Alexander Cromwell

Alexander Cromwell

Male Human

Player: DocMartinST

[[Image:‎|300x600px|]]

General Information
Full Name:	Unknown
Nicknames:	Al, Alex, Cromwell, Crom, Shiny, Scythe, Sarge, Altar Boy
Age:	46
Deity:	Ilmater (Formerly Tempus)
Alignment:	LG LN LE NG TN NE CG CN CE
Occupation:	Soldier
Faction/Rank:	None
Place of Birth:	Suzail, Cormyr, Toril.
Physical Attributes
Height:	6'2"
Weight:	246 lbs.
Eyes:	Brown
Hair:	Brown (Bald)
Complexion:	Tanned
Physical Build:	Muscled
Physical Features:	Alexander is heavily scarred from years of warfare, but has surprisingly gentle eyes.
Skills
Melee Combat, Healing and First Aid, Resisting Spells/Psionic Abilities
Equipment and Items
Typical Gear: A +2 Keen Massive Criticals Scythe (Death's Handmaiden), Wall-Watch Captain's Armour, Helm of Valhalla, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Netherese Spell Battle Ring, Ring of Regeneration (+3), Belt of Hill Giant Strength, Bearclaw Amulet, Healing Hands Amulet, Boots of Hardiness, Nymph's Cloak (+3).

"Mageslayer, Champion o' Ilmater,Warrior? Might be wha' I'm called, but tha's nae who I am. At m'core, I'm jes' one thing. Daddy."

Alexander Cromwell is the reluctant Champion of Ilmater, known throughout Sigil as a somewhat brash but loyal man. Those who are unfamiliar with the man himself are likely to have heard stories about his prowess with simple farming implements as weapons. Although he's been a relative unknown in Sigil until recently, Alexander has rather quickly ascended to becoming known as an incredibly tenacious warrior, famed for his effectiveness at bringing Magi to their knees in moments.

Physical Description

Alexander is a powerfully built man standing at just over six feet tall. Although he can be intimidating at first glance, the rather large Ilmateri puts most at ease with an unexpected bit of humour or his generally polite demeanor. His posture is that of a seasoned soldier, straight-backed and alert. Despite his advanced age, Alexander maintains a muscular build and has been known to have a rather grueling training regime that he completes each day before morning prayer. He has a satchel at his hip which seems to contain anything he might ever require, and can be seen dipping into it for potions, scrolls, ioun stones, or other trinkets that the situation might call for. When not on an expedition or training, Alexander can be seen writing (Or reading) a rather large tome that he refers to as his "spellbook." Whether or not it actually is or isn't, remains to be seen.

When seen without his armour (Or without most of his clothes), Alexander's entire body is criss-crossed with scars that appear to have been made with a variety of weapons and spells. When asked about any particular one, Alexander might regale the person with a tale of battle, or he might shy away from the subject, depending on which scar is being asked about.

Alexander's armour is well-worn but impeccably maintained, the dents hammered out and the scratches filled in, the entirety of the plate polished until passerby can see themselves in the metal. The same care is shown for the weapon he never seems without, his Scythe. When out adventuring, Alexander is known to wear an enchanted white hood that is reported to shield him mind from magical or psionic effects.

Personality

Alexander is a deeply private man, prone to bouts of moodiness where he is disagreeable with everyone about everything. When not in one of these fits of depression, Alexander is a rather serious man, with all the discipline of a veteran soldier. Despite this, he appreciates good humour and tales involving such, and has been known to crack off a one-liner or two himself.

Despite this, Alex is known as a fiercely loyal man, willing to stand between his allies and certain doom when it is needed.

Early Life

Sergeant Cromwell was born to Elizabeth and Jacob Cromwell on their farm just outside of Suzail in the kingdom of Cormyr during the summer, the third of six children. Alex's youngest brother (Thomas) died of tuberculosis at nine months old, when the future soldier was just four years old. Alexander professes to not remembering his youngest brother, growing irritable when asked about him.

