Brendan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Brendan (布伦丹)
Alias(es)	Captain Brendan; Commander Brendan; Carnford Military Chief; General; Baron of Helgoland Valley
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Carnford; serves Lord Karl von Schmidt
Occupation/Role	Knight; military chief; commander of Carnford’s forces and First Battalion; fleet commander during Operation Hannibal
Rank / Title(s)	Peak first-tier knight; Baron of Helgoland Valley 34 762 784
Status	Active 1117
First Appearance	4

Background / History

Brendan is one of Karl von Schmidt’s earliest and most trusted knights. An experienced, aging veteran, he initially scrutinizes Karl’s unfamiliar infantry formations and wonders whether the supposedly “useless” young noble is secretly a battlefield veteran. He nevertheless assists Karl in drilling the troops, inspecting purchased arms, and handling practical tasks such as acquiring provisions for Old Morrell. 4 5 6

Karl entrusts Brendan with a share of the rare Northern Wind Breath powder to break his first-tier knight bottleneck. While Roland advances to second tier, Brendan’s age, accumulated injuries, or exhausted potential prevent a breakthrough; the powder only consolidates his peak first-tier strength. Rather than dwell on this limit, Brendan asks to assume more administrative and training duties. 17 34

Karl formally appoints him Carnford’s Military Chief, placing him in charge of daily training, discipline, recruitment, and defensive planning. Alongside Old Morrell, Brendan becomes one of Karl’s principal aides: Morrell oversees internal affairs while Brendan organizes the army and the territory’s defense. 34 60

Appearance

Brendan is an elderly but battle-hardened knight who maintains a rigid, upright bearing despite his age. He is typically seen in sharp or heavily worn armor, carrying the stern presence of a lifelong soldier. 4 97 284

• Advanced in age; described as an “old knight.” 4 34
• Keeps his posture “as upright as a pine tree” while armored. 97
• Often bears the visible effects of battle, including blood, smoke, and damaged armor. 284 781
• Uses a sword in command and carries a brass monocular while at sea. 274 734

Personality

Brendan is steady, disciplined, and intensely loyal to Karl and Carnford. He does not flatter his lord blindly: when Karl’s plans seem too risky, Brendan voices concrete tactical objections and focuses on casualties, logistics, and worst-case outcomes. 112 493

His loyalty is defined by judgment rather than obedience alone. During the fall of Carnford’s outer city, he directly defies Karl’s order to remain on the rearguard, insisting that Karl’s survival matters more than any single defensive position. His intervention persuades Karl to withdraw and preserve the larger resistance. 274

Although initially focused on military self-reliance and immediate security, Brendan develops political awareness. He recognizes that accepting a long-term Fran City garrison in Tyrol could compromise Carnford’s sovereignty, yet accepts Karl’s argument that alliances also require visible trust and sincerity. 692 693 694

Abilities & Skills

Knightly Combat

Brendan is an experienced peak first-tier knight and veteran battlefield commander.

• Refined Northern Wind Breath, consolidating his existing strength rather than reaching second tier. 17 34
• Leads from the front when necessary, personally drawing his sword to rally defenders and lead assaults. 274 549
• His knightly advancement is limited; he acknowledges that his path in Battle Qi cultivation has likely ended. 34

Military Training and Organization

As Carnford’s Military Chief, Brendan turns Karl’s plans into repeatable training, discipline, and promotion systems.

• Helps drill soldiers in Karl’s formation methods from Carnford’s earliest days. 4 5
• Oversees recruitment, screening refugees and veterans for military potential, and integrating recruits into veteran-led squads rather than forming unreliable separate units. 385 420
• Explains the veteran First Company’s role as the “core and seed” responsible for training new recruits. 174
• Reports the completion of the 2,500-man Third Regiment, organized into three infantry battalions with a 70/30 spearman-to-musketeer composition. 787
• Conducts formal commendations and reads soldiers’ battlefield merits at award ceremonies. 715 716

Tactical Command

Brendan is a cautious but adaptable commander, particularly effective in defensive warfare and infantry operations.

• Leads Carnford’s rearguard after persuading Karl to retreat from the breached outer city; orders the defenders to fight to the death while conducting an orderly withdrawal. 274
• Suppresses panic at breaches by rapidly assigning spearmen and musketeers to defensive positions. 292
• Commands the retreat and street ambushes after Carnford’s defense line collapses. 294
• Directs the First Battalion’s assault into Nalan Castle and adapts to urban resistance by sending Roderick’s platoon on an outflanking maneuver. 537 538 540
• Accepts Roderick’s disobedience after judging that the depleted platoon could not realistically hold Nalan Castle’s back gate, then personally leads fresh troops to secure it. 548 549

Administration and Political Counsel

Brendan compensates for Karl’s lack of interest in routine administration by assuming practical responsibilities beyond warfare.

