Location of the Antartica clan: (exact coordinates are unknown/unspecified)
history - biographies - references
This information was compiled by Daniel Paul Hightower during June 2002 and updated in October 2002. Information updated again in November 2002. Hopefully, information will be updated as new stories are published involving the Antartic clan.
The Unseelie attacked the Antartic clan. As a result of the attack, about 1/3 of the clan was lost.
A delegates from the Antartic clan attended the first Gargoyle World Council. (fill in details)
Macbeth's airship approaches the South Pole. At this time of year it is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and thus near perpetual dusk. Griff had frozen to stone as the ship neared the pole, but Mary finds something strange happening to her. She feels herself changing - but not into a wolf. She stands upright, but her hands and feet have become covered with fur and re-shaped into wolf paws. She also has sprouted a tail. From the neck down, she's covered in wolf fur (although since her head and hands are her only exposed flesh under her normal clothing style, that won't be readily apparent). Her face still looks human, except that her eyebrows are bushier, and her teeth have become fanglike; her hair is much longer, with a shaggy, wild, look to it, almost evocative of wolf fur at times. She finds this transitional form quite painful. Merlin notes that while gargoyles eventually adjust their internal clocks to sleep at regular intervals, Mary's lycanthropy is of a magical and not biological cause and this perpetual dusk might have untold effects on her. Mary certainly hopes she can go back to being either human or even a wolf soon. Arthur considers that they should not spend too long in Antarctica in light of this. The ship touches down near the home of the Antarctic clan. Arthur and Macbeth carry Griff down to the ground, while Merlin and Mary help each other down, neither particularly confident with walking as it stands. Macbeth wonders about whether he should leave them, but then Cole arrives with a couple of other gargoyles, surprised but interested. Cole's suspicions are allayed by seeing Griff, and he offers to help Arthur, whom he regards with some fascination on account of his species. Arthur understands that Macbeth is a busy person and thanks him for the transport. Macbeth gives Merlin a gift - a spell that will be useful in finding their way when they are wandering through uncharted areas in their future quests. The instructions are included. Merlin and Arthur thank Macbeth, and they watch him depart. Then they turn to follow the Antarctic clan.
As they trudge over the snow, Arthur explains their quest for the Holy Grail. He says that he was recently in Manhattan and while there they met Aurora. If necessary, there could be a brief flashback to a scene near the point that they leave Manhattan. Aurora mentions that she was thinking about the mysterious chalice that was very briefly mentioned (she mentions it actually in the first part of the crossover). She found some records about something similar in Antarctica - a mention of something that was supposed to be cup-shaped with healing properties - a Grail she called it. She is sure that if Arthur visits the clan and mentions her name then the leader Cole will let Arthur see. Hoping that this might be the link they were after, they spoke to Macbeth about organising a trip and here they are now. Cole is quite grave. He explains that around sixty or seventy years ago, there was a secretive group of humans that arrived. The clan was aware that they had arrived, but they seemed to have founded some kind of secretive base. Anyway, it seems that the humans died of natural causes but members of the Unseelie Court must have known about this secret base. It was there that they launched the attack on the Antarctic clan home with devastating results - they lost a third of their gargoyles. Suddenly, Cole instructs his companions to stop and hold their position. He points to a black shape on the white snow: it's the dark outline of an enormous wolf. The Fenris-wolf, Cole explains: an ally of the Unseelie Court. It escaped after attacking the clan, but is still seen wandering around.
The Fenris-wolf closes in on the companions. Arthur draws Excalibur ready for a battle, but the Fenris-wolf seems far more interested in Mary. He stares at her for a long while, but then Griff awakens - his internal clock seems to have satisfied itself. The wolf disappears but whether it ran off or simply vanished it's hard to say in the twilight. Mary feels uncomfortable about the wolf, and Merlin notes that she should - the Fenris-wolf was one of the four figures on the Angurboda Figurine that she smashed in Rivencroft - the figurine that caused her to become a were-wolf in the first place. The Fenris-wolf in fact was the son of Angurboda by Loki. Mary is uncomfortable at that, but Cole is surprised and slightly shocked to hear that Mary is a were-wolf. With Mary wrapped up warm for the Antarctic, her lupine features were not apparent - not that Cole would necessarily have realised the difference anyway, given his limited experience of humans. He feels slightly apprehensive about this given the hurt that the Fenris-wolf has done to his clan. Arthur and Griff insist that Mary is a good person that is the victim of a curse rather than allied in any way with Fenris, and that Cole has nothing to worry about. Cole accepts this. The group finally reach the home cave of the gargoyles but Arthur wants to go on to find the records that Aurora spoke of first. Mary and Merlin decide to remain with the gargoyles for a while, and so Griff, Cole and Arthur go off separately. Most of the gargoyles seem to be off somewhere else, so there are quite few in the cave. Cole does not specify where the rest of the clan is (but this may be set up for a potential hollow earth story at a later point). From behind a nearby mound of ice and snow, the Fenris-wolf watches.