Alexander was rather tall and strong for his age, and at the age of twelve, he dropped out of school (From which he was rather above-average) to help his father on the farm. He was put to work mostly in the fields, tending to the grain and reaping it when it was time for harvest.

When he turned twenty-three, he enlisted in the Militia, as the threat of goblinoid encroachment on Cormyrian lands was just beginning to rear it's ugly head. Given that he was one of the few soldiers in the militia who could actually read, he was trained (at the cost of the government by the Purple Dragon Corps) primarily to identify enemy spellcasters and techniques on how to neutralize them. These skills would aid him greatly when the Goblin Wars began some ten years later. During this time, he married his longtime sweetheart Isabella Darwin, and had a child, Kara.

When the Goblin Wars broke out, Alexander was assigned to Third Company under the command of Captain Darryl Jackson. He quickly became known as "Lucky Al" due to his uncanny abilities to sniff out danger in the form of enemy mages about to ambush the company. It was during this time that he met his longtime friend and confidant, Chaplain Shy'Nar. Although Alexander at the time was a half-hearted devotee of Tempus, he got along well with the somewhat pacifistic Ilmateri during their campaigns against the orcish hordes.

Although Alexander was a model soldier, there was much to be desired in other aspects of his life. He was known to be a lecherous drunkard, having cheated on his wife on numerous occasions during the short furloughs granted by the army. He was also given to bouts of rage during the heat of battle, chasing down and slaughtering fleeing enemy troops with reckless abandon.

When Alexander finally returned home from the war, he began an affair with one of his neighbours, a woman by the name of Angelika Clayton. As the relationship progressed, Angelika urged Alexander to leave his wife so they could be together, but the soldier would have none of it. Despite his infidelity, he simply couldn't bear to be separated from his daughter. Angelika grew more and more jealous over time, and when Alexander lay drunk in his bed after too much ale at the tavern, she sneaked into his home and murdered both Kara and Isabella.

Alexander's sins had finally caught up with him. After the funeral, the soldier sold the farm and traveled for the next nine years, never staying anywhere for too long. Eventually... He found himself in the grand city of Sigil.

Life in Sigil

Alexander arrived in Sigil to little fanfare. To the inhabitants, he was just another berk who would either leave in short order, or go off and get himself killed. Since then, Alexander has proved to be neither (Although he's come close to the latter on more than one occasion).

Since arriving, Alexander has gained a profound faith in the Torilian Deity Ilmater. The quiet words of compassion and forgiveness ring true with the old soldier, and his personal atonement (Beginning with a heartfelt confession to his friend Celestine) is at the forefront of his mind in all things that he does.

Open Personal Questlines (Anyone can join, contact doomedparagon for info))

• Kara's Song: Alexander has recently learned that when his daughter was murdered, her soul did not go to the upper planes to find eternal rest. He has commissioned several priests for Spells of Communion to try and locate the soul, but to no avail. Alexander suspects that Kara's soul is trapped somewhere in the Abyss, based upon strange dreams he's been having, even when awake.

OOC Info: The Demon Ashtaroth has been toying with this information, tormenting Alexander with his failures and hinting that he might know more than he's letting on.

• Illuminus Ilmatari: Alexander has become a Champion of Ilmater, despite his protestations and reluctance. To the Ilmateri Layman, he is undeserving of the gifts bestowed upon him. Although Alexander has been forgiven by Ilmater for his sins, he's still a far shot away from forgiving himself. The Tyrian Paladin Celestine has been guiding Alexander on how to control his new powers, as well as keeping him on the right path. Will this new purpose finally give Alexander a reason to live? Or an excuse to die?

Open DM Questlines

• Wrath of Demons: After a quest to retrieve a soulgem gone awry, Alexander must contend with both a Balor Warlord whom the gem was stolen from, and the Glabrezu who originally imparted the quest with the promise of telling him where Kara's soul is. Has any chance of him finding the child been forever lost? Or is this just another game of chess between demons where he and his companions are the pawns? (Characters Involved: Celestine, Alexander Cromwell, Blanc Hydre, Abe Reinhart. DM: Technomancy).

