I was curious, would people be more interested in seeing a Dalaran or Stromgarde? In both cases I was hoping to play them as somewhat proactive role with the former trying to play very tall propping up the alliance by sending its wizards all over and such, whilst for the latter Mr. Trollbane would try to reclaim Stromgarde's regions lost to trolls and such, with the goal of announcing a new Arathi Empire

Antonidas [+]

Name: Antonidas

Faction: Dalaran

Rank/Role: Highest Archmage of all Dalaran

Appearance: Antonidas is an aged man, his flowing white beard looking like it would fit more in Ironforge than in Dalaran. His skin is somewhere between the sun-kissed peach tone many Dalarani find themselves bearing and the anemic paleness of elderly all across the Eastern Kingdoms. Surprisingly not suffering any natural hair loss, the man nonetheless has come to shave his scalp such that his wizarding skull-cap may fit more easily. Though hidden under mounds of wrinkles and facial hair, one can see the patrician nose and chin the wizard held. He has always been a man for dress that is practical rather than fancy, but being a wizard of his calibre has lead to the man inevitably achieving glamour in all his outfits with the sheer volume of crystals and rare earth minerals donning robes with runes of power covering all the eyes can see..

Personality: Antonidas is a changed man. In the past he was haughty, self-righteous, and boorish. However, despite this he was a good man at heart as most Dalarani wizards. He sought to use his great talents to ultimately better the world, even if his definition of a better Azeroth differed from that of many. Nonetheless, he showed himself capable of great mercy and the ability to see past prejudice when he was almost the sole figure to advocate there could be some sort of good within the Orcish race. He was always a chipper fellow, eager to chat with his students or to attend a feast with foreign dignitaries.

Nowadays that old enthusiasm is faded almost entirely. His encounters with the strange prophet followed by witnessing so much carnage and destruction had made the man pause and rethink all of his values prior. This was made much worse when he toured the lands that had pleaded for the protection of the Violet City’s wizards. He saw people trudging through muck and dying to mundane poxes, not to speak of being nigh helpless against the scourge, wild trolls, and whatever else lurked to prey on peasantry. The proverbial cherry on top was seeing the High Elves he had previously only encountered the nobility and warriors of, now displaying their own peasantry and suffering among the many refugees that had their homes outside the Elfgate ravaged.

With this he has fallen into a depression of sorts, no longer lecturing at the Academies or taking any apprentices. The Archmage finds his mind second guessing himself more and more, uncertain what the future may yield and how to prepare for it. Fear for Dalaran and the whole of Azeroth has him brood for most of his time, planning for eventualities in an almost paranoid fashion.

Biography: Having witnessed his preconceptions crumbling in the aftermath of his brief chat with Medivh, Antonidas decided that he needed Dalaran to act lest it be swallowed by the same darkness that nearly took over Quel'Thalas.

The Gates to the Violet City were thus opened by the Archmage, the masses of people fleeing from Quel’Thalas and Lordaeron free to enter. Yet Antonidas quickly found that his kindness was too little and too late, with the city unable to take them all in. His mind souring even further with this realization, he was still intent on doing right by the masses stuck outside of his city. Though he never expected or even wished to be put in such a role, he found himself having the great stress of having to go from managing a city-state to an Empire nearly overnight. As word spread of villages having been taken under the protection of the wizards such that they could feed the many thousands of displaced people, mayors from much of former Lordaeron reached out to plea to receive the same protection that their settlements were now bereft of with the death of Uther and King Terenas.

Though often he is congratulated for rising to the occasion, his smiles and responses of gratitude are often hollow. Even as stability in the material front and on the borders has been achieved to some degree, Antonidas now ponders the more political questions of Dalaran and the other Kingdoms with much concern. As he must balance the concerns of the new population of “Greater Dalaran”, his core constituents in the Violet City, and appeasing allies abroad he finds himself concerned that all the work of the last few years could collapse on itself. Further, as the years keep accumulating he finds that neither he nor the other leaders of Dalaran are finding themselves exactly sure who will succeed him a fact raising yet more concern when Antonidas doesn’t find himself trusting any of the present Kirin-Tor in entirety to keep the patronage of the people he took personal pity upon.

