The Ursulan Cycle
Aug. 5th, 2014 01:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThe Arthurian Cycle or the Matter of Britain is a massive sprawl of stories, poems and songs, plays, movies, paintings, embroidery, and other cultural material spanning centuries. The heroes are male, furnished with an assortment of heroines for love interests and occasionally antagonists. The leading themes are political intrigue, tragic romance, adventure, and religion.
dialecticdreamer posted an essay about genderbending and what storylines would work in that context. I allowed as to how if I were doing this, I would "aim at young women professionals and grrlgeeks: a crowd with money burning a hole in their pockets, and frustrated by the dearth of interesting female characters. And then I'd genderbend, oh, something rogueish and colorful like Robin Hood, King Arthur, The 7 Samurai, etc." So then clare_dragonfly wanted to see the genderbent King Arthur, and so did some other folks. I started playing around with names and pretty soon I had a cast of characters, some plot sketches, and other cool stuff. This meta description also fills the "genderswap" square in my 6-10-14 card for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fanbingo fest.
EDIT: See the Ursulan Cycle on my website for more details, it got too big for this post.
CHARACTERS
Per the prompt, most of the characters are genderbent. Here is a guide to the transpositions, along with a few who stay the same for dramatic reasons. I have generally favored the older spellings, except where I've gone with modern ones for sake of pronunciation clarity; and favored Welsh or other Celtic roots over later English ones, except where some characters connect with French, German, or other cultures. Some of the names are transmuted by sound, especially where there are masculine/feminine versions of the same name (like Morgaine and Morgan); others are transmuted by meaning (like Arthur and Ursula, both saying bear).
The Royal Couple
King Arthur > Queen Ursula
She is the best strategist of the Round Table, honorable in her dealings with others. In battle, she is skilled with shield, wielding the magical shield Prydwen. She is a good leader both in war and in peace. She is the half-sister of Morgan Tud and the mother of Morwenna.
Queen Guinevere > Prince-Consort Gwynn
He is intelligent and friendly, easily forming connections with other people. As a commoner, he holds no claim to any throne and cannot challenge Queen Ursula, but that also makes him opportunistic. He is handsome, and somewhat of a lecher.
The Knights of the Round Table
Sir Lancelot > Sir Geraldine
She is the best swordfighter, favoring a broadsword. As a knight of the court, she is brave and valorous. However, she has eyes for the handsome Prince-Consort Gwynn. She is the mother of Sir Gail.
Sir Galahad > Sir Gail
As a knight, she is courageous and gentle. Her preferred weapon is the mace. She is the natural daughter of Sir Geraldine.
Sir Gawain > Sir Gwanwyn
She is known for her courtesy and chivalry. She wields the enchanted sword Caliburn (also known as Excalibur).
Sir Bedivere > Sir Brandigen
Originally a mercenary, she protected King Uthyr. After she lost her left hand defending him, she tried to resign. Instead Uthyr promised that she would always have a place in his service. Later she came to serve Ursula.
Sir Ector > Sir Electra
Another of King Uthyr's mercenary women was Sir Electra. When Uthyr was poisoned and dying, he gave his daughter Ursula into her care. Although Sir Electra was not married, she had a daughter, Kate, and raised the two girls together. Eventually Sir Electra joined the Knights of the Round Table.
Sir Kay > Sir Kate
The tallest of the knights is Sir Kate, who uses her long reach to good effect in combat with a longsword. However, she is more of an enchantress than an ordinary warrior, skilled in combat magic. She has a rivalry with Falcon the Conjurer. Sir Kate can be vain and cruel, but she is loyal to her foster-sister Ursula. Sir Kate is the natural daughter of Sir Electra.
Sir Bors de Ganis > Sir Bree de Ganis
Swift in battle, she favors a spear. Although Sir Bree owes fealty to Queen Ursula, she loves her cousin Sir Geraldine, and in times of disagreement Sir Bree typically takes Sir Geraldine's side. She is chaste, and in fact asexual, although that does not stop rude men from lusting after her. Vulnerable to magic, she is sometimes the butt of Sir Kate's enchanted pranks.
Sir Lamorak > Sir Lillian
A renowned jouster with a lance, she is physically strongest of the knights. Her big frame and burly muscles make it easy for her to stay ahorse. She rides an enormous dapple grey destrier, Huath (which means terrible-colored in Irish). Sir Lillian is the sister of Sir Paderau.
