William
Biography
The favored heir
William outperforms his half-brother Tim in tracking the Scarlet Tigers and receives command of the Black Skeletons, pirate allies, and the high-ranked wizard Boruj. Confident that victory will secure his succession, he leads more than thirty ships into the Strait of Storms and follows planted intelligence to Leylin's island camp. (Chapters 840–847)
Defeat at sea
The apparent surrender of Leylin's pirates draws William's force into a concealed explosives trap that burns him and devastates the fleet. Boruj teleports him to the Black Skeleton flagship, only to find that Madam Tillen and the Barbarians have already killed its guards. Boruj escapes again on a summoned wyvern with William, but Leylin blocks teleportation and attacks the wizard while Isabel deals with William. Both men die, shattering House Louis's naval influence (Chapters 848–852).
Appearance and personality
William is a handsome young aristocrat whose carefully kept hair is burned away during the explosion. Polite to useful subordinates and capable of basic naval calculation, he is also ambitious, jealous of the Faulen family's wealth, and overconfident in superior numbers and Boruj's protection. (Chapters 840–850)
Magic, bloodline, and abilities
- Educated noble and fleet commander able to read charts, estimate sailing times, and coordinate pirate forces. (Chapters 840–847)
- Benefits from spies and House Louis intelligence but is himself betrayed by Tim, whose route maps let Leylin predict the campaign. His anti-curse and ship-inspection precautions are operational orders carried out by subordinates, not personal supernatural abilities (Chapters 843–848).
- Has no individually stated Professional class or supernatural bloodline in the supplied chapters.
Relationships
- Marquis Louis: Father who favors William as his successor and is driven into fury by his death.
- Tim: Resentful half-brother whose betrayal exposes William's route and plans.
- Boruj: Family wizard and protector who repeatedly saves him until both are overwhelmed.
- Leylin Farlier: Rival commander who engineers his defeat.
Items
- Copper telescope: Used to survey the enemy fleet and island. (Chapters 845–846)
- Sea charts: Detailed maps used to calculate routes and coordinate the campaign. (Chapters 845–847)