Bertrand Bell

 is a human fighter. First introduced in, he is a member of the Campaign Three adventuring party. Bertrand is played by Travis Willingham.

Appearance
When he first appeared in, Sir Bertrand Bell was in his late 50s or early 60s. He has been described as a "devilish silver fox son of a bitch." He wore beautiful orange, maroon, and purple robes of the finest make, with a beautiful rapier on his hip. He had tan skin and piercing blue eyes. In, Bertrand is older and has a receding hairline and a pony tail. He still favors purple and burnt-orange finery, with a coiffed collar. He still carries a beautiful rapier on his hip, but now also carries an elegant walking stick. He wears a lapel pin with the crest of Vox Machina.

Personality
Bertrand is characterized by his bombastic attitude that often leads him into trouble. He tends to exaggerate his accomplishments and believes that he is more renowned and important than he actually is.

In 843 PD, when he was likely in his eighties, he was prone to occasional forgetfulness and fell asleep easily, sometimes in the middle of a conversation.

Background
Bertrand claimed he was famous for slaying the "whispering werewolf of the north" as well as the "horrible hippogriff of the west", though it's not known if this is true. Upon his first appearance Bertrand was in the company of Holy Curator Curtis Uleas of The Quadroads, indicating he is somehow affiliated with that section of Vasselheim.

When Vox Machina returned to Vasselheim seeking aid in rescuing Grog's soul, Sir Bertrand Bell was the first to speak up and volunteer his services.

Bertrand initially claimed to be a veteran warrior of renown and an expert on the plane of Pandemonium, but it soon became clear to the group that Bertrand was merely posturing in front of Vasselheim's leadership and knew little about their destination - in fact, before Highbearer Vord suggested he be Vox Machina's guide, Bertrand only meant to advise them on the plane and never planned to accompany them. Regardless, he nervously assisted in their search to rescue Grog's soul from Pandemonium, even taking the charge into the sandstorms when they first arrived, albeit in the wrong direction.

Bertrand valiantly rescued Percy's severed arm from the roaming band of bugbears that had torn it off, though Keyleth had already began regenerating a new one. He did this single-handedly. He fought alongside Vox Machina against both the howlers and the empyrean, although he fell and remained unconscious in the latter combat.

In Scanlan's Magnificent Mansion, Lieve'tel 'invited' Bertrand to spend the night with her. Or as she put it herself, "I rang his Bell."

When the group came across an odd metallic fruit-bearing tree, Bertrand claimed to know its type. So when the group decided they wanted a fruit to inspect, Bertrand was goaded into getting it.

Upon returning to Whitestone from Pandemonium, Bertrand immediately declared that he never wanted to see Vox Machina again, he was retiring right then, and left the group. Lieve'tel chased after him to try and convince him otherwise. Due to his prompt departure before Shanak crafted statues of Vox Machina and Lieve'tel, Bertrand was likely not included among them.

Between and Campaign Three
Lord Ariks Eshteross hired Bertrand as part of a group to look into the Ivory Syndicate. At one point he was part of a group called The Bevy, which may have been this group. Bertrand abandoned the group; one member died, and the others fled.

Campaign Three
Over 30 years after the trek into Pandemonium, in the streets of Jrusar, Bertrand spotted several adventurers responding to a mysterious attack of animated objects. Three groups spontaneously coordinated to fend off the attacking constructs: Ashton Greymoore and Fresh Cut Grass; Imogen Temult and Laudna; and Dorian Storm, Fearne Calloway, and Orym. Bertrand, overinflating his importance as usual, promised to make introductions to high-placed people in the city to help them with their various goals, and took them to see Lord Ariks Eshteross.

After successfully investigating some warehouse thefts, the party was officially hired by Lord Eshteross. Bertrand was delighted, saying how good it felt to be back in demand and esteem. When the party celebrated afterwards at the Spire by Fire, Bertrand celebrated more than the rest, growing progressively more inebriated in his optimism over his new start. Eventually, after seeing the rest of the party off to home or bed, Bertrand went for a walk to locate the Windowed Wall so that he would know where to meet Imogen and Laudna the following morning.

