Belanar Gullis

"The greatest act of piracy known to mortalkind... Taxes."
—Belanar describing his nickname, 'Skull-Taxes'.

Governer Belanar Gullis, formerly Pirate Lord Belanar 'Skull-Taxes' Gullis, is the half-orc leader of Tikius. He was the Pirate Lord of Greed for the majority of the Curse of the Blood Sea campaign. He later avoided prosecution for his piracy, and became the Governor of Tikius instead under Cinohan rule although they barely had any control over the island or him.

Biography

Early Life

"My dearest mother passed away during childbirth... But to be fair, that's what she gets for bangin' an orc."

Belanar was an orphan half-orc born in Tikius, as far as he tells his own origin. Most of the information about Belanar's history is shrouded in secrecy and lies, as he tends to embellish his own deeds and life story a lot.

What can be confirmed is that Belanar rose to become a legendary pirate throughout the Blood Sea. At some point, he got his hands on the Piece of Greed and became the new Pirate Lord of Greed. He was wanted by all major nations, and was more infamous than most of the other Pirate Lords simply because he did not even try to act like he had a legitimate business- He was a true pirate at heart.

He was also exceedingly well-respected in his hometown, Tikius. In 3E442, he was elected as the new Mayor of Tikius. As Mayor, he protected the pirate port from law authorities who would try to exert their control on the free city. That being said, he had a rough relationship with Roonan Deeprose, and forced Roonan to build his Rummery on the far side of the island.

Curse of the Blood Sea

When Dr. Genso's abyssal plague started to spread across Tikius in 3E450, Belanar put the pirate city into quarantine. When Laoch, Anlee, Elise, Sif, and Nyx ended up crashing into his port, he recruited them as his men and even repaired the merchant ship they crashed with, that later became the Argent Star. Under Belanar, the crew investigated the Deeprose crew, as well as the abyssal plague, as well as the elemental Pyrovain who threatened to erupt the supervolcano Tikius was built on. The party would eventually end up getting Roonan arrested, and defeat Pyrovain using a typhoon's help.

"WHAT A STORM LADS, THIS'LL TAKE DOWN A FLEET, NO FIRE AN' BRIMSTONE CAN COMPARE TO THE STRENGTH OF TH' OCEAN" - Belanar, during the fight against Pyrovain that happened under a typhoon.

The party would later return after some weeks with the Deeprose ship instead of the Argent Star. They paid Belanar back for all that they owed him, no longer under his employ. He repaired their ship, now renamed to the Phoenix Nebula. They then ended up becoming privateers for the Crimson Navy, working under Admiral Isabeau.

"Ah yes, Mr. Belanar Gullis, Lord of nowhere and Mayor of a doomed city." - Admiral Isabeau about Belanar.

The crew of the Phoenix Nebula then defeated Dr. Genso, and split for a few years. Laoch became the captain of the ship, and used Tikius and the repaired Silver Songbird Rummery as her home port.

Two years later, in 3E452, the Crimson Navy was planning a full siege and takeover of Tikius, led by the promoted Grand Admiral Isabeau. The island's strategic location would help them fight against the Lunars later on. Belanar had run out of many resources, and knew that he wouldn't be able to withstand the full might of the Crimson Navy. He essentially gave up, and started drinking his problems away. He did not even bother setting up defenses for the city, planning a festival for the Nosali Harvest Festival instead.

"MY FRIENDS, OF THE ARGENT NEBULA! Ms. Pearlwynd! I haven't seen you since the plague!" - A drunk and dejected Belanar welcoming the Phoenix Nebula.

When the crew of the Phoenix Nebula returned to Tikius, they found him in a sad state in his bar. Xesk, one of the alhoon followers of Xaniv the Whisperer, showed up and demanded Belanar give up his piece of seven as he was no longer fit to be a pirate lord. The party defeated him with Belanar's help, and slapped some sense into Belanar. Motivated, he helped set up defenses for the city and commanded the defense of Tikius during the siege. During the fight, the crew of the Nebula defeated the black dragon Volnaxokaaz, but were cornered by Crimson soldiers. Belanar showed up to the rescue with many pirates, and helped save the day.

The fight still looked tense though, and it looked like Tikius might fall to the crimsons. Upon Isabeau's defeat though, the Cinohan Navy showed up led by Kanda Urata. They declared that the Cinoh Shogunate now controls the island of Tikius, and that the Crimson Navy is trespassing. With the siege 'won', Belanar thought about Xesk's statements and decided to give up being the pirate lord after all. He gave his Piece of Greed to Sif instead, making her the new Pirate Lord of Greed. He then convinced Urata into making him Governor of Tikius, a promotion from Mayor.

"Like I said, the days of Tikius being a free pirate port are over. My… Lack of action has destroyed much of my city, most of my fleet, and now my leadership. I suppose that's just how the river flows. The tentafuck was right, I think I've lost the right to be a pirate lord. Ms. Redfield, I would've offered this to you, but looking at myself, I realise now that the best captains don't always make the best lords. As a… PRETTY greedy fuck myself… Little bird, I name you the next Pirate Lord of Greed." - Belanar giving up his title to Sif.

"MY FRIEND! As the mayor of this town, technically, if you're taking over, that WOULD promote me to GOVERNER, wouldn't it? Come over to my bar, we can discuss the terms of agreement-" - Belanar then proceeding to go talk to Kanda Urata.

Later, when the The Pirate Court reconvened at Shipwreck City, Belanar was present at the negotiating table backing up Sif. He brought his fleet from Tikius, and reminisced with the other Pirate Lords.

Baoshi: "Lord Belanar, or well, Governor Belanar- I didn't expect for you to give up that card of yours. I remember vividly, you slitting the throat of someone who had wronged you, and turning their corpse into a pile of coins."
Belanar: "…Good times indeed, Baoshi. But times change, and so must I."
- Belanar talking with Baron Zhang Baoshi.

He sailed his small fleet into the Abyssgate with the rest of the pirate lords, helping push back the demons and close the Abyssgate for good. Upon Xaniv's death, the Pirate Court was officially dissolved. He then went back to Tikius, content with his role.

“Ah yes, the Phoenix Nebula. Actually, it was ME who brought them together, you know. I was their first sponsor, even gave them their first ship. If it wasn't for Governor Gullis here, the world would be fucked! I'm not taking all the credit, of course, that's up to the fates above, but I am taking, like, 70% of the credit. 75%. Now, my friend, I have a good business opportunity for you here, at Tikius: A city for people like us to turn over a new leaf." - Governor Gullis during the campaign's epilogue, talking to Morley Tobe.

Timeline

1E944 - Belanar Gullis is born on Tikius, presumably.
3E430 - As an infamous pirate, Belanar gets his hand on the Piece of Greed and becomes the Pirate Lord of Greed.
3E442 - Belanar is elected as the mayor of Tikius.
3E450 - During the events of Act 1 of Curse of the Blood Sea, Belanar recruits the crew of the Phoenix Nebula under his command.
3E452 - After the Siege of Tikius, Belanar gives up his Piece of Greed to Sif, and becomes the Governor of Tikius under the Cinoh Shogunate. He is present at the final battle to close the Abyssgate.
3E456 - He hires the crew of the Green Claw to help calm down Mt. Ashskull during the events of Sea of Starfall.