Castell y Blodau
Castell y Blodau, the castle of flowers, stands on an island just above the tidal limits of the estuary at the mouth of the river Shall. It guards the river passage upstream and north into the Wood of Old Desires. It is currently under the stewardship of Grallim Wolde and Rakyna Collan who administer it on behalf of Queen Mab.
Purpose / Function
The castle was built by king Ogidigbo Arthoom and was intended to provide a defence for the heartlands against a possible invasion from the south. The threat came from a strangeness in the Siren Seas where it was thought that a hitherto unknown species of marine intelligence might wish to make war on the fey. Ultimately, however, there was no invasion and whatever had briefly disturbed the realm of the Fey, moved on to some other realm of the Discontinuum. Perhaps the existence of the castle alone was enough to deter them, or perhaps there was never a threat at all.
Defenses
Strong magics protect the fortress. They draw on the secret strengths of a vibrant carpet of flowering plants that bloom in profusion as summer comes to an end. Their heady scents and vivid colours, draw forth answering arcane glows in the afternoon and evening gloaming. Although the fortress is now semi-ruined, it has never been conquered and during the Second Rift War the forces of the Black Web did not dare to approach it.
History
Castell y Blodau was the last of the surviving four great castles of antiquity to be built by the fey. Since its building post dated the Age of the First Wars, and the perceived threat which prompted its construction never materialised, it was a very long time before it had to face a serious enemy. During the Second Rift War, however, it played a very important role as a refuge and centre for resistance against the Black Web. It is a testament to the strength of the unusual magics providing it with unique defensive powers that when the Black Web determined to attack a Fey stronghold, they selected Caer Cathasach as an easier target and avoided Castell y Blodau, even though it stood nearer to their main bridgehead in the Shadow Forest.
Founding Date
The Age of Lost Memory
Alternative Names
Castle of Flowers
Type
Fortress
Owner
Additional Rulers/Owners
Comments