Powers and other Abilities: Antonidas is quite likely the most powerful wielder of magic that isn't a dragon, a claimant to Godhood, or the recipient of a God's donated power. While all these conditional statements do diminish the impressiveness of his power, he is nonetheless capable of doing with a waggle of his fingers and a few mystic incantations what many would need a great deal of firepower and time to achieve. Yet violence is far from his sole use of magic, for he has mastered all disciplines of it he could. He could teleport ranks and columns of people, while also saving lives from the brink of death with a touch. Though never practicing it, he has learned of necromancy and the fel, a fact he fears could be used against his own people should the Scourge get its rotting hands on his corpse.

Physically he is infirm owing to his advanced age, but he still keeps an excercise regimen as all wizards of Dalaran to be a spry old coot. However, far more important is that when needed he augments his physical abilities with his magic in the event that, for example, he finds need to run away from something and cannot teleport away.

Quel'Thalas [+]

Quel'Thalas

Silvermoon [+]

Held Territories:
Silvermoon City, Eversong Woods, The Ghostlands, the Isle of Quel'Danas, and Thalassian Pass.

Other Assets:
The Sunwell is a fount of mystical power located in the Sunwell Plateau, on the Isle of Quel'Danas. While its waters, holy to the high elves, were originally pure arcane power, it has since been restored as a fount of both arcane and light energy.

Goals and Motivations:
The High Elves has longed to live in peace and be left to their own devices. Since the advent of the Scourge, and their assault on the Gates of Silvermoon, the High Elves has committed themselves to destroying the Scourge and purging any trace of the plague from the lands of men.

Recent History:
The Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas was a savage and bitter fight against an enemy that took no prisoners and raised those that fell against it. Strength of arms alone was not enough to prevent the invasion and the bulk of the war fell to the Magisters.

These Mages, supported by the armies of the High Elves, wielded incredible magical power, largely in the form of fire and light magic, and were able to stem the invading tides. In a bid to prevent the raising of any further dead the High Elves were forced to destroy the bodies of their fallen comrades and even exhume their dead and burn those bodies as well. It caused considerable cultural shock to the High Elves who had been burying their dead in intricately carved water proof coffins for generations.

The Kings only son, Kael'thas Sunstrider, was disowned during this period for failing to return home and aid in the defence of his kin, citing instead his "Duty to Dalaran". Kael'thas no longer bears the name Sunstrider and has been all but purged from the Kingdom and its history. King Anasterian Sunstrider has since begun the process of selecting a new heir.

Three and a half years after the failed Scourge attack the High Elves remain behind their defences preparing to march forth and repay the damage done to their lands. Bands already ride and fly beyond the lines to skirmish with the Scourge and probe for weaknesses in the enemy lines.

Relations with the Human and Dwarf Kingdoms to the South are decent at this time as they work toward dealing with a mutual foe.

Key Players:

King Anasterian Sunstrider [+]

Anasterian Sunstrider

Faction:
Quel'Thalas

Rank/Role:
King of Quel'Thalas

Appearance:
King Anasterian is described as a highly aged man, with long white hair and a pale complexion, his skin thin and his tone having long turned soft. However, his powerful voice still carries the unmistakable hints of his authority. He has piercing blue eyes that had not been diluted by the pangs of advanced age, though little else has been spared of his once slender and powerful body. His anger flaring, even at such an age, is fearsome to behold.

Personality:
Anasterian is a fiercely proud monarch who has prioritized Quel'Thalas's interests above all else. Despite owing a blood debt to humanity for their part in the Troll Wars, Anasterian has hesitant to assist the humans against the Horde, seeing no threat to his own kingdom, and only truly dedicated resources to the conflict when his own people were threatened once more.

Surrounded by flatterers, Anasterian is wise enough to treasure those who speak the truth to him. Anasterian never failes to acknowledge those who had fallen in defence of the people. However, he has been known to dither on crucial decision-making, and, most damningly, mistake ignorance for protection - so long as Quel'Thalas did not involve itself in the world beyond, its problems would not become theirs.

Biography:
Still reigning over Quel'Thalas at the time of the Third War, despite his advanced age, Anasterian spared little thought for the plight of the humans in Lordaeron; true to the past, believing it to be a human issue than the high elves would not deign to trouble themselves with.

