Arthurian Legend, part III

Welcome back to a epic blog, has been a while, i took my time to finish this chapter, i hope you enjoy it! Sir Perceval Overview: One of the main Round Table Knights, notably for his purity, the original knight who complete the quest of the holy grail. Legend: Son of King Pellinore, he never meet his dad and brothers, he was raised by his mother in solitude on the wild woods, until he saw knights passing by and wanted to join them. He wasnt aware of his noble bloodline and joined Arthur's court as a inexperted adolescent, lacking of nobility manners but good hearted and virtous, with a overwhelming natural skills at knight training. In the earliest texts, he is the one who complete the holy grail quest, but still failing the first time in the quest, making him took years to search again the castle of the holy grail. In later text, Sir Galahad took the role of the main holy grail achiever, in some versions, both accomplished the mission Powers, skills and abilities: Exceptional swordsmanship, raw physical strength, exceptional at hunting and wilderness survival, specially horse riding and javelin throwing. His purity and innocence are a shield against dark temptations, sorcery and sin Fate: There are two variants of his final days, both involving accomplished holy grail quest, in one variant, after finishing the quest, he retires from his knight duties and became a monk or hermit, in the other variant he is took to heaven alongside Galahad, having a mercyful and calm death. Lady of the Lake: Overview: a central character in the arthurian legend, closely related to the Excalibur sword, crafting it or giving it to Arthur, closely related to Merlin, and a supporting and healer of some Round Table knights with her powerful magic. Legend: earliest Lady of the lake apparitions in text, she is unnamed and she gave Excalibur to Arthur (instead of him pulling out of the stone). In different text and cycles, Lady of the Lake its not a single character, more a title used by at least 3 different figures. Earliest unnamed Lady of the Lake who is beheaded by Sir Balin ( that will start his tragic life and end), there other two figures, Viviane and Nimue, who shares sames traits, both were trained in magic by Merlin in her youths, and later trapped him, as i metioned in Merlin entry, they have some difference, Viviane version had more hatred for merlin but then she helped Arthur to protect him from Morgan Le Fay, Nimue version is mentioned that is a chief of the ladies of the lake, hint that there are more ladies of the lake out there simultaneously, and she is more connected with the Avalon magic kingdom/realm. Also the Nimue/Viviane version, took baby Lancelot, rescued and raised (in some variants abducted) him in Avalon, training him to became a knight, and magically aiding him. The nature of The Lady of the Lake varies from cycle or text to text, from a ethereal being, a water-nymph, a fairy or a human with vast knowledge and control of magic. Powers, skills and abilities: Powerful user of magic, spellcaster, most of her magical knowledge (in most variants) cames from Merlin teaching, sharing same level of spells or types of spells. Crafting magical items and weapons such swords, Excalibur is not the only one. Excellent healing and protective powers, notably for healing Sir Lancelot from physically wounds, mental, emotional or bewitched state. Fate: Only one unnamed Lady of the lake has been murdered, the earliest one, the other most prominent Lady of the Lake still live in their underwater magical castle/palace, Nimue/Viviane after receiving back Excalibur, she alongside Morgan Le Fay came to dying King Arthur to took him to Avalon, most of the time this is the head cannon end, living in Avalon with Morgan and Arthur, and not showing anymore in the mundane world, in a certain way marking the end of magic. Tristan & Isolde Overview: Folk hero, outstanding knight, famous for his tragic love story with Ireland's Princess Iseult/Isolde Legend: Son of king Meliodas of Lyonesse and queen Isabelle/Blancaflor, wich dies giving birth, Tristan get orphan and its take by his uncle, king Mark of Cornwall, whom wich became his champion and defender. His aunt sent him to defeat the irish champion Marhaus, and escort princess Iseult, who was marry king Mark, but Tristan and Iseult drinked accidentally a love potion during the trip, that was made for Iseult and king Mark. During Tristan and Iseult forbidden romance, they have to exile and search for shelter, joining Arthur's court and participating in some Round Table knights quests and adventures. Powers, skills and abilities: a skilled swordman and combatant, excels at duels and jousting, also has artistic skills such as poetry, playing harp and beautiful voice. Fate: Tristan tragically dies, backstabbed by his jealous uncle king Mark, in a ambush while Tristan was playing harp or a serenade to Iseult, Mark wounds Tristan with a poisoned lance or sword. Or dies of grief after a bad intentioned false report of Iseult's ship was misscarried or without Iseult coming back. It both versions, Iseult after find Tristan passed away body, she dies of grief close to him. Yvain, the Knight of the Lion Overview: Knight of the Round Table, nephew to Arthur, protagonist on his own knightly tales, in later