Alexander Cromwell

Alexander Cromwell

Male Human

Player: DocMartinST

[[Image:‎|300x600px|]]

General Information
Full Name:	Sergeant Alexander Cromwell, Mage-Slayer, Third Company.
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.

All in all, 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).

Little more than a retired soldier at the time, Alexander kept mostly to himself. Although he made few friends during this time (The most notable being Fia Morrigan ), he set about quietly honing his skills and offering assistance to those who needed it (Rumours say the man can't walk by a beggar without dropping a small sack of gold in their lap). Despite this, Alexander still felt an emptiness left by his daughter that no amount of drink could fill.

Path to Redemption

It was during this time that Alex visited the grand library of Sigil, looking for a tome of arcane knowledge to help him in his studies. As he walked by a rather rickety bookshelf, a single book slid out and landed on the floor with a loud bang. Alexander stooped to pick it up, and as his fingers closed around the old leather, he felt almost... comforted by what he held. He turned it over to look at the engraved title on the front, but found there was none. The Old soldier then did what anyone else in the situation would have done. He simply opened the book. It was written in common, and what the book said sounded oddly... familiar. It was only after reading the first few verses there on the floor that he realized that these were the words that Chaplain Shy'Nar was often heard saying before a particularly dangerous skirmish.

The plain old book was a collection of scriptures from the Church of Ilmater. Although Alexander at the time considered himself to be a Tempurian, he could not tear his eyes away from the words written on the yellowed paper. They spoke of common yet unfamiliar concepts to the Tempurian; Mercy, Compassion, Forgiveness, and Hope. Rumours are sketchy on this particular day, but it is said that Alexander sat there on the floor reading the entire scripture from start to finish... And then he read it again. Then once more. He read it over and over until the artificial light of Sigil began to creep through the dusty windows of the archives. When he finally left the archives, they say that he moved as an old man, no longer the vibrant soldier that had strode into Sigil.

With his heart heavy with the guilt of sin, Alexander began looking for a priest of the Triad to which he could confess his crimes. Although he searched high and low, the only ones he could find were... lacking. He was on the precipice of giving up when a woman entered the Market & Guildhall Ward. She had the look of a seasoned warrior about her, her platemail shining in the artificial light of Sigil. What caught his attention most, however, was the amulet depicting a set of scales around her throat and the feathered wings that emerged from her back. This was Celestine, Paladin of Tyr.

He approached and quietly informed her of his intentions, expecting to be turned away as all the others before her had done. Instead, she simply nodded and asked if they could go somewhere more private. They found a quiet corner of the boarding house, and as soon as the door was closed, the old soldier fell to his knees, begging forgiveness for his many sins. His confession lasted nearly an hour, and although Celestine was loathe to proclaim judgement upon him for his sins, she advised him that in order to find redemption, he need only stay on the path he had chosen. Somewhat unsatisfied with this response, Alexander began looking for ways that he might prove his sincerity.

Illuminus Ilmatari

For a time, Alexander wandered aimlessly, deciding that if he were truly worthy of redemption, Ilmater would present him with a test to prove it. The challenge was presented in the form of a "cursed" warehouse. He quickly found it in the Market Ward's winding streets, accompanied by his comrade Fenia. The pair discerned that there was no actual "curse" to speak of, simply the predations of a tribe of Meenlocks who had tunneled their way up from their caverns.

Fenia and Alexander fought their way through the dark tunnels, facing off against mutated vermin, spectres, and even a few meenlocks who showed psionic talent, all the way to the central chamber. Within, they found the rapidly decomposing corpses of some of the earliest victims of the "curse". The only one who remained alive was too far gone for any help (magical or otherwise) to save them.

The Meenlocks rallied forth for a final attack then, catching both Fenia and Alexander by total surprise. The old soldier roared for Fenia to run just moments before he was cut down by a rush of psionic bolts fired from all sides.

Whatever happened to Alexander after that, is anyone's guess. Fenia managed to escape and return with reinforcements, but by the time she had returned, Alexander was standing over the corpses of the Meenlock Warriors and Psions. Something had changed in the Old Soldier, to be sure. He stood straight-backed and tall, The scars on his face that made him look like a piece of brutalized meat now only made him look like a warrior who had distinguished himself in battle. His grunting voice no longer grated on the nerves, instead instilling a sense of... Hope? In those who heard it. Yes. Something had changed indeed.

Kara's Song

It all started with a Dream... A dream that would set Alexander on the path to ruination. The Seers have spoken, and the prophecy has been written. The Champion of Ilmater will die. Harsh words, but they've not dissuaded the Old Soldier from his final War. Despite his allies' protestations and warnings, Alexander will not turn from this path. He is going to find his little girl if he has to purge the Abyss and meet the Demon Princes on the battlefield.

Despite what certain folk might say, Alexander is far from crazy. His advanced age and guilt have not dulled his sharp mind or rusted his scythe-play. Whomever possesses Kara's soul has bought themselves a war to go along with it.

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 this strange woman, 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.

• Abe Reinhart: A rather new ally, Abe and Alexander have been seen together recently muttering to one another in both Sigil and the surrounding planes. As to what they're talking about, is anyone's guess.

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.