"The (mis) adventures of knighthood" by John E. Fletcher

The ship rocked and swayed in the fierce wind and it was all Jeridan knight errant of Azuran could do to hold on as sailors scrambled up the rigging of the galley cutlasses and knives clattering it was a sailors tradition to carry weapons in storms it gave them a sense of protection. Jeridan looked to the helm and saw the boy stationed there racking in sickness and fright. Without a moments notice the knight errant sprang to the helm and relieved the boy telling him to go see the ships wizard although little older then the boy himself the 18 year old knight took the helm in his strong hands and fought the seemingly endless battle with the wind and waves. Just then Sir Godfrey de Remmes was next to him smiling cheerfully and keeping his footing almost without effort the boys mentor and adopted father looked at him still smiling.
“Bit of a bastard of a storm eh?” Godfrey said with a hint of mirth. Jeridan gritted his teeth and held the helm with all his strength as another wave hit the ship.
“Oh aye sir id say this is a bastard storm if ever I saw one.” Jeridan hadn't seen a storm like this in truth he hadn't been out of the lands of Azuran in his life and secretly even in this storm he was enjoying the experience a strangled cry was heard from the deck and then another as the wind blew some of the rain away Godfrey and Jeridan saw the worst sight imaginable…. The undead were attacking their ship.

“Zombies sir! Climbing up the sides!” Jeridan cried out reaching for his sword and assigning a young man who wouldn't be much good in a fight anyway to the helm but he needn't of bothered Godfrey was already in action “All troops on deck! The dead have grown weary of their rest!” The stench of death was almost unbearable now as Jeridan charged at a zombie halfway onto the ship with one clean slice he split it in two the halves falling back to the ocean he turned quickly as a cudgel swooped down at his head raising his sword just in time to block it. The zombie let out an unearthly howl and swung again but failed to notice as its cudgel-bearing arm was cut off by another swing of Jeridan's bastard sword. Twisting the sword and slicing up he managed to cleave the zombie's head and shoulder off. He looked up to see Godfrey having a brilliant time toying with three zombies blocking and parrying with his two handed sword he didn't have time to enjoy the spectacle though as more zombies were crawling up the back of the ship towards the helm Jer rushed back and started hacking through the decayed bodies holding them off from the helm knowing if they lost control it would spell the end for all of them.

An hour later Jeridan, Godfrey and the ships captain were in the captains quarters looking at a map.
“This is very bad my friends we've gotten too close to the isle of the dead in the storm.” The captain stated flatly, all three of them were caked in gore from the battle with the zombies and each knew the implications of getting too close to that hated isle were ancient magic left by a vengeful demon god after destroying the isles people woke the dead and caused them to kill mercilessly any who ventured near the isle the zombies were some of the poor sailors who had fallen to the storms and rocks that surrounded the isle.
“Well we better jolly well get out of here shouldn't we?” Godfrey said in his general cheerful voice. Jeridan rubbed his temples and wondered how his mentor could be so cheerful all the time. “We've ordered the crew to make all speed away to the east back to Ivrian.” Jeridan said calmly then added with a wry chuckle “Id say that pirates are the least of the problems out here.” All of them let out chuckles glad that the tension of the battle had passed.

