Alastair Sigorwald

Lord Alastair George Stuart Sigorwald is an Essotori general and political figure, who rose to prominence in the wake of the Jade Restoration. He is most famous for being a trusted 'entertainer' of the current Nozerod, Glorious Jade. His position as her favourite has allowed him to rise to virtually unparalled political power, with informal influence dominating Radonstinatle, and while his reach is generally limited to Zerde, all ministers in Essotori listen when Sigorwald speaks. Fortunately for Essotori, unlike many royal favourites throughout history, Sigorwald is both competent, and benevolent towards his ruler's will. Using his influence to enable effective and loyal subordinates, and directing the Ascendancy's wrath upon correct targets, with a tactical and strategic mind unquestioned in the realm.

## Biography

### Early Life

Alastair was born in the Fifth Regnal Year of Vindictive Piety (1970), to a military family, with their roots in the conquest of Essotori. He was sent to Prophet Brecht School for Boys, and was fast tracked to the Radonstinatle Military Academy. He was said to have been deeply extroverted, and very popular with women throughout his early life, despite his all male upbringing. His first relationship was with a woman known as Vicky Thomas, who was eight years his elder, when he was fourteen, though the relationship ended when he travelled to Radonstinatle, and details about the relationship are sparse, even to the Ascended Angels. While studying at the Academy, he developed a drunken, yet courteous reputation, engaging in many selacious affairs with local women, using his good manners, poetic intellect, and strong muscular appearance to satisfy his cravings. He was a generally poor student, learning best when allowed to actively participate, or in a group. The greatest two exceptions, were literature, and military strategy, for which, he was naturally gifted. The tutors were unable to completely tame his debauchery, with one stating "Little Alastair is the greatest example of entropy in modern society."

### Nurasovask War (1986 - 1991)

When he graduated, he was deployed into the Nevery Rifles Detachment, Second Battalion, Third Division, of the Second Marine Corps, under the command of General Harrison Miller. Nevery Rifles were tasked with seizing a beach head for Essotori forces, purge the heavily defended southern coast, so the Ascendancy could carve out territories. Alastair was deployed with his lifelong friend, Henry Sanders, as part of the first wave, under heavy fire. Despite undergoing heavy training, he was scarred by the swift, yet painful death of Sanders, in artillery fire. Later describing this experience, Alastair explained "Henry smiled, joining this Crownslave in taking the first steps up the beach. One second, marching in unison, the next, Henry's legs gave up, with a horrible blast or shrapnel, and a painful wail, it was all over. Or so, this Crownslave wished, to this very day." When the position was taken, Nevery Rifles were commanded to linkup with the International Troops. This was a failure, and third division suffered heavy casualties throughout the war. While serving for three years in Nurasovask, Alastair suffered ego death, realising that his hedonism could not save him, or his friends. He endeavoured to moderate, to realise his full potential, and channel his trauma into a true cause, that of justice, honour and righteousness. To prevent future soldiers treading down the same path he did. Rising to leadership of Second Battalion by the end of the War, due to radical bureaucratic infighting and shuffling of resources out of the war by high command, and the reallocation of commanders to other theatres, Sigorwald became a father to his men, helping them overcome their vices, and embrace the chaotic nature of war to inflict horror upon the enemy. He dubbed this style of warfare "EMRT" (Effective Mechanised Response and Terror), employing light, mechanised and infantry forces to sow discord and terror among the defending army, using force concentration and swift punches to batter the enemy into submission, before turning on his confused allies. To provide for this, high coordination between artillery teams and if possible, air support would be needed. Terror was an inherent core to EMRT, realising that Ascendancy forces are generally numerically inferior to their opponents, and must counter this with natural zeal, personal austerity, and technological advantage. Only the finest of the Nozerod's pawns could be properly trusted to carry out true terror, destruction in their name. The fear would spread throughout the battlefield, once the need for a proper response was made clear. EMRT was employed on a small scale, tactical level near the end of the war, using the newly reformed Nevery Rifles, to devastating effect. The men of Nevery Rifles were bonded in blood, atrocity, and fanaticism. Each man was given a strict regiment of propaganda, drilling, and rations, an elite formation of marines, ready to take any objective. Harrison Miller, the commander of the Second Marine Corps, formally denounced EMRT, though elements of its strategy were employed. The stated reason for this denial, was the use of terror attacks risking Essotori's geopolitical position in the eyes of the allied powers, to which Alastair stated "The starving dogs care not how they get their meal. The Ascendancy must be the strongest dog."

With the partial withdrawl from the now ruined Nurasovask, Alastair and Second Battalion, now fanatically loyal to him personally, were redeployed to Selaria. Fighting low intensity conflicts in Ubengendu, Obungunda, and Zion, his forces composed an elite force, independent, faithful and competent.

### Cave and the Lion (1991 - 1997)

During the Kemetian War of Independence, Sigorwald was deployed to serve in the struggle against Corusconia, with the Kemetian regime. He served as a commander, beneath the veteran anti Corusconian Maxwell Cave, Hero of Selaria. The two men grew deeply fond of each other, with Cave allegedly stating "If the Ascendancy was blessed with more soldiers a fraction of the Honourable Crownslave's righteousness and might, all this may not have been neccersary." Sigowald also met the future Pharaoh Apocris of the United Nyle Kingdom, and the two had a brief bond. Sigorwald's forces saw combat in many theatres, and the war was a decisive victory for Kemet, with much rejoicing in Essotori at the final defeat of their great enemy. Once the Corusconians were generally defeated, Essotori forces were spent dealing with the various splinter factions and regionalist agents, in the name of the Pharaoh. While a state of war on Corusconia was not declared, it was an open secret that Essotori supported the rebels. Maxwell Cave returned to Essotori for the first time, after peace was declared, to enormous crowds. Alastair stood by his side, remaining silent, and faithful. The two remained in contact throughout the remainder of Cave's life.

### Emmisary to the King (2011 - 2017)

In 2011, Sigorwald was appointed as Emmisary to the King, an honourary title that allowed him to act as an informal advisor to the Cultist state of Svaboda in Nurasovask. Svaboda fought for a restoration of the Imperial Nurasovask Dynasty, under a Cultist government, though the heir himself, Alexander Poltorotsky, was not in contact with them. While serving in Nurasovask, Sigorwald gradually became more cynical, experienced, and careful, the pessimistic atmosphere rubbing off on him. He took to the front lines, as a combat general, and personal liberator of Svaboda. For this, he was dubbed 'Hero of the Ascendancy', and was recalled to Radonstinatle to recieve the highest honour in Essotori history.