Sir Percival > Sir Paderau
Raised far from court, she is naive but a natural warrior, able to fight with almost any weapon. She makes a lot of social mistakes that get her and other people into trouble. Sir Paderau is the sister of Sir Lillian.
Sir Tristan > Sir Tess
She is a talented duelist, deft with lighter weapons such as knives or arming swords. Sir Tess enjoys sparring verbally as well as with weapons, and she is a gifted harper. She takes only female lovers.
Sir Rosalind > Sir Ross
Before earning his knighthood, he was a skilled archer, and is merely an average swordfighter. He is a slender, delicate man -- more beautiful than handsome -- who chooses to wear women's clothes. Nevertheless he insists that he is a man, and he takes various female lovers, who are uniformly impressed with his skill in bed. (While there were a handful of female knights in the Arthurian Cycle and other lore, and Sir Rosalind was one of them, it's extremely difficult to find references for any of them. I did find some hits for Sir Britomart, though, and the stories are similar.)
Others at Court
Merlin the Magician > Falcon the Conjurer
She knows magic and the natural world. She is skilled in divination, summoning, and abjuration. Her rival is Sir Kate the enchantress, who specializes in battle spells. "Falcon" is for the female bird, "tiercel" for the male.
Morgaine le Fay > Morgan Tud
He prefers science to "superstition," and he considers magic to be superstition even though it demonstrably works. Morgan Tud serves as the court physician in Camelot. He is part faerie on his mother's side, but eschews the magic it might have bequeathed to him. He is the half-brother of Queen Ursula, and after sleeping with her (neither of them knowing they were siblings), he became the father of their daughter Morwenna.
Mordred > Morwenna
She is the daughter of Queen Ursula and Morgan Tud, although she doesn't know who her mother is. Sometimes she gets swept up in her parents' intrigue, because the courtiers are always looking for pawns.
Mysterious Figures
The Fisher King > The Red Queen
She keeps the Holy Grail. She also knows the women's mysteries of the older Pagan traditions. (The Red Queen is a historic euphemism and personification of menstruation.) Knights may meet her during their quests. She is more receptive to women than to men.
The Black Knight
She is enigmatic and stupendously powerful, never seen without her black armor. She speaks in a deep, booming voice. Her preferred weapons are greatsword and lance, but she can also fire eldritch blasts. Her warhorse is a big black stallion. The Black Knight typically shows up when somebody has done something wicked. This makes everyone nervous.
The Green Knight
She is a nature figure with green eyes, skin, and hair. Her armor is green with leaves etched upon it, and her green horse always has leaves vining through mane and tail. Her preferred weapon is the falchion sword, and she can command the plants and animals of the forest. Although friendly in bearing, she is mysterious and terrifying. The Green Knight appears to test the honor of knights, and cannot be killed. She is also a powerful exorcist.
Other Characters
Lady Ragnall > Lord Ragnar
He is the "loathly lord" whose appearance is hideous but whose heart is gentle and kind. He first approaches Queen Ursula, but she loyally points out her marriage to (the unfaithful) Prince-Consort Gwynn. Therefore she redirects Lord Ragnar to Sir Gwanwyn. As the knight in question has had more than her fill of handsome but boorish men, she declares that she cares not how a man looks but how he acts. The question "What do men want the most?" is ultimately answered with "To be themselves." Lord Ragnar and Sir Gwanwyn later have a daughter, Generys.
Gingalain > Generys
She is a talented poet and minstrel, and a great romantic. She grows up the darling of the court at Camelot. Generys is the daughter of Lord Ragnar and Sir Gwanwyn.
Lynette > Lorne
He is an average-looking man who comes to Camelot seeking help for his handsome brother, whose lands are besieged.
Lyonesse > Leon
A classic gentleman in distress, Leon stays to hold down the fort while sending his brother Lorne to find help.
The Unchanged
King Uthyr
He was the father of Ursula (legitimately, with Igraine) and Morgan (illegitmately, with Morgause). Although hoping for a son from Igraine, he got over his disappointment at a daughter and trained Ursula to take the throne after him.
Igraine
She was Ursula's mother. She did not particularly approve of Uthyr's plan to put Ursula on the throne.
Morgause
She was King Uthyr's lover and bore him a son, Morgan. She felt that Morgan had a better claim to the throne than Ursula.
