Cornwall - Places

Caer Pendrinn

Stronghold Of A King

Caer Pendrinn has been a fortified stronghold since the fall of the Empire around 500 AF, when it was constructed by Mark, Duke of Cornwall. For the next twenty-five years Cornwall was ruled from Caer Pendrinn as an independent kingdom, during which time Mark took Igraine, only daughter of The Pendrinn, as his queen. The story of Igraine's quest for the Swords of Waylund, the murder of Mark, and the consequent annexation of Cornwall by Albion is a well known tale.

The Killing Sands

At low tide, spanning the three hundred yards between Caer Pendrinn and the mainland is a stretch of white, flat sand. In times of peace, a series of wooden stakes are driven into the sands at around five yard intervals, to mark the narrow twisting route of safe passage. All else is treacherous, due to the rapidity with which the roiling tides sweep up the Bristol Channel to submerge the estuary quicksands. These stakes can be easily removed in times of war and later replaced by the local guards, who have an instinctive understanding of the shifting sands born of a lifetime's association with the Pendrinn coastline.

Many lives have been lost on the Killing Sands, and some say that, as a result, the Caer has more than its share of unquiet spirits.

Dame Melyor Of Pendrinn

Melyor of Pendrinn has lived in a tower room at the Caer for longer than anyone can remember. She is said to trace her ancestry back, mother to daughter, to Vivianne daughter of Morgaine, who was the daughter of Igraine of Cornwall and elder twin sister to Arthur. To her great grandchildren however she is 'Grandmamma'; an astute, sharp eyed but rather distant figure ... someone to be revered rather than loved.

Those to whom she is not related are far warier of the lady. Although she must be more than five score in years, time has not carved its mark as deeply as should be expected, and this speaks of something not aright. Fae blood? It has not shown in her daughter and granddaughters - although they have a habit of dying young, so who can tell? Sorcery? Perhaps ... but there is nobody of a mind to inquire.

No-one knows what happened to Dame Melyor when the unliving rose up out of the Channel and marched into Cornwall. Certainly, she was still at the Caer when Henry Constantine finally cleared out the last of the abominations, after the battles of Bristol and Exeter and the Lions' exodus. It has been suggested... well out of her earshot... that the unliving commanders saw the light of battle in the lady's eye, and faced with a such overwhelming willpower, decided to let her tower alone.

Ritual Circles

Bristol (Derelict)

Some years back, during the Civil War within Albion, Jadvor held Bristol and came under siege by Satun and his hoards. In order to prevent more support arriving for Satun, Floris-Brand closed the circle by removing the element of fire from it. At the time, a lone ritualist was holding the circle closed by force of will. She was unprepared for the sudden release of power, or of the cap stone being sent first up out of the circle, then returning to stave in her skull, killing her. This closure of the circle caused a flow of power to spill forth into the Summerlands, potentially unbalancing the ecology there and leading to its corruption was a side-effect that no one could have predicted.

When Tiberias, an exile from the tomorrow court, tried to reopen the Bristol ritual circle in 1099 AF, it exploded following an attack on it by Void demons. Those present at Bristol were then sucked through to the Summerlands. Although most eventually made it back to Bristol, the ritual circle was permanently disabled, and a rift through to the Summerlands was left in its place. The rift was eventually closed by a commando force led by s'Kallion of the beastmen on the 5th of the 5th 1100 AF. Those that carried out this mission are refered to as the Companions Of Summer.

Ports

The cinque port of Bristol exists mainly as a matter of historical note. It was designated as a Cinque Port when Albion was often at war with Cymryja, with Northern Cornwall as disputed territory. Now that the border has stabilised, and Bristol has lost its Ritual Circle, its importance is diminishing.

The cinque port of Southampton is the traditional home to HM Southern Fleet, and contains shipyards for the care and maintenance of that fleet. It is rare for any ship larger than a blockade runner to be built here, however those vessels that are produced are numbered amongst the finest in the Heartlands. Whilst Cornwall remains independant of Albion the fleet sails from Brighthelm Stane rather than Southampton, and its absence has taken a toll upon both the economy and morale of the port.