Llywelyn (ɬəˈwɛ.lɪn)

The Dragonslayer

"When Fulmen was killed, the creatures of the Bestarium were set loose. No one had suspected how many he had within the tunnels, and they spread across the land, bringing mayhem and death. It was centuries before they were all slain - if indeed they all were."

— Arvandus, Court Wizard of Creoda.

Llywelyn the Dragonslayer is a revered figure in Inisir mythology, especially within the Kingdom of Elmet. According to legend, Llywelyn was a brave and noble leader who united the Inisir tribes and established Old Elmet in the aftermath of the Age of Warlocks. He took the title of Brenin, which means King, and became the first ruler of the kingdom. His legendary deeds were chronicled in a text called the Marwolaeth Llywelyn, and the current Kingdom of Elmet is inspired by the legendary kingdom he founded.

Dragonslayer

In the years after the Age of Warlocks, Ynys was plagued by monsters and constructs left behind by the Clarati. These creatures wreaked havoc wherever they turned up, and groups of soldiers were formed to hunt and kill the monsters. Llywelyn led one of the earliest of these companies, and became famous after they slew the great dragon called Dracanor. Llywelyn became known as "the Dragonslayer" after this victory, and eventually all the monster hunters became known as Dragonslayer Companies.

According to the Marwolaeth Llywelyn, Llywelyn spent years driving monsters from Ynys before finally defeating Dracanor, the last true threat to the people of the island. He sought to rest then, but no rest was granted him, for he was marked by the Ellyll for greater things. In his dreams, they showed him how the strong preyed upon the weak, and that monsters lived within the human heart. At their urging, Llywelyn gathered his company once more, and set out to establish a kingdom free of this evil, where might would serve justice and all were protected by the law.

Brenin of Old Elmet

The exact extent of his kingdom is a matter of debate, but the Marwolaeth Llywelyn claims it extended the length and breadth of Ynys. For seven years, Llywelyn ruled from the city of Cavallon, serving the people as Brenin, and was a fair and just ruler. His knights traveled up and down the land, challenging those who preyed on the weak and humbling all who opposed them.

Old Elmet disappeared after Llywelyn's death, and there are many stories about how it ultimately fell. Some say that it was destroyed by a great magical cataclysm, while others believe that it was conquered by a powerful invading army. Other stories claim that he was betrayed to his death by a false friend, who later became the founder of the Kingdom of Bernicia. Llywelyn never married nor sired any children, and left no heir to carry on his legacy.

An Inspiration

Centuries after Llywelyn's death, the story of his kingdom inspired Brannoc ap Llywarch, the prince of Lloegyr. He dedicated his life to recreating Llywelyn's kingdom, and managed to unite all of eastern Ynys between Wuffa and Rheged into a single nation which he named Elmet. He took the old title of Brenin, and did everything he could to honor and embody the ideals of justice and chivalry that were enshrined in the tales of Old Elmet. Elmet continues to carry out this mission today, and strives to live up to the ideals presented in the Marwolaeth Llywelyn.

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Inisir

Professions

• Dragonslayer

Life

3297 PC 3350 PC 53 years old

Related Myths

• Old Elmet

Librarian's Note

The oldest copies of the Marwolaeth Llywelyn were written about a century after Llywelyn's death, and are the earliest documents to mention the Kingdom of Old Elmet. Contemporary records from the time (such as those of the Kingdom of Wuffa) do not mention any such Kingdom, and it seems likely that Old Elmet never existed in the physical realm. However, the story was pervasive enough to spawn a Dreamland of Cavallon and Old Elmet, and it can be visited by those skilled in the art of Dreamwalking.