batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10963-l11051
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10963-l11051
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER I. BIRTH OF DIARMUID / CHAPTER II. HOW DIARMUID GOT HIS LOVE-SPOT
/ CHAPTER III. THE DAUGHTER OF KING UNDER-WAVE / CHAPTER IV. THE HARD SERVANT;
lines 10963-11051
start: '10963'
end: '11051'
translation: Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A strange big man and his horse carry Conan and other Fianna away over
land and sea. Conan calls on Finn to follow and bring them back to Ireland. Finn
accepts the obligation, recalls a Tuatha de Danaan gift of a ship at Beinn Edair,
and is joined by two armed sons of the King of the Eastern World, one able to
summon ships by striking his sling-stick with an axe and the other able to track
over sea or land. Feradach performs his feat, filling the harbour with ships and
boats, and Caoilte summons the Fianna with three shouts.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Thirteen men of the Fianna mount behind Conan, and the horse lies down and
rises again with them on it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The big man accuses Finn and the Fianna of mocking him and says he will leave
Finn.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: After putting a hill between himself and the Fianna, the big man moves away
with extreme speed compared to a swallow, a deer, and a loud wind.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The horse follows its master at full gallop despite carrying Conan and the
other men.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Conan cannot get down from the horse and calls on Finn to follow to whatever
place or island the big man carries them to and bring them back to Ireland.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Finn and the Fianna follow the Gilla Decair over hills, valleys, rivers, and
toward the deep sea.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Liagan Luath grasps the horse's tail to drag it back, but the horse goes over
the sea and carries Liagan with it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Finn is distressed that fourteen of his people have been carried away and
says he is under bonds to bring them back.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: 'Finn says the Tuatha de Danaan left a gift for the children of the Gael:
at Beinn Edair, those who must leave Ireland can find a ship large enough for
all who go with them.'
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Two armed men approach Finn, bow and kneel, and say they are sons of the King
of the Eastern World seeking service with Finn.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Feradach says that with three blows of his axe on his sling-stick he can get
a ship large enough to hold thirty hundred men of Ireland, requiring only that
they bow their heads.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The second man says he can follow the track of a teal over nine ridges and
nine furrows, on sea as well as on land.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Feradach strikes three blows on his sling-stick with the axe, the Fianna bow
their heads, and the bay and harbour are filled with ships and fast boats.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:14
text: Caoilte gives three great shouts, and the Fianna of Ireland hear them wherever
they are and think Finn is in danger from men beyond the sea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Finn
description: Leader of the Fianna; mocked by the big man, bound to recover the carried-away
men, and recipient of the two newcomers' service offer.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: the Fianna
description: Finn's warrior company; some are carried away on the horse, while others
follow Finn and later bow their heads during Feradach's feat.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Conan, son of Morna
description: A member of the Fianna stuck on the horse, shouting for rescue and
urging Finn to follow and bring them back.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: the big man / Gilla Decair / Hard Servant
description: The horse's master; accuses Finn, leaves with hidden swiftness, and
is followed by Finn after carrying away Fianna members.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: the horse
description: The big man's horse; carries Conan and other Fianna, follows its master,
and goes over the sea while bearing its load.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Liagan Luath of Luachar
description: A man who grabs the horse's tail in an attempt to drag it back and
is carried over the sea with it.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Oisin
description: Asks Finn what they can do after the men are carried away and after
the lack of boat or ship is noted.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Feradach, the Very Brave
description: One of the sons of the King of the Eastern World; says he can obtain
a ship by striking his sling-stick with an axe, and performs the feat.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: unnamed second son of the King of the Eastern World
description: A similarly armed man who says he can track a teal over land or sea.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Caoilte
description: Gives three shouts that are heard by the Fianna throughout Ireland.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Tuatha de Danaan
description: Named by Finn as those who left the ship-gift at Beinn Edair for the
children of the Gael.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: leader under rescue obligation
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Finn says he is under bonds to bring back the fourteen men carried away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: carried-away companion
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
basis: Conan, thirteen Fianna, and Liagan are carried away by the horse over land
or sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: strange departing horse-master
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The big man claims the horse as his own, leaves the Fianna, and is later
pursued as Gilla Decair or the Hard Servant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: uncontrolled carrying animal
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The horse carries Conan and other men, follows its master, and crosses the
sea with them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: questioning companion
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Oisin asks Finn what can be done after the men are carried away and no boat
is available.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: warrior company
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Fianna follow Finn and later participate in Feradach's feat by bowing
their heads.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: role:7
label: magical ship-maker
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Feradach claims and demonstrates the ability to obtain ships by three axe-blows
on a sling-stick.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: supernatural tracker
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The second man claims he can track a teal over land or sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: summoner by shout
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Caoilte's three shouts are heard by the Fianna throughout Ireland.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:10
label: givers of a departure vessel
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Finn says the Tuatha de Danaan left a gift by which those leaving Ireland
could find a ship at Beinn Edair.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: horse as carrying vehicle
literal_form: the big man's horse carrying Conan and other Fianna, then crossing
the sea
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: sea crossing
literal_form: deep sea and sea crossed by the horse with its captives
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: Tuatha de Danaan ship-gift
literal_form: a ship at Beinn Edair large enough to hold all who must leave Ireland
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: axe and sling-stick with three blows
literal_form: Feradach's carpenter's axe striking his sling-stick three times to
obtain ships
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: ships and fast boats filling the harbour
literal_form: the whole bay and harbour filled with ships and fast boats
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: three shouts
literal_form: Caoilte's three great shouts heard throughout Ireland by the Fianna
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: The strange horse carries off the Fianna
summary: After the big man leaves, his horse follows him at full gallop with Conan
and thirteen others unable to get down.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Pursuit to the sea
summary: Finn and the Fianna pursue the Gilla Decair across the landscape until
the horse goes over the sea, carrying Liagan as well.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Finn accepts the rescue obligation and recalls the ship-gift
summary: Finn says he must follow and bring the carried-away men back, and explains
the Tuatha de Danaan gift of a ship at Beinn Edair for those leaving Ireland.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Two eastern warriors offer their skills
summary: Two sons of the King of the Eastern World arrive, seek service with Finn,
and describe skills in ship-making and tracking.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Ships are produced and the Fianna are summoned
summary: Feradach performs the three-blow feat and fills the harbour with ships
and boats; Caoilte then summons the wider Fianna with three shouts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: warriors carried away by a strange horse
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Conan, thirteen Fianna, and Liagan are carried away by the big man's horse,
which follows its master and crosses the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explain the horse's origin or nature beyond its extraordinary
actions.
