Journal created:
on 19 August 2008 (#16391890)
Updated:
on 27 July 2016
Name:
Sylvanas Windrunner (OU)
Location:
United States
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| Character: Sylvanas Windrunner Series: Warcraft (World of Warcraft, at the end of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion) Personality: Sylvanas is a natural leader, with a fierce charisma and tactical genius that keeps her unquestionably in command of her people, the free-willed undead. She takes pride in her accomplishments. She loves the city she won and built up from ruins, and those who serve her. The Banshee Queen will use whatever means available to achieve her goals, even if those means are morally questionable. Things like violence and torture simply do not bother her anymore after what she had to do and see as a slave to The Lich King. And if she takes some pleasure in inflicting pain, it is because she feels she is giving back what the world dealt to her. A smoldering hatred for her former overlords, especially the man who destroyed her homeland and personally turned her undead, drives her forward. Many of her subjects share the sentiment. Though warped by her experiences, Sylvanas remains an elf in her core. When the survivors of the devastation of Quel'thalas came forth, their former Ranger General provided aid. She "fought tooth and nail" to convince her allies' leaders to let the elves join their faction. However, she reacts harshly to overt reminders of her past. The Banshee Queen outwardly denies any longing for who she once was, yet it is apparent she feels the loss at times. On some level she still loathes her corrupted state though she knows she cannot be restored. Sylvanas simply channels these conflicting emotions into her all-consuming desire for vengeance. This can make her overconfident. Others seem to view her one of two ways. First, as a strong ruler who does what she must to protect her besieged and distrusted people, and is unafraid of the moral grey area. A good ally to have if you are absolutely certain of her loyalty: cunning, resourceful, compelling, and aggressive. Here is another, unsympathetic perspective: a power hungry, iron-fisted queen and military commander, who or more than six years guided her people to a single violent goal. Namely, she spent years overseeing the development of a lethal plague to eradicate her enemies, both the living and the undead. She answers betrayals with death unless she is the turncoat, in which case it is entirely justified. Having known thralldom of mind and body, she values freedom highly, to a point where she uses it as justification to go on the offensive against even potential threats. Her assertiveness will undoubtedly lead to conflicts with those who have similar personalities. History: Sylvanas is a major figure in current Azeroth events. At first, she was the commander of the High Elven scouts and millitia. When her homeland was attacked by the undead Scourge hordes, she fought with everything she had, but it was a losing battle: as the elves died they were raised as mindless minions of the death knight, Arthas. Because she was such a nuisance, Arthas ripped her soul from her body and turned her into a banshee under his direct control. She hated him passionately with the corner of her mind that was still her own, but could not rebell. In fact, she became one of his best commanders. She bided her time until the Scourge's overlord, the Lich King, suffered enough damage to jarr Sylvanas and a handful of others (mostly banshees) free from his mental grip. The former Ranger General seized this opportunity. She stole back her body, rallied the free-minded undead she and her banshee sisters could find, and broke away from the Scourge to eventually claim the ruins of a human capitol for their stronghold. Other undead broke free afterwards and also came to the city. For this reason, many of her subjects practically worship her as their savior. For example, instead of saying "Light bless you," a typical human farewell, a citizen of the Undercity would say, "Dark Lady watch over you." Sylvanas sought alliance with the Horde, one of the two main factions in her world, and her Undercity became their foothold on the eastern continent. She also brought the remnants of her former people, now calling themselves the Blood Elves, into the Horde. Meanwhile, the Dark Lady sought out the best alchemists, potion-masters, and scholars of her fold and gave them a task: research the terrible necromatic plague that killed many future Forsaken (thus priming them for raising as undead), and create a new concoction...one to wipe out her living adversaries as well as the Lich King's servants. Thus the newly formed Royal Apothecary Society began their widespread, morally questionable research. When the powers of Azeroth that opposed the Lich King finally mustered enough soldiers and arms to attack the undead monstrosity at his fortress in Northrend, the Forsaken were ready. A critical multi-faction assault was botched due to indiscriminant use of the Royal Apothecary Society's new Plague. It is unclear if Sylvanas gave the orders for the attack: in the aftermath, the survivors learned that the Dark Lady's lieutenant, a mighty demon, attempted a coup with the aid of many Apothecaries. She escaped, barely, and fled to her allies' lands. There she convinced her superiors to help take back her city by paying a personal visit, backed by a small army. After a frenzied battle they found and slew the former second-in-command. Though the Lady was back in power, her allies no longer trusted her, and sent their own guards to man the city and monitor the few remaining Apothecaries. Presumably they were allowed to continue existing because they were still loyal to their queen. In time, Sylvanas returned to Northrend to finish her business. The dark ranger, on assignment from her superiors, led a small scouting force into heart of the the Lich King's citadel. Inside, they freed prisoners and caused as much damage as possible. Their winding route took them to the innermost chamber, where the undead lord's soul-stealing sword, Frostmourne, rested when not in use. Unfortunately the Lich King returned to take up his blade at this moment. Instead of dealing with the intruders directly, he bade his two lieutenants to clean up and then left. Sylvanas shot after him through the closing double doors. They fought, and despite the elf's agility and blazing rage, she could not seriously hurt him. Like the first time she tried to kill him during her rebellion, Sylvanas was forced to flee. Humiliated and more somber than before, the Banshee Queen maintained a low profile until it was announced that the Lich King was slain. Timeline: I'm stealing The Dark Lady from the endgame of Wrath of the Lich King, after Arthas Lich King is defeated. This is a difficult time for Sylvanas: the goal she strove for has been reached. Where will she lead the Forsaken now? Will she find a new goal to drive towards unwaveringly? (Answer: yes, eventually.) Can she keep her people united? Maybe. Not all of her subjects share her vision. ~~~~~~~ Disclaimer: This is a role-playing journal for Elegy City by  salmakia23. Sylvanas belongs to the Warcraft series (c) Blizzard Entertainment. All content is fictional and for entertainment only -- not for profit. |
| Profile coding by TwelveSkies Journal layout: "Black Cat" by Fruitstyle/Malionette. |