Imagine his shock when the Scourge assaulted the Elfgate and undead warriors appeared everywhere within his borders. Desperate for any aid he could find, he issued a recall for his son, Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, from Dalaran and sent word to the Humans of the attack. To the shock of all, the Humans actually attempted to send aid while Kael'thas chose to remain in Dalaran citing his "Duty to Dalaran". The Scourge were ultimately driven back at considerable loss to the High Elves and a furious King disowned his son and stripped Kael'Thas of the Sunstrider name.

Since then the King has ordered several scholars to begin efforts to track down any illegitimate children he may have, rumoured to be in the dozens, and find a suitable blood relation to inherit the throne.

Powers and other Abilities:
Anasterian had the skills of a warrior and is still a powerful mage. He is to weak to wear plate armour anymore but still wields his weapon of choice, the runeblade [Felo'melorn]. He favours fire magic and protects himself using various magical flame shields. He also knows how to teleport.

Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner [+]

Sylvanas Windrunner

Faction:
Quel'Thalas

Rank/Role:
Ranger-General

Appearance:
Sylvanas has waist-length blonde hair that "flows like water" and is "translucent in the light of the sun". She takes great pride in her appearance: It isn't good enough to be the best hunter in her family. She needed to take everyone's breath away as she ventured out. She was so very vain. Her eyes are "more gray than green or blue." Even by high elven standards, the second of the three Windrunner sisters is a rare beauty. Lords from countless noble houses have sought her hand. Even Prince Sunstrider was said to have desired it before his fall from grace.

Personality:
In her early life, Sylvanas was a prodigious ranger, proud and vain—and pragmatic. As the ranger-general, Sylvanas, like many of the quel'dorei, held the belief that it was a mistake to teach magic to humanity; though she was also of the opinion that Quel'Thalas would do well to coexist with the other races of the world, and to practice tolerance. She is somewhat vain at times - what elf isn't - but is not so foolish as to think she can survive simply by her looks. An excellent soldier, she makes a poor stateself and does her best to steer clear of politics.

Biography:
After the high elves withdrew from the Alliance, Sylvanas and her rangers were the primary guards against any would-be attackers on Silvermoon. Several years later, Arthas Menethil, the betrayer of Lordaeron, arrived unexpectedly on the doorstep of Quel'Thalas with a horde of undead at his back. Kelmarin, one of Sylvanas' scouts, quickly informed her of the swarm of undeath fast approaching the first Elfgate. Sylvanas organized her Farstriders, and went to observe the despoiler of Lordaeron herself.

In the savage fighting that followed, Sylvanas, supported by the King himself, was able to wound the mighty Undead leader badly enough that he was hustled from the battlefield. Though it aided the war, and certainly prevented the collapse of the Elfgate, it did nothing to stop the onslaught.

Sylvanas did not leave the front for the better part of two years as she walked among the soldiers, inspiring and leading them to victory. The King was as present as she was but lacked her charisma and youth and she earned the nickname "Saviour of Silvermoon"; a title bestowed upon her eventually by a grateful King.

Since the war, Sylvanas has continued to serve the King. Her contributions have led to some beginning to suggest that she be named the Kings heir and succeed him as the first Queen of Quel'Thalas.


Powers and other Abilities:
Sylvanas is skilled at archery and single sword combat.

Kahet-Fera [+]

Name:
Kahet-Fera (The City of the Hunt)

Held Territories:
During its height, the Nerubian Empire had tunnels and settlements throughout the Northrend underground. Sholazar Basin is home to such a network as well, through the only area above ground that the Nerubians living there have claimed for themselves is around the Suntouched Pillar.

Other Assets:
Due to the pillars of Sholazar, the Scourge cannot invade the region either above or below ground. The various magical crystals of the region are also a resource.

There are other still living Nerubian factions in the world. While they are more then welcome to join Kahet-Fera, the situation currently requires all Nerubians to work together in some fashion, regardless of allegiances.

Unlike the rest of the Nerubian Empire, Kahet-Fera's location in Sholazar Basin caused the development of a special caste of Nerubian Seers; Shamans. While the idea of a Nerubian becoming a shaman wasn't unheard of in other places in the Empire, Sholazar's overwhelming strong natural energy and its elements being much less bloodthirsty and cruel then elsewhere on Northrend resulted in a surprisingly large number of Shaman Seers to be born or trained in the region.