- id: motif:2
label: quest-departure to recover abducted companions
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- mystical_quest
basis: Finn states that he must follow the carried-away men to whatever place or
island they have been brought and bring them back to Ireland.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage begins the pursuit but does not include the recovery itself.
- id: motif:3
label: miraculous vessel for leaving Ireland
taxonomy_refs:
- ark_vessel
- departure
basis: Finn describes a Tuatha de Danaan gift of a ship at Beinn Edair for those
who must leave Ireland, and Feradach later fills the harbour with ships and boats.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy label 'ark_vessel' only partly fits; the passage
concerns transport for pursuit, not flood survival or an ark narrative.
- id: motif:4
label: craft feat performed through three ritualized blows
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Feradach says three axe-blows on his sling-stick can obtain a ship, and when
he performs the three blows the bay and harbour fill with ships and boats.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: No broader taxonomy reference is assigned because the passage presents
the action as a specific skill rather than an explicitly named ritual.
- id: motif:5
label: tracker able to follow signs over sea and land
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The second son of the King of the Eastern World says he can track a teal
across ridges and furrows and that sea or land are the same to him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The ability is claimed in this passage but not yet demonstrated here.
- id: motif:6
label: summoning warriors by three great shouts
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Caoilte's three shouts are heard by the Fianna throughout Ireland, who infer
Finn is in danger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not describe the full response of the summoned Fianna
after hearing the shouts.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 10963-10972
quote_or_summary: Thirteen Fianna mount behind Conan; the horse lies down and rises
with them, and the big man accuses Finn of mockery and says he will leave.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 10973-10984
quote_or_summary: The big man moves off weakly until a hill hides him, then runs
with great speed; the horse follows its master at full gallop with its load.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 10988-10999
quote_or_summary: Conan cannot dismount, cries out not to be carried away by the
unknown big man, and urges Finn to follow to whatever place or island they are
taken and bring them back to Ireland.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 11000-11010
quote_or_summary: Finn and the Fianna follow the Gilla Decair over hills, valleys,
and rivers to the deep sea; Liagan grasps the horse's tail, but the horse goes
over the sea with him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 11011-11024
quote_or_summary: Finn grieves for fourteen carried-away men and says he is bound
to bring them back; he tells Oisin that the Tuatha de Danaan left a ship-gift
at Beinn Edair for those leaving Ireland.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 11024-11038
quote_or_summary: Finn sees two richly armed men approach; they bow, identify themselves
as sons of the King of the Eastern World, and ask to be taken into Finn's service.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 11039-11046
quote_or_summary: Feradach, the Very Brave, says he has a carpenter's axe and a
sling, and that three axe-blows on the sling-stick can get a ship large enough
for many men if they bow their heads.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 11046-11051
quote_or_summary: The other man says he can follow the track of a teal over nine
ridges and nine furrows, and that doing so is the same to him on sea as on land;
Finn tells them the story of the Hard Servant.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 11052-11058
quote_or_summary: Feradach strikes three blows on his sling-stick with his axe while
the Fianna bow their heads, and the bay and harbour are filled with ships and
fast boats.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 11059-11062
quote_or_summary: Caoilte gives three great shouts, heard by all the Fianna of Ireland,
who think Finn and his people are in danger from men beyond the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Some evidence locators
extend slightly beyond the supplied end label because the provided passage text
includes the ship-making and shout episode after line 11051; these are retained
as supplied text evidence but should be checked against the canonical line map.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly compare these events to another tradition or motif family beyond the available extraction taxonomy.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l10963-l11051
passage_sha256=42a7a48d45326cef24b6a34a5d03f2129d2d6929657db7554b62aadbc6d60334