[CHAR] Tales of Azeroth: Flames of Chaos

[Bright_Ops]

The Duskwood Branch of the Defias Brotherhood

Name:
Defias Brotherhood (Duskwood Chapter)

Held Territories:
Addle's Stead
Yorgen's Farm

Other Assets:
While this chapter of the Brotherhood is viewed as radical by the others due to recent practices, it is still considered apart of the Defias Brotherhood and thus can call upon resources and allies abroad.

Unknown to most, this Chapter also has Cult of the Damned ties... and can likewise do the same with the Scourge.

Goals and Motivations:
Officially, the goal of the Defias Brotherhood is vengeance against Stormwind and the House of Nobles. To a degree, this is true for the Duskwood Chapter as well... but Bautic Mortice has greater plans for it.

His goals include but are not limited too:
Claiming Raven Hill and the Cemetery behind it.
Either bringing Morbent Fel and Abercrombie into the fold or eliminating them.
Securing all of Duskwood for the Brotherhood by any means necessary.

The Duskwood Chapter of the Defias Brotherhood is considered to be filled with extremists and radicals, even by the standards of the Defias Brotherhood. The main reason for this belief is the fact that unlike the other chapters of the organization, this one has started to practice necromancy. In their eyes, they do not see it as that big of a deal; After all, demonology and warlock practices have become fairly common among the spellcasters of the Brotherhood, so in their eyes this is merely another source of power to be taken advantage of... even more so considering Duskwood's history with dark magic and the massive graveyard found within it.

In truth, there is a secret inner circle of the chapter. Those, like Bautic Mortice, who have been inducted into the Cult of the Damned proper.

Recent History :
The Duskwood Chapter of the Defias Brotherhood was always somewhat... more open minded to certain, dishonorable tactics and powers. In part this was due to the dangerous nature of Duskwood itself; In a cursed land in which the undead and creatures from the realms of nightmares themselves tended to be drawn, there were things far worse then a bunch of humans wearing red face masks. Fail to take the land and its occupants seriously and there were fates worse then death to be had.

With magic afoot, the Brotherhood sent its foremost expert on the subject to take a leading position in Duskwood. At first, Bautic's arrival didn't herald much of a change in day to day operations, but a 'chance find' would shake things up soon enough. Bautic claimed to find some tomes on necromancy, stolen from some of the local necromancers and 'began to study it in order to get a better idea of what to expect in the local area', through in truth this was merely a carefully prepared story in order to have some justification what happened next.

A few days after Bautic 'found the tomes', a worrying sized force of undead marched on Addle's Stead. At first it seemed like the settlement would have to be abandoned, but then Bautic stepped forward. Before the hostile mob could start their attack, Bautic called upon the dark powers of necromancy to impose his will on the dead, stopping them in their tracks and causing their threat to the Brotherhood to cease. Feigning that he only knew enough to be able to hold the undead, Bautic ordered the Defias nearby to destroy them (an act they committed without issue).

With the threat dealt with, an... interesting conversation was had among the Duskwood chapter. While there was a general degree of unease among a number of Defias due to the idea of death magics, the incident became a strong argument for learning how to command the dead, if for no other reason then to allow the Brotherhood to protect itself from the bloody things without as much personal risk as fighting them required. For his part, Bautic was more then happy to help teach those under his command how to do so... and the first steps of corruption began.

Key Players:
Bautic Mortice. See below.

Bautic Mortice

Name: Bautic Mortice

Faction:
Publicly: Defias Brotherhood
Secretly: Cult of the Damned

Rank/Role:
A leading figure of the Defias Brotherhood, being both magically talented and apart of the Stonemason Guild before the troubles with the House of Nobles began. While not the leader of the Brotherhood, Bautic is still a powerful and influential figure within the Brotherhood with his own faction of followers within it.

Also the highest ranking member of the Cult of the Damned in the Southern Eastern Kingdoms.

Appearance:
Bautic Mortice is a middle aged man who has seen a lot in his life. His black hair has started to thin and gray, his face is covered in winkles while his blue eyes always seem glassy and tired. Despite being a mage Bautic is remarkably physically fit for his age, beating the stereotype of magi being physically frail.

Personality:
A jaded and bitter man who has endured hardship, war and being held back due to being among the poor, common masses rather then the wealthy elite all his life, Bautic embraced the Cult of the Damned and sort to prove his loyalty to Kel'thuzad and the cause of the Scourge numerous times. While originally disappointed to be instructed to flee south with the refugees instead of staying and fighting on the Lorderan Front, time has allowed Bautic to take comfort in the wisdom and trust of his mentor and leader in the role that he was required to play in service to the Lich King.

While his connection to the Cult of the Damned is a closely guarded secret, Bautic has great sympathy for his fellow members of the Dafias Brotherhood and earnestly believes in their cause almost as much as his own in service to the Lich King. While his intention of corrupting the Brotherhood and making them a new branch of the Cult of the Damned could be seen as self serving, from his point of view the two causes are naturally aligned and combing the two together naturally made perfect sense.

Biography:
Bautic has seen and endured no end of hardship in his life. Despite having a gift for the arcane and a mind for magic, he was born into a peasant family in Lordaren and thus couldn't afford to travel to Dalaran or Silvermoon to seek a higher education. When the Orcs invaded he was one of many levy forces conscripted in order to fight against the green skinned tide; He lost a number of friends and family both in combat and to the orcish raiders as they struck at non military targets for supplies during the conflict, as well as witnessed a number of things that scarred him as a person.

Returning to civilian life, the work and taxation imposed upon the peasantry after the war by the Alliance only served to make Bautic jaded and bitter with his kingdom. When the voice of a former Archmage of Dalaran offered him an alternative Bautic was more then happy to accept. Finally able to embrace magic under the guidance of Kel'thuzad, Bautic proved himself an ideal student who highly respected his master. As plans started to fall into place through, Kel'thuzad proved to be a forward thinking individual; Rather then have the whole Cult remain in Lordaran, a number of them were selected to leave in different stages. Bautic was selected to be among the first to leave, boarding a ship with other craftsman and workers who were traveling to Stormwind to assist with its rebuilding efforts.

Joining the Stonemasons Guild was a simple enough endeavor to do and Bautic's non-necromatic magical abilities made him out to be a rather talented hedge mage. This made him a highly valued commodity, since it was rare to have anyone with magical abilities willing to assist with 'peasant work'. The betrayal of the House of Nobles (and by their unwillingness to force the nobles to pay their dues, the Royal Family) resulted in a riot and the death of the Queen. The Stonemasons Guild was disbanded and its members banished from the city of Stormwind without respect or payment for their time and services, leaving many destitute.

While Bautic had fully intended to take advantage of the situation to establish a new branch of the Cult of the Damned from scratch, before he had the chance to he was approached by Edwin VanCleef with an offer to form what would later be known as the Defias Brotherhood. Seeing the benefits of being a leading figure in this new organization, Bautic accepted. While it took some time, the slow radicalization of the Brotherhood (without Bautic's direct involvement) gave Bautic the perfect excuse to introduce necromancy as a valid tactic; Officially the tomes and knowledge of the art was gleamed from the independent necromancers in Duskwood rather then agents of the Scourge and Bautic makes damn sure that his standard lessons reflect this.

However for those that strive for more power in these dark arts... Bautic is more then happy to help enlighten them of the greater powers that the path provides.

Powers and other Abilities:

Talented Hedge Mage: Outside of the field of Necromancy, Bautic is a magic user of some skill, but clearly lacking a formal education, instead learning from one of the other practitioners of the arcane outside of the centers of learning. While he clearly favors frost magic, he knows enough about arcane cantrips in order to be a useful person to have around. According to SI records of him, he is judged to be a rather dangerous individual due to his magical abilities but suspect that in an actual one on one fight with a mage from Dalaran that the Hedge Mage would fall pretty quickly.

Master Necromancer: Having studied under the former Archmage Kel'thuzad, Bautic's true magical potential are in the necromatic arts. While he has elected to hold back his true degree of knowledge and skill in public and among his Defias allies in order to fly under the notice of the authorities, privately he is a lot more dangerous then anyone on this side of the Eastern Kingdoms knows. Personally, he specialized in the arts of reanimating the dead and weaponizing the icy chill of the grave.

Physically Fit: Surprisingly, Bautic is a rather healthy, physically strong individual. While a lot of this has to do with a life of hard work and physical labor, some members of the Cult back in Lorderan suspect he might have used his knowledge of the dark arts to improve himself to some degree.

[DELETED32084]

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.

[Jeddaven]

The Federal Monarchy of Gilneas-Lordaeron

Ask discord to set up a meet to talk stuff over

Name: The Federal Monarchy of Gilneas-Lordaeron

Held Territories: Gilneas, the Bite (the large chain of small islands and reefs surrounding Gilneas), Silverpine Forest up to Shadowfang Keep, Crestfall

Other Assets: In addition to having the presently largest land army on the Eastern Kingdoms/Azeroth, Gilneas possesses the unique advantage of the Worgen -- a botched attempt at sweeping away the Scourge that, although failed, has provided both it and the Scarlet Crusade a type of soldier nearly ideal for fighting the Scourge. Their somewhat cautious relationship with the Night Elves, also, has granted them relatively unique access to true druidcraft, distinct from the Kul Tiran Thornspeakers. Also, while not nearly as technologically advanced as Khaz Modan or Gnomeregan, among the human kingdoms at least, Gilneas is a relatively industrial power, and one of the few with capable lines of mass-production. Firearms and cannon, as such, are quite common.

Goals and Motivations: With the marriage of Calia Menethil to Liam Greymane, House Greymane officially became Gilneas-Lordaeron, with the Lordaeronian crown subordinated to Gilneas. Initially an attempt by Prince Fordring of the Argent Crusade to secure Gilnean intervention in the war against the Scourge (and Calia’s safety, with her consent), the marriage has resulted in reclamation of Lordaeron becoming King Greymane’s top priority. His peoples’ affliction with the Worgen Curse, also, drastically softened his and the people of Gilneas's perspective on the races of the Horde, particularly the Orcs, making someone who once believed they should be executed into an outspoken, if somewhat cynical, advocate for their acceptance.

Additionally, as part of the compact with the Kal’dorei, Gilneas has promised the Whispering Forest and Tal’Doren to them and the Green Dragonflight, along with a diplomatic obligation to protect sites deemed important to the Emerald dream, and an expectation of maintaining the natural world.

