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The Gae Bolg was the personal spear that belonged to the hero Cú Chulainn from Irish mythology[1] and was purportedly made from the bones of a sea monster.

Owners[]

Description[]

The spear had the appearance of a bident, having a tip of two-prongs. The prongs themselves were relatively wide and had an array of rather sharp pointed barbs at the base of the spearhead, as well as a few smaller barbs at the opposing end. It also stood at a height slightly taller than the average person. The spear possessed the special ability to shock the wielder's enemies with lightning after every third consecutive hit.[2]

History[]

As a young man, Cú Chulainn was gifted Gae Bolg by his combat instructor, the warrior-woman Scáthach, after training in either Alba or the Isle of Skye.[1] He wielded it for most of his life until he met the ancient Fomorian giant named Balor. The hybrid was slain in the resulting battle, but not before lodging his spear deep in Balor's back, though the giant took care to invisibly cloak the spear haft so as to conceal his weak spot from future heroes who sought to kill him. [2]

Some time later, the Æsir Odin confronted Balor in the arena Dun Báhlair and demanded the spear, seeking its ancient power for himself. The two fought, with Odin coming out victorious. With Balor's defeat, the invisibility cloak he used to conceal Gae Bolg fell away and exposed the spear haft lodged in his back. Odin ripped the spear out and exited Dun Báhlair with Gae Bolg in hand.[2]

ACV Gae bolg stuck in Ritual stone Screenshot

Gae Bolg stuck in the stone

By the 9th century, the spear was embedded within a ritualistic monolith just outside the hut belonging to the druidic priestess Deirdre Na Linni in Asfinn, Ireland. During her visit to the country in 882 CE, jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir consumed a psychoactive mixture prepared by Deirdre from amber shards[2] collected from the Children of Danu,[3] a pagan cult that was run by fanatical druids.[4] As a reincarnation of Odin herself, the drink sent Eivor on a hallucinogenic vision where she relived a memory of Odin's duel with Balor. Just as Odin extracted Gae Bolg from Balor, the vision ended and Eivor found that she had miraculously extracted the spear from the stone in reality.[2]

Weapon statistics[]

Class Quality Attack Speed Stun Critical
Chance
Weight Perks Availability
Wolf Mythical 152 54 169 115 10 Lightning shocks the enemy after 3 consecutive hits
Complete "Amber Sun"
Description
Gifted to the demi-god Cú Chulainn, said to be made from the bones of a sea monster.

Behind the scenes[]

Despite its name and description, the spear has no real connections to the mythical weapon. According to abbot Áed Ua Crimthainn's 11th-century Book of Leinster, Gáe Bolg could only be used by launching it from the foot. Upon piercing the target, instead of emitting lightning as depicted in-game, it would immediately spread barbs throughout the victim's entire circulatory system so that recovering the weapon required cutting away all the flesh surrounding the thorns.[1] The spear's ability is possibly being conflated with Gáe Assail, the semi-sentient and bloodthirsty spear Cú Chulainn's father Lugh used to slay Balor that supposedly had lightning powers and one of four great treasures of Tuatha Dé Danann.[5]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wikipedia-W-visual-balanced Gáe Bulg on Wikipedia
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaWrath of the DruidsAmber Sun
  3. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the DruidsChildren of Danu (memory)
  4. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the DruidsPotion of Blood
  5. Wikipedia-W-visual-balanced Lugh on Wikipedia

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