Line #4 Main/DamselErrant


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Literature/TheFaerieQueene https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DamselErrant_Una_2644.JPG]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Una, with the Red Cross Knight]]
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4	The Damsel Errant is the DistaffCounterpart of the KnightErrant, a StockCharacter of the ChivalricRomance. They form a complementary pair; he is seeking adventure and she knows where adventures are to be found. ''Not'' to be confused with the DamselInDistress, though she probably knows a few in need of succor.
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6	The Damsel Errant may WalkTheEarth, often accompanied by a faithful servant, she may head for the StandardRoyalCourt and demand that TheGoodKing send a KnightInShiningArmor to right an injustice in his realm, or she might set up her pavilion near a fountain or other spot where knights are known to pass. She is seldom named or given any kind of background; basically she is a [[{{Herald}} plot device for putting the knight where the action is]]. She rarely becomes a love interest, normally leaving the knight once they've run out of adventures and returning to or near the spot where he first encountered her. In some cases there are [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane hints]] that the lady is of magical origin.
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8	Compare and contrast ManicPixieDreamGirl. Related tropes include TheHerald (a more generic questgiver), and LadyAndKnight (which this trope often upgrades into). The Damsel Errant appears in the HardboiledDetective genre as a DameWithACase.
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10	!Examples
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12	[[foldercontrol]]
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14	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
15	* ''Manga/TheSevenDeadlySins'' begins with princess Elizabeth, who narrowly escaped the usurpation of her family, searching the countryside for knights willing to rectify that injustice. Being both very lucky and very bad at practical survival skills, she stumbled through TheHero's door a few seconds before collapsing of exhaustion. A recurring problem in the first arc is her feeling that she contributes nothing to the party and asks quite a lot of them. [[spoiler:Though she turns out to fulfil the "damsel has magical powers" subtrope, so that helps.]]
16	[[/folder]]
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18	[[folder:Folklore]]
19	* Myth/ArthurianLegend:
20	** The three ladies encountered by Sir Gawain, Sir Ywain and Sir Marhous in the Forest of Arroy are classic examples of the Damsel Errant. They are also evidence that such ladies need not be young, as one was 60 years old! According to Sir Thomas Malory and the Vulgate, Sir Lancelot couldn't move more than a step without tripping over a Damsel Errant, who would then proceed to lead him into deadly peril.
21	** Dame Lynette came to court to fetch a knight to defend her sister, Lady Lyonesse. In [[Literature/LeMorteDArthur Malory]], Sir Gareth married Lady Lyonesse; in [[Literature/IdyllsOfTheKing Tennyson]], Lynette. Lynette is also notable for rejecting Gareth, refusing to believe he's capable, and speaking very cruelly to him in the hope that he'll give up -- [[DependingOnTheWriter in different versions of the story]] this is either genuine, or because she knows she's leading him into a trap but can't warn him directly.
22	[[/folder]]
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24	[[folder:Literature]]
25	* In Edmund Spenser's ''Literature/TheFaerieQueene'', Una fetches Myth/SaintGeorge to defend her parents and their kingdom. They ''do'' become a couple.
26	* ''Literature/KingArthurAndHisKnightsOfTheRoundTable'', being an adaptation of Myth/ArthurianLegend, features this trope. Many damsels travel to King Arthur's court seeking help.
27	* Creator/PGWodehouse gently mocks the convention with Yvonne in his "Sir Agravaine"; she is a distinctly plain girl, and the quest she brings Sir Agravaine into turns out to be of a highly surprising nature.
28	* At the end of ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'', Schmendrick assures Lir that his skills as a hero will be in high demand. Not five minutes after they part ways, a desperate princess runs up to them -- Schmendrick gives her his horse and points her after Lir.