Isolde
She is a skilled healer, well versed in herbalism and midwifery. She is famed for her beautiful golden hair that shines like the sun. It makes men desire her. King Mark seeks to marry her, but she does not want him, because he is effeminate and her interests are masculine. Sir Tess, sent to escort the unwilling bride, is plenty butch enough to turn Isolde's head.
King Mark
He is a court dandy and effeminate in nature. When he falls in love with Isolde, he sends Sir Tess to fetch her, not wanting to undertake the arduous journey himself. He is not best pleased when Isolde falls in love with Sir Tess instead.
* * *
PLOT
Uthyr Pendragon thinks he is infertile, so later in life when his wife Igraine conceives, it comes as a surprise. At first they are thrilled, then disappointed by the birth of a daughter instead of a son. Uthyr switches the name from Arthur to Ursula and decides to raise her as his heir anyhow. Igraine is unwell after the difficult pregnancy, and busy with the young Ursula. Uthyr therefore takes his celebration of his renewed virility elsewhere, to Morgause. He begets a son, Morgan Tud, who arrives when Ursula is five. The courtiers exhort Uthyr to disinherit his legitimate daughter in favor of his natural son, but Uthyr refuses.
When Uthyr gets wounded in battle, he insists on fighting through the pain and nearly dies. Upon returning home, Uthyr finds that the courtiers are stirring trouble. He hires mercenaries for protection, only to have the new men also try to take advantage of his weakness. Alone among the mercenaries, two women whom Uthyr reluctantly hired to fill out the numbers -- Sir Brandigen and Sir Electra -- remain loyal to him. Sir Brandigen loses her left hand fighting to protect the king, and tries to resign, but instead he offers her a permanent position for her valor. Uthyr hires more female mercenaries when he can find them, gaining more appreciation for women's strength. When the Saxons poison Uthyr, he manages to smuggle Ursula out of the castle and hand her off to Sir Electra to be raised in secret so the courtiers will not assassinate the rightful heir. Meanwhile Morgause has fled with the young Morgan.
Sir Electra raises Ursula alongside her own daughter Kate. One year, Ursula becomes the May Queen, and to everyone's surprise the position of May King is won by an even younger boy, lovely and sweet. The two of them celebrate the May together, and Ursula gets pregnant, giving birth to their daughter Morwenna. Leery of the scorn heaped on unwed mothers, Ursula does not want to keep the baby, so Morgan decides to raise Morwenna himself.
Kate is set to compete against the Falcon the Conjurer in a magical duel, but has forgotten her mirror. She sends Ursula to find one. Ursula comes across a round silver mirror protected by the flame of Brigid. She reaches through the fire, unharmed, and brings down the mirror -- which turns out to be a shield. When Kate sees it, she shouts for Sir Electra, who identifies it as the shield Prydwen, one of the Twelve Treasures. It identifies the rightful ruler, thus making Ursula the Queen.
Ursula begins the Round Table with people she already knows: Sir Electra, Sir Kate, and Sir Brandigen. She adds more allies as she finds them, such as Sir Geraldine, Sir Bree de Ganis, and Sir Tess. Morgan Tud arrives at court, with an adorable Morwenna in tow, now having completed his training. Ursula makes Morgan the court physician. Not wanting to risk marrying a contender for the throne, Ursula selects a common boy she likes, the handsome and charming Gwynn, who becomes the Prince-Consort.
Trouble comes when someone reveals that Morgan Tud is the son of Uthyr. Some of the courtiers again rally behind him and start pushing for him to take the throne. Meanwhile Morgan and Ursula are horrified to find out that they are half-siblings, and hope desperately that nobody will reveal the truth about Morwenna. While Ursula is thus distracted, Gwynn proceeds to amuse himself with other women, including Sir Geraldine. When Ursula finds out, she scolds Gwynn and points out that his behavior weakens both of their positions.
Sons occasionally attributed to Guinevere include Melehan and Loholt. Stories almost never posit sons from Guinevere and Arthur, but sometimes do from Guinevere and Mordred. Gwynn's indiscretion is likely to result in bastards.
* * *
MACGUFFINS AND MAGNETIC PLOT DEVICES
Arthurian lore is rife with enchanted artifacts and other objects of desire, whether people ever actually use them or not. A macguffin is something people just chase after. A magnetic plot device is something people chase after, and actually use to great effect. These things often become the goal of a quest. Then again, sometimes they turn the tide of battle, warp minds in political intrigue, force people feel in love, or inspire other types of action.