A minute later the ships wizard, Geramin walked in instead of wearing the robes of his station he was in a loose white shirt, black trousers and high doeskin boots he was very old but not powerful if you measured power in hurling destruction. He was a truly kind man adept in the magical arts of illusion and healing a advanced knowledge of herbs and other plants and his magical abilities is what made him a even better healer then most clerics.
“Well all the men are stitched up or free of their nausea.” He stopped a moment to scratch at his short beard then continued. “There is something else though, I found a imp on one of the zombies which was sneaking down to the lower decks.” “On the imp I found this.” He held up a bit of paper with a picture of a small crystal on it each of the three gasped in unison.
“That's the crystal of Nel'Rektrah!” Jeridan said in shock the ancient crystal had been lost for millennia.
“But that's been lost for thousands of years the accursed stone couldn't be on any ship in the realms!” The captain protested but the wizards' slow shake of the head denied his logic. “It was found last month just after we left port by the kings fourth army.” The wizard replied Jeridan's mind was racing. That accursed stone found? It couldn't be true! That stone was what the god used to incur the curse onto the isle of the dead then he cast it away far into the realms. Godfrey for once wasn't smiling.
“We away to Dernivian at once the king must hear that the accursed lords of the isle seek the stone.” The undead wizard lords of the isle truly did seek the stone what else could the picture and the zombies mean? Jeridan was just getting up to leave when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“You young knight have been injured.” The calm but firm voice of Geramin told him.
“Tis but a scratch Ger.” Jeridan replied anxious to be back on deck to start and enjoy his last days on the ocean, unfortunately for him though the hand guided him to a chair and he sat down obediently. “A scratch? Looks more like a club blow and a knifes scar Jer.” He scolded and started through some spells placing a few herbs on the wound. Jeridan sighed resigned to the fact that he couldn't stop the kind old man performing his art. “Oh gods this means I'm going to be back at Dernivian in time for my sisters ball.” Geramin let out a wry chuckle. “Ah the greatest fear of any knight neither sword nor spear but social situations!” Ger said with a laugh. Jeridan had to grin at the ridiculous situation. He had faced a lot in his time as a knight errant serving at Godfrey's side facing orcish hordes and even a ogre army but just the thought of the dishonorable nobles and the politics they delighted in sent a shiver down his spine, but none the less he would just have to endure it for his sisters sake. He damn well wasn't wearing any pants that puffed out at the top though!

A week later Jer was standing at the gate of his sisters' estate and had to wait outside as a servant went inside to announce him and do other such ridiculous things. He sighed again noting at the back of his mind that nobles little trends where probably the most idiotic things on Denizar. He was leaning against the wall having quite a nice professional chat with the guard lieutenant who was at the door when suddenly he was nearly knocked over by two short sprinting forms.
“Uncy Jer!!” the twins shouted in unison and Jer waved a hand at the lieutenant who in the confusion of the young knight being mysteriously knocked hard thought some hidden crossbowman had taken a shot at him. He picked up the twins smiling and walked inside shrugging off the major domos protests and looked back at the twins who were curiously poking his armor “Hello Cassandra, Andrien have you two been good for your mother?” The twins smiled up at him in the picturesque innocence only children who have been up to mischief can achieve. He chuckled merrily and opened the door to the audience chamber nearly knocking over the servant who was still trying to introduce Jer properly “Hello Kat!” The petite woman in a silken green gown suddenly shot up and with as much force and energy as the twins had managed pounced on Jer hugging him her golden red hair flying around her pretty face. “Jer! I didn't think the Myst would be back so fast!” Jer smiled and hugged her back suddenly frowning as the servant determined to do a good job finished the title with
“Hero of the Golden Myst?” Katrina D'Senraz looked up at her adopted brother with concern.
“Gods yes Jer Geramin sent word ahead of you about the battle according to the tales of the soldiers and Godfrey you were a vision of death holding the helm.” Jer blushed slightly at the praise but before he could reply a booming and familiar voice resounded around the hall.
“That a boy Lad!” Suddenly a green kilt clad man strode into the room his plate mail obviously well crafted catching the light in a glistening sheen red hair and beard only showing the faintest hint of grey which was pretty good since the speaker was over 500 years old. “Bjorn!” Jer called, as the tall were bear strode into the room shoving the protesting servant out of the way. “About time those bloody stinking corpses got well kicked!” The servant muttering under his breath merely offered “Bjorn The blacksmith.” And walked out.

