Russano the Wise

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Russano the Wise is a character from the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. He is a Badger Lord of Salmandastron.

Russano was orphaned as a baby by Rapscallions, foul rats serving Damug Warfang. Saved by members of the Long Patrol and a squirrel named Russa Nodrey, he was taken to Redwall Abbey. His name was taken from Russa, who died from wounds inflicted while saving him. He became much beloved at Redwall, as the Abbey had lacked a badger for some time.

Before a battle between the forces of Redwall, Salamandastron, and the Rapscallions, Russano had a vision. He saw the battlefield, with the forces of Redwall asleep. As he watched, he saw several figures of old warriors. Of mice he saw Martin the Warrior, Matthias, Mattimeo, Mariel, Gonff, and the like. Of badgers he saw such great figures as Lord Brocktree, Boar the Fighter, Sunflash the Mace, Urthstripe the Strong, Urthwyte the Mighty, and Rawnblade Widestripe.

Later, young Russano befriended Cregga Rose Eyes, the blinded Badger Lady who had come to Redwall after the battle. He became her eyes, and she groomed him to become the next Badger Lord. He came to Salamandastron with the Long Patrol, and had as his weapon a unique stick belonging to the late Russa Nodrey.

Russano was one of the few Badger Lords to raise a family in Salamandastron, having a wife named Rosalaun and a son and daughter named Snowstripe and Melanius. He also became an avid scholar, and assembled an account of the coming of Lord Brocktree to Salamandastron. Russano seldom went into battle, but came to Redwall with a thousand hares when Cregga Rose Eyes, in death, visited him in a dream. Russano arrived just in time to save the Redwallers from a horde of Juska, and placed a medallion on Cregga's grave. For this cameo appearance in The Taggerung, he was voiced by Ron Meadows. His legacy would later give rise to the young Badger Lord Sagaxus.