Cú Collchaille
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 Cú Collchaille Eachduine (Coryleticanis) | ||||||||||||||
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Coryleticanis Peregrinus: The Wandering Hound of the Hazelwood
History
Cú Collchaille's youth was spent wandering the wilds of Trimaris, Atlantia and Meridies. At the time he was simply known as an Gille Borbh before his taking a leadership position at the college near Vulpine Reach in AS XXVI. He then suffered the discrimen maris to delve the wellsprings of Drachenwald, and there his trail went cold. He was possibly spotted plying the trade of a wandering swordsman in Trimaris in AS XXXI and Atlantia in AS XXXIII, but this is doubtful as he next properly emerged in the City of Eoforwic in Ealdormere in AS XXXVI or VII, delving into the extensive libraries of that city. This is probably the source of his reference in "The Poetic Breastplate:"
Coryleticanis I;
Bardic lore I've found
Where books and hazelwood lie,
The far wand'ring hound.
From there, he traveled as an itinerant instructor across many lands, including for a time at the Lions' Gate where he first met Cáemgen mac Garbith at the hedgeschool there. He seems to have disappeared again before resurfacing at the Sealion's War in AS LIX with several members of his household. Around this same time, he appeared at the elevation of Caemgen to the status of Bruidhen where he channeled the spirit of the absent Fearchar into an artificed simulacrum, citing that the incantation to perform such a necromantic feat was found amid the ancient scripts of Ealdormere and Drachenwald.
On his travels, he encountered the knight errant, Sir Brand, seeking songs and tales from all the realms, the two becoming fast friends. Together they would tread the paths of the mundane and faerie realms, looking to spread joy and knowledge amongst all the populace.
Works
Òran Tìr Rìgh
When Cú Collchaille first came to Insula Magna and began to learn of the extent to which the chivalry of the Isles had advanced the banners of honour and grace, he composed a ballad in praise of Tír Rígh in the vernacular Gaídhealg na hAlba titled Òran Tìr Rìgh. Several versions have been attested in keeping with the oral nature of the tradition as the political landscape changes.
Colloquy of the Two Powers
This is one of several tales Cú Collchaille has told relating to poetic art and its role in society. The tale is in three parts: Danarún and the Ram, Roithinichán and Aistreachán, and the Colloquy of Ilaedh and Treantalamhan. It tells the story of the making of an Seoid Aislingeach ("The Beauty of Dreams") and how it came to be guarded by the dragon, Ilaedh Binnchloth, and the giant, Treantalamhan Toirdhealbhach.
Aisling Con Chollchaille
"The Vision of Cú Collchaille" is an enigmatic work of uncertain origin. It certainly has never been referenced prior to Cú Collchaille himself, but it treats events in the ninth century and after in an otherworldly island where the protagonist is forced to settle after several years of conflict. For that reason, it cannot be about Cú Collchaille himself but may be a reference to his namesake. It is one tale in the Hector Cycle, though few of these tale have surfaced. It is possible that this and the Colloquy were heavily influenced if not sourced among the Daoine Sidh with whom it has long been suspected Cú Collchaille consorts.
Lorica Poetica
The Poetic Breastplate of Cú Collchaille is a poem first declaimed among the bards of the Lions' Gate enumerating and exemplifying the key concepts of good poetry according to the Gael of Inis Ereann. It is notable for listing the "Seven Things by which Gaelic is Measured" (sechta frise toimsiter na Ghaídhealg), the names of the different syllabic lengths and the key concepts of poetry as listed in an tÚrraicecht na nÉces.
Libri de Speculo Mirabile
In several conversations, Cú Collchaille has mentioned his working on six Libri de Speculo Mirabile ("Books of the Wondrous Mirror.") though there is not much indication when these will be finished or published.