Borric conDoin was the Duke of Crydee during the Riftwar and Prince of the Kingdom; Lord of Crydee, Carse, and Tulan; Warden of the West; Knight-General of the King's Armies and heir presumptive to the throne of Rillanon. He is second in line for the throne behind Prince Erland of Krondor, the uncle to King Rodric IV.
Borric has three sons: Martin Longbow, Lyam conDoin, and Arutha, though he does not publicly acknowledge Martin as his eldest son until his death at the end of the Riftwar, having him serving as a Huntmaster as part of the court. He also has a daughter, Princess Carline.
History
He learned warfare fighting against Kesh in the Vale of Dreams. At a young age he was second Knight-General in the West and four years later, King's Warden.
He had an illegitimate affair with a servant girl, and when his son was born, he sent him to an abbey. When Martin returned to Crydee, Borric placed him under the care of his old Huntmaster. When the old Huntmaster died, he was replaced by Martin.
Borric was a just ruler and good neighbor with the Free Cities; however he had some trouble with certain eastern dukes, especially his cousin, Guy du Bas-Tyra. At the death of King Rodric III, Borric was late to the Congress of Lords to elect a new King. Guy had nearly won the position to become King's Regent when Borric came to object, supported by Duke Brucal of Yabon and Prince Erland; Caldric of Rillanon, Catherine's uncle was appointed Regent.
Sometime later, he made Kulgan, a magician, a member of his court, one of the few times a magician received such a high honor.
When Catherine died, he was seen wearing black from there on.
Magician: Apprentice
He presided over the Choosing of Pug and Tomas, and broke no argument when Kulgan requested Pug to be a magician's apprentice.
He also promoted the orphan Pug into a Squire when Pug saves Carline's life from trolls during an afternoon ride.
After the discovery of the Tsurani shipwreck on the Sailor's Grief, Borric sought the counsel of Queen Aglaranna who came to Crydee with her advisors.
Journey to Krondor
Borric and his followers depart from Crydee
He decided to take Arutha, Gardan and Kulgan to journey to the Free Cities, and on to Krondor to speak with Prince Erland his cousin. At first they were accompanied by Martin and his trackers, until they parted near River Boundary
Before the journey Borric had sent pigeons asking troops of guards from the keep at Carse to wait for his party with fresh horses from Jonril in the Green Heart. However the Moredhel had attacked the second appointed meeting place, and the Borric's party fell into their ambush. They lost eighteen men, six wounded, and all the mules and baggage were taken. They flew towards the Grey Towers at the east, but skirmishers were herding them in a circle, and lead them into their main strength, more north than east.
Eventually only thirteen remained with six horses had survived the day but with a magic trick by Kulgan evoking mist, they hid in a clearing until the Moredhel passed past them. Eventually, after a skirmish with Goblins, they were joined by Dolgan who guided them through Mac Mordain Cadal. After some losses (including Tomas) they reached Bordon and hosted by Talbott Kilrane, his trading agent with the Free Cities, already contacted by Meecham.
When the Duke explained him the danger of an impending Tsurani invasion, Talbott offered one of his personal vessels, the Storm Queen to transport them to Krondor.
When finally they reached Krondor, the meeting was not how Borric wished since Erland had no authority to muster the Armies of the West and they were to go and ask the permission of the King himself, accompanied by the Royal Krondorian Lancers.
On their way to Salador,they came across a storm of unusual intensity in the mountains west of Darkmoor and stayed at an inn outside the village. Later they fell upon a village being troubled by bandits which they drove away. The villagers welcomed and hosted the Duke's party, offering food and beds.
In Salador, the group was hosted by Duke Kerus, who shared his concerns to the Duke about the mental state of the King, and his tensed relationship to Prince Erland.
On his trip to Rillanon to gain King Rodric's aid for the Western Realm he meets his uncle-in-law, Caldric. They soon realise King Rodric is mad and under counsel of Guy du Bas-Tyra and can gain no help from him. Later while they planned about how they could persuade the King, the invasion begins. Before Guy du Bas-Tyra could arrive and advise the King, the King unexpectedly grants Borric the command of the Armies of the West.
Service during the Riftwar
Arutha is sent back to Crydee through the Straits of Darkness to give aid to his brother with the defense while Borric (followed by Kulgan, Meecham and Pug) went to Ylith and then join Brucal near LaMut to give aid to him with the defenses.
He organized a raid of the Tsurani encampment to see what the aliens are up to, and assigned Kulgan and Pug to join.
Magician: Apprentice
Upon Borric's deathbed, he asked Duke Brucal to be his witness when he acknowledges Martin Longbow as his eldest son. This complication almost caused a civil war because Lyam is named as Heir to the throne by King Rodric IV. Fortunately, Martin renounced all his claim and rights to the throne. Lyam promptly named Martin the Duke of Crydee while Arutha assumed the position of Prince of Krondor. The house of ConDoin has ruled the Kingdom of the Isles throughout all of Feist's novels to date.
Borric also adopted Pug as a member of the conDoin house, and gave him and Kulgan the title to an island in the Great Star Lake in Shamata. He wished them to build an academy, hoping that someday it become the greatest center of learning for the Kingdom.
Appearances
- The Wood Boy
- Magician (First appearance)