The Principality of Powys is a Changeling Kingdom in Cymru, the land mortals know as Wales.
Overview[]
What remains of the land of Powys stretches from the River Dee in the north to the River Wye in the south. The Cambrian Mountains separate it from Dyfed. Most of Offa's Dyke sat astride Powys' border with England due east. In fact, the principality forms the heart of Cymru; its clockwise borders are Gwynedd, Clwyd, England's Kingdom of Smoke, Gwynt, Glamorgan, and Dyfed. But the best of Powys was a small finger of land that stretched to the sea across the River Dyfi just south of Cadair Idris in Gwynedd. This was Cantrev Gwaelod, the richest and most prosperous soil in Cymru; only a tiny part of it remains above the waters of Cardigan Bay. People called it "Paradwys Cymru," the Paradise of Wales.
The area has forests, moors, the Brecon Beacons, and the two river valleys of the Wye and the Severn. While Powys has few towns, Built and Llandrindod Wells have spectacular spas and resorts. Other towns include Newtown, Rhayader, Welshpool and Machynlleth. And for those who don't like crowds, this principality has the lowest mortal population of any other, with those who do live there being mostly farmers and craftsmen.
Cantrev Gwaelod, the Lost Lowland[]
Many tales call Cantrev Gwaelod the most perfect hundred acres of land ever seen in Cymru. The fields were so rich and fertile they needed little tending. Game was so plentiful that if the nobles hadn't taken a few stag and rabbits, the animals would have eaten folks out of house and home. Some say the cantrev even served as an inspiration for the tale of Camelot.
Sites[]
Brecon Beacons[]
Along with Snowdonia and the Pembrokeshire Coast, the Brecon Beacons is one of Wales' three national parks. Over 500 square miles of rocky hills, moorlands, and wilderness comprise the park's land. The Black Mountains, crowned by the 2900 toot Pen-y-fan peak, glower over the Usk River valley. The elite British Strategic Air Service troops use the Brecon Beacons as a training facility, as do Arctic explorers and climbers of Mount Everest.
Sprang Unlimited[]
See the article Madeleine Maddocks.
Cafall's Place[]
Welshpool is home to a grungy junkyard and antique barn called Cafall's Place. The junkyard is less than an acre in size, all of it a complete mess. Old automobiles form the bulk of clutter, but there are also old boat parts, wagons, aluminum siding, and broken bricks. The barn is a disaster area, piled with broken pieces of furniture, glass bottles, rotting books, and picture frames. Arvel Cary, a grizzled man in his 50s, is the owner. Most of the neighbors resent his presence, not just because the junkyard is a sty on the land, but also because Arvel is a mean old bastard. He keeps a brace of mangy wolfhounds as guard dogs, and though these creatures are relatively tame, their barks sound cruel and threatening. Arvel would just as soon everybody left him alone. He's usually civil to customers, knowing he has to make some money to pay for his grub. But he doesn't hesitate to throw someone off the property if they make him angry.
Within the heaps of crap, though, lies an old battered chair with priceless worth to the Kithain of Cymru. This is the Throne of Dragons, the long forgotten seat of the high kings and queens of Cymru, all that remains of the court in Powys. Carved from a single trunk of mountain ash, the throne once sparkled with jewels. All that remains is the wooden frame and fading velvet upholstery. One arm has broken off and dried mud covers the entire throne, but underneath the grime are dainty carvings of dragons, serpents, seashells, and trees. With some cleaning and repair, a skilled artisan could easily restore this piece to its former beauty.
Glyn Severn[]
For more, see the article Glyn Severn
Trods[]
References[]
- CTD. Isle of the Mighty, pp. 165-166.