Arthur Pendragon

### Relatives

Uther Pendragon (father), Lady Igraine (mother), Morgan la Fey (sister), Morgause (sister), Phillip Samson (cousin), Aurora Rose Montegue (cousin by marriage)

## Physical description

### Weight

186lbs

The King of Camelot, an island nation off the eastern coast of Fantasia. Based off of the character of the same name from Disney's The Sword in the Stone, full grown. Made famously bad decisions.

## Personality

Boisterous, kind, curious. Merlin would describe him as timid. Jumps into trouble too quickly, though this is complicated later in life by the responsibility of being king.

## History

Born to High King Uther Pendragon and Queen Igraine, Arthur was the youngest of three under two step-sisters previously born to his mother. Morgan la Fey and Morgause were married to lesser kings of Britain in good faith. In such a way, Arthur was born as the sole legitimate heir to the throne by rule of the monarchy. However, it was whispered to the great king only one precious year after his son was born that chaos was to befall the land, following Uther's death. Understanding the perils that would threaten his son in the years before he could possibly hope to take the throne, the king had Arthur taken away, placed in to the care of Sir Ector the Trustworthy who was already raising his own son, Kay, for the life of a noble knight.

Arthur grew and in time became familiar with the affairs of knighthood. Completely ignorant to his birthright and kept innocent of the countless claims to the throne by the careful but at times harsh Sir Ector, he faithfully stood by and watched as his adoptive brother rose to the title of knight. The training was harsh as was rightfully so for a man earning the right to court and combat, but the demands made on Kay were amplified for young "Wart" who was often the errand boy in such trials as lost arrows and broken swords. Though his brother was, in truth, an admirable and capable knight-in-training, he was demanding of the boy he only knew as his younger brother. In such ventures, Wart wandered the woods until his eyes caught whatever query he sought out, from equipment to animals. In this way of adventure, he met a young woman who often traveled herself, enjoying the wilds and seeking peace from three older aunts. Her name was Rose, and she was not the only one he discovered among the woods.

Merlin at once knew who the boy was, for it was he who had given news to King Uther of his peril. A wise but eccentric wizard, he took to Arthur with an earnest wish that he would become a learned and peaceful king. Having known only the way of a knight in his life, the boy sought this future above all else, despite the pleadings of his self-proclaimed tutor. It was not until the triumph of the Sword in the Stone that he understood what he must become.

Placed within an anvil atop a marble platform, the sword in the stone was known all across the land for being the sole symbol of true kinghood. Of course, it was the one boy who did not know of it who would come to draw the sword. Having drawn a crowd and much celebration, a tournament was held as a prelude to the efforts of lesser kings from across Camelot and beyond to draw the sword and prove themselves worthy. Participating in this tournament was Kay who was indeed talented and brutal with a sword. However, he proved too powerful when, upon taking an enemy in the tournament, he destroyed his sword with a great swing. Angry and desperate, he demanded his younger brother find a replacement quickly so that he might continue to compete.

It was then that Arthur discovered the sword and placed his hand upon it. After one forceful pull, the sword was free. Thinking nothing of the feat, for it meant nothing to him, young Wart hurried back to his brother and gave him the blade. Kay, being far more familiar with the legend, was at once stricken by surprise. He did not, however, point out the triumph of his brother. Thinking himself more prepared for the title of king when placed beside his still very young brother, he chose to keep the sword for himself. He sent Wart to find their father and in the meantime took up a place upon the platform of marble. Standing there when Sir Ector and Wart arrived, it appeared to all that he had drawn the sword of his own will. He shared words with his father then, and they marveled at the power it would take to not only place the beautifully crafted sword in the solid iron of an anvil, but the ability of one to draw it as well. Kay was stricken once more. Surely it would not be such a great feat if his scrawny little brother could do it! And so, he returned the sword to its resting place and attempted to draw it for himself.

But the sword would not budge, for it knew its true master.In grief, the man attempted to retreat. It was only the words of young Wart that made Sir Ector stay. In kind fashion, he requested that he might try at the sword, much to Kay's dismay. Deliberation followed, but in time Arthur saw fit to try again.

All the while, though he had stayed loyal to Merlin's wishes, Arthur attempted to continue down the path of a knight. Many a time, Merlin had warned his young charge of such moments where a decision must be made with care. Still, he did not listen. In time, he again drew the sword. To all the land, then, he appeared to be king. It was only after these events that Merlin was made aware of the triumph of the Once and Future King. In frustration, he abandoned the boy until shortly after the boy's coronation.

Hardly the size or shape of a king, with little proper learning in his head, Arthur was hopeless in many things until Merlin was brought back by the willing of himself and Archimedes, the wise owl who had once been a constant companion to the wizard. In time, the old man agreed to help Arthur, but only with the promise that he would stay true to a righteous and learned path. When the agreement was made, the legend of King Arthur continued.

### The King in Youth and Adolescence

Returning to the throne at such a young age left Arthur with little time for anything but politics in the early years of his rule. Winning the trust and support of others was a battle fought well. Relief came most often in the form of newly acquired family members, most specifically his cousin, a prince by the name of Phillip whose own country connected with his by a borderland marked by prosperity. Though there was initially much room for misunderstanding between the two, it was not long before they found mutual trust and friendship through swordsmanship - in which Phillip was often forced to take the role of tutor - and festivities. The two were infamous for the trouble they could cause, from drunken brawls to practical jokes, each more ridiculous than the last. These kinds of actions did not leave a good impression on the people of the country, and eventually the two were made to stop, but they never really broke off contact with another.

