The Court of Camelot Arthurian Pantheon

“YET some men say in many parts of England that King Arthur is not dead, but had by the will of our Lord Jesu into another place; and men say that he shall come again, and he shall win the holy cross. I will not say it shall be so, but rather I will say: here in this world he changed his life. But many men say that there is written upon his tomb this verse:

Hic jacet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus

(Here lies Arthur the once and future king). “

- Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Malory

“So there’s a few floors of military police, six confirmed sorcerers, a couple dozen spartoi, and an elite squad of werewolf warriors? I thought you said this was going to be hard.”

-Joe Ortega, Lancelot

OVERVIEW

The gods often concern themselves with stories of creation, of times before men, when the divines and titans shaped the fabric of the world. If you look for primal tales at the dawn of eternity, keep looking: you will not find them here. The stories of Camelot are the stories of heroes, of those bound by fate and those who conquered it.

The first court of Arthur was made up of Scions of the Welsh and Irish Pantheons, with a few from even stranger heritage. They gathered together in Britain to protect mortal men from wicked fairies, dragons, and the incursions of foreign Scions and Titanspawn. As their legend grew, so too did the breadth of their cause. At the height of their power, Arthur and his fellows took a solemn oath upon the Round Table. As heroes of equal power and fervor, they each swore to eternally defend mankind with all of their strength.

Unfortunately, it would not be a great foe which ultimately defeated Camelot. By their own hand, the invincible fellowship of heroes was no more. Their ichor dried up and none of their bloodline remains. But Fate has other plans.

The oath of eternal protection reshaped the destiny of the World. In times of great need, when the future of mankind is in question, the hand of Fate reaches out and assembles the Knights once more--choosing from the best of humanity to fulfill the promise of Arthur.

Joining the Court

The Court of Camelot is quite different from the other Pantheons in that there is only one Scion at any given time for a divine parent. All of its members are both Chosen and Incarnated Scions. They are Chosen, as any human being who exemplifies the traits of their divine parent may rise as a Scion. They are Incarnations, as their Fate and the Fate of their divine parent weaves together to create a new destiny. He who is chosen as the Scion of Arthur is, metaphysically speaking, no different from the original. While he retains his mind, body, and soul, the ichor shouts to the cosmos: “Here is Arthur, King of Knights”.

The birth of a Scion is largely done by Fate, through a process known as the Selection. The Selection, acting on the oath of the Round Table, only creates new Scions when the fate of mankind is in danger.. This danger need not be immediate and pressing; it’s rare that a Scion of Camelot is even remotely aware of the battle they were called to fight. It may be decades away from the moment of their selection, but it is always coming.

The Court of Camelot is rarely assembled in any meaningful numbers. Most often, only a precious few are called to action in any given time period. While more dangerous times seem to attract more knights, there have been occasions where only one has been called, despite the apparent end of the world. There also seems to be no rhyme or reason for which Knight is called. Auguries and Divinations may say that Gawain will adventure once more soon, but there is little reason given to why the Sun Knight and not the the Knight with Two Swords.

The Visitation

While it is the power of Fate that chooses a new Scion, the Visitation is not without ceremony. The Ladies of the Lake, ancient fairies whose own fate is bound to the Courts, appear to those on the cusp of realizing their power. They will often test the mettle of the candidate in the days or weeks before their awakening, presenting some trial or posing a question the soon to be Scion must answer. Performing well can earn the favor of the Ladies, who are the ones that grant Birthrights to the Scions, and many Ladies continue on as Guides for the fledgling knights. At the end of the Visitation, the Lady will inform the Scion of the name of his predecessor, usually referred to as his Epithet, and grant them some small insight into the conflict they must someday face.

The Rite of Succession

Much more rarely, a Scion of Camelot may choose to give up his Epithet and power to another. The reasons for doing so are deeply personal, but have included things such as family or suffering from wounds that even a Scion may not recover from. This functions much the same as

the Selection of Fate, save that it is the original Scion who observes and judges a potential. Once they have made up their mind, Fate swirls about the Scion and his protegee, slowly transferring the weight of his karma and power. A Visitation is necessary, as the Knight is bound to tell the recipient of his new duties and name before the process is complete. At the end, the original is stripped of his Ichor and a new Scion of Camelot is born. The “parent” Scion often continues to possess some of his power in the months to come, but like the embers of a dying fire, it will eventually be snuffed out. The echoes of their power sometimes manifest as an appropriate Supernatural Path, but most become normal humans. This process is permanent and irreversible--once given, the power can never be taken back.

