[b][u]The Celtic Kingdoms of Britannia:[/u][/b]

[b]Alba:[/b] The High Kingdom of Alba is the realm which should, in theory, encompass all of the southern part of Scotland. According to tradition, the High Kingdom was founded in the first century b.C. by Fergus Mòr Mac Earca, the legendary ancestor of the ancient family of the Gabráins and first High King of all Scotland. His descendants later split into two lines; currently the Eastern line, residing in the great stronghold of Dùn Chailleann (also called Dunkeld) hold the High Kingship, and have been for quite a long time. Although the power of the High Kings has fluctuated greatly over the centuries, the High Kingdom of Alba can be considered to be one of the most powerful nations of the North. The current high king of Alba is Kenneth mac Cinioch, residing in Dùn Chailleann, and the most prominent religion is Celtic Christianity.

[b]Dál Riata:[/b] The Kingdom of Dál Riata is one of the lesser realms that are part of the High Kingdom of Alba, but refuse to acknowledge the house of Dùn Chailleann as rightful High Kings. The kings of this realm are part of the Western line of the dynasty descended from the High King of Alba Gabrán mac Domangairt, who in turn was a successor of Fergus Mòr. He is remembered as a prestigious and mighty ruler, and after his death in the end of the first century a.C. in the end of the fifth century the royal house of Alba decided to bear his name instead of that of Fergus. Several of the Kings of Dál Riata managed to be accepted as High Kings of Alba and ruled over the whole of the North, if only in name. The greatest King of the blood of Gabráin, Áedán mac Gabráin tried to unify Alba, Éire and the Hen Ogledd into one great Northern State; although he was initially successful, he was defeated in the battle of Degsastan by a coaltion of Saxon lords, suffering no less than 33 wounds. The current king is Duncan mac Bran, residing in Dùn Monaidh, and the most prominent religion is Celtic Paganism.

[b]Ystrad Clud:[/b] The Kingdom of Ystrad Clud is the other realm that, while being formally part of the High Kingdom of Alba, does not recognize the current High Kings as legitimate. This kingdom in its current form was founded in the beginning of the fifth century by Artgal of Alt Clut, first King of Ystrad Clud and first (and last) High King of the Hen Ogledd. Known by the many as the Arthur of the North, Artgal of Alt Clut ruled over a vast kingdom centered around his great fortress of Dùn Breatainn, the oldest stronghold still standing in all of the Islands. His endless wars against the Picts ruined his kingdom, and while the Picts could not overcome him, the great fortress of Dùn Breatainn fell after a great siege by a great Saxon host of raiders, lasted for four months; in the end the wells of the castle dried out. In the end King Artgal and his followers decided to die of thirst rather than surrender to the Saxons. Still, the kingdom survived this ordeal, and still stands today. The current king is Meirion mac Bedwyr, residing in Dùn Breatainn, and the most prominent religion is Celtic Paganism.

[b]Fortiu:[/b] The High Kingdom of Fortriu is the loose confederation of all the Pictish tribes and clans living in the northernmost part of Britannia. The first one to unify all these clans during the second half of the second century was Findláech mac Ruaidrí, first King of Fortriu. Findláech managed to become king after several successful campaigns throughout the North, and also managed acknowledged as High King of Alba. His rule was ephemereal, as he died at the hands of his own son Mac Bethad, Ri Deircc - the Red King. Mac Bethad would in turn become High King of Fortriu and Alba after brutally assassinating all those who would oppose him. Widely accused of using witchcraft in order to further his ambitions, Mac Bethad openly took the title of The Witch King of Fortriu. Several lesser kings are said to have died as a result of his witchery, and even Duncan, the then King of Alba, is said to have succumbed to his unholy powers. Being true to his blood, his son Mac Bethad II assassinated his own father, also taking to the title of Witch King of Fortriu with relish. The power of this ancient line has been reduced a lot over the centuries, but they are still feared enough to manage to keep the Pictish tribes somewhat cohese. The current king of Fortriu is Moireach mac Niall, residing in Craig Phadrig, and the most prominent religion of the realm is Celtic Paganism.

[b]Caledonia:[/b] The Kingdom of Caledonia is the name given by scholars to the terriories belonging to the Pictish tribe of the Caledonians and their subjects, who do not recognize the High Kingdom of Fortriu's authorit; they are probably the most barbarous of all the Celtic tribes. Their chieftains claim descendance from Calgacus, King of the Caledoni, a true legend among his people. Calgacus achieved what many believed to be impossible; in the beginning of the second century, he united the disparate tribes of the North, to fight their common enemy: Rome. Even Tacitus acknowledged him as "the most distinguished and valorous of the chieftains". His speech before the Battle of Mons Graupius became part of the mythology of the Peoples of the North; he famously proclaimed: "Here at the very end of the Earth slavery is a thing unknown, and we would do well to die as free men rather than be the slaves of Rome." Then, he finished the speech saying that "the Romans make a desert and call it peace"", a saying often repeated throughout history. The battle was won, Calgacus died that day with honor, surrounded, yet never surrendering, prefering death to slavery. Today the Caledonians remain the fiercest of all the Pictish tribe, refusing to bow down to any High King. The current chief of the Caledonians is Maelchon mac Faolan, residing in Eilean Donan, and the most prominent religion of the realm is Celtic Paganism.

