Bale-Eye

Bale-Eye is a Fianna.^[1]

Overview

Perhaps the most renowned Fianna pack in existence, the Stonewall Pack had its genesis at the Third Battle of Tara. When the Black Spiral Dancers shattered the parapets, the defenders were stunned and confused for several crucial moments. Only Gavin Mac Fionn, heir of the high king, leapt forward to plant his pack in the breach. It was he who broke the first rush with the infamous spear, the Gae Bolga. When he fell, his second retrieved the speat and slew a great packleader before herself falling. By this point, a dozen more Fianna had rushed to defend the breach, then a score more. The fight for the gap raged with utter ferocity, and in minutes combatants had to climb over the dead to reach each other. In the hail of arrows, spears, bullets and balefire. with spears and swords and claws painting the world in shades of red, corpses filled the gap. Acts of selfless sacrifice and heroic valor were too numerous to be acknowledged or even noticed in the meatgrinder.

When the evil tide finally ebbed, only seven of the gap's defenders were alive. Tied with the bonds tempered in battle and quenched in blood, they commemorated the defense by forming a pack dedicated to aiding in desperate struggles across the globe. The Ard Righ honored them by naming the pack himself: "...for when the ancient wall failed they became the wall. Therefore, ever after the Black Spiral Dancers will hear the name of the Stonewall Pack, and know dread." The pack chose Boar as their patron because of the totem's never-say-die attitude and the fact that it's most dangerous when cornered.

Since that blood-forged beginning, they have fought for Gaia from Alaska to the Amazon, and from Europe to Australia (and a number of Umbral locales besides). For nearly a decade, the pack was all-Fianna. A Get of Fenris challenged to join the illustrious band, and impressed the packmembers so much that they set aside tribal rivalries. Since then, Garou of any tribe who meet the rigorous standards may be considered for membership. Prospective members must pass tests of honor, wisdom, and strength, and must win the unanimous support of the pack to join. Currently, the pack includes five Fianna, a Get, a Silent Strider and a Silver Fang.

The pack carries a banner that includes name-glyphs of all current or former members. There are currently 34 glyphs on the fabric. There are three conspicuously blank spots; these belonged to three Garou that betrayed their people, and were stricken from the ranks. At the bottom of the banner are two smaller glyphs representing those that died in the gap at Tara. Three dying standard bearers asked the Theurge to bind their spirits with the banner; these guardians circle the fetish in the Umbra, defending their charge even after death.

One founding member survives; he is called Bale-eye because of the hideous scarring he received from a dose of Black Spiral balefire. Pack leader util a few years ago, his counsel still carries great weight among the pack, though his strength and speed are not what they once were. He was once a packmate of Bron mac Fionn - they saved each other many times over on that bloody Beltane - and he now wonders if his old friend has fallen too far under the spell of the subtle and capricious fae. Not that he would ever move against the Ard Righ, but those faeries ought to be watched more closely.

References