Cáemgen mac Garbith ui Andrais

Cáemgen mac Garbith (called "Kevin" by the living Saxons) started his independent life as a young Irishman striking out to test the murky waters of an Eire without the Ostmen. He left the southern province of Munster, where his family had long served the Eóganachta. He set out to visit Glendalough, where his namesake had founded a monastery of great beauty. The pilgrimage was not easy though. He moved slowly north along the eastern shores, finding and skirmishing with lingering Ostmen. Cáemgen used his basic skills at archery to assist wherever he could. After more than a year of travelling, in 902, reckoned as A.S. 42, he arrived at the Black Pool.

Dyflin had been left barren. The Gaels of Áth Cliath had moved down into the settlement and were beginning to reclaim what had once been the sacred well. Cáemgen spent a month rehabilitating the area with the locals before moving to the Monastery of Saint Cáemgen. There he met with the followers of his namesake and determined he had two choices. Continue on into the heart of Eire; to Tara or Armagh, or move outwards onto the sea - perhaps to follow the Ostmen who had held sway over his island for so long.

He negotiated travel on a little berlinn, taking the meagre possessions he had left Munster with: a light bow, a pair of ill-fitting tunics and the road-worn cloak of his uncle.

He struck land moved in from the coast. He found service for Karalus Simplex, King of Western Francia. The Ost, or Norse as the Franks called them, had not let up their raids as they had back home. Cáemgen spent the next years fighting for Charles and starting a family among the Bretons of Roazhon. His first child died in infancy. His second child, Seamus, was taken by his wife when she left him for another man.

Cáemgen sank into despair, and with no one left to mend it while he marched for Charles his household gradually sank into disrepair and destitution. When not fighting the Norse, he spent days drinking and fighting his neighbour Bretons, or strong arming for traders.

Generally discontent, and furious at the rumours Charles was planning to cede the northern coast to Norse raiders, Cáemgen set out upon the sea again. He brought little more with him then he did when leaving Eriu. Merchantmen, always glad to have a (semi) disciplined strong hand onboard took Cáemgen away from Francia. Months later, the man, ready to start his life again, set foot in the Barony of Lions Gate. Upon he had a silver ring gifted to him by Charles, a small bundle of clothes and his bow. His arrows, and everything else he had owned in Brittany was traded away for bottles upon bottles of apfelwein, some of which could still be found on him with enough searching.

He eventually made land in the Barony of Lions Gate. The poor sea-drenched boy was taken as a fosterling into the house of a beautiful Gael noblewoman, Bernadette Ebhilín Árd and her Scottish lord, Kenzie McBeighn.

Determined to take a more active part in the battles to come he began to train with the people of Lions Gate and was taken as a Man at Arms. Not to be remiss in the other skills and talents of a Fer midboth, Cáemgen was named Bardic Champion of Lionsdale in that year, and exploited many opportunities to promote the art.

Perhaps a bit precociously, at the first Tir Righ - Avacal War Cáemgen applied to the Sergeantry of Lions Gate as a brithem. Having seen his worth, and his dedication the Clan_MacAndrew took him as one of their own.

During a long sweltering weekend in August A.S. 43, after less than a year in the realm Cáemgen proved himself a master of many talents and won himself a position as brithem to Her Excellency Caitrin ni Cingeadh of Lions Gate. As well as being tasked with protection of Their Majesties An Tir, Cáemgen continued to further his place within his new home. Appropriately enough, at the Kingdom celebration of Bardic Arts he was made a Tiarna by the hands of Their Majesties, with Their Highnesses Tir Righ and Their Excellencies Lions Gate looking on.

Shortly after, Cáemgen took on a new oath to serve Alden Doorbreaker as a man-at-arms. At his Baroness’ birthday tournament, he fought for his dazzling Inspiration for the first time. He then travelled to the far-away stretches of Avacal. He won word-fame for himself and his people amongst the friendly tribes there.

During the long winter months Their Excellencies Lions Gate saw fit to place great store of trust and honour in Cáemgen and named him Sable Loat Pursuivant, a great officer of the Barony. The snow and harsh winds died and as the light of spring grew Cáemgen marched with the forces of An Tir to war against the dread southrons at Estrella. When he returned home he girded himself for the coming campaign season. He passed on the title of Lionsdale Bardic champion to a worthy successor and saw rightly to the growth of such talents. Through much hardship and sickness he was tested, and was admitted to another of Lions Gate's inner circles by being named Bardic Defender late in A.S. 43.

This was a position that sank deep into Cáemgen's heart and soul. For the next year he would perform as loud and as often as possible. He sang the songs of ancient and powerful creatures, contested the Skalds of Tir Righ and brought eternal wordfame to the reign of Ulfgar. He aggrieved the whole of Avacal with his fiery words. On Beltaine, on the dawning of A.S. 45 Cáemgen performed what was to be his greatest piece so far. As the sun shone down on fair Lions Gate Cáemgen told a tale of a fairy princess, an ugly horseman, and a cunning Irishman. When all was said and done he had taken Aelwyn as his betrothed.

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