[Bio] Salarissian "Swift" Dawnfire, the Light of Dawn

[Sal the Shieldhog]

Bal’a dash, sinu a’manore, and anu belore dela'na.

This is my representation of my in-game favorite character (and main). Been thinking I should get this down lately.

I have most of the history down, I’m just loath to post half of it. Completing it as I post this, just gotta get a few of my times and references right.

Name: Salarissarian Dawnfire, the Light of Dawn. Known to his friends as “Sal” and to his peers and enemies simply as “Swift.”

Age: Around 200 years. According to the timeline, he should have been born around the time Gnomeregan is built and the dwarves meet the gnomes (As a reference, I go by the Unofficial Timeline on Wikipedia; Not sure if you guys still use that one or not).

Race: Sin’dorei
Gender: Male
Class: Warrior

Languages: Thalassian, Orcish. Common, Darnassian (Only a few phrases of these; Enough to greet/curse his allies/enemies in their native tongue).

Faction: Horde, specifically the Sin’dorei and the Sunreavers. Occasionally fights for the Argent Crusade, etc, on behalf of the Horde.

Family/Friends:
Mother + Father, Sister (older), 2 Brothers (1 younger, 1 older): When Sal and his older brother went to the Isle of Quel'danas to fight the Scourge there, Sal sent his family to their safehouse over in eastern Quel'thalas. Sal himself barely managed to survive the fight on the Isle; His brother did not, as many of his friends and companions. The rest of his family died during the Scourge's rampant across the Eversong Woods.
Adopted son and daughter: Sal adopted 2 orphaned children after spending a large amount of time with them after coming home. Both have now begun to decide their paths in life; Sin'ormeh wants to be an enchantress, one part of her father's hobbies (She absolutely LOVES sparkly things), and Lindorne wants to be a great warrior, and perhaps someday follow in his father's footsteps. Both children are adored by the Sin'dorei as the Rays of Dawn.
B'lazi, the Wings of the Dawn: During the Avengers of Hyjals' assualt on the Firelands, Sal found an abandoned clutch of phoenix eggs (None of these had been born before; all were entirely new phoenixes) while on an expedition. He took them to Silvermoon City himself and presented them to Lor'themar Theron as a symbol of their people's rise from the ashes. He was allowed to keep one egg for himself, and he raised and befriended the phoenix from the egg he chose. The hatchling named himself B'lazi and now travels with Sal as a friend and ally.

Personality: Sal has a strong, commanding character. Just his presence is enough to have an effect on others. He is, while a demanding leader, a courageous and valorous warrior, often taking actions others deem improbable and succeeding. He is of a determined nature, occasionally being sidetracked from his current goal to help others in need (This could be considered his hubris, his Achilles’ Heel, if you will). While he cannot be stopped on the battle field, if there is a chance things can be settled peacefully, violence is his last resort. There are few times he has lost control of his anger and given in to his anger/vengeance (During the Scourge War/Campaign in Northrend could be one), and when he does, he pursues the object with a single-minded determination. All-in-all, he is a valorous warrior, a paragon of light to his people, and while he is grateful of their praise, he never forgets that he is theirs’ and serves them to the best of his ability.

Likes/Dislikes: Sal is somewhat of a mischievous nature; he loves to play jokes on his friends when they aren’t in danger. Though he doesn’t admit it, he enjoys the thrill of the battle-field. He hates cowards and tyrants (basically bullies) and he loves to avenge the little person. Sal prefers to eat as little meat as possible, to balance his life from all the bloodshed, but he does enjoy the taste. His favorite alcoholic beverage is Silvermoon Port (with a slice of lime), but if that isn’t available, Mulgore Firewater, or just plain water. He enjoys spending time at a forge, mostly making small things for his friends and family, but he has great skill when a thought over takes him. Being a Blood Elf, he also has a small affinity for the magical, and can create enchantment.

Appearance: Standing at an imposing 6 foot 4 inches, Sal is very tall for a Sin’dorei. He is well built, and he has the typical body of a warrior. He keeps his goatee neatly trimmed, and his hair (which reaches halfway down his back when it hangs loose) is either in a pony or foxtail. His magnificent suit of armor and weapons, crafted and enchanted by himself from a piece of Deathwing’s shattered body, serve to enhance his fearsome appearance.