Nearly a decade into his reign, Wart was reintroduced to an old friend he thought he would not see again. In time he would come to attend the wedding of his cousin and The girl he once knew as Briar Rose, truly Princess Aurora. By this time, Arthur had become a good and just king, despite his youth. As a king, Arthur was firm and decisive. All decisions were made for the good of the people. As a person, however, he was affable and friendly - a gentle man with a good heart. What the people believed he lacked, however, was power.

Whilst traveling one day, Arthur and a group of knights came across a wounded man who told them a tale of the challenge of the Sable Knight. Personally affected by the plight of this man, for he was a noble knight of his kingdom, Arthur struck out to face the knight for himself in solitude. The battle that followed left Arthur defeated after suffering a great wound to the head. Forehead and scalp split open just above his right eye, he was in grave danger from the Sable Knight when Merlin appeared and spirited the King away to recover. As luck would have it, this was about the time when a woman by the name of Guinevere traveled with her court in search of a healer for a favored page. It was to this healer that Arthur had been taken to, and upon discovering his plight, the dear lady with all of her sympathy offered aid to the ailing king. Seeing her then, Arthur was struck by love. She was gone by the time he was well, but he did not forget her.

Upon his full recovery, Arthur held counsel with Merlin over the Sable Knight, who he knew must pay for harm caused to his people. Merlin then recounted the story of a sword in the middle of a lake, seen by many but claimed by none. He took the king straightaway to the lake, where Nymue, the fabled Lady of the Lake guided him to obtain the holy sword Excalibur. With the great weapon in hand, Arthur returned to face down his foe. Victorious in battle, he granted the Sable Knight, otherwise known as King Pellinore, mercy. In time, he returned to his kingdom in peace, newly armed with the famed sword and alive with hope for a love he wished to claim.

In time, he began to court the great lady Guinevere and by the time he reached his early twenties, they were engaged to be wed.

### War and Death

The world was rent asunder by the rise of a great dark demon. Amassing a demonic army, taking lands once claimed, the evil known as Chernabog launched his assault against the assembled countries. News of his rise to power and those who came forward to either oppose or support him spread across the land after the first attack on a nearby kingdom. When it became apparent that the demonic armies would turn their sights on Ulstead, the lands belonging to Prince Phillip, Arthur was the first to speak in support of his elder cousin. With Excalibur at his side and a divided count of the Knights of the Round Table at the lead of his army, the king rode in to battle. Among the knights and nobles left behind were Lady Guinevere and Sir Lancelot. Upon announcing his own part in the war, his fiancee took up arms against the decision. A king was meant to rule, not wage war. Headstrong and loyal to a fault, Arthur stayed set in his decision to offer whatever aid he possibly could to the land of Ulstead. Their arguing consumed the night of his departure, and he did not leave on a positive note.

A mere week later, Arthur had arrived in Ulstead and sworn his army to the battle. In a days' time, the army of Chernabog would be upon them but the anxiety the king felt was not for the imminent battle. Despite his duty, he found himself suffering the anger of his soon-to-be queen, thinking on nothing but her words, how she had plead for him not to go. In a moment of sadness and anger, he took the ring of gold that signified their engagement and cast it into a fire. Only a second later did he realize his mistake. Perhaps it was that anxiety or fatigue from travel, but he was blinded for just a moment as he dove after the ring, pushing apart burning logs to retrieve the ring from the glowing embers. At least he was passionate, anyway. The resulting burns from this one act of emotion kept him awake through the night as they were tended to, and of course weakened him for the battle they would soon face. Unable to hold Excalibur or ride a horse, he nearly did not fight that day. When it came time, though, he forced himself into these nearly impossible tasks and led his army to the best of his ability. Knights took charge of implementing battle plans, but none could protect their king as the armies clashed.

The king fought, then fell.

## Relationships

### Merlin

As well as his mentor and guide in all political affairs, Merlin took up the role of father figure in Arthur's life just before he took the throne. In times of trouble, especially in those moments when the king forgets himself to the needs of the kingdom, Merlin acts as a grounding element, keeping him from forgetting the real world.

### Gwendolyn of Cameliard

The first true love of his life, a woman of inspiring wit and ambition in his mind. While their engagement was brief, their relationship was not, and she held great influence over him. He remembered her most often as tempestuous, actively adjusting her mood to each new situation in a nearly combative way. At times, her qualities were not very redeeming. All the same, Arthur was the first to jump to her defense in any argument.

### Lancelot du Lac

One of his greatest friends among the Knights of the Round Table. Lancelot and Arthur trained together through young adulthood. Because they were of similar age, Arthur often sought out Lancelot as a confidant and the two shared a mutual respect.

### Prince Phillip Samson of Ulstead

The two were always distantly related, but communication truly opened up when Arthur took the throne. Because the two were both very busy, it was hard to stay in contact, but similar age and lifestyles inspired seasonal visits that involved a number of poor decisions fueled by drink and bravado. The two formed a mutual bond over their noble titles and a need for experiences lacking attention to them. In time, Arthur became so devoted to his elder cousin that he was able to easily rally support from Camelot in the war that would ultimately lead to Arthur's demise.

### Aurora Rose Montegue

One of the first friends he ever made on his own. Arthur first met Aurora while chasing after an arrow out in the woods that were her home. They became fast friends, but he could not see her after becoming a king. Much to his surprise and joy, she became the wife of his favorite cousin. Their family was small but close, and he often took time in his visits to Ulstead to spend with Aurora.

### Princess Anna Frederikson

When both were still children, Anna and Arthur met in Camelot. The young princess traveled with her father, King Agnarr, who was invited to discuss trade and alliances that had been diminished with the death of the previous king of Camelot, Uther Pendragon. While initial intention had been to discuss betrothal, the difference in age and a previous arrangement with a minor noble lady in Camelot left the two parting as friends. The two traded letters often, but saw very little of each other after their initial meeting.

## References

* The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle
* Holding Council
* Kings Crossing
* Audience with the King