The sword Excalibur (masculine) was drawn from the stone (feminine) and returned to the lake (feminine). Here it is Caliburn, wielded by Sir Gwanwyn.
The shield Prydwen (feminine) was taken from the flame of Brigid (masculine) and would be returned to the sky (masculine) carried away by birds; but the Ursulan Cycle doesn't end as badly as the Arthurian Cycle. The round shield can also transform into a coracle when placed in a body of water.
Legendary sources mention many objects of power including the Thirteen Treasures of Britain and the Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danaan. The Twelve Treasures of the Ursulan Cycle are:
* the shield Prydwen. Useful both for offense and defense, it blocks any blow and it returns to the wielder's hand if thrown. It can also turn into a coracle if placed upon a body of water.
* the sword Caliburn and its sheath. Inescapable once drawn, its slightest wound would kill. It would serve only its chosen bearer. A powerful artifact in its own right, only this sheath can contain Caliburn's bloodthirst. The sheath is able to heal any wound, even if cursed or poisoned.
* the harp Una. She can make a fine bard out of anyone, but is choosy of her owners. She plays three types of enchanted music: Geantraí (joy), which
makes people laugh and dance; Goltraí (sorrow), which makes listeners weep uncontrollably; and Suantraí (sleep), which makes everyone in earshot fall into a deep slumber. If summoned, she will float to her owner's hand.
* the iarann coire or Cauldron of the Dagda. It provides an infinite supply of food. It can also heal the wounded or raise the dead who are placed within it.
* the Spear of Lugh. "I am the spear that roars for blood." It always strikes its target, but is difficult to control.
* the Eye of Balor. This is a stone which, when uncovered, destroys everyone in front of it, even entire armies.
* the Horn of Arawn. When blown, it summons the Wild Hunt for justice. Their rightful prey is traitors.
* the Chariot of Morgan Mwynfawr. It swiftly reaches any destination, no matter how far away. A journey of hours takes moments; of days, hours; and of weeks, only a few days.
* the Halter of Epona. It can master any horse, no matter how wild or vicious. It also grants understanding of equine language.
* the Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd. By sharpening his weapon upon it, a brave man could make an edge that would always kill; but a coward's blade so treated would then cut nothing.
* the Chessboard of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio. With the silver and gold pieces set in place, it would play against whomever made the first move. But if a piece from each side were advanced, it would play both sides against itself so that observers might learn by watching.
* the Mantle of Arthur. This invisibility cloak also kept the wearer warm and dry regardless of the weather.
Also pertinent, although belonging to a separate set, are Christian relics such as the Holy Grail, the True Cross, the Crown of Thorns, and the Spear of Longinus.
One thread in the series is thus the Quest. Variously this may be for one of the Twelve Treasures, a Christian relic, the Questing Beast, etc. There are also challenges, geasa, curses to be lifted, and other such adventures.
Another thread is sex, romance, courtly love, and the whole drama-llama farm of soap opera antics that comes down from the Arthurian Cycle. Queen Ursula/Prince-Consort Gwynn/Sir Geraldine and Sir Tess/Isolde/King Mark are just two examples.
Political intrigue establishes a third thread. Character relationships create conflicts over inheritance and authority. Jockeying for power starts wars. The prime example here lies between Queen Ursula, who believes she deserves the throne by right of legitimate birth and King's choice; and Morgan Tud, who believes his claim is greater because he is male, despite his illegitimate birth. This is is a common bone of contention in historic and contemporary politics.
Magic and spirituality provide the fourth thread. Note that the leading magical influences here are Sir Kate and Falcon the Conjurer. Morgan Tud is a physician, more interested in science than "superstition" (despite the fact that he is part-fey and magic actually works). Gwynn is interested in Christianity, despite being somewhat of a lecher.
* * *
OPEN SOURCE FANDOM
Derived from the ancient Arthurian Cycle, the Ursulan Cycle is an open-source fandom. Ask for stuff. Make stuff. Share stuff. Be chivalrous to each other.
