The 'Deryni' Novels of Katherine Kurtz Quiz

Answer: Wales

Maps of the fictional country of Gwynedd greatly resemble Wales. In real-life Wales, Gwynedd is the name of a county in the northwest.

Answer: The use of magic

Skilled Deryni people have abilities such as teleportation, using special gateways, and scanning the mind. From time to time, this fueled the unfortunate prejudice that the Deryni might use the skills to oppress the so-called normal population. The powers were banned by royal decree, and violent persecution of the Deryni followed.

It was not until the reign of King Kelson that the edicts were repealed and Deryni citizens restored to full rights.

Answer: Deryni Rising

Kelson Haldane assumed the crown when he was just fourteen. In the Gwynedd of the novels, that was considered the age of majority.

Answer: Christianity

Every chapter in the Gwynedd books starts with a Bible verse. The denomination described in the novels perhaps most closely resembles the Roman Catholic or Anglican traditions.

Answer: A war

King Kelson raises an army to once and for all end the agitation by the principality of Meara. Although he is ultimately victorious, losses run high on both sides. Later, Meara is annexed into Gwynedd as a duchy.

Answer: Sidana was murdered

It was hoped that the union would secure peace between Gwynedd and its eastern neighbor, Meara. Instead, in a shocking incident just after the vows of Kelson and Sidana were completed, Sidana's brother Llewell took a knife to her throat. He was seized and later executed.

Answer: Foster brother

MacArdry lived for many years at the court of Kelson's father, King Brion. Dhugal and Kelson grew up as best friends. They also took an oath as blood brothers.

Answer: Accepting ordination to the priesthood while it was illegal for Deryni to do so

Duncan entered the priesthood while concealing his Deryni identity. King Kelson repealed the anti-Deryni laws, rendering further secrecy unnecessary, but Duncan still felt remorse over his prior dishonesty. In "The Quest for Saint Camber," McLain confessed the truth before a convocation of bishops. He was granted absolution and allowed to continue in the priesthood.

Answer: Nigel

Nigel holds two titles: in addition to being a Haldane prince, although a few steps down the line of succession, he is also Duke of Carthmoor. King Kelson's father, Brion, was Nigel's older brother.

Answer: Rothana

The denial was a shock to the king, who had developed strong feelings for Rothana. However, she had decided to enter the religious life. Kelson would eventually marry Araxie, the daughter of Prince Richard Haldane, and within two years, the couple had three children.

You can read more about the happy family in "Codex Derynianus" (1998), a book written by Kurtz as a kind of encyclopedia about the Deryni world. It contains a wealth of details about the many novels and their setting. "Codex" mentions that the couple went on to have two children in 1129 and another in 1130. A common feature of Kurtz's novels are geneological charts about the characters' families, and "Codex" expands on this type of information. Since it's not a novel proper, I have included no questions about it here, but it certainly makes for an enjoyable read and may add a lot to readers' understanding of the saga.

Thank you very much. I hope you have enjoyed the quiz.