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lastromanticist · 1 year

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The Sqaubble over the Champions portion at Donns house

This prosimetrum piece is an entry for week 1 of Maythology2023, though very late.

Plot synopsis: After Osgar Mac Oisins death at the battle of Gabhra, he is ushered to the house of Donn where he is presented with a feast. Several figures from the Ulster cycle sit at one side of the table before him whilst figures from the fenian cycle sit on the other. The issue of the champions portion is risen after a brief discussion of the hero's and their feats the champions portion is brought by Manannan mac lir. A quarrel breaks out between Oscar and Cu over who gets the feast.

Oscar, son of Osin and Son of Fionn, had died at Gavra, but here he was. Sat in a burdensome Hall and presented a seat at a table burdened with food. Around its oakwood glimmer sat men and women familiar and strange. The familiar men sat to his side and in their ranks were brothers in arms. Brown hatred Diarmuid, son of Donn, sat to his left by what he assumed was his host. To his right was Goll, the one-eyed flame of Morna's sons who shone bright. Beyond him taking up nearly two seats, his rather dimmer brother bald Conan. Absent Oscar thought were his grandfather's, brothers, and cousins. The men sat opposite to him were curious in appearance with hair of many colours and skin painted in dress clearly that of older men. Suddenly, a man familiar to them all spoke up.

At Gavra Oscar mac Oisin fell , the fenne wept and he would head to hell

Known for his vigour that friend of deer. No one is alike him in feats it was so claimed.

The house of Donn where his ancestors eat, in front of the brown, he takes seat.

The warriors beside him not unlike ,My son fair Diarmuid of the love spot favoured of feats at Ventry to his left.

Aside from his right is Aedh, the fire of morna. One-eyed Goll was his name after Castle knock feats.

Cools slayer so-called. These men of Fianna. Fighters of Ireland presented before me in my house, and as guests,

Their deaths are recent yet I rally them here with heroes of old.

Donn so spoke as elegent as amargin himself, but his art was interrupted. A guest from Mag Mells planes spoke aloud, "Donn oh Dark one who amongst them would you find willing of this feast , a champions portion." The voice crept so rudely from the red lips of Mananaan son of Lir. The trickster magician of the sea had brought with him a prized pork loin that knowing him was probably someone's wife. He offered to the room it presented on a golden vessel with a hundred rivets and engravings of blue and silver at the tables centre. Donn spoke again. "I am unable to decide so candidly and would like to leave the portion to whoever was bold enough to claim it." It was then that the virulent champion, Fergus mac Roich, recited this verse.

Can the feats of any man opposite my Foster sons and I

Compare in valour or in wealth , Cunning or in Bile

For they look nothing to my eye , have they anything to compare to raiding Flidhais's cattle

Have they fought a brother at Ford or killed great Rowan Tree beasts.

I can surely say men of Emania have done more as I heard at many a feast.

Fergus words incited those sat around him to cheer and those opposite him to scorn. The heroes of Ulster and Connacht from the time before the coming of Fionn seemed confident, and they began to list their deeds in order of ascent. First to speak was Fraech, son of Idach, who mentioned his quest for cattle , training with Scathatch, and courtship of Findabair the fair. Next was Ferdiad Mac Domain, who listed similar events. Their boasts were easily defeated. However, when Dubthatch the beetle tounge spoke, "Yet Cu Culann killed you both." The next few boasts of warriors included Fergus and Connal Cernach, who both in manliness exceeded Fráech and Ferdiad, but yet again were their defeats at the hand of the smith's Hound a blockage on their claim as champion of the feast. It was after this display that Cu Finally boasted his own feats in this verse.

"As a youth I killed mangy at this table. Friend turned foe and Foe Turned friend

My son , my friends, by my hands, they faced defeat, it is true

I can claim that meat for many a man I killed , whilst Noble Ullaid' cried

With spear of Scathatch in alba gained. From Uathach feats the city secured

In Alpine heights, my name spread for Amazon's further than Cu Roi tread

And he I slayed amongst many an absentee man. Amongst others

To what can a Fian with no name present that trumps these feats?

Did they defend Muirthemne's planes from the morrigan and Medb.

Could they pursue Emer or Gruadh over sea

Would they face alone combat at Ford or watch the walls of the men of falegaes fortress.

Have they placed their head for cutting games or killed kings like Caipre Nia Fer.

For I have and no man in this room who witnessed or wained against me.

