"Grail Quest Alternatives" is copyright (c) 1997 Peter Corless. Excerpted from the work in progress "The Courts of King Arthur", Peter Corless, Editor. (Written for future publication by the Chaosium) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Revision History v1.0 - 10 Aug 1997 - Initial version - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grail Quests Alternatives ------------------------- There are many different Grail Quests, each of which is recorded in different languages with different heros, often with the same hero in different circumstances. Some are clearly variants upon the others, and some steer to their own tack entirely. For a gamemaster to create a Grail Quest adventure within their own Pendragon campaign, to suit their own personal beliefs, and to better match the overall tone and theme already in use within a campaign, it would be good to review the changes the Grail Quest underwent in it's historical development through Arthurian literature. It would be better still to use this guide merely to outline different possibilities, while reading the original texts (or modern translations) to get a sense of their subtlety of tale and beauty of language. And it would be best of all for the reader to feel confident enough through familiarity with both the overall themes and plots, as well as the original stories themselves, to craft a satisfying adventure of their own imaginings. Historical Development of the Grail Romances Medieval authors of the Grail Quest were all attempting to mix the needs and desires of the church with those of the court. Most of the early tales, 12-13th Centuries, make Percival the central hero. In these, the courtly aspects of the story predominate -- a gripping romance, and a fine tale, but not a deep exploration of Christian metaphyics. Parzival is a spiritual blank slate, growing up in ignorance in the forest. Naturally talented, but naive, only through the school of hard knocks does he gain the wisdom necessary to succeed on his quest. Gawaine is most often the supporting hero in these Perceval-based Quests, usually as the secular hero to compare to Percival, the spiritual hero. Gawaine has the wordly experience, but Percival exceeds Gawaine in his whole-hearted desire to achieve his goals at great personal sacrifice. If Gawaine is the jovial, solar hero, then Percival is the one who achieves the greater height after dropping to a lower depth. Gawaine even has a romance where he himself is the winner of the Grail, Heinrich von tem Turlin's "Diu Crone." It is a purposeful parody of many other Grail stories. In it, Gawaine achieves the Grail because of his noble qualities but moreso because he is the hero most blessed by the goddess "Luck," rather than by God. (Quite heretical!) It makes great fun of both men and women, having a couple of chastity and nobility tests which all of the knights and ladies of Arthur's court fail for various reasons. It is also one of the most fantastic adventures, filled with giants, dragons, sorcerers, magical steeds, and a trove of magic items of armor, protection from fire, and invisibility much like a modern fantasy novel. Later on, in the 13-14th Centuries, Galahad arises to take the role of spiritual hero, and his father Lancelot becomes the secular hero. If Percival or Gawaine appear, this is often to infavorably compare and discount their more romantic, naive, and religiously-tolerant personal traits and adventures in favor of purer, and dogmatically-Christian characters. As well, Bors often is introduced in tales concurrent with Lancelot and Galahad, as a simpler, faithful companion for the quest, rather than the central character. Simultaneously with the evolution of the Grail Hero, the Grail Kings also develop along their own lines. Joseph of Arimathea begins to appear in literature to tie the Grail directly into the Christian Last Supper. Though Joseph, the royal Old Testament lineage King David is tied to King Arthur. Suddenly the British dux bellorum, who before may have been a secular inheritor of Imperial Roman Britain (through Geoffrey of Monmouth), becomes the rightful inheritor of the nation as God's chosen king. This combination of Biblical references, actual or invented histories, and romanctic literature increasingly became used to support the concept of the "divine right of Kings" to rule by heredity throughout the Christian world, though this term was not coined until c. 1600. It would be anachronistic for anyone in Arthur's court to claim that the right to rule came solely from God rather than the people of the nation. However, there definitely was a shift towards the church. It was now thought that only through God's support as well as the people's could a king rightly rule a nation. The story of Joseph and the Grail may have also further supported the cause of the Crusades, legitimizing the rule of Jerusalem by a westerner, though this was not it's direct purpose. Moreso, it was used "back home" by various royal families. Angevins and other dynasties ruling the British Isles and Continental Europe used the "proof" of Joseph of Arimethea and the Grail legends to greatly bolster their standings in European politics. In the 15th Century, during the War of the Roses, the right to rule was not being expounded in stories, but fought on the field. In it's midst, Sir Thomas Malory incorporated the Cistercian Galahad tale from the Vulgate "Queste del Sanct Graal", mostly intact but greatly abbreviated, into his own book. He left out a good deal of the "Joseph of Arimathie." It was no longer a narrative by standing by itself, but one chapter and a sub-text in the overall tapestry of the Arthurian tragedy. Because of Pendragon's use of Malory as the central unifying plotline, the Grail Quest in Pendragon is based upon this later, Cistercian-influenced and politically-connected version of the tale. There are many different influences upon the Grail story, almost more than one can recount. Some are more influenced by the Knights Templars and knightly