A gentle Bajoran vedek, rival of Winn Adami for the office of kai, whose romance with Kira Nerys ended with his death.
Bareil Antos was a respected vedek of the Bajoran faith, admired for his calm, progressive outlook. He first came to Deep Space Nine as the intended target of an assassination planned by supporters of Vedek Winn Adami, and he soon became the leading candidate to succeed Kai Opaka.
During the election he withdrew from the race rather than reveal a painful secret about Opaka's conduct during the Occupation, allowing Winn to become kai. He also began a long romance with Kira Nerys. Later, while assisting Winn in sensitive peace negotiations with the Cardassians, he was gravely injured in a shuttle accident, and Julian Bashir replaced much of his failing brain with artificial implants so he could finish the talks.
The treatment could not save him, and Bareil died after the negotiations succeeded, leaving Kira grief-stricken. A mirror universe counterpart later crossed over to the station as a thief. Bareil remained a symbol of the compassionate faith that Winn's ambition betrayed.