Accomplishments

• Alexander once stood guard over the Gates to Asgard for hours while Celestine went through Tyr's Trials. Although the "assignment" was a quiet one, Alexander was more than quietly aware of the Frost Giants camped nearby.

• The Ilmateri once tackled Ashtaroth in the middle of the Market and Guildhall Ward in full sight of the guards and began (As one onlooker put it) shaking him like a dwarven brew. This was in response to Ashtaroth's maddening roundabout denial of having tampered with Alex's mind. Doubly impressive, is that he got away with it.

• Competed in Mack's Tournament with distinction, losing to Arch-Mage Craugh in the semi-final round (Although it was widely agreed that it was the closest match-up in the division).

• Scored a telling blow on Alexander Krupkin during a sparring match. An accomplishment to any warrior, as the Halfling is known to be one of the most talented warriors in the planes.

• Although not an accomplishment in of itself, Mack Bloodeye has admitted that he fears Alexander's Scythe. Not Alexander himself, strangely enough.

Character Flaws

• Alexander has issues with self-worth. When something goes wrong, he is prone to taking all of the blame onto himself.

• Alex's past is more than checkered, it's damned near black. This has been exploited by his enemies on more than one occasion, using it as leverage to make the Ilmateri lose focus.

• Alexander has an obsession with finding his daughter's soul. Several people have used this to their advantage when dealing with him, and has been cause to shake his allies' faith in him.

Relationships

Due to his brash honesty, Alexander has made quite a few friends and enemies during his time in Sigil. Listed below are a few of these individuals, and is by no means comprehensive.

Allies

• Celestine: The Tyrian Paladin who safeguards Alex's path to redemption, she has proven herself to be a stalwart ally in the face of adversity. More than a friend, she is Alexander's mentor and confidant on his various quests and training exercises.

• Gargaroth "Gargs" Welk: The so-called "Millionaire of Magi", Gargaroth has been a rock that has supported Alex during his darkest hours. Always ready with a bit of advice or a kind word, Gargaroth has been a true friend to the Ilmateri.

• Senna: The first time Alexander met the strange drow, she beat him into the dirt so hard he was spitting out rocks for a week. Since then, the pair has faced off against dragons, powerful magi, and terrible monsters.

• Fia Morrigan: The tiefling who showed Alexander the ropes when he first arrived, Fia has proven to be just as friendly as she is perpetually tired.

• Fenia: Alex's longtime partner in crime, the pair of them make light work of even the most difficult of challenges. The pair met rather randomly when Aria recruited them both to help her on an expedition.

• Aria: When Alexander met Aria, she turned into a dragon and scared the daylights out of him. After a stiff drink and quite a bit of quiet time, Alexander returned to apologize for his behavior. The pair have been friendly towards one another ever since.

• Arch-Mage Craugh: Despite the pair's rivalry at the tournament, Alexander can't help but like the frail old man who is far tougher than he seems. Just don't ask him how it feels to be punched in the face by an Iron Golem.

• Chiara: Alexander owes this assassin a drink, especially after she offered to help him find his daughter. It takes all sorts, it seems.

• Mack Bloodeye: Not so much an ally as a friendly rival, Alex would rather fight -beside- this berk than against him.

• Alexander Krupkin: Although Alexander respects the hin's skill with a blade, their relationship has soured in recent weeks due to an incident involving a broken promise.

Enemies

• Valar Milension: Despite trying to find some redeeming quality about the Sensate, Alexander feels this woman would serve the multi-verse better by being dead in a ditch somewhere. Given her recent disappearance, that might just have happened.

• Ashtaroth: A foe as ancient as the stars and as evil as Asmodeus, Ashtaroth has proven to be an incredibly capable and dangerous foe.