After Arthur, Griff and Cole depart, the Fenris-wolf strides down towards the gargoyles cave. Merlin notices it and is suspicious: he says that he is surprised that the Fenris wolf doesn't simply attack the gargoyles as they sleep, but the gargoyles note that the Fenris wolf isn't particularly ruthless. It wouldn't do him any good particularly to kill the gargoyles, since he is chained here by magical means, but also he would rather defeat the gargoyles fairly and that means when they're awake. Merlin admits that given what he knows about the Fenris wolf that probably isn't surprising. Merlin tells the story of the Fenris-wolf's imprisonment. He was challenged to a test of his strength - to escape from bonds three times. The Fenris-wolf escapes twice from the bonds - supposedly of iron, although given that he is of the Third Race this seems unlikely. The third time though, they used a particular magical ribbon forged by dwarves and the Fenris-wolf was unable to break free. These became his chains. However, he had become suspicious at the third time and had said that one of the gods - Tyr - must place his hand in the Fenris-wolf's mouth as a sign of good faith, and so when Fenris realised he could not escape he bit off Tyr's hand. The gods took the Fenris-wolf and left him in a desolate land far from anywhere - Antarctica, it appears. Now they say that if he ever is freed his wrath will bring about the destruction of the world. The wolf by this stage has approached the cave, and on hearing the tale laughs, although the tone is fairly ambiguous. He says that Merlin should not believe everything that he hears in silly tales passed down by his captors - he did break free from his iron trappings though it scarred and left him weak and vulnerable on both occasions. He is not just strong in magic but strong as a wolf. But he does not wish for the destruction of the world: he is not so vengeful as all that. The gargoyles are defensive - he allied with the Unseelie Court against them. One of their rookery siblings was killed by the wolf. The Fenris-wolf agrees that he paid its debt to the Unseelie Court: his father Loki came to free him from his terrible prison below the Earth. He was repaying a debt. Merlin is curious about this prison: there are legends of course that says that the world is hollow, and that there is a world inside this world but that's just a crackpot idea - like UFOs. And gargoyles, the Fenris-wolf prompts. He draws the parallel with Avalon: just as Avalon cannot be charted on the map and yet it exists on the seas, so his prison cannot be located in the earth but in the earth it lies. For many years, the spell kept him from even venturing upon the surface in Antarctica, but although the barrier of ice and snow that fell upon the gateway after the Dragon war is gone, he still cannot leave Antarctica for fear of stretching beyond the length of the chains that bind him to this very day. He leans in close and the company can see where his fur has been marked by the barely visible chains, the shadows of which are picked out by the shadows if he turns his side towards the sun.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Griff reach the base containing the records. It turns out that it was only discovered by the gargoyles recently but it must have been there several decades. Griff's mood dampens as he notices the swastikas - this is a Nazi base. Cole explains that he doesn't really know who they are, but they managed to operate some machinery here. He presses a button on some kind of recording and replaying device of the 1930s. It begins by discussing the Holy Grail and how the Nazis have made extraordinary strides towards its discovery. Griff slowly reaches down and turns it off. Cole is surprised at this: it could be valuable information. Arthur knows from Griff's accounts what evil people these Nazis are, and takes Griff's points that the information contained might have been obtained through terrible means. The Nazis could never have achieved the Grail themselves of course, but there's still the question of what to do with all the information they collected: over a decade of research could be useful. It isn't as black and white as it seems, he muses - the people here are dead now, and if this information can be used to save a life then surely it is worth salvaging that? It isn't after all the same as asking help from the Illuminati - they are a current danger to Britain. Griff defers to the judgement of Arthur but warns against listening to this information. Arthur on balance agrees with Griff: although the ruthless means of obtaining it took place in the past, it is still the same principle as in the Illuminati case and he is sure that he made the right choice there. It seems that they came all this way for nothing after all. They may as well go back to the gargoyles' cave.
