In Thirteenth Century Ireland, the O'Sullivan clans were united under Siobhan Fallon O'Sullivan, made Clan Leader after a unanimous vote usurped her elder brother from the seat when she was eighteen years of age. The O'Sullivans were among the few that still upheld the old ways despite the influence of Catholic beliefs around them. This, naturally, led to head on conflicts with the English on a regular basis who sought out to snuff the remaining paganistic beliefs. They were soon routed from their lands in Southern Ireland and forced to seek asylum in the North to Ulster, under the leadership of the Ceannfort Mairi ni Tuatha'an. Siobhan struck a contract and formed the O'Sullivan Knights, armed men and women who served Eire above all else underneath Mairi. Seamus O'Sullivan, loyal page to Mairi, was recently rescued from being held prisoner in England and joined Siobhan's knights as her second in command.

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During this period, Siobhan was gaining popularity among the people of Ulster. They admired her unusual battle tactics, her victories against the English were legendary, and there was small rumor that she may supplant the Ceannfort. Then Mairi's naval fleet commandeered an English trade ship. Upon which was a former English noblewoman, a stowaway, who was seeking asylum in Ireland from the King of England. An Irishman happened upon her while she was fleeing English soldiers below deck and he died defeating the men before they harmed her. When the ship was brought into Ulster's port, this led Mairi to believe the Englishwoman had killed her man. Briana Astiar was taken prisoner, though she refused to speak to the Ceannfort. Siobhan, recovering from a battle, met with the Astiar woman and convinced Mairi that she couldn't have possibly killed anyone. Briana had never seen a fight in her life, let alone could have possibly held a sword. Mairi took the advice of Siobhan, but did not release her from being her prisoner. Simply placed the Astiar woman in the charge of her loyal page, Seamus O'Sullivan. This move would be the start of the downfall from favor that the O'Sullivans had in Ulster.

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Mairi expected Seamus to gain the trust of the Astiar woman. Expected that through that trust he would report that Siobhan's judgement of character would be wrong. What she did not expect, however, was that Seamus would fall in love with the English captive. Briana had a rebellious fire within her that rivalled that of any Irishwoman and Seamus admired her bravery when the odds were against her. When the Ceannfort realized this, she arranged a prisoner exchange with Siobhan and sent Briana to the O'Sullivan Knights stronghold. Mairi kept Seamus with her and hoped to lure his affections by introducing him to high standing Irishwomen.

 

Seamus would find other ways to see Briana, however, by finding when Siobhan's Knights took her into town. Unfortunately, during one of these outings, a mob formed and the Knight was killed when overpowered. The townsfolk then took Briana and tortured her before placing her in the stocks to be mocked and humiliated. A Scotswoman, friend of Siobhan, was unable to save her until nightfall. She found Seamus and together they retrieved the Astiar woman. The Scotswoman then took her to the small village of Cobh under Seamus' request. There Briana recovered, posing as the sister of the Scotswoman, under the care of Seamus' family at the Ballymore Inn.

 

Mairi discovered the escape of the English prisoner and thus the downfall of the O'Sullivan Clan came swiftly. Siobhan was listed as a traitor and ordered to be exiled from Ulster. Never to return or else face death. Seamus was forced to declare loyalty to the Ceannfort fully and completely, but he could not. His love belonged to Briana Astiar and he saw the Ceannfort as a vengeful vixen rather than a respectable leader. He, too, left with Siobhan and her knights. Leading them to the small village of Cobh. Along the way, Seamus was separated from the knights in an ambush by the awaiting English. Siobhan was taken captive, but he had been ordered to continue on. As he was Siobhan's second in command of the knights, they followed him without question and he brought them to Cobh safely.

 

It was believed that Siobhan was dead and the remaining clan numbers had dwindled from hundreds to a small handful. Cobh had gone from a peaceful small town to one of primary focus not only for the English, but the Ceannfort of Ulster as well.

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Times in Cobh turned difficult.

 

Declan, Father to Seamus and older brother of Siobhan's Father, watched proudly as his son defended Cobh against both the English and the Ceannfort. To his dismay, however, Seamus' heart still remained with Briana Astiar. The former Englishwoman, however, upon recovery, proved useful in working at the Ballymore Inn. She charmed her way into Declan's good graces though he would never admit such.

 

Then came the return of Siobhan, by one of Mairi's privateers. He had found the Clan Leader locked up in one of the English villages underground among with others, near death. He brought her to Cobh an inch from death, but she recovered admirably within such a short period of time. Thus rumors spread that Siobhan was blessed by the spirits if Eire themselves, known as Eire's defender who would not die until the English were chased from the lands.

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Briana Astiar, it was soon discovered, was with child. And had been for sometime. Seamus had kept the knowledge from the Ceannfort and Siobhan until he felt it was safe to announce. Except six months in, the signs were there.

 

With Siobhan's blessings, they were married. On the same day, to boost the O'Sullivan Clan's numbers, Seamus' sister was married to a Kian O'Leary. He was the Clan Leader of the seafaring O'Leary Clan and a childhood friend of Siobhan. Thus the union of the O'Learys and O'Sullivans came to be.

 

Briana gave birth to a healthy baby girl three months later, who she and Seamus named Rose Fallon O'Sullivan. Then tragedy struck while Seamus was away in battle with Siobhan. The English attacked Cobh, though their intent was not the usual game plan. They had been sent by order of Briana's Uncle in England to retrieve her at all costs.

 

Upon her arrival to England, Briana's marriage to Seamus was declared invalid by the King. She was then wed to one of the King's loyal noblemen who forced himself upon her after she refused him on their wedding night. Briana refused to take his name or acknowledge her own, always declaring she was an O'Sullivan by heart.

 

Murieann O'Leary, the second in command of the O'Leary clan, led a successful raid into England and rescued Briana. Though upon her return to Cobh, it was discovered she was pregnant again, except these children were the result of her rape by the English nobleman.

 

Seamus and Siobhan returned, months later, and Seamus was appalled upon hearing what his wife had endured in his absence. She had, by then, given birth to two healthy twins, a boy and a girl. Whom she had named Seamus and Niamh, respectfully. Siobhan helped Seamus in accepting the twins as his own and he never left Briana's side again. Siobhan later announced that the twins were O'Sullivans through and through. Then made the biggest announcement since her ascension of Clan Leader over her brother, Siobhan was retiring.

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Seamus O'Sullivan took up the mantel of Clan Leader, having learned all he could from Siobhan. He declared Briana, his wife, as his second. His son, Seamus the Second would later become Clan Leader and hence forth, the O'Sullivans never saw another woman Clan Leader.

 

Siobhan spent most of her years in Cobh until Catholism finally won favor. She then went into exile from Cobh while the rest of the clan simply kept their true beliefs behind closed doors out of necessity to their survival.

 

The O'Sullivans and O'Learys never ended their alliance. Though the O'Learys took to the sea and skies rather than remained on land. The O'Sullivans can be found, scattered, across Ireland and even in other worlds. Though Cobh will always be considered their point of origin, the heart of the clan.