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PENDRAGON TIMELINE

THE DISTANT PAST

4004 BC - God creates the Heavens and the Earth

2348 BC - The Flood

1100 BC - Brutus, grandson of Aeneas, leads a group of Trojan exiles to Britain.

55 - Caesar invades Britain, is defeated by British tribes

17 - Jesus visits Britain, builds a chapel at Glastonbury (This is before his ministry in Galilee)

33 - The last days and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

43 - Roman Conquest of Britain begins.

55 - Joseph of Arimethea brings the Grail to Britain.

CIVIL WAR AND TREACHERY

420-50 - Period of civil war and famine in Britain, caused by ruling council's weakness and inability to deal with Pictish invasions; situation aggravated by tensions between Pelagian-Roman Christian factions. Vacated towns and cities in ruin. Migration of pro-Roman citizens toward west. Country beginning to be divided, geographically, along factional lines. Kingdoms in Wales rise and fall overnight.

420 - Gwidol Vortigern of the Gewissi(401-457), counselor to King Constantine, marries Severa ferch Macsen (daughter of Magnus Maximus, the Roman general proclaimed emperor in Britain in 383). They have five children. One girl: Madrun ferch Gwerthefyr in 423. Four boys: Vortimer Fendigaid (the Blessed) in 421; Cadeyrn in 424; and twin sons in 428, Pasgen and Brydw. Severa dies birthing them.

429 - St. Cadfan founds the Monastery of Barsdey.

Madog ap Cwmbran born.

430 - Birth of Ambrosius Aurelianus (430-471), scion of the leading Romano-British family in Britain, son of Constantine. Known to the Welsh as Emrys Wledig (the Imperator) or Emrys Benaur (the Golden-Headed). His brothers are Uther and Constans. King Conomor flourishes in Dumnonia, ruling from his capital at Castle Dore.

432 - Succat, later known as Saint Patrick, travels to Ireland and begins its conversion.

Baden ap Cwmbran born.

435 - War breaks out between the Irish settlers in Brycheiniog and Powys. King Anlach of Brycheiniog is defeated and forced to send his son, Brychan, as a hostage to the Powysian Court.

445 - Vortigern comes to power in Britain, declaring himself Over-King after murdering Constantine and Constans Aurelianus.

Vortigern authorizes the use of Saxon mercenaries, known as foederati, for the defense of the northern parts against barbarian attack. Cunedda Wledig and his retinue are moved south from Manau Gododdin to Gwynedd in order to expel the invading Irish.

With his father executed and his eldest brother murdered, little Ambrosius, along with his brother, Uther, are bundled up and taken across the Channel to the safety of the court of their cousin, Budic I of Brittany.

446 - Pro-Roman Britons appeal to Aetius, Roman governor of Gaul, for military assistance in their struggle against the Picts and the Irish. No help could be sent, at this time, as Aetius had his hands full with Attila the Hun.

Vortimer Fendigaid (the Blessed), eldest son of Vortigern, installed as King of Gwent, near Gloucester.

447 - Second visit of (later Saint) Germanus (398-449) (this time accompanied by Severus, Bishop of Trier) to Britain. While this visit was spiritually motivated to combat a revived Pelagian threat, but Germanus (a former general) was also sent in Aetius' stead, to do whatever he could to help the desperate Britons.

448 - Britons, aroused to heroic effort, "inflict a massacre" on their enemies, the Picts and Irish, and are left in peace, for a brief time. This heroic effort led, again, by Germanus.

449 - Death of Germanus in Ravenna. Civil war and plague ravage Britain.

The Irish chieftain, Triffyn Farfog takes the Kingdom of Dyfed by marrying the daughter of King Clotri.

THE FIRST GREAT SAXON UPRISING

450 - Hengist (427-490) arrives on shores of Britain with "3 keels" of warriors, and are welcomed by Vortigern. This event is known in Latin as the "adventus Saxonum," the coming of the Saxons.

King Glywys assumes throne of Glywysing.

The Adventure of the Dancing Tree, in which five squires of Glywys, newly-minted, seek to rescue the knight Sir Terorfor, victim of dark and terrible magics. After outwitting a malicious redcap, The five discover Sir Terorfor and pledge to lift his curse. They confront the beautiful but guileless lady Vivienne ap Deane, and several are smitten. The squires fail in their mission and incur the wrath of the powerful witches, as well as her even more powerful mother Anwyn Ursus ap Deane. The squires spend the summer in magical slumber within the forest of Deane.

451 - Vortigern forcibly marries his own daughter, Madrun. The event marks the beginning of his decline.

Madog ap Cwmbran and Kristan du Montford are made knights of Glywys. Madog is given the manor of Pen Coed. Kristan is given the manor of Llan-wern Teilo a Dyfrig.

Dyfed and Brychennoig simultaneously invade Ystrad with Vortigern's blessing.

The Adventure of the Peril of Ystrad, in which the newly-knighted Sir Madog and Sir Kristan journey to imperiled Ystrad with their squires in tow, are ambushed by Irish mercenaries (Squires Graid and Gareth are badly hurt), and fight to uphold the honor of Glywys against all comers in the Battle of Caer Ystrad. The kingdom falls; the two knights bring Ystradi royalty with them to Llan Daff as exiles.

452 - Increasing Saxon settlement in Britain. Hengist invites his sons, Horsa and Octha, from Germany with "16 keels" of warriors, who occupy the northern lands, to defend against the Picts.

