Neamhain

Neamhain
Race	Deity
Gender	Female
Occupation	Goddess of Light
Track	Mysterious Goddess

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Description

Neamhain is the Goddess of Light, the sister of Morrighan and Macha, and the last of the three Badhbh Catha Goddesses. Even though she was forgotten during the Human-Fomorian wars, she makes her debut in Generation 10.

Neamhain's intentions are to restore Tir Na Nog and purify it with light, using any means necessary to achieve that goal.

Mainstream Story

Past (Spoilers)

This part of the current article contains spoilers.

As revealed in Generation 10, Kousai reveals her origin of being the Great Irinid, an ancient figure that created all of Iria. She had used the Heart of Courcle to create Iria, all its vast land, and all its wildlife including the Elves and Giants.
At some point, Dragons attempted to conquer Iria. The alarmed Irinid blessed the Giants with "sharp fangs of the Coyote" and the Elves with the "wisdom of the Falcons." Using teamwork, the two races pushed back the Dragons. This event would be known as the Irinid War.
Unfortunately, the Giants and Elves suffered from greed and wanted to control, and tried to gain a hold of the Heart of Courcle. She felt remorse as she had regretted all her work for Iria, then was soon angered and had put a "curse" on all of Iria: she destroyed all the ancient relics, changed Connous from a green prairie into a barren desert which caused the Elves to suffer from heat and a doomed transformation, and created a powerful snowstorm in Physis causing the Giants to stumble in the winter cold and starvation. The Irinid then left her continent with a promise: a promise to return one day. "A promise of hope."

In Generation 7 and Generation 8, it was mentioned that she sealed up Dragons within Zardine. Legatus mentions that the Blue Dragons have accepted this defeat, while the Red Dragons like Crumena felt ashamed and could not come to terms with their imprisonment. The Irinid had also sealed up some powerful undead beings into Metus as well, evident as she used the same barrier to seal the Dragons.

Generation 10: Goddess of Light (Spoilers)

This part of the current article contains spoilers.

In some scenes, it was said Neamhain had a dream of Tir Na Nog's paradise, which turned into a nightmare.

Neamhain is first figured as a Lost Elf trapped in Longa Desert Ruins, until she appears in Assist the Shadow Realm Expeditionary Force and comes into contact with the Heart of Courcle, transforming her back into the Goddess of Light. All the characters are shocked by her appearance, with Karpfen recognizing Neamhain as the Irinid. Neamhain states that the Heart of Courcle, an object from Falias, should never have came to Erinn, and takes the object back. However, Cichol immediately arrives upon Neamhain's departure and claims that she is working with the Fomors, as they now have the Heart of Courcle.

Neamhain is later found, fusing the Caliburn and Courcle's Heart to restore the light within Tir Na Nog. Leymore and the Milletian arrives to question her, who states that Cai, who is merged with Caliburn, will be the one to light Tir Na Nog's "shadow." Cichol then appears with Elatha, who claims Neamhain is his mother. This is verified by the Goddess herself, who says that she wanted her son to know the truth, but this was not the appropriate time. Cichol then sacrifices him to fuse his powers with the Caliburn to destroy the Soul Stream. Neamhain pleads her son to use the light within him to escape Cichol's grasp, but he refuses, as he never wanted to be part of the light when he was forced to be, which caused his suffering. After Elatha is absorbed, Neamhain is enraged and attempts to kill Cichol, but stopped shortly by the appearance of Morrighan. After the Milletian leaves to stop Caliburn, Neamhain wonders if the Milletian will bring forth Neamhain's dreams for Tir Na Nog.

Generation 11: Sword of the Gods (Spoilers)

This part of the current article contains spoilers.

Neamhain appears before Jenna in the Shadow Realm and eliminates several Corrupt Alchemists surrounding her, and then reflects Helvetius' Flame Burst, supposedly killing him in the process. Neamhain revitalizes Jenna and reveals that her son's death had only made her stronger, and allies with Jenna to rid her of her darkness and to continue her plans to restore Tir Na Nog.

It is later revealed that Neamhain had granted Jenna the ability of Shock, much to Cichol's surprise.

She later gains a hold of the Brionac and tries to use it for her plans, but stopped shortly by Leymore who opposes Neamhain to save Jenna. Unfortunately, Leymore is defeated, but Jenna is freed of Neamhain's grasp, and threatens to kill the Goddess. Neamhain questions Jenna's opposition and remarks that she will regret her decision, and disappears in a flash of light.

Generation 12: Return of the Hero (Spoilers)

This part of the current article contains spoilers.

Under Nuadha's request, the Milletian uses the Badhbh Cath's Talisman (Silver) to summon Neamhain. The Goddess had forgotten the Talisman and questions the use of it, but assumes the Milletian wants to return the Brionac. Before the Milletian can speak, four Daols appear along with Nuadha. Neamhain is shocked by their appearance, but Nuadha attacks her with Light of Sword. The King of the Gods explains that he wants to make the Milletian into a God and tries to get Neamhain on his side by using force. Neamhain opposes and says he had ideals for the Soul Stream and the Milletian must be destroyed, but Nuadha continues to attack, saying that dreams are not reality. After several more blade fragments fall on the weakened Goddess, Nuadha absorbs Neamhain's powers and attempts to kill her with Spear of Light, but is stopped shortly by the Milletian to question his cruelty. Nuadha then flies off.

Later, Morrighan blames the Milletian for the light within Neamhain is fading away.

After the defeat of Nuadha, Morrighan sends the Milletian to Neamhain in order to restore her powers.

The Saga: Iria (Spoilers)

This part of the current article contains spoilers.

Akule mentions that Millia has divine potential that rivals the Irinid's.

After the events of The Saga: Iria, according to Castanea, the Irinid's curse broke. Dr. Lambert theorizes the recent changes throughout Iria, such as the appearance of the Temple Ruins, Connous Oasis, Shyllien Nature Reserve, and Hillwen Mine, the weakening of Metus's barrier, the landscape changes around the Whirlpool Landmark, Silva Forest, and Barba due to changes in the weather, and the curse no longer affecting Elves and Giants, was caused by the breaking of the curse. When and how this happened is currently unknown, though it may be due to Black Mask's interference with the seals scattered across Iria and Morrighan stating in Generation 16 that the Gods no longer wish to meddle in Erinn's affairs.

The Saga: Iria II (Spoilers)

This part of the current article contains spoilers.

Episode 5 - Dian Cecht

It is briefly mentioned by the Cessair that the Irinid cursed their race. They use a Phantom of her to expel their hatred onto the Gods as a means of their strength.

In the ancient texts in Nemeton, it is revealed that Irinid banished and cursed the Settlers/Ban Clan, the ancestors of the Cessair, for an unknown reason, cutting them off from the world and were rendered unable to eat, drink, or breathe as they faced a slow death. The clan were forced to suffer from countless sacrifices to sustain Pincara, a land they created in their attempts to survive. The children of Bith of the clan, Treasure Hunter and Dian, were rid of the curse when their father Birren sacrificed himself. The curse on the Cessair was eventually lifted when the Gods disappeared, allowing the Cessair to take revenge against them.

Trivia

• The Elven omen regarding Elves born with black hair, such as Atrata and Yvona, partly originates from Neamhain's appearance.
• Using the Macha the Goddess of Destruction Keyword on Tarlach and Lassar during Generation 3 brings up the existence of Neamhain prior to her reveal, with Lassar mentioning her by name.

Gallery

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  Neamhain's in-game model.

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  Irinid bringing rain clouds to Longa Desert.

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  Hans drawing a portrait of Neamhain.