Konvael Kerbellec

Konvael Bellec better known by his alias "Helbólf" was a renowned Human privateer, pirate, and former Lord of the Helm. Revered and feared in the Kingdom of Karlia, he carved out a fearsome reputation during the Golden Age of Piracy. As one of the key architects of the enigmatic confederacy known as The Helm, Kerbellec played a pivotal role in its formation at the height of the Golden Age. This loose alliance of privateers-turned-pirates was forged in the climax of the Golden Age of Piracy, embodying the spirit of rebellion and adventure that defined the era.
By the year 1365 AHD, Kerbellec had grown disillusioned with The Helm, deeming it a lost cause. Seeking to evade the grim fate that awaited many of his peers, he accepted the King’s Pardon, choosing to forgo execution. Yet, his days of piracy were not over, he returned to his former role as a privateer, though now his job was to hunt down his former comrades as a relentless pirate hunter. Driven by a vision to restore order to the seas, Kerbellec’s ambitions were cut short when he fell victim to a mutiny orchestrated by his own crew.
== Biography ==
=== Early Life ===
Born in the obscure island of Horgrir in 1322 AHD, to one of the major nomadic clans out of dozen clans in Horgrir. Konvael's family were a minor nobility, he was brought up as a warrior, as all of Horgrir's peoples were warrior like including females. Konvael began his rigorous training early, mentored by both his mother and father. Subjected to intense drills in melee and hand-to-hand combat from a young age, when he turned 13 his parents gifted him an axe, a finely crafted weapon forged from rare metals exclusive to Horgrir. This axe was not just a gift but a symbol of his readiness for battle.
Konvael's training was not merely a preparation for the art of war, it was an essential step toward fulfilling a crucial societal obligation. In Horgrir, all young men and women must undergo this rigorous process to transition from adolescence to full adulthood. This arduous path is designed to ensure that each individual meets the requisite standards of maturity and capability, thereby securing their place within the fabric of their society. Konvael needed to kill his parents, once he turned 18 he decided it was time. With the very own axe they gave to him, Konvael killed them in their sleep now finally a adult.
To prove his parents training was worth it, Konvael participated in a tournament to determine Horgrir's greatest warrior. Which happens every 5 years, Konvael dedicated another five years to intense training, honing his skills to prepare for the tournament. By the age of 23, in the year 1345 AHD, he was declared ready. But before he could compete, he had to first prove himself within his own clan. He emerged victorious in the clan’s internal tournament, earning his spot as their representative. All 12 clans of Horgrir, both major and minor, would send their finest warriors to compete. The tournament matches were brutal, predominantly fought with melee weapons. Victory demanded that one’s opponent be slain, mercy was not permitted in Horgrir. Konvael’s first adversary hailed from the Clan of Jarl. They clashed savagely atop a waterfall, the chosen arena for all matches. Konvael emerged victorious, decapitating his opponent as the water turned red from the blood.
After six weeks of intense competition, the final match to decide Horgrir’s greatest warrior was set. The whole island turned out to witness the showdown. For hours, Konvael and his opponent, Hathcyn, engaged in a fierce and relentless battle, their struggle echoing through the cheers of the crowd. After what felt like an eternity, both warriors were on their knees, but Konvael swiftly seized Hathcyn’s dagger and impaled him in his chest and eye's repeatedly. Killing Hathcyn, shortly after Konvael collapsed from exhaustion. Waking up an hour later, Konvael was determined as Horgrir's greatest warrior something he trained for his whole life however meant nothing to him now.
A year after the tournament, Konvael refused to become a warrior or general of his clan's army. This act caused them to be outraged at him, solidifying him as a traitor, so they exiled him. Konvael traveled to the northern coast of Horgir, the most isolated part of Horgrir. He built a small cabin for him to live, and often survived off fishing. In early 1346 AHD, a Karlian navigator arrived to the shore of the northern coast of Horgrir, Konvael saw as the ship beached on to the shore and decided to take advantage of the oppoturnity to get off his island. The people of Horgrir had come in contact with few Karlian traders, receiving cargo with Karlian engravings. He walked up to the ship of the navigator claiming he was a marooned Karlian on the island. The crew and the navigator quickly believed him and took him to Modir, and the Kingdom of Karlia.
=== Privateer ===
Arriving to the trade town of Navano. Konvael seeked for opportunities to use his expertise in, he soon learned that a civil war sparked within the Kingdom of Karlia. While in a tavern, he met a man by the name of Bracan Lysvand, a privateer and captain of a vessel. The 2 began conversating and Lysvand began trying to get Konvael to join his crew. Telling Konvael that the occupation receives high pay and a better option than becoming a soldier, finally, Konvael agreed to join Lysvand in becoming a privateer.
Konvael set sail with Lysvand and soon found himself in his first battle, targeting a warship of the Tormod Clan. As the privateers disabled the enemy vessel, Konvael showcased his combat prowess to Lysvand, demonstrating his skill and precision. With his axe in hand, Konvael swiftly cleared the deck of Tormod soldiers. Impressed by Konvael's combat skills, Lysvand appointed him as the quartermaster. Konvael quickly earned Lysvand's trust, and his natural leadership won him the crew's favor. He made sure the crew's morale stayed high and kept a close watch over them. When it came to boarding enemy ships, Konvael was relentless, showing no mercy to those on deck. By 1348 AHD, Konvael had earned a substantial amount as a privateer, leading him to decide to continue in that role.
