[Psitticine]

Originally posted by Raen:
Does Avalon exist in Irish mythology? I was under the impression it was more a Welsh/Arthurian thing.

Of course, I realize IW may have had to amalgamate mythologies a bit...I'm just curious.

I've read the name means "Isle of the Apples" and was originally derived from Gaelic, but it must have altered quite a bit on the trip. I can't find anything even vaguely supporting that etymology.

So, as far as I know, it is pretty much Arthurian. That cycle is quite distinct from the Celtic, as I'm sure you know, but there is enough overlap (such as Excalibur, whose name and nature is derived from Fergus mac Roich's sword Caladbolg) to justify unifying them in a framework such as the game.

For those who don't know the story, King Arthur was carried off to the Isle of Avalon, a place very much like the Celtic "Otherworld", after being mortally wounded. Like many other heroes, including Fionn mac Cumhail, he is said to be sleeping until the hour of his people's greatest need. (The "sleeping hero" is a very popular motiff in folk legend.)