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I first encountered the word "Crantara" in one of Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle Books, probably Merlin or Arthur. I liked the word, but could never find a definition for it. After a few years it gradually became the catch-all name for my main fantasy world, and anything associated with it (such as the CranTara RPG). Whether the world itself was named Llyn, or Aemardor, or any other permutation that has come and gone, still I could call it "CranTara" since it was entirely separate from the internal concerns of the world.
So, to really explain what CranTara is, I would have to give some kind of description of my world. That I will do, but for now, it will just have to suffice to explain what possible meaning the name could have now that I have its definition. The world of CranTara has certainly been burned by the fires of war countless times throughout history, and before. But that is not the only reason to keep the label. While the cross (see definitions on the Stola Society page) used in Scotland may not have been a symbol of Christ (the Celts were using the crux as a symbol before the coming of Christianity), yet still it can have that meaning here.
One of the central bones (rather, the central bone) upon which I am working to restructure the CranTara storyline is the coming of the Anointed One, his ministry, death, and anastasis. Somehow... that will fit in with the whole CranTara thingie. gah. Oh well.
But besides that. CranTara comes from two words, one meaning tree or beam, the other meaning shame or disgrace. Thus, CranTara is the tree of shame. Something else I mentioned previously is also the tree of shame... But, anyway.... tara is also an Irish word meaning war, and when I discovered that a while ago, I thought, "ah, crantara has something to do with war!" So then her history became covered in wars. Anyway.
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