Goals and Motivations:
During what has been called 'The War of the Spider', the Nerubian Empire was broken and the surviving Nerubian people decimated and scattered by the Scourge while the dead were raised to join its ranks. While Kahet-Fera largely escaped the direct horrors of the war, their current goals are two fold: Ensure that their people have a future by saving as many of the survivors as they can and destroy the Scourge.

There is also a desire to create a new Empire, but exactly what form that Empire will take is somewhat hazy at this early stage. There is also a respect and interest in the workings of the Titans on Azeroth.

Recent History:
Before the War of the Spider, Kahet-Fera was simply a distant colony of the Nerubian Empire. Separated from Azjol-Nerub in Dragonblight by a great deal of the continent, Kahet-Fera was originally set up as an outpost in order for the Spiderlords to hunt the bountiful wildlife in the wilderness of Sholazar Basin. The idea of the area becoming a breadbasket for the empire was considered a number of times, but the resources and political push to convert the Basin into a proper farming region simply never manifested.

When the War of the Spider came, Kahet-Fera never came under direct attack by either the Scourge or the minions of the Old Gods. The Scourge never entered the Basin in order to wage war there (even if the local Nerubians didn't understand why) and as such, there was never any direct pressure for Kahet-Fera to dig deeper into the earth and uncover things best left alone. The armies of Kahet-Fera marched to war anyway to protect other parts of their empire all the same... few of those brave warriors would return. What did come the other way were refugees and survivors of the conflict.

As the rest of the Empire fell silent and the trickle of survivors stopped coming, those that remained in Kahet-Fera prepared to defend their home and their lives from the invaders... only for them never to come. While they waited for over a year for the attack to come, the Scourge simply never came. The answer to why the invasion never came was answered by the newly appointed royal Vizier, the Shaman Seer Droka; Communing with the Elements, they revealed that due to something that the Titans had done to the Basin long in the distant past, the life energy of the Basin was powerful enough that the undead simply couldn't enter it.

In the years that followed, the forces of Kahet-Fera have continued the long war against the Scourge, through most of their goals were based on locating other Nerubian survivors. This period also brought about an... awkward question to be discussed; As lowly as the other species are, should we reach out to them anyway to develop alliances going forward?



Key Players:
Shaman Seer/Vizier Droka:
A relatively young Nerubian, Droka has been promoted to his position recently due to an unfortunate truth; He was the most qualified person for the position because everyone more qualified then himself was either too old to march to war and passed away recently, or went off to said war with the Scourge and never returned. His appointment is very much a 'Best of a bad situation' deal and everyone knows it... through in fairness, he is at least trying to step up to the challenge presented to him.

Queen Sunah'gevam:
The Queen of Kahet-Fera. Queen Sunah'gevam is a highly revered figure among her people, in part because Kahet-Fera is her domain and thus most of its locals are her brood, but also due to her advanced age. She has led her people through times both prosperous and harsh for many centuries, but nothing as destructive and cruel as the War of the Spider. Her remaining time in this world is limited and she knows it... but until her daughter produces her first clutch of eggs she is going to carry on to the best of her ability.

Princess Rezal'soram:
The eldest surviving daughter of Queen Sunah'gevam, Rezal'soram has barely entered her 23rd year of life. By the standards of her people she is kind hearted, and thus the weight of the loss of Nerubian life has crashed down on her heavily because her position and access to the grander picture of the War of the Spider means she has a very clear picture of what has happened, despite her young age. When she isn't overseeing her duties or studies, Rezal can normally be found helping the weavers create memorial tapestries.

Khaz Modan Dwarves [+]

Name: The Ironforge Dwarves of Khaz Modan.

Held Territories: Khaz Modan and all its holdings.

Other Assets:
The Great Forge: The largest and most powerful forge in Azeroth, where the most legendary items can be crafted by the skilled hands of the Dwarves.

War Machines: Notable tinkerers like their Gnomish cousins, the Dwarves make guns, steam tanks, mortars, gyrocopters, and much more.

Legions of Dwarf Warriors: The Dwarves are a war-like people, purpose built for labor and warfare. Even the Orcs begrudgingly admire their strength and toughness. With axe, shield, and armor, the Ironforge Dwarves are terrible to behold on the battlefield.

