Featured Welsh Content
The massively multiplayer online game Mabinogi can be said to derive its name from the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, which are four short, related tales that appear alongside other works in the ancient Welsh tales of the Mabinogion.
Although the majority of the settings and stories in Mabinogi are actually loosely based on Irish mythology, some inspiration is taken from other Welsh legends, such as those of King Arthur, and the game features many references to Welsh names and the Welsh language.
A prequel game called Vindictus features Welsh references of its own.
The Alban Knights
The Alban Knights, also known as the Divine Knights, reference the Welsh mythical figure King Arthur and his knights. The founder of the Alban Knights, known as The Elder, was said to have been laid to rest within Avalon. In mythology, Avalon is the land in which King Arthur was brought to to recover from his injuries sustained in the Battle of Camlann, while his sword Excalibur was also forged there. The Round Table at Avalon’s Gate in Mabinogi, complete with 13 seats, references King Arthur’s Round Table.
Four squads make up the Alban Knights, with each of their names relating to Welsh terms for the four seasons.
Alban itself can mean “equinox”, “solstice”, “quarter of a year” in Welsh [source].
The four squads are Arthuan, Elved, Eiler, and Heruin.
Arthuan has its roots in the Welsh term for “winter solstice”, Alban Arthan. The Welsh word arthan, where arthan means “little bear”, perhaps references the Little Bear star constellation, Ursa Minor, and the Ursids meteor shower, which appears during winter. Alban Arthan may also mean “Light of the Bear” or “Light of Arthur”, again relating to King Arthur.
Elved can trace its name to a Welsh phrase for autumn, Alban Elfed. Elfed is a combination of words coined by Welsh antiquarians William Owen Pughe and Iolo Morganwg, where el means “spirit” and med means “ripe”, reflecting autumn’s harvesting naming origins. Alban Elfed also means “Light of the Water”.
Alban Eilir lends its name to the Eiler squad. Meaning “spring” or “renewal”, Eilir is a word crafted by Iolo Morganwg, where ail means “second” and ir is “fresh”. “Light of the Earth” is another interpretation of Alban Eilir.
The Heruin squad name takes its name from Alban Heruin, a Welsh phrase better known as Alban Hefin, meaning “summer solstice”, or “Light of the Shore”.
Excalibur, Caliburn
Excalibur and Caliburn feature as weapons, skills and more.
In Arthurian tales, Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, with its name ultimately deriving from the Welsh Caledfwlch, where caled means ‘hard’ and bwlch is ‘cleft’. It appears in many interpretations of the stories of King Arthur, but it is first mentioned in Welsh mythology, including the earliest surviving Welsh tale, Culhwch and Olwen (Culhwch ac Olwen).
The Welsh historian Geoffrey of Monmouth Latinised the sword Caledfwlch as Caliburnus in the Historia Regum Britanniae, fictitious chronicles of the kings of Britain that included legends of King Arthur. Caliburnus became known by many variations in different Arthurian tales, including Caliburn, with Excalibur now the most familiar.
Welsh Character Names
There are characters with Welsh or Welsh-inspired names in Mabinogi, some of which reference characters or gods from Welsh mythology, and include the following:
Aeira, Aranwen, Arianrhod, Bleiddian, Cadoc, Cai, Caswyn, Ceridwen, Dai, Dilys, Eirawen, Eirlys, Elain, Eluned, Ffion, Gerallt, Glenis, Glewyas, Hafgan, Heledd, Heulfryn, Huw, Hywell, Ioan, Llinos, Llywelyn, Madoc, Mariota “Mari” Gwydion, Mores Gwydion, Morfydrianas, Myrddin, Nao Mariota Pryderi, Nerys, Owain, Siani, Sion, Tegwen, and Trefor.
Welsh Enemy Names
Some enemies have Welsh language names, including:
Bran (“Crow” or “Raven”, from the Welsh name Brân)
Frozen Cari (“cari” can mean “beloved” or “love”)
Gwallgof (“Insane”)
Gwyllgi (“Twilight Dog”)
Gwyllion (gwyllion are frightful female fairies in Welsh folklore that haunt roads and cause travellers to lose their way)
Merch Diafol (“Devil Girl” or “Devil’s Daughter”)
Slime Wyneb (“Face Slime”)
Un Llygadog (“One Eyed”)
Welsh Corgis
The Welsh Corgi is a type of dog that originates from Wales, and there are various Corgi pets that can be obtained in Mabinogi. These include the following:
Mariachi Wizard Corgi
Novice Adventure Corgi
Sheriff Warrior Corgi
Summer Warrior Corgi
Summer Wizard Corgi
Warrior Corgi
Wizard Corgi
Other Welsh References
Cwn Annwn is a pet that can be obtained by players to mount and use in battles. This would be properly written “Cŵn Annwn” in Welsh, meaning “Hounds of Annwn” (Annwn being the Welsh Otherworld), but sometimes also known as “Hounds of Hell”. Cŵn Annwn is the plural of Ci Annwn.
Math Dungeon may reference the mythical Welsh king, Math fab Mathonwy, who appears in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi.
Videos for Mabinogi
Related Games