[b]Rheged:[/b] The Kingdom of Rheged is all that remains of the Hen Ogledd, the "Old North"; which means, the last Celtic kingdom in northern Englaland. It was founded in the sixth century by Urien Rheged, King of Rheged and Sovereign Lord of the Hen Ogledd. One of the legendary Battle-Leaders of the Brythons, Urien Rheged imposed his authority over the Old North and halted the Saxon advance towards the North, thus being acknowledged as High King by the Brythons of the Hen Ogledd, and as Sovereign Lord by the Artorian kings of Brythonia. Invincible in battle and widely respected by the Brythons, Urien married the Artorian princess Morgana, and together they would sire a long line of kings. Morgana would later kill her husband and rule as Queen in her own right over Rheged and the Men of the North. While it is said that the Saxons of the South are steel, the Men of the North are stone. Now, this kingdom has been reduced in size and power by the Saxon and Norse invasions, and is the last home of the Gwyr y Gogledd - the Men of the North. The current king of Rheged is Owain mac Malcom, residing in Luguwaljon, and the most prominent religion of the realm is Celtic Christianity.

[b]Éire:[/b] The High Kingdom of Éire is the kingdom which should, in theory, encompass the whole of the island. The first one to hold such a title in recorded history was Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, a legendary warrior and chieftain, who, according to tradition, unified the whole of Ireland under his rule in the first century a.C.. The legend says that, in a sacred ceremony on the Holy Hill of Tara, Brian married the goddess Medb, and as the ceremony came to a close Brian touched the Lia Fáil (the Stone of Destiny), and the stone sang, as it had not since time of Cúchulainn. As the rightful king of Ireland, Brian should have enjoyed a long and prosperous reign, but it was not to be; the Romans, feeling menaced by the king's ever-growing power and prestige among the Celts and fearing a Celtic uprising led by him, they decided to send a punitve expedition to Hibernia. At the Battle of Clontarf, Brian led his Fianna Fáil, his Warriors of Destiny, against a vast Roman host, and while his army emerged victorious their rightful king fell to treachery. It is said that in Sacred Tara the Lia Fáil roared with sorrow, and that since then it has fallen silent once more. Today, the kingdom of Éire is merely a shadow of the past, and its vassals are such merely in name, and govern their fiefdoms as petty kingdoms. The current high king of Éire is Murchad Ó Bradáin, residing in Bun na Raite, and the kingdom's population is evenly split between Celtic Christians and Pagans, although the king himself is Pagan.

[b]Gwynedd:[/b] The Kingdom of Gwynedd is one of the three kingdoms in which Cymru has been divided since ancient times. The most important king of Gwynedd, however, was Maelgwn ap Cadwallon, who not only turned Gwynedd into a powerful and strong kingdom during the fifth century, but also managed to be proclaimed High King of the Brythons. Maelgwn remains a legendary character among the Brythons, partly because of Taliesin the Bard, his son-in-law and court bard, who immortalized him in the many great songs. Descendant of both Artorius and Constantine of Britannia on the maternal lines, Maelgwn was one of the chief supporters of Christianity in Brythonia. His agenda of turning Brythonia into a Christian nation turned the Pagan Brythons against him, and the king found his death at the hands of the Pagan priesthood, burned alive as a sacrifice to the old gods. Today, Gwynedd is still one of the major hubs of Celtic Christianity, and its beautiful and impregnable fortress-monastries are known in all the isles. The current king of Gwynedd is Rhun ap Tewdwr, residing in Aberffro.

[b]Powys:[/b] The Kingdom of Powys is the second kingdom of the Welsh. This kingdom rose to prominence in recent times, during the reign of Rhodri ap Mawr the Great, King of Powys and High King of Brythonia. A staunch pagan, Rhodri was a legendary leader and general, and he is regarded as the main reason because of which the Norse never settled Cymru. The legend says that he was proclaimed High King because the other kings and chieftains were terrorized and impressed when he sacrificed a thousand Norse prisoners by burning them alive, as a sacrifice to the Celtic Gods. Ever impulsive and fearless, Rhodri died in battle against the Norse after charging their line alone, with his troops refusing to fight a greatly superior enemy. His death would inspire his army to victory and the name of Rhodri the Great would become a rallying cry against any subsequent Norse invasion. The current king of Powys is Alwyn ap Glynn, residing in Mathrafal, and the prominent religion in the realm is Celtic Paganism.

[b]Dyfed:[/b] The Kingdom of Dyfed is the last of the Welsh kingdoms. The current kings of Dyfed claim descendance from Artorius himself, although they are of a cadet branch of the Artorian house. The kingdom of Dyfed is the only Celtic realm to have embraced the Pelagian religion; also, because of its vicinity with the Roman states, it is more organized and centralized than most Celtic kingdoms, and it is also heavily romanized, with Latin being the official language of the court. The current king of Dyfed is Maximus Valentinus Artorius, residing in Dinefwr, and the most prominent religion of the realm is Pelagianism. 

[b]Brythonia:[/b] The High Kingdom of Brythonia is, in theory, the state that should encompass the whole of Englaland, Cymru, and Dumnonia; however, it only holds a small fraction of these territories. Originally, it was born when Lucius Artorius, because of his military exploits as a Roman general, was named co-emperor and granted the province of Britannia, which was turned in Artorius's personal kingdom. The most famous of the Artorii, however, is undoubtely Magnus Artorius, whom, in the battle of Mons Badonicus in 500 C.E., utterly halted the Saxon advance towards the west and arguably saved Wales and Ireland from a Saxon invasion. In 537, he would die killed in sigle combat by his own son Mordred, during the Battle of Camlann. Since then, the main line of the Artorii, the Pendragons, reside in the kingdom of Brythonia, and albeit they lost much of their former power, they are still as prestigious as ever. The current king of Brythonia is Arturus Quintus Pendragon, residing in Corinium, and the main religion of the realm is Celtic Christianity.