Goals and Motivations: To restore the old Alliance, the help the humans retake Lordaeron, to get vengeance on Arthas for the death of Muradin, and to retake Gnomeragon. More inwardly, to rekindle the old powers of the Dwarves from their past.

Recent History (at least since PoD, if canon): The history of the Dwarves is long and storied, the oldest records going back two thousand years. However, one could perhaps argue the most recent conflicts are the most prevalent. No other time in Khaz Modan's long annals had it ever been conquered, even if only on the surface level, and yet the immense Horde of Orgrim Doomhammer managed to hold most of the unoccupied land the Ironforge Dwarves held.

Once Khaz Modan was retaken and Grim Batol was purged of the Orc and Dragon menace, the Dwarves began to reforge their Kingdom. Over the next few years, the Dwarves rebuilt their strength, and by the time of the Third Great War, the Dwarves sent their aid to Lordaeron, and had already send colonists to Norththrend for expansion and colonization. A new cultural goal had developed, prompting not just forging and warfare buit excavation and archaeology of the Dwarves storied history.

Following the Scourge's invasion, the Dwarves lost contact with their colony in Northrend and Muradin Bronzebeard, the King's brother, presumed dead. The Dwarves sent to Lordaeron were also decimated as the human population was, and a Trogg invasion of Gnomeragon has ravaged their close cousins, the Gnomes. Magni Bronzebeard and his coincil have risen in wrath, and the last four years Khaz Modan has been mobilizing for vengeance and war.

Key Players: Magni Bronzebeard (King), Brann Bronzebeard (Explorer/King's Brother) High Priest Gheradin (Priest), Thargas Anvilmar (Senator/Warrior), Khargos Gildenhalls (Senator/Merchant), Brawner Mountainrunner (Scout Captain).

King Magni [+]

Name: Magni Bronzebeard, High Thane of Ironforge and King of Khaz Modan

Faction (if applicable): Ironforge Dwarves

Rank/Role: King/High Thane

Appearance: A heavily muscled and large dwarf, clad in a resplendent crimson cape and a magically enchanted and gilded, masterfully crafted plate armor. True to the name of his clan, his beard is reddish brown and thick, cuffed with gold and styled immaculately. Wearing a crown of gold with a red diamond at its center, his blue eyes are steeled and his hands generally grasp his two, huge, runic hammers imbued with various blessings and runes of buffing and damage.

Personality: Magni is charismatic and a fine, albeit spur-of-the-moment orator, he has a strong will and powerful opinions. He cares deeply for his people and the honor of his clan, and tries his best to balance his cares between them. He has worn the kingly mask so many years, he only really shows his dry wit and doubts in rare instances in private.

Biography (at least since PoD, if canon): Having been King of Khaz Modan since the Second War, where he led his dwarven fighters into combat personally and slew many Orcs, Magni shares in the toils of his brethren with typical dwarven stoicism. He led the defense of his homeland and kept the Orcs at bay for years, enduring orc axes and dragon flames.

With charisma, he renewed the dwarven spirit and relit the forges and reestablished trade with the outside world once the horde had been routed. For many years he played an administrative role, but the Third Great War reared its head, Magni did not hesitate.

Sending mortars and gyrocopters to Lordaeron for aid in its defense, he mobilized his forces to guard the passes and hold off the restless dead to keep the passes open for refugees. At some point during the war, Magni had to take part in the fighting himself and fought alongside Chen Stormstout, a panderan brewmaster. The two became fast friends.

Near the end of the war, he received news of his brother's death and the betrayal of Arthas, as well as the news their northern colony was decimated. He went to the council and gave an impassioned speech, prompting them to mobilize their forces not only for a defense, but a full northward assault. Unfortunately, the Troggs arriving and attacking their Gnomish allies have slowed them down far more than Magni would like, he is patient and dangerous. He already sent a charter and another group of tough dwarves with fighting experience to travel to northrend again and reestablish a base there.

His latest activity, other than the soon-to-be-enacted plan to route the Troggs, is to send twelve hundred dwarven soldiers to the aid the Scarlet Crusade under Thargas Anvilhammer, as well as three hundred priests and paladins under the watchful eyes of Gheradin, the High Priest of Ironforge.

