Grendel |
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Portrayed by Josh Bowman |
Statistics |
Full Name |
Hunter Rose |
Age |
26 |
Height |
6' |
Build |
Athletic |
Eyes |
Brown |
Hair |
Black |
Factions |
Hellfire Club, Unified Crime Family |
Occupation |
Crime Lord, Novelist |
Alignment |
Villain |
Claim to Fame
Hunter Rose is a renowned American author who is best known for the 2003 bestselling novel Creon, the 2004 bestselling novel Glee Club, the 2005 bestselling novel Indigo, the 2006 bestselling novel My Little Chickadee… you get the idea.
Reputation
Grendel began as a hired assassin for the Ciccone Crime Family. When Thedore P. Ciccone III tried to learn who was behind the mask, Grendel took over the Family and several others. Today it is known as the Unified Crime Family.
Biography
His given name is Eddie. It is not a nickname for Edward, Edmund, or Edgar. It is not even short for Edsel. It is Eddie. His surname is not important. But the fact that his parents gave him a diminutive name speaks volumes as to his origins. He was born into America's ever-contracting middle class. He grew up in the suburbs. He might have been normal, if he weren't quite so exceptional.
He is a mutant. But not as you might expect. He does not shoot lasers out of his eyes. He cannot manipulate the weather. And he can't read minds. At least not telepathically. His mutant ability, if you called it as such, is his mind.
Eddie excelled at everything he did, and he did it ridiculously so. He would not experience failure until the epee individual final of the 2002 World Fencing Championship in Lisbon, Portugal. He threw the match out of boredom.
He was fourteen. Most people believed that he had given his best and been found wanting. But he didn't fool everyone. Jocasta Rose, the trainer of the British team, saw right through him. She was impressed and she seduced him.
She was thirty-six. And she taught him about her philosophy. She did not care for material possessions or interpersonal relationships. All that mattered to her was competition. She called it the game. They would play it for a year.
And then she died. Even before she had met Eddie, she knew that she was terminally ill. But she refused to give in to fate. During that year, she lived, and so did Eddie. It was the best year of his life, before or since.
But when it was over, he returned to America. But he didn't go home. No, he had left Eddie in Europe. That was his past. It no longer mattered. In honour of Jackie and the Game, he would become Hunter Rose. And he would make his future in New York. He would also adopt another name, that of Grendel.
As Hunter, he would pen his first novel, Creon, within months. Over the next few years, he would add Glee Club and Indigo to his list of published works. Each would enjoy a lengthy stay at the top of the New York Times best sellers list. Oh, and his parents died. While he was in Europe. Not that it matters.
As Grendel, he would kill. The first two were unremarkable in all but their chronology. But the third one would serve a greater purpose. It was his audition. He became a hired assassin for one of New York's famed Crime Lords.
But it almost fell apart before it could begin. While attending a social affair, he was recognised as Eddie. For that, Tildon had to die. It was assumed that Til was involved in organised crime. It ruined his family.
It was a pity. But soon, Grendel would have other things to worry about. It seemed that his employer, Theodore P. Ciccone III couldn't live with the mystery of who Grendel really was. So he engineered a pitiful attempt to learn the secret. It was so obvious that Grendel figured, what the hell, why not?
He saw straight through Ciccone's effort. In point of fact, he was somewhat disappointed that it had taken this long. After dispatching four of Ciccone's men, he explained that business would go on as usual. He knew that Ciccone was an good at what he did. But from now on, Teddy would be working for Grendel.
Inside of a year, Grendel had tripled the organisation's income, and he had done it while cleaning it up. Certain offensive activities, like child prostitution were wiped from their own books, and everyone else's as well.
The next major event in Hunter's life would come when he poisoned Barry Palumbo's drink. Unfortunately, his niece, Stacy, was the one to discover the body. So Hunter had to think quickly. He got his friend Larry Stohler to create a diversion for the police while Hunter took Stacy away from there.
Larry did his job well. Grendel was able to remove Stacy from the party, fight an exhilarating battle with Argent the Wolf, set fire to the garden, question and murder a cabbie, rescue Stacy from Bernie Gene, and return to the party, without his or Stacy's absence going noticed by the police or attendees.
