Gremio

Gremio (グレミオ, Guremio) is a supporting character in Suikoden who makes a cameo in Suikoden II. A member of the McDohl household, Gremio is the protector of the scion of the McDohl house.

Suikoden
"Wherever you go, I go, Young Master."

- Gremio

Gremio originally lived with his parents near the Scarlet Moon border with the City-State of Jowston. In 439, when he was nine, his parents were killed during a border dispute. His mother protected him from the Jowston soldiers' blades, dying as a result. Alone, Gremio spent the next seven years of his life wandering. Teo McDohl found him lost in the Karakas Desert and, seeing Gremio's good character, brought him to Gregminster.

There, he would work as a servant as well as helping to raise Teo's son. Initially, he worked merely to repay his debt to Teo but quickly came to truly care for his young charge. The axe Gremio wielded was originally his father's, who had used it in battle himself.

The large gash on his cheek came from an incident three months into Gremio's tenure, during the War of Succession. Teo's son was kidnapped by Imperial Army soldiers under the employ of Geil Rugner in order to prevent Teo McDohl from attacking. Gremio attempted to prevent the abduction but was easily felled and tied up by Assam's men.

Gremio was kept alive to deliver Assam's ultimatum. Either Teo's famed Armored Cavalry would meet Geil's force in a decisive battle at the Fortress of Kwaba without their famed armor, or the young McDohl would be killed. His face was scarred as a mark of this ultimatum.

After being brought to Teo and relaying the ultimatum, Gremio would sneak back to Gregminster in order to rescue his young charge. Caught, he would almost be killed only to be rescued by Eiji. Eiji would help Gremio escape to Sarady, where the two would uncover McDohl's whereabouts. Gremio rescued the young child from the Sarady inn, slaying the bandit kidnappers with the help of Eiji and Ronettes, receiving his second facial scar in the fight.

After the rescue, Gremio engraved the words "I will always protect young master" onto his axe, giving it the name "Axe of the Oath." After this, Gremio began to train as a soldier in order to keep to this oath, although it occasionally drove him to be overprotective.

Although willing to fight to protect the Young Master, at heart he was a familial person, much more comfortable cooking and taking care of the home than battling. Responsible for the food at the McDohl home, he held himself to a very high standard, especially as regards to his stews, which were said to be professional grade. These stews were originally the recipes of his mother.

As a war orphan, Gremio empathized with his young master having never seen the face of his mother. He resolutely swore to protect him and to stay by his side. Thus, after the young master was branded as a fugitive, Gremio left Gregminster along with Cleo as well. Even after his charge became leader of the Toran Liberation Army, Gremio upheld his duties, often accompanying him on vital missions.

During the middle of the Gate Rune War, in an attempt to free Liukan from Soniere Prison, Milich Oppenheimer smashed a vial of the man-eating Spores of Agony in order to stop them. Gremio quickly pushed the other Toran Liberation Army members out of the room and shut himself in the room, sacrificing his life. In his last words, Gremio told Teo's son how proud he was of him for growing into such a responsible, mature young leader.

Prior to the end of the Gate Rune War, Gremio was miraculously restored to life by Leknaat using the power of the 108 Stars and the back half of the Gate Rune, bolstering the morale of the entire Liberation Army. Following the fall of the Scarlet Moon Empire and the end of the Toran Liberation War, Gremio, ever loyal, continued to follow Teo's son after he left the Scarlet Moon Empire.

Suikoden II
"It's been quite a while since we were last in this house... Young Master... Even though this place may hold painful memories, it's still our home."

- Gremio

Gremio continued to accompany his master on his journey following the Gate Rune War. When they stopped for a time at Banner Village, Gremio helped to keep people away for his master's piece of mind. Although he understood McDohl's plight, he did encourage him to help Ko when the boy was kidnapped.

He would return to Gregminster with McDohl for a time during the Dunan Unification War.

Trivia

 * Unlike Cleo and Pahn, Gremio does not have a diary that can be read in Suikoden.