batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l5346-l5386
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l5346-l5386
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
label: C. E. G. / THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN / PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC / GERAINT
THE SON OF ERBIN; lines 5346-5386
start: '5346'
end: '5386'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'Arthur seeks the remaining marvel: the blood of the witch Orddu at a cave
on the confines of Hell. Several warriors fail against the witch before Arthur
kills her with his dagger, and Kaw keeps her blood. Kilhwch and his allies bring
the marvels to Yspaddaden Penkawr; Kaw shaves Yspaddaden to the bone, Yspaddaden
concedes Olwen, and Goreu beheads him. Kilhwch marries Olwen, and Arthur''s hosts
disperse.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Arthur asks whether any marvel remains unobtained, and one of his men identifies
the blood of the witch Orddu as the remaining object.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The witch Orddu is identified as daughter of the witch Orwen, from Pen Nant
Govid, on the confines of Hell.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Arthur travels north to the place of the witch's cave.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Gwyn ab Nudd and Gwythyr advise Arthur to send Kacmwri and Hygwyd to fight
the witch.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The witch seizes Hygwyd by the hair and throws him to the floor; Kacmwri pulls
her down by the hair, but she drives both men out.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Gwyn and Gwythyr advise Arthur not to fight the hag himself and propose sending
Hiramreu and Hireidil.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The four men who entered the cave are so disabled that they must be placed
on Arthur's mare Llamrei.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Arthur strikes the witch at the cave door with Carnwennan, his dagger, and
splits her in two.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Kaw of North Britain takes and keeps the witch's blood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Kilhwch, Goreu, and others hostile to Yspaddaden bring the marvels to Yspaddaden's
court.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Kaw shaves Yspaddaden's beard, skin, and flesh to the bone from ear to ear.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Yspaddaden says Olwen is Kilhwch's but that Arthur, not Yspaddaden, accomplished
this; he adds that giving her means he loses his life.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Goreu drags Yspaddaden to the keep, cuts off his head, and places it on a
stake on the citadel.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: Kilhwch marries Olwen that night, and Arthur's hosts disperse.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Arthur
description: Leader who seeks the remaining marvel, travels to the witch's cave,
kills the witch with his dagger, and is credited by Yspaddaden with accomplishing
Kilhwch's marriage claim.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Orddu
description: Witch, daughter of the witch Orwen, located at Pen Nant Govid on the
confines of Hell; she fights Arthur's men and is killed by Arthur.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Orwen
description: Witch named as the mother of Orddu.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Gwyn ab Nudd
description: Counsellor who advises Arthur concerning whom to send against the witch.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Gwythyr son of Greidawl
description: Counsellor who advises Arthur concerning whom to send against the witch.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Kacmwri
description: One of the first two sent into the cave to fight the witch; he pulls
her down by the hair but is driven out.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Hygwyd
description: Brother of Kacmwri; seized by the witch and thrown down in the cave.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Hiramreu
description: One of the second pair sent to the cave; returns in worse trouble than
the first pair.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Hireidil
description: One of the second pair sent to the cave; returns in worse trouble than
the first pair.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Llamrei
description: Arthur's mare on which the disabled men are placed.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Kaw of North Britain
description: Man who keeps the witch's blood and later shaves Yspaddaden to the
bone.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Kilhwch
description: Suitor who brings the marvels to Yspaddaden's court, asks whether Olwen
is his, and marries Olwen.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Goreu son of Custennin
description: Ally of Kilhwch who seizes Yspaddaden, drags him to the keep, beheads
him, and displays the head.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Yspaddaden Penkawr
description: Father of Olwen; after the marvels are brought to him and he is shaved,
he concedes Olwen to Kilhwch and is killed by Goreu.
role_refs:
- role:12
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Olwen
description: Daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr who becomes Kilhwch's bride and wife.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: leader of the marvel-seeking party
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Arthur asks about remaining marvels, goes to the cave, commands or receives
counsel about sending men, and later his hosts disperse.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:11
- id: role:2
label: slayer of the witch
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Arthur strikes the witch with Carnwennan and cleaves her in two.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: hostile witch guarding desired blood
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Orddu's blood is the desired marvel, and she violently defeats the men sent
into her cave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: cave-dwelling adversary
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The action centers on her cave and the fight at its entrance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: named mother
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Orddu is called the daughter of the witch Orwen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: counsellor to Arthur
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Gwyn and Gwythyr advise Arthur about who should fight the witch and caution
him not to enter the cave himself.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: failed combatant against the witch
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: The four men sent against the witch are defeated or incapacitated.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: mount carrying incapacitated men
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The four defeated men are placed upon Llamrei, Arthur's mare.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: collector and executor of marvel-task action
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Kaw keeps the witch's blood and later performs the shaving of Yspaddaden.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: suitor who obtains bride
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Kilhwch asks whether Yspaddaden's daughter is now his and later marries Olwen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: avenger or executioner
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: Goreu seizes, drags, beheads, and displays Yspaddaden's head.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:12
label: bride's father and opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Yspaddaden is Olwen's father and says he would never have given her willingly.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:13
label: victim of beheading
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Goreu cuts off Yspaddaden's head and places it on a stake.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:14
label: bride
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Olwen becomes Kilhwch's bride and wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: witch's cave
literal_form: cave
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: blood of the witch
literal_form: blood
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: Carnwennan
literal_form: dagger
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: confines of Hell
literal_form: boundary place associated with Hell
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:5
label: severed head on a stake
literal_form: head placed on a stake on the citadel
associated_figures:
- fig:13
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:6
label: marvels brought to court
literal_form: marvels obtained and delivered
associated_figures:
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Identification of the remaining marvel
summary: Arthur asks whether any marvel is still unobtained, and a man names the
blood of the witch Orddu from the confines of Hell.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Failed attacks in the witch's cave
summary: Arthur reaches the witch's cave; Gwyn and Gwythyr advise sending warriors.