The police were fools. But Lar was not. He deduced Grendel's identity, and confronted Hunter about it. Ordinarily, Grendel would have killed him. But Hunter liked the nerve shown by his friend. He became part of the network.
After the trial, in which Rachel Coleman was convicted of orchestrating Barry Palumbo's murder, Hunter sought to adopt his niece, Stacy. He was eighteen.
During the proceedings, he published My Little Chickadee, which captured the public's imagination. The parallels were obvious, and yet the novel was surprisingly complex, like all his novels. It took him three days to write.
And it worked. Hunter Rose became Stacy's legal guardian. And the public loved them. They became a media sensation, going everywhere together. Or to put it more accurately, wherever they went, was the place that everyone wanted to be.
It has been eight years since Hunter took in Stacy. She has become a fine young woman. His criminal empire has steadily grown. And yet, there is still something missing. Hunter needs a purpose, and Grendel needs a challenge…
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Character Details
Hunter Rose is a high functioning sociopath. He does not concern himself with the welfare of others. He would callously murder someone in cold blood if they did something that he did not approve of. The only relationship that he has ever maintained for a significant period of time is with his ward, Stacy Palumbo, and she was just a child when he became her legal guardian. He does not suffer incompetence lightly, and he feels neither guilt, nor sorrow.
He possesses the very best and the worst traits of Sherlock Holmes, Vito Corleone, and Spider-Man. He is capable of kindness, although it is something of a rarity. He holds children in high regard, believing that they should be protected above all else. While he would not think twice about murdering a cab driver, he would be aghast at himself were he to endanger a child.
He is Machiavellian, planning two, three, or even four steps ahead. When he suffers some kind of failure in his plans, they are usually devised in such a way that he succeeds in some other way. He may not steal the diamond, but the police will have been pulled off of their regular assignments, which in turn would have made it easier for his men to rob the First Republic Bank. If his men were unsuccessful in the robbery, then he would have eliminated a rival, as the leader of those men harboured ambitions to replace him as Crime Lord.
He is primarily motivated by a desire to curb his endless boredom. When interested, he comes alive, but very little interests him these days. He searches out challenges, to test himself, physically and mentally. When he is genuinely surprised, he is as likely to thank that person as he is to continue the attack. Surprises are so rare to him that they are cherished.
Acrobatics |
Grendel has trained his body in the ways of acrobatics. What Spider-Man and Nightcrawler were blessed with by accident, he has approached through tireless dedication. He has flexibility, dexterity, agility, balance, and strength. He could perform feats that many professional acrobatics would think impossible, and he does it with alarming regularity. But his acrobatic talent is in no way above the realms of human capacity, it is simply put the very pinnacle of human achievement. Humans can do it, but very few have. |
Deduction |
Hunter Rose is very observant. He can glance at a person, a place, or a situation, analyse the contents, consider the probabilities, and arrive at an alarmingly accurate deduction. In this, he is almost Holmesian. He rarely shares this information. Early on, he learned that people hated when he did it. But it's always on. He can't turn it off, even if he had reasons to. He knows that your uncle's marriage is falling apart. He can tell that you have a crush on the barista who works at the cafe down the street. And he can spot the sand under your shoe and knows that you've racked up a sizeable debt. |
Eidetic Memory |
Hunter Rose remembers every moment of every day. Whatever he is exposed to, be it audible, visual, olfactory, or any other sense, he can recall it. If he chooses to, he can return to an earlier point in his mind, to re-evaluate it. |
Fighting |
Hunter Rose would have won the World Fencing Championship at fourteen if he had managed to remain interested in the match. Since then, he has developed a unique fighting style that incorporates his signature weapon, the electric fork. Even without the fork, he remains a formidable master martial artist. |
Mister Wonderful |
