Balthazar Koegel

"Shoot 'em all" ~ Balthazar on the topic of everyone
Balthazar Koegel is the Quartermaster of the Armadillo and major character in The Numen Swell. 
== Personality ==
Balthazar is very loud and likes to drink. His actions are very in the moment and he enjoys the company he takes. He's willing to kill to get what he needs. His narrow escape from death humbled him for a time and when it inevitably caught up with him he went from a free-wheeling drunk to a stoic, unempathetic machine.
== Pre-Series ==
Balthazar spent a majority of his youth on the sea. Once he hit his teenage years, he turned to his best friend, Rum. His drunken stupors had him kicked out of numerous crews including the Navy and becomes a mercenary for a brief time before meeting Benjamin Tecnic and agreeing to join his new crew as Quartermaster.
== Series ==
=== Season 1 ===
==== "Set Sail" ====
Balthazar is introduced recruiting for the Armadillo. He listens to the case of Gregory for the job of Helmsman but doesn't really care for his mouth so he fires at him, almost hitting the young man in line behind him. He decides it's time for a drink so he asks both to either sign the paper or leave. Gregory signs and the young man behind him also does and he brings them both to the ship. He goes to have a drink and ends up shooting a man attempting to find the young man. He returns to the ship and they set sail. He ends up passing out in the crew quarters. He is rudely awoken by the crew's chef, Guru Dumu, and asked if he gathered any supplies while they were ported at Toke. He did not, so they decide to port at the next nearest island to gather what they need. Once they arrive, Balz goes to the nearest cabana to get a drink and is approached by an Albino Darfellan. Balz attempts to ignore him but he spots the crews doctor, Jicho (who is actually just Dumu's pet owl) and attempts to kill him. This causes a bit of an issue but it is settled relatively quickly when the Darfellan agrees to buy their supplies for them. The crew departs the island. Captain Tecnic calls a meeting and the crew democratically agree to set sail towards Talamh port to recruit more men. However, in his Drunkenness, Balz sends the ship half a day off course so the anchor in open water for the night. The resident frogman, an Aventi named Bennsyn, gets the ship back on course the next morning and they arrive at Honua port and Balz is a part of the land party heading inland for a trip to Rewera Keep. While at camp that night, they are attacked by a few ruffians and Balz is knocked unconscious. He awakens the next morning to find that Sonney and Tecnic had killed the men and they move on to the Keep. They get into the courtyard and are attacked by Mud Mephits so Balz decides to flee, having enough adventure for one day. The rest of the crew catch up to him shortly after and he kills an Otter thinking it is a bear in his drunk mind. They return to the ship and depart.
==== "The Blunder Hunt" ====
The Armadillo is pursued and intercepted by another ship, The Narwhal. Captain Vulcan and his crew board the ship and Balthazar poses as Captain to speak face-to-face with the Pirate Lord. Vulcan demands the ship join his fleet but before Balz can counter, Tecnic steps in swearing he will never give up his ship, especially to Vulcan, claiming to have witnessed him kill his former captain many summits prior and escaping. A fight breaks out and something that can only be described as a miracle saves the crew as they escape. Balz suspects it was one of the newest crewmates that has some serious abilities not shared with the common folk and accuses Gregory, Sonney, and Kifo. They decide to port at Lalolagi to hide out for a bit. Balz takes Kifo to the brothel to drink and whore and Kifo accepts a bounty on behalf of the crew while they are there. Balz is able to recruit a woman named Krislynn Darkeyes to help them on the hunt and scouts ahead with her. He attempts to flirt with her profusely but he is turned down. The rest of the party catches up and they split into two groups to find the Sahuagin. Balz, Krislynn, Sonney, and Tecnic are flanked and surrounded and Balthazar is killed in the battle. He is resurrected by Kifo who is only able to do that once but he finds out that both Krislynn and Tecnic are dead. He grabs Tecnic and brings him back to the ship, also learning that Krislynn was in the Navy. They all agree to hunt down the Narwhal to avenge the captain. 