Recent History: As the Scourge battered against the walls of Quel’thalas, Gilneas yet still remained hidden behind its legendary wall, initially effectively unassailable. Greymane was sure his strategy was sound, even as discontent brewed within the kingdom -- after all, short of the Elfgates, there was perhaps no more well-constructed network of fortifications in the world.

When the Quel’dorei of Quel’thalas succeeded in repelling the Scourge, his confidence in the fortifications was buoyed to even further heights. The Elfgates worked wondrously, and though a substantial portion of Quel’thalas was destroyed by the Scourge, , the walls themselves held. Unlike the Elves, however, the entirety of Gilneas was hidden behind the walls, and a network of sharp reefs and rocky cliffs so imposing that no mortal army would dare invade it, never mind one sorely lacking skilled, sentient sailors.

Discontent, however, did continue to brew, eventually erupting into all-out rebellion, Lord Darius Crowley at the head of it all. Thanks to the sheer size of the highly profession volunteer Gilnean Army, the rebellion struggled to succeed in its early stages, in spite of Crowley routinely managing to dodge capture and harass the Gilnean forces.

That all abruptly changed, however, when Prince Tirion Fordring arrived at the Wall's gates with Princess -- now technically King -- Calia Menethil, offering a state marriage to Prince Greymane in exchange for Gilnean assistance against the Scourge.

Genn agreed, and, in an effort to put a halt to the Northgate Rebellion, put Crowley in charge of his troops.

The hardened and still relatively well-supplied Gilnean Army, bolstered by the Northgate rebels, swept out into the Silverpine Forest, sweeping away the Scourge with sheer weight of fire, vast quantities of firearms and cannon unheard of anywhere else but perhaps Ironforge rolled into action. Crowley quickly proved himself more skilled commanding grand armies than rebellions, though even he began to struggle with Shadowfang Keep, occupied by Scourge necromancers and repurposed for the animation of powerful abominations.

Desperate for a solution and knowing they couldn't advance any further, Greymane employed the services of one Archmage Arugal to summon the Worgen -- and summon them he did. The Worgen quickly slaughtered the Scourge in the Keep, but many Gilnean soldiers were bitten in the process -- unknown to the Gilneans, the very method by which the Curse could spread.

Sergeant Ivar Blackwood, enraged at the Archmage's betrayal, leapt upon him and cut the relatively middling mage's throat, departing with the King and Crowley for Gilneas as they lost control of the Worgen, unknowingly taking vectors for the Curse with them. When the first transformations began, the wall was swiftly closed in an attempt to keep the Curse bottled up.

Those Gilneans stranded outside of the wall were swiftly placed under Liam's command, while, on the inside, the Royal chemist worked dilligently to cure the Curse, irregular culls undertaken by nobility in the early days before they was any serious hope of there ever being a cure.

That all changed with the arrival of a group of Night Elves led by Belysra Starbreeze, who, together with Krennan, were able to develop a permanent, mass-cure to the majority of the Curse's mental symptoms, recovering the Scythe and slaying Alpha prime with the aid of Arvell, in the form of a spirit wolf.

In exchange, the Gilneans gave the Night Elves effective control over Tal'doren, the very tree where the first Ritual of Balance to control the Curse was performed, alongside the territory of the Whispering Forest -- once Lordaeron was retaken. Now, with the Worgen Curse largely under control, Genn prepares to re-open the gates and unleash his newly-strengthened army.

Key Players:

King Liam Greymane-Menethil: (write short sheets for King Calia and Genn) One half of the dual monarchy ostensibly ruling Lordaeron, Liam is kind to his wife despite the political nature of their marriage, allowing her to live her life as she pleases. The two are close friends by now, but by no means lovers, though even Liam is viewed highly by most surviving Lordaeronians, having taken to his new role without bias toward his father's interests, even during the quarantine. Liam isn't much of a fighter, however, though he is a competent statesman. He typically defers to the more soft-spoken Calia on diplomatic matters, who is herself well-loved by the people of the Alliance in general.

Royal Chemist Krennan Aranas: one of Genn's closest confidantes and a genius chemist/alchemist, Krennan was absolutely essentially to keeping Gilneas survivable during quarantine and has the King's implicit trust. Now, with the Curse cured, he seeks to develop chemical weapons and cures tk be used in conflict with the Undead Scourge, attempting to develop an alchemical concoction to inoculate the non-Worgen of the Alliance against the plague.

Celestine of the Harvest: once a powerful albeit unrefined Harvest Witch, Celestine is now a properly trained druid, and easily the most powerful in Gilneas She acts as the kingdom's liaison with the Night Elves

Grand Marshal Darius Crowley: having gone from Genn's closest friend, to his greatest enemy, and back to his most trusted ally in the span of a decade, Crowley has had an extremely fraught career, though he is nonetheless an extremely effective General and a capable fighter, and a passionate advocate of the Alliance, initially chosen by Genn as his Grand Marshal simply to keep him away from the homefront.

Crowley's friendship with Genn only repaired itself after the Shadowfang disaster, however -- despite the fact that Genn obviously bore some blame for the attack, Crowley saw his passionate desire to protect his people as a positive, and has come to view Genn far more positively than he did a mere four years ago while leading a rebellion against him. Himself a Worgen, he now prepares to lead Gilneas's armies back into Lordaeron.

Knight-Champion Ivar Bloodfang: having saved his King's life from a certain end twice, Ivar, now Ivar Bloodfang, is lauded by Genn himself as an incredibly skilled warrior, given direct command over a company of Gilneas's most hardened soldiers, all Worgen themselves. Once a soldier in the Second War and eventually a hardened Northgate Rebel, Ivar is now a hulking Worgen, towering over most of his fellows. He exclusively lives in his wolf-form.

The Old Wolf

Name: Genn Greymane

Faction: Gilneas

Rank/Role: King of Gilneas

Appearance:

Despite what one may expect of an old king, Genn Greymane is built like a tank -- broad-shouldered, well-muscled and imposing in his age, even when merely in human form, bearish in build.A short-cropped beard crames his chin and mouth, such a light shade of grey that it's nearly white -- and likewise with his close-cropped hair and eyebrows. Though wrinkled and showing visible signs of age, Genn has no intention of slowing down -- especially with his newfound strength.

In with Worgen form, Genn's taller than even taller tauren. His fur, much like his human form, is mostly grey, his body packed with dozens upon dozens of pounds of half-canine muscle. Wicked white claws the size of daggers are on his hands, smaller ones on his paws and replete with a matching set of powerful fangs and canine teeth in his maw. In either form, his eyes are a bright shade of blue, though they become so bright in Worgen form that they appear to shine.

Personality: a deeply complicated man, King Greymane has gone from a deeply racist isolationist to a passionate member of the Alliance and advocate for establishing proper relations with the Horde. (WIp

Biography: Genn's rulership since the death of Dar'khan Drathir has been fraught with trouble. And yet, for a time, his Greymane wall held -- and so, the King was content that he'd managed to protect his nation without sending Gilneans to die for Lordaeron, despite increasingly violent arguments with Darius Crowley. By the time of the event, their begrudging respect was anything but, typically devolving into blistering shouting matches between those nobles who agreed with their King and Darius's quickly growing faction of malcontents who wished to bring Gilneas's powerful army to bear in defense of the Alliance. Gilneans would die fighting the Scourge eventually, Crowley argued -- if the Alliance failed, either their corruption would seep into Gilneas over time or they'd batter the wall down, however well-built it was, under tides of bodies.

A mere month later, Crowley declared open rebellion against his former friend alongside a handful of other nobles -- mostly those with holdings outside of the Greymane Wall. Without their demenses, the nobles were forced to fight a guerilla war alongside anyone that would join them, including a substantial portion of the Gilnean Army.

The rebellion didn't last long, however -- the Scarlet Crusade's arrival and offer of state marriage to Liam with Calia Menethil was one Genn was more than happy to accept, promptly deploying those parts of Gilneas's army still able to fight into the Silverpine Forest, placing them under Crowley's command both due to his skill and Genn's desire to keep him away from the civilian populace where he could create more dissent.

When the Gilnean-Scarlet advance stalled at Shadowfang Keep, one of the most difficult-to-assault keeps in the Eastern Kingdoms, the disgraced Archmage Arugal approached King Greymane with a solution: summon otherworldly wolf-men, the Worgen, to destroy the Scourge. Brutal in close combat and immune to being risen as undead except by the most potent necromancers along with immunity to the Plague, they would ne practically ideal for dislodging the Scourge from Shadowfang.

Arugal had practically all of the most powerful Gilnean nobles convinced, except Crowley and a contingent of especially isolationist nobles led by Lord Godfrey. Unfriendly with Crowley, however, they were unable to persuade Greymane to turn Arugal away -- and so, the Worgen were summoned.

However, Ivar Bloodfang, a particularly aggressive Sergeant and Crowley's bodyguard, realized Arugal's deception just as the Worgen began to turn on the Gilneans, knocking him to the ground and cutting his throat before he could escape. By then, however, many Gilnean soldiers has already been infected by the Curse, brought back into Gilneas to recuperate after the botched assault. Royal Chemist Krennan voiced concerns that the Curse might spread through bites, but before anything could be done by King Greymane, the Worgen had already begun to spread their Curse -- and so, Genn instituted a strict quarantine until the Curse could be contained, re-barring the Greymane Wall's gates while Krennan worked on a cure for the Curse.

Unbeknownst to them, the Worgen were led by a particularly powerful member of their kind, the Alpha Prime, who sought to spread the Curse to every last soul in Gilneas -- Gen was dealing with a far more complex problem than he realized.

After thebsummong of the Worgen, Genn had requested Crowley's permission to recruit Ivar as a bodyguard -- and so, he accompanied the King on many of his Worgen hunts with his fellow noblesz hoping to cull the numbers of Worgen deemed too dangerous to wait for a cure. On one such trip, Genn encountered an especially powerful Worgen -- together with Ivar, they were able to defeat it, but not before both were bitte. Lord Godfrey and the other nobles on the trip discovered them, unfortunately for the nobles, and attempted to execute Genn and Bolver -- only for the two to overpower and kill the nobles for their murder attempt.

