Blaidd?

Biodata

Background / History

Joining Roundtable Hold

Blaidd? had previously defeated Old Man at Stormveil Castle. Old Man subsequently traveled the Lands Between to improve his swordsmanship and seek a rematch 36.

On the carriage journey to Leyndell, Blaidd? met Zhao Si and explained how Tarnished could grow stronger through Remembrances of battles. When Zhao Si confessed his fear of dying, he reassured him that the dead would return to the Erdtree and await rebirth 3.

Blaidd? agreed to teach Zhao Si combat techniques but refused to formally take him as an apprentice, offering friendship instead. At Roundtable Hold, Finger Reader Enia welcomed him as a renowned warrior whose participation could encourage other Tarnished to join. He pledged to assist the Two Fingers and began training Zhao Si while awaiting orders 4 5.

The Weeping Peninsula Mission

Gideon assigned Blaidd?, Zhao Si, Alberich, and Helena to investigate Frenzied Flame Sickness on the Weeping Peninsula and kill Shabriri. At Castle Morne, Blaidd? pressed Edgar for the village’s location and mission details, then departed rather than prolong the discussion 14 15.

At the Carl Baptismal Church, he scouted with Zhao Si and fought dead soldiers animated by Frenzied Flame. He later checked on Zhao Si after the flame’s influence nearly overwhelmed him, asking about its effects and considering whether Alberich’s ice magic might help 16 17.

While Zhao Si confronted the infection’s source, Blaidd? and the others fought infected villagers and dogs outside. The party subsequently burned and buried infected villagers’ remains. On their return journey, Blaidd? intercepted a Death Rite Bird and helped Zhao Si kill it after Alberich restrained it 18 19 20.

The Defense of Castle Morne

During the party’s stay at Castle Morne, Blaidd? continued sparring with Zhao Si and offered advice while Zhao Si taught Irina. He praised Zhao Si’s improvement with the Flowing Sword of Memory but urged him to refine it through actual combat 22 23.

When Demi-Humans attacked and the Misbegotten turned against the castle’s soldiers, Blaidd? entered the fighting. He held off attackers below the walls until Zhao Si joined him; together, they pushed through the horde and each killed a Demi-Human Chief, helping drive the survivors away 24 25 26.

After the battle, Blaidd? rested alone rather than attend the victory feast, remaining mentally drained even after Helena restored him. He and Alberich then returned to Roundtable Hold to report, while Zhao Si and Helena departed for the Academy of Magic. Old Man later asked Zhao Si to deliver a challenge to Blaidd? for a rematch at the Second Church of Marika; no completed rematch is documented in the supplied passages 27 36.

Appearance

• Full armor: His face is concealed behind his helmet’s visor when he first meets Zhao Si 3.
• White-fur helmet: The conspicuous white wolf fur expresses his wish to become an Empyrean’s shadow 3.
• Back-carried equipment: He carries a twinblade in a leather sheath alongside his shield 3.

Personality

Blaidd? is generous toward an inexperienced comrade without being indulgent. He accepts Zhao Si’s admission of weakness, offers instruction, and treats him as a friend rather than a subordinate. His training remains demanding: he punishes lapses in attention, emphasizes the courage needed to kill an opponent, and stops sessions when exhaustion makes further practice unsafe 4 5 6 9.

He is practical, guarded, and impatient with delays. He sleeps in armor despite Roundtable Hold’s prohibition on fighting and insists that a warrior keep his weapons close. Although eager to complete dangerous assignments, he recognizes the wisdom of retreating from an unwinnable fight 3 4 6 15.

His ambition is to serve an Empyrean as a shadow. He openly expresses disappointment that he is human rather than one of the beast companions granted by the Greater Will 3.

Abilities & Skills

Twinblade Swordsmanship

• Uses rapid footwork, thrusts, sweeping cuts, and attacks aimed at vulnerable areas 9 16 22.
• Favors offense as defense, threatening an opponent to force them to abandon an attack 22.
• Against the Demi-Human horde, keeps an approximately five-meter killing zone around himself by spinning his twinblade; its two ends strike on both outward and returning swings 25.
• Cannot safely remain surrounded indefinitely: continued movement and Zhao Si’s support improve his chances against overwhelming numbers 25.

Spinning Slash

• Uses rotational force and speed to close distance with his twinblade 9.
• Continues into a second strike despite Alberich’s Freezing Mist, knocks aside her staff, and places his blade beneath her chin before Gideon ends the confrontation 9.

Combat Instruction

• Teaches through demonstrations and sparring rather than lengthy lectures 6.
• Identifies Zhao Si’s reliance on instinct and demonstrates how a feint can catch a predictable dodge 6.
• Adjusts practice exchanges to give Zhao Si openings, while immediately punishing him for lowering his guard 9.
• Encourages familiarity with different weapons rather than restricting Zhao Si to a single style 22.
• Explains Remembrances as battle memories that Tarnished consume and internalize as spiritual nourishment 3.

Endurance

• Fights through Castle Morne’s defense without replenishment, impressing Zhao Si with his stamina 26.
• Remains vulnerable to exhaustion and mental fatigue; Helena’s restoration does not eliminate his need to rest afterward 27.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Twinblade — Principal combat weapon, carried on his back and normally protected by a leather sheath. He leaves it unsheathed when expecting immediate danger 3 16.
• Shield — Carried alongside his twinblade 3.
• White-fur armor and helmet — Protective equipment whose wolf imagery reflects his aspiration to serve an Empyrean 3.
• Wooden practice swords — Used to reduce the danger of killing Zhao Si during training; several break under his blows 5 6 9.

Relationships

• Zhao Si — Friend, informal pupil, and eventual battlefield partner. Although Blaidd? rejects the title of master, Zhao Si continues using it; their cooperation at Castle Morne leads Blaidd? to remark that he never expected to entrust Zhao Si with his back 4 25.
• Alberich — Fellow envoy. Their initial confrontation begins when she attacks Zhao Si, but they later cooperate against the Death Rite Bird and return to Roundtable Hold together 9 20 27.
• Helena — Mission companion and healer; she restores him after Castle Morne’s defense 14 27.
• Gideon Ofnir — Roundtable organizer who receives him, assigns missions, and intervenes when he fights Alberich 4 9 14.
• Finger Reader Enia — Welcomes him on the Two Fingers’ behalf and expects his reputation to attract other Tarnished 5.
• Edgar — Castle Morne’s lord and mission contact; provides information about the outbreak and later fights alongside the defenders 15 25.
• Irina — Receives his advice while learning swordsmanship from Zhao Si 23.
• Old Man — Defeated rival seeking a rematch. He strongly rejects Zhao Si’s claim that matching Blaidd? in sparring means matching him in a lethal fight 36.

Notable Quotes

“You don't need to call me Master. I don't take apprentices. Let's just be friends.” 4

“A proper warrior never lets his weapons leave his side.” 4

“I never thought I'd entrust my back to you.” 25

Trivia

• Despite the supplied English name “Blaidd?”, this character is explicitly human and distinct from Half-Wolf Blaidd, Ranni’s wolf-headed shadow. The latter appears with a Royal Greatsword rather than this character’s twinblade 3 48.
• Blaidd? has no interest in sorcery, which is his stated reason for declining to accompany Zhao Si to the Academy of Magic 27.
• The Flowing Sword of Memory is Zhao Si’s technique, not one taught by Blaidd?; Old Man explicitly recognizes that distinction 22 36.