That night Jer found himself surrounded by a tide of servants who were trying to get him to wear the most foppish clothes imaginable but Jer was rescued by the timely intervention of Geodfrey who strode in wearing, like Jer was, His armor freshly polished to a mirror sheen with a wry grin Geodfrey called out “Will master Jeridan be joining the festivities this evening several of the young ladies of court are anxious to meet his exaltedness.” He calmly waved away the servants and clapped Jer on the shoulder “Now get a move on I didn't raise you to avoid court situations.” Jer looked up at him with raised brows and with a grin added, “Yes you did!” Geodfrey laughed merrily “Oh so I did but I was never a great father anyway so down you go.” Jer laughed again and walked down the stairs and had to wait a minute or two as the nobles ahead of him where being announced then he had to be announced (this was the part he hated most about such court festivities he always felt so naked with everyone in the room looking at him) after all this he walked calmly down the last set of stairs into the ball room he wove his way through the nobles anxious to get the ear of the new court favorite eventually ending up by his sister and her husband the royal bard Jovelyn they both looked up and smiled as he sat down next to them at their table one of the many scattered around the edges of the room. “So young knight which do you prefer the sharks in the sea or the sharks of the court.” Jovelyn said with a grin which Jer shared “Well the sharks in the sea have a bit less of a stinging bite then these sharks.” All three laughed and Jer got up seeing two of his friends in a group of young court ladies with a wink to Jovelyn and Katrina he motioned to his friends and said “I think I better save them from themselves.” With a laugh they waved good-bye. He walked over to his friends the sorcerer Soldes and the bard Rayemir “Hail young heroes have you time for a under achieved lord?” They both looked up and grinned. “We were wondering when you were going to come share in the festivities.” Rayemir said with a wink motioning to the girls flicking his hair behind pointed elven ears. Jer laughed and sat down with his friends after a while he was persuaded to dance with one of the girls and he spent the rest of the night dancing, laughing and generally enjoying himself he was spared the more noble inclined (and thereby more power hungry) ladies thanks to Kat who happened to have something that the ladies would rather not have publicly known on every one of the noble ladies




The ship rocked and swayed in the fierce wind and it was all Jeridan knight errant of Azuran could do to hold on as sailors scrambled up the rigging of the galley cutlasses and knives clattering it was a sailors tradition to carry weapons in storms it gave them a sense of protection. Jeridan looked to the helm and saw the boy stationed there racking in sickness and fright. Without a moments notice the knight errant sprang to the helm and relieved the boy telling him to go see the ships wizard although little older then the boy himself the 18 year old knight took the helm in his strong hands and fought the seemingly endless battle with the wind and waves. Just then Sir Godfrey de Remmes was next to him smiling cheerfully and keeping his footing almost without effort the boys mentor and adopted father looked at him still smiling.
“Bit of a bastard of a storm eh?” Godfrey said with a hint of mirth. Jeridan gritted his teeth and held the helm with all his strength as another wave hit the ship.
“Oh aye sir id say this is a bastard storm if ever I saw one.” Jeridan hadn't seen a storm like this in truth he hadn't been out of the lands of Azuran in his life and secretly even in this storm he was enjoying the experience a strangled cry was heard from the deck and then another as the wind blew some of the rain away Godfrey and Jeridan saw the worst sight imaginable…. The undead were attacking their ship.

“Zombies sir! Climbing up the sides!” Jeridan cried out reaching for his sword and assigning a young man who wouldn't be much good in a fight anyway to the helm but he needn't of bothered Godfrey was already in action “All troops on deck! The dead have grown weary of their rest!” The stench of death was almost unbearable now as Jeridan charged at a zombie halfway onto the ship with one clean slice he split it in two the halves falling back to the ocean he turned quickly as a cudgel swooped down at his head raising his sword just in time to block it. The zombie let out an unearthly howl and swung again but failed to notice as its cudgel-bearing arm was cut off by another swing of Jeridan's bastard sword. Twisting the sword and slicing up he managed to cleave the zombie's head and shoulder off. He looked up to see Godfrey having a brilliant time toying with three zombies blocking and parrying with his two handed sword he didn't have time to enjoy the spectacle though as more zombies were crawling up the back of the ship towards the helm Jer rushed back and started hacking through the decayed bodies holding them off from the helm knowing if they lost control it would spell the end for all of them.