* * *
CONTENT
"Morwenna" byclare_dragonfly
"Of the Line of Danu" byysabetwordsmith
"The Shield in the Flame" byclare_dragonfly
dialecticdreamer posted an essay about genderbending and what storylines would work in that context. I allowed as to how if I were doing this, I would "aim at young women professionals and grrlgeeks: a crowd with money burning a hole in their pockets, and frustrated by the dearth of interesting female characters. And then I'd genderbend, oh, something rogueish and colorful like Robin Hood, King Arthur, The 7 Samurai, etc." So then clare_dragonfly wanted to see the genderbent King Arthur, and so did some other folks. I started playing around with names and pretty soon I had a cast of characters, some plot sketches, and other cool stuff. This meta description also fills the "genderswap" square in my 6-10-14 card for the fanbingo fest.EDIT: See the Ursulan Cycle on my website for more details, it got too big for this post.
CHARACTERS
Per the prompt, most of the characters are genderbent. Here is a guide to the transpositions, along with a few who stay the same for dramatic reasons. I have generally favored the older spellings, except where I've gone with modern ones for sake of pronunciation clarity; and favored Welsh or other Celtic roots over later English ones, except where some characters connect with French, German, or other cultures. Some of the names are transmuted by sound, especially where there are masculine/feminine versions of the same name (like Morgaine and Morgan); others are transmuted by meaning (like Arthur and Ursula, both saying bear).
The Royal Couple
King Arthur > Queen Ursula
She is the best strategist of the Round Table, honorable in her dealings with others. In battle, she is skilled with shield, wielding the magical shield Prydwen. She is a good leader both in war and in peace. She is the half-sister of Morgan Tud and the mother of Morwenna.
Queen Guinevere > Prince-Consort Gwynn
He is intelligent and friendly, easily forming connections with other people. As a commoner, he holds no claim to any throne and cannot challenge Queen Ursula, but that also makes him opportunistic. He is handsome, and somewhat of a lecher.
The Knights of the Round Table
Sir Lancelot > Sir Geraldine
She is the best swordfighter, favoring a broadsword. As a knight of the court, she is brave and valorous. However, she has eyes for the handsome Prince-Consort Gwynn. She is the mother of Sir Gail.
Sir Galahad > Sir Gail
As a knight, she is courageous and gentle. Her preferred weapon is the mace. She is the natural daughter of Sir Geraldine.
Sir Gawain > Sir Gwanwyn
She is known for her courtesy and chivalry. She wields the enchanted sword Caliburn (also known as Excalibur).
Sir Bedivere > Sir Brandigen
Originally a mercenary, she protected King Uthyr. After she lost her left hand defending him, she tried to resign. Instead Uthyr promised that she would always have a place in his service. Later she came to serve Ursula.
Sir Ector > Sir Electra
Another of King Uthyr's mercenary women was Sir Electra. When Uthyr was poisoned and dying, he gave his daughter Ursula into her care. Although Sir Electra was not married, she had a daughter, Kate, and raised the two girls together. Eventually Sir Electra joined the Knights of the Round Table.
Sir Kay > Sir Kate
The tallest of the knights is Sir Kate, who uses her long reach to good effect in combat with a longsword. However, she is more of an enchantress than an ordinary warrior, skilled in combat magic. She has a rivalry with Falcon the Conjurer. Sir Kate can be vain and cruel, but she is loyal to her foster-sister Ursula. Sir Kate is the natural daughter of Sir Electra.
Sir Bors de Ganis > Sir Bree de Ganis
Swift in battle, she favors a spear. Although Sir Bree owes fealty to Queen Ursula, she loves her cousin Sir Geraldine, and in times of disagreement Sir Bree typically takes Sir Geraldine's side. She is chaste, and in fact asexual, although that does not stop rude men from lusting after her. Vulnerable to magic, she is sometimes the butt of Sir Kate's enchanted pranks.
Sir Lamorak > Sir Lillian
A renowned jouster with a lance, she is physically strongest of the knights. Her big frame and burly muscles make it easy for her to stay ahorse. She rides an enormous dapple grey destrier, Huath (which means terrible-colored in Irish). Sir Lillian is the sister of Sir Paderau.
Sir Percival > Sir Paderau
Raised far from court, she is naive but a natural warrior, able to fight with almost any weapon. She makes a lot of social mistakes that get her and other people into trouble. Sir Paderau is the sister of Sir Lillian.
Sir Tristan > Sir Tess
She is a talented duelist, deft with lighter weapons such as knives or arming swords. Sir Tess enjoys sparring verbally as well as with weapons, and she is a gifted harper. She takes only female lovers.
