Arthurian Legend, part I

Hey there you myth friend Jc back again. This time to talk about the british medieval folklore tradition of the Arthurian legeng, also knows as Matter of Britain, Arthurian Cycle. Merlin Overview: The archetypal wizard and prophet, born from a demon and a virtuous woman, he inherited a vast dark power and a destiny for good. Legend: He is a main character in the arthurian legend, he orchestrate the conception of Arthur, guide him to the magical sword Excalibur, very involved in the success of Arthur's coronation and reign, founding of Camelot and the chivalric order of the round table, he prophetized to Arthur that a son of him will kill him, to not marry Guinivere. Also he was the master of Morgan le Fay/Morgana and Nimue (known as one of the ladies of the lake) teaching them spells and magic. His origin is a bridge between celtic mythology and christianity traditions, being a evolution of different historic or demi-legendaries figures like the scottish Lailoken, welsh Myrddin, and romano-british Ambrosius Aurelanius. Powers, skills and abilities: He was the most powerful wizard, has prophet skills, invisibility, shapeshifting, weather and elemental control, ability to speaks to animals, the wisdom and knowledge of nature secrets. Said to be the only man respected and admire by faeries, gnomes and dragons. Fate: He fall in love with a beautiful young lady named Nimue, in some text, Merlin built to her a palace under a lake and coin her the lady of the lake nickname, she using a imprisioning spell learned from himself trapped him in a cave, a crystal or a tree for eternity. The motif for this vary: -Nimue wanted to escape the unwanted romantic advances of Merlin -She saw him as a disruptive dark influence or dangerous for the realm -Nimue actually loved him and trapped Merlin to have him to herself Morgan Le Fay Overview: Also known as Morgana, Morganna or Morgaine, she is a powerful sorceress, apprentice of Merlin, half sister to Arthur, initially a benevolent figure, then in later text an ambiguous morality figure, main antagonist to Arthur, Guinivere and Merlin. In the end she and Nimue helps Arthur on his final days. Legend: initially a very benevolent healer and Queen of Avalon (magical isle reign by 9 fairy queens or magical sisters), early version she could be not human yet fairy and unrelated to Arthur, most prominence versions she is human, youngest daughter of duke Gorlois and Igraine (later mother of Arthur), half-sister to Arthur and full-sister to Elaine and Morgause (this one notably for being Queen of Orkney and mother of renowned knights). Young Morgan unhappily marries Urien (ruler of the Rheged kingdom) with whon had a son, Yvain (who later will be a renowned knight). She becones Merlin apprentice, on this versions she portraits a archetype of medieval witch, being capricious, selfish and vindictive adversary to the knights of the Round Table, she is involved in scheming to usurp or dethrone Arthur, she uses her magic and enchantments to trap Arthur and his knights, specially Lancelot whom fell an unrequired love for and constantly trap or kidnapp him, also she uses her enchantments and inteligence to plot and scheme for some betrays to Arthur, notably Sir Accolon (Morgan's lover) and Mordred (her nephew and Arthur's last adversary). Most versions and tales share a similar reconciliation of Morgan with his half-brother Arthur, in the aftermath of the battle of Camlann, in wich Arthur is mortally wounded, she and the nine sisters of Avalon take him to Avalon in wich he will rest or heal. Powers, skills and abilities: she had the nickname le fay (the fairy) for her skills in magic and enchantments, althought in the most prominent versions she is entirely human. In earlier versions she is skilled on noble arts as maths, astronomy and herbology, more high of the norm of a woman of that period. In later villanous witchy versions, she is well skilled on usage of magical items, book spells, magical traps that involve illusions, sleep or creating magical realms in wich people cant escape. In most version she conserves her medicinal and healing powers. Fate: in some versions, her final days, she recluse in the forest, in wich she became even more powerful with the nature but distant of society. Most prominent versions, her finals days are in Avalon, with Arthur who recovers from his deadly wounds, or, already dead, ressurect, they love apparently in a magical realm wich no other man can access. Arthur Pendragon Overview: Legendary king of Britain, a folk hero and central figure in Britain medieval