Lady of the Lake
Lady of the Lake, also known as Nimue, is an Eidolon guardian who wields Excalibur.
Excalibur
Lady of Lake holds Excalibur, legendary sword. Sword vibrates gently in her hand. She whispers words to calm it down. Excalibur perceives threats lurking in half-light of untouched sanctuaries.
Guardian Role
Nimue serves as one of guardians of Megalith in The Well of Tears alongside Sakarabru and Marduk.
Sealing Process
When summoned via shattered Effigy statuette, Nimue’s presence bursts forth from microscopic breach opened to Empyrean. She speaks into world and turns toward Aether meteor. Rock sparkles as though adorned with stars and constellations, comes to life as if crossed by galaxies and spinning celestial bodies.
Without saying word, Nimue plunges Excalibur into mass of Aether leaving it buried almost to hilt. Tremors suddenly stop and spectral glimmers fade away. This provides brief respite but requires additional guardians for complete seal.
Encounter with Atsadi
Atsadi, seeking a weapon capable of breaking Aurora’s crystal prison, learned of the Lady of the Lake from Lyra travelers. After Surge told him that only Excalibur could crack the crystal jail, Atsadi researched the Lady’s story extensively to nourish his imagination sufficiently to invoke her.
When Atsadi invoked the Lady through Alteration and begged her to entrust him with Excalibur, she could not bring herself to grant his request despite his pleading. She explained that only the greatest swordsman in the world could be considered worthy. She had been Excalibur’s protector since time immemorial and could not absolve herself of her duty.
Guidance to Bedivere
Touched by Atsadi’s determination and circumstances, the Lady of the Lake advised him to seek out Bedivere so that she could teach him the handling of the sword. She specifically recommended Bedivere because she too had lost an arm and would therefore be most apt to help Atsadi surpass his limits and compensate for his handicap.
This guidance set Atsadi on his path to become worthy of Excalibur, suggesting the Lady believed he had the potential to achieve the necessary mastery despite his physical limitation.
The Test of Worthiness
The Lady’s requirement that only the greatest swordsman in the world can wield Excalibur represents a test of martial excellence. Atsadi made a vow before her to become that exceptional swordsman, to move heaven and earth challenging all the greatest masters of arms the world had known.
His quest to defeat legendary warriors like Tomoe Gozen, Achilles, Sun Wukong, Hua Mulan, and Gericht vaan-Bracht, as well as his search for The Seven Blades, all stem from this requirement to prove himself worthy in the Lady’s eyes.
Summoning Method
386 AC - Sealing Megalith Singularity
Afanas opened mouth letting Senka burst out in thick mauve plumes. Nighthawk spread wings while alabaster mask solidified to cover head. Afanas channeled Mana into Effigy placed at feet.
Megalith shook and ground trembled. Tumult oozed from floating crystal. Afanas needed to send it back to age-long slumber. Statuette of Nimue shattered. Afanas felt her presence burst forth from microscopic breach opened to Empyrean.
Lady of Lake manifested holding Excalibur. Eidolon turned to Afanas, then to Aether meteor. Her feet brushed ground generating ripples. Hair floated in halo. Walls became obsidian mirrors. In hand, Excalibur vibrated gently. She whispered to calm it.
Rock sparkled with stars and constellations. Nimue plunged sword into Aether mass buried to hilt. Tremors stopped and glimmers faded. Brief respite achieved but two more guardians needed.
Relationships
- Afanas Korovinovich: Summoned Nimue to seal Megalith (386 AC)
- Senka: Afanas’s nighthawk Alter Ego present during summoning
- Excalibur: Legendary sword Nimue wields
- The Megalith: Tumult Singularity Nimue helps seal