Caer Adern
Caer Adren is the Comital Freehold of Cantrev Gwrly in the Principality of Clwyd.
Overview
Just northwest of the River Dee where the hills of Clwyd begin to rise towards the sky rests Caer Adern, the plas (mansion) of Countess Gwrly. The freehold is to mortal eyes a 16th-century Tudor manor, complete with a thatched roof, cozy guest cottage, and well-stocked stable. In her mortal seeming, Gwrly is a practicing veterinarian and has her office in what was once the carriage house of the estate. Mortals and Kithain from all over Wales bring their pets to her for care. Rather than being cold, harsh and Banal, the practice is a warm and inviting place, with lots of client pictures, a big overstuffed couch, and a floor to ceiling birdcage in one comer. Gwrly's assistant Jessica always has classical music playing on the stereo; she keeps up the bookkeeping and schedules in addition to serving as a veterinary technician. Jessica thinks her boss is a bit eccentric, but knows nothing of the fae. Gwrly's practice is limited to companion animals, but she'll help anyone in an emergency.
Set atop a rise, the plas allows visitors to gaze down onto the rolling green meadows and even glimpse the glittering waters ofthe river on clear days. A stone San, like a big fence, marks the boundaries of the estate so sheep and horses may graze contentedly within the freehold's pastures. Inside the three story house are polished wood floors, oriental carpets, and a bevy of simple but valuable antiques from the 16th and 17th centuries. The plas looks much the same to enchanted eyes, except that everything seems bathed in a golden glow of light. Guest rooms are plentiful and in the great room, the cheerful balefire casts warm light on Countess Gwrly and her companions. But the Countess' home pales in comparison to her gardens, for this is the refuge of her heart.
Laid out in a large knotwork pattern with hedges and paths, the gardens contain native plants and numerous herbs as well as hardy imported flowers and shrubs. A hedge maze provides entertainment (or a romantic meeting place) for guests find residents alike. All year long, it is a place awash with both color and song, as this is the source of the plas' name. All manner of birds dwell in the gardens, from tiny finches and hummingbirds to silvery doves and noble falcons. A lily pond invites swans and geese as well. Part of the Glamour of Caer Adern is the peaceful coexistence of these creatures and the natural power Countess Gwrly seems to have over them. In her presence, they sing and call and even alight on her fingertips. Rumors whisper that in the years of dissent between Countess Gwrly and Countess Angharad, the balance between the raptors and songbirds has slowly diminished.
References
- CTD. Isle of the Mighty, pp. 153-154.