Lieutenant Colwell

Lieutenant Colwell

Lieutenant Colwell was an officer serving aboard The Liliana (Airship), initially holding the rank of Lieutenant and later promoted to Lieutenant Commander by Zaira von Monocle. He bore responsibility for the crew complement and served as Zaira's second-in-command on the bridge, a role she considered him her best at. He was a consistent presence on the bridge across multiple operations, performing observation, navigation, crew coordination, and direct combat when required. He addressed Zaira von Monocle by her title of "Baronette" and was noted to be perceptive of her moods.

In appearance, Colwell stood about a foot taller than Major Edwin Ral and was somewhat skinnier. He had a receding hairline with thinning hair and wore a Grand Rislandian Army hat and a fur-lined hooded jacket. He was known to hate pomp.

Spoiler: The Crystal ConspiracyClick to reveal

Role in For Steam and Country

In For Steam and Country, Lieutenant Colwell was stationed on the bridge of The Liliana (Airship) during the diversion assault. He used binoculars to observe the mountain and calculate headings, then called the crew to battle stations with the order:

"Battle stations! For steam and country!"

He called out coordinates to the cannoneers during the engagement. When Glenn was struck after the turret was hit, Colwell intervened to stop Zaira von Monocle from rushing to him. He remained on the bridge when Zaira subsequently collapsed to the floor. Colwell then rushed Zaira to the medical bay. He later reported the circumstances of her collapse to her father, informing him:

"Lieutenant Colwell told me the moment our explosive detonated, you collapsed to the floor."

Role in The Blood of Giants

In The Blood of Giants, Colwell continued to serve as a Lieutenant aboard The Liliana (Airship), with responsibilities that included crew complement and bridge operations. He was already on the bridge when Zaira arrived before departure.

During the voyage, Colwell looked through the telescope and corrected Baron Theodore von Monocle's heading to thirty-seven degrees. He called out "Land sighted!" through the communications funnel and later shouted "Land ho!" upon sighting Portsgate. He handled landing proceedings alongside Major Edwin Ral and rated one landing eight out of ten, noting it was the highest rating yet:

"Soft landing. Eight out of ten I'd say."

Following a shell explosion, Colwell rushed to Zaira's side and placed a reassuring hand on her arm. He was noted as not being used to such decisive calls from her, and he held the bridge door open for her. He advised against Zaira joining the scouting party, and when overruled, gave a resigned "Aye, ma'am" before jogging out to the deck to prepare to drop the ramp.

During the Nightmen attack, Colwell was positioned by the bridge. He stepped outside the bridge to fight, firing his pistol at the Nightmen's transport vessel, emptying his chamber and reloading during the battle. He noted that the crew needed every man who could fight, and agreed to protect Major Edwin Ral at the bridge. He also wished the ship's cannons had been upgraded:

"I wish we'd had time to upgrade our cannons to some of those exploding shells the Wyranth use."

He noted the Nightmen's location near the mountain.

During the volcano eruption, Colwell followed Zaira toward the bridge. When a giant bat seized Zaira's cape, Colwell shot it with his pistol and urged her to get inside quickly:

"Let's get inside, quickly."

After a crash landing, Colwell was observed frowning while gazing forward across the ship.

When Zaira reached the airship following her time in the cavern, she requested Colwell immediately. He came to her on deck when summoned and asked for binoculars to survey the cave. He noted the ship had no explosive on this mission, but understood Zaira's plan to use the cannons to collapse the cave, stating he would return to the bridge after grasping the plan. He then gave orders to the crew to move the ship and fire the cannons.

Colwell was assigned to command the contingency force left at the ship, as directed:

"Make sure to leave a contingency force here under Lieutenant Colwell's command."

During Zaira's absence in the cavern depths, it was considered likely that Colwell believed her and her crew to be long dead, and that he would have had no way to find them.

Colwell stood at the door to the bridge upon Zaira's return and asked her multiple times if something was wrong, demonstrating his attentiveness to her state of mind.

Role in The Fight for Rislandia

In The Fight for Rislandia, Colwell continued to serve aboard The Liliana (Airship) as Zaira's second-in-command on the bridge, a role she regarded him as her best at. During this period he was promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander by Zaira, after which he wore new rank pips.

Colwell operated the brass communications funnel to relay orders to the crew and cannoneers, and used the telescope on the bridge to monitor operations below. He shouted "For steam and country!" to the crew during engagements. He noted it would be another hour or two before arriving at the Oler Mountains and suggested sending someone down to warn General von Monocle about the spies.

