Cormac Mar

Cormac Mar was once a Druid of Wicklow, responsible for many of the outlying mountain villages. He is known as the Renegade Druid of Wicklow.

In the year 1160, Mar became disenchanted with the Druid Order of Wicklow. Corruption had become endemic in the local Order, with rich patrons able to buy offices and awards. That year the order of Ollave had become meaningless in Wicklow, as anyone able to afford the monthly fee in gold was able to purchase this religious rank. Mar protested this practice and was relieved of his duties. He persisted in his criticisms of the local hierarchy and was expelled form the Order.

Mar continued to assail the leaders of the local Druidry, imploring his former friends and colleagues to "purify" the Order. The leadership responded by removing Mar from the protection of the Order. This amounts to a form of excommunication. Druids are sworn to protect all residents of Eíre. Because of their service to the island and its people, it is illegal to kill a Druid, even in self-defense. Even if one was able to avoid legal entanglement for killing a Druid, the killer would not escape the retribution of the Order. If the protection of the Order is removed from someone, then the Druids are no longer bound to protect that individual. If this protection is removed from a Druid, that Druid may be assaulted or even murdered with impunity.

As a result of the protection being lifted from Cormac, a rumor began to spread that the Druid Order had put a ransom on his head. Cormac sought protection from his brother, a criminal who controlled a local gang. His brother agreed to protect Cormac in exchange for the magical services of the former Druid. Cormac consented, secretly using his abilities to also curtail violence before it got out of hand. Under his watch, the gang moved away from the violent crime of armed robbery and assault to gambling, extortion, and protection rackets. When his brother was killed by a rival gang in 1163, Cormac assumed control of his brother's gang.