Hunter Rose earned himself the nickname Mister Wonderful because he is able to achieve virtually anything he sets his mind to. He can only set goals which are within the realm of human possibility, however improbable they may be, but when he does, he can almost assuredly succeed at it. Some things take longer than others, like if he wanted to become muscle-bound. Then, he'd have to spend long hours in the gym or concoct some kind of chemical formula. The former is the far more likely scenario. Physically, he is an ordinary human being. He possess no special strength, speed, agility, or dexterity, except that which has been developed by rigorous hours of training and mental dedication. For him, it all comes from that incredible brain of his. If he wanted to be a chemist, he would read about it and become a fabulous chemist. If he wanted to become a basketball player, he would learn the rules, techniques, and become a star in the NBA. If he wanted to become a world class cook, he could do that too. Whether physical or intellectual, whatever he sets his mind to, he seems to accomplish. In this, the only thing that limits him is his own lack of motivation. He bores easily. If he does not have a suitable reason to become great at 'it', then he won't bother. |
Snark |
Grendel has a gift for snide remarks. He is sarcastic. He has a dry wit. Like Spider-Man and Deadpool, he uses it to unnerve his opponents, to get under their skin. The more he talks, the less he has to fear. When he stops cracking jokes, ceases his prattle, and otherwise goes silent, he knows that he is in trouble. If he does that, he's focusing everything on surviving. |
Stealth |
Grendel can move through the shadows. He can disappear at will. He is silent as a cat, skulking around where he does not belong. He is a master of espionage, camouflage, reconnaissance, and in a word, stealth. He especially enjoys attempts to sneak up on people unaware, who possesses similar talents. |
Vulcan Nerve Pinch |
Hunter knows how to exert pressure on a nerve cluster near the shoulder, which will render humans unconscious. It performs in exactly the same manner as depicted by actor Leonard Nimoy when he portrayed Spock on Star Trek. |
Electric Fork |
Grendel's signature weapon is his electric fork. It resembles a Japanese Naginata, Chinese Guandao, or European Glaive, in that it is long shaft with a blade on the end, but the blade is separated into two tines, like a fork. It can also be electrified, making it something of a cattle prod. The Electric Fork can forcefully expel a retractable swing line and grappling hook, which he uses to rapidly scale buildings. When out and about as Hunter Rose, the electric fork converts to fairly ordinary looking black cane. |
Grendel |
Grendel chose his name carefully. It is the same reason he chose to wear that mask, those gloves, and wield an electrified fork. It was all meant to help him craft a devilish and demonic appearance. He's bested humans and superhumans alike. Some believe that he is a supernatural being, proof that evil exists in this world, and any other. A few know that he's a man. To New York City's underworld and to its protectors, his reputation precedes him. |
Hellfire Club |
Hunter Rose is a member of high society. He made his fortune as a novelist. He's been approached about adapting his works into feature films, but so far he's resisted the temptation. He has no need for funds. He is a man of quiet sophistication and has parlayed his wealth and influence into becoming a member of the Hellfire Club, though he has not yet joined the Inner Circle. |
Novelist |
Hunter Rose is an American novelist. His books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold hundreds of millions of copies. His face may not be recognisable, but his name carries the same weight with the general public as Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, Stephen King, or J.K. Rowling. |
Stacy Palumbo |
Stacy Palumbo has a bit of a normalising effect on Hunter. She has been his ward for the past eight years, ever since he became her legal guardian at the tender age of eighteen. Through her, he's gotten to experience something resembling an ordinary life. If it weren't for her, he'd probably be dead. |
Larry Stohler |
Larry Stohler is one of Grendel's chief informants and confidants. He knows that Hunter Rose is Grendel, and is perhaps the only living person who could lay such a claim. Occasionally, he will be sent out on assignments for Hunter, or for Grendel. One day, if Grendel does not kill him, he may even be trained as a protege, though that remains an extremely unlikely scenario. |
Unified Crime Family |
Grendel rules over a large Crime Family based out of New York City. It consists of the Ciccone Crime Family, the Palumbo Crime Family, and a number of others. That's why it's called the Unified Crime Family, as it represents a coordinated effort on the part of his lieutenants, each of whom once ruled over their own family. He is always on the look out to expand the Unified Crime Family, but as its grown, so has the resistance of the other leaders. |
Uniform |
