#like what the Brisen are

[chanteraelle]

Jotober - Day 25: Prickly

A prickly sensation arose on the etched surface of Yennel’s skin, like a butterfly’s breath on a stifling summer’s day. The wind swirled across the unrippled surface of the lake, and it bore with it the distant murmuring sounds of coming Disciples. Lissante cina. He’d only managed to go undetected in the previous inspections by pure luck - this time, he didn’t know if his fortune would hold out. Yennel composed himself, so that his face was a mask of placidity, and closed his eyes. The other Disciples had merely taken him to be a hermit who chose not to speak. But he could tell with these ones that were coming along the edge of the water that they had far less reverence for such supposed sacredness. They bore an edge in their tone that verged on abrasive - a piece of ceda cloth, rubbed against hollowed cheeks. 

If they found out he was one of the Brisen, he’d almost certainly face exile. At least, exile was preferable to whatever punishment they inflicted on those that they imprisoned. Yennel had heard whispered rumours, borne on the wooden winds, of Brisen who went into their dungeons and were never heard of again, save in the middle of the night when sharp, animalistic screams would pierce the walls of every house. He rarely felt bitter, but in that moment of waiting, he certainly resented the Disciples. It was hardly his fault he had been born as one of the Brisen - he’d never made the active choice to do so, or at least not in this life. The stories the Disciples told said that to be one of the Brisen was a certain mark of an allegiance with the devil - but Yennel had only ever felt lonely, and never really evil. 

The knock on the door came even before he was ready. His hand rested for a second on the scratched wooden knob, before he twisted it open and inclined his head in greeting. Even though he moved around with a practiced calm, his heart was deceptively loud, and his tongue was even heavier than it normally was in the emptiness of his mouth.

Jotober Tag List: @writer-grandma, @ashesconstellation and @omgbrekkerkaz

[queer-ragnelle]

Percival goodness from his introduction in Lancelot VI of the Vulgate Cycle for @djemsostylist

So it begins with Aglovale joining the search for Lancelot after Guinevere broke up with him when Elaine, Galahad, and Brisen came to court and he slept with Elaine by mistake and he ultimately went insane. Aglovale ends up finding his mom and meeting Percival who is 15. We don’t have an exact age of Galahad but he is referred to as “a little child” so we can say for certain they’re at least 10 years apart based on these chapters.

As we know, Percival ultimately goes with Aglovale to court and is knighted by King Arthur and his mother dies from grief, same as De Troyes and the Mabinogion. What is whack is this woman who apparently becomes possessed by the Holy Grail and speaks to Percival about his destiny and we get an interesting visual of he and Bors on either side of the Siege Perilous where Galahad will sit, with Percival as the “right hand” to Galahad so to speak and even exalted above Bors for his virginity. And then she died. Kinda terrifying but alright, loving the horrific implications of the Holy Grail’s power. Dial that horror element UP.

Then some time passes, we get another cute visual of knights organized by age, and a description of Percival’s simplicity in form and spirit. And then Kay and Mordred bully him into leaving haha so he takes up the quest to find Lancelot to increase his prowess.

He ends up finding Hector and they fight and mortally wound each other by mistake. :^( But then the Holy Grail magically heals them? And what was very interesting to me was Percival’s first explanation of the grail was given to him by Hector of all people. Kinda random? Expected it to be a priest jumping out from behind a tree like every other time someone needed shit explained but nope! Hector did his homework! I kept that last page saturated because a rainbow ended up over the paragraph with the Holy Grail... I’m sure it means nothing. ;^)

Okay fast forward a while, Lancelot was cured of his madness by the Holy Grail and has been living at his castle with Elaine while Galahad is being raised by King Pelles at Corbenic. Percival is now about 19/20 as he says he’s been seeking Lancelot for 4 years. They dual as Lancelot is in disguise as The Guilty Knight (eyeroll) and then they start chatting. I love that when Lancelot realizes who Percival is through his kinsman Aglovale, he refuses to fight and calls them “house where all sweetness dwells.” What the fuck? That’s the cutest shit I ever heard. Welsh faction confirmed cuties, I don’t make the rules, it’s canon.

And that’s it for Lancelot VI! Next I’ll look at the Post-Vulgate where Galahad arrives at court and the quest for the Holy Grail actually begins and get some more Percy details. But now we’re acquainted with him. It makes sense this was not in Le Morte, as Malory was sourcing from the Post-Vulgate and thus he may not have had access to Percival’s adventures prior or may not have wanted to include them in favor of Lancelot and Tristan. But yeah, Percival is great. What a cutie. :^3c

[2daystotravel]

That moment when the fog clears and you see what lies beyond! Looks like a portal to another dimension 😂 #sheisnotlost #travel #travelblogger #travelblog #brisen #haldigrat #switzerland #swiss #visitswitzerland #hikeswitzerland #hiking #swissalps #alps #keepwalking #igtravel #instatravel #ttot #sharetravelpics #beblogilicious #travelcouple #2daystotravel (at Brisen)