Editing Gelu

{{RampartHeroesNew}}{{HeroNew
 | town       = Rampart
 | class      = Ranger
 | gender     = Male
 | race       = {{gl|Vori|Vori Elf}}/{{gl|Human}}
 | biography  = Little is known about Gelu. Gelu was found and raised by {{gl|General Morgan Kendal}} when he was serving under {{gl|Catherine Ironfist}}. Gelu now commands {{gl|Erathia|Erathia's}} guerilla forces known as the Forest Guard. He is believed to be half Human, half Vori Elf.
 | specialty  = Sharpshooters
 | s_text     = Can upgrade {{gl|Archer and Marksman|Archers, Marksmen}}, {{gl|Wood Elf and Grand Elf|Wood Elves, and Grand Elves}} to {{gl|Sharpshooter|Sharpshooters}}.
 | skill_1    = Basic Leadership
 | skill_2    = Basic Archery
 | troop_1    = Sharpshooter
 | troop_2    = Sharpshooter
 | troop_3    = Sharpshooter
 | nmb_1      = 6
 | nmb_2      = 3
 | nmb_3      = 1
 | s_mp       = 1900
}}

He is not an original {{roe}} hero, but was added in {{ab}} and is also available in {{sod}}.

By default, Gelu is not playable, but he may be enabled in custom scenarios in the map-editor.

== Character design ==
Gelu's name is derived from [[wiktionary:gelu#Latin|the Latin word for "cold"]] and it (the character's name, not the Latin word) is pronounced with a soft G, like gel. 

 As a side note, after I published the name ‘Gelu’ (je-lu or jel-u), I found myself continually correcting the Map Makers, who pronounced it ‘Guh-el-you’ or worse... Gay-Lou.
 - [[Gregory Fulton]] (in an [[Gregory Fulton/On Names in Heroes of Might and Magic III#The Creative Process|interview on names]])

 Gelu’s appearance was clearly inspired by [[wikipedia:Elric of Melniboné|Elric of Melniboné]].
 - [[Gregory Fulton]] (in his [[Greg Fulton/Fanstratics Newsletters/9#Behemoth Cave Interview (part 2 of 7)|Behemoth Cave Interview]])

== Story ==
''"Gelu had barely graduated from the Forest Guard, ready for a fight and eager to prove himself. His seriousness was surprising in one so young and contrasted greatly against the boisterous Crag Hack."'' - [[Yog|Yog's]] letter to the Wizards of [[Bracada]]{{-}}<sup>[[Shadow of Death Manual Page 5|SoD manual]]''</sup>

According to [[Gregory Fulton]], Gelu and Catherine are relatives, both being red-haired being a hint about this<sup>[[Gregory Fulton/Tavern of Might and Magic Interview|[src&rsqb;]]</sup>, though it is unsaid how closely they are related.

=== Alternative biography  {{wll}} ===
The following biography appeared on the official (now-defunct) 3DO website:

:<div style="font-style: italic;">Little is known about Gelu's origins. History reports he was a baby found by [[Morgan Kendal]] during his military service as a lieutenant under the command of [[Catherine|Captain Catherine Gryphonheart]] during her original tour of duty with the [[Talon brigade]].

:<div style="font-style: italic;">Essentially born into the [[Erathia]]n military, the Talon brigade raised Gelu as their own. At an early age, Gelu chose to serve with the Erathian military and quickly rose through the ranks. Currently, he serves as Captain of the elite special forces company called [[Forest Guard|Forestguard]]. At home in the wilderness, Gelu has made the Forestguard company into the best 'guerilla' unit in the Erathian military. Known for their stealthy approach and quick strike attacks, Forestguard overwhelmed enemies three and four times their size in the course of the [[Restoration War]]. With the war's end, Catherine Ironfist bestowed upon Gelu, the highly prized Erathian [[Medal of Gallantry]].