The Adventure of the Sorcerer of Cornwall, in which Sir Madog and his many squires answer the plea of Sir Cornelius, uncle to Ystrad's Princess Sorcha, and uncover perfidy in Tintagel. The evil wizard Mordechai and his champion, the Faceless Knight, are destroyed with the help of Sir Cedric of Devon. The rebellious Cornishmen are put to the sword by the army of Devon, with the help of Vortigern's Saxon allies. Tintagel remains beseiged. Sorcha and Cornelius vanish; a love-struck Baden ap Cwmbran quests after them.

453 - Gareth ap Llanrhyddol, Graid e Gwasu, Blaedric, and Aedan O'Neill made knights of Glywys. Baden ap Cwmbran is imprisoned in London for sedition; Sorcha and Cornelius begin the journey home.

The Adventure of the Fortress of Lies, in which a large party of knights, led by Sir Cladwyn, quest to the remote hinterlands of Powys in search of the legendary spear Rhongomyniad, propheseyed to be the harbinger of Vortigern's downfall. They meet lord Andragius at Capel Pentrenidog, whose lands are under the foul curse of the ancient giant Coedwig Cawr -- they cannot tell the truth or they sicken and die. The knights of Glywissing lay seige to the giant in his magical grove.

Increasing Saxon and Irish unrest. Raids on British towns and cities becoming more frequent.

Vortigern remarries; Second (legal) marriage to Rowena of Kent, daughter of Hengist.

First rumbles of opposition to the Over-king Vortigern.

The Knights of Glywyssing destroy enough of the sacred grove of Llwyn-on Argoed to force the giant Coedwig Cawr to terms. The villain lifts his curse and leaves to terrorize other innocents elsewhere. Lord Andragius tells the knights that the spear Rhongomyniad lies to the west, on Rhoch, or death-rattle mountain. Sir Mandubracius, a former prisoner of the giant, joins the knights in their quest. The order of the Knights of the Spear is formed.

Sir Graid e Gwasu marries Lady Damona, daughter of Andragius of Capel Pentrenidog on Christmas day.

454 - Princess Sorcha and Sir Cornelius arrive in Llan Daff. Word reaches Capel Pentrenidog that Madog ap Cwmbran is to return to Glywysing, and quickly, to marry the princess.

The Adventure of the Knight of the Orchid, in which a group of the Knights of the Spear, including Sirs Mandubracius, Kristan, Madog, and Gareth -as well as the dandy Sir Tamquist of Brycheiniog- made rescue of Lord Padreag, friend to King Glywys. Sir Mandubracius heroically defeated an anonymous champion, who was revealed to be Padreag himself, under an enchantment. In order to break this curse, the knights assaulted the ruined keep of his captor, only to fight a fierce battle against a host of more enchanted knights. The party was soundly defeated and Sir Mandubracius lost his life, but the curse on Lord Paedrig was lifted.

The Princess Sorcha and Sir Madog ap Cwmbran are married in a Christian wedding. A son is born to her sometime after, bearing a strange likeness to Baden ap Cwmbran.

Word spreads that 'Saint' Germanus is miraculously alive and preaching the gospel of Christ throught Britain. Further, it is said that he speaks out openly against the Over-King, condemning him for incestuously fathering a child with daughter Madrun.

455 - The Adventure of the Three Tests, in which Madog, Blaedric, Graid, Cladwyn and Kristan seek the spear Rhongomyniad by questing to Rhoch, Death-Rattle Peak. They make the acquaintance of a curious, hot-headed and incompetent knight, Sir Pons. On the slopes of Rhoch they face three tests. In the test or arms, the loyal squire Gwern is hurled into a deep chasm by a terrible Red Gaint, never to be seen again. Kristan and Madog are gravely injured, and Graid nearly kills himself with his flail. After a summer of recovery, the giant is slain, the tests of wit and faith are overcome, and the knights split up, guided by dreams.

The Adventure of the School of Skye, wherein Sir Graid and Sir Pons followed their dream of the beautiful woman, dressed in armor, standing on a tall tower, somewhere on the Isle of Skye. This woman was Lady Gelis, Head of the ancient School of Warriors in Dunvegan Castle. The heroes traveled through the wild lands of the Picts to reach Skye. Asking Gelis about the spear, she said that she knew of the spear, but only those who are brave warriors would be able to wield it. If the heroes could prove themselves worthy of the spear, she would lead them to it. So the heroes were put into the school, and met many brave warriors from all over Europe. There was Waldipert the Lombardian, son of a noble, who was to earn his experience to become the leader of armies. There were the two gothic warriors, Alaric and Theoderic, who were famed for their berserker fighting style. Also, there were three Saxon warriors- Hacca, Sibbi and Witi. Witi got hacked into pieces by a myserious stranger named Volothar, who may have been looking for the spear as well. The heroes met fellow Welshmen in Sir Gladus, a knight of the red hand, and Sir Rhufon, who was training to become a bodyguard to Vortigern. Finally, there were three Pictish warriors, called Ailpein, Oisein and Molloch, who became close friends to our heros, as Mollochs life was valiantly saved by them.
As time proceeded, Lady Gelis became concerned of other "groups" looking for the spear as well, and decided to lead our heroes on, preparing them for their future journey by passing on the armor of Cullen, an ancient suit of leather armor, said to turn it's bearer into an increadible warrior.

