Mordred Deschain
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Mordred Deschain is a fictional character from Stephen King's Dark Tower series. He is one of the major villains of the seventh book, and can morph between a human form and that of a large spider. The name Mordred comes from Arthurian legend.
[edit] Biography
Mordred Deschain actually began his existence when Roland Deschain engaged in intercourse with a succubus in order to have a vision that would aid in his quest for the Dark Tower. The gunslinger's semen was carried in a form of stasis inside the succubus, which was in truth an androgynous elemental demon, who would later take the form of an incubus and impregnate Susannah Dean. Later a simple succubus, who would become Mia, possessed Susannah and took over the care of her "chap", Mordred. In the process, Mia's consciousness actually became intertwined with Susannah's (left porous by her preexisting dissociative disorder), and remained so until they physically met each other just before Mordred's birth.
Mordred was the literal son of Roland, but considered his true father, in a spiritual sense, to be the Crimson King. This was reflected in the dual nature of his birth: after being transferred from the body of Susannah into that of Mia, cell by cell, Mordred came into the world as a rather healthy (if unseemly) baby boy. When taken to Mia's breast to nurse, Mordred revealed his demonic nature by turning into a giant spider, savagely tearing off her breast and draining all of her bodily fluids, turning her into a giant 'dust bunny'. When Susannah breaks free from the forces of the Crimson King that attended the birth, Mordred barely escapes with his life, but not unscathed, as Susannah shoots off one of his spider's legs, leaving a wound that would never heal in either of his physical forms.
Mordred spent most of his life alternatively sleeping in his human form and feeding in his spider form. He grew and matured more rapidly when properly fed: after gorging himself on many small animals (and eventually larger ones), he would often have to sleep in his human form. His metabolism was much greater in his spider form, so he had to balance out how far he wanted to travel in his spider form with how plentiful food was in the area.
Mordred's most notable feeding came after his encounter with Randall Flagg, who intended to kill him and bring his foot to the entrance of the Dark Tower. Mordred sensed his intent, and displayed his telepathic abilities by assuming control of Flagg's body and eating him alive after forcing him to pluck out his eyeballs and his tongue.
Mordred spent the remainder of his life, the exact length of which is difficult to gauge, hunting and tracking down Roland. His motivation for wanting to kill Roland is mentioned as jealousy (similar to Randall Flagg) of those who enjoy relationships with friends, and killing Roland is the strongest stated goal that Mordred has. As he approaches Roland for their final confrontation, he comes upon the ruins of Dandelo and sups on his dead horse, Lippy. Mordred failed to discern that the corpse of the horse was poisonous. As he continues to track Roland, he is wracked by the symptoms of food poisoning, and knows it will eventually kill him. When Mordred finally catches up with Roland and the remnants of his ka-tet, in his human form he looks to be about twenty years old.
He catches up with Roland, Oy, and Patrick Danville shortly before they reach The Dark Tower. Roland is exhausted, so he sets Patrick to keep watch. The song of the tower soon lulls him to sleep, and Mordred approaches for the kill. Oy leaps in his path, and diverts the attack. Roland offers Mordred the chance to live in exchange for Oy's life, but he refuses, possibly knowing he is going to die anyways, possibly wanting to fulfill his destiny and kill his father. Mordred flings Oy aside after breaking his back. Roland shoots and kills his son, and Mordred's remains tumble into the group's campfire.
