Carlo Hellberg
Carlo Hellberg (born 695 EA) is a branded devil from the Mon Sorte Island, owner of the Hellberg Conglomerate, discoverer of the Hellberg Archipelago, and a major story character in Envoys of Chaos and Lost Legion Rises. He is known for his entrepreneurship and intrigue.
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Species/Race: | Branded devil |
| Alignment: | Lawful Evil |
| Pronouns: | He/him (in original form) |
| Status: | Alive |
| Birth Date: | 695 EA |
| Languages: | All |
| Homeland: | Mon Sorte Island |
| Relationships: | Aretta (sister) |
| Appearances: | Envoys of Chaos |
| First Appearance: | 1-3-2: Szukanie sojuszników |
Abilities
Carlo is a known shapechanger, able to seemingly assume different personas or disguises. He is capable of high wizardry, for example creating a memory vault, forming a clone or performing a wish. Perhaps due to absorbing a portion of Aminos's power, Carlo is able to create his own warlocks.
Carlo is known to have experimented with spells of his own - Carlo's Permanent Circle and Carlo's Unbreakable Deal.
Appearance
Carlo in his original form is a tall, black-haired man with gray eyes. His complexion is of a light brown color. He is usually dressed in a fine black suit and a bright red tie. His head is always adorned with his signature top hat - the Cloth of Evasion, an item of legendary importance, gifted by Aminos as a part of the Gods' Wager.
History
Before Gods' Wager
Carlo Hellberg and his twin sister Aretta Hellberg were born on the Mon Sorte Island to unknown, likely human parents around 695 EA. Throughout his early years, Carlo has studied the arcane arts. He has also made a connection with a devilish god of war Aminos. At the same time, Aretta has allied herself with the lich god of death Belador. This alliance has corrupted Aretta, or brought out her inner villainy. Carlo's worries for her sister forced him to forge a pact with Aminos to serve him in exchange of redeeming Aretta from Belador's influence. Aminos then has granted Carlo with a significant part of his powers, likely to ensure his victory in the Gods' Wager.
Gods' Wager
In 719 EA several gods of the Lost Legion - Fides, Nazar, Famiasz, Imperio, Eliana, Prakazrel, Aminos, Invidio, Belador and Terion - have created a wager between each other, called the Gods' Wager. In order to select the mightiest domain among themselves, they decided to delegate their feuds to their most trusted avatars instead of engaging in it themselves. Among the avatars were Carlo and Aretta. Immediately on the night and morning the wager begun, Aretta and Belador attempted to eliminate the other competitors.
After Aretta's sudden ambush and the destruction of her and Carlo's home town on Mon Sorte, the subsequent battle has resulted in Aretta's death and Belador's destruction. After Aretta's death, Aminos arrived and destroyed her soul, scattering it over the island.
The following battle between Aminos and the wager's avatars resulted in the god's defeat, but at a significant price. Carlo has died in the struggle, and the pact's clause has triggered - turning him into a branded devil. With the newfound power, and with unbounded fury, Carlo has destroyed Aminos's soul. In his dying breath, however, Aminos has cursed Carlo to forever fail in his endeavors. This curse has stuck with Carlo ever since.
After the Wager
After the Wager Carlo seems to fall to obscurity for a long time. He has appeared subsequently several times on the continent, ravaging the temples of the gods involved in the wager, furious after their apparent betrayal. He has appeared on the Mon Sorte Island on several occasions, and has created positive relationships with some other members of the wager - notably Mietek and Kinetor, and possibly Eklezjan I.
Envoys of Chaos
Carlo reappears on the cards of history years later, during the quest of the Envoys of Chaos. He has tricked the adventuring team - including the Duchess Fondant of Kalesia - to sign Carlo's Unbreakable Deal. This effectively bound them to Carlo's service, if he so wished. This sudden windfall seemingly overturned Carlo's fortunes.
During these events a paladin of the Order of the White Feather - Jaksa - has requested the adventurers' aid to defeat Carlo. Despite his pleas, the adventurers have abandoned him to be defeated by Carlo, but pleaded for his life to be spared. Due to that, Jaksa has been exiled to another plane of existence - likely the Nine Hells.
His initial support for the party, allowed to take on the Rat and dismantle the Rat's Torpedo. Carlo's influence over the Duchess and her newfound agents has allowed him to attempt a coup during the National Assembly of Kalesia. During the attempt, though, he has been abducted by Prakazrel and banished to the Nine Hells.
After Envoys of Chaos
It is implied that Carlo has forged an alliance with Garten Gor at an unknown time after the wager. This wager has resulted in the creation of the Hellberg's Conglomerate. Throughout the early years of the Conglomerate, Carlo has invested in trade within the Marsburg Empire, explorations of the Southern Ocean and extracting resources from the Lost Legion and the surrounding islands - this allowed him to gain significant wealth and apparent influence.
Carlo has made his reappearance years later. During that time he has been imprisoned by Prakazrel's servants and escaped imprisonment multiple times. He was ultimately rescued from an underground prison by a party of adventurers hired by Elga.
Together with Garten Gor Carlo has designed and built the Hellberg's Hotel - which later acted as a base of operations on the Astral Plane for some of the Conglomerate, mostly to Garten Gor's forces.
Lost Legion Rises
An alliance with Garten Gor has allowed the two to again pursue the hunt of the Pearls of the Universe. Thanks to Elga's help, Carlo has scouted a group of adventurers to aid him in the hunt of the artifacts. Delegating the mission to Garten Gor and humanoid adventurers seemed to avoid the side effects of Aminos's curse.
After having acquired a significant number of pearls, Carlo unexpectedly disappeared from his own hotel - leaving only a hidden message meant for Garten Gor detailing his alleged betrayal.
Carlo has later appeared in Haford City, seemingly converted into an undead, as part of Woland Spellman's army raised by the Crimson Mask.