Abergwaed By Night

An Abridged History of Abergwaed

The following text is an excerpt from the little known book "Fampirod Cymreig: The Bloody History of the Vampire Capital of Wales" written by the occult writer and philosopher Dion Fortune. Published in 1925 not many copies are known to exist, even fewer still contain the book's full content. It is unknown why this is the case, most historians believe it can be explained by the niche nature of the subject, while others suggest a more sinister explanation; the more conspiracy minded historian, mainly those of an amateurish persuasion, argue that the book was intentionally suppressed by some unknown force, seeking to hide the secrets revealed within. Whatever the truth of the matter, Fampirod Cymreig remains a fascinating look into a little explored corner of British folklore, superstition, and their convergence with history.

"The Hematic City or, as we know it, Abergwaed, is a large city nestled in the countryside of west Wales. With a history of woolen trade, the bustling settlement stands as a monument to our fair land's expansive history, erected proudly on the mouth of the awesome river Gwaed. What name it may have been given in times before recorded history is unknown, though the origin of its gruesome epitaph stems from an interesting historical anecdote.

As any student of antiquity may well know the Roman conquest of Wales is a matter of recorded history. While the larger swaths of their actions are well documented, there remain a plethora of more obscure events that are nevertheless of interest and importance to the story of our land. During the course of the Roman's attempts to purge the druids' presence, the year 60AD marked a stark turning point. Lead by Suetonius Paulinus, the Romans and their legions marched across the land. Their goal: the druidic stronghold and college on the isle of Ynys Môn, or Anglesey as it is more often known. During their campaign, there were forces aplenty that stood against them, one such case of resistance that is not oft' explored is the Battle of the River of Blood, a brutal clash of steel that took place on a sacred site.

What must be understood is that, during those halcyon days, the druids held a great deal of power. Amongst these rights and edicts was the ability to walk onto the field of a brewing battle and demand its immediate suspension, to call upon the leaders of both sides in an attempt to come to a less martial solution. There is evidence to show that the place we now call Abergwaed was once a site of some significance, though its purpose has long since been lost. As the invaders drew upon the Môn, the native tribe of the Ordevices stood in defiance. As the legions came down on the rebels, a coterie of druids stood boldly before them, seeking to dissuade the invaders away from their bloody path. While the exact details of the battle are sadly lost to the annals of time, it is believed that the general simply laughed in response to the druid's demands, ordering his men to descend on the celts with ruthless intent.

What followed was a battle of epic proportion. So brutal was the clash that it is said that the waters of the river ran red with the blood of the fallen, both celt and roman alike, for days thereafter. Suffice to say, the opposition were defeated in their attempt to prevent the slaughter of the druids. What they did achieve, however, was the procuring of precious time, allowing, according to some accounts, the escape of many druids.

Following this gruesome campaign, Wales fell into the rule of the romans. Eventually this grip would fail during the 5th century, instead splintering into multiple kingdoms. There is little more to note in the history of Abergwaed during this time. Irish raiders, the Norman conquest, Edward I, the rise of Christianity and the suppression of native pagan practices, Howell Dda, William the Conqueror, Llywelyn the Great - all these great events and rulers passed by in the blink of an eye, their impact on Abergwaed variable, though offer little interest to the student of the occult. What may be noted, however, is the scant few references to the persistence of native practices in and around the city of Abergwaed.

Abergwaed itself became renowned for its woolen textiles, cementing itself as an epicenter of such trade and artisan work. The woolen mills were powered by the rushing currents of the Afon Gwaed, the River of Blood. Some historical accounts claim that the wool produced from such mills were unnaturally keen to take in red dye, an artefact on the water's bloody history, perhaps.

Folk legends and superstitions abound in and around the city; stories of armoured ghosts wandering the old streets, the river turning a sanguine red as the sun rises and sets, the sound of thundering footfall, the clashing of steel, the cry of battle, and the stench of blood. The main road of the city is believed to be of roman make, or at least its foundations are, so it is common to see legionnaires and Celtic warriors still marching in solemn step.

Indeed, Abergwaed possesses a unique history of battle and pagan power, making it a site of great interest to those who seek to further their learnedness in matters occult as it relates to the country of Wales."

The following is a collection of details relating to the modern state of Abergwaed, collected mostly from government censuses, surveys, and other publicly available points of data. It is accurate as of 2025.

"Abergwaed is city of marvelous construction and deep history housed in the verdant countryside of west Wales. With a population of 150,000, it is amongst the larger cities in the country. Its background of producing the finest woolen goods declined during the Second World War, a consequence of the dire and unprescedented times. The storied city is now known for its thriving night life, prestigious humanitarian university, and noted communinty of new age spirituality. Abergwaed is an illustious place with a tangible beating heart. Known by some as the Vampire Capital of Wales (so called for the amusing belief that the city is home to a large vampiric population), the Hematic City and its River of Blood are a must-see for those curious adventurers seeking to explore the western regions of Wales.

Perhaps the only downside to this bustling city is its noted crime rate. At a disconcerting 100 crimes per 1,000 people, Abergwaed sits uncomfortably above the national average. This is due in large part to the city's substantial homeless population, with the standard of living for locals being well below what is normal.

Its modern economy relies primarily on tourism, though is still supplemented by its artisinal woven goods; sadly the majority of the old mills have since closed down, with only a few still in use. Spine-tingling ghost walks along the anicent roman roads are among the more popular attractions."