Principal Members

There have been many members of the court of Camelot, from as few as twelve knights to well over one hundred. The Knights that follow are the most famous or integral members of the legend.

Arthur

Aliases: King Arthur, Arthur Pendragon, Artor, Artorius, The Once and Future King, Red Dragon of ​ Wales

Lord of knights, the once and future king. The central character of Camelot and possibly the most famous king of all myths. He was known for his skill in combat, his talent for leadership, and for his panoply of magical items. His divine right lent legitimacy to the British Monarchy for generations, while his Round Table inspired notions of egalitarianism and equality. He has been seen as a figure from the Mabinogion, as a Roman General, and as a conglomeration of the deeds of historical kings, but the truth of the world is not so simple.

While most Scions awaken in the prime of their life, usually as young adults, Arthurs tend to be chosen much earlier than that. Like their progenitor, Arthurs are thrust into their position at unstable ages. Given power and responsibility that would make experienced politicians sweat, the boy (and girl) Kings must balance growing as a person with growing as a sovereign. The youngest known Arthur was only eight years old when he took up his own Excalibur, a baseball bat, and went to fight the Werewolf Unit of Nazi Germany.

Arthurs are usually the eye of the storm; the center which the tumultuous passions and drives of heroes swirl around. Firmly dedicated to both their friends and their ideals, Arthurs have historically struggled with keeping their bandmates on task and off of each other’s backs.

Callings: Guardian, Judge, Leader ​

Purviews: Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Epic Strength, Order, Prosperity, War ​

Balin

Aliases: Balin the Savage, The Knight with the Two Swords ​ Sir Balin is not what most people think of when you ask them about the Knights of the Round table. A poor knight from Northumberland, Balin was quickly made an outlaw for beheading one of the Ladies of the Lake in Arthur’s court. Despite this, he came to aid King Arthur against the rebel alliance of Kings, performing such feats of prowess that even the other knights of the round compared him to a demon. While he and his twin Balan would kill each other in a duel, Balin’s later adventures would plant the seeds for the Quest for the Holy Grail and the battles between Lancelot and the other Knights. While Balin had unmatched strength and a virtuous heart, his reckless actions often caused more problems than he solved. The recent Hundred Kami War in Japan is another example of Balin’s misguided help backfiring spectacularly.

Scions of Balin are a courageous lot, even by the standards of Heroes. Prone to strong action and with a firm moral compass, they strike out against the villains of the world without regard for their own safety. Perhaps because of this, Balin’s Scions seem to cause trouble despite their best intentions. There’s an air of bad luck about them, and Balins tend to arise from the poor, the downtrodden, or the unwanted of society.

Scions of Balan never appear unless there is a Scion of Balin already present in the world. The two are irrevocably bound by Fate to be both ally and enemy, and to have a hand in each other's ultimate doom. Where Scions of Balin are rash and bold, Balan was cool and even-tempered. The two in balance worked incredible feats, but the two in opposition destroyed each other. A Scion of Balan uses the same rules as a Scion of Balin, but his Scions have access to the Fortune Purview rather than Chaos.

Callings: Guardian, Hunter, Warrior ​ Purviews: Beasts, Chaos, Earth, Epic Strength, Epic Stamina ​

Bedivere

Aliases: Bedwyr, The One-Handed, The Perfect-Sinews, The Battle-Diademed ​ The last and most loyal Knight of the Round, Sir Bedivere. Bedivere was one of the first knights to yield to Arthur’s rule, even when others were unsure of being led by a boy too young to shave. As his title The Perfect-Sinews suggests, Bedivere was considered one of the most handsome and well proportioned of all the knights, despite the loss of his hand to the Giant of Mont-Saint-Michel. In battle, he was fierce, cutting his foes down by the hundred and delivering

countless blows between heartbeats. In court, he was both the cupbearer and the marshal for King Arthur, positions that he fulfilled with a humble dignity. It was Bedivere alone who survived the battle of Camlann with King Arthur, and he was the one who laid both the King and his Sword to rest.

Scions of Bedivere are all possessed of great beauty, somehow made even more striking by a physical flaw. While many have lost an arm, like their forerunner, there have been just as many with one eye, one leg, or some other lasting injury. Their beauty extends inwards as well, many Scions of Bedivere also exemplify his humility, compassion, and steadfast loyalty despite the consequences. When the Adherents of the Dark Sun captured Bedivere, tortured him, and threatened all that he loved in order to make him forsake his bandmates, Bedivere refused to speak. He was sure that his band would come, just as he would for them.

