Kesten Garess

Level 11 Human Fighter

*"You've heard of me?"*

*-Kesten to Ichor, moments before disaster.*

Kesten Garess is an NPC from Kingmaker. Initially the captain of the guards sent to Oleg's Trading Post from Brevoy, he soon became a close friend and key ally of the Kingmakers and eventually served as the General of Kilcela's armies.

## Description

Kesten is a tall, brooding figure. With ashen hair and a sullen look, he looks intimidating to most who cross him. He is physically fit, and a capable fighter— and notably, he's rather attractive as well.

## Personality

Kesten is an aloof man, appearing almost hostile to the Kingmakers when they first encountered him. He is usually calm and collected, though occasionally shows a little bit of a temper. When faced with trouble, he's quick to take charge of a situation, giving advice to the Kingmakers and acting accordingly. He has a great deal of respect for authority, and holds law and order in high regard.

Kesten also has longstanding difficulties with romance; it was a love affair gone awry that saw him banished from House Garess in Brevoy, forcing him to take up a job as a lowly guard, despite his noble upbringing. His romance with Ichor Eteocles was also drawn out over several years, with neither party willing to make the first move. Kesten is easily embarrassed; public displays of affection fluster him, and when Ichor whispered to Alden Felstad about his knowledge on Kesten's past, he was also quick to stumble to his own defence.

## Abilities

Kesten is a skilled swordsman, able to hold his own in a fight if needed. He uses a sword and shield in combat, and is able to help apprehend bandits and thugs with ease. However, his greatest skill is his tactical cunning. On multiple occasions, he's given direct advice to the Kingmakers which has proved critical to their endeavours.

## History

Kesten was born in Rostland, to the south of Brevoy, in 4684. He was raised in House Garess as a minor noble, until he was excommunicated from his family for a love affair with a peasant woman. Kesten was banished, and forced to take on work as a guard for the Aldori Swordlords. In 4710, he was sent to deal with a bandit problem at Oleg's Trading Post, a small outpost on the Rostland Road to the North of the Greenbelt in the Stolen Lands. When he and his guards arrived, he found the bandit problem had already been partially dealt with by a handful of explorers- Ichor Eteocles, Kaska Tanavin and Alden Felstad. Kesten was a little disgruntled, but stayed around to guard the outpost nonetheless. He was the one to deliver the charter from Brevoy, giving the Kingmakers permission to settle the Greenbelt and found the nation of Kilcela.

By 4711, Kesten was designated the General of Kilcela's militia. By now, he had become friends with the Kingmakers as a whole, and stayed in St. Gilmorg full-time. When Hargulka and the forces of Kongerike launched an attack on Fangberry, Kesten helped organize a militia to liberate the town. He then helped organise the army which then marched on Kongerike and spearheaded the Battle of Kongerike which saw the death of Hargulka and his minions. Kesten was present in St. Gilmorg during the Giant Owlbear attack, and was part of the rebuilding effort which followed.

In 4712, Kesten was one of the Rulers who helped keep Kilcela orderly during The Kingmaker's investigation into The Varnhold Vanishing. In 4714, Kesten aided the Kingmakers in the building of their armies to battle the Barbarian Hordes of the Tiger Lords.

In 4715, Kesten accompanied the Kingmakers in taking part in the Rushlight Festival in Pitax. During the Rushlight Festival, he grew a lot closer with Ichor, climaxing with a passionate, drunken kiss on the way to the Midnight Joust event. In the hours after the Midnight Joust, he was among the Kingmaker's companions who were kidnapped and held prisoner by King Castruccio Irovetti, made to shovel coal into the engines of Castle Pitax. He stayed there throughout the month of Arodus, until he was finally rescued by the Kingmakers. Following this, he and Ichor became an official couple, and they returned to Kilcela. During the Season of Bloom which followed soon after, he spent time with Ichor, trying to keep his partner in high spirits while he recovered from his own wounds. Kesten slew the Devourer that resembled Maegar Varn, conjured up by The Nightmare Rook to plague Ichor's dreams. When the Kingmakers left to enter the Thousandbreaths, Kesten was among those who said goodbye to them.

## Relationships

### Ichor Eteocles

Kesten and Ichor have a dramatic relationship. Though initially distrusting of one another, the two slowly became close, both developing for feelings for one another. It took 5 years before either of them were able to confess their feelings for one another, but they eventually worked it out. Kesten also has respect for Ichor and his wielding of authority; he views Ichor as a just and fair king who stays true to the River Freedoms and Kilcela's own laws above all else.

### Oleg Leveton

Kesten and Oleg appear to be good friends. Kesten is amused by Oleg's boisterous personality, but recognises that he is a capable businessman and an excellent treasurer. The two often share drinks in the Orc's Tusk when they are off work.

### Brycen Aldori

As one of his former superiors, Brycen is held in high regard by Kesten. Now equals in Kilcela, the two coordinate often due to the overlap in their work. Kesten is somewhat surprised by Brycen's relatively relaxed personality, but he appreciates it immensely.

### Akiros Ismort

Akiros and Kesten are close friends, and work together quite often due to the overlap in their respective roles. Kesten relates to Akiros' troubled past with romance, and respects him for his commitment to setting his life back on the right track.