deeds in the Near East (Parzival), medieval alchemy and Hermetic philosophy (Diu Crone), Christianized Celtic-pagan myths (Peredur), and so on. The plots are also not predictable from version to version. In one of the most surprising, the French "Perlesvaus," Guenever dies suddenly half-way through the story, leaving Arthur to venture for the Grail himself with Parzival. Sir Kay treacherously murders Arthur's son and flees from court, Lancelot is banished on false accusations of sedition, and so on. The Grail itself transforms across the stories, from Cauldron to Philosopher's Stone to Christ's Cup or Dish used at the Last Supper. Since the "Celtic Revivial" and the rise of the "Matter of Britain" in the 19th century to today, there are even more and now more wildly different versions of the Grail Quest. This leads to a cacophony of debate around the meaning and "true" origin of the story, either as historical reality, mythopoetry, or religious allegory. Rather than define what the Grail Quest "is", and what the "correct" or "incorrect" way would be to craft an adventure, I suggest the reader find one or more of the original sources and discover the Grail Quest for themselves. The Grail Quests in Arthurian Literature ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hero Tale Author Language Influences/Type ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Perceval/Parzival Perceval, Conte du Graal Cretien de Troyes French Courtly Romance Parzival Wolfram von Eschenbach German Templar Romance Peredur Anonymous Welsh Celtic Myth Perlesvaus Anonymous French Courtly Romance Gawaine Diu Crone ("The Crown") Heinrich von dem Turlin German Alchemical Allegory, Satire Galahad Queste del Saint Graal Anonymous French Cistercian (Lancelot-Grail Vulgate) Romance Le Morte D'Arthur Thomas Malory English Courtly Tragegy [Sidebar] Incorporating "Parzival" in Pendragon Wolfram von Eschenbach's "Parzival" is my personal favorite of the Arthurian Grail romances. Parzival's quest, influenced heavily by medieval German and Templar philosophy, is quite different from that of the French and Cistercian hero Galahad. The "woman's champion" Gawaine, disgraced in the puritanical Galahad's quest, features prominently in "Parzival." Other familiar Grail Questers such as Bors, Percival's sister, and Galahad himself are missing entirely, as is the Questing Beast subplot, while Sir Kay and Igraine (here called Arnive) play supporting roles. Quite significantly, the father of Percival is not Pellinore de Gales, but Gahmuret, son of King Gandin of Anjou. Parzival in this German story is Welsh through his mother, Herzeloyde, Widow-Queen of Norgales and Wales. Because of this change in lineages, Gawaine of Orkney and Parzival have no reason for emnity, since the death of Lot by Pellinore's hand is completely missing. Instead, the friendship, kinship and parallel adventures of Parzival and Gawaine are central themes. Because of the vast changes in characters, themes, lineage, and the extended timeframe of Parzival's quest compared to Galahad's, a gamemaster who wishes to interweave Parzival's story, or even characters from it, like his half-brother Feirefiz Angevin, into their campaign should use some consideration. I fully recommend the reader explore "Parzival" for themselves. It is available in a greatly-readable modern English translation by A.T. Hatto from Penguin Classics (ISBN 0-14-044361-4). Meanwhile, the following guidelines can be used: * References in Wolfram to "Gahmuret, son of King Gandin of Anjou" can be treated as Malory's "King Pellinore de Gales." * "Feirefiz Angevin" can be referred to as "Feirefiz de Gales". * "Parzival" is used to represent the romantic character of Wolfram, who marries and has children by Condwiramurs, as opposed to the celibate "Percival" of Malory. There should only be one character, "Parzival", not two (do not use separate "Percival" and "Parzival') Timeline: 509 - Pellinore travels to the Holy Lands; takes service under the Baruc of Baghdad 510 - Pellinore travels by sea to Zazamanc; defeats forces opposing the city; marries and concieves a son by Queen Belacane of Zazamanc. 511 - Pellinore returns to Britain; marries Queen of the Isles; Feirefiz born in Zazamanc to Queen Belacane. 524 - Pellinore murdered as per Malory by Gawaine and the Orkney knights; Parzival is born. 544 - Parzival sees knights travelling past his home in the mountains of Norgales and decides to become a knight. Travels around Logres. Incedentally causes Lady Jeschute to be accused of adultery. 545 - Parzival arrives at Arthur's court and is knighted; mocked by Sir Kay, who also beats the previously-silent "laughing lady" Cunneware. Slays the "Red Knight" Ither of Gaheviez, King of Cumberland. Recieves training in knighthood from Aglovale (Malory) and the elder Gurnamanz (Wolfram). 546 - Parzival defeats in personal combat both Seneschal Kingrun and King Clamide of Brandigan before the siege of Belrepeire; marries Queen Condwiramurs. Establishes peaceful reign in kingdom of Brobarz. 551 - Twins Kardeiz and Lohengrin born to Condiramurs and Parzival 552 - Parzival leaves to seek his mother; finds the Fisher King and the Grail Castle for first time. Fails to ask the Question to heal the King. Percival reconciles Lady Jeschute with her husband Duke Orilus; first meets the hermit Trevrizent. 553 - Parzival defeats Sagramore, who disturbs him in reverie looking at blood-dappled snow. Avenges himself and Cunneware against Sir Kay; accompanies Gawaine to Arthur's court on the Vale of the Plimizoel. Takes up Grail Quest after being goaded by Cundrie the Sorceress. 556 - Parzival meets Trevrizent the hermit again; reports failure to achieve the Grail; Gawaine fights King Gramoflanz at Rosche Sabins. 557 - Feirefiz arrives in Britain; accompanies Parzival to Arthur's court, then with Cundrie proceed to the Grail Castle; Parzival reunited with Condwiramurs and his sons, becomes Grail King; Feirefiz baptized and marries Repanse the Grail Maiden; end of the Grail Quest [End Sidebar]