"It would be found, so it is said, had we the eyes that see or the ears that hear either signs or sounds of such a matter, that certain of the old romances which we have been accustomed to regard as finished and fated for all time are, in fact, re-enacting and repeating themselves, with a timidity amounting almost to stealth, in the chilling and alien climate of our modern civilization: that steam has not scorched out valor, nor the telegraph overtaken chivalry, nor universal suffrage extinguished loyalty; that the golden years did not go dumbly to their graves, as we are wont to think; that they have arisen, like Lazarus, with their chin-cloths on, acquainted with things unlawful to utter--reserved, still visitors, shunned and strange."

--from "The Christmas of Sir Galahad," Elizabeth Stuart Phelps

Description

"...Sir Launcelot beheld the young squire and saw him seemly and demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, that he weened of his age never to have seen so fair a man of form..."

Galahad is human in appearance and yet not -- like a living, breathing expression of human beauty that is more ideal than representative. His face is ageless and unblemished, with all the fairness of youth and yet a refinement that seems only to come with maturity. His eyes are striking, irises of honey gold overshadowed by lashes long and dark. His lips also draw attention, their fullness so precise, a mimicry of the chiseled perfection of a Hellenic sculpture rendered in something very like flesh and blood. Unruly golden curls give his features an angelic cast, and upon his broad clear brow a circlet of gold rests, perhaps to keep his hair out of his eyes.

From the neck down his body is encased in armor, or perhaps composed of it. The plates of burnished golden metal interlock smoothly and gracefully, more inspired by than truly replicating medieval full plate armor. Galahad's movements are fluid, not stiff and awkward as if burdened or restricted by the metal.

Galahad carries with him a spear resembling a golden staff that dwindles to a point at one end. From the sharpened tip, a small trickle of blood flows constantly, and though it runs down the spear's shaft as Galahad holds it, it never stains his hands.

[Character art]

Character

Galahad has a devotion to idealism which is so deeply-rooted and atavistic that he experiences it as intensely as some beings experience physical needs. He desires to do right, but as a newly-awakened sentience he often finds himself without the necessary context to choose the right course. Learning and exploring are priorities right now, as well as meeting people who are trustworthy enough that he can look to them for advice. He is earnest and forthright, careful and objective in what judgements he does make, and he has a surprising determination not to have negative experiences with others unless they seem truly malign.

Accoutrements

Galahad typically goes armored, and the armor is pretty much impervious to damage. The helm and the armor on his torso are removable, but the armor on his limbs is not. Even his hands are encased in gauntlets which are integral to his body, but they are very dextrous and do carry sensation, if not as vividly as his synthetic skin.

He carries a spear made from the same material as his armor, sharpened on one end to a monomolecular point. And it bleeds. The spear has miraculous powers of healing. The "blood" is probably a constantly self-replicating nanite colony that may even have a sentience of its own, as the healing it can deliver is not just physical. It can convey countermemes to allow someone to combat a detrimental meme. It may even be able to cure Strangevirus, assuming the host desires that, because Strangevirus is not -necessarily- an affliction.

Origins

For a time, Galahad lay innert in the amber corridor of the Museum. His creator is unkown, and Mel believes he was most likely created in the Museum's high subjectivity and abandoned there. Something caused his consciousness to quicken, and he rose up feeling a sort of pain and need he finds difficult to describe. There was, he felt, some necessity to his existence. And he had a quest to undertake, even if he didn't comprehend it. Galahad dislikes re-visiting the place where he awoke, because he assosciates it with the very bottom of a long climb.

He has a sense, too unfounded to even call intuition, that someone requires his existence. He believes his quest is associated with the ideas of healing and understanding, and they may be present more in the nature of the quest itself than in attaining its goal. He hopes to find his creator someday, because he believes she will shed some light on his quest and its necessity.

There are many ways a person may be present, or even integral, to a quest. Debate. Discuss. Eat it up.

Developments

Galahad has had regular contact with Strangehosts since the day of his awakening. Between Trilogee, Frostbyte's Strange-infected duplicate, and Atazael, it is apparent that Strange has some sort of draw on him. He is trying to discover the nature of his connection with Strange.

Others

• Trilogee is his trusted confidant and his lover. They're rather adorable together. She has an inexplicable phobia of him, but she seems to have it mostly in check now. Galahad has an intense desire to see to her happiness, either in simple, hedonistic ways or in ways more profound and long-lasting.
• Lysette impresses him with her ability to see the good in anyone.
• Mel is someone whose wisdom and experience Galahad defers to.
• GrayZero has apparently been lonesome. He hopes to help set that right again.
• Sweet William is very much a little lost boy.
• Neg is undoubtedly a Crusader; the Red Cross suits her after all.
• Nikolai seems but mad north-northwest. His welfare is important because it is important to Trilogee, and Galahad values Nik's insight, but other than that, is very unsure where things stand.
• shinsei and ojou are good people. Galahad trusts them implicitly, and admires them both quite a bit.
• Parity seems wise and benign. Galahad would enjoy getting to know her better.
• The Butterfly is a bittersweet attraction.
• Frostbyte tends always to catch him off-guard.
• Oracle is his one and only little sister.

Comments

"We fight? Odd, I was not under the impression that we did." --GrayZero

"Wonderful, beautiful, wise beyond his days, and in far better shape than I was. Everything I've desired without knowing it. Discovering him was like discovering a small bit of heaven. I will overcome that pesky little fear." Trilogee in a moment of cheerfulness.