• Assists Old Morrell with Carnford’s internal administration during reconstruction. 34
• Provides Karl with candid risk assessments before offensives and warns against underestimating the enemy. 493
• Recognizes the political danger of allowing Fran City troops to gain a permanent foothold in Tyrol. 692 693
• Learns to balance Carnford’s independence with the need to preserve trust in its alliance with Earl Rochefort. 694

Naval Command

Brendan commands Operation Hannibal despite having little professional maritime experience.

• Delegates navigation, storm avoidance, and merchant-fleet coordination to veteran Grimm Merchant Guild captains. 729 730
• Retains authority over combat decisions while relying on Captain Jackson’s naval expertise during engagements with the Sauron fleet. 735
• Uses artillery to cover Iron Islands defenders’ withdrawal toward the port. 734
• Prioritizes evacuation over prolonged naval combat, ultimately bringing more than 8,000 Iron Islands survivors to Giant Island. 748 777

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Sword — drawn while commanding Carnford’s rearguard and the First Battalion. 274 549
• Armor — wears combat armor during musters and battles; his armor is repeatedly damaged in the defense of Carnford. 97 284
• Brass monocular telescope — used aboard the Northern Wind to observe the Iron Islands battlefield. 734

Relationships

• Karl von Schmidt — Lord and commander. Brendan is Karl’s trusted military chief, candid adviser, and one of his earliest followers; Karl later calls him “my general.” 17 34 274 781
• Roland — Fellow early knight and military colleague. Both receive Northern Wind Breath, though Roland reaches second tier while Brendan does not. 17 34
• Old Morrell — Counterpart in Carnford’s early administration; Morrell handles internal affairs while Brendan oversees training and defense. 34
• Richter — Fellow commander who shares wartime authority and works alongside Brendan in military planning. Brendan agrees to release Franz to Richter’s Intelligence Department despite wanting to retain him for the main force. 240 437
• Roderick — Subordinate officer. Brendan initially angrily confronts Roderick for failing to hold Nalan Castle’s back gate, but later accepts his practical decision and reinforces the position himself. 548 549
• Captain Jackson — Naval specialist during Operation Hannibal. Brendan entrusts him with professional naval tactics while retaining overall command. 734 735
• Earl Rochefort — Carnford’s ally and benefactor. Brendan respects Rochefort’s aid but remains wary of Fran City’s long-term influence over Tyrol. 692 693

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Early Carnford reconstruction — Assists Karl’s first training reforms, evaluates equipment, and supports the acquisition of Old Morrell. After failing to advance beyond first-tier knighthood, he becomes Carnford’s Military Chief. 4 5 6 34
• Defense of Carnford — Organizes musters, trains reinforcements, voices tactical concerns, and commands the rearguard during the Sauron breach of the outer city. 97 112 174 274 294
• Army expansion and Nalan Castle assault — Screens recruits, develops disciplined units, directs the infantry attack on Nalan Castle, and adapts when urban combat disrupts the advance. 420 537 540 549
• Tyrol strategy — Advises Karl on the risks of Fran City reinforcements, prioritizing Carnford’s sovereignty while accepting the political necessity of maintaining the alliance. 692 693 694
• Operation Hannibal — Leads Carnford’s rescue fleet to the Iron Islands, fights through Sauron naval pressure, and supervises the evacuation of thousands of survivors to Giant Island. 729 734 748 760 777 781
• Enfeoffment and later command — Receives Helgoland Valley and the title of baron, consolidating his position as Carnford’s de facto second-in-command. He continues overseeing military organization, homeland defense, and preparations for the final campaign against Harald. 762 784 837 1035 1069
• Northern victory — Remains at Karl’s side during Carnford’s advance after the tide turns, relaying orders to clear the battlefield and prepare the assault on Frosgard. 1117

Notable Quotes

“My Lord! Your subordinate implores you to retreat, not out of fear of battle! It is precisely because you are more important than this outer city! More important than all of our lives!” 274

“All soldiers, hear my order! For Carnford! For the Lord! Fight to the death and do not retreat! Kill!” 274

Trivia

• Brendan’s inability to become a second-tier knight directly leads to his transition from primarily personal cultivation to military administration and command. 34
• Karl considers Brendan’s steadiness and loyalty beyond question, but explicitly recognizes his lack of professional maritime judgment before Operation Hannibal. 729
• He is granted the Southwest Peninsula’s central fertile valley and its vital route toward Tyrol because Karl considers him particularly skilled at holding territory and maintaining internal stability. 762