An hour later Jeridan, Godfrey and the ships captain were in the captains quarters looking at a map.
“This is very bad my friends we've gotten too close to the isle of the dead in the storm.” The captain stated flatly, all three of them were caked in gore from the battle with the zombies and each knew the implications of getting too close to that hated isle were ancient magic left by a vengeful demon god after destroying the isles people woke the dead and caused them to kill mercilessly any who ventured near the isle the zombies were some of the poor sailors who had fallen to the storms and rocks that surrounded the isle.
“Well we better jolly well get out of here shouldn't we?” Godfrey said in his general cheerful voice. Jeridan rubbed his temples and wondered how his mentor could be so cheerful all the time. “We've ordered the crew to make all speed away to the east back to Ivrian.” Jeridan said calmly then added with a wry chuckle “Id say that pirates are the least of the problems out here.” All of them let out chuckles glad that the tension of the battle had passed.

A minute later the ships wizard, Geramin walked in instead of wearing the robes of his station he was in a loose white shirt, black trousers and high doeskin boots he was very old but not powerful if you measured power in hurling destruction. He was a truly kind man adept in the magical arts of illusion and healing a advanced knowledge of herbs and other plants and his magical abilities is what made him a even better healer then most clerics.
“Well all the men are stitched up or free of their nausea.” He stopped a moment to scratch at his short beard then continued. “There is something else though, I found a imp on one of the zombies which was sneaking down to the lower decks.” “On the imp I found this.” He held up a bit of paper with a picture of a small crystal on it each of the three gasped in unison.
“That's the crystal of Nel'Rektrah!” Jeridan said in shock the ancient crystal had been lost for millennia.
“But that's been lost for thousands of years the accursed stone couldn't be on any ship in the realms!” The captain protested but the wizards' slow shake of the head denied his logic. “It was found last month just after we left port by the kings fourth army.” The wizard replied Jeridan's mind was racing. That accursed stone found? It couldn't be true! That stone was what the god used to incur the curse onto the isle of the dead then he cast it away far into the realms. Godfrey for once wasn't smiling.
“We away to Dernivian at once the king must hear that the accursed lords of the isle seek the stone.” The undead wizard lords of the isle truly did seek the stone what else could the picture and the zombies mean? Jeridan was just getting up to leave when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“You young knight have been injured.” The calm but firm voice of Geramin told him.
“Tis but a scratch Ger.” Jeridan replied anxious to be back on deck to start and enjoy his last days on the ocean, unfortunately for him though the hand guided him to a chair and he sat down obediently. “A scratch? Looks more like a club blow and a knifes scar Jer.” He scolded and started through some spells placing a few herbs on the wound. Jeridan sighed resigned to the fact that he couldn't stop the kind old man performing his art. “Oh gods this means I'm going to be back at Dernivian in time for my sisters ball.” Geramin let out a wry chuckle. “Ah the greatest fear of any knight neither sword nor spear but social situations!” Ger said with a laugh. Jeridan had to grin at the ridiculous situation. He had faced a lot in his time as a knight errant serving at Godfrey's side facing orcish hordes and even a ogre army but just the thought of the dishonorable nobles and the politics they delighted in sent a shiver down his spine, but none the less he would just have to endure it for his sisters sake. He damn well wasn't wearing any pants that puffed out at the top though!

