Quest: The Education of The Dolorous Knight

 

Gentle Reader, in this page thou wilt find a humbling story. A story in which a proud knight, thinking himself better than others, was yet shown to be but a poor imitation of True Knighthood, but how, by the goodness of his friends, was he yet redeemed.

This be the story of sir Sleipnir, formerly The Dolorous Knight, and now The Knight Redeemed.

The Duels

As all know, the Beloved of sir Sleipnir is the Fair Lady Babajaga. What many do not know is that this same Lady, depite her manifest goodness and beauty, her manifest nobility and kindness of spirit, her manifold graces and beauteous elegance, doth yet receive much abuse from divers foul knaves and base cowards. One of the first such knaves to thus abuse the Fair Babajaga was the foul Romoff. Stung to the quick by hearing such abuse, and unable to control his violent temper, sir Sleipnir did challenge Romoff to a duel in the Arena, the loser of this Duel agreeing to visit Death, and thus truly face the ultimate penalty. I shall not repeat the entire story here. Suffice it to say that Romoff was beaten in the Arena and sent to visit Death, laughing all the while.

Although many in the Land did support the drastic actions of sir Sleipnir, yet there were many others, of noble and impeccable courtesie, who did greatly doubt the rightness of such actions. Should an Exile be sent to Death merely for feeble words? Could such actions be compatible with the Knightly Creed espoused so eloquently by sir Sleipnir? Thus did arise a hue and a cry, led by the peerless Urgelt, the noblest of all the dwarfs.

And yet was sir Sleipnir undismayed by the fervent and justified criticism of these noble souls. When another foul knave, DarkLordRebord, didst raise his voice and abuse his Beloved Babajaga in the Town Square, once more did sir Sleipnir, in pride and arrogance, challenge him to the Death. 'Tis true that sir Sleipnir did call for witnesses that he had been provoked beyond rational measure, but there were yet many who were not happy with this turn of events. Once more did sir Sleipnir duel in the Arena. Yet did he offer mercy to DarkLordReborn, and then again, but all to no avail. Once more was sir Sleipnir triumphant; once more was an Exile sent to visit Death, merely for the words he did utter. But even in the heart of sir Sleipnir was there doubt and dismay, for he was coming to believe that the Knightly Code was proving to be less Noble than he had previously thought.

The Trial

This second death was too much for the Land to bear, and sir Sleipnir was arraigned and brought to trial. Standing in his defence was the worthy Arbilad, while opposed to him was the peerless Urgelt and Andrew D'Bacons. The court, presided over by Llerendel of the Black Cloaks, did solicit the help of divers famous exiles, to serve as an impartial Jury, while JoMamma, that greatest of fighters, and Elenis Reyav, that epitome of the courtly graces, did serve as the Bailiffs.

Many arguments were heard on both sides. Great were the disputations. Eloquent witness followed upon eloquent witness, both for and against the defendant. Was it right for sir Sleipnir to follow his own knightly code, to the detriment of others in the Land? Was it right for the Land to presume to judge him for so doing? Are there community standards that should be maintained, above and beyond any personal ethicks? sir Sleipnir himself was required to state his knightly creed, a statement that was followed by the most wondrous blast of trumpets.

'Twas indeed a difficult task for the jury, and in the end they reached no firm decision. Although sir Sleipnir was acquitted of wrongdoing, yet it was judged that his actions were in now way consistent with acceptable community standards. It was thus left to the two contestants to settle their differences in a way acceptable to them both.

The Duel with Urgelt

These differences of opinion were vast. Sir Sleipnir, although suffering greatly from doubts that he had behaved as a True and Gentle Knight should, was nevertheless determined to force Urgelt to recant the phrase "False Knight", an insult unsurpassed, and incapable of redress without blood. Urgelt, for his part, was determined that Sleipnir should be forced to admit the error of his ways, and to see that he had besmirched his Knightly Code. Thus, recourse was made once more to the Arena.

Much blood was spilt on both sides, although rather more by sir Sleipnir it must be said. His beloved Babajaga, frantic with grief and woe, had to be forcibly restrained by the Exiles there present, and he himself was battered to the ground, stunned and wounded nigh to death. But the peerless Urgelt did then demonstrate his truly noble nature, and did refuse to continue to battle. Instead he did offer himself as the lamb to the slaughter, it being preferable (he claimed) to die himself than to murder another Exile in cold blood. Faced with this nobility, sir Sleipnir was forced to realise that his own behaviour had been less than perfect, was forced to admit fault, and did present his sword to Urgelt as a token of his submission.

Amity reigned supreme, and all was peace and light. Urgelt did recant his phrase "False Knight", and sir Sleipnir did realise to the full the grevious error of his ways, whereupon he did swear upon his life, love and honour, never to enter the Arena again as long as he might live.

 

Gentle Reader, this lesson take with thee. Be not blinded by the common myths of puerile honour, but seek always to uphold the True Virtues. Be not bound by chains of honour lest thine honour itself prove but a shallow and tarnished thing. Accept the good of the community above thine own narrow concerns, and, above all, strive for nobility in all things.

With these words, I leave thee.