Pendragon: The Grey Knight is a scenario that delves into the weirdness and the supernatural of King Arthur’s kingdom, on a quest that will take the Player-knights across a land blighted by the Dolorous Stroke and a fairy kingdom, and back again, their faith tested again and again, and all the while bearded and tempted by those that would see them fail, Arthur’s honour besmirched, and the shining star that is his realm tarnished. It is a reprint and update of the first adventure to be released for Pendragon in 1986, written by Larry DiTillio no less, the author of the much revered Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign for Call of Cthulhu. It can be played using either the Pendragon Core Rulebook or the Pendragon Starter Set as well as a direct sequel to the latter. Where the original consisted of the one scenario, that is, The Grey Knight, this update has been expanded to include two scenarios that make it a trilogy and fills in the years between the end of the Pendragon Starter Set and the beginning of ‘The Grey Knight’. They bridge the gap between the two just as Pendragon: The Grey Knight bridges the beginning and the end of Boy King Period.
The first of the two prologue scenarios is ‘Bearding the Lion’. It is set in 513 CE and when news reaches King Arthur that King Ryons is besieging King Leodegrance at Castle Terrabil, near Stafford in Cameliard, he orders army to war in an attempt to lift the siege. A chance occurs for the Player-knights to shine and earn Glory when they have the opportunity to capture King Ryons on the eve of battle. The scenario ends with the Battle of Terrabil, offering another chance to try out Pendragon’s battle rules, and then with the appearance of the Lady Guenever. This brings in another aspect of the roleplaying, the Adoration Passion, which may have long term effects for the Player-knights. The second scenario is ‘King Pellinore’s Quest’. It takes place in 514 CE and is a slightly busier affair. The Player-knights begin on the road to Carlion, King Arthur’s capital, to attend his marriage to Guenever. Along the way, there is the opportunity to hunt for Questing Beast, chase after a dastardly knight, and rescue a very fair maiden. Both scenarios lay the groundwork for ‘The Grey Knight’ scenario—‘Bearding the Lion’ in particular—and both are playable in a session or so. Given that they are relatively slight affairs, there is scope too for Game Master to insert scenarios of her own in these years and if the Game Master has access to Pendragon Gamemaster’s Handbook, could add to ‘King Pellinore’s Quest’ using the Feast rules for the wedding celebrations.
In between the two shorter scenarios and ‘The Grey Knight’ scenario, is a description of Carlion, which the Player-knights will return to in 515 CE at the start of the scenario for the Easter Tournament. There are some good roleplaying encounters on the road and at the court, with at least two of the Player-knights irritating to other knights in the process, and others attracting the attention of a lady. This sets up rivalries and love triangles that can be duelled during the tournament the following day, but the event is brought to a halt with a clap of thunder and out of a rolling mist ride a strange trio. A Dwarf, a Lady in Black, and a Black Knight. The Lady in Black makes grave accusations against the king and challenges to have her Black Knight face the king’s champion, and if he loses, the king will have been proven unworthy to rule. It is Sir Gawaine who throws down the mantle, but Merlin prophesises that he will fail unless one of the Thirteen Treasures of Britain is found and used to aid him in the duel. The Player-knights will ride forth in search of one of these, the Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd.
The Player-knights are faced with three challenges. First, determining where the Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd can be found; second, actually finding it; and third, returning it to Carlion in good time. This is because the duel between Sir Gawaine and the Black Knight is due to take place at Pentecost, some six weeks hence. The Player-knights will need to ride north and deep into the Wastelands. Here they will be constantly challenged by the strange encounters they have, especially if they are Christian knights, less so if they are Pagan knights, and not at all if they are Wotanic knights. Nevertheless, the Traits and Passions at the heart of Pendragon, Sixth Edition are given a thorough workout as the Player-knights progress. The trek through the Wasteland is a test of character as much as it is endurance, though there is one such test so severe that it could end the quest for a Player-knight (and the scenario for the player too)—and if too many fails, end the quest for all and place the kingdom in peril. (The scenario does include options as to what could happen if the Player-knights do fail.) After a big fight, the Player-knights can obtain the Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd and begin the journey back to Carlion, though this has its own challenges.
‘The Grey Knight’ is a linear scenario with no room for the Player-knights to deviate from the path of the quest. This does not mean that the Player-knights are bereft of agency, they are free to act as they want (or as their much-tested Traits dictate) throughout all of the encounters in this scenario as well as both ‘Bearding the Lion’ and ‘King Pellinore’s Quest’, though of course there are benefits to certain actions and penalties to others. Another point about player agency is that the scenario makes clear that it is the Player-knights who are the heroes of the tales because they are the ones that find and return with the Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd and so ensure the victory of Sir Gawaine and that without it, the king’s champion is doomed. Structurally, as written, the Player-knights are always going to arrive during the duel between Sir Gawaine and the Black Knight, the scenario providing the Game Master with extra encounters to run should the Player-knights have managed to have completed the quest in good time. Narratively, this means that six week time limit between challenge and duel does not actually matter, so really it is a means of keeping the tension high for the players and their knights and keeping them focused.
If the Player-knights do succeed, they will, of course, be well rewarded with Glory. There however, two further potential rewards. Both of which are fantastic, but will really only benefit one player each. One of them will grant extra responsibility (and even the potential for early retirement of the knight), but provide ongoing Glory and income. The Noble’s Handbook will be required to get the best use out of the reward. Hopefully future scenarios will offer similar opportunities for reward for the other Player-knights in the future.
There are really only three issues with Pendragon: The Grey Knight. One is that the maps showing particular locations and regions are difficult to locate on the full map of England in the back of the book. Another is that although it is subtitled a campaign, Pendragon: The Grey Knight is really too short to be that. Whilst it does have two extra scenarios before ‘The Grey Knight’, they are more like one session prologues to the main event. Lastly, it would have been useful to have had a pronunciation guide handy. As amusing it was to hear an American mangle many of the place and creature names whilst playing through Pendragon: The Grey Knight, it could easily have been avoided.
Physically, Pendragon: The Grey Knight is well very presented. The artwork is excellent and the illuminations entertaining. The maps are decent and add much to the manuscript-like feel of the book. The inclusion of the author’s notes is a pleasing and informative extra.
Pendragon: The Grey Knight is a great scenario made all the better by the addition of the two smaller scenarios which add depth and lay the groundwork for what is to come, much as ‘The Grey Knight’ does itself for The Great Pendragon Campaign. It tests and pulls at the Player-knights from start to finish, and in doing so, presents some delightful opportunities to roleplay as they are confronted with some of the more supernatural and more magical aspects of Arthurian Britain. Any Game Master and player who enjoyed the Pendragon Starter Set will definitely want to continue the story of their knights in Pendragon: The Grey Knight.
—oOo—
With thanks to Scott Joest and my fellow knights.
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