Callings: Healer, Lover, Warrior ​ Purviews: Beauty, Epic Dexterity, Health, Passion (Hope), War ​

Bors

Aliases: Bors the Younger, Bohort, Bors de Ganis ​ One of the three Grail Knights, Bors led a storied life, even by the measure of the other heroes. Born as a prince of Ganis, he was held captive by his father’s enemies for years before being rescued and raised by the Ladies of the Lake alongside Lancelot. Unlike his more popular cousin, the fey sorceresses instilled the virtues of piety and chastity into Bors, values they say allowed him to finally complete the quest for the Holy Grail where his brothers and cousins had failed. His commitment to his vow of celibacy was so great that the only time he slept with a woman was under the influence of a magic ring. After the fall of Camelot, he returned home and ruled as King for some time before leaving on a crusade to the Holy Lands, never to be seen again. While he was never the strongest knight of the court, he was a man of great character: Bors was valorous, patient, and never jealous of others.

Scions of Bors are echoes of their forefather’s values. They are usually singularly devoted to their missions, leading others to see them as curmudgeonly and stiff. When compared to the heated passions and indulgences of the normal Scion, Bors can seem cold and disinterested in the day to day pleasures that most people see as necessary for their sanity. However, when Bors resisted the advances of the Thirty-Seven Sirens of the Last Sea, his bandmates were all too pleased with his strict disinterest in “fun”. Scions of Bors never leave a job unfinished and never go back on their word.

Callings: Judge, Leader, Sage ​

Purviews: Epic Stamina, Earth, Frost, Journeys, Water ​

Dinadan

Aliases: Dynadan, Divdan ​ In a sea of heroes who take themselves entirely too seriously emerges Dinadan, the knight without pride. Dinadan had a love of dance, song, and jokes--particularly the practical kind. A constant companion to Tristan and Lancelot, he was quick with a joke and even quicker with a scathing remark about whoever was unfortunate enough to cross his path. He and Lancelot famously made a giant farce out of a jousting tournament, showing up in dresses and singing long, derisive songs about the Duke running the show. While no slouch in a fight, he much preferred talking to fighting, believing that injured pride heals much faster than sucking chest wounds.

While he was popular among his fellows, it would be his mouth that was the end of him. After rescuing Mordred and then mocking the “great knight” for requiring assistance, Dinadan would meet his end as Mordred ambushed him during the Quest for the Grail. Perhaps the loss of this “scoffer and jester” is what allowed the infighting of Camelot to eventually bring it down.

Scions of Dinadan are much the same. They’re always on the look out for a gag, even at their own expense, and are all too eager to point out just how human a Scion still is. Stories of how Dinadan drove off a Rakshasa just by repeatedly failing to pronounce the creature’s name still circulate. Perhaps there really is a better way than fighting?

Callings: Creator, Sage, Trickster ​ Purviews: Artistry (Jokes), Chaos, Deception, Moon, Passion (Joy) ​

Galahad

Aliases: Galeas, Gwalhwavad ​ One of the three Grail Knights, Galahad’s coming and eventual success in the quest for the Holy Grail was foretold by prophecy. Born of Princess Elaine and Sir Lancelot, Galahad grew up without the guidance of his father, relying on the wisdom of his mother and grandfather, King Pelles. The “most noble knight in the world”, Galahad accomplished many feats of prowess and virtue over his life, from securing a magical shield guarded by an angel to healing the Grail King of the terrible wound that Sir Balin inflicted upon him. Full of piety and with a clean soul, he and the other Grail Knights eventually grasped the Holy Grail, restoring the once-blighted wasteland to its true splendor. In the end he used the power of the Grail to ascend directly into the heavens, avoiding the tragic fates that befell the rest of the Round Table.

Unlike the other Knights, who struggled with temptation and dreams of glory, Galahad always did exactly what was expected of him. Never more. Never less. This almost fatalistic view of the world extends to many of his successors. Galahads believe strongly that they have a role to play in world, and have faith that their destiny is a righteous one that they should meet with all haste. Galahad was all too happy to descend into the Den of Lies and spend the rest of his life keeping the Black Wyrm from escaping his prison. Things like doubt, regret, and remorse are for those who lack the conviction to carry out their duties.

