Brother Bernardo Giovanni Alphonse Giuseppe Vincenzo Johann Grimaldi Maneretti de Odranto, otherwise known as Johann de Odranto is a Bastard of unlikely origins. Johann was born in the County of Odranto, to his mother Illya. The exact birthplace is unknown, as his mother was on the run to save her and her child’s life. What little he had found from speaking to her was that she knew it was wrong for a servant girl to be with a Noble, but love was love, and she felt love when she looked in his eyes. Illya spent some time trying to stay in and around the Counties of Ustalav, she feared leaving her homeland. Her visits with her love, Bernardo had become harder and more infrequent until she knew she had to leave. A kind older man had shown her kindness, and so she had reached out to him for assistance. He seemed to travel a lot and brought her along on a voyage, saying that he knew where she and her son would be safe.
Nex, Katapesh, and Geb would be his home for the next 18 years. His mother was introduced to a merchant from Katapesh, who happened to had found many uses for Illya. She was well spoken, easy to look at, she could cook, she cleaned, and she warmed his bed. The baby was a little bit of an annoyance, but he seemed quiet and found over the years he became useful in playing messenger and had an unusual knack for extracting information from people.
Many times Illya would leave Johann at the Temple of Pharasma, where he became familiar with the tenets of faith and the need for order. As he got older, he had the opportunity to come along with his mother on her travels to Geb and Nex, and his eyes were opened to the true horrors of Geb and their undead ruler. He knew this was wrong, and as such approached the Cardinal at the Pharasmin Temple. Through many long discussions, Johann decided to pursue un-death with righteous fervor, and send them to their final resting places in the name of Pharasma. Through several years as an initiate, long tense adventures into tombs, interrogations, he crafted his art. Many things were happening for Johann, for Illya had a visitor, an old friend she said. It was at 16 when he was introduced to Petros Lorrimor, the man who long ago had saved he and his mother’s life by taking them to Katapesh. He was grateful, but there was more. Lorrimor proffered a form, one that detailed that Johann had Noble blood in his veins, and as such was eligible for an inheritance. Though Petros kind of scoffed, and said “You might as well call it a payoff.” Looking over the paper, it detailed how the descendants of Odranto were to be paid 100GP, and would no longer hold any claim to any land, holdings, inheritance etc. It didn’t seem real, but Petros was, and he was a nice guy.
Petros was in the area for a week, and would come over for a few hours every evening. Johann spoke to his Cardinal, explained what he had learned, and Cardinal Ximenez half laughed “Cardinal Fang? A Noble? … Well, Pharasma loves us all equally. Ustalav huh? Ya know, I was reading a note from the Greater office of the church that Leipstadt had requested more of our stock, including students such as yourself. I believe you should consider going, there is a lot of work to be done in that region to be sure!” Cardinal Fang had become his sarcastic nickname due to some reference that was lost to him, and his desire to excel at his duties.
Johnann approached Petros during his evening visits, and explained his interest in joining him, to which Petros seemed amused, but said he would think on it and let him know. At the end of the week, Johann was sailing back to Ustalav, first destination after making port was to cash in his 100GP, then to make his way to Leipstadt to report to the Temple of Pharasma. The next 5+ years, proved to be a challenge, and he was learning more than he had ever imagined about fighting undead. It was then he received a letter from Ravengro, curious… Petros dead? This whole time, and I haven’t gone to see him once!