During his drunken wanderings he paused to relieve himself in an alley, only to be accosted by the mysterious dwarven figure they had fought earlier that night. When the dwarf beckoned Bertrand deeper into the alley for a "conversation", Bertrand stood his ground but received a rapier buried to the hilt in his chest and then abdomen. Bertrand was left to bleed out in the alley. As his vision blurred and a sense of peace came over him, the dwarf whispered "Sir Bertrand Bell it is, huh? Good night."

Lieve'tel Toluse
Bertrand slept with Lieve'tel the night the two spent in the Magnificent Mansion. Following the return to the Material Plane, Lieve'tel went to find Bertrand when he walked off from the group, intending to convince him out of his retirement.

Vox Machina
Bertrand initially hoped to gain respect via his association with Vox Machina and asked if he would be credited as a temporary member, but Vox Machina declined, and they frequently goaded him in Pandemonium, as they knew he had exaggerated his experience as an adventurer. After the adventure in Pandemonium, he retired immediately, saying he hoped to never see any of them again. However, in the official art for Campaign Three, Bell is wearing a Vox Machina lapel pin.

Abilities
In 812 PD, Bertrand was an 18th-level fighter, but by 843 PD he had regressed to a 5th-level fighter, and his ability scores had changed noticeably:
 * His Strength dropped from 19 to 16.
 * His Dexterity dropped from 19 to 15.
 * Partly as a result, his AC dropped from 17 to 14.
 * His Constitution dropped from 14 to 11.
 * Partly as a result, his hit points dropped from 148 to 34.
 * His Intelligence increased from 12 to 15.
 * His Wisdom dropped from 11 to 10.
 * His Charisma stayed stable at 13.

Feats

 * Lucky

Fighter abilities
In 812 PD, Bertrand was an 18th-level fighter with the following abilities:
 * Action Surge (two uses per short rest)
 * Extra Attack (2)
 * Fighting Style
 * Indomitable (three uses per long rest)
 * Martial Archetype
 * Second Wind

By 843 PD, Bertrand had regressed to a 5th-level fighter, giving him only one extra attack and one use of Action Surge per short rest.

Notable items

 * Gambler's Blade: Rapier, typically +3
 * Shield of Expression

Behind the scenes
Bertrand Bell was first introduced in the one-shot, during which Travis could not play Grog as the one-shot focused on retrieving Grog's soul from Pandemonium. Travis played him again in Campaign Three. Travis wanted his character for the campaign to join the party a little later in the story, but Matt wanted to have Travis at the table from the beginning. When given the option to create a new character to play during the campaign's first sessions, Travis chose to play Bertrand. When they discussed the manner of Bertrand's exit from the campaign, Travis pitched a "grim end" for him, though he agreed to be not told of the timing nor means.

Quotations
Bertrand: Not a noble, a knight is generous, but it was a title bestowed upon me, and I didn't shoo it away. Bertrand: Did I not join you in the streets? Laudna: It feels like you're more of a chaperone. Bertrand: I am more of a consultant. I mean, I have so much wisdom to share. But yes, I tend to get my blade dirty from time to time. I think you'll remember I gave that table what-for.
 * Percival de Rolo: That is the most pompous, egotistical arsehole I've ever met in my entire life!
 * Lord Eshteross: Sir Bertrand. It has been a moment since you stained my abode with your empty bravado.
 * Bertrand Bell: Yes, for the good of Jrusar! I will enter the fray with you!
 * Laudna: Are you a noble?
 * Imogen: So you'd actually be fighting this time? You'd actually be fighting with us?
 * Sir Bertrand: Every once in a while, you need to see the sunrise. It might be that night for me.
 * Bertrand: (final word as he slipped into unconsciousness after being stabbed) Lieve'tel...

Trivia

 * Since the one-shot revolved around rescuing Travis's character, Bertrand was made as a temporary player character for the live show.
 * Bertrand is the third character to replace one who had been killed or left the party, following Taryon Darrington and Caduceus Clay. He is introduced minutes before Lieve'tel Toluse, who similarly replaces a killed or missing character.
 * Bertrand is the first character seen to have lost class levels, falling from 18th to 5th level in the three decades between Campaign One and Campaign Three. Bertrand appeared to age only two decades during that time, though this simply might be a mistake on Travis's part on how much time has passed.
 * In "The Search for Grog," Bertrand never used any abilities unique to any fighter subclass, so his subclass is unknown.
 * Bertrand is the shortest-lived character played by a main cast member in one of the main campaigns.