Tref Emrys

Stretching along the southeastern bank of the Afon Glaslyn, only 100 meters from the ford where the waters of Llyn Dinas drain to form the river itself, is the settlement of Tref Emrys, named for the sorcerer Myrddin Emrys whose powers of divination made possible the building of the 300-year-old fortress atop the steep-sided hill on the far bank of the river. The settlement is laid out for about 100 meters at a gentle bend in the river. Perhaps 150 meters to the west there is another ford, giving access to the main road that runs along the north bank of the river past the fortress and along the shore of the lake, while a smaller track south of the ford leads to an old copper mine. Southeast of the town on the slope of a low rise is the Sorcerer's Grove, Cell Y Dewiniaid, where the druids of Penllyn performed their divinations from time immemorial.

Tref Emrys lies southwest of the mountain lake of Llyn Dinas, through which flows the Afon Glaslyn. Nearby is the fortress of Dinas Emrys, whose towering walls seem to vie with the slopes of Yr Aran to the north.  Yet all lie in the shadow of the mist-shrouded summit of Yr Wyddfa. that legendary mountain fastness from whose lofty heights extend the lesser ridge-like peaks of Crib y Ddygl and Crib Goch (to the east), Y Lliwedd (to the southeast), cradling the mountain cwms that enclose the lakes of Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn.

To the northeast lies the strategic Pen-y-Pass, whence the old imperial road gave access to Gwynedd, now under the control of the Dragon Queen.

The settlement is the largest of the five settlements surrounding Dinas Emrys, now the headquarters of the Cult of the Red Dragon. Once a thriving market center for the subkingdom, it has been transformed under the oppressive rule of the Dragon Queen into a shadow of its former self, a haven for brigands, thieves, and cut-throats, dominated by the fearsome warror Brocchus th Bear and his band of murderers.

Demographics

There is a permanent population of about 1000 living in the rown, consisting predominamtly of Cymbrians, although this number fluctuates. Many stonemasons, carpenters, weavers, and leatherworkers supply the needs of the fortress. Amongst the rest, there are several brewers, each attached to either the inn or a smaller tavern. Copper and iron from goblin-worked mines supply the smiths. There are no settled classes, as the competitive environment sees fortunes rise and fall.

Defences

The Hillfort: The tref lies in the shadow of Dinas Emrys, a fortress that has stood atop a steep hill overlooking the town for some 300 years and which affords the strongest defense of the area. Constructed in the early days after the imperial occupation, the fortress is built of stone.

• Outer Walls: Its outer walls are 35 feet high, with guards patrolling day and night.
• Gatehouses: The two gatehouses are likewise made of stone but with wooden frameworks. The gates themselves are study affairs, made of oak and bound with iron, opening inward with the aid of two men pulling on the bronze rings inside. They are secured from the inside with a sturdy pair of oaken planks, double-bound.
• Towers: In addition to the two gatehouses, there are also three towers that secure the outer walls of the fortress, one to the southwest, another just north of that, and a third to the north.

The Town: The tref itself is surrounded by a wooden palisade with admission through a timber gatehouse. The palisade also extends along the river bank, with two watchposts to observe the river and two to observe the fields and hills to the south. Brocchus is assisted by his lieutenant Catabar, a disaffected soldier from Glywising, and advised by Iccalus, a warlock from Bretayne who has fled from his lands for reasons that remain murky. They lead a force of nearly 100 brigands, many of whom are capable fighters in their own right. These forces are in addition to the soldiers guarding the fortress of Dinas Emrys itself.

Points of interest

The Red Dragon Inn: This old public house was once called the Inn of the Dueling Dragons, but it has been renamed with the rise of the Dragon Queen. Now it is used partly as a headquarters for Brocchus the Bear and his band of killers, retained to keep order in the town. Brocchus has some 40 brigands under his direct control. Although Rhydian ap Madoc is still innkeeper, he pays tribute to Brocchus in return for protection.

The Sow's Arse Tavern: The sign for this tavern is a pig's backside full of red bristles. This tavern is protected by Arthmael, an undercaptain of Brocchus, and his crew of 15 brigands.

The Red Wolf Tavern: This sign for this tavern is a wolf's head painted in blood-red. It is protected by Idris the Giant, an undercaptain of Brocchus with ogrish blood. He has 14 brigands in his crew.

The Leaping Goat Tavern: The sign for this tavern is a black goat rampant on a golden field. This tavern is frequented by Catabar and the 18 brigands he has under his command.

The Temple of the Red Dragon: This newly built edifice is dedicated to the Cult of the Red Dragon.  It is presided over by the Priestess Maligennis and her Underpriestess Sulex.  Those who enter will see warriors on guard at all times.

Geography

Vale of Nant Gwynant: The tref lies at the end of a long valley that stretches for nearly two leagues along the southeastern edge of the cluster of peaks around Yr Wyddfa. The lower part of the valley around Dinas Emrys proper is open and spacious with plentiful fields andgrazing lands dotted with woods and meadows. The northern portion is more wild, with rugged hills and mountains creating a narrow space and trees so thick the traveler can barely see beyond 50 yards. The road through the valley is circuitous and confusing, absolutely impassable when rainfall brings about violent floods. Climbing north out of the valley, one may take the pass northwest through the mountains toward Llanberis and Caer Segeint or follow the northeast path through the Vale of Nant Gwryd to the fortress of Dinas Llug, which guards the eastern entrance to the kingdom.

Between the two lakes of Llyn Dinas and Llyn Gwynant, a track leads northwards between Yr Aran and Y Lliwedd to a high hanging valley below Yr Wyddfa, from whose misty summit a stream flows swiftly down, giving rise to the Afon Glaslyn. Here are stone quarries on the valley's eastern flank across the river with another hanging valley overlooking the whole from the northwest.

Vale of Nant Colwyn: Below Llyn Dinas, the Afon Glaslyn turns south, flowing toward its marshy estuary, the small but swiftly running Afon Colwyn flowing into it. North of this confluence, the river path carves out a narrow gorge between Moel Hebog to the southwest and Yr Aran to the northeast. Overlooking the place where the rivers meet, on the east, is an ancient hillfort that is being rebuilt for Brocchus and his men. Here also is a settlement surrounded by woodland and extending into the defile called the Vale of Nant Colwyn on the lower slopes of Moel Hebog west of the river. The roundhouses, kilns, smithies, and silos of this settlement can be found on all three sides of the river confluence, but the fields like to the south and on the western shore of the Afon Glaslyn, near a ruined hermitage.

Population

1000 +

Included Locations

• Dinas Emrys

Owner/Ruler

Aredhel ferch Maglor, the Dragon Queen

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Brocchus the Bear

Owning Organization

The Kingdom of Gwynedd

For much of the material presented herein, I owe a debt of gratitude to Brian N. Young's excellent module "To Kill a King," originally written for Castles & Crusades. One of my players participated in a heavily modified version of that adventure, adapted for the later timeline of Dark Ages, and the events that transpired led to the current state of affairs in Gwynedd.