==== "A Tale of Two Bennys" ====
Balthazar becomes the de-facto captain and decides they must recruit more men before taking on such a dangerous task so he sends Bennsyn to recruit in town while he goes to the tailor to get some thicker armor. He returns to the ship to find Gregory exiting the Captain's quarters and questions him but the helmsman counters, asking about his health and state of mind. They agree to stay out of each other's business. Sonney arrives at the ship to inform them that Kifo has been arrested. Balz sends Guru Dumu to free him but Sonney convinces him to just fire on the Naval ship and cause a distraction. This sends the Kingston to retreat and leave the port but luckily the two Darfellan escape. Balz uses the destruction of the port as a calling card for anyone wanting to fight the oppression of the navy and recruits fifteen men with the help of Sonney's shanty "Fuck the Navy". When they return to the Ship Balz announces he doesn't want to be captain and they collectively decide on Bennsyn. The core group have a separate meeting to discuss what to do with Tecnic and agree to bring him to a Darfellan Shaman that may Resurrect him. Balz disagrees, planning to just toss the body but Sonney and Bennsyn deny him and he goes down to the crew quarters to drink himself into unconsciousness. He wakes up with a nasty cough to find that they have decided to go along with the resurrection and he suggests they do so quickly since the Navy will now have the Armadillo on their radar.
==== "The Warden's Wails" ====
The Armadillo makes a pitstop at Toke Port where Balthazar and their new navigator, Loyal Tragold, head into town to obtain better protection for the crew. Balz ends up killing the merchant and they raid the shop, taking most of the materials. When they return to the ship, they see the New cannons being mounted and find out the Kifo is speaking with Captain Black Scalp of the Wailing Warden. Once the Albino returns with Captain Black Scalp, Balz backs Captain Bennsyn up in not agreeing to Black Scalps trade of their Darfellan companions for support. They depart for Benki. When they arrive at Fotia port, Balz finds a nearby Voodoo hut to gain any information on the Shaman they are looking for but doesn't get any new clues. He meets back up with the others at the local Tavern and learns that Kifo has run off into the desert so He, Sonney, and Bennsyn chase after him. While out there, they come across a Seafallen that brandishes Balz with the Mark of Cadenes. They retrieve Kifo and return to the ship to follow the coast to the Valecny Ruins. On the trip a glowing red mark grows on Balthazar's chest and black veins protrude from it. 
==== "Anchor Down" ====
Balthazar's pain is tremendous and his screams stir the crew so Kifo knocks him out and they lock him away from the crew. When he wakes up he discovers they have ported and are going to take the rest of the journey on land so the Chain Devil doesn't take the entire ship down pursuing Balz. He has cheated death and is being hunted to be returned to the Chain Room. The first night in the desert they fight an Allosaurus and the Seafallen returns. They are able to kill the one but the Hosts manage to get a hold of Balthazar and vanish with him. He is laid before Cadenes, the Chain Devil to await judgement. Cadenes decides to string him up and decide his fate later and Balz is briefly reunited with captain Tecnic. He updates the former captain about what has transpired since he died and Tecnic is suddenly launched up into the blackness, confirming that the Crew has successfully resurrected him and Leaving Balthazar alone.
==== "The Unfading" ====
Balthazar is awaiting his judgment and not being quiet about it. He is sentences to "Janitor" and forced to start sweeping up corpses that Cadenes has decided he didn't want to spend eternity with. A few days pass before a member of the Armadillo crew arrives, a gunner named Cod. He informs Balz that Bennsyn has been exiled from the Armadillo and most of them were planning to go with him since they never knew Tecnic but Kifo killed him before he could find out who left. a few more days of cleaning pass before he is summoned to Cadenes once again. The Chain Devil offers him a better job, which he declines but since he doesn't have a choice, he takes the task anyway. 
=== Season 3 ===
==== "Catch Up" ====
Balthazar has become the new Seafallen Captain and is tasked by Cadenes to hunt Kifo Pomboo for stealing the souls of the dead from him and at least Mark him if he cannot kill him. Balz complies.
==== "Umfowe" ====
Balthazar has begun his hunt for Kifo by taking drastic measure to have the Ghost of Benki come to him. He finds his son, Mwana, and murders him. He is certain this will bring Kifo out of his hole. 
==== "The Voices" ====
Balthazar digs trench around the Tree of Kaorti and severs a root to turn into his own Anchor. Kifo arrives and informs him that he will be coming for Cadenes next before accepting the mark on the palm of his hand. Balz vanishes back to the Chain Room.
