This week on Myths and Legends, it's the origin story of Merlin, a botched antichrist who

uses his evil magical powers for good.

Vortigrern's horrible, horrible decision making catches up to him in the worst way possible,

and you'll see how to catch some dragons.

Just get them really, really drunk, and they'll go to sleep.

Then, in the creature of the week, if you meet this creature in the forest, it'll give

you seizures and maybe eat you.

The good news is that if you know its name, then you can scare it off.

The bad news is, as you hear me struggle later, its real name is nearly impossible to

pronounce.

This is Myths and Legends, episode 6b, what's red, white, and fighting all over.

This is a podcast where I tell the stories that have shaped cultures throughout history.

Some are incredibly popular stories you think you know, but with surprising origins.

Others are stories you probably haven't heard, but really should.

Pretty recently on the show, I started at the very beginning of the Arthurian Legends,

with King Vortigrern seizing the throne through treachery, and the princes' are really

as ebrosious and uther pendragon, Arthur's future father, choosing exile to the continent

over death.

Vortigrern's subjects hate him, so he settles the Germanic Saxons on the island to protect

him from internal threats as well as his own people.

He turns on him, and he's exiled to the Welsh Highlands, where he's trying to build a fortress,

but it keeps collapsing.

...