Erik Von Darkmoor
Encyclopedia
Erik Von Darkmoor is a fictional character appearing in the novels of Raymond E. Feist
. He is a major character in the The Serpentwar Saga
saga, starting with Shadow of a Dark Queen
. He was born the illegitimate
son of the local baron
and his barmaid mother. He grew up as an apprentice blacksmith
in the town of Ravensburg
with his best friend Rupert "Roo" Avery, a local rogue. After the death of his former master he forms a bond with the new Blacksmith and forms a type of father-son relationship with him. He is also friendly with the baron's Swordmaster
, Owen Greylock, who is impressed with Erik's skill with horses. Every time the Baron Von Darkmoor comes through Ravensburg, Erik's mother Freida would publicly press the Baron to acknowledge Erik as his son. As the Baron never denied it, Erik could continue to use the Von Darkmoor name. Erik was the strongest boy in his village and was large for his age. During one of the Baron's trips, he falls ill and has to stop in Ravensburg with his two sons, Stefan and Manfred.
Erik finds in the orchard that Stefan, the older son of Baron von Darkmoor, had taken a childhood friend, Rosalyn whom he considered a mix of sister and potential love interest to a nearby orchard with the intention of abusing and raping her. Erik and Roo intercept and kill Stephan in anger. The pair flee with the intention of using Freeport's legal loop holes to be pardoned. Before they can reach the far coast they are imprisoned and sent to be executed by the Duke of Krondor, James
. After a dramatic mock execution Erik, Roo and a hand selected group of inmates are taken as "desperate man" whose lives are no longer their own. These men are taken to be trained unconventionally to be the Calis's Crimson Eagles mercenary company which is formed for the purpose of infiltrating the Emerald Queen's Army on the continent of Novindus. Erik shows remarkable leadership and soldering skills during his service. When Erik and Roo Avery return at the novel's conclusion Erik chooses to stay with the service and (along with another desperate man Jadow) become corporals in Calis's new army.
In Rise of a Merchant Prince
, Erik once again journeys to Novindus in an attempt to destroy the Pantathian nest of young. Erik and several soldiers make it out. Bobby de Loungville, Erik's first sergeant dies in the attempt.
In Rage of a Demon King
, Erik becomes a linchpin in the defense of the Kingdom. He forms the rear guard and watches the destruction of Krondor and sees William conDoin, Pug's son die. Erik draws the enemy to the east of the Kingdom, fighting constantly before withdrawing to Darkmoor, the last stronghold before Sethanon, the goal of the Emerald Queen's army. By then he has been promoted to Knight-Captain. The enemy is narrowly defeated at Darkmoor, owing largely to Erik's field strategy. Manfred, the Baron of Darkmoor is shot by an arrow at the end. At the end, Erik names Rosalyn's son (whose father was Stefan), Gerd to be the Baron of Darkmoor, but allowing Mathilda von Darkmoor to be regent (late Otto von Darkmoor's wife).
In Shards of a Broken Crown
, Erik is given the duty of expelling General Fadawah's army out of the Kingdom, the Emerald Queen's general who seized command after the demon in the body of the Emerald Queen is destroyed and the Queen presumed dead. Erik fights a two sided battle, with Kesh, who seeks to re-claim Krondor and Fadawah, who uses undead powers to summon corpses back to life to retake Krondor.
Erik makes a final appearance in Wrath of a Mad God. After an attack by the Dasati on Kelewan destroys much of the Tsurani hierarchy he is asked by Miranda to help lead them in a battle they are fated to lose. He is an old man at this point, well over 90 years old and kept virile by a potion given to him by Nakor. He resigns his position on Midkemia and travels to Kelewan. In a battle they cannot win Erik helps to successfully delay the Dasati hordes while the Tsurani flee to a new world through several rifts created by Pug. As the Dasati close in he decides to stay and fight rather than travel back to Midkemia, hoping that by keeping a Dasati Deathknight busy for a minute or so he will enable more Tsurani to escape. He draws his sword and walks towards the battle and certain death.
During "Wrath of a Mad God", toward the end of Ch. 17, Erik is having a conversation with Miranda about finding shelter for the Tsurani refugees. During the conversation the author makes a reference to Erik's life, stating that Erik had never wed or fathered children. Erik was married to Katherine "Kitty" Graves, former thief of The Mockers, during "Rage of a Demon King".
Raymond E. Feist
Raymond Elias Feist is an American author who primarily writes fantasy fiction. He is best known for The Riftwar Cycle series of novels and short stories. His books have been translated into multiple languages and have sold over 15 million copies.- Biography :Raymond E...
. He is a major character in the The Serpentwar Saga
The Serpentwar Saga
The Serpentwar Saga is a series of fantasy novels set in Midkemia by the author Raymond E. Feist. The novels revolve around two characters, Erik von Darkmoor and Roo Avery and also includes a host of previous characters from past novels, including Nakor, Pug, Macros the Black, Calis and Jimmy...
saga, starting with Shadow of a Dark Queen
Shadow of a Dark Queen
Shadow of a Dark Queen is a fantasy novel by Raymond E. Feist. It is the first book in the The Serpentwar Saga and was first published in June 1994. It was followed by Rise of a Merchant Prince which was published in 1995.-Plot introduction:...
