Welkin Gunther

Welkin Gunther is the main character of the original Valkyria Chronicles.

Valkyria Chronicles
The son of General Belgen Gunther, Welkin was born in the village of Bruhl close to the Gallia-Empire border. At a young age he gained a sister, Isara Gunther, whom Belgen had adopted after the death of her father, the famed engineer Theimer. Welkin and his father treated Isara as one of their own and the two siblings remained close throughout their childhood. Welkin also gained a love of nature from spending time with his father in the forests and fields around Bruhl. Belgen however passed on when Welkin was only 13, though the two siblings were cared for by Martha Lipponen, a family friend.

Expanded Biography
Welkin was born in the small town of Bruhl during the first Europan War. His father, Belgen Gunther, came to be known as the "Hero of Gallia" after the war for his many valiant accomplishments.

Though he lost his mother to the chaos of war, Welkin led a relatively peaceful life with his father, their servant Martha, and Isara, whom Belgen had adopted as his daughter.

Welkin enjoyed a great relationship with his father, and the two often went out to fish or sketch together. Belgen had suffered many losses during the war, including his beloved wife and the many comrades he had considered as brothers. The grief he felt over these losses left a deep scar in the hero's heart, but the quiet time he spent with his son always brought a genuine smile to his face. Still, the grief was too much for one soul to bear, and Welkin lost his father to a heavy illness at the tender age of 13. Welkin always notes that these little expeditions with his father are what introduced him to his love of nature.

After Belgen's passing, Welkin was able to support himself and Isara with the help of Martha. Eventually, his passion for nature evolved into an academic interest, and he enrolled in a biology course at the University of Randgriz.

As the second Europan War became more of a reality for the people of Gallia, little skirmishes along the border caught Welkin's attention. He decided to head home to Bruhl in order to pack up their household belongings and move to the safety of the capital city. Unfortunately, the very day Welkin arrived in Bruhl was the day the Imperial troops attacked.

Once Welkin returned to Randgriz, he was drafted into the Gallian militia. Due to his extensive military training at the University of Randgriz, Welkin was immediately eligible for the rank of a commissioned officer as well as a tank commander. His credentials, coupled with the way he had handled himself in the battle at Bruhl got Welkin assigned as the lieutenant in charge of Squad 7 of the Gallian Militia's 3rd regiment.

Welkin has a very gentle personality and can even be considered naive in some ways. He is very open-minded and accepting of everyone, so he will treat everyone with an equal amount of respect regardless of social standing, fame, or rank. These admirable traits are a result of his father's influence, as well as the childhood days he spent growing up with Isara. Though he does have a very studious and intelligent side to him, Welkin does lack what most people might consider common sense, such as the area in the city that his fellow students often went to when looking for some fun, or something as simple as how to tie a necktie.

Also, though he is generally a peaceful sort, Welkin is certainly not a pacifist. Growing up with Isara meant that he often found himself in physical conflicts when protecting his sister from those who wished harm upon Darcsens. The time he spent studying nature also taught Welkin that all life must eventually come to an end, and he had learned to accept that at a young age.

Expanded Biography (VC3)
Welkin is the son of General Belgen Gunther, a legendary man who earned the title of "hero" during the First Europan War. After joining the Gallian Militia, Welkin was placed in charge of the 3rd Regiment's Squad 7. Welkin is kind, gentle, intelligent, and likable. In university, he studied biological sociology, and spent most of his time studiously researching animals and insects.

He may seem like a pretty carefree guy, but Welkin learned from his biological sociology studies that violence and conflict are innate traits found in every living creature. As such, whenever his comrades started bickering with one another, he just let them get it out of their systems instead of intervening. Welkin was a brilliant and talented leader who guided his squad safely through the dangers of the battlefield.

Once his duty in the Second Europan War was done, Welkin retired from the militia in order to lead a quiet life with Alicia. Alicia was a fellow soldier in Squad 7, and the flower of love managed to blossom between the two young soldiers even amid the chaos and devastation of war. They were wed soon after the war's conclusion and settled in southern Gallia, where Welkin found a job teaching at a school. On his days off, Welkin and Alicia go out together to study flowers and insects. The two eventually had a daughter together, whom they named Isara in honor of the sister Welkin lost during the war.

External link

 * Valkyria Chronicles Wiki