: I've heard theories that the Smiths of Muirthemne were
: dwarves but then why would Connacht want to destroy
: them and why were the commiting horrible attrocities?
: Also, what do dwarves have to do with spiders? I'm
: probably waaaaay out of date and this whole topic has
: been debated to death but will you ressurect it just
: for a while to tell me why, why, WHY?!?!
Firstly, the Smiths are believed to be dwarves because (a) the Ibis Crown ghost dwarves refers to them as the builders of the catacombs, (b) dwarves are the only guys who know how the Tain crystals & gates work. "Smiths" are people who make things, hence the Smiths of Muirthemne were the group who built most of the stuff in Muirthemne, hence they were dwarves.
The connection between dwarves & spiders comes from the Tain. Where the dwarves came into contact with spiders is not clear, however the Smiths did worship them, and there is the suggestion that they built the Tain as a dwelling for them (the spiders there are described as its natural inhabitants). The atrocities would have been committed as part of the spider worship - abductions to be brought as sacrifices (ie. food) to the spiders.
Although the Smiths were undeniably useful to Connacht, they were just causing too much fuss (something Connacht can't abide), and hence they had to go. But _where_ did they go? That's the question!
*cheers*
-Iron
