Excalibur originated almost 20 years ago by our queen Diana (aka Vader, Ldydiana, Ladydiana, Pendraegon, Pendraco, Excaldi) in “Shadows of Yserbius,”, an early online RPG hosted on Prodigy, and later “The Sierra Network.” In that game some of our earliest friends became members, and Diana met the future “token king and concubine,” Criss (aka Gawain, Pwylle, Aramyr). In this game the earliest tenets of “The Right and Noble Order of Excalibur” were founded, and the four cornerstones of “Honor, Glory, Majesty, and UNITY.” were established. We met many friends, and some members from that game still survive in games today. The internet was in its infancy, as access to The Sierra Network was through routers, but our foundation was strong, and we survived and flourished. We held our earliest online knighting ceremonies, we laid the structure of the guild consisting of the king and queen, a regent to rule under them, knightmarshalls, knights, squires, and pages. Roleplaying was respected and encouraged at this early time, and to this day many long term members still refer to the “curia” by their titles. The online king and queen of Excalibur met in real life, married, and remain happily together both on and offline to this day.

The games changed, and membership waxed and waned in many early, “beta” games, including Empyria, Empyriana, Drakkar, Illusia, Kesmai, Asheron's Call, and others. While these games came and went, the friendships formed in this time solidified, and their dedication to the values of Excalibur made them lifelong friends. Maturity, honor, respect of others, and no less than all, enjoyment, were the principles we sought. Then “the bomb dropped,” and Everquest was born.

Excalibur as a guild was present in most games during their “beta,” and Everquest was no exception. But it was clearly different, with mass appeal, a 3D interface, and addictive like no other game. As it flourished, Excalibur flourished, and its membership expanded at breakneck speed. The Xegony server was our home, and at one point our membership totaled in the many hundreds. Friends made there that still find their way into games today. Excalibur attracted many european players during this time since the king and queen played mostly in the daytime (european prime time), and they became members as well. The membership of Excalibur ebbed and flowed, as it became apparent that we were not a “hardcore, powergaming” guild. As many members maxxed their levels, they would leave to join the “raiding” guilds. Yet they remained friends, some came back to the nest, and Excalibur held its first real life gatherings.

The first gathering was held in 1997, and attended to by 8 members. We held our first real “knighting cermony,” spent the weekend with friends, and many long term friendships were founded. Over the next few years we held 3 other gatherings at “Castle Excalibur (the home of Diana and Criss), and they were attended by members from as far as Canada to Florida. Prozax, Shadrack, Morgon, Sigmund, Noldor, Precious, and many other early members found their way into our home. Many humorous moments were also visited, including Shadrack lighting himself on fire, the automated, “light on command” bonfire fizzling like a wet noodle, the imprint of a freshly cleaned chainmail shirt burned into just laid new grass (due to the acid used to clean the chainmail), the total rain out of the 4^th gathering knighting ceremony, just to name a few. And the phrase “Your virtues have not gone unnoticed,” respecting Precious' “virtues” bulging from her corset endowed bosom as she was knighted was first spoken. Members gathered at Renaissance faires also, and fun times were enjoyed by all.

As Everquest faded, other games came about, and via our european connections we found our way into the european beta version of World of Warcraft. With its release Excalibur found its next home for several years. Yet a change was evident. World of Warcraft was for the masses, and the “nerd” was replaced by the soccer mom, or the casual gamer, and the rigidity of ceremonies, role playing, and “milord and milady” was replaced with “hey bud, LTNS!.” Yet the values of maturity and the dedication to honor and respect persisted. More friendships were forged, and instead of gathering, the king and queen traveled, meeting many members, from Oregon to Florida to and Houston. We even had members come from Austria to visit and share time together.

Today the king and queen hold court in Runes of Magic, Conan, and Warhammer, yet Excalibur still maintains a presence in World of Warcraft on the Malygos server. While the ceremony and the “pomp and circumstance” has faded, Excalibur carries on because, above all, we are dedicated to simple tenets, based on mutual respect of others, maturity of character, honor above all else, and a bond that transcends the “game” and speaks to the heart of people with its core principles of “Honor-!- Glory-!- Majesty-!- and UNITY-!-.