Merlin - Special projects action figure from Four Horsemen Studios

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There are few beings as well known, and yet also as mysterious, as the wizard called Merlin. Linked with legends from ancient Celtic mythology like the mad bard Myrddin the Wild, and still influencing characters and stories even in modern times, Merlin’s presence can be felt across the ages as surely as it would’ve been felt in King Arthur’s kingdom.

The early life of Merlin is a story that is lost to the ages, and it is hard to separate the truth from the tall tales, yet most accept that Merlin was a Cambion, or the offspring of a mortal woman and a demonic being known as an incubus. This demon blood is often used to explain the great powers that Merlin would eventually wield, and some of have told of the wizard being a shapeshifter who was able to take on a demonic form in times of great trouble or in moments of extreme anger.

Many of the key moments in Arthurian legend can be attributed to Merlin and his gifts at divination and prophecy. It is held that he was the one who convinced King Uther Pendragon to send his young son away to protect the boy from the King’s enemies. Merlin would eventually return to that boy’s side to make him aware of his birthright, leading him to a sword set inside a stone which, once removed, would reveal the true king of England. Merlin had foreseen this as well, and he guided the young Arthur from his foster home where he served as a squire to the throne of England and the formation of the great kingdom of Camelot.

Duality is a key component of Merlin’s character, starting with the mix of human and demon blood that flows in his veins, and also seen in his actions which always seemed to serve his King, while also being part of a larger plan which only this enchanter fully understood.

While Merlin’s connection to King Arthur is well known, he is also almost always connected to another character in these Legends – the enchantress named Nimue, or as she is more commonly known, the Lady of the Lake.

Merlin‘s path crosses that of Nimue’s early on in the Legends of Camelot, as the wizard brings the young king to a magical lake where he is presented with the sword known as Excalibur. Many versions of Merlin’s story continue the relationship he has with this mysterious Lady of the Lake. In some versions she is his student, while in others they are lovers, and most often they are both. Nearly all of these tales end with Nimue imprisoning Merlin in either a cave, a tree, under a large rock, or even in a magical tower. Sometimes Merlin is trapped in this prison as a punishment for his schemes, while in other tellings he is kept out of some twisted sense of love. Still other variations of Merlin’s tale have him locked away as a purposeful removal of his power and influence on both the kingdom and King Arthur. It is this removal of Arthur’s chief advisor that may have led to the tragic events that culminated in the Battle of Camlann and the end of the kingdom of Camelot.

Note: This figure, and the "Legends of Camelot" line of toys, was created for our annual LegionsCon event. A special edition will be available at LegionsCon 2026 that includes some bonus parts to create the wizard's demon form, while a standard release of Merlin will be offered at StoreHorsemen sometime in 2027.The "Legends of Camelot" series will continue with new characters/figures at future LegionsCon events.