Caerleon, City of Legions

Founded in the days of the Empire, Caerleon was an important port city and the home to the Iron Legion. Although it is no longer the great city it once was, it still bears the marks of its past glory. Outside are the once-busy harbor and docks, with taverns and old bathhouses that now provide shelter for the poor. The walls are kept in good repair, however, and the older structures that once housed imperial soldiers have been adapted to the more wealthy townsfolk. The town center is dominated by the Church of Saint Cadoc. On the hill above the town is a fortress for the Rhyngill and his officers.

Demographics

Humans (75%) Halflings (20%) Others (5%)

Government

The town is administered for the Brenin of Gwent-Glywising by the local Rhyngill and his officers. The surrounding farmsteads and villas owe food tribute as well as labor; such is organized by the chief of kin in each of the settlements. Justice is administered locally with the Rhyngill acting as Chief Constable and Justiciar and the chief landowners acting as jurors.

Defences

Fortress: The Rhygill of Caerleon is the nephew of the Brenin. He protects the town from the fortress perched on the hill above, restored within the last half-century from a much older hillfort that predated the imperial era. The fortress is defended by great ramparts and palisades as well as a series of watch towers that command a clear view to the mouth of the Wysg and as far as Bryn Buga to the north.
Gates and Towers: As with most towns of imperial design, there are four gates, each flanked by a pair of strong towers. Likewise, four great towers stand at the corners of the town walls, reinforced with lesser towers along the 1/4 mile length of each wall.
Walls: The town walls are 20' high and 13' wide, patrolled by mercenaries from the hill clans to the west. A second rampart and palisade has been constructed of wood as a protective measure for the houses and shops that sprawl outside the town itself. This second rampart is meant to deter lightly armed, opportunistic raiders, as well as giving the locals a chance to get inside the town walls in the event of a more concerted attack.

Industry & Trade

Caerleon carries on a bustling trade. Furs, seal pelts, oil, and arms making their way down the River Wysg are traded for wool from Eriu and Dalriada, wine from the Merovingian Kingdoms, and spices, rare woods, and silks from Moorish Iberia. Several shipwrights, coopers, and rope makers make their living here, with local navigators available to help incoming ships through the treacherous shoals and rocks of the Saffron Sea.
The merchants of the town are supported by the saltwater fishermen, the freshwater weirs, the rich farmlands, and the thick forests of the surrounding area. Additionally, drovers make their way eastward along the low road from beyond Y-Bont Faen, shepherds from the hills, and swineherds from the woodlands. There is a horse fair in the early spring, attended even by some Moorish merchants with beautiful long-legged animals far sleeker, stronger, and faster than those from the Saxon or Cymbrian Kingdoms.
These exotic ships sometimes bring even more exotic items for trade. It is not unknown for a purveyor of potions and even more esoteric items to arrive from Arabica or Byzantios looking for a good trade.

Infrastructure

Caerleon was once a regional capital for the Empire; as a port city and a legionary fortress, it relied heavily on a communication network that traveled upriver, over land, and across the sea. The remnants of this network still operate today.
Roads and Bridges:
The old imperial low road runs from east to west, beginning at Caer Caradog and passing through Caerleon all the way to Caer Myrddin more than 10 leagues distant. The way is maintained by the local villages and patrolled by road wardens, who keep a vigilant eye for opportunistic clan chieftains or even petty lords looking to profit from commercial traffic. Minor roads also follow the path of the Wysg River on both sides to the town of Caer Gafenny in the north.
There is a fortified stone bridge that spans the Wysg just above the harbor.
River Traffic:
The mouth of the River Wysg is broad and tidal below the town, and even large craft can navigate the river to the harbor. At the harbor itself, any goods traveling further north must be transported onto river barges that take their cargo past the forest town of Bryn Buga to Caer Gafenny in the north.
Inns and Taverns:
There are numerous inns, taverns, and even bath-houses serving both locals and visitors.
Religious Houses:
The Grand Temple of Saint Cadoc: The Church at Caerleon is said to have been founded by Saint Cadoc himself; today it is a central feature of the town, served by a small army of deacons and acolytes.
The Shrine of Manawyddan the Mariner: Located on a small rocky island in the Saffron Sea just south of the mouth of the Wysg, this important shrine is venerated by all but the most impious and hardened of mariners. The priesthood of Manawyddan, consisting mostly of those devoted to his servant Thyrr, works the docks of the town, preaching and collecting donations in the taverns.
Public:
There is a large cistern located below the town itself with access from the former governor's palace (now the residence of the High Priest of Saint Cadoc). Rumor has it that other secret subterranean passages are connected to the cistern, but these are likely wild tales fed by imagination.

Natural Resources

The Saffron Sea and the tidal estuary of the Wysg provide salmon, mackerel, and sea bass, while flocks of sheep graze on the hills and swine and goats forage in the woods. In the valleys, farmers work the land as their ancestors have done for generations.

Alternative Name(s)

City of Legions

Type

Town

Population

1400

Owning Organization

The Kingdom of Gwent-Glywising

The Tuskers Inn

This well-to-do establishment, run by Tudur ap Ynon, is favored by prosperous foreign merchants from Eriu, Dal Riada, Frisia, the Merovingian Kingdoms, and sometimes even more exotic locations.  It is a good place to go to learn information about events in far kingdoms.  One can also find mercenaries and rivermen for hire at the Tuskers, through Tudur's extensive contacts.  They can be expensive, but Tudur's contacts have a reputation for trustworthiness.