Kessler (ケスラー, Kesurā) is a supporting character in Suikoden. Kessler was a bandit who supported the ideals of the Toran Liberation Army.
History
I hate the Empire too, but I'm just a bandit. Lady Odessa is our hope for freedom.
— Kessler
Kessler was the chief of a gang of bandits who used to haunt Mt. Tigerwolf. Kessler held such esteem for Odessa Silverberg and the Toran Liberation Army that he became enraged after he discovered his subordinate, Ledon, had drugged and robbed Odessa with Robber's Tea without realizing who she was.
He held strong resentment towards the oppressive nature of the Scarlet Moon Empire but felt powerless to do anything as a mere bandit. As such, he entrusted all his hopes to Odessa. That said, in his heart, he wished to abandon his banditry in order to fight for the people.
Later on, during the height of the Gate Rune War, Kessler and Ledon travelled to the Liberation Army's Secret Factory after an Imperial crackdown at Mt. Tigerwolf. There, they were discovered by Ronnie Bell, who captured them after accusing them of snooping. Luckily, the Liberation Army members he had met at Mt. Tigerwolf arrived.
Kessler joined the Liberation Army, fighting with them for the remainder of the war. He wielded a slightly undersized double-edged axe, a hatchet, in battle. While he was happy to be able to fight for a worthy cause, he possibly felt too uncomfortable as a bandit to associate with the core members of the Liberation Army.
After the formation of the Toran Republic, Kessler's caring and distinguished personality as well as his familiarity with the region led to him being appointed the captain of the Toran Republic Patrol Corps. By the year 475, he had retired from the position.