| Delan Aiden | |
|---|---|
|
Title |
Dawnbringer |
|
Date of Birth |
28 B.P. |
|
Hair Color |
Silver |
|
Eye Color |
Ocean-Blue |
|
Skin Tone: |
Pale/Light Tan |
|
Height |
6'4 |
|
Weight |
180 lbs |
|
Spouse |
None |
|
Status |
Deceased |
|
Parents |
Deceased |
Delan Aiden, one of the earlier Paladins of the Silver Hand, was one of the first Flameguards within the Brotherhood of the Flame. He served the Brotherhood for a time, then returned to serve Queen Madelynne some time later.
History[]
Written by Colran Amin, a former scribe of the Silver Hand who is now deceased, the pages of this entry are torn though the handwritting proves to be impeccable.
The story of Delan Aiden, called Dawnbringer, starts long before the various wars which changed the world of Azeroth. It begins 44 years ago, in the town known as Brill, a stone's throw away from Lordaeron City, Capital of the Kingdom of Lordaeron. The early years in Delan's life were as simple as a peasant child's life could be. His father was the owner of the local tavern, while his mother was part of the local militia. Delan's days were divided up between schooling at home, helping out at the tavern, as well as weapons practice. The land was at peace, and everyone was happy. Unfortunately, this would not last.
A few months after Delan's eighteenth birthday was when the hammer fell, so to speak. A man in ragged clothes staggered into the village one day- bloodied and half-dead. After being taken care of by the local healer, the man told of the destruction of the Kingdom of Stormwind, and the murder of its ruler, King Llane. A few weeks after the man arrived, the surviving armies of Stormwind arrived in Lordaeron, and, soon after, King Terenas Menethil sent out a call, that all able-bodied men and women to join the ranks of Lordaeron's armies. Delan, despite his father and mother's protests, went to Lordaeron City, and joined the armies of Lordaeron, and soon after, was sent off to the front, as the combined forces of the seven human kingdoms, as they sought to stop the orc's advance.
As Delan fought in battle after battle, he felt great sorrow as he watched many people, some of them his friends, being slain by orc arrows, or cut in two by orcish axes, even being burned by the fires of the enemies’ magic. Then one day, after a particularly gruesome battle, Delan was watching as the healers were trying to heal a soldier. The soldier had lost a lot of blood, and seemed close to death. Suddenly, Delan rushed forward, some unknown force leading him to the soldier's side, and, as he lowered his hand, a golden light emanated from his hand, and went into the soldier's body. The soldier's wounds healed, and Delan felt great warmth well up within him, as his blue eyes swam with golden light. Around that time, the first Paladins were being selected and trained, and word of the incident reached the ears of both Archbishop Alonsus Foal, and Uther the Lightbringer. Soon after the incident, he was approached by Uther, and, after a brief interview, was then into the ranks of the Paladins of the Silver Hand.
As Delan Aiden, now called Dawnbringer, emerged from his tutelage, and joined other Paladins on the front lines as the final battles of the Second War were fought. Delan himself was at the last battle, and watched as the Dark Portal was destroyed, and the Orcs were defeated. The resounding cheers that erupted from the war-weary troops could have been heard up in Lordaeron. The next few months, Delan traveled from village to village, helping families rebuild their homes, as well as mourn the dead. The young paladin saw much death and destruction, but also saw happiness and joy, such as new babies being born, young couples getting married, villages celebrating harvest.
The years passed swiftly, as Delan, now one of the older Paladins, were tasked to help train a younger generation of Paladins. This Delan took to in earnest, and it gave him joy to see how many younglings had an affinity for the Light. A few decades after the end of the Second War, reports came in about Death Cults in the northern towns of Lordaeron. Uther, Prince Arthas Menethil, as well as a number of Paladins and infantry of the Lordaeron Army were sent north to confirm these rumors.
Delan, though, was tasked with the younger paladin’s training. The older paladin, over the next few months, heard more and more reports of the Cults, as well as reports of undead rampaging through the countryside. The battle against what was now called the Scourge became so much, that Delan, at the request of Uther the Lightbringer, gather up the newest Paladins, and head north, towards the City of Stratholme, where Arthas was said to have gone. After traveling for days, Delan crested a hill, and looked on in horror, for the city was entirely engulfed in flames. As Delan stood atop the hill, a dozen young paladins atop their chargers standing at his side, they all heard the screams of the yet-living that now were being burned alive. As Delan and his young charges rode towards the Alliance encampment outside the city, they arrived just in time to see Uther yell at Arthas, warning the younger paladin that his zeal to see the Scourge destroyed would be his undoing.
