King Arthur develops his ideal of the Round Table through his early study with Merlyn. His original devotion is to use Might to obtain Right. He wants to end chaos by force of his knights. His followers must obey the chivalric code and brings happiness upon the land. He wants to have the perfect kingdom, where war is the last instrument to be used. This ideal of his succeeds but approaches the end soon after.

The first cause and effect of Arthur's declination is in the ideal itself. He wants to acquire Right, but he uses the wrong tool. "Unfortunately we have tried to establish Right by Might, and you can't do that." (White 432). He should not permeate aggression into his plan. Therefore, the knights fight not in the name of justice, but just for the satisfaction of killing. The Orkney faction and many other knights becomes murderous...