Bertrand Dwendal

King Bertrand Dwendal is the king of the Dwendalian Empire in Wildemount and was one of the targets listed on Ripley's gun, "Animus". As an NPC, Dwendal is played by Matthew Mercer.

Personality
Bertrand Dwendal is known for being a mighty, yet totalitarian, ruler. Due to his disdain for religious practices and the extensive taxes levied on the Dwendalian citizens, tensions have begun to brim beneath the surface of western Wynandir as whispers of dissent continue to grow. Dwendal requires his subjects to maintain absolute loyalty to the crown, while placing stark control over the lives of the average Dwendalian populace.

Background
King Bertrand Dwendal seized the estates of the Briarwoods for their practice of necromancy, spurring their flight to Tal'Dorei. He also ordered the arrest of Dr. Ripley, who was initially employed by his government to develop military technology.

Campaign 2
At the beginning of the campaign (835 P.D.), King Bertrand Dwendal was in his 68th year.

Anna Ripley
Dr. Anna Ripley originally was employed by the Dwendalian government as a mid-level developer of military technology, to assist in Dwendal's dominance over western Wynandir. However, when Ripley was discovered to be conducting illegal human experimentation with arcane diseases, the King ordered her to be arrested. Ripley was forced to flee the Dwendalian Empire, or else be court-martialed. Even before Dwendal discovered Ripley's experiments into biological/chemical warfare, bad blood had existed between the King and Ripley. Thus, his name was listed on Ripley's gun Animus, as a target for vengeance.

During the battle against Vecna, King Dwendal refused to send aid claiming that until the scourge arrived on Dwendalian soil, it is of no interest to the Crown of Wildemount.

Trivia

 * Ripley's history in the Dwendalian Empire and her history with King Dwendal were revealed by Matthew Mercer during the Fireside Chat.