The Fenris-wolf meanwhile is fascinated with Mary and asks her about herself. He senses his essence in her: she is like a child to him. How could that be? Merlin tells Mary to ignore him, but Mary has a hope that she can be cured of the curse she received in Rivencroft: she mentions that the Angurboda Figurine was used to curse a village, and although she destroyed it and lifted the curse, it caused her to change into a wolf. The Fenris-wolf notes his presence on the statue, and says that he might just be able to help Mary. He asks her to walk alone with him, as they have much to talk about. Merlin is desperate to stop this, but the wolf raises its voice from a calm tone briefly, baring its teeth or some display of barely subdued menace. He says that he wishes them no harm, and may be of some help. He just wants to talk with his child (Mary): it has been a long time since he has met another wolf, even if she is one that began life as a human. The Fenris-wolf points out that he has no reason to wish her harm. Mary is torn, but ultimately turns him down. The Fenris-wolf looks upset and disappears. Not long after, Arthur, Griff and Cole return.
Mary is surprised and rather disappointed by the revelation that Arthur won't use the information in the base. It can't do any more harm that has already been done and may even do some good. Griff considers that it is a matter of principal: as knights they must take the road of virtue, even though that might sometimes be harder. Mary points out that this is all very well if you aren't the one dying, but Merlin ceases the argument. He explains that he will leave the call to Arthur on whether or not to use the information. Mary realises that this is the end of the matter, although she doesn't like it - it was all very well in Glastonbury when they had a year to find the Grail. It looks like Merlin might not have more than a few months ahead of him now and desperate times call for desperate measures. When the gargoyles turn to stone, Arthur and Merlin also try to go to sleep. Griff and Mary sit up. Mary is relieved that she has largely reverted to human form: it looks as though her biological clock has found a way to balance out her two forms. She decides to wait up with Griff while he waits for the same to happen. They come to talking about the Nazi information. Mary grudgingly admits that whatever the Nazis would consider the Grail it unlikely to actually be the Grail, and since they weren't likely to be worthy they probably didn't have any good links. But there again, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Griff tries to impress upon her the reason for not getting information from the Nazis: it isn't just that they committed many evil acts and that in a way any discovery made as a result of their information is debased because it can be attributed to this evil. It's also the fact that they are not just on any quest, but one for the Holy Grail. Griff tells a story [about Galahad, Percival, and Bors attempts to get the Holy Grail] from when he was a hatchling: he used to hear many stories and poems and riddles.
At any rate, Griff brings the moral home that the right path is seldom the easy one, or the clear one, but it is the path that must be chosen. He feels a change inside him and says that he believes that his body clock is adjusting to these strange conditions. He turns to stone, and Mary finds herself also changing - she turns into wolf-form. After her change, she is left alone in the twilight. Arthur and Merlin are asleep. She becomes aware of the Fenris-wolf, who is straight ahead of her.
She does not want to go to the wolf, but neither does she wish to sleep with the Fenris-wolf on the prowl - not until the gargoyles are awake. She thinks of waking Arthur, but the Fenris-wolf advises against it. Just think what Mary can find out if only she would ask. He poses the question: the Angurboda figurine had three characters on it besides Angurboda herself: his brother Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent; and his sister Hel, the Goddess of the Dead. Why, Fenris poses, did Mary not change into a serpent, or find herself in Hel's image - half an attractive human, the other half a grotesque corpse? The part of the figurine that was absorbed into her was Fenris' part, his essence. Why is that, he asks? Mary is uncomfortable now, and Fenris takes this as his chance to lure her away. He walks off into the distance. Mary follows, calling out but not so loudly as to risk awakening Arthur. She wants to know whether Fenris can cure her, and Fenris says that he certainly can. The magic of the figurine did not make her a wolf by chance: the characteristics she took on are deeply representative of Mary herself. Mary says that she dislikes the wolf elements of her - Fenris presses her, and she mentions the traditional stereotyping of wolves: the wolf at the door, the wolf in sheep's clothing, the wolf and Red Riding Hood, the three little pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, Peter and the wolf. Even Fenris himself is the child of Loki. Fenris points out that if people were judged by their fathers, what would we make of Merlin, or even Arthur? He says that although he has been trapped within the earth, does not mean that he cannot see beyond it as many faeries are able. He wishes for freedom and is trapped in Antarctica. But that is neither here nor there - he can't free himself, but he can free Mary of her curse if she wants it. Mary says that she does and Fenris leads her into his den, which is not very far away. Fenris promises that he will take the curse away - from here on, she will never again have to suffer the indignity of human form. Mary blanches but it's too late - a sheet of ice has formed behind her. She is trapped in Fenris' den.