Callings: Guardian, Healer, Judge ​ Purviews: Beauty, Epic Strength, Health, Fertility, Fortune ​

Gawain

Aliases: Gwalchmai, The Knight of Maidens, The Knight of the Sun ​ The nephew of King Arthur, the wielder of Galatyn--sister of Excalibur, and the firstborn Prince of Orkney; no knight has more stories and feats attributed to him than Gawain. He defeated countless knights, won the hearts (and company) of dozens of beautiful young women, was blessed by the divine and the spirits of the land, mastered the ways of court and war, and was beloved by his companions. In keeping with the first legends, the strength of Gawain is said to wax and wane with the sun. Even Peerless Lancelot could not defeat him while the sun shone, and they battled all the way to nightfall before the decisive blow was struck. These days, though the legend no longer concerns itself with the magics of old, Gawain never lost his connection to this power because of the strength of his Legend.

The shining example of everything a Knight of the Round ought to be, Gawain is featured even in legends were he is not the central character. He served as a mentor and guide to younger knights, sometimes as a role model, but other times as a foil. Gawains in the modern day often fill this role. They are people with experience and more than a few tales under their belt, even before they awaken as Scions. In the 1920’s, Gawain was already world famous as a globe-trotting adventurer before he was blessed with holy Galatyn and assumed his role as the Knight of the Sun. This newfound power only gave the newspapers and pulp novelists more material to work with, and he was eager to oblige.

Callings: Lover, Hunter, Warrior ​ Purviews: Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Epic Strength, Fire, Sun ​

Kay

Aliases: Cei ​

The first Knight of Camelot and King Arthur’s foster brother. Sir Kay served Arthur as his his first companion and later as his steward, keeping the wheels of government working even as the boy-king was away on campaign. Though considered one of the weaker Knights in direct combat, he and Bedivere accompanied Arthur on his quest to kill the giant of Mont-Saint-Michel, and participated in several quests earlier in Arthur’s career where he demonstrated his mastery of magic. His skin was so hot to the touch that water would evaporate before it touched him and he could light a fire by plunging his hand or sword into the wood. Though he ended his career as a beaurocrat, he was quick to remind others of his days of glory.

Kay’s hot temper and foul mouth often made him the butt of the joke in later legends. If a new Knight needed to prove his worth, the first one he would defeat would be Kay. If Kay opened his mouth and gave his opinion, he was to be proven wrong. This has given him something of an image as a bully and an oaf, but Kay never doubted his king and always performed admirably when the stakes were high. When Titanspawn flooded the streets and turned every mortal they attacked into their own kind, Kay was the one who made the hard decisions, holding out until his bandmates arrived with the key to victory.

Callings: Leader, Liminal, Sage ​ Purviews: Fire, Order, Prosperity, Sky, War ​

Lancelot

Aliases: Peerless Lancelot, Lancelot of the Lake, Ancalot ​ The finest swordsman in Camelot, for whom praise was never far, Lancelot was the Knight who was given everything and yet ended his life with nothing. The son of King Ban, he was raised by the Ladies of the Lake in secret. The fairies taught him all the methods of combat, the way to dance upon the water, how to disguise himself, and gifted him with a magical ring that could dispel illusions; Lancelot arrived in Arthur’s court filled with blessings and good intentions. His ardor for Queen Guenevere, and the affair between them, would tear the court apart. While Arthur spared Lancelot from punishment for this transgression, he ordered the execution of Guenevere. In a rage, Lancelot slaughtered the unarmed and unarmored knights, brothers of Gawain, overseeing the execution in a bid to rescue her. Whether or not he did differs on the tale told. In some he fails, in others he succeeds but is ultimately rejected because of the Queen’s horror at his act. Gawain challenges him out of vengeance and the duel between them would be the end of the Round Table.

Scions of Lancelot, much like the original, are wellsprings of talent and the beneficiaries of large inheritances. They were masters of their fields, heirs to powerful companies, the firstborn sons of firstborn sons, and so on. Despite all these advantages, Lancelots wrestle with the desire for

things that they should not have. While affairs are common, in keeping with tradition, just as many have longed for positions of power they haven’t earned or treasures that rightfully belong to another. There are whispers that the crusade for the holy land was engineered by Lancelot, who desired the seat of Jerusalem for himself.

Callings: Guardian, Lover, Warrior ​ Purviews: Beauty, Epic Dexterity, Moon, Passion (Lust), Water ​