Tried both googling and searching the forums for this, but couldn't find anything because a certain Taliesin on this forum keeps popping up. :D

But I am waondering, are there any good stories regarding Taliesin in Gspendragon? Any adventures or quests from older modules?

Also, more importantly. Where do you place him in the Great Pendragon campaign, age-wise?

I outrank my namesake on Google?!

Wow, I have mixed feelings about that.

I've not used him in my campaign—yet, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help.


T.

Tried both googling and searching the forums for this, but couldn't find anything because a certain Taliesin on this forum keeps popping up. :D

But I am waondering, are there any good stories regarding Taliesin in Gspendragon? Any adventures or quests from older modules?

Also, more importantly. Where do you place him in the Great Pendragon campaign, age-wise?

He is post-Merlin, pretty much Merlin's heir
I think the only interface with him is in the GPC Adventure of the Great Hare page 403
(he is the Great Hare)

I haven't read much about Taliesin but some of the basics. But I find him quite fascinating, especially for a era with enchantment. He could also serve as a sort of "campaign anchor". A constant reminder for players that it is after all one and the same story taking place, even if they play the same characters throughout.

I've incorporated him in my current campaign in a minor way, but I've been thinking about making him a major player in the next installment of the GPC i'm planning on running after I move. In the stories, Taliesin is raised by King Elphin. That Taliesin was found in water when Elphin was fishing, speaking poetry even as a small baby. I guess this could be an adventure for some of the early eras. Perhaps player knights from Uthers era takes part in the adventure where Elphin finds the boy? (Perhaps that is why Taliesin takes an interest in the players families further on in the story...) There is also a story where Taliesin is "born" when the godesss Ceridwen falls pregnant after swallowing Gwynon Bach (a servant of of Ceridwen who accidently swallows a magic potion of wisdom).

A few ideas:
* Since Taliesin is a seer, he is the only one that knows of the fate of Merlin. (apart from Merlin himself?)
* Taliesin is less inclined to meddle with the history than Merlin, and is content with "witnessing" the events.
* When Elphin was not yet king, he takes part in a strange adventure with the King of Gwyddno. An adventure?
* He often takes a sort of wise trickster-role. Perhaps he manages to fool Merlin and Merlin realizes that Taliesin will be his successor.
* There is a sunken kingdom of Gwyddno mentioned near Wales where Taliesins foster father rules. Does this take place in GPC, or could it? Could it be tied in with Lyonesse?

A few questions:
* Does Taliesin ever meet with Merlin in any of the stories that you know of?
* It's mentioned that Taliesin becomes a companion of King Arthur on the interweb, any of you know which story?

I outrank my namesake on Google?!

Wow, I have mixed feelings about that.

I've not used him in my campaign—yet, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help.


T.


The legend of Taliesin runs far and wide. :D

A few other ideas that has come to mind. I'd love for you to comment on them.

Of course, I'm taking liberties out of ignorance here. :)

* Creirwy is the "sister" och Taliesin. (Not really, as she is the REAL daughter of Ceridwen, while Taliesin is more... rebirthed through her, but still). She is noted as "one of the three most beautiful maids of the isle of britain". I am considering making this woman the mysterious mother of Gwyenevere. (it would explain her magical beauty). This would also give Taliesin another reason to stick around Arthurs court... being that his niece is married to the king.
* According to the legend three maids are: Gwen daughter of Cywryd son of Crydon; Creirwy daughter of Ceridwen; and Arianrod daughter of Dôn. Perhaps a bit far fetched, but it would be cool to insert these three beauties in the arthurian romances. (perhaps as mothers of Ygraine, Gwyenevere and.... Isolde? or perhaps another strange and beautiful lady that takes part of the adventures of the knights. )
* Taliesin very often takes shapes of animals in the tales. I am considering making this a frequent event. In their youth, Taliesin takes the shape of an animal and steals something important from the players, he then repeats this every generation. This object or artifact is so important, that they spend many many years (perhaps spanning generations) to look for it. This is all in Taliesins plan, since he need the knights to be strong and virtuous for a quest at the end of the campaign. (perhaps Camlan, grailquest or something similar). And it would take a long time for the players to figure out why animals keep showing up and stealing things from them.

* There is a sunken kingdom of Gwyddno mentioned near Wales where Taliesins foster father rules. Does this take place in GPC, or could it? Could it be tied in with Lyonesse?

You player knights can cause that flooding! Or not
See the "Adventure of the Best Wine in the World"
in Savage Mountains


A few questions:
* Does Taliesin ever meet with Merlin in any of the stories that you know of?

No, they are from different core cycles


* It's mentioned that Taliesin becomes a companion of King Arthur on the interweb, any of you know which story?

I have never heard of this
It may occur in modern fiction, but then, even Morgan and Mordred appear as good guys in modern fiction so there is no telling what all occurs

* Does Taliesin ever meet with Merlin in any of the stories that you know of?

No, they are from different core cycles

[/quote]

In Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Life of Merlin", Merlin and Taliesin *do* meet (though the Merlin in this lesser-known work of Geoffrey's is, technically, the "mad Myrddin of the Caledonian Forest" - though identified with the Arthurian Merlin by Geoffrey), and even discuss how they bore the wounded King Arthur away to Avalon after the Battle of Camlann. But unlike "The History of the Kings of Britain", the "Life of Merlin" never became part of the Arthurian mainstream (and indeed, seems to have been almost overlooked, unlike its "best-seller" predecessor).

* Does Taliesin ever meet with Merlin in any of the stories that you know of?

No, they are from different core cycles


In Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Life of Merlin", Merlin and Taliesin *do* meet (though the Merlin in this lesser-known work of Geoffrey's is, technically, the "mad Myrddin of the Caledonian Forest" - though identified with the Arthurian Merlin by Geoffrey), and even discuss how they bore the wounded King Arthur away to Avalon after the Battle of Camlann. But unlike "The History of the Kings of Britain", the "Life of Merlin" never became part of the Arthurian mainstream (and indeed, seems to have been almost overlooked, unlike its "best-seller" predecessor).

Dang, no check for my Merlin Triva skill on that one!
Nonetheless, I too do not consider the story of Myrddin canonical to Merlin
even if I do snatch a couple of tales from it now or then
Also, Lailoken is not canonical for me toward the KAP Merlin

Dang, no check for my Merlin Triva skill on that one!
Nonetheless, I too do not consider the story of Myrddin canonical to Merlin
even if I do snatch a couple of tales from it now or then
Also, Lailoken is not canonical for me toward the KAP Merlin


Yes, the dates alone would rule it out; Lailoken/Myrddin traditionally went mad at the Battle of Arderydd around 573, definitely after Arthur's reign by Great Pendragon Campaign chronology.