Grail Damsel

"She breathed in awe, dropping to her knees in respect. Never had she encountered one of the esteemed handmaidens of the Lady. They were priestesses and protectors, blessed by the Lady herself. Seers and augers of great power, many of them had been granted the gift of future sight, and were among the most respected of the king's advisers. Mistresses of fey, mystical powers, they commanded the forces of nature, and were the devout protectors of the sacred places of Amar." —Alice Astora encounters one of the Grail Damsels.   Grail Damsels, also known as Daughters of the Grail, Daughters of Amar and formally as Damsels of the Lady, are powerful magic-users and priestesses dedicated to the cause of the Lady of the Lake.  

Overview

  Sometimes, young children within Amar are seen to have strange and mystical powers. They might be born with eyes of different colours, milk may sour in their presence or they may be able to predict events before they occur. Other children claim to see ghostly apparitions walking about, or are heard talking to beings that others cannot see. A superstitious people as a whole, whether noble or low-born, the Amarrians will generally be fearful of such gifted children, and go out of their way to avoid them whenever possible, invoking the protection of the Lady of the Lake and Shallya. Often, especially within Astora, such children are perceived as having been touched by the fey inhabitants of Issarion. However, for every child who shows signs of such mystical powers, there are other "gifted" children that never display any outward sign of their strange, otherworldly talents.   Some of these children are sent to Borinth, if they come from particularly wealthy families, to learn the arts of magic, but this is a rare occurrence. Before they reach puberty, almost all children with these strange talents will be visited by the Fay Enchantress. She takes them with her to the Otherworld, and they are mourned by their parents as if they were no longer living. Nevertheless, it is a great honour to be taken by the Enchantress, and it is believed they go on to a better place, where their powers are used to serve the blessed Lady of the Lake herself. Those males that possess magic are said to have never been seen again. The females will often return to Amar years later as holy Damsels. They wield supernatural power, generally over nature, and tell the Amarrian nobles of the Lady's will.   Grail Damsels are completely outside the laws of Amar and equally outside its social customs. No one would dare to criticise one, even behind her back. They are all beautiful, appearing young for many years before suddenly withdrawing to the Forest of Issarion, where most assume that they die. Many go about with their hair uncovered, and a few are notorious for their promiscuity, though no tales of a Grail Damsel giving birth are known. It is also common for Damsels to take on Grail Knights as both their protectors and lovers. Few claim to understand their behaviour, but the arcane support they give to Amar's armies is much appreciated.   A Grail Damsel guiding a Knight in his quest.   Damsels are powerful individuals, for in their years away from Amar, their innate abilities have been honed and tempered. Their magic is orientated around nature moreso than most other human Wizards, for they are taught by the handmaidens of the Lady. Riding into battle, Damsels use their powers to lend magical protection to Amar's noble warriors, warding away the foul magic of their enemies as well as casting them down with powerful spells of their own. They are also able to mystically encourage the landscape to fight the Kingdom's enemies; persuading the trees themselves to lash out at the foe; calling flocks of birds to descend on the enemy at their call; even drawing lightning from the heavens to strike down in devastating arcs.   Some Damsels ride into battle atop mystical Unicorn. Their foreheads adorned with single, spiral horns, these noble steeds carry Damsels to where their magical abilities are needed most.   When not in battle, they fulfil such roles as advisers to the Dukes and King, where their magical abilities and visions may aid their lord. They use their powers to scry into the future, to protect the sacred glades favoured by the Lady, to detect the truth in the hearts of men and to lend the Lady's healing where needed. As priestesses of the Lady, they also maintain her shrines and lead devotions and prayers. In a similar way to the Enchantress herself, these powerful individuals exist outside the usual hierarchy of Amar, and may come and go throughout the realms as they please, for none would dare to cross one so favoured by the Lady herself.  

Troths

  Much like the Knightly Vows taken by Amar's male nobles, Grail Damsels often pledge "Troths" in the name of their goddess.   Troth of Protection - "Should the knights of Amar answer the call of battle, their preservation and empowerment shall be my duty, so they may ward away all that is foul and evil. To strike down the foes of this great land of Chivalry, my obligation to the Lady is realised..."   Troth of Wisdom - "With the purest of pure hearts I shall burgeon my knowledge and spirit to face evil with the confidence, love and comfort of the Lady. To carry out her will, the banishment of tyranny is all. For I am her acolyte, now and forever..."   Troth of Virtue - "With absolute commitment to all righteous merits, I conduct my affairs with straightforward goodness, ever-striving to free myself from moral captivity, with liberty from the shackles of worldly attachment, and only the utmost dedication to my duty to the Lady..."