Grendel's uniform consists of a mask and a set of gloves. The mask is unremarkable, though it should be noted that Grendel makes a habit of painting a copy of the mask on his face to protect his identity in the event that the mask is forcibly removed. The gloves contain retractable talons that both aid in climbing vertical surfaces, and can be used as slashing weapons. A set of these are often sewn into other clothing, along with incendiary capsules, so he can become Grendel at a moment's notice, and destroy the clothing that had contained his uniform. He also has a set of boots, a shirt, and pants that he sometimes wears, but they are not considered essential. |
Disabled |
Hunter Rose is disabled. He walks with a limp, and makes use of a cane. To those who ask, he explains that he suffered a severe injury to his right ankle some years ago. Because of this, he walks with a cane. But it is a facade. He can walk normally, better than most. But as Hunter, he maintains this piece of fiction to deflect any attention away from him, and to disguise the electric fork that has become the signature weapon of the evil Grendel. |
The Game |
Hunter Rose has lived the Game since Jocasta Rose first taught him about it. He constantly seeks to test himself, to prove that he is better. It doesn't matter what it is. And the ultimate test of one's self is the ability to dominate others. That is why he became a Crime Lord. He had already made himself rich. He has already made himself a superior combatant. All that is left is to test his mind, to see if he could control others. And so far, he has done very well in this regard. But it does make him take unnecessary risks. One of these days, he's going to slip up, and the game will finally, after so many years, come to an end. Then perhaps, he might finally rest. |
Motivation |
When properly motivated, Hunter Rose is a man who knows no bounds. In his entire life, he has rarely known failure. In fact, he can count the times on one hand, with at least one of which being a deliberate choice on his part. He wanted to experience failure. When everything comes so easily to you, boredom can quickly set in. Hunter lacks motivation. There is very little that he finds interesting these days. Bore him enough and he's liable to leave, even if he had a purpose when he began. Pique his interest and he'll take foolish chances. As Hunter or Grendel, it's all about the motivation. |
Mutant |
Hunter Rose is a mutant. He will appear as such to any device that can accurately detect mutants. His 'gift' is his intellect, and as mutants go, it's rather mundane. He may not appear to be a mutant at first glance, but he is one. The major drawback to being a mutant with such a mundane gift is that he didn't get any of the physical perks. He does not have superhuman speed, agility, durability, or anything else. For all intents and purposes, he behaves like an ordinary human being, intellectually gifted, but ordinary. |
Stacy Palumbo |
Stacy Palumbo is Hunter Rose's fourteen year old ward. He has been her legal guardian for eight years now and he considers her family, his only family. She is also a scion of the Palumbo Crime Family. If anyone were to learn that Hunter Rose is Grendel, it would put her in danger. And if she ever discovered that he killed her Uncle, it would put Hunter in danger. They have a complicated relationship, but overtly, it is a loving one. He dotes on her. |
Secret Identity |
Hunter Rose walks a fine line. By day, he is an American novelist. By night, he is Grendel the Crime Lord. As long as those two worlds are kept separate, he can continue. But should someone learn this duality, it would mean the end to Hunter Rose, perhaps even to the man who plays him. He is a sociopath, a mass murderer, and has no lack for enemies. They would not hesitate to use it against him. Even his alleged allies might target him if they knew the truth. |
Relationships
Image |
Real Name |
Codename |
Relation |
Notes |
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Stacy Palumbo |
Stacy Palumbo |
Ward |
Stacy Palumbo is Hunter Rose's fourteen year old ward. He has been her legal guardian for eight years now and he considers her family, his only family. She has a bit of a normalising effect on him. Through her, he's experienced something resembling an ordinary life. But she is also a scion of the Palumbo Crime Family. She is inquisitive, intelligent, and really quite charming, but she may one day turn against him. She is portrayed by actress Morgan Lily. |
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Larry Stohler |
Larry Stohler |
Associate |
Larry Stohler is one of Grendel's chief informants and only confidant. He knows Grendel's secret identity, and is perhaps the only living person who could make such a claim. Highly Intelligent and quite capable, he occasionally goes out on assignments for Grendel. One day, assuming that Grendel does not kill him, he may even be trained as a protege, though that remains an extremely unlikely scenario. He is portrayed by actor Tom Felton. |
Notes
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