Katherine von Hamvelt

Dame Katherine Von Hamvelt (a.k.a. Brightblade)

"Noble Katherine could not stand idle while evil was done!"

Katherine von Hamvelt is the most popular fictional hero of Myzian literature. She is often portrayed as the ideal knight. She is featured in a great number of stories by different authors in different genres. Her characteristics are often contradictory between stories as a result.

Physical Description

Specialized Equipment

Katherine wields the "Brightblade". This legendary sword was once simply a normal blade taken from the corpse of her mentor Sir. Henrik, as her own sword was broken during their battle. By her touch the blade was cleansed of corruption and made holy. It is described as shining with the inner light of Sol and habitually blinds enemies of the faith. 
She is normally gifted a magical cape by the king. This cape's grants her different abilities depending on the story. But it normally allows her to move more stealthily, shields her from magic, or allows her to fly. 
The last of the magical items she often wields are a pair of magical gauntlets the leather of which comes from either a giant or a dragon. These grant her great strength.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Since Katherine features in a great number of stories, the specifics of her history tends to vary. However, some patterns emerge and a few moments feature in nearly every version of her story. 
Katherine is normally the youngest child of the King's aunt, lady Gisa von Hamvelt. Without prospect she is squired to the aged but dishonorable knight Sir Henrik. From him she learns the art of battle. During war Henrik and Katherine storms a temple of Sol the Merciful. There Katherine is bid to kill a priest named Emanuel. Instead she spares him and begs for forgiveness. In rage Sir Henrik attempts to murder the priest, but is instead killed by Katherine. 
In many stories Katherine is courted by both the priest Emanuel and the handsome and charming son of the king, prince Eugene. Which (if any) she chooses varies between stories. 
Katherine normally faces of against a number of enemies. Chief of these is the Lich Alodia, a mage-lord of the Imperium who survived the fall of the empire. Aloida normally seeks to corrupt lady Katherine to her side. Another enemy is the cruel lord Corentine of Lex. Katherine must often foil his schemes to usurp power from the king. The corrupt priest Cleto is the most controversial among her foes. He is often portrayed as using his religious authority to enrich himself and humiliate those around him. Stories featuring Cleto are sometimes accused of being heretical, for criticizing the Church and for insulting Sol. 
A common feature in Katherine stories is a choice between king and church. Which she chooses depends on the author. Sometimes she finds a third way, or else Sol presents a solution for her. In some she dies attempting to satisfy both her oaths.

Sexuality

Katherine is normally presented as heterosexual. However, many stories suggest an attraction between her and the sorceress Aloida. Other stories avoid any mention of romance at all, or else-wise suggest that Katherine nurses an attraction toward Sol himself.

Personality Characteristics

Vices & Personality flaws

Katherine's most common flaw is a hot temper. She is often portrayed as lacking subtlety and grace. She is quick to anger and quick to forgive. These qualities often bring her into conflicts which could have better have been solved with words. Sometimes they lead her to impious acts for which she must repent, normally through some quest.

Alignment

Lawful Good

Current Status

Fictional

Species

Humans

Age

Normally around 20

Sex

Female

Eyes

Blue or Green

Hair

Long and fair

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Fair to tanned

Height

Tall

Belief/Deity

Sol

Aligned Organization

Myzian Empire

Other Affiliations

• Church of Sol