A week later Jer was standing at the gate of his sisters' estate and had to wait outside as a servant went inside to announce him and do other such ridiculous things. He sighed again noting at the back of his mind that nobles little trends where probably the most idiotic things on Denizar. He was leaning against the wall having quite a nice professional chat with the guard lieutenant who was at the door when suddenly he was nearly knocked over by two short sprinting forms.
“Uncy Jer!!” the twins shouted in unison and Jer waved a hand at the lieutenant who in the confusion of the young knight being mysteriously knocked hard thought some hidden crossbowman had taken a shot at him. He picked up the twins smiling and walked inside shrugging off the major domos protests and looked back at the twins who were curiously poking his armor “Hello Cassandra, Andrien have you two been good for your mother?” The twins smiled up at him in the picturesque innocence only children who have been up to mischief can achieve. He chuckled merrily and opened the door to the audience chamber nearly knocking over the servant who was still trying to introduce Jer properly “Hello Kat!” The petite woman in a silken green gown suddenly shot up and with as much force and energy as the twins had managed pounced on Jer hugging him her golden red hair flying around her pretty face. “Jer! I didn't think the Myst would be back so fast!” Jer smiled and hugged her back suddenly frowning as the servant determined to do a good job finished the title with
“Hero of the Golden Myst?” Katrina D'Senraz looked up at her adopted brother with concern.
“Gods yes Jer Geramin sent word ahead of you about the battle according to the tales of the soldiers and Godfrey you were a vision of death holding the helm.” Jer blushed slightly at the praise but before he could reply a booming and familiar voice resounded around the hall.
“That a boy Lad!” Suddenly a green kilt clad man strode into the room his plate mail obviously well crafted catching the light in a glistening sheen red hair and beard only showing the faintest hint of grey which was pretty good since the speaker was over 500 years old. “Bjorn!” Jer called, as the tall were bear strode into the room shoving the protesting servant out of the way. “About time those bloody stinking corpses got well kicked!” The servant muttering under his breath merely offered “Bjorn The blacksmith.” And walked out.

That night Jer found himself surrounded by a tide of servants who were trying to get him to wear the most foppish clothes imaginable but Jer was rescued by the timely intervention of Geodfrey who strode in wearing, like Jer was, His armor freshly polished to a mirror sheen with a wry grin Geodfrey called out “Will master Jeridan be joining the festivities this evening several of the young ladies of court are anxious to meet his exaltedness.” He calmly waved away the servants and clapped Jer on the shoulder “Now get a move on I didn't raise you to avoid court situations.” Jer looked up at him with raised brows and with a grin added, “Yes you did!” Geodfrey laughed merrily “Oh so I did but I was never a great father anyway so down you go.” Jer laughed again and walked down the stairs and had to wait a minute or two as the nobles ahead of him where being announced then he had to be announced (this was the part he hated most about such court festivities he always felt so naked with everyone in the room looking at him) after all this he walked calmly down the last set of stairs into the ball room he wove his way through the nobles anxious to get the ear of the new court favorite eventually ending up by his sister and her husband the royal bard Jovelyn they both looked up and smiled as he sat down next to them at their table one of the many scattered around the edges of the room. “So young knight which do you prefer the sharks in the sea or the sharks of the court.” Jovelyn said with a grin which Jer shared “Well the sharks in the sea have a bit less of a stinging bite then these sharks.” All three laughed and Jer got up seeing two of his friends in a group of young court ladies with a wink to Jovelyn and Katrina he motioned to his friends and said “I think I better save them from themselves.” With a laugh they waved good-bye. He walked over to his friends the sorcerer Soldes and the bard Rayemir “Hail young heroes have you time for a under achieved lord?” They both looked up and grinned. “We were wondering when you were going to come share in the festivities.” Rayemir said with a wink motioning to the girls flicking his hair behind pointed elven ears. Jer laughed and sat down with his friends after a while he was persuaded to dance with one of the girls and he spent the rest of the night dancing, laughing and generally enjoying himself he was spared the more noble inclined (and thereby more power hungry) ladies thanks to Kat who happened to have something that the ladies would rather not have publicly known on every one of the noble ladies that would seek to exploit Jer for their own benefit.