was granted a vote in the selection of a new Dáiorei, which he cast for Aldara Ellan.

Scholar of the Stars
Following the reformation of Asitir, Lirgal grew rapidly. Gael by this stage was a member of the Astral Council, the Lirgal Government's advisory body, and had taken part in several large projects. New districts were built, and citizens arrived in throngs to the Lunar City. During the crisis of Astyllea's collapse, Gael sided with the rest of the government in a unanimous declaration of Lirgal's independence. Lirgal's independence coincided with the completion of the Lirgal Library and Academy, the construction of which Gael oversaw personally. One feature of the Academy of particular interest to him was the Astronomy Tower-which he spent many evenings in, watching the stars. Gael's prolonged study of the stars brought about a striking revelation-one of utmost importance to Asitir.

Gael theorised that the stars in the sky were not naturally scattered, but rather arranged and maintained in very deliberate patterns. After studying the oldest Asitir tomes, he concluded that a long-forgotten deity of the stars had lurked in the heavens for countless years-awaiting discovery by scholars of the stars. Gael published two further books as a result;

A Companion to Astronomy

Acting as an instruction manual to stargazing, the Companion to Astronomy contained instructions for locating specific constellations in relation to the position of the moon. This book proved immensely popular, and spread quickly beyond Lirgal and across Rathnir.

On Réaltaí

The second star-related book written by Gael was regarding his discovery of a deity of the stars. This deity, who Gael dubbed "Réaltaí", was understood to be linked closely to Asitir's main Goddess, Asi. Asi, as Goddess of Wisdom (amongst many other things) was supported by Réaltaí, God of the Stars and of Scholars and Interpretation. The book outlines the argument for Réaltaí's existence, and the importance of information gathering, study and interpretation-in order to prevent chaos or meaningless.

Menorór te Réaltaí

Gael's research on Astonomy and its relationship to Asitir came to a conclusion with the publishing of Menorór te Réaltaí. The Tome, published by the Lirgal Temple Library, acted not only as a summation of Gael's research on Réataí but also as the foundational text of the Réaltaí-specific sect of Asitir. In a similar vein as the Adaere Namu, Menorór te Réaltaí served as a broad set of guidelines and beliefs of those who follow Réaltaí's teachings. An experimental and controversial tome, it alluded to a force beyond the Universe-Spirit, known simply as The Lie. The concept of The Lie has been referenced in earlier Asitir books, and referred to the consequences of a deliberate corruption of Asitir teachings. Traditionally, The Lie has been regarded as an amorphous term for deeds frowned upon by Asitir faithful, but Menorór te Réaltaí proposes that The Lie is an active force in the Universe which sows chaos in all that it touches. The best means of safeguarding against The Lie, in the teachings of Réaltaí, can be found in the careful gathering and stewardship of knowledge and information, as well as caution in the ebb and flow of specific information to particular groups or individuals.