Genn was able to stem the tide of his Curse with the Royal Chemist's aid, however partially, risking mental degeneration if he shifted into his Worgen form -- until a group of druids led by Belysra Starbreeze arrived in Gilneas seeking to aid them, having sensed the disturbance caused by the re-emergence of the Curse. Together with Genn, Crowley, Ivar (now Ivar Bloodfang), and the Night Elves, they were able to use the newly-recovered Scythe and Krennan's potions to bring a vast number of the Worgen control of their minds and forms back, luring the Alpha Prime into a trap which saw his surprising death at the hands of a Night Elf in the form of a Spirit Wolf, Arvell.

In exchange for their help suppression the worst mental effects of the Curse, and being taught druidcraft, Genn agreed to give the Elves and the Green Dragonflight full access to Tal'doren, swearing to hand over the Whispering Forest in Lordaeron and take on an obligation to protect the Dream. Genn ordered the teachings of druidcraft spread to all Gilneans that were willing to learn it, knowing it would be incredibly effective against the Undead Scourge.

Now, with the Ritual of Balance in their power, Genn prepared to open the gates, rejoin the Alliance in full, and wipe the Scourge from the face of Azeroth.

Powers and other Abilities:immensely strong and made even more effective by his Curse, Genn is fully capable of ripping apart men with pure strength when in Worgen form, his claws shearing apart steel while his bite can crush the bones of even Ogres. Even in human form, he's quite skilled with his large-caliber pistol and sword, but it's in Worgen form that he becomes a one-man massacre, fully intent on fighting on the frontlines against the Scourge so that Gilneas can take its rightful place as the dominant power in Azeroth.

Calia the Light-Blessed

Name: Calia Greymane-Menethil

Faction (if applicable): The Federal Monarchy of Gilneas-Lordaeron, Kingdom of Lordaeron

Rank/Role (What's their 'job' in the faction they play a part in?): Queen, priestess of the Light

Appearance: Enchantingly beautiful, Calia is a person that's almost difficult to dislike, generally well-liked by most people she meets. Her appearance plays no small part in this -- from her soft features to her kind smile, bright golden blonde hair, and her endlessly kind smile, never once showing a hint of impatience or anger, dark blue eyes reassuring anyone they fall upon.

Personality: Unfailingly calm, patient, and kind, Calia often takes on the role of mediator between Alliance leaders during tense negotiations, often the one to bring leaders back to the negotiating table after particularly loud arguments. Such responsibilities strain her, but never frustrate, to the point it's said that the woman has never once become angry, a truth despite its apparent impossibility. Even moreso, she cares deeply for her people, willing to make great personal sacrifices for their benefit.she is humble, too, and in many ways, the ideal ruler -- one who does not wish to wear the crown, but who will be the best she can regardless.

Biography: caught in capital city during her brother's betrayal, Calia was forced to flee in desperation, hiding under foliage in a drainage ditch as the Scourge ravaged the city. She did the only thing she knew how to survive such inevitable damnation that would befall her were she caught -- pray.

Miraculously, Calia's prayers were answered when Abbendis and his Acolytes tracked her down following visions sent to them by the Holy Light, finding Calia after two weeks of gruelling survival in the Tirisfal wilderness. Though their escape to safety was nearly arrested by a vast swarm of undead -- but Alexandros Mograine, likewise guided to them by the Holy Light, allowing the trio to narrowly escape to the Crusade-held Hillsbrad Foothills and de-facto Lordaeronian capital of Southshore. Crowned with her father's very crown, Calia restored Tirion's title in absentia of Hearthglen.

A plan was swiftly concocted to earn Gilneas's assistance, now the largest army in the known world, and one of the best-equipped -- Calia would approach the Gilnean King, offering purekt political/state marriage to Liam, and thus de-facto rights for him in a Federal Monarchy to Lordaeron, offering the potential for Gilneas to become vastly more powerful. Genn enthusiastically agreed, and, after a state wedding in the Light's Dawn cathedral, she briefly returned to ministering to her people in Hillsbrad, supervising the construction of a cathedral in Southshore, Lordaeron's tempirary cathedralm

When Gilneas's armies went on the attack, however, she opted to stay near the frontlines to help heal the soldiers -- and when the Worgen were about to be deployed, she was struck by a vision of the devastation they would cause and their eventual calming.

Though she wept for the people of Gilneas, in the interim of their quarantine, Calia refused to let her grief overcome her, bringing the full weight of her connection to the Holy Light to bear in the fight against the Scourge. Now, she is struck one more by visions -- the Greymane Wall is about to reopen.

Powers and other Abilities: though still in her infancy in terms of sheer power, Calia has an unquestionably eep connection to the Light, and not solely because of the strength she has in her convictions. She is certainly outpaced by some priests -- such as Alonsus Faol -- but her power is growing exponentially, and shows no signs of stopping.

[Bugman]

Great Dalaran

Name: Dalaran

Held Territories: Most importantly the city of Dalaran itself. However with recent times it has acquired a significant territory that was once the Kingdom of Lordaeron and Alterac, as well as a smaller acquisition of what the Gilneans had abandoned outside of their great wall. Currently, their geopolitical goal is a combined offensive with the Stormpike Dwarves and allied Paladin Orders to retake Strahnbrad.

Other Assets: In all of the human, dwarven, and gnomish realms that would accept them, the Dalarani have subsidized magical academies both as exertions of soft powers, but also as genuine efforts to push back against the blows the have been struck to the good people of the Eastern Kingdoms.

Goals and Motivations: Dalaran’s enlightened despot has pushed it towards a somewhat idealist, but nonetheless utilitarian path. The City-State has evolved into something resembling a true nation, and indeed with the many cultures it has come to represent it is arguably now an Empire. Dalaran seeks to strengthen the alliance, yet this is simply a means to an end of fighting the scourge, the fel, and other evils of the world. It thus will not hesitate to stand its ground in disputes with the rest of the alliance. Dalaran is also highly motivated by its inquisitive ideology, their love of learning leading them to pursue relations as good as possible with the High Elves of Quel’Thalas.

Recent History: It seemed that with every passing day of having turned away the strange Prophet, Antonidas had found that the man’s portents were true. While he stared into his scrying orb to witness the battle for Lordaeron and then Quel’Thalas, he decided it was time to act. While he wasn’t going to go gallivanting into the West, he certainly knew that if Dalaran was to sit on its arse waiting for the world to pass them by then they would be crushed just as the Elves almost were.

Seeing the exodus of refugees from Quel’Thalas and the collapsed Kingdom of Lordaeron Antonidas opened the gates of the Violet City for the first time in many years to outsiders. Quickly however, the old man realized just out of touch he was from the outside world when the city was full and a young clerk announced that not even a tenth of the fleeing people had been accommodated. In truth, he was lucky that several sizeable columns of fleeing folk had gone to Stromgarde, rather than try their chances with Dalaran.

After realizing Dalaran in its couldn’t state couldn’t cope with the demand of shelter, food, and other basic needs of the arrivals, Antonidas had sent his emissaries to the great many villages of the now defunct Lordaeron crown that surrounded him. Yet again a shock came to the wizards, for they had arrived hoping to request grain from people they assumed were getting along just fine, but instead found that with the troops of the defunct Lordaeron having been exhausted fighting the scourge the settlements were undefended, prey to freely raid for bandits, trolls, and indeed the further spread of the scourge.

It was thus that the wizardry was effectively forced to take stewardship of these regions, protecting them and the roads between with their arcane might to ensure that grain might yet again come to the mouths that needed it. Yet this process of ferrying food to the great tent cities outside Dalaran could only go for so long, and thus the wizards had to tell the people that they had to either move to the former Lordaeron villages or establish wholly new settlements. Yet they hardly had the infrastructure to help the people through this hard process. This was made yet more difficult as before they could do this they had to establish complex filtration of the refugees to ensure there were no cultists of the damned hidden among them.

It was at this point that Antonidas made his next most controversial decision: to invite the Church of the Light to Dalaran. Though there was great outcry once this was done, he saw little other choice. With the arrival of Priests and Paladins to the city’s doorstep, the guard wasn’t eager to let them inside. But nonetheless they had to such that support and checks for lack of corruption of the refugees could properly be facilitated.

While many raged at what they considered Antonidas squandering the precious resources of Dalaran, a multitude of voices were also quite content with the new authority that the Magocracy exercised on the continent.

Yet, with every settlement that Dalaran took under its purview, it found that it was being assailed from its outskirts forcing the Dalarani mages to spread themselves further and further out. A cycle began where a new village would be claimed under the violet flag, only for it to be attacked from a new frontier that had to be pacified until it too became a controlled territory under threat.

This lead to the mages eventually having to protect and lend their magic to the civilian affairs of a growing territory, with settlements that Gilneas had left behind outside their walls along with disparate humans unaffiliated with the syndicate in Alterac asking for the Violet City’s patronage on top of the initial Lordaeronian acquisitions.

The process of this expansion however began to slow very quickly as Dalaran quite simply began to reach the limit of “spare” wizards that it could use to protect settlements as well as aid their prosperity with magics and their generalized knowledge.

Antonidas was at a crossroads on how to resolve the problem of his overnight Empire being so quickly overstretched. It was struggling with the actual resources to maintain and grow it, not to speak of the logistical, infrastructural, and (at least to the city of Dalaran itself) most importantly bureaucratic strain that was most certainly not catching up. He decided to simply fix the matter by outsourcing the responsibilities that were too difficult for the Magocracy to maintain. The Church of the Light would help maintain the hospices that were occupying precious time and mana of wizards, while the now encountered Dwarves of the Stormpikes were glad to help defend the human settlers of Alterac. Mercenaries were hired, and gradually settlements were asked to form their own Home Guards to at least partially supplement the work of mages defending them. Most upsetting to some within the Violet City were deals made with the many different Orders of the Church of the Light to have them patrol the lands to defend them and keep cultists of the damned afeared. While the geopolitical success of Dalaran has brought great pride to many of the Magocracy, it also brings sideways glances from the Gilneans, Lordaeronians and even Stromgardians as claims recent for the former or ancient for the latter become disputed with settlements coming under the domain of the wizards.

At the same time, Dalaran was very active in expanding its soft power. The capacity of free mages was further strained as many were sent abroad to help establish Dalarani magical academies of magic in any nation of the present or former alliance that would accept them. Going as far as Theramore, they further went to attempt to assist the nations in what ways they could such as joining troll-hunts or helping purge the scourge. Particular efforts have been made to attempt to strengthen relations with Quel’Thalas with joint research projects and other symbols of unity being pushed to try and if not restore Quel’Thalas to the Alliance, at least make it have a direct pact with Dalaran.