In mid-1348 AHD, while taking a break at a fishing settlement popular with Gunvald clan privateers, the place was raided by a combined force of Tormod warships and privateers. Ships were wrecked and many privateers were killed. As Konvael and Lysvand tried to escape, an explosion erupted near Lysvand, sending debris through his chest and killing him instantly. Konvael had no time to mourn, he ran for the ship, leaping aboard just as the crew hauled him in. Against the odds, the ship managed to flee. As they sailed away, Konvael glanced back at the blazing chaos they left behind. Soon after, Konvael was named captain of Lysvand’s ship. The crew wanted him in the role, and Konvael stepped up, renaming the vessel Svanhild. He took his new position seriously, leading with fierce determination and transforming his crew into a ruthless band of privateers. In 1351 AHD, Konvael targeted a Tormod merchant ship filled with valuable spices from the Kingdom of Haltia. They swiftly boarded, capturing the crew while plundering the ship’s cargo. Konvael promised to spare the crew, but it was a false assurance. His men then slaughtered the captives. Over time, Konvael earned a fearsome reputation for his cruelty, becoming known as "Helbólf."
In late 1355 AHD, Kerbellec captured a Tormod fort and turned it into his base of operations, establishing it as a key hub for privateers. As one of the most successful privateers in the Gunvald Clan, he secured the clan ruler’s approval to raid merchant ships and settlements of the Kingdom of Haltia. He slaughtered hundreds of Elves, seizing their valuable resources—spices, silk, and gold. The name "Helbólf" spread across the continent, striking fear into the hearts of sailors and merchants from Tormod and the Kingdom of Haltia. The Karlian civil war ended in 1357 AHD with the defeat of the Gunvald clan, leaving many privateers, including those who served the Gunvald, out of work. But Kerbellec and his crew had amassed enough wealth from their plundering to secure their futures. Kerbellec was planning to retire in comfort until the inauguration of the new Karlian king. The new ruler implemented a policy targeting former Gunvald privateers, branding them as traitors and sentencing them to execution. Forced into hiding, Kerbellec and his crew became fugitives. They returned to their old base—the fort they had captured during the war to regroup and plan their next move.
=== Piratical Career ===
Kerbellec's first act of piracy was a calculated strike against a trio of small fishing sloops. He targeted these vessels to set up a more ambitious plan, capturing a Karlian warship. Under the cover of night, Kerbellec and his crew used the sloops to blend in as fishermen. Once the time was right, they slipped aboard the warship and wiped out its entire crew. With their prize secured, Kerbellec handed his former ship, the Svanhild, over to his quartermaster, Eoforich Heikkinen. He named the new warship Horgrir to honor his homeland. With a new warship at his command, Kerbellec had the power to challenge the Karlian navy head-on. He unleashed a relentless campaign against Karlian naval forces and merchants, raiding ships across the Varldrian Ocean that bore the Karlian flag. His rampage involved looting, killing, and sowing chaos at sea. Fueled by his disdain for Elves and driven to seize their valuable resources, he also targeted the Haltian coast. Kerbellec's victory over a small fleet of Karlian warships only amplified his fearsome reputation. His piracy sparked a continent-wide trend, with hundreds of former privateers turning into pirates and launching their own raids across the Varldrian Ocean.
In just six months, Kerbellec had become a legendary pirate, amassing more wealth from his plundering than he ever did as a privateer. The Karlian navy, still reeling from the recent civil war, struggled against the mounting pirate threat. By 1360 AHD, Kerbellec revamped his base into a pirate stronghold, outfitting it with a tavern and arming the fort with weapons to fend off any attacks. 
Two months later, Kerbellec took a prominent Karlian noble family hostage, demanding a ransom from the King. As the deadline approached and the King remained silent, Kerbellec debated whether to execute them. However, a group of diplomats arrived in a small, unarmed sloop, paid the ransom, and secured the release of the hostages. The threat of pirates had become a serious concern for the people of Karlia. In response, the Karlian navy started major upgrades. Over the next two years, they improved their ships, making them stronger, faster, and more formidable.
===== Formation of the Helm =====
In 1361 AHD, Kerbellec assembled the fiercest pirates of the Varldrian Ocean, including notorious figures like Eldgrim Ottarson, Ghappolf, Drut Mevraas, and others. In total, there were five of them. His plan was to create a pirate nation, a realm where men and women could live free, away from the rule of kings. Using his charisma, Kerbellec persuaded the four other pirates to join his vision during a gathering known as "The Meeting of the High Table." He offered his base of operations as the coalition's headquarters. As news of the coalition spread, pirates across the continent and even from other oceans took notice. While some resisted and were unwilling to share their loot, most were eager to join the new nation.
Within a month, The Helm was established. What began as a loose confederacy of pirates quickly evolved into a proto state, though it remained largely an unstructured confederacy. Through a democratic vote, Kerbellec was elected as The Helm's first Lord, and he began devising a grand scheme. He introduced key policies, including avoiding conflicts with other pirates, sharing loot, and upholding democratic principles. In early 1362, Eldgrim Ottarson drafted The Helm's Code, a set of guidelines and rules for the pirates apart of The Helm.
== Personality/Traits ==
WIP
== Equipment ==
* Kerbellec's Axe
Konvael's primary melee weapon of choice is his axe, specially crafted from the precious metals of Horgrir, he received the axe from his parents. He used this same axe to kill them, and many more. The Axe was attempted to be destroyed after his death, but unable to do so due to the hardness of the metal.
* Kerbellec's Scythe
A small dagger-like scythe used as a secondary weapon by Konvael, primarily used for stealth tasks and stealthy assassinations. He received this after winning the tournament.
* Nobleman's Sword
A sword acquired by Konvael after the death of his former captain Bracan Lysvand, the sword was used for decoration in his hideout. Although he has used it in several occasions.
WIP
Category:Player characters
Category:Humans
Category:Deceased
Category:Pirates