Albretch Von Breugel was the son of an alchemist mother. Since his youngest days in Ustalav, he was surrounded by vials, potions & alembics. From the youngest age, he showed tremendous potential as an alchemist, which his mother encouraged greatly, eventually sending him away to train among other alchemists, despite his young age. All were astonished with the surprising skill of this youth, showering him with praise and pushing him to do more & more. As could be expected, Albretch got bored. It was always the same formulas, the same potions, the same results. And such greed among those supposed men of science!
So Albretch started reading around. About art, about philosophy, about nature and about magic. He started experimenting, creating strange pieces of alchemical art. A canvas that changed color & texture depending on the temperature & humidity of the room. A small, self-contained fountain, where the falling water allowed dissolved crystal to form intricate patterns on a pyramid of stone. A small, self-contained biosphere in a jar, kept alive by elaborate alchemical processes. A strange tube, where liquids tried to flow both up & down in elaborate patterns. But the other alchemists did not care. It did not make them money, so they saw no value in it. Albretch knew he had to leave to find his true path…
One day, Albretch had an idea for a MAGNUM OPUS! A self-contained fountain, in a giant glass sphere, where alchemical & hydrological processes kept the water in constant flux, creating what would effectively be an eternal fountain. But for that, he would need perfect glass, and the purest water, and a sun strong enough to maintain the hydrological cycle. His research led him to the land of Osirion, with its sand, it’s sun, and it’s opportunities for a canny operator to make the money needed for his art. Subsequent rumors that ancient ossiriani tombs might contain ancient alchemical secrets attracted him even more. So he did is research & left abroad, hoping to find those things that might satisfy him...
Appearance:
Albretch is a short, stooped individual, who appears almost elderly despite his young age (alchemy & dark laboratories will do that to you). He wears loose, hot-weather clothing over his leather armor. He wears a large, wide-brimmed hat, and seems to always have some white alchemical concoction on the bridge of his nose. (think zinc oxide/sunscreen)
Personality:
Albretch was quite spoiled as a child. As such, he was never discouraged from some of his stranger behaviors, and people are often unsettled by his long stares at those things that interest him. He also tends to get “wrapped-up” in his art, so he can often appear quite strange to those not used to his intensity. He is aware of what people think of him, but he is quite unsure what to do with it. So he does his best to find trustworthy folks to help in those matters he is less skilled.
