Arthurian Inspiration
Places
Camelhot
Camelot is, quite simply, King Arthur’s castle. It is sometimes referred to as the place where chivalry was born.
Salisburny Plain
In ‘A Gift for Griddle’, the royal calendar is located on Salisburny Plain. The calendar is clearly Stonehenge, which (in our world) is on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Historians and archaeologists have been arguing for centuries about the true purpose of Stonehenge, which has been standing since prehistoric times. One of the popular theories is that it is, indeed, a calendar of some kind; supporters of this theory note that the sun sets between two of the megaliths on midsummer’s day. Other popular theories are that Stonehenge was a sacred burial ground or astronomical observatory. Stonehenge’s only direct link to Arthurian legend is the idea that it was constructed by Merlin, the megaliths being a tribe of evil Irish giants whom he had turned to stone.
Avalon
This is the legendary island to which King Arthur was taken after his final battle; supposedly he will return from there to lead us when we are most in need of him (I can’t imagine what he’s waiting for!). The island is inhabited by the mysterious Ladies of Avalon, who may even have forged Excalibur and given it to the Lady of the Lake. Avalon first crops up in Blazing Dragons when Sir Loungelot mentions it in ‘Shamrocks and Shenanigans’, apparently as some kind of holiday resort or spa. We finally get to see Avalon in ‘Seven Dragon Sins’, when Flicker and the Knights of the Square Table visit the island and have their wishes granted by a wishing well. Avalon is described here as ‘an enchanted place with magic powers’ and a sign proclaims it to be ‘Paradise’.