accounts, often accompanied by his fierce pet lion. Legend: Son of King Urien of Gorre and Morgan Le Fay or Queen Modron. His famous quest is his battle with Esclados, a otherworldy knight who was guardian of a magical fountain in the forest of Brocéliande (a prominent enchanted forest), with the goal to avenge a cousin, he defeated Esclados, felt in love with his widow Laudine, and eventually marry. Following his duties as knight, he embarked on chivalric adventures and quest, at some point he forgets his lady, and she denied to welcome anymore, wich led Yvain to fall in madness and grief, and starts to live naked in the woods, but eventually Morgan Le Fay will help him curing his illness. Yvain rescues a lion from a dragon, and the lion starts to be his companion in his adventures and quest to recover the love of his lady, then he will rescue Laudine, and lived togheter with the lion in her fortress. Powers, skills and abilities: he is a expert swordsmanship and jousting, have proving in matches against many formidable adversaries, including supernatural beings. He possess magical rings, one bestowed by Lunete (a maiden of her wife) witch grant him invisibility, and other protective items gifted by Laudine that protects him as long his devotions remanis true. Has a lion ally, that fiercely fights alongside him. In some accounts he also has the ability to understand the language of birds. Fate: Yvain dies in the mentioned Battle of Camlann, by the hand of Mordred meanwhile he was trying to rescue an unhorsed Arthur, and being the last to die before Arthur. The Green Knight Overview: An enigmatic half giant knight of green color robes, armor and garments, who burst into Camelot proposing a deadly challenge to the Round Table knights. Famous for the poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" Legend: One day, a mysterious supernatural knight arrives to Arthur's court, he carried a big battle axe, and his garment, or even his skin were of an unusual green color, he demanded a deadly challenge, consisting on kneel down and receive a strike, a year and a day later he will demand the attacker, go to the green chapel, to kneel down and receive the same blow with his axe. His true identity is lord or sir Bertilak de Hautdesert who was transformed into the green knight by the magic powers of Morgan le Fay, to test the knights of the court, this test also involved Lord Bertilak's castle, which he hosted the challenged knight, without reveiling his identity, and also his wife lady Bertilak/Anne who will also try to trick and seduce the host. Powers, skills and abilities: Bertilak apparently is just a normal human, and also old, with Morgan spell, he has half giant size, enhanced strenght, apparently immortality, he could beheaded but still alive and grab his head and place it again. Fate: After the events of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, he spares Gawain life, apparently Bertilak then lived in his castle, in some later literature, he join Arthur's Round Table or join them as ally, being one of the most powerful knights. Sir Gawain Overview: One of the main and original Round Table Knights, nephew and royal ally of King Arthur, notably for being the protagonist of the poem Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. Legend: Son of King Lot of Orkney and Morgause (Arthur's half-sister), brother to Gaheris, Gareth and Agravain (all important Round Table Knights), and also half brother or cousin to Mordred. When the Green Knight arrived to Camelot and challenged Arthur, he accepted the challenge instead of Arthur, the Green Knight gave it his axe to receive a blow from him, Gawain decapitated him, only to notice the Green Knight inmedietly stand up and grab his beheaded head, he did the trip to the green chapel to accomplish the challenge, he succeded at not fall in Bertilak traps but failed on one little thing, he accepted a gift from Bertilak's wife, a magical green girdle who will magically protect him from wounds, the green knight did a little cut with his axe to Gawain, noticing the girdle was a deceit, anyway Green Knight decided to spare his life, succeding the challenge. He is also part of the Holy Grail quest. He has a rivalry with Sir Lancelot, during the schemes of Morgan and Mordred to reveil Lancelot and Guinivere infidelity, Gawain's brothers (Gareth, Agravain and Gaheris) died by the hand of Lancelot during Queen Guinivere execution rescue, claiming for vengeance Gawain pushes Arthur to war against Lancelot. Powers, skills and abilities: The role model knight, has a magical sword bestowed by the lady of the lake, this sword named Galantine, has the particularity of granting supernatural strenght according to sun light, being at maximus power at noon, and decreasing at night, in some variants this supernatural trait is part of Gawain itself. Fate: He has a final duel with Lancelot in Gaul or France, in wich Lancelot defeat him but spares his life, but deadly wounded, back in Britain, Gawain send a letter to Lancelot offering him forgiveness and asking for help to fight against Mordred, that during that time he false reported Arthur's dead and took the throne for himself and allies with the saxons rival tribes, Gawain will not survive his wounds and will not make it to the Battle of Camlann. END