literary tradition. Legend: Althought has his roots in a probable historic warrior/leader of britons who commanded battles against the anglo-saxons, with welsh mythology elements, most historians consider him a folk figure. Early properly King Arthur is depicted as a legendary Britain king who defeated the saxons and established a vast empire. The in later literature there were added more elements to his story, Arthur's father Uther Pendragon, the wizard Merlin, Arthur's wife Guinevere, the sword Excalibur, his final battle with Mordred, then in french literature it was added the story of Lancelot and quest of the Holy Grail. In the most prominent versions, he born from Igraine who was tricked by Uther Pendragon (Briton king) with the help of Merlin whom with magic made him took the physical appareance of Igraine's spouse the duke (of Cornwall) Gorlois. Merlin took it and gave it to Ector/Hector and his son Kay to raise him as a adopted son. Merlin meet again a teenage Arthur and guide him to the Excalibur sword (in some versions The Lady of the Lake gave it to him) in wich he is the only one able to remove from the stone and with the help of Merlin and other knights, starts his reign as king, unify many kingdoms, found Camelot and the chivalric order known as the Round Table. Powers, skills and abilities: considered the most powerful knight, his strenght is over the norm, his swordmanship is also the most skillful of the Round Table knights. His charisma and leadership is great, granting him unite the realm, conquer reigns, and inspire loyalty from his knights. Also most of his prowess stems from his destined right to rule and a powerful arsenal of magical artifacts gifted to him; -Excalibur: its blade could blind enemies in battle, cut thorught armor and shields -Excalibur's scabbard: posses healing abilities and protects from bleeding and injuries -Carwennan: a dagger who grants invisibility ability -Rhongomiant: a divine spear, posibl more powerful than excalibur -Prydwen: a shield capable of withstanding any attack Fate: During his absent of the realm, he leave in charge his knight Mordred, but he betrays him and allies with saxons and irish, outnumber Arthur's forces, leading to the Battle of Camlann, in wich many of the Round Table knights die, including Arthur and Mordred, in some versions both kill each others, in other variant Mordred fatally wounds Arthur but perished, dead or dying Arthur is taked by a "fairy boat" guided by Morgan Le Fay, or her and the nine avalon sisters, or Morgan and Nimue/Lady of the Lake, Arthur spends his finals days in the realm of Avalon. Sir Bedivere Overview: One of the first Arthur's knights and original member of the Round Table, famous for being very handsome and (sometimes) portrayed as one-handed yet formidable and very brave at battle. Legend: one of earlist arthur's allie and knight, he has the role of being the marshal of the king. He participated alongside Arthur in heroic battles, including fighting the giant of Saint-Michel Mount, being one of the few survivor of the Battle of Camlann, and most notably for be the one who Arthur leave in charge to return the Excalibur sword to the Lady of the Lake. Powers, skills and abilities: despite in some varians, being one-handed, he is very skillful at battle, brave and succesful as a war marshal, oh and it is mentioned that he is "the most handsome man on the world" Fate: after the events of the battle of Camlann a dying Arthur order him to return Excalibur, he reluctantly accepts to cast away the sword to the water, witness Lady of the Lake hand catch the sword mid-air then sinks, in other variants he also witness Morgan and Nimue take away Arthur knowing his inminent death. Bedivere past the rest of his days as a hermitage or as a confined monk. Sir Galahad Overview: Prime achiever of the Holy Grail, Arthur's most purest knight of absolute virtue and spiritual purity Legend: Born from, and illegitimate son, of Sir Lancelot and Lady Elaine of Corbenic whom throught deception seduced Lancelot. Raised by nuns in a Abbey, he practiced a life of inmaculate devotion and faith. Alongside Sir Perceval and Sir Bors, he achiever the Holy Grail quest, succeding in all tests. Powers, skills and abilities: He embodies the purest virtues of christianity traditions, also he wields a shield with the blood of Joseph of Arimathea, wich has healing abilities. Fate: he was the only to witness the Holy Grail at full splendor, and with it after completing the Holy Grail quest, he still young ascends to heaven. Stay tune for more parts of this magical blog! End.