. He was born the illegitimate
Legitimacy (law)
At common law, legitimacy is the status of a child who is born to parents who are legally married to one another; and of a child who is born shortly after the parents' divorce. In canon and in civil law, the offspring of putative marriages have been considered legitimate children...
son of the local baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
and his barmaid mother. He grew up as an apprentice blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
in the town of Ravensburg
Ravensburg
Ravensburg is a town in Upper Swabia in Southern Germany, capital of the district of Ravensburg, Baden-Württemberg.Ravensburg was first mentioned in 1088. In the Middle Ages, it was an Imperial Free City and an important trading centre...
with his best friend Rupert "Roo" Avery, a local rogue. After the death of his former master he forms a bond with the new Blacksmith and forms a type of father-son relationship with him. He is also friendly with the baron's Swordmaster
Swordmaster
Swordmaster or Sword Master may refer to:* Kensei - an adept in swordsmanship* Swordmaster, one of several characters from the Soul Calibur video game series* Swordmaster, a unit classes in Fire Emblem video games...
, Owen Greylock, who is impressed with Erik's skill with horses. Every time the Baron Von Darkmoor comes through Ravensburg, Erik's mother Freida would publicly press the Baron to acknowledge Erik as his son. As the Baron never denied it, Erik could continue to use the Von Darkmoor name. Erik was the strongest boy in his village and was large for his age. During one of the Baron's trips, he falls ill and has to stop in Ravensburg with his two sons, Stefan and Manfred.
Erik finds in the orchard that Stefan, the older son of Baron von Darkmoor, had taken a childhood friend, Rosalyn whom he considered a mix of sister and potential love interest to a nearby orchard with the intention of abusing and raping her. Erik and Roo intercept and kill Stephan in anger. The pair flee with the intention of using Freeport's legal loop holes to be pardoned. Before they can reach the far coast they are imprisoned and sent to be executed by the Duke of Krondor, James
Jimmy the Hand (fictional character)
Jimmy the Hand is a fictional character appearing in the novels of Raymond E. Feist. He is first introduced in the first Riftwar novel Magician. He also appears in the rest of the Riftwar Saga and is a key character in the Riftwar legacy novels....
. After a dramatic mock execution Erik, Roo and a hand selected group of inmates are taken as "desperate man" whose lives are no longer their own. These men are taken to be trained unconventionally to be the Calis's Crimson Eagles mercenary company which is formed for the purpose of infiltrating the Emerald Queen's Army on the continent of Novindus. Erik shows remarkable leadership and soldering skills during his service. When Erik and Roo Avery return at the novel's conclusion Erik chooses to stay with the service and (along with another desperate man Jadow) become corporals in Calis's new army.
In Rise of a Merchant Prince
Rise of a Merchant Prince
Rise of a Merchant Prince is a fantasy novel by Raymond E. Feist. It is the second book of The Serpentwar Saga and is preceded by Shadow of a Dark Queen and followed by Rage of a Demon King.-Plot summary:...
, Erik once again journeys to Novindus in an attempt to destroy the Pantathian nest of young. Erik and several soldiers make it out. Bobby de Loungville, Erik's first sergeant dies in the attempt.
In Rage of a Demon King
Rage of a Demon King
-External links:* on Feist's website...
, Erik becomes a linchpin in the defense of the Kingdom. He forms the rear guard and watches the destruction of Krondor and sees William conDoin, Pug's son die. Erik draws the enemy to the east of the Kingdom, fighting constantly before withdrawing to Darkmoor, the last stronghold before Sethanon, the goal of the Emerald Queen's army. By then he has been promoted to Knight-Captain. The enemy is narrowly defeated at Darkmoor, owing largely to Erik's field strategy. Manfred, the Baron of Darkmoor is shot by an arrow at the end. At the end, Erik names Rosalyn's son (whose father was Stefan), Gerd to be the Baron of Darkmoor, but allowing Mathilda von Darkmoor to be regent (late Otto von Darkmoor's wife).
In Shards of a Broken Crown
Shards of a Broken Crown
Shards of a Broken Crown is a 1998 fantasy novel by Raymond E. Feist, the fourth and final book of his Serpentwar Saga and the twelfth book of his Riftwar cycle.-Synopsis:...
, Erik is given the duty of expelling General Fadawah's army out of the Kingdom, the Emerald Queen's general who seized command after the demon in the body of the Emerald Queen is destroyed and the Queen presumed dead. Erik fights a two sided battle, with Kesh, who seeks to re-claim Krondor and Fadawah, who uses undead powers to summon corpses back to life to retake Krondor.
Erik makes a final appearance in Wrath of a Mad God. After an attack by the Dasati on Kelewan destroys much of the Tsurani hierarchy he is asked by Miranda to help lead them in a battle they are fated to lose. He is an old man at this point, well over 90 years old and kept virile by a potion given to him by Nakor. He resigns his position on Midkemia and travels to Kelewan. In a battle they cannot win Erik helps to successfully delay the Dasati hordes while the Tsurani flee to a new world through several rifts created by Pug. As the Dasati close in he decides to stay and fight rather than travel back to Midkemia, hoping that by keeping a Dasati Deathknight busy for a minute or so he will enable more Tsurani to escape. He draws his sword and walks towards the battle and certain death.
During "Wrath of a Mad God", toward the end of Ch. 17, Erik is having a conversation with Miranda about finding shelter for the Tsurani refugees. During the conversation the author makes a reference to Erik's life, stating that Erik had never wed or fathered children. Erik was married to Katherine "Kitty" Graves, former thief of The Mockers, during "Rage of a Demon King".