the Adventure of the Elf Goddess' Necklace, wherein Sirs Madog, Blaedric and Cladwyn followed their dream to a cursed island off the coast of the Isle of Mona. There they discovered 100 saxons doomed to search for the necklace of Freya by day, feast together in the evening, then slay one another by treachery at night - only to awake in the morning and do it all over again with no memory of their curse.
Our heroes barricaded themselves in the lone tower on the island where they found a cryptic inscription and a crazed emaciated saxon, Ulfwich, who seemed unaffected by the curse. He passed to them the silver horn of the Valkyrie in hopes they would break the curse and warned them not to stay on the island after dark or become cursed themselves. Sir Cladwyn convinced they should return to the boat and bring the horn to Hervor, Sir Urianus' companion, was convinced by the others to search for the necklace of Freya and bring that back instead. Ulfwich tried to warn them but under duress pointed them in the direction of the necklace. Blaedric and Madog upon discovery of the necklace came to blows and were bewitched while Sir Cladwyn returned to the boat and brought the horn to Hervor. She then returned with Sir Cladwyn to call the Valkyrie to collect the warriors and return the necklace to Freya. By doing so, her own curse was lifted and she is now able to return to Valhalla, but chooses to stay with Urianus until it is his time to ascend.

In other news, Vortimer, King of Gwent and first son of the Over-King, declares himself a rival British leader. His armies begin to clash with the Saxon invaders who, under Hengist, break the peace and begin ravaging Southern Britain.

Vandals Sack Rome.

Vortigern, seeking to flee both the followers of Saint Germanus and the fighting to the South, begins construction of a great fortification in the mountains of Gwynedd.

456 - Night of the Long Knives. Much of the Cymric leadership (300 men and boys) wiped out by Saxon treachery at a peace conference at Stonehenge. Brychan assumes the throne of Brycheiniog. Geraint assumes the throne of Dumnonia.

The Adventure of the 30 Saxons. On his way to the Saxon peace conference, King Glywys falls from his horse and breaks his arm. Thus delayed, he and his servants are spared from death at the hands of the treacherous Saxons under Hengist and Horsa on the Night of the Long Knives. Cladwyn, Kristan, and Aeden agree to liberate five score local women taken prisoner by marauding Saxons, and free them only to be surrounded in a crumbling Roman villa by a war party of thirty. After a night of brutal combat with no quarter asked or given, they prevail over the scoundrels, winning the eternal friendship of Lady Ida of Warminster and gaining a pair of young new knights, Owen and Eryl.

A boy named Myrddin Emrys ("Merlin") delivers a dire prophecy to Vortigern, who then flees Gwynedd.

A son is born to Rowena of Kent, Faustus ap Gwrtheyrn.

457 - Full-scale migration of British aristocrats and city-dwellers across the English Channel to Brittany, in northwestern Gaul (the "second migration"). British contingent led by Riothamus.

The adventure of the Beast of Llanrhyddol, wherein Sir Gareth and his boon companions Sir Graid and Sir Blaedric endeavor to find a way to lift the curse of Llanrhyddol, Gareth's manor. They encountered a menacing creature in the shadows of an ancient cave in the remote wastes of the land. The creature told them that the curse was God's will, and a punishment for the unmerciful slaughter of pagan and Palagian peasants by their wrathful Catholic lord. They saw that the creature surrounds itself with tiny skulls and claims to hold back the spirits of all the children who should be born at Llanrhyddol, but aren't. It also told them that their goal of finding the Spear Rhongomyniad would be linked to breaking the curse (and offered to spare them the pain of searching by giving them quick deliverance from this world).
Though the brave knights were prepared to face the unseen horror, prudence drove them to seek counsel from a man of God. They sought out Saint Germanus himself and, finding him, took communion and wisdom. He searched their souls and found them wanting, telling them they did not yet have the strength of faith to break a curse of God. However he told them that the quest for the spear would bring them true faith or break them, and that they must first find the "Blood of Kings", for that is required to free the spear. Finally, he told them that they should return to him when the quest was complete.

458 - Saxon uprising in full-swing. Hengist finally conquers Kent, in southeastern Britain.

Vortigern's "Parade of Obedience" comes to Llan Daff to ensure the loyalty of Glywysing to the high throne. a group of monks calling themselves the "Brothers of St. Germanus arrive at the same time. A feast is held, and Sir Carbonnel of the parade announces that a public execution is to be conducted and a political prisoner of the High King is to be hanged before the nobility of Glywys' court. There is much controversy when it is revealed that the prisoner is Baden ap Cwmbran, brother of Sir Madog. A melee breaks out, Madog breaks his oath of fealty and kills Carbonnel. The brothers of St. Germanus reveal themselves to be holy knights, and together with Sirs Cladwyn and Pons, they defeat the knights of the High King.
Glywysing's position now tenuous as a result of this open defiance of the high throne, Glywys accepts a treaty of mutual defense from King Brychan of Brychioniog. Sir Madog disappears without a trace.

