Part 71: Radiant Sword - Gawain - Part 2

Gawain 2



So, Gawain's in-series history mostly focuses around the EXTRA series, as you'd expect from his debut series within the larger franchise, but his role has been largely what we see today: the good, well-mannered knight. Except, of course, when it comes to his adversaries. While he eventually came to respect Hakunon, he can be a huge trash talker against his enemies, basically only bringing out this particular trait against foes he doesn't respect at all. As Gawain has mentioned once or twice, Hakuno and his old Master Leo eventually got along pretty well, despite Leo's aristocratic pretentions and the seemingly overwhelming power of his own Servant. Unlike most Masters, within the events of CCC, Leo and Gawain were able to maintain their contract within the Sakura Labyrinth on the Far Side of the Moon. Though whatever mishmash timeline produced from the events of EXTRA and CCC that led into extella, Leo was killed, and now Gawain serves a new master, by choice.

It's within Grand Order that Gawain's character is allowed to stretch his legs a bit. The following is a huge spoilerific discussion of his role during the Camelot chapter of Grand Order, so English FGO players may want to be wary. Prior to the protagonist's arrival in the new singularity, Gawain had been summoned during the events of the Third Crusade by the Lion King, a new form of Artoria Pendragon that had taken shape from an alternate series of events that led her to wield the holy spear Rhongomyniad as a ghost, instead of dying after the Battle of Camlann, alongside his bretheren on the Round Table, excluding Bedivere and Galahad. When the Round Table was reassembled in the Levant, and after having destroyed the "real" Lion King Richard III and his Crusader army, Artoria gave her Round Table a choice: to serve her or prove their loyalty in another way, by fighting her. Whatever choice her knights made, they would be fulfilling their knightly oaths.

Gawain, along with Lancelot, Mordred, Tristan, and Agravaine, killed all of the other Knights of the Round that had been summoned: Sir Kay, King Pellinore, Sir Bors, Sir Palomedes, Sir Gaheris, and Sir Percival. Afterwards, the Lion King established her Holy City atop a conquered Jerusalem, which needn't be elaborated upon here, as I can go into it when I talk about Artoria's in-series mythology. Gawain was entrusted with a "Gift" from the Lion King, that being the ability to draw out the the sun regardless of the time of day, so he would always be fighting under the power of Numeral of the Saint. He was charged with guarding the entrance to the Holy City, as not even an army could defeat Gawain while at his full power. He wielded his power whole-heartedly in service to his king, including the slaughter of refugees and peasants as his king would order.

Near the climax of the story, the protagonist's party, assisted by Bedivere, confronted Gawain near the throne room of Jerusalem Camelot. Gawain explained that he sided with Artoria, regardless of her form, out of a sense of duty toward the king he thought he failed in his first life. After being defeated outside the throne room, he once again lamented his failure to assist his king in battle, yet again, but wondered if things didn't have to be this way, if the Lion King had the heart of the King of Knights.





Gawain stage 2

Normally, it would be unthinkable for anyone to openly oppose the victor of the Holy Grail War. It looks like we have a long way to go before peace comes to this reborn SE.RA.PH. And it won't be possible while these Forces of Destruction can attack. If we ignore them, they'll destroy everything in their path.

Destroy everything in their path, you say? Archer, are you aware of their true identity?

Well, I have my suspicions, from the way things have gone so far. Did you see the way they tore everything apart when they first got here?

...I'll let you leave it at that. You're quite the unfathomable man. It rather reminds me of Sir Agravain.

...To my knowledge, Sir Agravain of the Hard Hand was a man of steel, who didn't lift an eyebrow even when he lost his parents...

Agravain[e] was referred to by that epithet in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Fate Agravaine's role is as an advisor to King Arthur who received a seat on the Round thanks to his mother, Morgana. More of an advisor role than someone who actually got his hands dirty, like Gawain, and acquired quite a negative reputation.

That's true if you only consider his temperament. But you two could be brothers with how maddeningly polite you are.

...Well then. I suppose it's an honor to be compared to a Knight of the Round. Sir Gawain, what are you planning? The Forces of Destruction will surely take out the AI and Servants, not to mention the rest of SE.RA.PH.

My only choice is to wield this holy sword. That is clear even with an order from the Sovereign.

Well, we do have our royal orders. The Emperor commands us to drive out the forces of destruction and protect SE.RA.PH. But what about her Master? As I recall, you'd pledged your allegiance to the Master, not to Saber, right?

She would agree with the Emperor, without question. I wouldn't expect anything less from the only person who was able to help Leo grow. And so, the only thing for me to do is draw my sword. I have already severed any doubts I may have had in the past.

Doubts, really? I wouldn't have thought you had any in you.

No. Those thoughts have been long banished...especially since I have an inkling as to why I was summoned.







Not great. I can't really *do* anything...



But now we can fight a bit easier. We lost a lot of time while we were paralyzed, which puts more pressure on taking out that southern Plant as quickly. Nameless is just gonna have for himself a bit longer while I take care of (technically) more important business.



Hey Iskandar, no fair in making that EM whiff.



I didn't have to actually use a Code Cast here, since the trap fired off in that very brief window before taking out all the Aggressors and the Sector falling under my control. As such, it wouldn't have done any damage to me. Quite dicey, if I didn't have anti-electricity. As an aside, the Mystic Code I'm using is the Transfusion Pack, the bond level 30 Elizabeth Mystic Code.



Looks like we got here just in time.

You have an impressive spirit, but you're no match for me. You're just another target.

So be it. My body is but a single sword. It only exists to burn away the enemies before me!



No fair, hitting me with your projectile attack while I buffed my basic attacks!



But I returned the favor by sending her *flying* with my last special move's explosion. So worth it.



Moon Drive Gawain's combos just melt through enemies. Very satisfying feeling. I feel we can leave Gilgamesh to his own very slow invasion this time. I don't want another Li Shuwen situation here, where I fight both Gilgamesh and Iskandar at once.



Gawain actually has some pretty decent aerial combos, which you wouldn't really expect. As with most things Gawain does, does pretty respectable damage, and comes out decently fast.



Gilgamesh can be a somewhat tricky fight for Gawain, but although I tried a few different moves, his T T T combo really is more than enough.



Try to spot a mistake I made last time...



Well, for once we don't have to conquer enemy Sectors with the boss on our ass, but here, we have the exact same situation as the final stage Li had. Let's hope it goes a bit better. Normally I'd fight Iskandar on my own, but that leaves the risk of Gilgamesh taking over the Sector while we fight, ending my chance at EX rank.



Well, here we are again (Iskandar just uses his"general I'd like to defeat" line prior to this). I can't say it went all that much better than when I tried this with Li Shuwen. I think the problem is the environment. it's too small to deal with two dangerous targets at once.



Well, at least my decision wasn't wrong.



Never gets old.



Another solid result from a fairly difficult stage. With this mission, Li Shuwen reached bond level 30, too.






But I am certain of this: You are surely here, somewhere in this world. Somewhere close to these lands...