In [[452]] Uther sired his bastard son, [[Prince Madoc|Madoc ap Uther]], who was legitimized in [[488]]. Madoc was the heir apparent until his death at the hands of [[Duke Gorlois of Cornwall]] in [[491]].
In [[486]], Merlin gave Uther a most auspicious Christmas gift - the Sword of Victory, [[Excalibur]]! The [[CharactersCharacters_(Pendragon)#The Ursine Brotherhood|Ursine Brotherhood]] had assisted Merlin in the quest to find the sword, and Uther has watched the band of young knights ever since, intrigued by their tendency to be right in the thick of important deeds from that point on.
In [[487]], King Uther went on progress to secure the loyalty of some of his more troublesome vassals, starting with [[Duke Lindsey of Lincoln]]. The Ursine Brotherhood accompanied him on this quest, and later they were sent on a secondary diplomatic mission to [[Eberacum]] to meet with [[The Centurion King of Malahaut]].