The adventures of the Knights of Passion, in which our heroes, Sir Aidan, Sir Blaedric, and Sir Kristan, travelling far from their homes, are told of three dastardly knights terrorizing this distant land. They ride forward into a gaily bedecked village, populated by miserable starving peasants. They are challenged by the knight ruling this village, who styles himself "Sir Vanity." The winner of the fight will be lauded by the loser for a year and a day. Sir Aidan steps forward, and defeats Vanity. Per the terms, Vanity (really Sir Owain of Salisbury) releases his bond on the village, and rides home to laud Sir Aidan as a greater knight than he. The next knight is Sir Greed, camping at a rich pavilion at a crossroads. The winner of the challenge will take all possessions of the loser. Sir Kristan steps forward, and defeats Sir Greed. Sir Greed surrenders his booty, plundered from the peasants of the land, to Sir Kristan. Generously, Sir Kristan releases all of the spoil back to the people. Sir Greed, really Sir Ieuan of Wales, rides home. The last knight, and the greatest of the three, is Sir Disloyalty, encamped at a ruined keep in a swamp. Sir Blaedric challenges him, and agrees to the terms: the loser shall serve the winner for a year and a day, forswearing all other loyalties for that time. A hard fight ensues, with Sir Disloyalty's spear breaking, and Sir Blaedric flinging many blades into the muck of the swamp. Sir Disloyalty is triumphant, though wounded. Sir Blaedric is ordered to take residence at the village when he has recovered from his wounds, and to take the name Sir Ardor, challenging all that pass, When Sir Disloyalty is healed, Sir Kristan steps forward to avenge his fellow. With one mighty blow, Sir Disloyalty skewers Sir Kristan. It is only by the swift ministrations of Sir Blaedric the Cruel that Sir Kristan's life is saved. Sir Kristan is ordered, once healed, to take the name Sir Proud, and challenge all who pass the crossroads. Sir Aidan is the last to fight Sir Disloyalty, and manages, after a hard fought battle, to defeat him. Sir Disloyalty swears fealty to Sir Aidan for a year and a day, and releases Sir Blaedric and Sir Kristan from their oaths. The hero knights discover that Sir Disloyalty is really Sir Morial, bodyguard of High King Vortigern. He is happy to be released, if only temporarily, from Vortigern's service.

459 - Vortimer fights Hengist at the Battle of Crayford. Hengist is victorious.

The Adventure of the Journey to Anwyn, in which many things happen, Graidias lost, and the spear Rhongomyniad is at last recovered.

The Brotherhood of Culhwch, a group of knights from Gwent and Gloucester who also sought the spear, arrive in Llan Daff. They are captained by Sir Hugh y Llawchwith (the lefthanded). Hugh and his men march into Glywyssing with Adwen Ursus ap Deane's head on a cart and Vivaine bound with an iron chain. They are returning Sir Terorfor, who they have freed from his imrpisonment.

Vivaine is Sir Hugh's prisoner, bound by a holy relic (the hand of Saint Timothy the Martyr with fingers crossed). As long as Vivaine is bound to the chain and relic, she is powerless, and should a pagan touch her, they will go blind. Vivaine secretly urges the Knights of the Spear not to assist her, but to head east to her old home, where another is in greater need, and east again, to Glastonbury and their destiny. They depart in the morrow, after tilting and capering with the arrogant Brotherhood of Culhwch.

In the forest of Deane, red-eared hounds (the servants of Gwyn ap Nudd) are seen chasing an enormous fallow with a child on it's back. Aedan's son by Vivaine, Castenwydden (chestnut tree), is riding the deer. He is now nine and has two broken ankles after being thrown by Sir Hugh, and is carried to Warminster where he is left in the care of the fat sherrif.

At Glastonbury Tor, a crazed Knight in Rags bars anyone from approaching. Saint Collen is here, among a pile of injured knights. Atop the Tor is the entrance to Anwyn, the underworld. Red-eared hounds lead the way. Cullen wants to get to the top to seal the entrance to Anwyn forever. The brave knights urge him not to, best the maddened Knight in Rags (who is an exhausted Sir Madog) and descend into the pit.

In the labyrinthine underworld, the knights meet Sir Mandubracius, who acts as guide and interlocutor first with Culhwch himself and then with Gwyn ap Nudd. He warns them to leave at once, for Gwyn's prices are high and he is fickle and cruel. In the private playground of Gwyn ap Nudd, the spear Rhongomyniad is the tentpole of his pavilion. The Brotherhood of Culhwch show up. Gwyn ap Nudd proposes some contests to see who earns the right to join him at feast and parley for the spear. After many testing trials, the Knights of the Spear carry the day (barely), and Collen givse Blaedric a relic - the sinew that bound the spear of Longinus.

A tragic deal is struck - Sir Graid nobly volunteers to take the place of the spear, spending all eternity holding up the pagan death-lord's pavilion.

Ambrosius returns to Britain to lead pro-Roman uprising. Battle of Wallop (Hampshire) where he defeats forces of Vortigern.

The Lion of Llanrhyddol - Sirs Gareth and Blaedric return to Llanrhryddol to confront the beast who maintains the land's curse. Recognizing their heroic efforts to retrieve the spear Rhongmyniad, and seeing the growing strength of their faith, the beast reveals itself as a great lion in the service of God. It lifts the curse and passes guardianship of the land's souls to Gareth and his companions. It offers the knights a choice of gifts, from which Blaedric drinks of blessed water and Gareth of sacramental wine. By years end, every woman of age in Llanrhyddol is with child, including Gareth's own wife, lady Modwenna.

460 - The Adventure of the Avatars of Rhongomyniad. A time of grief fell upon the kingdom of Glywysing when the Brotherhood of the Spear brought Rhongomyniad home. The lands were plagued by the beasts, and the king himself became ill. Lying in his fever, he summoned the knights, ordering them to take the spear to its final destination, whatever that may be. As he spoke, a black raven descended, delivering a strange prophecy. That night, the knights became avatars, one of fire and chaos, one of life, one of battle, and one of nature, all contesting to use the spear in their favor. That same night, Llan Daff was surrounded by troops of Vortigern, lead by the brave Sir Gladus, demanding the spear. In a heroic dash, the heroes broke through the siege and escaped towards Caer Guorthigirn, where Ambrosius lay siege to Vortigern.
A tough pursuit followed, as our heroes rode hard for two weeks, escaping Vortigern's clutches, and battling the evil assasin Volothar, who tried to get a grip on the spear. On the last day, the knights made a final stand against the troops of Vortigern and Sir Gladus. They prevailed long enough for Sir Madog to reach Ambrosius' camp. There, the knights met Sir Kristan again, who was fighting on the side of Ambrosius, who recommended "Sir" Pons be knighted at last for the deed. As the spear was given to Ambrosius, the sky darkened, and the fortress Caer-Guorthgirn was miraculously struck by lightning. Vortigern and his entire garrison were burnt to death.

