Cú Chulainn (Mythology)/Bio & Battles

Cú Chulainn, born Setanta, was the legendary defender of Ulster during the infamous War of the Brown Bull. The son of the god Lugh, and grandson of the famous druid Cathbad, Cú Chulainn was destined for a short but heroic life, and embraced his destiny head-on.

Setanta left home at an early age, determined to join the boy-troop of Emain Macha. Unaware of the local custom of asking for protection first, the boys of Emain attacked Setanta, and it was then when he experienced his first warp spasm, or riastrad. Setanta's body contorted into a horrifying shape and his strength increased greatly. He effortlessly defeated all the other boys.

Conchobar, the king of Emain, was so impressed with Setanta's skill that he invited him to accompany him to a feast at the house of Culann, a smith of Emain. Setanta arrived late, and Culann's enormous guard dog attacked him. Killing the hound in self defense, Setanta swore to Culann that he would rear a replacement dog, and until then, he would serve as the guard dog. He was henceforth known as Cú Chulainn: the Hound of Culann.

When Cú Chulainn was seventeen, Queen Medb of Connacht invaded the kingdom of Ulster to acquire the legendary Brown Bull of Cuailgne. Ulster's warriors were stricken by a curse that caused them to suffer labor pains, making unable to fight back.. Cú Chulainn, who was the only unaffected warrior in Ulster at the time, stood alone against Medb's army, and succeeded in delaying Medb long enough for the curse to wear off. The men of Ulster rose up and drove back Mebd's army, bringing an end to the war.

Mebd would later conspire with Cú Chulainn's enemies with the goal of revenge. After acquiring three magical spears, and tricking Cú Chulainn into breaking an oath (which weakened him), the Hound of Ulster finally met his end at the hands of Mebd's allies. At the moment of his death, he tied himself to an upright stone so that he would die on his feet.