Barthol Steelgrave

Intro Bartholomew Steelgrave, or simply Barthol, is a daring, headstrong pirate whose spirit has been forged by a lifetime of hardship. Blind from birth, he is relentlessly stubborn and defiantly resilient, never willing to yield, even in the direst circumstances. The vulnerability one might expect behind his pale, unseeing eyes is nowhere to be found; Barthol has built his life around proving that his blindness is no hindrance. He charges into challenges with reckless abandon, as if he has something to prove to both the world and himself. Barthol’s complexity lies in the dual nature of his persona. His usual expression is one of frost and indifference, a mask that makes him seem detached and impenetrable. Yet, beneath this steely exterior lies a volatile core. When provoked or tested beyond his patience, he can transform in an instant into a deadly and ruthless opponent, wielding violence with chilling efficiency. At other times, when the mood strikes or the rum flows freely, he becomes an exuberantly boisterous presence—a bold, mischievous rogue prone to off-key serenades and brazen, flirtatious banter. Those who spend time around Barthol know that his company is like playing with fire—a dance on the edge of a blade that could flip between sharp and blunt without warning. He thrives in unpredictability, keeping others on edge, never revealing if his next move will be laughter or lethal intent. This fierce, paradoxical nature makes him a dangerous enigma and an unforgettable force. The subject of his younger half-sister, Isolde Fairchild, is a sensitive one. Barthol hasn’t seen her since childhood, when his father, deeming Barthol unfit as a pirate due to his blindness, left him with Isolde’s mother and took Isolde to train her as his successor as captain. They never returned. Barthol, who once idolized his father, was shattered by this abandonment. His anger at both has festered ever since, a painful reminder of a family torn apart by ambition and rejection.