Of Gods and Men

I had the opportunity to join the Mega Game “Of Gods and Men” in Llandudno this weekend. Collaboratively and competitively playing with 40+ others in a mix of roleplay, strategy, wargame and simulation based in ancient Wales around the time of the Roman conquest.

Six kings of Cymru, each vying for prestige under the gaze of five capricious but all-powerful gods, whilst eight questing heroes cross the land seeking personal glory.

All in the magnificent surroundings of a Welsh tabernacle! An excellent time was had by all and the glory of Deeside Defenders was upheld.

This is highly recommended, and I offer huge thanks the dozen or so organisers that worked tirelessly to run the event.

This is a hugely impressive gaming event that I would love to see recreated in our club.

Find out more at their official website. https://sites.google.com/view/of-gods-and-men-2025/home

Scroll down for my account of playing the Brenin of Deceangli!

Alan

Thank you all for a wonderful weekend.

Six kingdoms of Cymru

AD 51

A Devotional Beginning!

Cymru is at peace. Upon taking the throne I vow to keep it that way. At the behest of my great Druid (Nia Roberts) I begin a building programme for a temple to the glory of Brigantia, goddess of wisdom, justice and music. Trade with nearby Gangani and further to Caledonia, along with our own economic efforts, brings resources and men to our kingdom.

Wary of the fragile peace and on observing petty squabbles between other kingdom we make tentative efforts to reinforce our citadel and train beserkers (elite troops).

AD 52-53

Peace and Growth!

Two years of affluent peace. Brigantia blesses us and our harvests are plentiful. Our economy booms. Our devotion grows, her temple is improved. We also attract the blessing of Modron and honour him with further devotions and temple building. Our walls are stronger as we forge an alliance with nearby Gangani.

Petty squabbles between Brenins break out elsewhere, but we stay clear preferring trade over war.

Mighty heroes cross the land, the local miner-hero Owain joins our cause, undertaking great feats to free our lands of monsters and agreeing to lead our armies in defence of our lands - should it become necessary.

AD 54

Disaster!

Our trading allies call us to arms. An unprovoked attack from Demetae on Gangani cannot be ignored. I am reluctant to break our peace but Demetae must be taught a lesson.  I dispatch our fledgling army with the great Prince (Gwion Roberts) to ally with the mighty Owain and Gangani army.

Disaster! Neither the Gangani army or our pledged hero attend the siege of the Dementae citadel.

Our forces are routed!

Gangani sued Demetae for peace and withdrew like cowards, leaving us to carry their war. While the mighty Owain was delayed trying to clear other lands of rampaging beasts.

AD 55

Betrayal!

My displeasure with Gangani’s failure to enjoin their own war is expressed in words rather than deeds. A pound of flesh is required. A tribute to an oath-keeping ally. I seek peace not vengeance, and commit to further trade.

Our allegiance to Brigantia and Modred is reinforced with our Druid Nia in constant supplication to our gods. Our land abounds with plenty and our fortifications and army grow significantly.

Our trade envoy with Prince Gwion is rebuffed and refused by the worm-like Gangani! In return their trade boats appear in our docks - stuffed full of troops.

We are attacked. I rebuff Gangani claims they act under the direction of the god Teranis. This smells of mortal greed.

Our defence is lead by the mighty Owain, keen to make amends for his earlier absence, the gods smile on our devotion and the foul back-stabbing Gangani are routed from the field.

We dedicate our victory to Brigantia and are recognised as the mightiest land within Cymru.

A great Eisteddfod!

A grand gathering of the peoples of Cymru, places challenges of skill and intellect upon each Kingdom. (Bar games in the tavern).

Completing the three challenges in first, third and fifth place brings further prestige to Deceangli and a bardic circle is built in honour of our now Great Bardic Druid Nia.  I believe we may have drawn envy and ire from the lesser kingdoms for our success, but I remain humble in our glory.

AD 56

The Roman Decree!

Having subdued the Angles to our east, and tired of Welsh raids and disruption to Roman trade, the six Brenin of Cymru are called upon to pledge allegiance to the power of Rome. I am of a mind to drive them from our lands but our Great Druid has visitations from the Lords Modron and Brigantia. Our way lies elsewhere, our gods direct conciliation with Rome.

