Just an interesting thing I saw today while prepping a pathfinder game for my offspring: In the AD&D scenario "Sinister Secret of the Saltmarsh", SPOILER, the sea elf captive is of the Manaan tribe. The scenario was published in 1981 and primary author was Graeme Morris (UK).
Manannan MacLir
Other Names: Manawydan Ap Llyr, Manawydden, Manann, Oirbsen.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: He dressed in a green cloak and gold headband. He was a shape-shifter. Chief Irish sea God. His swine magickally renewed themselves, were the chief food of the Tuatha De Danann and kept them from aging. He had famous weapons that included two spears called Yellow Shaft and Red Javelin; swords called the Retaliator, Great Fury and Little Furty. He had magick armor that prevented wounds and could make the Tuatha invisible at will.
Rules Over: Sea, navigators, storms, weather at sea, fertility, sailing, weather-forecasting, magick, arts, merchants and commerce, rebirth.
Taken from a guide to celtic dieties. So neither RPG set precedent.
Dave Allen said:
Manannan MacLir
Other Names: Manawydan Ap Llyr, Manawydden, Manann, Oirbsen.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: He dressed in a green cloak and gold headband. He was a shape-shifter. Chief Irish sea God. His swine magickally renewed themselves, were the chief food of the Tuatha De Danann and kept them from aging. He had famous weapons that included two spears called Yellow Shaft and Red Javelin; swords called the Retaliator, Great Fury and Little Furty. He had magick armor that prevented wounds and could make the Tuatha invisible at will.
Rules Over: Sea, navigators, storms, weather at sea, fertility, sailing, weather-forecasting, magick, arts, merchants and commerce, rebirth.
Taken from a guide to celtic dieties. So neither RPG set precedent.
Also the Isle of Man (A island with a heavy Celtic and Norse mythology) located in the middle of the Irish Sea between the UK and Ireland)
The name of the island derives from Manaanann MacLir. It is said that when the heavy sea mists shrowd the mountain and hills it is Mananann's Cloak hiding the island from Royalty.
Loads of weird and wonderful folklore here including a "Fairy" Bridge where people still leave messages asking for good luck - and where people still greet the Little Folk or risk incurring their rath (Nothing like sitting in a bus full of people all saying good morning little people).
Also there is this absolute phobia about using the R.A.T. word (they are called ***** fellows, ringies, long tails but never the R word)
The government is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, continuously running parliaments in the world based around Tynwald - a kind of council meeting set up when vikings assimilated with the local Manx population.
The island also has its own form of runic script called ogham
http://www.gov.im/isleofman/facts.xml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Isle_of_Man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogham
An interesting place to live and very inspirational for plot ideas and adventures.
Alp
never heard of the chap meself...