TV-Series
Description
Comte Barestar is a significant antagonist and one of the Seven Heroes in Übel Blatt, serving as the second target of Köinzell’s quest for vengeance. His background reveals a man who was never suited for the life thrust upon him. Hailing from the county of Lemda, Barestar was the son of a merchant who recognized his son had no talent for commerce. Consequently, his father forced him into the military to join the elite group known as the Fourteen Lances, a decision that placed Barestar in a world for which he had neither the skill nor the temperament. He is consistently described as the weakest member of the entire troupe, a warrior who lacked experience and was frequently saved from death in battle by the much more talented Ascheriit.
Personally, Barestar is defined by his inadequacy and the crippling anxiety that stems from it. He is not a naturally evil or ambitious man but rather one who is completely overwhelmed by the circumstances forced upon him. Despite witnessing Ascheriit’s great talents and believing that he could successfully complete their mission, Barestar was persuaded to participate in the plot to murder him and three other comrades, an act that would later mark him as one of the traitorous Seven Heroes. This decision haunted him. Years later, as a count living in his flying fortress, Barestar is consumed by paranoia, especially after the assassination of his fellow hero, Schtemwölech. The fear of being killed drives him to desperate and frantic measures.
His primary motivation is not grand conquest but the preservation of his own life and the stability of the false position he has claimed. He believes himself entitled to the power he possesses and is willing to sacrifice anything to keep it. This entitlement drives him to extreme actions, including instigating a violent civil war, submitting himself to forbidden dark magic, and even murdering his own loving father. When Köinzell finally confronts him, Barestar’s fragile mind shatters completely; he retreats into an imaginary past where he is back in Lemda, training to become a simple merchant under his father’s tutelage.
In the story’s structure, Barestar represents the second major step in Köinzell’s journey of revenge. The confrontation takes place in and around the free city of Jullas-Abllas, which Barestar attacks in a desperate attempt to eliminate his foe. His role, however, is distinct from that of a typical final boss. The actual physical threat is delegated to his subordinate, the swordsman Ikfes, who craves the title of Blatt Meister. By the time Köinzell reaches Barestar, he is no longer in any condition to fight, having been broken by his own terror. This makes his death a tragic and pitiable event rather than a glorious battle, with Köinzell himself shedding tears as he delivers the final blow.
Key relationships define his downfall. His relationship with Ascheriit is central; he was a comrade saved by his superior skill, yet he repaid that protection with betrayal. His relationship with his father is also critical; the merchant who pushed him onto the warrior’s path becomes one of his final victims in his pursuit of power. Barestar’s development is a downward spiral from an incompetent but passive soldier to a paranoid, actively malevolent despot who commits atrocities and dark rituals out of sheer desperation, ultimately regressing to a childlike state of innocence as his life ends. Regarding notable abilities, detailed information is sparse as his paranoia prevents him from engaging in direct combat himself. His primary strength lies in his authority and resources as a count, allowing him to command powerful subordinates like Ikfes and mobilize military forces, including his airborne fortress. Any physical or magical power he might have gained from his dark pacts is secondary to his overwhelming psychological fragility.
Personally, Barestar is defined by his inadequacy and the crippling anxiety that stems from it. He is not a naturally evil or ambitious man but rather one who is completely overwhelmed by the circumstances forced upon him. Despite witnessing Ascheriit’s great talents and believing that he could successfully complete their mission, Barestar was persuaded to participate in the plot to murder him and three other comrades, an act that would later mark him as one of the traitorous Seven Heroes. This decision haunted him. Years later, as a count living in his flying fortress, Barestar is consumed by paranoia, especially after the assassination of his fellow hero, Schtemwölech. The fear of being killed drives him to desperate and frantic measures.
His primary motivation is not grand conquest but the preservation of his own life and the stability of the false position he has claimed. He believes himself entitled to the power he possesses and is willing to sacrifice anything to keep it. This entitlement drives him to extreme actions, including instigating a violent civil war, submitting himself to forbidden dark magic, and even murdering his own loving father. When Köinzell finally confronts him, Barestar’s fragile mind shatters completely; he retreats into an imaginary past where he is back in Lemda, training to become a simple merchant under his father’s tutelage.
In the story’s structure, Barestar represents the second major step in Köinzell’s journey of revenge. The confrontation takes place in and around the free city of Jullas-Abllas, which Barestar attacks in a desperate attempt to eliminate his foe. His role, however, is distinct from that of a typical final boss. The actual physical threat is delegated to his subordinate, the swordsman Ikfes, who craves the title of Blatt Meister. By the time Köinzell reaches Barestar, he is no longer in any condition to fight, having been broken by his own terror. This makes his death a tragic and pitiable event rather than a glorious battle, with Köinzell himself shedding tears as he delivers the final blow.
Key relationships define his downfall. His relationship with Ascheriit is central; he was a comrade saved by his superior skill, yet he repaid that protection with betrayal. His relationship with his father is also critical; the merchant who pushed him onto the warrior’s path becomes one of his final victims in his pursuit of power. Barestar’s development is a downward spiral from an incompetent but passive soldier to a paranoid, actively malevolent despot who commits atrocities and dark rituals out of sheer desperation, ultimately regressing to a childlike state of innocence as his life ends. Regarding notable abilities, detailed information is sparse as his paranoia prevents him from engaging in direct combat himself. His primary strength lies in his authority and resources as a count, allowing him to command powerful subordinates like Ikfes and mobilize military forces, including his airborne fortress. Any physical or magical power he might have gained from his dark pacts is secondary to his overwhelming psychological fragility.