New idea – Beyond the Pale

So I had a bit of a brainwave the other day, involving Irish folklore and the Western Marches ideas I’ve been coming up with.

The basic premise is this –
The Pale, so-called civilisation, is the area that was directly under the control of the English when they held Ireland. Beyond the Pale (yes, that’s where it comes from) is the uncivilised lands of the native Irish.

Except, it’s not. Because the further you get from the Pale, the stranger things get, and the closer you get to the mythical Tir na nÓg, and the further you fall into Irish mythology.

So, the Pale is safe. Nothing weird going on, except general discontent at the yoke of the English.
And then at the other extreme, fairy folk and elves and the Tuatha Dé Danaan and giants and magic everywhere.

That’s all I’ve really got so far. I think magic might not work inside the Pale, but I haven’t really worked it out yet.
And this is probably a kind of D&D idea, rather than anything else.

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