The de Gales Clan -- (c) 1996 Peter Corless

Excerpt from the work in progress "The Courts of King Arthur", (c) 1996,
Peter Corless. (Written for future publication by the Chaosium)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The de Gales Clan 

King Pellinore of the Long Isles, or Pellinore de Gales (Wales), was
the greatest knight in the world during Arthur's youth, and was granted
the seat next to the Siege Perilous at the Round Table. Merlin led him to
the place during Arthur's first granting of places at the Round Table.
But this last high place was reserved for the best knight in the world;
it utterly destroyed anyone of lesser degree who sat in it undeservedly!
Galahad was the only knight to ever acheive this honored place at the Round
Table.
	Pellinore is the brother of the Grail King Pellam, and as
such, his life and his family is heavily affected by the mystery of
the Grail Quest. However, Pellinore's life centers around a quest not
for the Grail, but for Glatisant, the marvelous "Questing Beast" (see
Pendragon, illustration pg. 324; adventure pgs. 325-326). 
	Pellinore was reknown primarily for his adventurous heart. To
him, the quest was everything! - though his lack of care towards his
kingdom caused its fall to the Irish. Secondly, he was reknown for his
"adventurous heart," meaning his philandering ways. 
	Pellinore had a number of illegitimate children. Most notable
was Sir Tor, called "Le Fise Aries," after his cowherding
step-father. Later, Pellinore acknowledged Tor as his son, and the
young knight became an early member of the Round Table. 
	After killing Lot at the Battle of Castle Terrabel in field
combat, Pellinore was murdered by the Orkney clan. His son Melodiam
challenged Gawaine to answer for his crimes, but Melodiam's death
under Gawaine's sword put an end to the dispute for many years. 
	It erupted again when Lamorak was found to be the lover of
Gawaine's mother Margawse. Lamorak too fell to the vengeful treachery
of the Orkney clan. However, Tor, Aglovale, and Percivale de Gales
never raised a hand against the Orkneys. Though treated as despised
enemies by the Orkneys, their forbearance in the face of such blind
hatred made them famous for forgiveness. 
	Skills common to de Gales clansmen were horsemanship and
jousting. Every de Gales knight was never far from his steed, and
Lamorak himself was known as the best jouster in the world, often
regarded better than Lancelot or Tristram! Because of his prowess,
Lamorak was considered the leader of the clan, though Aglovale was
slightly older. 
	The youngest son, Percival, had been hidden away in the
forests for his childhood years by his mother. She, quite rightly,
feared the wrathful Orkneys and raised him to be holy and penitent -
hoping he would never wish to become a knight like his
brothers. However, the wanderlust was in his blood: Percival became a
great knight of the Round Table. Percival later took part in the
completion of the Grail Quest along with his sister Amide, Sir Galahad
and Sir Bors.  
	More than anything else, the de Gales knights were
adventurers, like their father. They loved the fields and forests, and
jousting at a crossroads or bridge for the love of it. 
	As a group, the de Gales were not as fond of the glory of
battle as the Pendragons, the intrigue of court as the Orkneys, or the
public adoration of the tourney field as the de Ganis knights. Yet
this is not to say they did not enjoy or participate in such
events. For example Lamorak easily unhorsed 30 opponents at Gareth's
wedding tourney! 
	None of Pellinore's sons ever marry as far as we know, and all
except Lamorak seemingly give up the lustful ways of their
father. (Barring the version of Percival, by Wolfram von Eschenbach,
where Percival marries, becomes the Grail King, lives "happily ever
after" and has a famous son, named Lohengrin. However, this digresses
greatly from the chaste Percivale of Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur.)  
	Overall, the de Gales knights' quests were more often than not
played out and resolved in the solitude of the heart, and across the
lonely wilds of Britain. 

Theme: The Self (The Personal Quest)

	The de Gales represent the Cymri, the people of isolated and
wild Cambria. As such, each is a rugged individualist. They are all on
the spiritual journey of the warrior. Pellinore spent his life
persuing Glatisant the Questing Beast. Sir Tor recovered the white
brachet in the Triple Quest. Lamorak jousted for the sake of jousting
upon the open road. Percivale sought the Grail. This was a clan of
individuals, each with their own unique calling. 
	This individuality is likewise true of their role as leaders
of Wales. The Welsh are insular, not an empire-building dynasty as the
Britons are, and Pellinore is a very different sort of a king than
Arthur. Indeed, Pellinore shuns the role of secular leader, and
prefers the life of the simple knight errant. 
	Neither do the de Gales hold together as a clan, like the
Orkneys. Nor do they form the extended and open brotherhood of the de
Ganis knights. Instead, the de Gales look within themselves for
strength. 
	To state how the de Gales are not like the other clans is, in
a way, to serve up examples of the belief the de Gales, and the Welsh
in general, hold of their individuality. 
	In religious parallel, the de Gales represent those who quest
for God individually: the hermit, the gnostic, the mystic. They have a
personal relationship with their creator, without worldly intercessor
of priest, abbot or pope. This is the key belief of Celtic
Christianity. 
	As Celtic Christianity is often associated with pre-Christian
Druidic traditions, the de Gales clan is closely connected with Pagan
Welsh roots: with the Great Cycle of birth, youth, maturity, and
finally death. The quest is the rite of passage of the individual
though these stages. Pellinore's quest for a supernatural beast shows
how close the connection is to the Pagan tradition of the Wild
Hunt. The passing of this quest to the Saracen Palomides ensures it
continues as a non-Christian tradition. 