Aeden Ui Niell musters clan, kinsmen, and loyal friends to lay siege to the keep of Sir Hugh of Gwent. King Glywys, not wishing to provoke a war between Glywyssing and Gwent intercedes and negotiates for the release of Vivienne ferch Deane. Part of the condition for release is that Aeden Ui Niell and all heirs swear to keep peace with Sir Hugh and all his heirs. The Ui Niell clan is oathbound never to do violence to Sir Hugh or his family unless violence is done first. Sir Hugh is also paid an undisclosed amount of Librum for the exchange. Vivienne is returned to the forest of Deane still bound by the holy relic (the hand of Saint Timothy the Martyr with fingers crossed). Aeden, impatient and enraged, slices the relic from her neck with the dagger given to him by the druids of Cornwall. Both are struck unconscious. Aeden awakes around the time of midsummer blind in his right eye and right arm numb. Vivienne remains unconscious through the summer until the time of Samhain. Vivienne's powers are suppressed and will slowly come back over the next three years. The couple are married, and Glywys deeds (though Vivienne claimed it as hers anyhow) the forest of Deane as his to protect. Aeden's arm heals slowly - over the next year. The Christian relic is secured by Aeden's half-brother Uwain (a Pelagian Christian).

Vortimer claims the throne of Vortigern's pro-Pelagian empire.

THE HIGH KING AMBROSIUS

460-466 - Ambrosius Aurelianus takes full control of pro-Roman faction and British resistance effort; leads Britons in years of back-and-forth fighting with Saxons. British strategy is to allow Saxon landings and to then contain them.

461 - Ambrosius makes peace with Vortigern's sons, in the face of the Saxon threat.

Horsa's name was among the final count of the battle's casualties, along with Vortigern's son Cadeyrn and Sir Eryl of Warminster. Ambrosius achieved a glorious victory against the Saxons with the help of his allies, and secured his claim to the throne of Britain against that of Vortimer.

462 - Ambrosius assumes High-kingship of Britain.

464 - Duke Gorlois of Cornwall revolts against Ambrosius. He is slain by Uther Pendragon, who marries Gorlois' wife, Ygraine.

All Wales Tourney held in the Kingdom of Glywyssing. Many knights of renown throughout Wales attend the festival and tourney at Llan Daff celebrating the birthday of Princess Rhiain. The tourney is an event intended to cement relations amongst Welsh kingdoms and bring to the fore possible problems such as those happening in Cornwall. A complete list of attendees is here. Prince Cadoc of Glywyssing took the first prize in the jousting tournament while the Brycheinoig team led by the King roundly smashed the Knights of the Spear (who, although honored by Prince Cadoc's decision to fight with them, were amazed at King Brychan's ferocity and determination to smash the young prince) in the general melee. The festival was marred by the rape of a serving girl by a man who appeared to be a Christian monk, A young Pelagian stepped forward to take the blame, but after "examination" by Blaedric the Cruel (temporarily released from his oath by the irate Glywys) and mystical investigation by Vivienne ferch Deane Ui Niell it was determined that the young monk had been ensorcelled. Brother Robert of Brotherhood of St. Germanus presented convincing testimony that the ensorcelling had something to do with a Monsignor Cassius of Marseilles - the Gaulish priest accompanying the party from Gwent, nothing was convincingly proven. Monsignor Cassius is declared "persona non grata" within the Kingdom of Glywyssing for his suspected role in the incident. The Gwent contingent led by Sir Hugh the Lefthanded left before the closing ceremony of the festival in protest of the declaration.

Princess Rhiain of Glywyssing marries Aircol Llawhir, Heir of Dyfedd

Prince Cadoc of Glywyssing marries Princess Rheindyr of Brycheinoig and a rather large son is born to them the following winter...

Gwynllyw of Gwynllwg carries off Princess Gwladys of Brycheiniog. War between the two kingdoms narrowly avoided by the intercession of Uther and Ambrosius. The couple marry.

King Aldrien of Brittany dies.

465 - Arthur (465-542) born to Uther, youngest brother of Ambrosius.

466 - Battle of Wippedesfleot, (Richborough) in which Britons defeat Saxons, but with great slaughter on both sides. Mutual "disgust and sorrow" results in a respite from fighting "for a long time."

Irish raiders captured by Sir Madog are publicly tried with Prince Aircol Llawhir in attendance. The raiders are found guilty of their crimes but before being ransomed are further interrogated. With the assistance of Sir Blaedric, who is asked to assist the interrogation, it is discovered that they are in the pay of Sir Elusdan and have been raiding and pillaging border regions under his instructions. The evidence is presented to King Glywys who again shedding 30 years becomes irate and demands Elusdan's head. Elusdan escapes, some say with the assistance of Gwynllyw, and is rumored to be in Gwent. His wife and children become "guests" at Llan Daff "awaiting" his return. Madog is awarded charge of his ancestoral Manor of Cwymbran as well as his current holdings and made trustee of Elusdan's manor at Llancaeach until such time as Elusdan's eldest son (b. 453) proves himself worthy of the charge.