With Dalaran having spread its tendrils far and wide, it is certainly the time to look inside for Dalaran as a great many internal issues plague it. The tensions between “greater Dalaran” and the city itself grow ever greater. It is ill-defined exactly what autonomies the territories outside of the city have, with the people of the Violet City becoming ever frustrated at what they perceive as Antonidas preferring foreigners over his own subjects. Religious conflict is spread as the largely apathetic people of Dalaran city look outside at worshippers of the light that divide themselves among how exactly they worship the light be they zealots prostrating themselves at the sight of Scarlet Crusaders, the caressing speech of the elf Arantir, or the Argent Dawn that represent something along the lines of the old code of the Silver Hand. Racial conflict similarly stirs as the human peasantry outside of the city looks with suspicion on the elves, dwarves, and gnomes that the city sports along with the novel introduction of the grand population of half-breeds therein. Though Antonidas promises the best is yet to be seen and his guiding hand has not failed Dalaran thus far, many are concerned that his aging mind and dire experiences are gradually clouding his judgement.

Key Players:
The most important person in all of Dalaran is the Archmage Antonidas, head of the Kirin Tor and member of the Council of Six, he is the de facto if not de jure enlightened despot of Dalaran. Yet, entering his seventy-fifth year he has much on his mind for securing the future of Dalaran should he not wake the following day. He has become a dour man after many of his realizations about the world beyond his idyllic city, being far more reclusive than in the past. People can no longer freely visit him, having to make appointments instead. Yet, he has also decided to now spend hours each day to learn about the state of the realm by personally riding out to witness it.

Though having long since left the city, Jaina Proudmoore is an alumnus of Dalaran, and can be considered a member of its greater reach even if most certainly not taking any orders from Antonidas.

Kael’Thas Sunstrider, a member of council of six is also a particularly important figure in Dalaran. While his nature as the son of the Elven King makes him a point of questioned loyalty, it is similarly seen as a useful inroad into good relations with Quel’Thalas and influencing their policy.

Khadgar - one of the noblest sons of Dalaran, great and well known are his exploits. Though for many years he was lost, the opening of the portal now means he may once more grace the Violet City.

Rhonin is a prodigal mage, and one of the Council of the Six. He is seen as the one most likely to replace Antonidas in the event Modera should not be selected for one or the other reason. He is somewhat of a parallel to Ansirem Runeweaver, being far more cosmopolitan yet also stable in his wizarding.

Modera has held her position longer than any member of the council save Antonidas, and by pure seniority would certainly seem to be next in line to be the de facto ruler of the state should he perish.

Ansirem Runeweaver is a member of the council of six, and while an impressive and notably creative archmage he is also known for more crude attitudes to non-humans, expressing great skepticism to the mercy Turalyon had given the orcs. Further he has shown the least enthusiasm towards Antonidas’s push to brotherhood with Quel’Thalas

Vanndar Stormpike is not a Dalaranian and damn well doesn’t take orders from them, but with the recent patronage of Dalaran for the Stormpikes in Alterac he speaks with representatives of the Magocracy almost daily. It is by agreements with him that Dwarves instruct forging of powder weapons for the growing militias of Dalaran and drill them in their use whilst Dalarani mages help him crush the orcs, trolls, ogres, and renegade men that are in the land. But perhaps most valued is simply the contribution of the wizards in facilitating the shipments of foods from the Lordaeron refugees settling in Alterac ruins, as well as their knowledge assisting in the excavations of the Stormpikes. He is also a critical link between Dalaran and Ironforge, his good word allowing many contracts on good conditions to be negotiated between the Mages and the realm of the Dwarves.

Arellas Fireleaf is a liaison between Dalaran and the Scarlet Crusade. A devoted zealot of the Light, he has nonetheless impressed much of Dalaran with his arcane knowledge and abilities, and is perhaps the sole reason that the Magocracy has been convinced that perhaps the Scarlet Crusade has redeeming qualities and may operate on its territory.

==OC==

Arantir Skellen has come to be an unofficial voice of the High Elven refugees that have settled in number within now Dalarani territory. He is unfortunately a great point of contention and headache for the Council of Six. He is a zealot of the Church of the Light, and the cold attitude of many mages within Dalaran to the Church understandably cause tensions when a firebrand as such runs amok. But, worse yet is that having mostly lead the Elves that were stuck outside of the Elfgate, a feeling of abandonment has resonated in his rhetoric that eventually lead him and many of the people that look up to the man to no longer recognize the authority of the Sunstrider dynasty. To the Magocracy which is trying to be on as good terms as possible with Quel’Thalas, harbouring such malcontents raises a problem. He has also come to be quite popular with many human refugees settling in Dalaran as well, and indeed his ability with magic as a seemingly self-taught mage has even impressed many a wizard. While for now a mere thorn in the side of the Kirin Tor, there is a concern his populism will one day genuinely challenge their rule of their extended realm outside of the city of Dalaran itself. For now, the wizards try to stifle his growing popularity among the new and old citizenry alike by spreading the knowledge that supposedly he was never actually ordained into the Church as a Priest, and is most certainly speaking without any authority as mere laity. He will typically be seen alongside his brother Alaestas.

Nilio is a gnome that fled his adopted home of Ironforge after an accident in his laboratory that made him a wanted man. He has found a home in Dalaran for his work, namely the attempt to synthesize magic with machinery. Grinding manastones as fuel, his experiments were a means for him to take the easy way out after running into issues with his scholarly studies as a natural born mage. Some particularly reactionary wizards however have taken negatively to his presence seeing the reduction of magic to a science being a perversion of their art.Though his services are appreciated, he is somewhat problematic as a remaining nuisance to the Dwarves and to a lesser extent gnomeregan left unpunished.

Barad is a Dwarf that was a close friend of Nilio who attempted to safeguard the gnome by taking the blame for the explosion. However, when he found out the penalty for the explosion would be many years of imprisonment his bravery shattered and thus he fled together with the gnome. An engineer by trade, he was extensively helping Nilio while also looking into his own works. Namely, he was interested in making machinery for the civilian sector such as agricultural equipment, growing frustrated with the rest of Ironforge’s tinkerers focusing almost entirely on military matters with the technology of peace being a mere footnote in their mental libraries. Much like Nilio the magocracy has valued his farming machinery and other contraptions, but Ironforge still wants him in shackles which has forced Dalarani emissaries to work overtime in their efforts to maintain good relations.

On the Stormpikes
The Stormpikes are an extremely recent addition to the region. The expedition by Vanndar was almost a personal project of the Dwarf, the personal interest in unearthing precious artifacts to discover more of Dwarven history being a daring but well planned affair. The Dwarves arrived to Alterac experiencing many setbacks when first attempting to establish themselves, the combined Frostwolf Orcs, trolls, ogres, Syndicate, and Scourge elements all presenting their own respective problems. However, their difficulties were significantly reduced when wizards bearing Violet Banners arrived in the lands they were holding. After a long night of drinking with their representative, Vanndar found that he had arranged a very mutually beneficial partnership. The Dalarani and Stormpikes would pool their efforts to not only beat back the villainy that occupied the land, but properly secure it such that studies of archaeology could be performed and displaced people make their homes there.

Ultimately the relationship between Dalaran and the Stormpikes had little formal binding to it, but it also has had little reason to fray. Some do see the two come to a head in the future however, as some have concerns that the Stormpikes maybe have disputes with some of the more zealous, or alternatively bigoted members of the Scarlet Crusade that the Dalarani have largely let run free to be spared of expenses in men and resources that the Scarlet Crusaders take upon themselves. Further, Vanndar is finding himself rather annoyed as some Dwarves in his expedition slowly take to the spreading following of the populist worship of the light spread by the High Elf Skellen. As well, the harbouring of the Dwarf Barad and Gnome Nilio has made Vanndar hear complaints from his troops on more than one occasion.

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.

[Jeddaven]

Gnomeregan

Name: Gnomeregan



Held Territories: Gnomeregan Valley. Shimmer Ridge and other traditional Frostmane territories west of Gnomeregan still held by the Frostmane tribe.

Other Assets: what most distinguishes Gnomeregan is its incredibly advanced technology -- from robotics to punchard computing, mastery of electricity, and technological manipulation of magic normally available only to specialized magic users, the gnomes have it all. Their most militarily valuable asset is perhaps the Deeprun tram running from Stormwind to Gnomeregan then terminating in Ironforge -- but gnomes also possess incredibly advanced flying machines and armor, from full tactical bombers to machine gun-armed fighters, steam tanks, agile spider tanks, speedy mechanostriders, or communication technologies like Wizbang Cranktoggle’s Buzzboxes.

Gnomish forces, though extremely small both literally and figuratively, are heavily supplemented by aircraft, tanks, and robots, making them a powerful force to be reckoned with. The Gnomeregan Covert Ops led by Kelsey Steelspark are also one of the most capable Covert Ops units in the Alliancez using their advanced technology and small size to engage in highly effective covert operations. Although the city itself is still somewhat vulnerable to underground attack, since the trogg invasion, sensitive seismic sensors have been installed to detect similar incursions before they occur in the future.

Goals and Motivations: Gnomeregan is one of the few societies on Azeroth that’s completely evolved beyond the need for absolute rule, governed as a democracy, albeit one that highly values academic acumen. Nonetheless, it can be truthfully said that there are no unhoused persons in Gnomeregan, every last citizen being adequately cared for.

Above all else, however, Gnomeregan seeks technological advancement, both to improve the quality of life of the Alliance and to reinforce its military capabilities. Gnomeregan has few if any territorial ambitions, though the city itself does occasionally expand deep beneath the surface of Azeroth.

Recent History: once entombed by the Titans in Uldaman, the Troggs -- a failed creation driven mad by the biological instability of their minds and bodies -- unleashed by Dwarven exploration of their containment, followed the fleeing explorers home, digging rapidly through the earth. Unbeknownst to the Dwarves, in fleeing directly home, they'd brought the Troggs with them -- but not to Gnomeregan.

Attracted by the artificial noise emanating from Gnomeregan through rock and soil, the Troggs abruptly changed course towards the source. Not long after reaching Gnomeregan, the troggs breached its walls, pouring into the lowest depths of Gnomeregan in an attempt to find the source of the noise.

The gnomes were left with no option but to fight -- if they did shut down the things attracting the troggs, they'd be effectively hammering the nails on their civilization's coffin.