de Gales Clan Characteristics

Leaders:
 * King Pellinore of the Isles (Phases 1-2; murdered by Orkney clan in 523 AD)
 * Sir Lamorak de Gales (Phases 2-4; takes over after Pellinore
   murdered and Melodiam slain in 524; murdered by Orkney clan in 552) 
 * Sir Percival de Gales (Phase 4; arrives at court 545, dies in Grail
   Quest 556) 
 * Sir Aglovale (Phase 5, killed, along with Sir Tor, 563 AD in
   Lancelot's rescue of Guenever - the clan has been destroyed) 

Homeland: Gales (Wales)
Culture: Cymric (Welsh)
Religion: Christian (Celtic-Pagan)

Clan Modifers:
Direct:
Statistics: +2 STR, +1 DEX, +1 SIZ, +2 APP
Skills: +5 Hunting, +10 Horsemanship, +5 Sword, +5 Lance 
Traits: +3 to each of Pagan virtues: Lustful, Energetic, Generous,
Honest, and Proud; plus +3 Forgiving, +3 Valorous 
Directed Trait: Energetic (to Travel) +2d6
Passions: +1d6 Hospitality, +1d3+3 Honor, -1d6 to all Loyalties
Glory: +3000*
Indirect:
Statistics: +1 STR +1 SIZ, +1 APP
Skills: +2 Hunting, +5 Horsemanship, +2 Sword, +3 Lance 
Traits: +1 to each of Pagan virtues: Lustful, Energetic, Generous,
Honest, and Proud; plus +1 Forgiving, +1 Valorous 
Directed Trait: Energetic (to Travel) +1d6
Passions: +1d3 Hospitality, +1d3 Honor, -1d3 to all Loyalties
Glory: +1500*


Marriage:
Immediate:
Glory: same as per Pendragon (pg. 121, up to 1000 points max.), plus
+1500 for marriage to clan member of direct lineage, or +750 to
indirect  (extended) clan member.* 
Honor: +1d3 (for direct marriage) or +1 (for indirect marriage)
After one full year of marriage, recieve:
Skills: +3 Horsemanship, +2 Hunting 
Traits: +1 to each of Pagan virtues: Lustful, Energetic, Generous,
Honest, and Proud; plus +1 Forgiving, +1 Valorous 

de Gales Clan "Black Sheep"

Sir Percivale de Gales

Like Gareth, Percivale was kept apart from his family for the great
bulk of his young life, being raised by his mother far from
court. Unlike Gareth, who as a member of the Orkney clan was welcome
at court, Percivale was kept away for mortal fear of his safety. 
	He is atypical of the de Gales in being chaste and religious
in nature as these are traits of his mother. This is quite unlike his
roving father King Pellinore and his dangerously romantically-inclined
brother Sir Lamorak. 
	At the same time, Percivale was not unlike his kin in many
ways: a traveller, a forgiving heart, and a brave and marvellous
knight.	Perhaps because of his distance from his kin, or due to his
piety, Percivale escaped the animosity the Orkneys had for the rest of
his clan. Indeed, Gawaine genuinely liked Percivale, and by many
accounts, they befriended each other along the Grail Quest. 

Significant Traits & Passions:
 * Chaste XX
 * Pious XX
 * Trusting XX
 * Modest XX
 * Love (God) XX
 * Special: Not subject to the "Hatred (de Gales Clan)" of the Orkneys

Sir Tor "le Fise Aries", "le Fise Vayshoure"
Tor was the son of King Pellinore and Vayshoure, the beautiful wife of
Aries, a common cowherd, and was often referred to as the son of his
common parents, though Pellinore recognized him as one of his own. 
	Strangely enough, Sir Tor, though truly an illegitimate son of
Pellinore, can be perceived as being more of a "de Gales" in character
than Percivale, and shares all of his father's clan traits, albeit as
an indirect member. Yet similar to Percivale, his unique status as an
illegitimate son seems to have saved him from the directed animosity
of the Orkneys. 

Significant Traits & Passions:
 * Has indirect clan benefits, rather than direct clan benits.
 * Special: Not subject to the "Hatred (de Gales Clan)" of the Orkneys