Queen Siobhan of Ystrad returns with her brother Sir Tadc, and mentally enfeebled stepson, Synwo, to put together the pieces of a broken Ystrad.

A SHORT PEACE

466-473 - Period of minimal Saxon activity. Refortification of ancient hillforts and construction of the Wansdyke possibly takes place during this time.

467 - Prince Synwo of Ystrad dies a merciful and natural death. Princess Sorcha is summoned home, and appointed Queen in her mother's place. Sir Madog ap Cwymbran is named Prince Regent. Within months of assuming the throne, Sorcha announces that she is with child.

469 - Roman emperor, Anthemius, appeals to Britons for military help against the Visigoths. 12,000 man British force, led by Riothamus, answers the call. The bulk of the British force is wiped out in battle against Euric, the Visigothic king, and the survivors, including Riothamus, vanish and are never heard from again.

Sir Urianus is among the slain. Sir Ulfwich is named master at arms at Urianus' keep of Caer Herfeiddiol while Maximillianus Evestus acts as regent for Sir Urianus' heir Aquinus (born 456).

470 - Ambrosius commissions the "Giant's Ring" on Mount Ambrius as a memorial to the men slain by Saxon treachery in 456.

471 - Ambrosius is poisoned by a Vortimer or a Saxon assassin. He is buried on Mount Ambrius. Uther Pendragon assumes the throne.

King Glywys of Glywyssing apparently dies of old age, but rumors abound that he was poisoned by his son Gwynllyw. Glywys was hale and hearty 2 weeks before death.

THE SECOND GREAT SAXON UPRISING

472 - Saxons of Kent, under Hengist, move westward, driving Britons back before them "as one flees fire."

Prince Cadoc of Glywyssing leads a contingent of Welsh knights of Glywyssing, Brychanoig, Dyfedd and Ystrad to aid in the saxon war. They return in 473 thoroughly demoralized.

Gwynllyw pardons Elusdan and restores him to his manors at Lancaeach. Also, as Madog is occupied in the wars and unable to protest, returns Cwymbran manor to Elusdan.

473 - Sir Padraig of Glywyssing awakens from a dream one night in january, summons his loyal servants and a priest. He tells the priest that his dream showed Wales soaked in blood and held at the point of a spear. Taking it as a prophesy, he deeds his lands to "the brotherhood of the spear" and charges them to protect Wales from all evil of man and gods. He dies later that morning. Gwynllyw is unmoved and declares the lands owned by the crown of Glywyssing. The priest and Padraig's loyal servants beseach him to mind the will of a dead man. Gwynllyw eventually allows the indulgence as the keep is small, remote and produces almost no revenues.

Cadoc returns in the fall with a cowed and beaten army. He and Gwynllyw nearly come to blows over the pardon of Elusdan. Cadoc storms out of Llan Daff and Gwynllyw declares him a traitor and exile. Cadoc, not wishing to provoke a civil war in Glywyssing leaves for exile in Brychanoig.

474 - The Adventure of the Changing of the Guard. The elder members of the Brotherhood of the Spear call a convocation at Caer Ystrad to discuss the future of the Brotherhood in light of the disturbing news from Glywyssing. It seems that Gwynllyw has taken on the task of Christianizing the kingdom and persecuting both Pelagian Christians and Pagans and has invited Cassius of Marseilles to aid him in this endeavor. These events coupled with the pardoning of Sir Elusdan - a criminal under Glywys - have caused a falling out with Prince Cadoc. Also Sir Padraig's prophetic dream prior to death coupled with 4 apparently rogue knights taking his keep by force have given the members of the Brotherhood much to talk about - also it has made them eager to pass the mantle of the order to their reluctant heirs.

Indulging in old men's follies, three of the young knights: Cadlew ap Graid, Marchlew ap Madog, and Baden ap Afan agreed to endeavor to throw out the rogue knights and reclaim Sir Padraig's keep for the Brotherhood. To aid the young knights, Sir Madog entrusted the Bristling Boar Shield of Sir Padraig to his son and heir Marchlew.

On the road to Sir Padraig's keep in the mountain wilderness the brothers encountered in turn three knights, colored in Green, Yellow, and Blue - Sirs Robert, Arnoul, and Persant of the family Comte Laq - good Roman Christians and invited by Cassius and Gwynllyw to aid in the scouring of Glywyssing. Sir Marchlew lost the first contest to Sir Robert (the Green) binding himself to perform a service; Sir Baden roundly beat Sir Arnoul (the Yellow) winning the service of Sir Arnoul and 10 of his loyal knights; and dishonorable tactics as well as the prowess of all three was required to defeat Proud Sir Persant (the Blue) in which Baden was the final victor extracting a promise that the Comte Laq brothers would return to France and that all holds over Sirs Cadlew and Marchlew would be released.

The Red knight was never fought, but has vowed to return and smash this impetuous Brotherhood of the Spear.

475 - The Adventure of the Knight of Bray, in which the villainous Irish trafficker in demons, Sir O'Ghealligan of Bray, is sent to the pits of hell.

Sirs Eudaf, Faustus, Cadlew, Baden, and Castenwydden are dispatched to the tense Dyfed-Gwynedd border, where Saxon activity is intense. They are "on loan" to King Lawhir as part of their service to Ystrad. The region is under local truce as King Ina of Gwynedd (nephew of Cunedda) and King Lawhir of Dyfed have given their words not to harass one another. Saxon war parties "not affiliated with Ina" are testing Briton defenses up and down the valleys north and east of the central plain.