Powers and other Abilities:

• Powerful and skilled in close combat.
• Able to throw his hammers great distances.
• Is tough and armored.
• Can break stone and cause shockwaves.
• Has the avatar state, increasing his strength, toughness, and size.

The Scarlet Crusade [+]

Name: The Scarlet Crusade (adj.: Lordaeronian)

Held Territories: Hillsbrad Foothills; the Scarlet Monastery and Scarlet Watch; Tyr's Hand; New Avalon and Havenshire; Scarlet Redoubt, Fenris Isle; Chillwind Outpost.

Other Assets: The Church of the Holy Light is the centerpiece of the Scarlet Crusade's formidable power. In the face of the Scourge, the Church is the only edifice of the Capital City which has remained, besides Calia Menethil herself. Furthermore, thanks to the Knights of the Silver Hand, especially its surviving founders, the Holy Light has become the Lordaeronian people's greatest strength in the wake of the Scourging of Lordaeron. The zealotry for the Light found within the Scarlet Crusade is unparalleled...for better and for worse. Southshore Citadel is the new home of the Church of the Holy Light, its walls purpose-built to withstand even the mightiest of siege weaponry, though the city still undergoes construction.

In addition, the Scarlet Crusade has issued a plea and has received invaluable foreign aid. The Old Alliance has been partially reformed, thanks to the efforts of the Crusade and the newly married Greymane-Menethil family to rejoin the disparate forces of the Eastern Kingdoms once more under its holy banner. Dalaran, Gilneas, Gnomeregan, Khaz Modan and the willing Wildhammer clans have all, in some way or another, supplied troops, equipment, livery, training, and civilian skill to the Scarlet Crusade, for which it has been graciously thankful.

Goals and Motivations: There are three primary goals of the Scarlet Crusade: #1: Obliterate the Scourge; #2: Reclaim Lordaeron from the Scourge; #3: Preserve the Menethil line. The motivations of the Scarlet Crusade, however, are far, far from as explicit these three objectives.

For some, this is the will of the Holy Light, to purge the world of the Scourge, and they believe this call goes far beyond the shores of Lordaeron and is a call for the safety of all the world; many in the Crusade are of noble heart and a kindly soul. However many these may be, there are others who divide the purpose of the Crusade.

The surviving noble families of Lordaeron have sought refuge within the Crimson Bulwark; their money, manpower, and authority may have been lessened, but it is not entirely lost. There are those who fight not for the Light, but for the Barovs or their homesteads. There are some who fight for the lords they have lost, such as the good King Terenas Menethil II. There are the volunteer forces who fight for the right of the Lordaeronian people to their own land and for the destruction of the Scourge. There are they who fight because they cannot abide the thought of their families' rotting corpses shambling about...

...And those who are purely filled with a sanctimonious hatred of all things "unclean."

The Third War looms heavily over the people of the Scarlet Crusade, the weight of millions of souls resting on its shoulders. Betrayed by their Prince and driven to the edge of their sanity, it should be no surprise that a certain fanatacism has swept certain remnants of Lordaeron.

Recent History

After the destruction of Dawnstar Spire, everything changed. From what seemed like the end of days, there came a glimmer of life, a pillar of fire forged by the Dwarven King Magni Brozebeard, the Bane of the Scourge...

The Ashbringer.

The Highlord Alexandros Mograine gathered the most trusted, surviving members of the Silver Hand in Southshore, to establish a plan to counteract this Scourge.

The Holy Light of the Ashbringer tore through the Scourge wherever it landed, but it was dedicated to the defense of Hillsbrad as the last bastion of Lordaeron. Yet, there came a brighter light still, a beacon of hope...

Calia Menethil had lived...by the might of the Knights of the Silver Hand, she escaped and rode with Prince Tirion Fordring to the Greymane Wall - all while the other Knights not slain by the Betrayer King gathered with the Highlord Mograine to respond to the disaster at hand. All the founders of the Order but Uther the Lightbringer and Gavinrad the Dire survived the Scourging of Lordaeron. Soon there was the return of Turalyon from beyond the Dark Portal, the marriage of Liam and Calia, the establishment of the Federal Monarchy and the official sanction of the Scarlet Crusade under Highlord Alexandros Mograine and Archbishop Benedictus. Hillsbrad was fortified, and the Southshore Citadel began construction.

