Gawain
Gawain is one of the Knights of the Round Table and a descendant of Saint George.
Overview[]
Gawain is usually depicted as King Arthur's closest companion and an integral member of the elite Round Table. He is believed to be a descendant of the fabled Saint George, the first mortal to ever successfully defeat a dragon. Aside from his heritage, Gawain is also portrayed as a formidable but courteous and compassionate warrior, fiercely loyal to his king and his family. Due to his blood being tied to Saint George, he is a mortal whom Derous, the dragon who met defeat by Saint George, will answer his call when in need out of the allegiance he swore to the Greek saint in the far past.
Before his ascent to knighthood, Gawain was a rebellious and reckless individual, often engaging into quarrels in taverns and flirting with women. He was a penniless criminal and thief, attempting to get by in any way he can after his father's death, but he was not without compassion and selflessness. He gained favor from Arthur himself when he aided the once prince of Camelot in a fight with some thugs in a tavern. He was given a room in the castle from Arthur as a show of gratitude and while he caused quite a bit of trouble he was no bacchanalian.
As the years went by, Gawain would come to aid Arthur in his journey to defeat his treacherous uncle Vortigern and developed with the all-powerful mage Merlin who recognized his heritage via Saint George. Merlin would soon introduce Gawain to Derous himself who was not the least bit impressed by the knight but upon examining his scent he could smell traces of Saint George's bloodline in him which Merlin then accommodated by ordering Derous to protect Gawain much to the dragon's chagrin. While Gawain and Derous had quite the rocky partnership, the two would slowly but surely develop a friendship with Gawain having been the first mortal that Derous would call a friend and was even the first mount him into battle against Camelot's monstrous forces.
Personality[]
Gawain was portrayed as a fun-loving, laidback, and highly loyal character, adamant in his belief that nobility should be defined by what a person did rather than who they were. As such, he was wholly dedicated to doing what he believed to be right, and though his introduction showed him to be a rather reckless and carefree man who thought about little more than ale and women, Arthur and even Derous soon discovered that he respected honour and loyalty above all else with Merlin quickly deducing that behind his playboy facade lies a knight that embodies valor and honour.
Gawaine displayed his selflessness and courage the two times he saved Arthur's life, the second time after having been banished by Uther under pain of death. Gawaine was also quite humble, refusing to reveal his noble heritage even when doing so would get him out of unwanted punishments, and was shown to highly value respect earned through action over prestige inherited through a title. He once told Merlin that if there was anything he'd learned from his father's life, it was that titles didn't mean anything compared to who a person was on the inside.
Gawaine initially tended to dislike people of noble blood, viewing them as corrupt, selfish, and power-hungry. However, he proved to be an astute judge of character, able to see the fairness and honesty of Arthur's actions and even referring to him as a friend at one point. His deductions even extended to non-human individuals like Derous for while he had heard of the terrifying reputation garnered by red dragons, he could assess Derous' character from their interactions alone and not simply out of his oath to Saint George. He had a bit of a defiant streak and little respect for authority, even in the face of highly powerful individuals like Morgan Le Fay. On one occasion he went so far as to criticize Uther in front of Arthur by saying that he might return one day, "When Camelot gets itself a half-decent king."
Gawaine had a very trusting nature, preferring to see the best in people and forming a fast friendship with Derous. He also had a good sense of humour; he was frequently shown orchestrating jokes among the knights, was infamous for his endless (and often mindless) chatter, so much so that Derous discreetly threatened to eat him had he not shut his mouth, and was generally known to be a very cheerful and optimistic individual. His valor coupled with his optimism, bravery, and overall friendly demeanor would have a profound and lasting effect on the likes of Derous who was cynical and aloof who could relax in his presence. This was to the extent that Derous attended Gawain's funeral in his red dragon form and lower his head in mourning before admitting that while he had encountered many in his life, Gawain was the first he would call a friend.