Sir Rosalind > Sir Ross
Before earning his knighthood, he was a skilled archer, and is merely an average swordfighter. He is a slender, delicate man -- more beautiful than handsome -- who chooses to wear women's clothes. Nevertheless he insists that he is a man, and he takes various female lovers, who are uniformly impressed with his skill in bed. (While there were a handful of female knights in the Arthurian Cycle and other lore, and Sir Rosalind was one of them, it's extremely difficult to find references for any of them. I did find some hits for Sir Britomart, though, and the stories are similar.)
Others at Court
Merlin the Magician > Falcon the Conjurer
She knows magic and the natural world. She is skilled in divination, summoning, and abjuration. Her rival is Sir Kate the enchantress, who specializes in battle spells. "Falcon" is for the female bird, "tiercel" for the male.
Morgaine le Fay > Morgan Tud
He prefers science to "superstition," and he considers magic to be superstition even though it demonstrably works. Morgan Tud serves as the court physician in Camelot. He is part faerie on his mother's side, but eschews the magic it might have bequeathed to him. He is the half-brother of Queen Ursula, and after sleeping with her (neither of them knowing they were siblings), he became the father of their daughter Morwenna.
Mordred > Morwenna
She is the daughter of Queen Ursula and Morgan Tud, although she doesn't know who her mother is. Sometimes she gets swept up in her parents' intrigue, because the courtiers are always looking for pawns.
Mysterious Figures
The Fisher King > The Red Queen
She keeps the Holy Grail. She also knows the women's mysteries of the older Pagan traditions. (The Red Queen is a historic euphemism and personification of menstruation.) Knights may meet her during their quests. She is more receptive to women than to men.
The Black Knight
She is enigmatic and stupendously powerful, never seen without her black armor. She speaks in a deep, booming voice. Her preferred weapons are greatsword and lance, but she can also fire eldritch blasts. Her warhorse is a big black stallion. The Black Knight typically shows up when somebody has done something wicked. This makes everyone nervous.
The Green Knight
She is a nature figure with green eyes, skin, and hair. Her armor is green with leaves etched upon it, and her green horse always has leaves vining through mane and tail. Her preferred weapon is the falchion sword, and she can command the plants and animals of the forest. Although friendly in bearing, she is mysterious and terrifying. The Green Knight appears to test the honor of knights, and cannot be killed. She is also a powerful exorcist.
Other Characters
Lady Ragnall > Lord Ragnar
He is the "loathly lord" whose appearance is hideous but whose heart is gentle and kind. He first approaches Queen Ursula, but she loyally points out her marriage to (the unfaithful) Prince-Consort Gwynn. Therefore she redirects Lord Ragnar to Sir Gwanwyn. As the knight in question has had more than her fill of handsome but boorish men, she declares that she cares not how a man looks but how he acts. The question "What do men want the most?" is ultimately answered with "To be themselves." Lord Ragnar and Sir Gwanwyn later have a daughter, Generys.
Gingalain > Generys
She is a talented poet and minstrel, and a great romantic. She grows up the darling of the court at Camelot. Generys is the daughter of Lord Ragnar and Sir Gwanwyn.
Lynette > Lorne
He is an average-looking man who comes to Camelot seeking help for his handsome brother, whose lands are besieged.
Lyonesse > Leon
A classic gentleman in distress, Leon stays to hold down the fort while sending his brother Lorne to find help.
The Unchanged
King Uthyr
He was the father of Ursula (legitimately, with Igraine) and Morgan (illegitmately, with Morgause). Although hoping for a son from Igraine, he got over his disappointment at a daughter and trained Ursula to take the throne after him.
Igraine
She was Ursula's mother. She did not particularly approve of Uthyr's plan to put Ursula on the throne.
Morgause
She was King Uthyr's lover and bore him a son, Morgan. She felt that Morgan had a better claim to the throne than Ursula.
Isolde
She is a skilled healer, well versed in herbalism and midwifery. She is famed for her beautiful golden hair that shines like the sun. It makes men desire her. King Mark seeks to marry her, but she does not want him, because he is effeminate and her interests are masculine. Sir Tess, sent to escort the unwilling bride, is plenty butch enough to turn Isolde's head.
King Mark
He is a court dandy and effeminate in nature. When he falls in love with Isolde, he sends Sir Tess to fetch her, not wanting to undertake the arduous journey himself. He is not best pleased when Isolde falls in love with Sir Tess instead.