Arthur bolts awake as he believes he hears a scream. He looks around to count the gargoyles and for a moment is relieved but then he notes that Mary is absent. He rouses Merlin and they both agree that she has most likely been taken by Fenris. They have to rescue her, but Merlin curses his bad state. It's bad luck that Griff isn't awake either to help, or even any of the Antarctic clan. Merlin retrieves a spell that he was given by Macbeth previously. It summons the Will O' the Wisp - the same spell that Macbeth used in 'Pendragon' in fact. This exhausts Merlin though and he falls to the snow, feeling cold and wracked with pain. Nonetheless, he gets up, determined to follow Mary - now with the Will O' the Wisp as his eyes and ears, he sets off unsteadily with Arthur to find the den. (He probably wishes he could have the Wisp as his legs at the moment).
Mary meanwhile begs with the Fenris-wolf that she does not want to be a wolf: she had hoped that Fenris would be able to return her to her original form as a human by daylight as well as during the night. Fenris is shocked by this and hurt - surely, she would not reject the might and prowess of being a wolf? It is her true nature he argues. Mary denies this but Fenris delivers a list of characteristics that ring true of Mary - she is intensely private except around those she knows. She is loyal, making allies and mates for life. She find that she likes the night best, and likes the twilight. Mary stops him, admitting that these do describe her but that this does not mean anything. She does not want to become a wolf. Fenris stares back, thinking.
Outside, Arthur and Merlin have arrived. Merlin is not fast or powerful enough to do battle though, and Arthur realises that he must face Fenris alone. Merlin wishes him good luck, before Arthur wields Excalibur against the icy door to Fenris' abode.
Fenris says that perhaps she is too young to understand, perhaps she is not yet ready. Reluctantly, he agrees to release her, but seems disappointed. It has been so long since he has encountered another wolf as a result of his chains. Still, he hopes that maybe Mary will return some day. Suddenly, the door smashes open and Arthur stands there and challenges Fenris. Fenris has captured his squire and attacked the Antarctic gargoyles - Arthur will vanquish him from his grip on Antarctica. Mary tries to intervene, but this apparent arrogance is like a red rag to a. erm, wolf. He springs to attack Arthur and while he is careful to avoid Excalibur's blade, he is fast and strong. Mary is distraught: Fenris did not do her any harm and she doesn't want to see him killed, and she certainly does not want Arthur dead either. She leaps between the combatants as Arthur swings Excalibur. Too late, he pulls it back - Mary catches the side of the sword (not the blade of course) and in some kind of dramatic crackle of energy caused by the power of the impact, she falls to the floor wounded. Arthur is devastated, as is Fenris. Fenris stoops down and breaths over her in some magical fashion. The dirty burn mark across Mary's fur begins to heal. Fenris says that she will fully recover soon.
Arthur is grateful to Fenris and admits that he may have been unfair in his judgement. Fenris notes that he did indeed kill many of the Antarctic clan and thus can understand that he is not completely popular in these parts. He tells Arthur to take good care of his child. He walks towards the back of the cave and vanishes in the gloom. Arthur carries Mary out of the cave. Merlin is waiting outside having watched the whole thing courtesy of the Will O' the Wisp. The three head back to the cave. A few days later, Arthur and company reach the shores of Antarctica accompanied by Cole. They can join a late tour ship that will be going to South America. Griff and Mary cover themselves up well with thick clothes so that they don't look too suspicious. Mary is sad of course that it is now looking increasingly likely that she might never find a cure for her lycanthropy. They wave goodbye to Cole, but Mary is sad not to see Fenris say goodbye. Although he is a dangerous and wild creature, he is not completely evil and she would have liked to see him. Mary admits to Griff that if she was being tested by for her worth to claim the Grail, she failed: she followed Fenris for selfish reasons when she should have avoided his calls. But Griff notes that Fenris was, as she said, not entirely evil. Perhaps she even helped calm him and bring some hope back to his frustrated life. Arthur promises that some day when this Grail quest is over, they will return to Antarctica to thank him. From a high vantage point on a sheet of ice, Fenris watches, his eyes glistening with tears - but whether it is because he is stretched right to the end of his chains, or is sad to see Mary depart, nobody but he could say.
The Anatartica Clan is a full clan. Therefore, this is still only a listing of members of the Antartic clan who have appeared in a story.
male. leader of the Antartic clan and delegate to the Gargoyle World Council.
female. delegate to the Gargoyle World Council.