The Scarlet Crusade was instituted in conjunction with the Federal Monarchy of Gilneas-Lordaeron. In some ways, it first had become the host of a disgruntled Lordaeronian nobility who, unable to fathom swearing fealty to Liam Greymane, swore themselves to the Holy Light and the reclamation of Lordaeron on behalf of Calia Menethil (or, really, themselves) in the meantime.

However, over the course of a grueling war against the Scourge and Arthas, peoples of all kinds - elf, human, orc, dwarf, gnome, and troll - refugees, volunteers, veterans, farmers, mages, and many, many others were welcomed with open arms by the Knights of the Silver Hand and the Church of the Holy Light into the Hillsbrad Foothills. For orcs and trolls, amnesty was given under the condition that they accept the Light as they understood it and join the Crusade in whatever capacity they were most capable.

This has caused much turmoil within the Crusade, as there are many who struggle to accept the new reality of working side-by-side with their former, life-long enemies. However, the fierce religiosity and dedication of the people to the Light has pushed back against the racial clashes erupting in this strange new organization and the places it touches. In the Crusade, there is one thing which binds all of its members together - the Scourge. Be it the Culling of Stratholme or the Corruption of Zeb'Watha, all of its citizens have suffered at the hands of the Scourge. The Scourge binds the most fervent members of the Crusade to the least. Until the Eastern Kingdoms are freed from the Undead Menace, the citizens of this Crusade cannot and will not betray each other to such a fate as Undeath.

This military order of the Church attempted, with Gilneas, to employ the Worgen in the First Silverpine Offensive a bit more than three and a half years ago. Although a tactical success with the capture of Fenris Isle and Shadowfang Keep, it was a strategic failure thanks to the Worgen Curse which spread throughout the forest and the isle. However, this did not deter the Crusade, which turned outwards for assistance along with Gilneas and has spent the last three and a half years

Now better prepared thanks to the aid of a strange elven people from beyond the Great Sea, the Scarlet Crusade

Key Players:

Grand Crusader Alexandros Mograine, the Ashbringer - The Supreme Commander of the Scarlet Crusade, Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand (founding member), Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. Many military honors.

Grand General, Prince Tirion Fordring - The Primary Strategist and First Military Officer of the Crusade after the Grand Crusader, Highlord of the Knights of the Silver Hand (founding member), Prince of Hearthglen, Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. Many military honors.

Field Marshal, Turalyon - Hero of the Alliance, Field Commander of the Crusade, Highlord of the Knights of the Silver Hand (founding member), Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. Veteran of the Alliance Expedition to Outland. Awarded the Sigil of the Lightbringer for going above and beyond the call of duty in the face of overwhelming odds. Awarded the Shroud of the Lightbringer, for distinction in service in Quel'Thalas.

Field Marshal Saidan Dathrohan - Field Commander of the Crusade, Highlord of the Knights of the Silver Hand (founding member), Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. Many military decorations.

High General Abbendis - High General of the Scarlet Crusade, Highlord of the Knights of the Silver Hand, Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. Many military decorations.

Archbishop Benedictus - The Spiritual Father of the Crusade and Leader of the Church of the Holy Light.

Lord-Crusader Weldon Barov - Sole Survivor of the Barov Family and rightful Lord of Tarren Mill, Caer Darrow, Brill, and Southshore.

High Inquisitor Fairbanks - High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Crusade, Advisor to the Grand Crusader Mograine, Veteran of the Second and Third Wars.

High Wizard Arellas Fireleaf - High Wizard of the Scarlet Crusade, Ambassador to Dalaran, Veteran of the Second and Third Wars.

Grand Crusader Alexandros Mograine, the Ashbringer [+]

Name: Alexandros Mograine, the Ashbringer

Faction: The Scarlet Crusade

Rank/Role: Grand Crusader of the Scarlet Crusade - A. Mograine is the head of the whole of the Scarlet Crusade.

Appearance:

Personality: Needless to say, Mograine is a man driven by his duty to the Light and his duty to his people. If one were to ask him, Mograine would say that he is a paladin of the Silver Hand, a priest-warrior dedicated to the preservation of all of Azeroth and to the good of all peoples on its surface. Though not known for being the most patient person, he is remarkably understanding of the many cultures which have come to clash in the Eastern Kingdoms. In the wake of the Scourge, he has come to recognize the inherent value of even orcs and trolls, whom he had once called his most hated enemy.

