Merlin's Birth

Merlin was said by some to have been born the product of a meeting between a female and an Incubus, a creature who sleeps with sleeping women. The beings are not necessarily evil, but they do no bidding for the good of the world, following no one man.
Some others say that Merlin was the product of a heavenly angel leaving the young woman with child.
Merlin's mother handed him to the care of a priest, whom had Merlin baptized immediately. The baptism protected him from the fate of becoming the same creature as his father, though he did not completely escape his heritage. Some marks were left upon him, including the magic he would wield later in his life.

Throughout his childhood, Merlin was unknowingly the victim of a kingdom wide search for his death. The newest king, Vortigern, was in search of the child who was not born f this world. Vortigern was told that if he slayed one not of this world, and covered the cornerstone of his castle with the blood, he would be able to complete it. This would cure the inexplicable cause of his building failure, or so he was told.

When Merlin was finally found, he was brought to the king. Merlin then explained to King Vortigern, that his idea was ridiculous, and that there was another reason for his building failures. Two, to be precise.
Merlin then told the king of two dragons, whose battling under the castle, was causing the destruction of the newly built fortification. When workers dug up the ground beneath them, they were astounded to see a white dragon and a red dragon beneath them.

The two dragons fought a terrible fight, and when all was done, the white dragon one. Merlin told Vortigen that it was an Omen of his future, and that he would be overrun.

Shortly after that incident, Uther and Pendragon invaded the castle, winning the battle and then killing Vortigern.

Merlin's Powers

Merlin has many great powers, some including:

o Merlin has the ability to shape shift
o Has a comical attitude much appreciated in the court
o Has the gift of prophecy and foresight
o Has the gift of great magic
o Knowledge of the ages

Merlin's Demise

There are several version of Merlin's Demise. In one version, it is said that Merlin disappears even before the birth of the famous King Arthur, and though he had a hand in the conception of Arthur, never mentored or even communicated with the boy.
In another version, Merlin outlives Arthur and the Knights of the round table, even being cited as the guide in the last battle against Mordred. He was also the guide for Perceval in his conquest to find the Holy Grail. Merlin even goes as far as telling Perceval that he would not perish until the end of the World

In yet the last few versions, all involve a female, whose name varies from Niniane, Viviane, and to Nimue. The most thought of story regarding this young woman, is that Merlin fell in love with her when she was but twelve years old, and she promised to return Merlin’s love if he taught her the ways of his magic, in which she was keenly interested. They split ways but later found each other, and she attempted to seduce Merlin into teaching her the ways of his magic. He knew that his fate would lye in the hands of this woman, and at first attempted to persuade him to be the one to build the great house she had asked for. She would not back down, and eventually her insistence wore on Merlin, and he began to teach her the ways of his magic.

Some time had gone on with the teachings. Then one night, Viviane got up, and circled the sleeping body of Merlin, and spoke the incantations she was taught. She then lay back down with him and fell to sleep. When Merlin awoke, he realized that he had been tricked into the home she had built from his teachings, and that he was powerless to leave.