Could deny and not face dishonour. "

Conan mac morna, the brother of Goll and famous oaf looked red with anger. His mouth ran as fast as Caoilte had when collecting Conn Cetathatchs rabble. His words came out lurid and strongly slurred but still ever so venomous. "You dusty old heroes of time past know nothing of my " averse to say friends Conan paused " Brother and our companions". His red face seemed to get redder like a smith's crucible as he carried on. "Take this one boasting," he pointed towards Cu Chulain. "Though he looks as if his bones are porridge and muscles are boiled cabbage, he claims these feats , I bet he couldn't even take Grainne in a ". Before Conan could finish insulting Cu Chulains honour, he had a plate smash into his face and send his apple red head plummeting. Immediately, the heroes of Emania cheered, and heroes of clan morna seemed posied to fight. It was at this moment that Young Osgar mac Oisin finally stood up. There was a bowl of soup in his hands, which he proceeded to drink loudly. Despite his youth, his presence commanded a quiet in the room. Grown warriors watching a young man enjoy his favourite food. Osgar then spoke this verse.

"I need no champions portion at this feast, for soup is my delight

Had Fionn been here we would simply hand the feast to him

For any man amongst you who claims comparison to my grandfather

Is as oafish as my friend. I do delight in poetry of feats, so let me raise you my pedigree

I am the slayer of Caibre at Gabhra Ford and the killer of a million men at the world kings strand

I am the champion of Alba who I conquered with Aeneas sword

I am the savour of the hostels , a world King slayer, many a God I have felled

Yet my feats are the feats of my Fianna , Goll threw the whole world

Conan dragged Fionn from Demons halls , and Diarmuid pursued and slew dog heads and Demon Boars

I delight in soup and verse and don't shy from the suggest we exchange more

Yet I have yet another, rather than whisper vague verses , why don't we fight?"

Oscars words coincided with his chair being kicked back by his leap forward. The bowl he had drank from had its clay shattered on the Hound of ulster's head. Inspired by Osgars feat, the men of Baosinge and Morna began to take bones and plates to their enemies. The ultonian and Connact men responded in kind, and the little brawl at Donns House began. Fergus, on the sweet lips, began to sing of the hero of Fionns clans feats. Cu chullain responded to Osgars' attack with kind and smote him with a goblet for wine as the two premier heroes battled. All of this delighted the son of Lir, who mused upon the brawl.

"So surprising how even dead they squabble, does battle have delight even now?

Do you wish your descendants honour your hall like this ? With butterknife sword and chicken leg flail?

Bludgeoned by Turkey and beaten by qauil?"

The tricksters words, however, fell on death ears as the chaos before him was without reprive. Donn was himself involved in the brawl. After all other than his friend Fraech, his loyalty stored squarely with his sons allies, and he was currently helping defend his son's wife Grainne from Connachtmen with a serving plate shield. The aforementioned wife was throwing knives, and at fianna, she had recognised as her pursuers. Had fionn been there, she may have even killed him a second time. Goll was wrestling Fergus mac Roich, and the two seemed matched in strength and manliness. Diarmuid himself was facing Conall Cernach with roasting spit and winning, piercing his eye with it. This was, unfortunately, a bad decision as Cu Chulain upon hearing his Foster brothers' cries of pain began to frenzy. The halo of a warrior rose on his head, and he smote Oisin's son of the reddened weapons across the room before sweeping against the Fianna and inflicting heavy losses. Fergus of the true lips seeing this and not wanting the Fianna to lose rushed to Osgar and spoke this war vaunt verse.

"Rise up Osgar of the Bloody Spear

Rise up hero of ventry harbours year

Rise up, oh lad, who loved soup and supper

Rise up oh Noble youth who died to Caibre

Rise up, oh Slayer of Osgar Mac Garadh

Take shield and sword and defend your father's clan and friends honour"

Fergus ended the war vaunt with a heartfelt sayingto his nephew"You are our Noble hero, and your sacrifice hurt us , even here in the hall of our death, your deeds enumerate more than any other and your loss will be mourned around the world" upon hearing this Osgar himself wore the Halo of battle and with Fearless eyes he stared at what the Hound of Ulster had become and with a swift rush and salmon leap he had head of Cu Chulain swept off using nothing but a chair leg. He held the ulster heroes head by its long flowing fiery strands and claimed the champions portion for all the Fianna. Yet as they sat in the house of Donn Cu Chulain would not die a second time so his head was discarded, and through Mananaans wizardry, his form restored, and the feast resumed till Fionn would join them and the entire quarrel would begin again.

Mananaan composed this verse on the events.

"Is it better to die for others or for personal glory ?

Be gone too soon or end a story?

To be an Oscar or to be a Cu

Donns feast waits for all yet heroes still fight and slay

All that matters at the end, I suppose, is that these memories remain till present day"

#folklore #medieval #irish mythology #poetry #diarmuid ua duibhne #May-thology2023

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