The brave knights establish a camp in a roman ruin atop a hill near the tiny village of Trawgoed, where Sir Cadlew sees a spectral Roman soldier who points ominously east, toward Llangunney. A band of four score Irish pilgrims, led by Indractus and his beguiling sister Drusa, arrive in Trawsgoed and spend the night. They depart in the morning, taking a misguided shortcut toward the border of Gwynedd, where they are slaughtered by Saxon raiders under Coelwulf the Clever, under the demonic influence of the evil Knight of Bray.

The Welsh knights pursue until they learn that Coelwulf commands fifty mounted men. They then judiciously pay a visit to Sir Drum in the manor of Pen Llwyn. Drum begs their aid, for the Knight of Bray seeks both vengeance for certain insults and Drum's daughter Blaeth's hand in marriage. Eudaf, Faustus, Cadlew, Baden, and Castenwydden, in their own ways, agree to help.

The terrible Knight of Bray arrives and nearly kills Sir Cadlew in single combat - only a miracle saves him. He calls forth a demonic host and the battle is joined. The Welsh fare badly until it is noted that the Knight of Bray has a magically vulnerable spot upon his thigh. Sir Castenwydden strikes this spot and Sir Faustus, with the aid of a holy relic, deals him a tremendous blow, nearly sending him all the way to hell. The evil demonist is helplessly swallowed up by his "boon companions" and the air is once again sweet.

Lady Blaeth lovingly tends Sir Cadlew's noble wounds throughout the summer and fall. Sir Drum rewards the knights with some trinkets, but devotes the majority of Bray's treasure-horde to the construction of a large new edifice for Pen Llwyn, the Church of the Triumph.

476 - The Adventure of the Missing Lovers, in which the hero knights serve as envoys of Queen Sorcha to the royal courts of Brycheiniog and Gwent.

In order to better seal alliances with Ystrad's neighbors, Prince Marchlew and his companions (Sirs Eudaf, Faustus, and Llywel) journied to Brycheniog to parlay with and aid King Brychan and Prince Cadoc of Glwyssing. While there, the knights heard much about and the difficulties concerning how it should be done. Cadoc spoke of peace, tolerance and the coming unification of Southern Cambria, and to that end he asked the knights to act as intermediaries in a dispute between Brycheniog and Gwent. Anwen, a daughter of King Brychan was missing, and to avoid war, the knights were to seek her in Gwent.

Traveling to Gwent, the knights of Ystrad had audience with King Vortimer before his royal court. It was revealed that Vortimer's own son Aeron was missing, and Brycheniog was suspected. The knights were accused of being spies by the aged Sir Hugh of the Brotherhood of Culhwch. Nonetheless, Vortimer gave the knights leave to seek the missing children as they would.

Faustus and Eudaf sought answers with the alluring lady Ffraid, daughter of the late king Vortigern and his daughter Madrun. Though she showed them hospitality and spoke with them, they left with little but poison in their guts. Marchlew and Llywel challenged Sir Hugh in his home, and received little but rage from him. In combat, Marchlew fell to Hugh's champion, Sir Gwyn, and Llywel was crippled by Hugh's holy blade.

***(Ffraid is nearly killed, Llewel is recovered, Emrys is named persona non grata, war breaks out, Llewel dreams that the lost lovers are in faerie)

The Sub-Adventure of Sir Brude's Fort: Sir Aedan tells the recovering knights that he sent a pair of mysterious, royal visitors on to Sir Brude. The knights set off after them, while Marchlew returns home.

Sir Brude's manor at Cwm Marelagh, near the source of the Taff river, is beseiged by Sir Galyn, a banneret of Gwynnlyw. Brude sheilds outlawed pagans.

Four faerie knights, led by Sir Rhofannon, approach the worhties from Ystrad and ask their help in collecting Princess Meabh, daughter of Old Math, Keeper of the Sky, and Prince Odhar, son of Cerridwen, the Dark Goddess, who have set themselves up in Brude's hill fort behind magical barriers. After much scheming and plotting, Rhofannon's men lose patience and abduct the royals themselves, enlisting the unwitting aid of Ystradi squires to disable the magical barrier. They escape (followed by Castenwydden), but Elwain, one of their own, is left behind. Later, his release is bought with a one-way ticket to faerie to continue the search for the mortal royals. True to their word, the fay dump the knights of Ystrad high in the bitter peaks, where they stumble around for a year. They are rescued by Emrys, who demands a favor from them in turn.

477 - Saxon chieftain, Aelle (434-515), lands on Sussex coast with his sons. Britons engage him upon landing but his superior force besieges them at Pevensey and drives them into the Weald.

By summer, all of Wales has been plunged back into war.

Bad tidings from the west - when word reached Cunedda of Gwynedd that Brychenoig and Gwent were at war, he exchanged hostages with King Vitalinus of Powys to keep the peace before his Saxon hordes surged south into Dyfed, confident that in the confusion no Welsh kingdom could oppose them. Ystrad has a solemn commitment to render aid, and it is in her interest to stem the Saxon flow before it reaches her borders. But committing troops to the west is politically dangerous. A third of Dyfed was overrun in the early fall, and a series of bloody battles convinced the Saxons of Welsh resolve. When the rains came, they still occupied a significant portion of Dyfed and were gearing up for a crushing spring offensive.

Sorcha and the Ystradi have no love for Brychennoig, and their efforts at reconciliation were ruined by events in Caerlion. While they view their neighbors in Glywyssing with deep suspicion, they are forced to rely on long-held friendship as Ystradi troops are pulled from the border to fight in north Dyfed. King Gwynllyw's price for peace was a pledge of cooperation against Brychennoig. It is a deal with the devil that Sorcha finds distasteful, but the alternative is abandoning her friends in Dyfed, which, in the long run, would be suicidal.