==Specialty==
The cost of upgrading units to [[Sharpshooter]]s is:

{| style="text-align:center;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{cn|Archer}}||style="width:30px;"|&#8594;||300 {{g}}||style="width:30px;"|&#8594;||{{cn|Sharpshooter|noname=|image=Sharpshooter (HotA)}}
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{cn|Marksman}}||&#8594;||250 {{g}}||&#8594;||{{cn|Sharpshooter|noname=|image=Sharpshooter (HotA)}}
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{cn|Wood Elf}}||&#8594;||200 {{g}}||&#8594;||{{cn|Sharpshooter|noname=|image=Sharpshooter (HotA)}}
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{cn|Grand Elf}}||&#8594;||175 {{g}}||&#8594;||{{cn|Sharpshooter|noname=|image=Sharpshooter (HotA)}}
|}

== Appearances ==
{{appear
 |ab=
: {{mention}}: [[Catherine's Charge]]
: {{player}}: [[Shadows of the Forest]]
: {{mention}}: [[Maker of Sorrows]]
: {{mention}}: [[Return of the King]]
: {{player}}: [[A Blade in the Back]]
: {{player}}: [[To Kill A Hero]]
: {{player}}: [[Oblivion's Edge]]

 |eol=
: {{player}}: [[Graduation Exercise]]
: {{player}}: [[Cutthroats]]
: {{player}}: [[Valley of the Dragon Lords]]
: {{player}}: [[A Thief in the Night]]

 |ua=
: {{player}}: [[Search for a Killer]]
: {{mention}}: [[Final Peace]]
: {{mention}}: [[Secrets Revealed]]
: {{player}}: [[Agents of Vengeance]]
: {{mention}}: [[Wrath of Sandro]]
: {{enemy}}: [[Invasion]]
: {{player}}: [[To Strive, To Seek]]
: {{player}}: [[Union]]
: {{player}}: [[Fall of Sandro]]

 |tsof=
: {{mention}}: [[Tarnum the Overlord]]
: {{mention}}: [[The Land of the Vori]]
: {{mention}}: [[A New Enemy]]
: {{mention}}: [[A New Ally]]
: {{mention}}: [[The Capture]]
: {{mention}}: [[Tunnels of Ice]]
: {{mention}}: [[The Barbarian's Wife]]
: {{enemy}}: [[The Protectors of the Sword]]
}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 ELa-smk-H3x2 ELa.webm| Gelu graduates to a full [[Forest Guard]] member<br>([[Graduation Exercise]]{{-ws}} prologue)
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 ELe-smk-H3x2 ELe.webm| Gelu looking out over [[AvLee]]<br>([[A Thief in the Night]]{{-ws}} epilogue)
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 UAf-smk-H3x2 UAf.webm| Gelu and [[Gem]] investigating a destroyed town<br>([[Agents of Vengeance]]{{-ws}} prologue)
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 UAi-smk-H3x2 UAi.webm|thumbtime=0:04| Gelu and [[Gem]] scouting a [[Necropolis]]<br>([[To Strive, To Seek]]{{-ws}} prologue)
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 UAm-smk-H3x2 UAm.webm|thumbtime=0:02| [[Gem]], [[Gelu]], [[Crag Hack]] and [[Yog]] part ways<br>([[Fall of Sandro]]{{-ws}} epilogue)
AB_CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3_vid-H3X1intr-smk-H3X1intr.webm|thumbtime=0:29| Gelu searching for [[Armageddon's Blade (artifact)|Armageddon's Blade]]<br>([[Armageddon's Blade (campaign)|Armageddon's Blade]]{{-wa}} intro)
AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 snd-ABvoAB9-smk-H3ABab9.webm|thumbtime=0:02| Gelu wielding [[Armageddon's Blade (artifact)|Armageddon's Blade]]<br>([[Oblivion's Edge]]{{-wa}} epilogue)
Intro.h4d.webm|thumbtime=0:49| Gelu battles [[Kilgor]] causing [[The Reckoning]]<br>(HoMM IV intro)
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Gelu render.jpg
Gelu box render.jpg
Gelu2.jpg
Gelu3.png
Tarnum Letter Gelu.png| [[Tarnum]]'s letter to Gelu
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Gelu's special ability is formidable. Even so powerful that he is typically disabled in custom-made maps. While you should have no reasonable difficulty using Gelu as a main hero during the single player campaign, he could also be used as a sharpshooter-upgrading-support-hero sitting in a town garrison or following your main hero.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{hero 'see also'|style=0|top=*[[List of campaign heroes]]}}

[[Category: Rangers]]
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