Questing Beast

Questing Beast
Family	Body of a leopard, head of a snake
Affiliation	The Isle of the Blessed The Old Religion
Origin	Camelot Magic
Appearances	Le Morte d'Arthur
Known Individuals	Only one Questing Beast may exist at a time

The Questing Beast is a creature that inhabits the land of Albion. It has the body of a leopard and the head of a snake. Its venom is highly poisonous where one bite means certain death.

The beast plays an important role in the Old Religion as it is regarded as a terrible omen. It has appeared on at least two known occasions - the death of Queen Igraine, and once again twenty years after. The beast bit Arthur resulting in his near-death; he is only saved when Merlin goes to the Isle of the Blessed to save his life. It is uncertain whether the beast was appearing as an omen for Arthur's near death or for another reason not yet known. (Le Morte d'Arthur)

Only one Questing Beast may exist at a time when the current Questing Beast dies a new one will come into existence, a new Questing Beast will eventually appear since Merlin killed the current Questing Beast.

Due to it's nature, the Questing Beast has the potential to make a reappearance as the omen of any forthcoming major event in a future series.

Legend

The Questing Beast appears in the Arthurian legends as a creature sought after by King Pellinore. According to Merlin the beast was born of a woman who tried to seduce her brother but was manipulated by a demon to lie with him and accuse her brother of rape. The beast itself is an omen for violence, incest and chaos. The beast appears twice to Arthur; first after he (unwittingly) sleeps with his sister Anna, and secondly after he has a dream foreseeing the destruction of his kingdom by Mordred.