This puts Ystrad and Brychennoig in the odd position of fighting side-by-side against the Saxons while skirmishing against each other on their own border.

Age-old hatreds make the fighting on the Brychennoig-Gwentish border particularly vicious, with villages razed and peasants slaughtered in droves. While the outcome of this contest would be uncertain if it were isolated, deep raids by Gwynllyw's troops are spreading King Brychan's troops too thin. When fighting resumes in the spring, Brychennoig will collapse.

High King Uther sends a delegation that includes his war-leader, Sir Howell, and Howell's squire (Uther's 13-year-old son, Arthur). Welsh unification is high on Howell's agenda. Uther wants the weaker kingdoms made into Earldoms. Brychennoig will be the first, by force if necessary, and set the precedent. His other objective is to "persuade" Powys to enter the fight against Cunedda's Saxons. If Powys were to cut off southern Gwynedd, the offensive would die on the vine. He is prepared to offer half of Gwynedd in return.

Expediency is the order of the day - Aelle and a Saxon army have landed in Sussex, and Uther has no time for subtlety. Let the stronger kingdoms subdue the weaker in haste and ally themselves against the common enemy.

The Sub-Adventure of the Haggard Knights in Faerie: The exhausted, starving, and rag-covered knights of Ystrad descend into the gay camp of Old Math, feeble and elderly and not quite sane, decked out for bloody war and surrounded by celebrating warriors, including Castenwydden. Math is magnanimous and happy. He points the knights in the direction of the mortal lovers - through the great wood belonging to the friend of dreamers, Queen Mab, "to the safe places beyond the forest of sparrowhawks". They reluctantly depart.

They first stop in Clear Coed, Bright Forest, the home of the much-maligned giant Coedwig Cawr, who has shrunk a great deal in recent years. The giant learns that Cadlew is from Capel Pentrenidog and the brave knights depart with great speed. Gwrach y Rhibyn, the Hag of Warning issues a dreadful curse upon Sir Cadlew, who summarily beheads her. In Coed Cuddidig, Hidden Forest, the knights do battle with the faerie knight-errant Kilcoed - "Him that Hides in the Wood." After a strange battle of riddles, Sir Faustus bests Kilcoed in single combat and wins his silver whistle. The brave knights pass through Bery Coed,the Forest of Sparrowhawks, and Sir Faustus and Sir Llewyl are both touched by the dreaded Birds of Midir, shaking their confidence. In Abywd y Llwyn, the Grove of the Worm, a terrible monster awaits. They attempt to parley but abandon their efforts for the joy of battle. Several knights nearly die in the contest and the beast escapes into its lair.

477-485 - Saxon coastal holdings are gradually expanded in Sussex.

ARTHUR ASCENDENT

485-96 - Period of Arthur's "twelve battles" during which he gains reputation for invincibility.

486 - Aelle and his sons overreach their normal territory and are engaged by Britons at Battle of Mercredesburne. Battle is bloody but indecisive, and ends with both sides pledging friendship.

King Clovis conquers Soissons. Last Roman province in the West ceases to exist.

489 - Death of Einion Yrth of Gwynedd. His kingdom is divided into Gwynedd and Rhos.

490 - Hengist dies. His son, Aesc, takes over and rules for 34 years, until 524.

495 - Cerdric (476-534) and Cynric, his son, land on the south coast, near the Hampshire-Dorset border.

496 - Britons, under overall command of the elderly Uther and battlefield command of the "war leader" Arthur, defeat Saxons under Esla of Berenicia and Aelle at the Siege of Mount Badon.

THE LONG PEACE

496-550 - Following the victory at Mt. Badon, the Saxon advance is halted with the invaders returning to their own enclaves. A generation of peace ensues. Corrupt leadership, more civil turmoil, public forgetfulness and individual apathy further erode Romano-British culture over next fifty years, making Britain ripe for final Saxon "picking."

501 - The Battle of Llongborth (Portsmouth), where a great British chieftain, Geraint, King of Dumnonia, is killed. His son Erbin assumes the throne. Arthur is present.

503 - King Cadwallon Lawhir of Gwynedd expels the Irish from Anglesey.

505 - Prince Rivod of Brittany murders his brother, King Maeliaw, and usurps the Breton throne. Many of the Breton Royal family flee to Britain, including Prince Budic who seeks refuge at the court of King Aircol Lawhir in Dyfed.

508 - Cerdric begins to move inland and defeats British king Natanleod near present-day Southampton at the Battle of Netley.

515 - Death of Aelle. Kingdom of Sussex passed to his son, Cissa and his descendents, but over time, diminished into insignificance.

517 - Death of King Cadwallon Lawhir of Gwynedd. His son, Maelgwn takes the throne, murders his uncle, King Owain Danwyn of Rhos, and re-unites the two kingdoms.

519 - Kingdom of the West Saxons (Wessex) founded with Cerdric its first ruler.

AN ERA ENDS

530-40 - Mass migration of Celtic monks to Brittany (the "third migration").

531 - King Erbin of Dumnonia abdicates in favour of his son, King Gerren Llygesoc. His kingdom is shattered into Gwynllwg, Penychen, Gorfynedd, Edeligion and others.

534 - Death of Cerdric. Cynric takes kingship of Wessex.

542 - Battle of Camlann. Death of Arthur.

547 - Yellow Plague hits British territories, causing many deaths. Ireland also affected. Saxons, for whatever reason (sorcery?), are unaffected by it.

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