He is a veteran of both the Second and Third Wars and as such he is a battle-hardened military man who knows how to place the objective of a mission before his own personal glory. As well, he is a proud subject of Lordaeron - he would be the first to call Liam Greymane his king and Calia his queen (and Weldon Barov his lord); furthermore, he would be the first to lay down his life for his fellow man (or non-man!). He is a man wholly dedicated to the cause of the Scarlet Crusade and has even given his only two sons to the Order of the Silver Hand.

If the Grand Crusader has any fault, it is his overwhelming hatred of the Scourge and particularly the Lich King and the paranoia spawned by the insidious nature of the Cult of the Damned. Ever since the failure of the First Silverpine Offensive, Mograine has spent nearly every waking moment either in prayer, with foreign dignitaries, organizing troops in the war-room, or planning the Scarlet Crusade's growth and security with his First Advisor, High Inquisitor Fairbanks. Alexandros, like many of his comrades, has known only war for the greater part of his life, and it has come to shape how he understands the world around him.

Biography: Since the destruction of Lordaeron and Dawnstar Spire, Mograine had become the leader of the first organized Lordaeronian resistance and for the past four and a half years, he has led an unending war against the Scourge.

After the failure of the Scourge at the walls of Quel'Thalas and the sudden disappearance of the commanders Balnazzar and Mal'Ganis, the Knights of the Silver Hand were able to reorganize in the far south of Lordaeron and several secure locations throughout the Old Kingdom, under the leadership of then-Highlord Alexandros Mograine. Under Alexandros' command, the Knights of the Silver Hand were able to regroup with the remnants of the Lordaeronian army and nobility and form a united front against the Scourge in the Silverpine Forest. In a combined effort, they were able to organize rescue efforts in what remained of the Eastweald, Westweald, and Tirisfal Glades. Mograine learned early on that, until Arthas could be countered or killed, retaking land from the Scourge was a waste - what was most important was saving lives.

During that first year of the Scourge, Alexandros struggled, though he had been given the Ashbringer by King Magni Bronzebeard. Men, food, water, weapons...everything was in short supply. Disaster was averted nearly every week. It was only when Calia Menethil had been brought to the western tower of Hillsbrad, riding upon General Abbendis' horse, that the Highlord Mograine had a moment to breathe. With her counsel and assistance, Alexandros was able to get the help he required

Through Calia's marriage to Liam Greymane, Gilnean troops came to the aid of Alexandros and his resistance, then formalized as the Scarlet Crusade. Thanks to this turn of events, the Silver Hand and the remnants of the Lordaeronian peoples were able to put up a solid defense of the Foothills, and even begin to push back. It was around that time, about a year into the conflict, that Alexandros came to learn that Arthas had left the Eastern Kingdoms. He and many others felt it was time to act.

What was meant to have been the secret weapon needed to destroy the Scourge turned disastrous. Many faithful men and women of the Crusade were turned to horrible wolf-creatures, doomed to attack those they held dear when their minds were overtaken by the Curse.

With the failure of the offensive, Mograine decided to focus on building an overwhelming force to knock out the Scourge once and for all. For the past three and a half years, he has been amassing that force. Now, he has called upon his allies, both current, prospective, and old, to come the aid of the Crusade in its war against the Scourge.

Powers and other Abilities:

Grand Master of the Silver Hand: Alexandros Mograine excels in the use of the Light both in and out of combat. Whether it be consecrating the land around him to burn the flesh of ne'er-do-wells or healing his companions, Mograine stands as a Champion of the Light.

Old Guard: Alexandros is an expert swordsman who has now seen over a decade of active combat. Even without the use of the Light, he is still a force of reckoning.

The Ashbringer: The pies de resistance, for which Alexandros has earned the moniker he now carries. The Ashbringer is a powerful sword named for its ability to slaughter the undead and leave nothing but ash in its wake. The legendary sword was crafted by King Magni Bronzebeard on the Great Anvil of Ironforge, and was infused with the Holy Light. It's core was made from a corrupted orb taken from an orcish warlock in the Second War at the battle of Blackrock Mountain.