And so, as such, the Tinker's Court voted to fight the troggs. For the next three months, that was exactly what they did, duly informing Ironforge of the situation but refusing reinforcements in effort to avoid distracting from the war with the Scourge.

That changed three months later, however.

Little progress had been made in repelling the troggs, thanks to their sheer numbers -- but with the Scourge busy besieging Quel'Thalas, the Tinker's Court deemed it reasonable to call for reinforcements from Ironforge, despite Mekgineer Thermaplugg's insistence on venting radiation into the lower levels to exterminate the troggs. With the help of Ironforge, they were able to keep the troggs at bay while Gnomeregan's scientists and engineers sought a solution.

With time -- nearly a year of research -- they arrived at a solution: if trogg behaviour was affected by sound, then sound could be used to turn them against each other. A device called the S.A.D.D. (Sound and Arcane Disruption Device) was deployed, using sound and magic to turn the troggs against each other, effectively wiping out the Uldaman strain in less than a week.

In lieu of the victory -- and Thermaplugg's rabid insistence that his method was the only permanent solution -- the Tinker's Court launched a prompt investigation into Thermaplugg, and just in the nick of time, with enforcements officers discovering Thermaplugg attempting to build an illegal radiological device. They attempted to arrest him, however, in order to prevent Thermaplugg from detonating the device, they were forced to kill him.

Gnomeregan immediately set about rebuilding and expanding, its engineers bringing their knowledge to bear in the fight against the Scourge. Airfields supporting Gnomish and Dwarven aircraft were rapidly constructed in various places in Alliance territory, Gnomish robots and peasant workers put to work constructing ammunition depots able to keep their powerful technology supplied. The Gnomes were unable to participate in the first Silverpine Offensive, but as the second approaches, they stand ready to bring to bear technological wonders the likes of which the world has never seen... Or so they think.

Key Players:

Dr. Pippi Lightspark, Director of L.A.M.P. (Light Acquisition and Magic Proliferation): as the director of LAMP, Dr. Zapswitch is Gnomeregan’s preeminent expert on technological manipulation of magic, from the Holy Light to the Arcane. She's already made substantial progress, from technological devices capable of counterspelling, to devices that fire beams of energy identical in function and effect to the Holy Light. Her position makes her somewhat controversial outside of Gnomeregan, however -- though her work is generally not viewed as a violation by the Church of the Holy Light. She is, however, a highly suspicious person despite her general kindness, and views darker magics as highly dangerous, in a strange mirror of the very same things she seeks to manipulate with science. Predictability, in other words, is her preference.

Kelsey Steelspark: head of Gnomeregan's newly formed Covert Ops division, Kelsey Steelspark, in spite of her small size, is an incredibly lethal assassin in addition to the typical genius of Gnomes. Hers lies in the arts of warfare, sabotage, and, of course, precise application of explosives (unlike those reckless Goblins), though she's also possessed of a knack for picking apart and spotting lies that might not be expected of Gnomanity. Young and recently promoted, she's yet to prove herself on the battlefield, already drawing up plans for sabotage against the Scourge.

Gelbin Mekkatorque

Name:

Faction: Gnomeregan, Khaz Modan

Rank/Role: High Tinker of Gnomeregan

Appearance:

Relatively well-built and tall for a Gnome, among his people, Gelbin strokes a relatively imposing figure -- among his people, at least. At 4'2", he's still dwarfed by practically all of his allies, though Gelbin's white Burnside whiskers and bald held belie his well-earned experience -- if not the stately, confident manner in which he carried himself.His bright green eyes nearly match the color of his neon goggles, piercing and unfaded despite his substantial age, his face framed by a large arrow-shaped nose and equally large, rounded ears.

Personality: creative, compassionate, and intelligent, Gnomeregan's High Tinker in many ways represents the best of Gnomanity -- the very reason why he was voted in as High Tinker, and is well-loved by his people even despite his inability to realize Thermaplugg's hostile ambitions. Although traumatized by his best friend's betrayal, above all else, Gelbin understands his duty to both Gnomanity and the Alliance, and, with the enthusiastic support of his people, is both willing and able to do everything he can to help his friends -- especially putting his immense genius to work making the lives of Alliance citizens better and better equipping its soldiers.

Biography: though shocked and surprised by the Trogg invasion of Gnomeregan, Gelbin remained stoic in the face of horror. He was Gnomeregan's leader, after all, and that meant putting aside Gelbin -- at least for a little while -- to become the High Tinker. Trogg progress into the city, thankfully, was slow at first. Unfortunately for Gelbin, however, as more Troggs poured in, more tunnels were dug -- and slowly but surely, the Gnomes were being pushed back with no signs of immediate relief.

Gelbin and the Tinkers' court wrestled with the decision of whether or not to ask the Alliance for military aid. If they did ask, Ironforge would surely provide whatever was asked for... But doing so would draw the stretched-thin Alliance forces away from the war with the undead Scourge -- and was it really the correct long term decision to pull troops away from the war that threatened to annihilate them all, despite the inherent advantages an active Gnomeregan would provide?

Gelbin's decision was suddenly made for him when the Scourge struggled to breach the First Elfgate, and Gilneas abruptly rejoined the Alliance. Now, Ironforge had plenty of spare troops -- and so, the call went out, and the Bronzebeards answered. With Dwarven help, the Gnomes would have enough time to think of a safe, effective solution, just as they always did. His most trusted friend, Sicco Thermaplugg, insisted on flooding the Trogg tunnels with radiation, and although his plan could theoretically work, Gelbin refused on the grounds that it would risk contaminating the environment or spreading throughout the city (despite Thermaplugg's insistence that he could contain it), not that his friend let up.

Soon, their research bore fruit -- a device was engineered that used sound to manipulate Trogg behavior, turning them against each other in a maddened frenzy.

In the face of Thermaplugg's increasingly rabid insistence that his method would be the only successful one, Gelbin reluctantly ordered a prompt investigation into Thermaplugg's activities, resulting in his accidental death when the Gnomes apprehending him were forced to kill him to prevent the detonation of a "dirty" bomb.

Devastated, Gelbin nonetheless soldiered on, endeavoring to repay the Alliance for its assistance in their hour of need with expansive packages of military and civil aid -- all with the wonders of Gnomish technology.

Powers and other Abilities: although physically imposing for a Gnome, Gelbin's true power comes from his immense intellect and the devices he is able to design with it. These include a personal mechanostrider, his very own spider tank, and a work-in-progress Steam Armor.

Tinkmaster Overspark: alongsider Oglethorpe Obnoticus, Overspark is one of Gnomeregan's foremost robotics expert, and the driving force behind its prolific use of artificial constructs to expand its army and thus spare Gnomish lives. He's also a wireless communications expert, and, although generally a serious person, he's more than willing to speak with those curious about Gnomish engineering, and even endeavors to teach those who make the effort of finding him -- when his busy schedule as Gelbin's foremost advisor permits it.

Milhouse Manastorm: although only slightly sane, Milhouse is, unquestionably, Gnomeregan's most potent mage, easily counted among one of the most outright powerful in Azeroth. He is, however, incredibly unpredictable and difficult to control, and though he is a citizen of Gnomeregan, his loyalties to it are only present in the loosest sense. Nonetheless, he is eager to prove his ability, acquire strange artifacts, and, most of all, blow something up, a passion that his wife, Millificent, shares. Despite his insanity, however, he is effectively incorruptible -- in the spiritual sense.

Captain Tread Sparknozzle: one of Gelbin's advisors and perhaps one of the most seriously-mannered Gnomes, Captain Sparknozzle commands Gnomeregan's Air Intervention Regiment (A.I.R.), its home-grown air force and an organization of the most elite pilots in Azeroth. A.I.R. is equipped with the best equipment available, all at the command of its highly capable, hard-nosed commander.

[POOHEAD189]

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.

[Erezrim]

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. Over the course of a grueling war against the Scourge and Arthas, peoples from all over the Alliance territories - elf, human, dwarf, gnome - 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. What unites them? The Undead Menace. 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.

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 rebuilding its infrastructure, its economy, and its military. With the help of a strange elven people from across the Great Sea, the Worgen seem to have been pacified, within the Crusade's own ranks at least. Now, poised to strike with a human ferocity unseen since the Troll Wars, the Crusade has called out to the peoples of the Grand Alliance, to join them in a holy crusade to purge Lordaeron of the Scourge, to reestablish the kingdom, and crush the greatest threat that Azeroth has seen since the Second War.

Key Players of 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.

Crusader-Colonel Renault Mograine Colonel of the Scarlet Crusade, Templar of the Silver Hand, Second Ambassador to Quel'Thalas, first son of Alexandros Mograine, childhood friend of Sally Whitemane, Brigitte Abbendis, and Michael Goodchilde. Renault is, or at least tries to be, like his father in every way he can, although his younger brother reflects the old man much better. He disdains being separated from his family for long periods of time, although he must do so as a Scarlet Ambassador to Quel'Thalas. However, his years in the High Elven kingdom have changed him quite a bit and his outlook on the politics of Lordaeron.

Crusader-Captain Darion Mograine Captain of the Scarlet Crusade, Captain of the Silver Hand, Ambassador to Kul'Tiras, the younger of the Mograine sons. Fiery and looking to prove himself, the youngest Mograine embodies every bit of passion his father has for the cause of the Light and the Alliance. One of the youngest ambassadors of the Crusade, his martial skills are prodigious and his diplomatic skills are showing great promise.

Grand Marshal, 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, Ambassador to The Federal Monarchy of Gilneas-Lordaeron. Many military honors. Received amnesty and pardon for actions leading to his exile from Queen Calia Menethil.

Crusader-General Taelan Fordring General of the Scarlet Crusade, Highlord of the Knights of the Silver Hand, Veteran of the Third War, Advisor to the Grand Crusader, and the son of Prince Tirion Fordring. Taelan Fordring is the heir to Hearthglen. He was raised as a Lordaeronian noble and Knight of the Silver Hand. Ever his father's fall from grace, there has been a rift between father and son, but the Crusade has brought them together again. Taelan is, along with the other Highlords of the Hand and the lords of Lordaeron, a member of the Grand Crusader's Holy Council.

