Wilhelm Vogel
Wilhelm Vogel
“He’s the kind of noble who thinks ‘noble’ is a synonym for ‘immune to consequences.’” – Sorek Redmarch
“A ruler must command respect, inspire loyalty, and instill fear—only then is his power secure.” – Wilhelm Vogel
- Full Name: Wilhelm Vogel
- Title: Duke of House Vogel
- Born: 1198
- Age: Early 30s
- Race: Human
- Height: 6'3"
- Build: Broad-shouldered and physically imposing
- Hair: Blond, impeccably groomed
- Beard: Dark and neatly trimmed
- Eyes: Piercing steel-gray
- Notable Features: Sharp jawline, aquiline nose, commanding presence
- Motto: “The Shadow Takes Flight”
- Allegiance: House Vogel, Duchy of Grevandar
- Faith: Publicly devout, privately self-serving
Overview
Duke Wilhelm Vogel is a towering figure in the political and military life of Gorundia. As the head of House Vogel and ruler of the wealthy and strategically critical Duchy of Southmere, Wilhelm commands with equal parts gravitas and dread. Known for his ruthless pragmatism, he surrounds himself only with the competent and loyal—others rarely last long. His appearance—a sharp contrast of blond hair and dark beard—has become iconic, and his raven and manticore banners fly over a realm of hard decisions and tight control. Though his rule is effective, his personal life is dogged by tragedy. Six wives have died mysteriously, and recent evidence suggests this may not be coincidence.Appearance
Wilhelm’s regal bearing is enhanced by his preference for finely tailored, dark garments that emphasize his formality and distance. Always composed, his presence alone is enough to silence a room.Personality
Calculating, ambitious, and coldly eloquent, Wilhelm believes power must be upheld through fear, respect, and force. He does not suffer fools, and he does not forget slights. Yet he is not without a code—he rewards loyalty, admires true competence, and views his duchy as a burden to be upheld with iron resolve.Family and Personal Life
- Father: Duke Galmyr Vogel – a merciless strategist who laid the foundation of the current duchy
- Mother: Duchess Zanara Vogel – a keen-eyed diplomat who taught Wilhelm the subtler arts of control
- Wives: Six, all deceased. Official causes range from illness to tragic accidents. One has returned as a revenant—the Virtuous Maiden—bound to Lyosha, priest of Pelor
- Heirs: None. This growing void troubles him deeply
Reputation & Rumors
- Infernal Pact: Thalrik the dwarf recently uncovered signs of a dark contract. The wives' deaths were no coincidence but sacrifices tied to a long-buried infernal bargain, meant to preserve Wilhelm’s power and legacy
- Fear and Respect: Wilhelm commands both in equal measure. While some nobles revere him as a just overlord, others mutter of curses and cruel bargains behind closed doors
- Public Setbacks: His humiliation at the Brewfest Tournament—where Baron Kendal gave his daughter to Sir Beringer as a squire—remains a favorite tale among court jesters and commoners alike
Holdings
Wilhelm rules from Castle Direhold, a fortress of black stone perched above the dark forests of Southmere. Its towers loom like watchful eyes. The duchy thrives through control of mineral wealth, fortified trade routes, and fierce internal order.Notable Vassals
- Baron Lynwenden Cron: A proud and ostentatious warrior, loyal and brutally effective when pointed at the right target
- Sir Darien Thornbloom: Cron’s right hand—a knight of fierce skill and unflinching loyalty to Wilhelm
- Countess Zara Vallytrex: Once a close ally, Zara is a political force unto herself. Known for her subtlety and charm, she has begun aligning with the Champions of Bard’s Gate. Wilhelm respected her, perhaps even feared her—now, her shifting loyalties sting. If he deems her a traitor, the court may burn
Relationships
- Porthos Ryomar: They do not get along. It’s not enmity—it’s ego, pride, and two sharp blades with no sheath between them
- Ponzio Bordella: Tolerated, not liked. Formal, cold, and inconveniently well-connected
- The Bordella Family: Vassals of House Vogel. The failed engagement to Cornelia Bordella and the resulting duel with Bertram Moffet still cast shadows
- The Moffet Family: Active feud. Disrespectful upstarts, in Wilhelm’s eyes
- House Amadis: Once neutral, relations are now fraying fast. Sir Beringer’s ongoing insolence is becoming impossible to ignore
- Baron Cadaras Kendal: Loyal on parchment, insubordinate in spirit. The squire incident has not been forgiven
Skills & Strengths
- Leadership: Commands forces, both martial and political, with calm brutality
- Charisma: His presence unnerves, impresses, and occasionally seduces
- Swordsmanship: Still skilled despite rarely crossing blades himself
- Pragmatism: Emotion rarely clouds his judgment
- Courage: He is no coward, but hubris blinds him to rising threats
Banner and Symbolism
Blazon: Sable, a manticore passant Or armed and langued Gules, a bordure embattled Argent
- Sable (Black): Mystery, grief, and calculated strength
- Manticore Passant Or: Cunning, readiness, and lethal potential under control
- Armed and Langued Gules: Martial might, bloodshed, and ruthless protection
- Bordure Embattled Argent: Fortification, discipline, and an iron wall mentality
Challenges & Motivations
Wilhelm’s legacy is threatened by his lack of an heir and growing whispers of his infernal contract. His methods isolate him, even from those who admire his rule. He believes that history favors the strong and aims to carve House Vogel into stone—by blood, by steel, or by darker means if necessary.Notable Achievements
- Unified and militarized his duchy with ruthless efficiency
- Maintained dominance through calculated diplomacy and fear
- Kept his seat despite increasing pressure from both allies and enemies
Legacy
Duke Wilhelm Vogel walks a knife’s edge. To some, he is the protector of civilization’s brittle spine. To others, he is a tyrant haunted by the dead. Whether saint, monster, or martyr, one thing is certain: he will not pass quietly into history.Relationships
History
It was a shock for Beringer to find out he is the half broth to Duke Vogel. Following their first meeting Beringer's opinion of the Duke couldn't be lower and sees Wilhelm as a disappointment and failure to House Vogel. Their disdain for each other has already brought them to blows resulting in the Duke's defeat and a public shaming.
