Further South one could follow the Afon Colwyn to it's junction with the Afon Glaslyn, and from there to the new capital, Harlech, on Tremadog Bay.  Though newly Llyr's capitol, the fortress of Harlech was, in cunning and design, of simmilar bygone era as the citadel of Caer Narvon, but on a somewhat lerger scale.  It had been built to gaurd the coast from some ancient enemy, long ago.  It could house a quarter million armed men, and it took nearly that number to adequately man the walls.  The coast was thus fortified every fifteen miles; and to the north, in Albion, the melted remains of such places as Harlech bore mute witness to the fact that the need had been great, and the enemy terrible.  Still, only the wise recalled why there had been need of such places, so far distant was that epoch in history.  The truth was, that the people of the west had come across the sea to wipe out the white race, whom they had despised, and take their lands, as their own broke apart and were swallowed up by the floods which their science had caused.  In Harlech Bay merchants imported cargoes from all ports of the know world.  In Harlech spices, ivory and gem stones from Africa were bartered for furs, metal and amber from the far north, or for wool, produce and tin from at home.  With enough gold, one could purchase precious scented resins, and oils in glass vials from Egypt.  Silks, cotton, linen and even cloth of Tyrian purple were to be had for a steep price. Greek wine, olives and olive oil came in great clay amphorae to be sold at auction on Harlech's quay.  And of course there was the perpetual slave market that no town or city in the ancient world was undefiled by. The people of Harlech were worldly, accustomed to foreign faces and outlandish fashions.  They were comfortable relating to varied and diverse people, even forging friendships and business partnerships when it seemed fortuitous.  It was not at all uncommon for merchants, and travelers well spoken, to be received at the King's own table, or to be entertained by him at Harlech Castle.  The business of trade most often took precedence over politics, but there was of course money in political secrets as well, the Phoenicians being especially forthcomming in this area, having, as they did, elaborate spy networks in all ports.  The Phoenicians were not always well received but they were vital, and so tollerated.  More well received were the Essenes, wlth their small gold casks, and the little cakes within, though what use these were was a great secret.  None but those who sold, and those who purchased, could divine what merit the little cakes possessed, but kings, queens  and priests of all wise people were eager to pay the price asked.    Life at Penellyn Hall was, by contrast, quite insular. Gruffedd was The P'ellyn, and the Penellestri, which title meant 'minor chief of the cup', generally taken to mean the cup of Cwm Ellyn, the vale where Penellyn Hall stood.  The title was passed down, father to son, and it granted The P'ellyn governorship over the P'ellyn family's land and holdings, which lay to the south of Penellyn Hall.  His responsibilities included overseeing the well-being of the minor landholders and farmers, and their people; limiting the quantity of fish netted at spawning time, and trees harvested from the surrounding forests; and raising, training and arming a garrison of armed and mounted men.  And there was one other duty, alluded to in his title, the fostering of girl children for The Sisterhood.  Thus was he also the Pen Ellestri, Chief (overseer) of Grail Maidens. Somewhat appart from the hall, where the vale widened out, Gruffedd kept the garrison. There fifty men were housed.  In addition he could raise and arm five times that number, with an hours notice, by calling out the freemen of the Pellen clan, and their kin.  Of these he could take pride in being able to horse half, and another fifty with war chariots.  The officers of the garrison supped each eve at the board of The P'ellyn, and on occaisions, such as Sawan-eve, the entire garrison might spend the night in the great room of Penellyn hall.  The men of the garrison were mostly P'ellyns, by birth or mariage, a few others were professional warriors, hired to share their expertise in the training of the farm lads of P'ellyn clan. The P'ellyns were an esteemed family, closely related to the royal line by intermarriage, and held to be wise men, especially skilled in healing.  Their sons, and some daughters, were by custom educated as Druids (as were all young of noble lineage in those times) and took druidic orders, serving as required.  The P'ellyn clan were relative newcomers to the land, having migrated from the north and east of Europe over the course of many centuries, to settle at last in Snowdonia, in the year 650 BC.  In the strange way words have of mutating the word 'pell', meaning 'far', is a remembrance of the Pellens, their status as foreigners, and their distant peregrinations.  And further south, in Cornwall, the fame of the family is recalled in the word 'peller' which means 'wise man'.