Gwynn ap Lludd (ɡwɪn ap ɬɪð)

"I rule because I cannot abide being ruled by another."

— Gwynn ap Lludd

Gwynn ap Lludd is the King of the Ellyll - the spirits and gods of the Dhewen Peoples. He is the spirit of the island of Ynys, but his influence extends across the Ynys Archipelago - except for the island of Vannin, where Manandán reigns, and Oileán Fiáin, which is dominated by the Fae courts. Despite his throne, Gwynn is not an authoritarian figure; he is a wanderer and trickster who prizes his freedom and autonomy over all. He became ruler of the Ellyll not out of ambition, but because he refuses to be ruled - and has the power to make that refusal stand. He rarely governs directly, but he does hold court each month under the full moon atop Mynydd Ellyll.

Trickster and Vagrant

Gwynn ap Lludd rarely appears as a king. More often, he is seen loping down the roads and across the fields of Ynys - tall and lean, with white hair and beard. His eyes twinkle with merriment, and he is always accompanied by at least one dog, more often a whole pack. He is friendly to other travelers, and those who meet him rarely realize they are speaking to a god - much less a king of gods.

When the need arises, he will stand to his full height and reveal his true form. He stretches, unfolding to more than seven feet tall, as a great crown of antlers shimmers into being above his head. His voice becomes like thunder. In this shape, he inspires awe and reverence in all who witness him - but he prefers, when possible, to remain a genial stranger.

Most tales of Gwynn ap Lludd portray him as a trickster who delights in pranks and practical jokes. He also loves to tell and hear stories, and it is said that anyone who makes him laugh will enjoy good luck for a year thereafter. His tricks are measured against the malice and ill-will a person shows to others - those who are good-natured and kind are rarely the targets of his mischief, while the cruel and arrogant are singled out for jokes designed to humble and humiliate. On rare occasions, Gwynn ap Lludd may even play a deadly prank - but such acts are reserved for murderers and monsters alone.

The Wild Hunt

During the winter months, Gwynn ap Lludd mounts a horse of shadow and ice and rides out as the leader of the Wild Hunt. From barrows and graveyards, he is joined by hunters and hounds released from the lands of the dead, and many other Ellyll also take part in the great ride. The Hunt sweeps up and down the land, and to meet it is to become its prey. During these nights, there is little of the kindly trickster in Gwynn ap Lludd - he becomes something older and wilder, a primordial force unbound. The Hunt will pursue any soul it finds and will not relent unless stopped at the threshold of a home; only there can one claim sanctuary from its wrath.

Free and Wild

During The Conquest of Ynys, Gwynn ap Lludd was one of the gods imprisoned by the Clarati. He was bound beneath Beinn Neimh and left to fade from memory. Though his stories were still told, he lost much of his history and power during those long years in darkness. He was eventually freed, shortly before the Age of Warlocks, by the legendary outlaw Tod the Fox, who discovered the means to break the chains that held the King of the Ellyll captive. Since then, Gwynn ap Lludd has become even more prone to wandering, and can often only be reliably found during the monthly court held atop Mynydd Ellyll.