Alessandro Grudgebringer

Ever since his return to his homeland, Alessandro "Warboss Alex" Grudgebringer, has been a constant thorn in the side of Cyprian authorities all throughout the realm. While taking command of the Cyprian army and successfully repelling a Naggarothi raiding party, at the Battle of the Thio Towers in Lemmsos, may have earned Alessandro the favour of the military, it granted him little respite with the rest of the government. To them, he is nothing more than a meddler, and a trouble-maker, this mostly because of his good standing and influence with everyone else. He has been able to bend the law to its yield point on more than one occasion, to have filled his cellar with wines and champagnes which even the Patrician himself has some difficulty acquiring, to have lavished his home with furnishings which would humble those of the Palace in N'Csia, and, most importantly, to have got away with it.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there have been numerous 'unofficial' attempts to assassinate Alessandro, all of which were unsuccessful, and resulted in some huge embarrassment for the assassins involved. Although there are many who would die before they saw him harmed, Alessandro is by no means incompetent at defending himself. From the age of fifteen, he'd left home, against his parents' wishes, to become a professional soldier, though not in the Cyprian army. Young, ambitious, and somewhat reckless, Alessandro wanted to see all of the World, from snow-covered Kislev, to the tropical shores of Lustria. Over the course of the next ten years, his wish was granted, though his mercenary career was not at all simple. He'd spent nearly a year wandering the Border Princes seeking employ, before he came across the Grudgebringer mercenaries, who were camped outside the dwarfen port of Barak Varr. Alessandro enlisted in time to follow the Grudgebringers to Nehekhara, the Land Of The Dead, where the armies of the Dread King, pursued by the mercenaries for nearly a full year, were defeated in an epic battle across the scorched sands. Tall for his years, and physically robust, Alessandro adapted smoothly to his new lifestyle; a magnificent iron broadsword, forged by his father's own hands, and which he still bears to this day, serving him well.

Three years later, when the Grudgebringer Captains, not as young as they once were, retired to enjoy the spoils of their career, and Alessandro, by a unanimous vote, assumed the mantle of the mercenaries' commander. Liked and respected by all, the newly appointed Alessandro set about upholding the Grudgebringers' considerable reputation. This he succeeded in doing, achieving his most notable victories at the battle of Alcornaz (I.Y. 2540), the Siege of Tulwa (I.Y. 2541), the Corinthian Crusade (I.Y. 2546-47), and the Second Battle of Death Pass (I.Y. 2543), where he was titled 'Warboss' by his orc allies. Many great heroes did he recruit into the Grudgebringer ranks: Hellscream, Davide Mayall, Gunther Mackenburg, Quenellas the White, Omar Akkan, and Golas Flamebeard, to name but a few. Many times did they travel the World, and many songs were sung of their exploits.

Five years ago to this day, Alessandro Grudgebringer, Hellscream and Davide returned to Cypria, in time to help repel raiders from Naggaroth. Alessandro realised that the time had come to settle, and he bought Ammstos Manor, renaming it the Grecian Grove, and converting the once proud residence of the Cyprian aristocracy, into an inn. While Hellscream returned to his tribal home in the Badlands, Davide stayed with Alessandro, and both have lived at the Grove ever since. With his military exploits earning him a reluctant seat in Cyprian Parliament, Alessandro is occasionally (and to his great annoyance) called upon to attend diplomatic soirées, and has been described by the Patrician as a "natural ambassador" (explaining that foreign representatives aren't expecting plain speech and an earring). It must be noted however, that although in the eyes of the Patrician he can do no wrong, the general view in Parliament is that "Alessandro Grudgebringer isn't a diplomat - he's the reason for diplomats."

Personal

Alessandro is tall, dark, and soundly built; an arguably handsome man (in the sense that he'd argue he wasn't). He has had several girlfriends, including the Lady Shard Jun'Ai, but even long-term relationships with Gwenhwyfar Valyn, and with Malaya Diviarnn of Illuminus have both failed to materialise into marriage. Some claim that Alessandro shall never meet one true love, with whom to spend the rest of his days, although only time will tell.

More successful, are the iron bonds of friendship Alessandro has forged, during his time with the Grudgebringers, and on his travels around the Old World. Aside from Davide Mayall and Hellscream, Alessandro's most willing accomplices have been Imajica Skye, Shard Jun'Ai, Serein Starlight, 'Whisky' and the Cyprian ranger Badger, although his closest association is with the mysterious individual known only as Tor. After returning to Cypria, Alessandro obtained a self-appointed sister, in the form of the warrioress Tenjiro Ishtai (which he will "never fully recover from..."), and new allies in the irrepressable NaABluE, Alderic Brandl, Devilin Steel, AshKaDan, Bukenraku, Alouron and Robert McRar.

A remarkably intelligent man, Alessandro is able to speak three languages (his native Cyprian, Common Imperial, and Tilean) fluently, and also has a good working knowledge of several more (including Ancient Grecian and Cathayan). He was raised in northern Cypria, to parents of mixed lineages; his father was a Cyprian merchant, his mother from Albion. His talents outside swordsmanship are several; he is an accomplished carpenter, having rebuilt many parts of his home himself, and has also tried his hand at brewing beer, with varying degrees of success. While his lifestyle allowed for the development of at fishing, boating and swimming skills, Alessandro also has a more intellectual side, although he'd rarely admit it.

Contrary to expectation, Alessandro Grudgebringer is quite a sensitive and sentimental soul. His friends mean the world to him, and he would readily lay down his life for them at the drop of a helmet. Memories and souvenirs from past adventures are treasured and precious, and references to 'the good old days' are always made with a nostalgic tear in the eye. It has also been said, that while being more than adept physically, Alessandro never really met the mental requirements of being a professional soldier. Every man in his charge was his brother; he felt for every loss, and even a single casualty was, to him, unacceptable. Perhaps his abrupt retirement from matters military wasn't such a surprise, after all ...

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