Commander Alek Gwilym

Alek Gwilym was a close friend of Strahd Von Zarovich (or perhaps, the closest thing to a friend Strahd ever had) who fought at his side against the Tergs. Something of a rumormonger, Alex was the first to report to Strahd that a traitorous Ba'al Verzi assassin in their military camp in 348 BC. Commander Alek Gwilym was also involved in the military operations that took down Red Lukas and his gang of bandits.

Beyond serving as a military commander for Strahd, Alek was also something of an emissary for Strahd. Unlike his lord, Gwilym showed an enjoyment for going out and dealing with the peasantry, perhaps because of the reactions to their lord Strahd or his representatives. Gwilym also met with other Barovian noble households and gave Strahd his appraisal of them. Gwilym was also charged with procuring spellbooks for Strahd.

Commander Gwilym's strongest characteristic may have been his loyalty to Strahd. Such loyalty was this that the only act of disobedience he might have committed against Strahd was to sacrifice himself to prevent Strahd from dying in the fight against Red Lukas. (Fortunately, Strahd's stubbornness and Sergei von Zarovich's timely intervention prevented the need). Such was Gwilym's loyalty to Strahd that he would have likely aided Strahd in murdering his brother Sergei. It is perhaps all the more tragic that Strahd, in his paranoia, struck Gwilym down to preserve the secrets of his pact with "Death" and to become a vampire.

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		I, Strahd; I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin
		I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin - p40, 121, 190; I, Strahd p 19