* * *
PLOT
Uthyr Pendragon thinks he is infertile, so later in life when his wife Igraine conceives, it comes as a surprise. At first they are thrilled, then disappointed by the birth of a daughter instead of a son. Uthyr switches the name from Arthur to Ursula and decides to raise her as his heir anyhow. Igraine is unwell after the difficult pregnancy, and busy with the young Ursula. Uthyr therefore takes his celebration of his renewed virility elsewhere, to Morgause. He begets a son, Morgan Tud, who arrives when Ursula is five. The courtiers exhort Uthyr to disinherit his legitimate daughter in favor of his natural son, but Uthyr refuses.
When Uthyr gets wounded in battle, he insists on fighting through the pain and nearly dies. Upon returning home, Uthyr finds that the courtiers are stirring trouble. He hires mercenaries for protection, only to have the new men also try to take advantage of his weakness. Alone among the mercenaries, two women whom Uthyr reluctantly hired to fill out the numbers -- Sir Brandigen and Sir Electra -- remain loyal to him. Sir Brandigen loses her left hand fighting to protect the king, and tries to resign, but instead he offers her a permanent position for her valor. Uthyr hires more female mercenaries when he can find them, gaining more appreciation for women's strength. When the Saxons poison Uthyr, he manages to smuggle Ursula out of the castle and hand her off to Sir Electra to be raised in secret so the courtiers will not assassinate the rightful heir. Meanwhile Morgause has fled with the young Morgan.
Sir Electra raises Ursula alongside her own daughter Kate. One year, Ursula becomes the May Queen, and to everyone's surprise the position of May King is won by an even younger boy, lovely and sweet. The two of them celebrate the May together, and Ursula gets pregnant, giving birth to their daughter Morwenna. Leery of the scorn heaped on unwed mothers, Ursula does not want to keep the baby, so Morgan decides to raise Morwenna himself.
Kate is set to compete against the Falcon the Conjurer in a magical duel, but has forgotten her mirror. She sends Ursula to find one. Ursula comes across a round silver mirror protected by the flame of Brigid. She reaches through the fire, unharmed, and brings down the mirror -- which turns out to be a shield. When Kate sees it, she shouts for Sir Electra, who identifies it as the shield Prydwen, one of the Twelve Treasures. It identifies the rightful ruler, thus making Ursula the Queen.
Ursula begins the Round Table with people she already knows: Sir Electra, Sir Kate, and Sir Brandigen. She adds more allies as she finds them, such as Sir Geraldine, Sir Bree de Ganis, and Sir Tess. Morgan Tud arrives at court, with an adorable Morwenna in tow, now having completed his training. Ursula makes Morgan the court physician. Not wanting to risk marrying a contender for the throne, Ursula selects a common boy she likes, the handsome and charming Gwynn, who becomes the Prince-Consort.
Trouble comes when someone reveals that Morgan Tud is the son of Uthyr. Some of the courtiers again rally behind him and start pushing for him to take the throne. Meanwhile Morgan and Ursula are horrified to find out that they are half-siblings, and hope desperately that nobody will reveal the truth about Morwenna. While Ursula is thus distracted, Gwynn proceeds to amuse himself with other women, including Sir Geraldine. When Ursula finds out, she scolds Gwynn and points out that his behavior weakens both of their positions.
Sons occasionally attributed to Guinevere include Melehan and Loholt. Stories almost never posit sons from Guinevere and Arthur, but sometimes do from Guinevere and Mordred. Gwynn's indiscretion is likely to result in bastards.
* * *
MACGUFFINS AND MAGNETIC PLOT DEVICES
Arthurian lore is rife with enchanted artifacts and other objects of desire, whether people ever actually use them or not. A macguffin is something people just chase after. A magnetic plot device is something people chase after, and actually use to great effect. These things often become the goal of a quest. Then again, sometimes they turn the tide of battle, warp minds in political intrigue, force people feel in love, or inspire other types of action.
The sword Excalibur (masculine) was drawn from the stone (feminine) and returned to the lake (feminine). Here it is Caliburn, wielded by Sir Gwanwyn.
The shield Prydwen (feminine) was taken from the flame of Brigid (masculine) and would be returned to the sky (masculine) carried away by birds; but the Ursulan Cycle doesn't end as badly as the Arthurian Cycle. The round shield can also transform into a coracle when placed in a body of water.