Equipment:
First armor (First, Second, Third, and First Scourge Wars): A complete set of plate, silvery and trimmed with gold. A hand-and-a-half Bloodhawk Claymore, and a large tower shield with the family crest (a pheonix and a rising sun).
Second armor (The Burning Crusade): What appears to be the warrior tier 5, made of darker red-golds. Wields a single bastard sword at this point.
Third armor (Wrath of the Lich King): Armor forged from the blood of the Old God, Yogg-saron, and from salvaged Scourgelord armor pieces.
Fourth armor (Cataclysm; Current): Matches the warrior heroic tier 13 set, and now wields two swords resembling Gurthalak, Voice of the Deeps. Forged the armor and swords himself from a piece of Deathwing's armor, using his own knowledge of armor and enchanting, after purifying them in the Sunwell's power. Has discovered that the swords have the power to summon tentacles which, under Sal's iron-will, attack enemies with mind-shattering power, though this can only happen about once per day.

Strengths/Weaknesses: Sal has a strong arm, and one of his best strengths is that of inspiration: Many warriors willingly follow him into battle. Another is his determination and his willingness for peace before bloodshed. His preference to help people is a strength, but also his greatest weakness. Another is his unwillingness to back down from something he is committed to.

History:

Chapter 1: Birth of a Warrior:

Salarissarian Dawnfire was born in an era of relative peace and prosperity for the Quel’dorei people. As the son of a wealthy merchant, Sal spent much of his time studying and learning the ways of the “higher society” of high elveswith his older siblings; That is, studying ancient arcane magics and histories. Interesting though those were to him, they could never hold the same grip that swordplay and enchantments held over him. Keeping these hobbies secret from his father, Sal continued to push himself to his limits, physically, mentally, and magically. He found secret mentors in his 2 hobbies and they helped him push himself farther.Eventually, no matter how hard he tried to keep these secrets to himself, eventually his mother found out.

Much to his surprise, she agreed to not tell his father, so long as she would help her around the house on errands and such. Though his father thought him somewhat odd for this (that not “being his place,” as his father put it), Sal helped his mother for the next few years of his life, and the months and years passed relatively routinely. He found he enjoyed spending all that time with his mother, helping her out with things, and playing with the small children that absolutely adored him at his mothers’ friends’ households. It was during this time that Sal’s code of honor and duty was beginning to take shape.

For Sal’s 40th birthday, Sal’s “coming of age,” he received great gifts. From his swordsman mentor, the head guard of their household Ronath Lightspear, he received a magnificent sword, of his favorite style (hand-and-a-half), along with a highly polished shield with his family crest on it. From Selena Silverhair, his enchantment mentor, he received a great scroll, magical crystals and dusts, which he used to enchant his new weapons. From his mother and siblings, he received a cloak, light of weight but strong protection, and laced with fur from a great lynx of Eversong Forest. Perhaps the greatest gift of all, he was given a great suit of Sunsteel armor, a magical suit of the finest steel, crafted and dipped in the Sunwell’s magics, from his father.

During this, Salarissarian was greatly surprised to learn that his father had known all along about his hobbies, and indeed had even arranged for his mentors to chance upon him at practice and help him. When asked why he had done so (for everyone, including Sal’s mother, hadn’t had a clue he had known), his father had replied that he wished to see his son devote the whole of himself, for himself, to his hobbies, rather than chancing Sal doing it to make his father proud.

With this knowledge, Salarissarian went, with his parents’ blessing, to become a royal guardsman. Sal worked his way through the ranks, insisting he start from the bottom to prove himself (Rather than take a position as an officer, as was custom for wealthy, upper-class families), earning the respect of his superiors and fellow guardsmen. During this time, Sal was given the chance to test himself against the more-veteran members of the guard. Donning his armor, he tested himself in open combat daily against his brethren-in-arms, losing some, winning others, but earning for himself the nickname “Swift,” for even with his great height, he was “swift as a lynx, and as deadly too” (as told from a guardsman about his age).

At around the age of 60, S was given a chance to prove himself as a leader. