| The Banshee Queen |
Character: Sylvanas Windrunner
Series/Fandom: Warcraft series (at the time of World of Warcraft, pre Wrath of the Lich King expansion)
Original or Alternate: Original.
Age: At least centuries as an elf – probably millennia. Has spent only a few years undead. Appears about 30 by human standards.
Gender: Female.
Species: Undead high elf.
Sexuality: Currently (and permanently) made asexual.
Appearance:
Sylvanas' appearance varies somewhat between Warcraft III and World of Warcraft. It in the next expansion of the latter, Wrath of the Lich King, the makers have finally put forth a new model for the Dark Ranger that is more in line with her original depiction. In the meantime, I will attempt to reconcile the two images.
She was once a high elf, of fair complexion, but death has bleached her hair nearly white and tinged her skin bluish. Her body bears the scars of battle, although those are largely hidden underneath her clothes and armor. She is tall (over 6'), and her stance is commanding. Her eyes glow white red with the sorcery that keeps her dead body walking. The area around her eyes is tinted slightly darker than the rest of her skin, and extends down each cheek in a ragged line.
In line with the shift in her powers away from the natural world, she wears dark colors such as black and midnight blue. Sylvanas is never seen without armor, either mail or leathers, and always keeps her hood up.
Personality: Even in undeath, Sylvanas remains a strong and determined woman. She will stop at nothing anymore to achieve her goals, even if that includes lying, betrayal, and killing. Her primary motivations these days are maintaining the autonomy of her newly-formed realm and exacting vengeance on the man who corrupted her spirit and body, the unholy knight Arthas Menethil. She also aims to wipe out the mindless undead Scourge, of which she was a part for a brief time. She loathes her corrupted state, calling it a curse and a torment; yet she so fought viciously to win a place for herself and the other self-aware undead, who are mistrusted and hated as former members of the Scourge. She seems somewhat proud despite her bitterness. Having tasted thralldom, Sylvanas values freedom highly, seeming to equate it somewhat with personal power. Not even her closest advisers know all her thoughts.
However, she is not always hard and bitter. A quest in World of Warcraft allows a player to bring Sylvanas a necklace from her sister via a messenger, who was slain on the road, gift undelivered. At first the former Ranger General rages at the bringer for trying to incite sentimentality. Then, as she looks down at the necklace cast upon the ground, sorrow fills her. “To Sylvanas,” the engraving on the back says. “Love, Alleria.” Overwhelmed with grief, she sings an old lament of her people before coming back to herself. It is implied that afterwards she keeps the piece as a memento. Even though she is consumed by hatred and bitterness, she has not forgotten her origins, though the memories pain her.
Abilities/Strengths:
A master tactician and tracker. Unmatched archer: claims to be able to hit a bird in flight. Even though her connection to nature has been severed due to her undead state, she retains most of her physical skills. Being unable to speak to the natural world any longer, she has turned to necromancy, and can summon skeletons to aid her in battle. She is determined and suspicious, confiding in no one. These traits serve her well in her current position as ruler.
Notable Possessions:
She wields the Sunstrider's Longbow, passed down through generations of prestigious high elves. Arrows shot from it are imbued with flame. For melee combat, she carries a scimitar. She has no objects of sentimental value other than the necklace her sister gave her: it is silver, with a blue stone.
Weaknesses:
Physically, since she is primarily an archer and thus must be able to move quickly and lightly, she could be overpowered if cornered. Emotionally, she maintains a hard face, but is keeping much sorrow at bay. Anything to do with her past has the potential to crack her surface. When that happens, it can be violent. Perhaps she lays some of the blame for the destruction of Silvermoon on herself. She is proud, and as such can be manipulated with the proper provocation. Her unwavering resolve has the potential to blind her to possibilities in a given situation. Also, nowadays, she has little to no regard for others' feelings. It is arguable that her own have been dulled somewhat, being undead. Thus she can act cold, harsh, and/or insensitive to others, which blunt her skills as a leader. Can be touchy about her unnatural state. Is not complacent with anything perceived as loss of personal freedom –- of which being Drafted is one.
History:
Sylvanas Windrunner was the middle of three sisters – Alleria and Vereesa – and has at least two brothers. Her family was well-known. They had built themselves a home in the rich forests of Quel'thalas called Windrunner Spire. Presumably, she enjoyed a comfortable childhood. She was a soldier by trade under her elder sister Alleria as a ranger –- the trackers, archers, and fighters that kept the high elves' borders safe.
When her sister was lost in the events of the Second War (presumed dead), Sylvanas took over as Ranger-General, commander of all the elven forces. During this time the high elves wanted little to do with other nations and withdrew from their alliances.
Fifteen years passed. A strange plague broke out in the nearby human-populated country of Lordaeron: it would kill the afflicted, and raise them again as undead under the direct control of the mighty Lich King. Arthas Menethil, a paladin and heir to the throne, sought to stall or cease the outbreaks – taking more and more desperate measures. Finally he obtained the cursed but powerful sword Frostmourne. It spoke to him with the voice of a powerful dead mage and eventually stole his soul. The ghost-voice of Kel'Thuzad, who loyally served the Lich King as Arthas did, whispered to the death knight that he wished to have a physical form again. In order to do so, Arthas would have to take his remains to the source of the arcane power of the high elves: the Sunwell.
So the ex-paladin launched an attack on Quel'Thalas in the name of his new lord with his undead minions. Silvanas and her army resisted him every step of the way, but were slowly beaten back by sheer numbers. All of her scouts sent back to warn her people were killed. In a desperate attempt to thwart Arthas, the Ranger-General cast down the bridge to the capitol, Silvermoon. But this did not deter the death knight for long. He obtained the magical keys to the city gate and tore through. When he found Sylvanas, she fought him, but he wounded her mortally. Lying on the ground, she commanded him, “Finish it. I deserve...a clean death.” But for all the inconvenience she caused Arthas, he gave her anything but: he ripped her soul from her body and turned her into a banshee under the Lich King's control. Thus she unwittingly helped destroy her own beloved city.
In time she became one of Arthas' top generals. As a reward for services rendered she was allowed to re-inhabit her corpse. As the months went by, Sylvanas and a few others mysteriously regained their own wills. However, she hid this from her superiors. The dark ranger then approached the three demonic dreadlords who had been appointed leaders of Arthas' homeland, Lordaeron. The brothers explained to her that she was herself because the power of the Lich King was waning – and by extension, Arthas' as well. They wished her to be a part of their scheme to overthrow the Death Knight and seize Lordaeron for themselves. Wary of relinquishing her freedom, Sylvanas only agreed to help on her own terms.
When Arthas returned to his original home he found himself trapped in his own city by the dreadlords. Feigning loyalty, a troop of free-willed banshees assisted his escape into the nearby woods. Before he could do more than wonder at a sudden pause in his flight, an arrow flew out of the darkness and buried itself into his flesh. Sylvanas then stepped into the clearing. She explained that she had crafted that poison arrow just for him: it would paralyze but not kill. When Arthas begged for her to end him quickly, she said no. She would make him suffer as she had suffered.
Before she could exact her vengeance, the freshly-corporeal Kel'Thuzad rushed in to save Arthas, and Sylvanas was forced to flee.
The dreadlords were not pleased with her failure. Knowing herself threatened, Sylvanas set about acquiring herself an army from the local woodland humanoids. Those she could not coerce, she had her banshees possess; others she simply had killed. With these new allies under her sway, she launched an attack on one of the three dreadlord brothers, Varimathras. She overcame his forced swiftly. Recognizing the power in her, the demon begged to be spared, claiming he could be useful to her. He knew the locations and secrets of his brothers' holdings. Reluctantly, Sylvanas agreed to take him on.
Thus they moved against Detharoc. The second dreadlord had acquired human mindslaves to fight for him. However, it was a simple matter to possess a few scouts and sweep through the barracks at night. Sylvanas slew Detharoc herself. She then lied to the leader of the remaining humans, who she found foolish, promising to give him control of the capitol if his forces aided her. So swearing, they attacked Balnazzar's hold and overtook him. As an act of loyalty, Sylvanas demanded that Varimathras kill his brother. Varimathras hesitated, saying that it was forbidden for one dreadlord to kill another. The Dark Ranger pressed him, and he struck his brother down. However, Balnazzar was not slain outright, and later emerged as the leader of a human faction determined to wipe out all undead.
Their enemies slain, Sylvanas and Varimathras claimed Lordaeron for themselves. They expanded the underground areas of Castle Lordaeron to accommodate the swell of newly-awakening undead. She named her people The Forsaken, declaring that she would let no one stand in their way.
Sylvanas still considers herself a protector of Quel'Thalas. She has extended aid to the survivors of the sacking of Silvermoon. At first wary, these elves -- who have called themselves Blood Elves to commemorate the fallen – warmed to the assistance. Now they are allied together, pinched between the undead Scourge and the demonic Burning Legion.
It is during holding court that she is whisked away to Econtra, right out from under the eyes of her guards and ambassadors – and Varimathras.
Relationships at Econtra
1. Leon Kennedy (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) yersmalltime): There are people Sylvanas respects and cooperates with. There are people she simply tolerates. But Leon, of all the residents, is the only one who she is comfortable spending large amounts of time with. He's her aide, her self-appointed bodyguard...She would not use the word "friend." It's not love, either -- at least not the kind of love that involves sharing a bed. The Dark Lady appreciates his untainted loyalty; it's not something she sees often in the Undercity. They met due to a conversation over the communicators after another resident staged a panty raid. Currently Leon is gone, and his absence (plus the sheer nature of the place) has made her reclusive and bitter.
2. Jing (thieveryofstars): A young man Sylvanas respects more than most. She was willing to nominate him as the coordinator for the loose governmental body known as the Alliance because she saw that he "had a way with the younger people" that she lacked. despite some problems that led to Jing losing his quasi-official title, the dark ranger will still follow his lead...if she agrees with him.
3. The Arbiter Thel'Vadam (prophets_blade): Roommate. They found enough common ground to get along; I suspect they spent a lot of time complaining about the cold together, since they are both susceptible to it. Thel is no longer at Econtra. Sylvanas hopes he is back where he should be, doing what he was doing...and staying warm.
4. Melaka Fray (melakafray13): They share night patrols to keep track of suspicious activity. She knows Melaka to be capable. However, the slayer has one weakness: her brother. That plus the fact she is Leon's lover makes Sylvanas treat her a little more gently than the banshee queen would otherwise.
5. Harth Fray (yesimevil): Never met personally, but has exchanged words. Wants to capture him for his involvement with burying six of the residents alive, thus doing what Melaka cannot. Recently attempted that and failed spectacularly.
6. The Joker (entro_pist): A threat to be eliminated. Also involved in the burials. Under different circumstances she might have tried to get him to ally with her, but here, because he gave her the slip when she tried to punish (execute) him for the crime, she wants nothing more than to get a clear shot at his back. Or chest. Or head. And then she would parade his animated corpse through the grounds to make it perfectly clear what happens when you cross the Dark Lady of the Forsaken.
Housing: Loh-Tria
Disclaimer: This is a role-playing journal for Econtra by salmakia23. Sylvanas belongs to the Warcraft series (c) Blizzard Entertainment. All content is fictional and for entertainment only -- not for profit. | | |
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