Little did Delan know that Uther’s words would come true, for a few months later, while Delan and the other Paladins of the Silver Hand were fighting the Scourge in the eastern provinces of Lordaeron, a messenger came to their camp, and reported the news, that Arthas Menethil, heir to the throne of Lordaeron, had slew his father, King Terenas. The months that followed were those that Delan wanted to forget, for he soon had to flee Lordaeron City, as the Scourge, in great numbers, were now occupying the city, slaying all those who were unable to escape. The older Paladin, leading a group of refugees towards Silverpine Forest, happened to see another Paladin doing the same. At the time, the paladin did not know that the other paladin was none other than Alexander Greywall, the great hero of the Second War, whom he himself had met on a few occasions. Delan then led his group through Silverpine Forest, and then, a few weeks later, had made it all the way to Stormwind. Delan himself swore a vow that day; that he would never let harm come to those who cannot defend themselves….
The story trails off, leaving the tale of Delan Dawnbringer an unfinished one.
It was with that story, written by the old scribe, that wrote of Delan's past. Yet words could not convey the true scope of what had happened then, and how those events shaped Delan's future. For soon he became part of the Crimson Redemption, a group of Scarlets seeking to live to the tenets of the original Crusade, those set forth by Alexandros Mograine and those loyal to him. So he lived with them, fought with them, shared their beliefs. Then one day, their leader, Madelynne, disbanded the unit, having been called to the North by Scarlet Commander Marjhan. Left without purpose, the Paladin continued fighting, though he got older, his body slowly beginning to fail him. Months had passed before Lady Albrecht soon returned, and, gathering together old and new warriors to her cause, formed the Brotherhood of the Flame. The old veteran eagerly joined, fighting for a true cause once more; the liberation of Lordaeron from the Forsaken blight. For months and months he fought, his body, wracked by age and injury, beginning to fail him. Yet his end did not come in battle, but in saving the life of another. For he had gotten involved with a group of people, all of whom were receiving letters from someone known as the Broken Doll. This person had the brave adventurers traveling to the ends of the world, scouring for clues and artifacts. It was during one of these searches that found the group up in Western Tirisfal Glades, not far from Delan's childhood home. They came upon a circle of plants, surrounded by an energy shield. The Paladin, casting his golden-auraed protection spell about himself, was able to pass through. Unfortunately, one of the other ones followed, and, confronting the entity there, was soon wrapped in the deadly embrace of tendrils of eldritch energy. The old man, knowing he had little strength, bravely offered himself instead, and, as the tendrils wrapped around his body, crushing the bones and the armor which was to protect him, smiled, a tear dropping from his eye, knowing he was to die in his homeland. The tendrils soon snapped his neck, killing him instantly, his body dropped to the ground as the other adventurers, filled with grief-fueled rage, hacked the being to pieces, finding the artifact they sought. The group soon honored Delan's final wish, returning his shattered body to Stormwind, where the rest of the Brotherhood, led by Lady Albrecht and her Champion, Eshkandar Anushirvan, returned his body to the Light in the form of cremation.
... Six months later...
The story of Delan Aiden was not meant to end, for, somehow, some way, he was alive once more. Though he had joined with another cause, the Ardent Inquisition. The elderly Lord Sandarukai Lightforger, who showed him another path, another way of serving the Light and the Alliance. For a time he served with the Inquisition, until Lord Lightforger, already burdened with age, passed on. Grief-stricken, Delan sought out Lady, now Queen Madelynne Albrecht I, and, after lengthy conversations, he was allowed to rejoin his former comrades. There are quite a few familiar faces amongst those who served the Queen, though there are many who are no longer amongst the living. Yet Delan still serves, eager to see his home free of the Forsaken and their Horde allies...so he may finally know peace....
He had served Queen Madelynne with courage, though, witnessing the actions of her nobles slowly ate away at his conviction in her cause. Though it was the cold-blooded assassination of Ashana Creed, coupled with the woman's words, were enough to make him see the truth. So, he denounced the woman he onced serve proudly, his words bringing about his death, which was six chops of an axe.