It is true that I tire of the petty squabbles of my fellow Brenin. United, Cymru cannot be taken. But perhaps the way to unite is through the greater power of Rome?

AD 57

Isolation!

In accordance with the wishes of our Gods I pledge our lands and people to the cause of Rome. Under the eagle we may find unity and cease the senseless divisions. Alas of the six nations under Cymru only the lowly Corvanii see sense in joining us in bending the knee. We stand together against the combined might of Gangani, Ordovices, Siluria and Demetae.

Roman gold fills our treasury and the blessings of our gods repay our devotion. Despite looming war, our economy booms. A mighty army is recruited and trained limited only by the capacity of the gods (they ran out of plastic figures!)

Where once Deceangli was revered across Cymru it is now openly called traitor.

AD 58

The Calm before the Storm!

Limited to trade only with fellow Cornovii, we bolster our forces and wait.

Our preparations are complete. Along with Owain we recruit the mighty Arthur (yes, THAT Arthur) and Bran, each a hero of significant glory and aligned to Rome. Our devotion to Brigantia and Modron continues, supplemented with human sacrifices to the Roman god Jupiter. I suspect our druidic sacrifices have, to date claimed more lives than the wars i have fought!

We have emptied our reserves, called in every favour, bent every knee. When war comes we can do no more.

We wait.

The four welsh kingdoms - once enemies now thrown together against a common enemy - make poor bedfellows. Unable to agree on a strategy their lands are disrupted as the Romans attack all who defied them.

Our shores remain untrodden by Cymru soles.

For now.

AD 59

The End of Cymru.

There is nothing to do but wait.

Our once bountiful economy now dedicated to war. I wonder if the constant sacrifices to the gods may rob us of man power best stood upon the city walls with spear in hand.

But now is not a time to doubt our gods.

When the boats do come they are full of Welsh men from every region. A force from small Cornovii bravely joins our ranks bolstered also by a Roman legion.

In our region shall the fate of Wales be sealed.

Pouring from the remaining ships comes the combined berserk horde of Cymru, with the hero Bedivere at its head, Cadoc, Elen and Gwenllian also, all march under the divine symbols of Teranis and Mabon.

When we lose, there shall be no regret, for there is nought else that could be done. If our heroes hold true and their gathered magic and personal glory are wielded with honour then we may yet not disgrace ourselves this day.

A Manifestation.

The lady Brigantia herself has come to the mortal realm! We have a true god upon our side!

Of the enemies arrayed before us it is Demetae I fear most. Second most powerful in the land, they may rest glory from us, yet it is the arrogance of Gangani that claims leadership of the invaders, taking prestige from Demetae - there is a glimmer of hope we might hold.

As the uncountable troops throw themselves upon our walls, divine magic intervenes on both sides. Teranis conjures away our heroes only to be rebuffed by Brigantia. Heroes clash, spells are cast and magic spears and swords are swung.

Our outer walls fall. But every man upon them sells his life dearly.

Still unwilling to trust each other fully, and fearing they might turn on each other, the enemy kingdoms did not pack their boats with every available man, leaving some in defence of their own citadels. Their caution is our hope. We might yet hold the inner citadel wall.

Men die, heroes exhaust themselves and even the gods waver in weariness.

One last cast of the die - and the battle is fought to a standstill.

Neither side claiming glory.

We look to Brigantia, to Modron. They cast their final divine favour into the wind - beyond the walls Teranis does likewise.

We are undone by the narrowest of margins (four kingdosm against 2 - it all ultimately comes don to a count of divine favour tokens - we lose by ONE!)

In a last act Brigantia blesses our citadel preventing the wanton sacking of her temples befroe she returns to the heavens!

In the final reckoning it is enough, but barely. Though broken and bloodied our great defence brings further prestige and as the dead are cleared and the invaders skulk back to their lands, The great Land of Deceangli proclaims itself victorious - still the greatest in the land (We won by ONE prestige point).

Our six lands are ravaged by the pointlessness of civil war and the Romans shall now find us easy pickings but I go to my death knowing that Deceangli perished as the most prestigious land in Cymru and I as its glorious Brenin.

Vinci vidi vici

What a wonderful weekend!