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. Ambassador to Quel'Thalas. 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. A passionate Knight of the Silver Hand and known as the Paladin of Compassion. Saidan Dathrohan is as trustworthy as he is capable. While capable with the power of the Light, his greatest strength lays in his biceps and his Blessed Warmaul. Dathrohan towers over most humans at seven feet tall and weighing nearly three hundred pounds. His booming voice echoes over the battlefield and inspires his fellow troops, whom he always leads from the front.

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. An honest, loyal man, General Abbendis is nearly always in lockstep with his childhood friend, Alexandros Mograine. Rarely, he will disagree with his friend, but their disagreements run deep where they appear.

Crusader-Colonel Brigitte Abbendis - Field Colonel of the Scarlet Crusade, Captain of the Silver Hand, childhood friend of Renault Mograine, Michael Goodchilde, and Sally Whitemane. Brigitte Abbendis has come to age in more ways than one. Growing up in Lordaeron and maturing in the Scarlet Crusade, the Lady Abbendis is a spitting-image of her father in both looks and abilities. Stern and direct, she is one of the most capable young officers of the Scarlet Crusade.

High General, Lord Maxwell Tyrosus - High General of the Scarlet Crusade, Lord of Darrowshire and Marris Stead, Highlord of the Knights of the Silver Hand, Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. Lord Maxwell Tyrosus is a fervent believer in the light and a close friend of Alexandros Mograine. He is a skilled tactician, as well as an accomplished warrior.

High General, Baron Othmar Garithos - High General of the Scarlet Crusade, Grand Marshal of the Lordaeronian Army, Lord of Corin's Crossing and Andale (now called Terrordale), Baron Othmar Garithos remains a rightful Lord of the Eastweald, though his lands are in ruins. He is often vocal in his disdain for most non-humans but will begrudgingly work alongside them. Although a generally unlikable fellow, he is capable as a wartime organizer and strategist.

Crusader-Major Michael Goodchilde - Major of the Scarlet Crusade, Lieutenant of the Silver Hand, childhood friend of Renault Mograine, Brigitte Abbendis, and Sally Whitemane. Faithful companion and bodyguard of High Inquisitor Whitemane, he would defend her to his last breath, and likely even beyond.

High Quartermaster Kristoff - The Chief Logistician of the Scarlet Crusade, formerly the Chief Quartermaster of Baron Garithos. Kristoff's mind for inventory management has been a mercy to the Crusade. Thanks to his administrative skills, the remnants of Lordaeron were able to organize relief efforts which culminated in the organization of the Scarlet Crusade. Truly, far fewer operations would see success without Kristoff. The Ashbringer might crush the undead, but Kristoff crushes hunger.

Archbishop Benedictus Voss - The Spiritual Father of the Crusade and Leader of the Church of the Holy Light, successor to Archbishop Alonsus Faol. Benedictus Voss' sermons have fueled the spirit of the Crusade since its founding, and long were a source of security and reassurance for its people before the Third War. Now, his sermons will once more turn towards the grim reality ahead of the Crusade, reminding its people of the Will of the Light.

Lord-Crusader Weldon Barov - Sole Survivor of the Barov Family and rightful Lord of Tarren Mill, Caer Darrow, Brill, and Southshore. One of the few survivors of the Massacre at Caer Darrow, Lord Barov is a man with an axe to grind. Patriotic is not the word to describe Lord Barov, but his will to regain his birthright is both ironclad and

Grand Inquisitor Fairbanks - Grand Inquisitor of the Scarlet Crusade, Advisor to the Grand Crusader Mograine, Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. One of the closest friends of the Grand Crusader, Fairbanks has been a pillar of support for the Crusade since its beginnings in Southshore. He is now the High Inquisitor of the Crusade and is tasked with rooting out any and all who would seek to undermine the Shield of Lordaeron. Fairbanks has utilized some unsavory means, at times, to achieve this end, including the employ of Lord Ravenholdt, but his heart remains dedicated to his lord, Alexandros Mograine.

High Inquisitor Whitemane - High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Crusade, Knight of the Silver Hand, childhood friend of Renault Mograine, Brigitte Abbendis, and Michael Goodchilde. She is as fanatical as they come when it regards the Scarlet Crusade. She would give her life...no, her soul for the cause of the Crusade. She is the first subordinate of Fairbanks, but operates in an independent capacity as the commander of the Scarlet Monastery, working alongside Maj. Goodchilde.

Lord-Crusader Valdelmar - Duke of Tyr's Hand, Lord of the city, New Avalon and Havenshire; Veteran of the Second and Third Wars. A friend of High General Abbendis, Lord Valdelmar is a devout follower of the Light who quickly raised his banner to fight the Undead Menace. His city, Tyr's Hand, is a centre of Light worship which has held on as a burning flame of the Light in the otherwise plagued-lands of eastern Lordaeron. He has been defending it for about five years, since the beginning of the Third War. He is known for wielding a holy, two-handed claymore on the field of battle, astride his warhorse.

Crusader-General Valgar Highforge - General of the Scarlet Crusade, High General of the Silver Hand, Holy Knight of Khaz Modan, Ambassador to Ironforge, Veteran of the Second and Third Wars.

High Wizard Arellas Fireleaf - High Wizard of the Scarlet Crusade, Archmage of the Kirin Tor, 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.

[Meleck]

Lady Mangus Amama Trueflower

Name: Lady Mangus Amama Trueflower

Faction (if applicable): Dalaran

Rank/Role (What's their 'job' in the faction they play a part in?):

Appearance (images welcome, text description required):

Amana was graced with the elven beauty and dexterity of the Highborn Elves.

As a young girl Amama was a bit of a tomboy, climbing trees, walls, and seeking adventures. She was easy to spot in a crowd, with hair a dark auburn color and her skin was tan. She was always in a dress and normally barefooted. It is rumored that through her use of magic her hair and skin color have changed. Some believe it was just aging or being in her lab and out of the sun. Amama does not really seem to care. Now her hair is a fiery strawberry blond, and her skin is pale like a smooth cream.

Even in her middling age, she looks to be a young woman and is hiding her years well. Some believe that the use of magic changed her hair and skin color. Like many nobel women, her hair shows her position and office. When let down her hair can flow like the train of a formal dress. It has not been cut, more than a trim, for over one hundred years. She has a human maid servant just to tend to her hair and clothing. Normally Amama wears it braided so it does not drape the floor. Her eyes are a clear pale blue like emeralds shining in the cool morning light of a winter's day. Her height is slightly over six feet and tends to look down on most humans and most of the women she is around. She is still a thin woman weighing about 130 lbs. Now she has to work to keep the weight off as she has reached middle age.

Like many High Elves, she likes to wear clothing that is more formal. Her dresses are made from soft fabrics like silks, while her magus robe tends to be heavy wool with a gold clasp that has symbols of the Sunstriders and the violet color the Kirin Tor. She wears soft leather footwear that is well cared for.

She chooses the colors depending on the situation. Colorful when she is really trying to be noticed, to either solid white or black depending on the formality of events. She also wears the violet of the Kirin Tor when acting on their behalf.

The jewelry tends to be gold with fine gems. No need to wear silver when you can wear gold. Her items tend to be functional and well made, be it a spell foci or a weapon. In her world everything serves a functional purpose.

She is rarely seen without her red oak staff which has been hardened with enchantments and is her main spell foci. On the top of the staff is an area that is formed by three separate stems that leave the main trunk and hold a rose quartz crystal about the size of her hand that she can make glow.

Personality (especially important for non-canon characters, but also for canon characters, so I can grasp how you'll play them):

Amama is a diplomat by nature, a mediator that strives for common ground. She can also have a temper at times. She tries to choose when to let her anger control her thinking. Personally, she is driven by a desire for magical power. She wishes to study Titan and other ancient Artifacts to learn their secrets. While she does not wish to be the Grand Magus or a political leader, she is drawn to power behind the scenes. She sees many leaders as being trapped from having true power and freedom. She does wish to be close to that power as it provides opportunities and benefits that are helpful. Even so, she does see the need for structure and good governance. People need to farm so all can eat. Craft people need to make things, soldiers need to keep order, and so on. Her role in the world is to learn magic and use it to make things better.

As a mage she prefers not to get into situations where she needs to fight. Direct conflict, in her opinion, is best handled, indirectly and by others. If pressed she prefers to fight with her staff over a blade. Given the choice she would avoid killing. When dealing with the Scourge, she uses all of her abilities to fight it.

Her biggest flaw is that she is drawn to expanding her magical powers. An artifact or ancient magical item, would be a temptation to sway her thinking about things.

Amama finds some technology strangely fascinating, though she would rather use her magic than rely on technological devices.

For an Elf, Amama keeps a relatively small servant staff. She has a maid that handles much of her daily things, from her tending to her hair and clothing to cooking. Amama uses her as a sounding board for ideas but only in private.

Biography (at least since PoD, if canon):

Amama was born to a noble house in Quel’Thalas. She is a cousin to Prince Kael’Thas Sunstrider through her father. Her family, like most elves, is involved in the politics of Quel’Thalas and magic. She is not trying to gain the throne of Quel’Thalas. She is sure that Prince Kael’Thas would be better suited for the job.

Her father was a traditionalist, loyal to the crown, and the old ways. He served as a Magister fighting the scourge in the war. Her mother was a Lady and moved in the quieter world of backroom politics and dealing. Protecting the family name and position. This meant many fancy parties, balls, and the required social niceties.

As a young girl Amama wanted to learn all she was allowed. She started early with her magic, having fine tutors. Then came the other important subjects - languages, literature, history, music, and handcrafts. Being able to do needlework was both practical and social.

To this day, Amama still loves learning new things. While this was frowned on by her mother, it was not discouraged. Amama’s argument was that it was important to be better read and more well-rounded so that she could discuss things with possible suitors.

When she was about to come of age her father taught her the way of the bow, a necessity to be a proper elf and join the hunts, and the staff as she, even as a child, shied away from spilling blood. Being able to defend herself was important. These were things needed to be a proper elven lady.

As a young noble girl, she found that her magic allowed her to influence others. Her magic could influence other people's perspectives. A little injection of emotion to stir for a cause or away from another. Her belief is that it is no more than what a good speech or the beating of a drum would do, she just uses a bit of magic with it. This was especially useful during her early teenage years, where young women tend to be very conflicted, territorial, and packish. A little bit of terror made her way easier.

After Amama’s father died Amama moved to Dalaran to study magic with the Kirin Tor. This was a touchy thing.

With Kael'thas Sunstrider’s refusal to return home, Lady Amama found herself in a strange place. Her loyalty was torn between the Prince and the King, between Dalaran and Quel’Thalas, and between the Elves and Kirin Tor.

