Kleef Kenric

 Sir Kleef Kenric was a topsword in the Marsember Watch, a descendant of the Marsemban Kenric family and the chosen of Helm during the late 15 century DR. He played an influential role during the events of the Second Sundering, helping thwart the divine schemes of the goddess Shar.

""Vigilance"."

- Kleef upon seeing the avatar of Helm.

Description
Kleef had black hair and a rather large build, giving him something of an oafish appearance.

Collector's Series
"Embittered paladin, Kleef Kenric is one of a new group of Chosen in the Realms who is blessed by his god with divine gifts that make him an excellent ally - and a target for those who seek to corral his powers. Swept up in a quest to thwart the rise of the goddess of Death, Kleef embarks on a mission with an odd group of allies including a mysterious short pudgy man exuding a faint odor of decay. Along the way he learns that his allies hide dangerous secrets - secrets that could destroy the very fabric if the Forgotten Realms."

- Sculpted by Werner Klocke

Personality
Kleef was a determined follower of Helm tenets, particularly the Law of Service. He refused personal bribes whenever they were offered.

While he stayed true to his faith, Kleef felt great anger and resentment towards Helm due to his absence in Faerûn for most of Kleef's life. As a result, he was somewhat immature and narrow-minded, often acting in petty ways and holding misguided grudges.

Abilities
By the power of Helm, Kleef was granted strength and fortitude in battle that far exceeded that of ordinary men. He was not fully aware that power was attributed to his status as a chosen, a fact to which he was ignorant for quite some time. It was not until he became close to the chosen of Sune, Joelle Emmeline did he finally admit that he was Helm's champion.

Despite him being the chosen of Helm, Kleef was particularly susceptible to charm magic.

Possessions
He wielded a magic greatsword named Watcher. This sword was too heavy to be wielded by anyone other than a Kenric, but to a him it was "as light as a dagger". It had a large agate set into its cross guard, referred to as Helm's Eye.

Relationships
As a topsword in the Watch, Kleef had a mixed relationship with the men that served under him. He had a trusted ally in Jang, who served as his right hand man, but could not entirely rely upon his other guardsmen, such as the untrusting Tanner or young Ardul.

During his time adventuring, Kleef became close with two of his companions, Joelle Emmeline and Lady Arietta Seasilver. He rapidly became captivated by Lady Joelle, due in part to her magic a Heartwarder of Sune, but realized that attraction interfered with his duty. Over time, Kleef came to greatly respect Lady Arietta for the grace and true nobility she displayed, especially in the face of great sacrifice.

History
Kleef came from a long line of Helmite followers, who dedicated themselves to the preservation of integrity in the Marsember Watch. He served in the watch for over 20 years, though his unwavering scruples prevented him from ever ascending beyond the rank of Topsword.

During the evacuation of Marsember, during Netheril's invasion of Cormyr in Uktar of the, Kleef and his men made it their duty to clear out Wilhastle Square. After fighting off a number of shades on Deepwater Bridge, Kleef joined up with Lady Arietta Seasilver and two of the gods' chosen, the heartwarder Joelle Emmeline of Berdusk and the devotee of Cyric, Malik el Sami, who masqueraded as a Doomlord of Myrkul. They set off aboard the Lonely Roamer, along with Falrinn Greatorm to rescue Grand Duchess Elira Seasilver from the Prince of Shade Yder Tanthul.

After rescuing the Grand Duchess, Kleef and his companions sailed across the Sea of Fallen Stars for weeks, to help complete Joelle and Malik's mission to return the Eye of Gruumsh to the Underchasm to halt Shar from bringing about the Cycle of Night. While at sea, Yder began to appear to Kleef in his dreams, probing his mind for information and offering the guardsman an easy way out of his duties. After weeks at sea, the group landed in the Vilhon Reach, traveling with a caravan as they fought off orcs and shades alike, before taking the Forest Way through the Chondalwood. Kleef demonstrated great fortitude and vigilance in stopping Yder from haunting his dreams further.

As the group finally arrived at Sadrach's Spire in the Underchasm, the group was briefly halted at its front gates. While they regrouped, Arietta expressed her willingness to sacrifice herself to complete their mission, offering up her own life to spare those of her people. Kleef became inspired. He set aside his meager resentment and dedicated himself to serve the young noblewoman. The avatar of Helm appeared for a brief moment, after over a century's absence in the Realms, and opened the way for his chosen and his allies.

Lady Arietta accepted his service as a knight and the group continued into the spire towards an underground temple of Grumbar. Once inside the spire, Kleef defeated Yder in single battle, and they managed to place the Eye upon a dais within the temple. Malik turned on Arietta in the name of his god Cyric, and Joelle sacrificed herself to save the young lady's life.

After apprehending the traitor Malik, Sir Kenric accompanied the lady to which he had sworn himself back to their home in Cormyr.

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * The Sentinel