Kacmwri, Hygwyd, Hiramreu, and Hireidil are defeated or incapacitated by the witch.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Arthur kills the witch and Kaw keeps the blood
summary: Arthur strikes the witch at the cave door with Carnwennan, splits her in
two, and Kaw takes and keeps her blood.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Marvels delivered and Yspaddaden shaved
summary: Kilhwch, Goreu, and others bring the marvels to Yspaddaden's court, and
Kaw shaves Yspaddaden to the bone.
figure_refs:
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Concession of Olwen and death of Yspaddaden
summary: Yspaddaden concedes Olwen to Kilhwch while saying Arthur accomplished the
result and that giving her costs his life. Goreu then beheads him and displays
the head.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:6
label: Marriage and dispersal of Arthur's hosts
summary: Olwen becomes Kilhwch's bride and wife, and Arthur's hosts disperse to
their own countries.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:12
- fig:15
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: quest for required marvels to win a bride
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: The passage presents a remaining marvel to be obtained, its acquisition by
Arthur's party, delivery of the marvels to Yspaddaden, and Kilhwch's subsequent
marriage to Olwen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage names marvels and marriage
conditions but does not fully restate the earlier task framework.
- id: motif:2
label: dangerous boundary-place encounter in a cave
taxonomy_refs:
- hero_descent
basis: Arthur's party goes to a witch's cave at a place described as on the confines
of Hell; multiple warriors are defeated before Arthur kills the witch at the cave
door.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not describe an actual descent into Hell; only the location's
boundary with Hell and the cave setting support the motif candidate.
- id: motif:3
label: hostile supernatural female adversary defeated for a needed substance
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: The blood of the witch is required as a marvel; the witch violently resists
and is killed, after which Kaw keeps the blood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explain the ritual or practical use of the blood
beyond its status as an unobtained marvel.
- id: motif:4
label: bride gained after fulfillment of perilous demands
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
basis: After the marvels are brought to Yspaddaden, he acknowledges that Olwen is
Kilhwch's, and Kilhwch marries her that night.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The marriage is narratively central, but the passage itself frames it
as fulfillment of demands rather than explicitly sacred marriage.
- id: motif:5
label: death of obstructing father after daughter's transfer
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Yspaddaden states that with Olwen he loses his life; Goreu then beheads him
and displays his head, after which the castle and treasures are taken.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference precisely names this pattern.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: 5346-5350
quote_or_summary: Arthur asks if any marvel remains, and a man answers that it is
"the blood of the witch Orddu" from "the confines of Hell."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 5350-5354
quote_or_summary: Arthur goes north to the witch's cave, and Gwyn ab Nudd with Gwythyr
son of Greidawl advise sending Kacmwri and Hygwyd to fight her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 5354-5359
quote_or_summary: Inside the cave, the witch seizes Hygwyd, throws him down, is
pulled down by Kacmwri, and then drives both men out with blows.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 5360-5365
quote_or_summary: Arthur becomes angry and seeks to enter the cave, but Gwyn and
Gwythyr say it is not seemly for him to fight a hag and advise sending Hiramreu
and Hireidil.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 5365-5368
quote_or_summary: The second pair fare worse than the first, and all four men cannot
move until placed on Arthur's mare Llamrei.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: 5368-5372
quote_or_summary: Arthur strikes the witch with "Carnwennan his dagger" and cleaves
her in two; Kaw of North Britain takes and keeps her blood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 5373-5375
quote_or_summary: Kilhwch, Goreu, and others hostile to Yspaddaden take the marvels
to Yspaddaden's court.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:8
type: quote
locator: 5375-5377
quote_or_summary: Kaw shaves Yspaddaden's "beard, skin, and flesh clean off to the
very bone from ear to ear."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 5377-5382
quote_or_summary: Kilhwch asks whether Yspaddaden's daughter is now his; Yspaddaden
says she is, credits Arthur, says he would not have given her freely, and says
that with her he loses his life.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 5382-5385
quote_or_summary: Goreu seizes Yspaddaden by the hair, drags him to the keep, cuts
off his head, sets it on a stake on the citadel, and the victors take the castle
and treasures.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: '5386'
quote_or_summary: That night Olwen becomes Kilhwch's bride and remains his wife;
Arthur's hosts disperse, and Kilhwch obtains Olwen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward from the provided passage. Motif labels
are candidate-level and use broad available taxonomy references where supported.
No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not supply an explicit
comparative frame.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only the provided passage and metadata; comparison_claims intentionally left empty.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l5346-l5386
passage_sha256=23d07533211eebeb5e02c690284ce0ce665187e92a5e57638cc54421d607605f