Cardiff

British Isles / Wales

Vampiric History

Wales was the stronghold of the Lhiannan bloodline, along with a number of Gangrel and a handful of Nosferatu and outcasts from other clans who had found ways to survive in the shadow of the power of the native Lupines. The Romans considered the rocky west of the island to be pacified, primarily due to its insignificant population. As the Romans withdrew and Mithras lost interest, the local Vampires returned to business as usual, repulsing the occasional incursion from Christianity with as much force as they could muster.

That changed again when the Triumverate invaded the Isles. Unaware that the Triumverate had fallen, Druidic forces sacked towns through Cheshire, where Mithras himself happened to be traveling. As a result, Mithras made taming the Welsh frontier a priority for the next few centuries.

Initially, the Barons of Avalon divided the country into three provinces. The south, called Dehubarth, was controlled given to the Malkavian Baroness Seren (a Welsh queen in life) to rule from Glouchester.

The wild (even for Wales) Northern fief of Gwynedd was given to Rhodry ap Geraint ap Mithras. Goaded by his warlike "Uncle" Marcus Verus, Rhodry gathered several armies to "civilize" the wilds. Remembering the lessons Mithras had taught them, the native kindred returned him to his keep, alone. The last time, in 1343, Rhodry's entorpored body was delivered to London. Rumor has it that he could not be revived, and his cursed body remains hidden in some forgotten Mithraeum beneath London.

The central fief of Powys was given over to Daffyd ap Bindusara. Originally making his haven in the monestary at Meifod (the center of Christianity in Wales), Daffyd endured the centuries. When Baron Rhodry fell, Daffyd split responsibility for the north with Marcus Veres, who, after several clashes with the native Gangrel, lost interest in the uninhabitable wilderness. When Seren fell a century or so later, Daffyd quickly moved his haven to Cardiff, and claimed hegemony over all of Wales.

Wales sat out the Baron's Rebellion: Daffyd knew that without support from Mithras, he could not withstand the strength of the remaining Welsh Gangrel. As the centuries have worn on, Daffyd has been seen less and less often, often allowing his most recent seneschal, Gwyndolyn Rees, to handle the day-to-day running of his domain.

Population

2028 Estimates

• City: 370,000
• Urban: 500,000
• Wales: 3,250,000

Vampires of the City

• -- <<Ows ap Gwian>> -- The Victorian Prince