Daranaigh [Dar-an-ay]
"Reinn Anon's Chosen"

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The Islay and the Daranaigh are said to have descended from 2 brothers in ancient folklore and have been seen as cousins ever since. Although the Daranaigh are less battle-driven than the Islay, one will always support the other in and out of politics and combat. 

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Culturally, the Daranaigh love music and have traditional dances. The music drives the dance, making it feel like a dervish, and shoes pound out the rhythm. In step-dancing, the dancer’s body is straight and stiff, and it is performed high on the balls of the feet. Usually performed by women, it was a high honour to marry a woman as graceful as a dancer. Music is just as important, usually led by the flute, harp, and violin. They are famous for their tenor singers.

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The Daranaigh have had a written language for longer than the rest of the Camarian Empire. It has gone through different incarnations and was originally inscriptions in stone. These stone runes can be found across Maighen and Gadhoighn, usually used to state personal ownership of land. Their current language, named after them as a people, has been used to catalog their history, folklore, and religion. They were the first to translate the Vita S. ['The Books of Sacred Life,] into another language from Eilaer. Although the Empire has tried to stifle the use of the language in politics and economic life, the people are resilient and keep the language alive at home.

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Cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry are all farmed, with sheep being the largest portion of animals herded on Daranaigh land.

Traditional Daranaigh society was organized into clans, each with its territory and king (or chief). However, this changed when the Camarian Empire conquered these lands. The clan was a dynastic grouping descended from a common ancestor, much larger than a personal family, which may also consist of various kindred. Members of this clan claim patrilineal descent from a common ancestor.

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The Kingdoms of Gadhoighn and Maighen were conquered by Emperor Valentiln and incorporated into one province in 1670. Due to how hard the Daranaigh fought against their would-be conquerer, they were denied citizenship within the empire. Valentiln's descendants were put upon the thrones of the new province and given complete authority. Valentiln would be assassinated by a Daranaigh Priest of Reinn Anon, someone the King had taken into his confidence and trust during the years of Valentiln’s conquering. Aonghus Callahan wished to avenge his people in the only manner that he could and would be executed for his assassination in the year 1676.

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The Daranaigh has been greatly influenced by Reinn Anon. most notably by the Lennoch Church, and religion plays a significant role in the lives of many Daranaigh people. This is a place where religion and religious practice have long been held in high esteem. The majority of people worship Reinn Anon, God of Holy Light, Angels, and Storms. However, there is a significant portion that worships Naik'Lea, Lady of Compassion, Loneliness, and Loyalty.

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Saint Lennoch Lyinigh the Faithful

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Saint of the Daranaigh, created a church of Reinn Anon that did not venerate the royal family as the mouthpiece of Reinn Anon. He would become an apprehensive leader of the Daranaigh people knowing that his words would bring war upon them by the Gaelians.  He was visited by Reinn Anon himself, the deity giving strength to the human to continue to fight the Gaelians. The Reinnin Church called him a heretic and vowed to execute him. Lennoch hid his sons and daughter among his people and went into self-exile. He would return only a few months later to proclaim Reinn Anon’s word to his people at his own danger, willing them to trust and put their lives into Reinn Anon’s hands. Although Lennoch was executed by priests of Reinn Anon, it is said that he ‘ascended’, that Reinn Anon himself came down to bring Lennoch the Faithful to paradise.

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Eyewitness accounts came from trusted sources, the executioner Beal and two Priests of Reinn Anon. Lennoch was Sainted by Lennoch's son Ailill who continued to spread the words of his Father after Lennoch's death. His legacy is the passion and spirit of the Daranaigh in their want of their freedom from the Gaelians, their faith in Reinn Anon and his bloodline which has been High Priest of the Lennoch Church for over 500 years.

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The Church of Lennoch, based on the Saint and his unbroken line of religious leaders, has come into conflict with the Rennien Church of Illander several times in the past. Its greatest 'heresy' has been to assert that the God of mankind, Reinn Anon should have a human leader, not an Ellearn one. This has also been seen as treason, as the leader of the Reinnien Church is the Camarian Emperor.