Shared Secrets
While the Duke seems unaware of their shared blood it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
On the Lesser and the Dangerous
On Sir Bertram Moffet:
“He’s a dog dressed in silk and steel—barking about honor while tracking mud across the court. He forgets that nobility is not granted by sword or ceremony, but by silence when it matters and obedience when it stings.”
On Braga the Brazen:
“A hammer given a title. She’s unrefined, undisciplined—and tragically sincere. The kind of woman whose strength earns respect, and whose simplicity makes her dangerous. You can’t buy loyalty like that. You can only break it.”
On Orin Kharne:
“Orin Kharne is a brute polished into a banner. Raised above his blood and beyond his potential. He swings steel well enough, but he was meant for war cries and muddy boots—not command. The crown may favor him, but mud remains mud, no matter how high it’s flung.”
On Blue Sylvanranth:
“A child bred of contradiction. Too wild for court, too noble for the forest. Her tusks will matter less than her timing. I only fear the day she stops being confused—and starts being certain.”
On Countess Zara Vallytrex:
“There are snakes that hiss, and there are snakes that wait. Zara waits. And she’s been watching me too long for my comfort. If she’s turned her gaze toward Bard’s Gate, it’s because she sees something worth taking.”
On Sir Beringer Amadis:
“He is everything his house claims to be—honorable, unbending, tedious. The problem with iron men is they rust when it rains. And it’s going to rain.”
On Jinwing:
“That is no druid. That is an ancient wearing patience like a robe. She doesn’t speak often—but when she does, even the stones lean in. If she ever chooses a side, the rest of us should start running.”
On Theron Sylvanranth
“He was a legend once. Now he’s just a wound that hasn’t healed. Still sharp, still dangerous—but I wonder how much is purpose and how much is pride bleeding out slowly.”
On Sorek Redmarch
“Sorek Redmarch is what happens when loyalty outlives its usefulness. Sharp, principled, impossible to buy. I don’t fear him. But I despise having to work around him.”
On Guaco
“Guaco? Ah yes… the halfling who tripped over honor right when he might’ve amounted to something. Shame, really. He had ambition. Then he discovered dignity—and hasn’t been seen at the grown-ups’ table since.”
On Alastair Amadis
“He’s the sort who polishes his ideals until they shine, then wonders why no one follows him into the dark. Noble, yes. But nobility without leverage is just a sermon no one paid to attend.”
On Lyosha
“I fear him, in the way one fears a fire that insists it’s here to cleanse. He means well. That’s the problem. A man who believes in redemption will always assume you need it. And Lyosha? He’s already lighting the pyre.”
On Cornelia
“A pretty face, a sharper mind, and no understanding of consequence. She mistook escape for victory. But time humbles all things… even Bordellas.”
On Venom
“An elf playing knight is a novelty. An elf becoming one is an insult. She masters our weapons, speaks our oaths, and yet bows to no banner but her own. That makes her dangerous—not for what she fights, but for whom she refuses to follow.”
On Prince Porthos Ryomar
“Porthos is a mirror—flashing, polished, and convinced it reflects the sun. He plays at command, but all I see is vanity wrapped in silk. He hunts, he preens, he smirks… and someday soon, he’ll misjudge which of us bites first.”
On King Priam Ryomar
“Priam is a good man. That’s the problem. He clings to justice like it’s armor, but good men in crowns tend to drown in the blood they hoped to avoid. He has my respect—he earned that—but history does not spare the kindhearted.”
On Aylassa
“I’ve met ghosts with clearer intentions. She speaks in riddles, fights like memory, and carries a presence I don’t trust. If she’s truly what they say… then something ancient is watching through her eyes. And I’ve lived long enough to know: ancient things rarely care who they harm.”
On Allec Bordella
“A spark in a powder keg. Reckless. Loud. Eager to prove he’s something more than his sister’s shadow. He might make a fine distraction, if someone else aims him. Otherwise, he’ll burn out like all pretty boys with too much pride and not enough strategy.”
On Sophia Amadis
“She is quiet. Thoughtful. The kind of girl you forget in a room… until you find her holding the knife. If she ever stops trying to be proper and starts trying to be powerful, she may become the most dangerous Amadis of all.”
On Ponzio Bordella
“A predator in noble clothing. He hunts men the way lesser nobles hunt boar—methodically, without mercy, and for sport as much as necessity. I don’t like him. But I understand him. Which makes him one of the few Bordellas worth watching—and the only one worth fearing.”
On Thranduil
“The wild elf? I’ve seen generals with armies that felt less dangerous. He doesn’t fight wars—he ends conversations. And if you’re lucky, you won’t even hear the one meant for you.”
Year of Birth
1199 OR
31 Years old
Spouses
Siblings
Sir Beringer of the West
(Half brother)
Children
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