Erik Von Darkmoor

Erik Von Darkmoor is a fictional character appearing in the novels of Raymond E. Feist. He is a major character in the Serpentwar saga starting in the second chapter of "Shadow of a Dark Queen". He was born the bastard son of the local baron and his bar maid 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 Barons 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 brutally abused his best friend - who he considered his sister - Rosalyn. Erik and Roo save Rosalyn from the attack, but in the process kill Stefan van Darkmoor. Erik and Roo flee to Krondor but are captured by Quegan slavers, who are then intercepted by the new Duke, James, who succeeded the title after Prince Arutha died. Erik forms part of the Crimson Eagles, a mercenary band who infiltrates the Emerald Queen's Army on the continent of Novindus. Erik and Roo Avery return to Krondor with hefty rewards for serving the Crown. Erik chooses to stay with the Eagles and he and Jadow became one of the first corporals.

In the novel, Rise of the 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 tragically 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.