He expressed misgivings about Zaira dropping into the city during battle, consistent with his previously stated view that as airship captain she should remain aboard and not risk herself:

"I really hate that you do this."

Despite his disagreement, he followed Zaira's orders, calling Marina du Willet and Ethan von Lantern to the deck on her order and hustling out to relay orders about the rope ladder. He motioned for Zaira to go ahead during the rope-drop operation.

Colwell was called to strategic planning meetings in the mess. He asked Zaira what to do with information about the Old Forest and nodded approval of her plan to head south. He advised Zaira to get orders from Baron Theodore von Monocle before acting independently.

When Zaira returned to the bridge with an ear wound, Colwell shouted "Baronette!" and noted her injury with concern, remarking:

"I swear, you take more bullet wounds than our commandos. It's like they're drawn to you."

He advised her to see Dr. Estrella du Clockhand about the wound.

Colwell noted that The Liliana (Airship) was not equipped to load The Big Bomb into a cannon. He jogged out of the bridge to order the bomb's ropes cut, then returned to the bridge after it was dropped. He peered through the telescope to assess the bomb's impact and the battle below, reported a direct hit, and praised Major Edwin Ral's positioning. He also reported that the Wyranth were not backing down and that the city was overwhelmed.

When exploding shells were exhausted, Colwell suggested using cannonballs, noting they had always done well with them before. He was ready at his station when Wyranth forces were spotted and asked Zaira for orders. He was ordered to have commandos on a watch rotation on deck.

During a sharp maneuver by Major Edwin Ral, Colwell's face turned white from strain. During a subsequent explosion that rocked the ship, Colwell hit his head hard against the wall and was found slumped on the ground, unconscious. He was confirmed to be alive when Zaira detected his breath. After being treated by Dr. Estrella du Clockhand with smelling salts and pain relief, he was found with a bandage around his skull. He held on to the handrail during the crash and shouted something during the final collapse.

Colwell used the telescope to observe people on the ground near the mine and kept pace at Zaira's side as she returned to the bridge. He complimented Major Edwin Ral on one of his best landings. He stood outside the bridge watching repairs and made a remark about wishing for a horseless carriage, gold, and a beach house in the Tyndree Kingdom. He was noted to have a family. He also teased Zaira about crashing the ship and, when she mentioned her hair, quipped:

"I don't have that problem. Could always cut yours."

He was also heard to exclaim "By Malaky" as an oath.

Zaira at one point relayed orders through Ethan von Lantern for Colwell to take off and come to the mine.

Role in The Iron Wedding

In The Iron Wedding, Colwell was not depicted in active scenes but was named among those Zaira von Monocle already missed upon departing Rislandia, indicating his continued place within her close circle and crew:

"I already missed Talyen, Harkerpal, Colwell, and the others."

Relationships

• Glenn: Colwell prevented Zaira from going to Glenn after the turret was hit during the events of For Steam and Country.
• Major Edwin Ral: Colwell worked alongside Major Ral in making preparations for grounding the ship and handling landing proceedings. He agreed to protect Major Ral at the bridge during the Nightmen attack in The Blood of Giants. In The Fight for Rislandia, he praised Ral's positioning during the bomb drop and complimented him on one of his best landings. Colwell stood about a foot taller than Ral and was somewhat skinnier.
• Baron Theodore von Monocle: Colwell corrected the Baron's heading during navigation in The Blood of Giants. In The Fight for Rislandia, he advised Zaira to obtain orders from the Baron before acting.
• Marina du Willet: Colwell called Marina to the deck on Zaira's order in The Fight for Rislandia.

Spoiler: The Crystal ConspiracyClick to reveal

• Dr. Estrella du Clockhand: Dr. du Clockhand treated Colwell after he was knocked unconscious in The Fight for Rislandia, using smelling salts and pain relief.
• Harkerpal: Colwell was named alongside Harkerpal among those Zaira missed in The Iron Wedding, suggesting a shared place in her close crew circle.
• Liliana Crew: As a bridge officer responsible for crew complement, Colwell directed crew members to battle stations, coordinated with cannoneers, and gave orders to move the ship and fire the cannons across multiple engagements.

In the short stories

In Tangled Web, Colwell is a married bridge officer with children. He scolds Edwin Ral for his slovenly bearing and plans to take a night coach to Rislandia City. He fails to find a ride, and the next morning he picks up the naked, fleeing Edwin, gives him pants, and rides with him to the capital.