Amama found herself being the one to bring a group of Elven Magi home to help fight against the Scourge with the Scarlet Crusade. She also relayed the message to King Anasterian Sunstrider that Kael’thas refused to return.

Amama offered to be the Grand Magus’ assistant, which would give her access to more magic knowledge from deeper in the Kirin Tor libraries. Kael’thas’ refusal to return home put much of her ambition up in the air.

She has strong feelings for Auel'Thalas, Dalaran, and the Elven people.

Powers and other Abilities (what are they capable of?):

Amama is still young as Mage. She is still coming into her true powers, which will take wisdom and experience. Her affinity is towards magics that influence emotions and by using illusions on people and crowds. Her magic can also allow her to read behind words to what people are feeling, which is helpful as a diplomat. Even so, she is quite a capable mage, able to defend herself and use magic in a wide variety of situations. Her usage tends to be more pragmatic in nature. Offensive magics tend to take a higher toll on her.

She has offered to be the Grand Magus’ assistant. This would give her access to more knowledge of magic, allowing her better access to the Kirin Tor libraries and access to more exotic reagents. It would also mean that she would need to “put on being nice” for him at times. Being of a noble house, this was something she has been raised to do.

[DELETED32084]

Stromgarde

Kingdom of Stromgarde

Stromgarde and the Arathi Highlands

Held Territories:
City of Stromgarde, Arathi Highlands, and Arathi Basin.

Other Assets:
None

Goals and Motivations:
To call Stromgarde a Kingdom is being charitable. Since the devastating attacks by the Scourge, Stromgarde has become more of a heavily armed City-State ruled by a military council with the goal of presreving what remains of the birthplace of humanity, throwing back the Scourge and eventually restoring Stromgarde to its ancient glory.

Recent History:
The initial Scourge attack hit Stromgarde harder than most. With his armies halted by at the Elfgate, Arthas and his Generals turned their horde southward, smashing head first into a poorly prepared Stromgarde.

Savage combat raged across the Arathi Highlands as Stromic forces were assailed on all sides by the Scourge, and Syndicate, Boulderfist, and Witherbark forces who sensed weakness in their ancient foe. Lord Trollbane rallied his crumbling forces and sent out a call to their allies and adventure seekers alike for aid. Help came in many forms, but none had a greater impact than the thousands of would be adventurers, heroes, and fortune seekers.

Tragically Lord Trollbane, and then his son Galen Trollbane, fell in battle. At first this caused some despair among the Stromgarde forces but the deaths of the famous father and son opened the door for a new generation of leaders. The Trollbanes had built the Stromic Army into a force to be reckoned with and that wonderful weapon of war fell to the control of a military council that reflected the make up of the new army and their diverse background.

A military council was formed by Garald Hammerfist, Captain of the Knights of the Silver Hand, Paladin Rycyn Rookwood, and the Errant Knight Alma Blackthorne. The three of them continued to manage the operations of the city-state and lead the Stromic armies in repelling a full blown Scourge attack on the capital itself.

Under their leadership the veneer of Empire and even Kingdom have vanished to be replaced by a scrappy militaristic city-state on the edge of a wilderness echoing with the howls of the undead. Those who might have otherwise been found the odd one out in Stormwind or Gilneas have found a home in Stromgarde where past sins are forgotten, birth title doesn't matter, and wealth means little. The Arathi Highlands are a continuous battlefield in which everlasting glory or grizzly death can come to the same person in a matter of moments.

Here, in the lands that gave humanity life, the true human spirit continues to thrive and the people of Stromgarde fight on.

Key Players:

Garald Hammerfist

Garald Hammerfist

Faction:
Sromgarde

Rank/Role:
Captain of the Knights of the Silver Hand
Member of the Stromgarde Military Council

Appearance:
Nearly 55 years old and wounded more times than he cares to remember, Garald is beginning to show his age. Numerous scars mingle with his extensive wrinkles, some of which are hidden by his still impressive head of hair and greying beard. Still immensely powerful in frame and character he is not as fast he once was and the loss of his right eye means his days of fighting in the frontline are numbered. Though he manages a fine scowl, his smile is a beacon to all around him and his chuckle is a welcome sound throughout the army.

Personality:
Garald Hammerfist is the living example of what happens when you take a man who has lost everything, back him into a corner, and then leave him no option but to kill you to escape. He has been at battle since he was a wee lad when his family farm was attacked by Trolls and he claimed his first kill with a spear at the age of twelve. The only son of a noble family he earned a fine education and, despite some youthful shenanigans, earned his place among the flower of Stromgardes military ranks. He proved an apt administrator, leader, and tactician. A powerful Paladin in his own right, when greatness was thrust upon him as Stromgarde turned to him for leadership, he took to the role with glee. His eye for talent led to him picking the Paladin Rycyn Rookwood and the Errant Knight Alma Blackthorne to assist him in leading Stromic forces against the Scourge.

Biography:
Garald was the only son of Stromic nobility; neither his mother nor father are alive. He fought the Trolls and Ogres as old foes continued to harass the Kingdom. His battle prowess, thirst for victory, and dedication to the Light saw him flourish as a Paladin in his early thirties and he became a soldier of the Silver Hand, still serving within the borders of Stromgarde. Training, education, and a firm hand from a tutor or two helped mold him into the man he is today.

When the Scourge began to threaten he returned home to Stromgarde, appalled to find it utterly unprepared for the storm that was to come. It was during this time he met a wandering Paladin named Rycyn Rookwood who had arrived to fight the undead menace, quite unaware of just how powerful it was. The two men had become friends and when the undead smashed into Stromgarde the pair waded into the battle together. Their actions and bravery inspired those around them, serving to rally the combined human forces that threatened to break during the initial invasion.

Causalities among his superiors, and his own skills, saw him rise quickly to the rank of Captain within the Silverhand and, with the death of the King, Prince, and any number of nobles, he found himself being begged to take command of the remaining Stromic forces. He sent out a call for aid from all of humanity and among those who answered was the Errant Knight Alma Blackthorne. A pure fighter supported only with magic trinkets for she had no powers of her own, her sarcastic quips, general good humour, and even her morning hangriness, brought her the adoration and love of many who served with her.

As with Rycyn, Garald noted the skilled young woman as someone who could inspire others and asked her to join him in a leadership role. The three would go on to form the Iron Council - Stromgardes ruling military's triumvirate. Garald, his injuries now catching up to him, serves largely in an administrative role now, but can often be seen riding the frontlines to inspire his soldier.

There is not shortage of those who call for him to become the next King of Stromgarde.

Rycyn Rookwood

Rycyn Rookwood

Faction:
Sromgarde

Rank/Role:
Paladin
Member of the Stromgarde Military Council

Appearance:
Young, tall, and handsome, Rycyn is the man all parents hope their son will grow up to be. He is covered by many scars though they somehow contribute to his looks rather than detract from them. Broad in the shoulders, thick in the legs, and wielding a massive two handed hammer, he is almost a stereotypical Paladin. He wears no signs of allegiance, only a black tabard over chainmail that is rumoured to be imbued with powerful spells. His hair is long, reaching half way down his back, and he is quite vane about it, always washing it and braiding it when he can.

Personality:
Rycyn has a savage wit and sarcasm about him that earns him a broad smile from nearly everyone he meets. The oldest of five children he left home at a young age following an argument with his father and ended up in Northshire as a young man where he began to train as a Paladin. While not unusual for boy to do such a thing, Rycyn proved himself highly likeable and a firm friend to those he brings into his circle. He is counted a good friend and a savage enemy.

Biography:
Born to a family that no longer exists, somewhere in the Human Kingdoms, Rycyn began his life as one of many young men tired of life on the farm and yearning instead for adventure. He fought with his father shortly before his tenth birthday and fled, travelling until he reached Northshire Abbey. Here he was given an opportunity to consider his future as instructors among the Abby occupants each tried to sway the young one to their path. Ultimately, he chose to fight, and wield the power the Light. It is likely he chose to be a paladin because of the armour his mentor wore - ironically he refuses to wear it himself now - but it worked for the young lad.

He trained hard in the Abbey and proved a capable fighter. One of his best mates, a fellow paladin, was from Ironforge and the two spent several years questing throughout the area, assisting the locals with tasks, propping up exhausted garrisons, and blunting attacks from Troggs.

Rycyn earned the respect of those he fought alongside and a natural leadership ability soon became evident and he found himself leading a sizeable band of like minded young folk in search of glory and adventure. When word of the Scourge arrived he set out for Stromgarde with the majority of his company. They were welcomed with open arms and folded into the Stromic armies where they continue to serve alongside Rycyn.

Rycyn's charismatic ways and firm belief in leading from the front brought him to the attention of the armies commander, Garald Hammerfist, who moved quickly to take advantage of the skill he saw in the younger man. Rycyn was flattered by the attention and rose to the challenge. Like many great leaders before him, forged in the fires of war, he has become a legend among the Stromic forces.

Alma Blackthorne

Alma Blackthorne

Faction:
Sromgarde

Rank/Role:
Errant Knight
Member of the Stromgarde Military Council

Appearance:
Alma is often mistaken for an Elf at first glance, so fine are her facial features. That, however, is where the similarities end. She is immensely strong though, unlike her male counterparts, she does not carry in sheer size. Green/blue eyes consider everyone carefully and the scars she bears upon her cheek mark her a skilled fighter. Redhair, the same colour as the horse hair plume crowning her helmet, is kept short to fit beneath her helmet. Alam wears a full suit of plate armour made for her by the Dwarves of Ironforge, on commission of course, and she wields several different one handed weapons and shield with lethal skill.

Personality:
Calm until annoyed, Alma has survived by being tough, fast, and quick witted. A skilled horsewoman and fighter, she is a daughter of Stromgarde and returned home to fight for her people. There is a fierce loyalty to her supported by a ferocious temper when angered or spoken down to by anyone, man or woman, Dwarf or Elf. She has fought to earn her reputation and she always leads by example. She commands the Stromic Cavalry.

Biography:
She was born in Stromgarde, loved a boy there, and killed him there as well. She was only eleven years old when the boy, nearly sixteen himself, decided to force himself on the small redhead who had a crush on him. When he wouldn't take no for an answer she dug a thumb into his eye and then stabbed him to death with his own knife. The killing was shocking enough for the King himself to become involved and he recognized the fire in the young woman and, more importantly, he believed her.

