Who is Balthasar Gelt?
This is mostly meant as a reference of sort for those that may want to read the series of stories I'm going to be doing but have no idea who the characters I am referring to are. I'll probably do other posts like this for other important characters. This is mostly just a thing I'm doing for shits and giggles as a writing exercise, but if you've got any input feel free to drop a comment. Just do try to be civil.
If you have any questions about the Warhammer universe in general drop a question below and I'll do my best to give you a satisfactory answer if I can. Just so people are aware, this isn't a thing made entirely by me this is a pretty expansive pre-existing fantasy setting.
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Balthasar Gelt is the current Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic and one of the Empire's greatest Wizards of this very age. Gelt came as a young man to Altdorf, the capital city of the Empire of Man, from the seaport of Marienburg having bought passage on a merchant ship with gold that he had transmuted from lead ingots. He left the seaport for the Colleges of Magic before the effects wore off, and now rumors abound that the swindled sea captain has placed a rich bounty on Balthasar's head, though few would dare to attempt to collect it.
The transmutation of common artefacts into precious metal has always fascinated Balthasar. Driven by his obsession, he spent many years combining his knowledge of alchemy, learnt in far-off lands, with the magical Lore of Metal. Balthasar's fierce intelligence lent him a greater understanding of this branch of magic than any of his fellow students or tutors, and he rose quickly through the ranks of the Gold Order. Within a mere decade, Balthasar Gelt had become the Patriarch of the Golden College, the youngest Wizard to ever hold the position.
Balthasar Gelt's research into new formulations of black powder even made him popular with the Imperial Engineers School, an organisation that often dismisses magic as superstitious nonsense. However, during these studies, a freak explosion almost ended Balthasar's quest for knowledge forever. Somehow he survived, and from that day on has only ever been seen swathed in shimmering, metallic robes and wearing a golden face mask. Some say that beneath his mask his skin has turned pure gold, while others whisper than he is horribly disfigured, though the truth of the matter is known only to Balthasar. One thing is certain: the accident only furthered his will to succeed, and this determination increased his power to new heights.
The position of Supreme Patriarch is the highest attainable position by a wizard within the Empire of Man. The patriarch is responsible for advising Emperor Karl Franz in all decisions dealing with the Arcane. Every couple of years each of the eight Colleges of Magic elect one of their number to compete in duel with others claiming mastery of their respective field of magic. The victor of these arcane duels receives the office of Supreme Patriarch and the right to wield the ancient Staff of Volans.
After defeating Thyrus Gormann of the Bright Order in a ritual magic duel Balthasar became Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic, replacing the long-standing Bright College who study the Lore of Fire with the Gold Order studying the Lore of Metal as holder of this supreme seat of power.
If you have any questions about the Warhammer universe in general drop a question below and I'll do my best to give you a satisfactory answer if I can. Just so people are aware, this isn't a thing made entirely by me this is a pretty expansive pre-existing fantasy setting.
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Balthasar Gelt is the current Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic and one of the Empire's greatest Wizards of this very age. Gelt came as a young man to Altdorf, the capital city of the Empire of Man, from the seaport of Marienburg having bought passage on a merchant ship with gold that he had transmuted from lead ingots. He left the seaport for the Colleges of Magic before the effects wore off, and now rumors abound that the swindled sea captain has placed a rich bounty on Balthasar's head, though few would dare to attempt to collect it.
The transmutation of common artefacts into precious metal has always fascinated Balthasar. Driven by his obsession, he spent many years combining his knowledge of alchemy, learnt in far-off lands, with the magical Lore of Metal. Balthasar's fierce intelligence lent him a greater understanding of this branch of magic than any of his fellow students or tutors, and he rose quickly through the ranks of the Gold Order. Within a mere decade, Balthasar Gelt had become the Patriarch of the Golden College, the youngest Wizard to ever hold the position.
Balthasar Gelt's research into new formulations of black powder even made him popular with the Imperial Engineers School, an organisation that often dismisses magic as superstitious nonsense. However, during these studies, a freak explosion almost ended Balthasar's quest for knowledge forever. Somehow he survived, and from that day on has only ever been seen swathed in shimmering, metallic robes and wearing a golden face mask. Some say that beneath his mask his skin has turned pure gold, while others whisper than he is horribly disfigured, though the truth of the matter is known only to Balthasar. One thing is certain: the accident only furthered his will to succeed, and this determination increased his power to new heights.
The position of Supreme Patriarch is the highest attainable position by a wizard within the Empire of Man. The patriarch is responsible for advising Emperor Karl Franz in all decisions dealing with the Arcane. Every couple of years each of the eight Colleges of Magic elect one of their number to compete in duel with others claiming mastery of their respective field of magic. The victor of these arcane duels receives the office of Supreme Patriarch and the right to wield the ancient Staff of Volans.
After defeating Thyrus Gormann of the Bright Order in a ritual magic duel Balthasar became Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic, replacing the long-standing Bright College who study the Lore of Fire with the Gold Order studying the Lore of Metal as holder of this supreme seat of power.
31-35, M