==== "Come Together" ====
Balthazar arrives at Dunia port on his repurposed ship, The Makaburi. He appears next to Captain Jack Burrows and resurrects his dead crew around him, turning them into his own personal crew.
==== "Welcome to the Jungle" ====
Balthazar walks into the sea with his new army and prepares for the final hunt for Kifo Pomboo.
==== "Release" ====
The submerged Makaburi follows the red wisps that will lead to Balthazar's target. He catches up to Kifo and the other two Pirate Lords, Tecnic and Burrows, just outside of Booker Dread's Cove. A three-on-one battle occurs but Luckily, Balz has an ally as well, The Kraken. As the beast is emerging, Kifo gets onto the ship and they have a one-on-one duel. Kifo comes out the victor and in his last breath, Balthazar Koegel warns him that it's already too late and he is finally released from his contract.
== Killed Victims ==
* Mwana Pomboo
== Relationships ==
=== Tecnic ===
Balthazar and Tecnic have a pretty good relationship. They meet at the Classy Lassies one day and immediately start a crew together. They stay good friends until their untimely "Deaths" where they don't see each other again until a brief moment in the Chain Room. Once Balz becomes a Seafallen, they were enemies, but only for one battle and they never actually cross paths during that time.
=== Sonney ===
Balthazar was initially not impressed with Sonney, only hiring him for the Armadillo crew as an apology for almost shooting him. But in the little time that they shared, they seemed pretty friendly. The only tension they ever had was when Sonney wanted to Resurrect Tecnic but Balthazar wanted to dispose of the body in the sea. Once Balz became a Seafallen, they were enemies, but only for one battle and they never actually cross paths during that time.
=== Bennsyn ===
Balthazar and Bennsyn never really had any problems, agreeing on many ideas throughout their time with the Armadillo. When Tecnic was killed, Balz was the one that suggested Bennsyn become the new captain. Balthazar was not present for Bennsyn's exile and Bennsyn was not around to witness Balz transformation into a Seafallen.
=== Kifo ===
Balthazar was always a bit skeptical about Kifo. They never had any qualms but they also didn't really ever see eye-to-eye. Kifo is the one that resurrected him, sending him down the path that would eventually lead to his decline. Once Balz became a Seafallen, Kifo was his target of choice for practically his entire tenure. They ended things in a One-on-one fight where Kifo was the victor.
=== Vulcan ===
Balthazar only had one interaction with Captain Vulcan. during that time, they were enemies and it was clear that they were never going to reach a proper compromise. 
=== Mikey ===
Balthazar only met Mikey once and it was after he had already succumbed to his Seafallen path. The only time they crossed paths was through eyesight across ships and they were enemies.
=== Mwana ===
Balthazar initially met Mwana as a barkeep on Benki. He didn't have much to think about him and later learned that he was the son of Kifo. He ended up using that to his advantage and once he became a Seafallen, used Mwana to get to Kifo by murdering him in cold blood.
=== Burrows ===
Balthazar knew very little about Captain Jack Burrows prior to being a Seafallen. He used his deceased crew to become his undead army and destroyed his ship in battle during his last stand. 
=== Dex ===
Balthazar only knew Dex as a rigger of the Armadillo. They never had any real interactions otherwise
== Appearance ==
=== The Numen Swell ===
==== Season 1 ====
* "Set Sail"
* "The Blunder Hunt" (Death & Resurrection) 
* "A Tale of Two Bennys" 
* "The Warden's Wails" 
* "Anchor Down" 
* "The Unfading" 
==== Season 3 ====
* "Catch Up" (Seafallen)
* "Umfowe" (Seafallen)
* "The Voices" (Seafallen)
* "Come Together" (Seafallen)
* "Welcome to the Jungle" (Seafallen)
* "Release" (Seafallen & Death)
== Trivia ==
* Although now alive, He was the first player character to die in the series. 
* As of Session 6 "The Unfading", it is unclear of the fate of Balthazar Koegel.
* Balthazar returns in Season 3 as a Seafallen and the central antagonist of the Season.
* Total Episodes: 12
* Ranked 13th in the "Cast Favorite List" and 14th in the "Fan Favorite List"