To protect her from the boys vengeful family she was sent to Stormwind where she learned to fight. A young woman like her was rare enough among the human race at the time to draw attention and a skilled Knight with a daughter of his own took Alma under his wing. She lived with his family, became firm friends with his daughter, and took to the clash of swords with an enthusiasm that brought joy to the hearts of her foster family.

At sixteen she returned to Stromgarde and won several tournaments. She was Knighted by the King at eighteen and set out to see more of the world with little more than her armour, weapons, and horse. She rode much of the Eastern Kingdoms, earning her food and lodging in return for deeds of valour and daring.

Her reputation would proceed her back to Stromgarde and she returned as a celebrated fighter at a time when the city needed her most. The Scourge were at the gates. She joined the bedraggled cavalry and quickly lived up to every rumour and legend told about her. Those who rode with her came to adore and honour her in any way they could. She led many of the counterattacks against the Trolls and Ogres who attempted to take advantage of the Stromic situation and wielded her much smaller force with cunning and skill that earned her the nickname "Redfox".

Alma was flattered by Garald's request to join him in the Iron Council and amused to meet Rycyn. The big boisterous man treated her with nothing but respect and the friendship between the two has become strong at the war wages on.

[Ezekiel]

The island nation of Kul Tiras has dominated the seas of the Eastern Kingdoms and beyond since the days of the Arathor Empire. Established by colonists from Gilneas, still but a part of the original human nation, when the influence of Strom

Name: The Admiralty Of Kul Tiras

Held Territories: The island nation comprises primarily an archipelago of islands in the Great Sea, due West of Lordaeron and the other nations of the Northern Alliance. The principle islands include Kul Tiras itself and Tol Dagor, although this has since expanded to include Balor and Tol Barad following the Second and Third Wars respectively. The Admiralty maintains a series of small outposts on most of the world’s main landmasses, including islands near the Southern reaches of the continent and the South Seas. In more recent times the island of Theramore has been settled on the shores of Kalimdor, along with a series of military outposts across the continent’s eastern shore, although these function largely autonomously from the central authority of the Admiralty, due to the large number of Kul Tiran sailors and marines involved in their settlement, they are still considered to be aligned with the Admiralty now that contact has been established. Since the events of the Third War, the Kul Tiran navy has restored contact with the survivors of Arthas’ ill-fated expedition and thus loosely incorporated the port of Valgarde within the wider network of Kul Tiran outposts, although those present likely still feel greater kin for their surviving countrymen in Lordaeron.

Other Assets: The greatest asset of the Kul Tiran people is their famed fleet, the backbone on which the trading empire of the Admiralty is built. It established nautical dominance over the other human kingdoms long before the coming of the orcs, and was subsequently instrumental in maintaining Alliance control of the seas during the Second War. Crafted by the masterwork shipwrights and blessed by the Tidesages, few can hope to match the Kul Tirans at sea, nor in the subsequent success of their merchants in bringing wealth from across the known world to the island nation.

Goals and Motivations: Kul Tiras has little interest in the building rush for land and power on the ravaged continent of the Northern Eastern Kingdoms, instead seeking, as ever, to maintain their hegemony over the tides. With the second largest of the Alliance’s navies, Lordaeron, having been ravaged by betrayal and war, there seems little potential for any of their human allies and rivals challenging this. The nation’s primary future interests lie to the West and South, where their merchant class can continue to prosper from the influx of exotic goods brought in from their nautical exploits. Unlike the other human nations, the less direct way in which Kul Tiras is ruled does, however, create a series of contradictory internal goals. Despite early interactions with the Horde and Kaldorei in the West being far from peaceful, Jaina Proudmoore continues to attempt to bring an end to hostility , while her father and much of the more experienced memory see the exodus as an opportunity to ensure the Horde will never threaten the Alliance again. Others among the ruling elite instead simply seek to reduce Kul Tiras’ commitments to any of the costly conflicts it has been involved in for most of recent decades. Working from within the nation, the Coven has its own aims entirely.

Recent History:

Largely isolated from the disasters impacting the mainland, life on the island of Kul Tiras has largely remained the same, unlike the other human nations, Kul Tiras was largely independent of Lordaeron from both a commerce and agricultural perspective, and has weathered the absence of it with relative ease. The military of Kul Tiras has been active, but in a largely expeditionary nature, and has thus avoided the intense attrition felt by the other nations of the Alliance.

The most notable event for the nation has been the founding of Theramore, the eldest surviving child of the Lord Admiral, Jaina Proudmoore, leading an exodus of refugees from Lordaeron to the far shores of Kalimdor, in order to found a new home far from the calamity of their homeland. While the civilian population is largely made up of those from Lordaeron, the backbone of the Theramore military is formed from Kul Tiran marines and sailors, those sent to protect the Proudmoore heiress during the collapse of Lordaeron, now aligned to her vision of a new home for humanity on fresh shores. The Admiralty has little oversight and control of Theramore, and so there are those who consider this a considerable blow to the capability of Kul Tiras. For those subscribed to this view of the situation, the problem has only been compounded by Daelin’s focus on military matters in the West, seeking to support his daughter against both orcish and elven aggression, even if the two differ wildly in their approaches to such matters.

Ultimately, Kul Tiras remains aloof from the concerns of the Northern Alliance, focusing instead on its maritime pursuits across the Great Ocean, from securing its colonies, to protecting the one beach head the Alliance maintains on Nothrend, with the hope that one day the fight may be taken decisively to the Scourge.

Key Players:

Daelin Proudmoore: Lord-Admiral of Kul Tiras and decorated war hero of the second war, Daelin is a man who takes his duties to Kul Tiras as seriously as any to have held the position. Having been present at the formation of the Alliance of Lordaeron, he took up the position of Grand Admiral of the Alliance, coordinating the efforts of the Alliance’s naval forces during the Second War, which proved the most decisive element of the extended conflict.

While always a hard man of decisive action, bearing witness to the savagery of the Horde during the war, and the loss of his eldest son, only enhanced these traits. Where his daughter seeks to bring an end to hostilities in the West, Daelin perceives all versions of the Horde to be as existential a threat as the Scourge and is no more likely to pursue peace with them. Consequently, while the majority of the Alliance focuses on the pressing issue of the Scourge, Kul Tiras remains divided in its priorities.

Jaina Proudmoore: Previously the favored apprentice and student of Archmage Antonidas, Jaina has long been famed for both her magical prowess for one so young, as well as her impact on the courts of the human (and even elven) realms. While she grew up on Kul Tiras among the rest of the Proudmoore family, she has lived overseas since the start of her adolescence, primarily within Dalaran but equally visiting Lordaeron, Stormwind and SIlvermoon on occasion. In recent years she has been at the heart of important events, helping to combat the early Scourge before it was known as such alongside Prince Arthas and Uther the Lightbringer. When such attempts failed, at the urging of a mysterious Prophet, she lead many refugees from Lordaeron to safety, alongside a detachment of the Kul Tiran Navy, to found the city of Theramore on the mysterious shores of Kalimdor. These new settlers soon came into contact, and then conflict, with both the new Horde and the natives of the land, the Kaldorei. While she has pushed for peace with both groups, she is also determined that those who have entrusted her with their future will not be betrayed, and so lends her considerable skill in both magic and statecraft fully to this effect.

Tandred Proudmoore: Youngest child of Daelin and Kathrine, Tandred is already an accomplished sailor and commander, taking the helm of the Third Fleet, the rebuilt flotilla previously commanded by his elder brother, which suffered greatly during the conflict with the Horde which would claim his brother’s life. He is neither as belicose as Daelin, nor conciliatory as Jaina, instead seeking unity both within his family and his nation.

Morgaera Del’Vecroix: Previously the daughter of a minor Drustvar landowner, Morgaera is a courtier of some note within the Court of Boralus, a thriving environment that has only grown more so as the most stable within the Northern Alliance. Secretly, she is an agent of the mysterious Coven, who look to dominate Kul Tiras from the shadows. Previously the shadowy organisation of witches swore loyalty only to Gorak Tul, banished leader of the Drust, but now perhaps, there are even greater evils lurking within the realms of shadow.

The Daughter of the Sea

Name: Lady Jaina Proudmoore

Faction: The Island of Theramore, Kul Tiras, Dalaran

Rank: The Lady of Theramore, Heir to the Proudmoore Line, Magus of the City. (Titles respectively)

Appearance:


Personality: Those who first meet Jaina Proudmoore often make the conclusion that she is both a bright and compassionate person, regardless of setting, be it at the highest courts of the land or among the common people, she is often able to forge bonds and establish comprmises where before such things seemed impossible. She is more than simply a kind diplomat, however, possessing a keen streak of ambition and duty, backed up by a capability that few could match. It is easy to be impressed by the young Proudmoore heiress, and easier still to underestimate her. Despite this, she is plagued with doubt, considering her role in recent events and her self imposed duty to protect the refugees and sailors under her care.

Powers and Abilities:

As with any Magus of the Kirin Tor, Jaina had to develop a mastery in at least two schools of magic before graduating to become a Magus, and while her skills have manifested in many ways, her two primary schools of magic remain the bulk of her ability. The most overt of these is her mastery of evocation, in particular frost magic, for which she is most renown among those who know her in passing or have little knowledge and patience for more esoteric magics. The school within which she is a true prodigy, however, is transmutation, having already developed a form of mass-teleportation far more efficient than what had been widely accepted as possible prior to her personal studies in Dalaran. While she is some way from being the cosmic force she may later become, Jaina is already one of the most promising human mages, and under the tutelage of the mysterious Aegwynn in Theramore, this is likely to only increase.

Master of The Tides

Name: Daelin Proudmoore

Faction: Kul Tiras, The Alliance of Lordaeron (The Northern Alliance)

Rank: Lord-Admiral of Kul Tiras, High Admiral of the Alliance of Lordaeron

Appearance:


Personality: See Above

Powers and Abilities:

Unlike his daughter (and to a much lesser and well known degree, his son), Daelin has no magical talent to complement his ability. Despite this, he is one of the most capable seafarers alive, both in terms of personal sailing skill and his role as a commander and officer. He perhaps lacks the fine skills of a duelist that many among the Kul Tiran nobility are famed for in the fencing schools of Upton, but fights instead like a marine of the Kul Tiran navy, a skillset that has brought down many pirates and orcs alike.