Balthasar Gelt

The position of Supreme Patriarch is the highest attainable position by a wizard within the Empire. The patriarch is responsible for advising the Emperor is all decisions dealing with the Arcane. Every couple of years each of the eight Colleges of magic elect one of their number to compete in duel with an equal counterpart. The victor of this arcane dual receives the office of Supreme Patriarch and the right to wield the ancient Staff of Volans.

Balthasar Gelt is the most recent winner of this exalted position. After defeatingThyrys Gormann of the Bright Order in an epic duel, Balthasar of the Gold Order became the supreme patriarch, replacing the prominance of fire with that of metal. Since that day, the new supreme patriarch, riding a pegasus surrounded by a golden halo, has appeared on many battlefields, where the Emperor's soldiers are fighting. Now the Winds of Magic blow strongly for the Gold College as their fortunes are once again on the rise.

The transmutation of vile metals into pure gold, the noblest of all metals, had always fascinated Balthasar. Driven by this obssesion he quickly rose through the ranks of the gold order. His new research into new formulations of black powder have even made him popular with the college of engineers; an organisation that often dismisses magic as superstitious nonsence.

A freak explosion in his laboratory almost ended his quest for knowledge. A sudden explosion was heard and light streamed through the door. Many wanted to tend to Gelts wounds, but he ordered them to leave him alone. From that day balthasar has only ever been seen swaythed in shimmering, metalic, coloured robes and wearing a golden mask. Some say his entire skin was turned to gold, while others protest that he was horribly burned and disfigured. The truth of the matter is unknown, but one thing is certain; the accident only furthered his will to succeed and increase his powers. As the patriarch of the gold order, his fellow lord magisters have been seen trying to copy their patriarch by wearing eccentric masks made of gold and other metals. It is rumored that Gelt has finally found the formula of transmutation.

Source

 * Empire armybook