Gwynedd is a founding realm of Belegarth and is the oldest unit of Dagorhir.

Basic Information

Location: Dale City, Virgina
Number of Members: ~75
Practices: Sundays 1-7 Cloverdale Park, Dale City VA
Website: Kingdom of Gwynedd

Ruling Body

His Royal Majesty Sir Lorrymar Callahan of House Wyndhaven, Rex Dei Gratia
His Royal Highness Sir Zwei ap Owen of House Wyndhaven, Princeps Dei Gratia
His Grace Lord Kensman Tauron the Bolde of House Haldane, Dux Bellorum

The History of The Free Company Of Gwynedd

After the legions of Rome left the mountains and rocky shores of Wales for the last time, the Kingdom of Gwynedd, the northernmost of the traditonal Celtic Kingdoms of Wales, was in utter chaos. King Owain Wyndhaven of Gwynedd was dead, killed in the Irish Wars. His son Trystan, from his home on the the Isle of Ynys Mon or Anglesey , heeded the call of his native land, and established the first Free Company of Gwynedd. He recruited warriors from all the disheartened tribes in the nearby rugged mountains and fertile valleys of this beautiful country. Many warriors who went on to great deeds of fame and renown heeded this call to battle, to fight for their families, their land and their Celtic ways.

Trystan's first companions were his brothers, Finn and Fost Wyndhaven. Together they organized and took care of the groups of soldiers who arrived in the Fall of 4(19)82 at the dun-fort near Mount Snowdon (The White Dragon Hobby Shop). Amongst that first group were the Black Dragon's they included Talon of Arcadia, Oron the Wolf, Dunryk of Gor, Red Sonya and Fluterflam were the members of the Black Dragon household. Also appeared another cousin, Llyr Corwyn-Wyndhaven, a fearsome warrior and battle leader. Thus also first appeared the legendary Iskendar the Grim and his companions, Balinar the Elder to forever establish the name of the proud and mysterious order of the Kinsman on the misty battlefields.

Together these men and women, Kensmen, Knights and entire other Celtic Tribes, all equally brave and resourceful, conquered and pacified the lands of Gwynedd and surroundings. Soon thereafter, Trystan's elder sister, Rayne Wyndhaven returned to the now-peaceful Gwynedd, and saw that it was good. She demanded that a Kingdom be established right away, with herself as the Queen. She knew full well that she would require force to hold this together, so she named Trystan as her Prince Regent and Heir, as he had a good way with the Armies, and had already won many great victories. Trystan, flushed with victory, rashly agreed to this.

The Kingdom then grew swiftly and prospered, its army winning renown wherever it fought. After some time, Queen Rayne grew more and more to perceive Trystan as a threat to her power and prestige. She invited some old acquaintances of Trystan's, the Rangers, to visit her in Gwynedd's White Dragon Castle, the capital and seat of the monarchy.

Trystan had shared some earlier adventures abroad with these Rangers. He had left them in peace, to heed the call of his beleagured homeland. They showed up in Gwynedd with harm in their secret hearts for Trystan. They plotted his downfall with his treacherous sister, Queen Rayne and others within the Kingdom.

Predictablly, a fierce rivalry developed, which soon came to bloody personal combat. It was perceived that Trystan had been slain by the Rangers' leader, Faulknera. In sooth, he was only grieviously wounded, and was quickly and secretly healed by a Paladin of the Kingdom, (his brother Finn). He was then secretly spirited back to his beloved Isle of Anglesey, known as Mona, Isle of the Druids, where he lived to fight another day (But that is another story...).

Quenn Rayne wasted no time in naming Faulknera as Prince Regent of Gwynedd, and investing him with all of Trystan's lands, titles and wealth (thinking him dead). This angered his Clan, the Wyndhavens, as well as others. The Kingdom then inexplicably went into a slow decline, as soldiers deserted, peasants emigrated in the night and the morale of the Armies had begun to seriously wane. Military defeats were eventually suffered and land and cattle were lost to neighboring Tribes of Celts and to other, more sinister enemies.

Then one morning, Prince Faulknera woke up dead. His corpse was spirited away by his loyal Rangers, and he and they were never heard from again in Aratari lands, or elsewhere. Queen Rayne was then left to run the Kingdom with her Knights and Kinsmen as best she may. But it was not to last...

The story is told, that one fine Spring day, Her Majesty Rayne was leaning out of a tower window to pluck a rose from the vine growing there. She leaned out too far to pick a particularly perfect flower, and fell to her death on the cobblestones below. Rumours of a black arrow shot from nowhere circulated, but no proof of this was ever found.

The Kingdom was then suddenly again like a ship in a storm without a rudder, at the mercy of capricious fate and of her enemies. The once magnificent Army all but disbanded and returned to their manors and farms. Word of this reached the rocky shores of Anglesey, and Trystan and The Free Company, returned to restore order with bold deeds and swift action. Romes' Legions had returned, and were menacing the borders as were the monstrous and deadly Apollians. The Army was recalled and refurbished. Many many boastful beers later, great victories were won on all borders and the Kingsom restored beyond its former glory.

Such was made possible by the sacrifice and contributions of: Thorvaldd the Red, the brothers Mordok, Handryk, Thorock and Helgun ap Kerrigan, Lorick the Grand-Bard, Hobbitt, the renowned Half-Orc and his Braddok Boys, Ragnar, Gunter and Balynar the Younger of the House of the Red and Arabus and his Vikings, among others.

Trystan's older brother, Finn Wyndhaven, was named as the new King of Gwynedd, and order and peace was restored once again to the Land. Trystan was retained as the Dux Bellorum (War Duke), and his other titles and his lands were restored to him. Thorsborg was established by Thorvaldd and the Ap Kerrigans, and was home to many a fine Kinsman thereafter.

King Finn begat a son, Owen, whom he named as his heir. He was fostered by Trystan, and the boy was trained in the arts of war and statecraft by the now veteran Kinsmen and Knights of the Realm.

The Knights of Gwynedd

Main article: Knights of Gwynedd

The Kensmen of Gwynedd

Main article: Kensman

The Great Houses

The Great Houses of Gwynedd are home to the realm's greatest statemen and warriors. Though it is not necessary for a Gwyneddian to be a member of one of these households, it is from these noble hearths that the kingdom draws its leadership. Entry is dependent on adoption (usually upon embarking on a swordbrotherly or squirely tradition) or birth. The Leaders of these Houses compromise the King's Royal Council, and help advise him for the felicity of the Kingdom.

House Wyndhaven

Founder: Queen Rayne
House Leader: King Lorrymar Callahan

This is the Royal House of Gwynedd. The Monarch and Heir Apparent come from this House, and this House only.

Notable Members: HRM Lorrymar Callahan; HRH Zwei ap Owen; Trystan ap Owain; Owen ap Finn

House Haldane

Founder: Lord Talon Haldane
House Leader: Lord Talon Haldane
Website: House Haldane

Notable Members: Talon Haldane; Tauron the Bold; Mordekai the Foul

House Red

Founder:
House Leader: Lord Freewynd the Red

House Diamond Dog

Founder:
House Leader: Lord Admiral Arabus the Treacherous

House Callahan

Founder: Lord Lorrymar Callahan
House Leader: Lord Curryn Callahan