Legendary sources mention many objects of power including the Thirteen Treasures of Britain and the Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danaan. The Twelve Treasures of the Ursulan Cycle are:
* the shield Prydwen. Useful both for offense and defense, it blocks any blow and it returns to the wielder's hand if thrown. It can also turn into a coracle if placed upon a body of water.
* the sword Caliburn and its sheath. Inescapable once drawn, its slightest wound would kill. It would serve only its chosen bearer. A powerful artifact in its own right, only this sheath can contain Caliburn's bloodthirst. The sheath is able to heal any wound, even if cursed or poisoned.
* the harp Una. She can make a fine bard out of anyone, but is choosy of her owners. She plays three types of enchanted music: Geantraí (joy), which
makes people laugh and dance; Goltraí (sorrow), which makes listeners weep uncontrollably; and Suantraí (sleep), which makes everyone in earshot fall into a deep slumber. If summoned, she will float to her owner's hand.
* the iarann coire or Cauldron of the Dagda. It provides an infinite supply of food. It can also heal the wounded or raise the dead who are placed within it.
* the Spear of Lugh. "I am the spear that roars for blood." It always strikes its target, but is difficult to control.
* the Eye of Balor. This is a stone which, when uncovered, destroys everyone in front of it, even entire armies.
* the Horn of Arawn. When blown, it summons the Wild Hunt for justice. Their rightful prey is traitors.
* the Chariot of Morgan Mwynfawr. It swiftly reaches any destination, no matter how far away. A journey of hours takes moments; of days, hours; and of weeks, only a few days.
* the Halter of Epona. It can master any horse, no matter how wild or vicious. It also grants understanding of equine language.
* the Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd. By sharpening his weapon upon it, a brave man could make an edge that would always kill; but a coward's blade so treated would then cut nothing.
* the Chessboard of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio. With the silver and gold pieces set in place, it would play against whomever made the first move. But if a piece from each side were advanced, it would play both sides against itself so that observers might learn by watching.
* the Mantle of Arthur. This invisibility cloak also kept the wearer warm and dry regardless of the weather.
Also pertinent, although belonging to a separate set, are Christian relics such as the Holy Grail, the True Cross, the Crown of Thorns, and the Spear of Longinus.
One thread in the series is thus the Quest. Variously this may be for one of the Twelve Treasures, a Christian relic, the Questing Beast, etc. There are also challenges, geasa, curses to be lifted, and other such adventures.
Another thread is sex, romance, courtly love, and the whole drama-llama farm of soap opera antics that comes down from the Arthurian Cycle. Queen Ursula/Prince-Consort Gwynn/Sir Geraldine and Sir Tess/Isolde/King Mark are just two examples.
Political intrigue establishes a third thread. Character relationships create conflicts over inheritance and authority. Jockeying for power starts wars. The prime example here lies between Queen Ursula, who believes she deserves the throne by right of legitimate birth and King's choice; and Morgan Tud, who believes his claim is greater because he is male, despite his illegitimate birth. This is is a common bone of contention in historic and contemporary politics.
Magic and spirituality provide the fourth thread. Note that the leading magical influences here are Sir Kate and Falcon the Conjurer. Morgan Tud is a physician, more interested in science than "superstition" (despite the fact that he is part-fey and magic actually works). Gwynn is interested in Christianity, despite being somewhat of a lecher.
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OPEN SOURCE FANDOM
Derived from the ancient Arthurian Cycle, the Ursulan Cycle is an open-source fandom. Ask for stuff. Make stuff. Share stuff. Be chivalrous to each other.
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CONTENT
"Morwenna" by
clare_dragonfly "Of the Line of Danu" by
ysabetwordsmith "The Shield in the Flame" by
clare_dragonfly 
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2016-03-21 01:24 am (UTC)Gah, the copy/paste malfunctioned again. Here is the link:
http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/content1.html
>>No, I didn't. <<
Bummer.
>> I talked to the Circlet editor a bit about it; they basically didn't think it stood alone well enough, and I couldn't argue with that, but I didn't want to make changes to make it stand alone.<<
Fair enough.
>> I should do something with it. Maybe I'll make it a bonus for my Patreon patrons. Your comments were extremely helpful, by the way! <<
Thank you!
I'd be happy to chip in toward it, but probably couldn't afford to sponsor the whole thing myself. *ponder* Unless you'd like to swap it for an epic poem, that I could do. I'd love to have it online somewhere so it could be added to the links.
Of course, making it a perk for your Patreon donors is also viable.