Profile of Sumac

Tall for his age, with a gangliness about him that will eventually subside into something a lot more substantial, Sumac has all the tell tale markers of a Highlander. His coat is a mixture of dark oranges and red browns along his lower back and legs, with an even darker brown across his mantle and up his neck. It covers the top of his head, including his ears, and settles into a V shape upon his brow. His muzzle, cheeks and chest are white, along with his paws, belly, backs of his legs and the majority of his tail. The coat is long with a shagginess about it, often covered in some sort of dirt or grime when he’s been out hunting, for he doesn’t care much about his appearance. His left eye is blue whilst his right one is grey, a gift from each parent.

From an early age Sumac learned that the only person he could rely on was himself. He was unloved from birth, treated as a lesser being, taught to be subservient. What other conclusion could he come to? His own siblings delight in forcing him to submit, to do their bidding, reminding him daily that he is inferior, a nothing. That’s all he knows about himself. His own mother was the one to teach him that he must do whatever females ask of him and that even his brother, a male, is more than he’ll ever be. That he’s nothing special, just a servant.

The other thing she taught him was that he needed to grow strong, so that he could eventually protect the women of the coven. This he took to heart and life will teach him it is necessary for his own survival, as well as the covens. Given his start in life, it is no surprise that he is slow to trust and a bitter seed has been placed in his heart that has the potential to grow depending on his treatment. Even kindness is looked at carefully, for why would anyone treat such a creature as him with anything more than contempt?

Sumac is a quiet boy, speaking only when he has something to say, or is being spoken to. He paces when he’s anxious, which is often, and chews his lips and nails. His demeanour is generally watchful and patient, until his temper is flared. It may take some lighting but once the fire is lit it can take much to calm him down. He likes to hunt and practises often, enjoying the peace and his own company as well as the feeling of being useful. There does lie kindness and generosity in his heart, if you know where to look, for his moral compass may be dented but it’s not broken.

The Celtic/Gaelic gods are at war; the legends of the supernatural reflected by Rionnach's chaotic state. The Children of Llyr are the powers of darkness, constantly in conflict with the Dôn -- the powers of light. Yvaine Lusk is a banduri druid of the ancient ways, a worshipper of The Morrigan, a vessel of darkness. After ritualistically breeding with two males during Beltane, the witch became pregnant with three children of her own. A girl, Larkspur, and two boys, Anwyn and lastly, Sumac.

Larkspur was bound to their mother’s favourite, for she was a female and the coven honours the Divine Feminine and the ancient ways of the Goddesses. She would be trained in spellwork, traditions and rituals, as well as to believe that all men were useful for was to breed with. Anwyn only drew favour for the fact that he was born entirely black, right down to his eyes. Yvaine believed him to be a gift of the Morrigan and the forces of Lyr, so he would be a cú-síth and would be trained to be an oracle. Her love for him was begrudging due to him not being female.

As for Sumac, the largest of the three and with the coat of a true highlander, he was deemed as nothing special by his mother and the other witches. He would be raised to be subservient to all women, to know that he was only made to be a servant and perhaps a bodyguard, if he grew strong enough. That was quite important. But suddenly Yvaine disappeared, telling no one from the coven where she was going, save for Larkspur and Anwyn. The three would be left in the care of Rhiannon and Nimue, alongside five new ‘sisters’.