29	* Naturally, Gerald Morris has quite a few in his Arthurian retellings, ''Literature/TheSquiresTales'', although they have a tendency to take on ActionGirl characteristics too. Notable examples include Eileen, Lynette, Ariel, and Lynette's GenerationXerox daughter. The Three Questing Ladies play this trope straighter, although in different ways. For example, the eldest of them trains her knights before letting them embark on adventures, and the youngest gets hers killed (by encouraging them to fight other knights until they die valiantly, at which point she latches onto the winning knight, and so on until she returns to the meeting place).
30	* ''Literature/AConnecticutYankeeInKingArthursCourt'': A fair maiden by the name of Alisande comes to King Arthur's court seeking a brave knight to go with her and rescue her 44 princesses, locked up in yon tower and guarded by three fearsome ogres. This being a satire written by Creator/MarkTwain, they turn out to be pigs, and the ogres are farmhands.
31	* ''Literature/SaintGeorgeAndTheDragon'': Princess Una traveled a long, long way before she found the Red Cross Knight.
32	[[/folder]]
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34	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
35	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': If you go by her words in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E4TheDoctorsWife The Doctor's Wife]]," the TARDIS is this to the Doctor.
36	-->'''The Doctor''': You didn't always take me where I wanted to go.\
37	'''Idris''': No, but I always took you where you needed to go.
38	[[/folder]]
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40	[[folder:Video Games]]
41	* Most of the ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' games have a mysterious woman who greets you in the hub area and provides your initial explanation for what this place is and directs you toward the first plot hooks. Usually she has a title rather than a name - the [[VideoGame/DemonsSouls Maiden in Black]], the [[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII Emerald Herald]], and the [[VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII Fire Keeper]], as well as [[VideoGame/EldenRing Melina]]. Unlike more traditional examples, however, they usually don't vanish, instead remaining available to help you level up (and provide similar guidance to any other passing adventurers), and tend to eventually reveal enough personal history to explain why they care enough to involve you. [[spoiler:Often they have ulterior motives.]]
42	** ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' also has Strowen, Morrel, and Griant - retired Fire Keepers who are also TheWeirdSisters, who live in the starting zone and [[CynicalMentor tell you how much you're going to die if you pursue the plot]]. Unlike the Herald, the trio have no further involvement with the story after you leave them (though they do remain in their home).
43	** Averted in ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' and ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'' - while the Plain Doll and Emma are recognisably similar characters, neither appears until well after the protagonist has determined their quest.
44	* In ''Franchise/DragonAge'', the plot of the ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins Origins]]'' DLC ''Witch Hunt'' revolves around the [[KnightErrant Warden's]] attempts to track down their former companion (and possible love interest), [[LadyOfBlackMagic Morrigan]]. If romanced previously, the Warden can decide to follow her through [[MagicMirror the Eluvian]] to parts unknown.
45	* Iris in ''VideoGame/LufiaIIRiseOfTheSinistrals'' might fit into this trope, although she is more of a guide than a partner.
46	* Less common in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' than you'd think but there are some examples.
47	** Impa fulfills the role in the first and second games, telling Link of Zelda's predicament.
48	** Zelda counts as one in A Link to the Past, informing Link of the peril befalling Hyrule.
49	** The Great Deku Tree is one in Ocarina of Time, sending Link to his quest.
50	** Impa does it again in Oracle of Seasons after Din gets captured.
51	** [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in Twilight Princess, where Midna bargains with Link to do her bidding to help him save his friends.
52	** The Old Man serves one in the beginning of Breath of the Wild, telling Link of what befell Hyrule and sending him to the quest.
53	** Many other games begin with Link embarking on a personal quest, which is revealed to be part of the larger plot as revealed by another character.
54	[[/folder]]
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56	[[folder:Webcomics]]
57	* ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'', of course, features many of the ones from Arthurian myth, including Lynette and Croisette from Lancelot's KnightErrant period. During the Grail quest, the Damsels Errant and Wise Old Hermits have a ''complete checklist'' of how the quest is supposed to go, so they can push knights in the right direction for the next bit.
58	[[/folder]]
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60	[[folder:Western Animation]]
61	* Teyla the Sorceress in ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983''.
62	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DamselErrant