Sir Mand Amodai, Renshai Knight of the Crown

"What made me decide to join the Knighthood?", Mand asked the inquisitive kender,"Just sit still and listen, and I'll tell you why I now wear these Solamnic trappings." The young kender pulled up a stool and faced the elderly dwarf, apprently enraptured with the bobbing of the Knights long beard, but paying attention none-the-less.

    "When I was just a wee little child, my pappy Lurin sat me down on his knee and taught me quite a few things. He told me of Honor, Bravery, and of his great deeds in battle....he even told me how he won the hand of his lady" A wink toward the kender promised that tale would be told another night. "Now my pappy Lurin was raised in the region just north of Gulfport, and of course everyone knows that the Renshai are from Gulfport, its their home-town. Pappy was Renshai through-and-through. He believed in their principles: mainly that life was to be dealt with by the edge of his sword. Now don't get me wrong, my pappy was a kind, gentle man. But his skill with the sword made many people think twice before they messed with him. Why I remember the time..."

    An exasperated sigh from the kender brought Mand back out of the clouds, and snapping his fingers at the kender he resumed the main thread of his story. "Ahh yes...ok ok young kenderken.. Pappy taught me from a young whelpling how to defend myself with the sword, axe, and club. He taught me how to perform miraculous feats in battle. He also drilled into my hard skull what true Honor means. My childhood was such a happy time.. I grew up with many other young Renshai, we had games and quests. "I remember quite clearly when it all changed. The leaves were just changing gold and I was barely 20 years old when the Dragonarmies attacked. Like a mighty foot coming to stomp us out, they smashed through our village.

    Now, don't get me wrong: the Renshai are reknowned for their skill with the sword, and made an account for themselves. But by sheer weight of numbers the dragonarmies marched victorious. Sensing that those foul ranks would not stop before eliminating all Renshai, I and a few others herded the children out of the village and into the forest, and from a nearby hilltop watched as our parents and friends were killed. "Grief and rage filled my heart, and I'm sad to say that for a dark period of my life, Honor had no place in me.

    I sold my talents with the sword to every mercenary unit I could find, hoping to appease my rage with the blood of whatever I was paid to kill. While lurking about in Palanthas waiting for my unit to get moving, I noticed a Knight of Solamnia lounging about in the Inn. "I remembered what my pappy had told me of the Knights, how they were honorable and friends worth having. I approached the Knight, not knowing exactly why I did, but always feeling that I was supposed to. I know now that it was Paladine guiding me towards that fateful day. He had let me feel the power that was Takhisis', in the blood of the innocents that I had slaughtered, and knew that I was ready for redemption.

    "Sir Traddor and I fast became friends, and before I knew it he had become my mentor and I was on a quest to rid myself of my evil ways. The kender nodded slightly at Mand, assuring the dwarf that his audience was still attentive (and dazing at the fact that the kender was still a captive audience). "Through much soul-seeking I came to know Paladine as my inner-light and rejoiced when my sword cut through evil opponents. Even my sword was testimony to my accomplishments as it was a gift from Sir Traddor, a Holy Reaver. Although it was destroyed long ago, it was much loved and well used. "While gaining experience as a Squire to Sir Traddor I came to know many other Knights, such as Lady Cantara (a fiery and courageous Knight, she was a delight to accompany into battle), Sir Theldon, and of course Sir Agravain, who eventually Knighted me. "I approached Sir Agravain one day on the matter of a quest for my Knighthood, and was told that the Crytic Forest was in need of some cleansing. I was told that to gain my Knighthood, I would have to remove the vile presence of Xekzyr and Corak, and bring an item to prove my quest fulfilled.

    "With only a few hitches I completed my quest. Now this was back in the day when the Knighthood was not as swelled as it is now, and Knighting ceremonies were few and far-between. Sir Agravain was unable to rouse any of his comrades for my ceremony, in fact the Knights were held in such dis-regard that he was forced to hold the ceremony in a dingy back- street tavern in Palanthas. But I tell you this, the High Clerist tower with all the Knights in Solamnias' past, present, and future could not have provided a more significant ceremony, at least to me. "Sir Agravain asked after my quest, and when he was satisfied that I had completed all requirements to being a Knight, Knighted me and presented me with a Suit of Solamnic Chainmail, my new uniform. I wore that suit proudly and honorably.

    From then on I was Sir Mand Amodai" , puffing his chest proudly, "and acted as such." "Since that day I have gladly seen the Knighthood grow under the tutelage of its leaders. I am always careful to remember my roots though, back in the Family Renshai, and to act honorably in memory of my pappy, Lurin."

    Then with a short cough, Mand wiped a stubby hand across his eyes, wiping away a small droplet of moisture,"damn ceilings in here leak, Barkeep!" The kender laughed, clapped his hands at the good tale, then jumped up and raced out the door, laughing gaily and imagining the short dwarf, mounted on a charger, exchanging lances with the tall and stout Knights of Solamnia.

As recorded by Quineas Forthrop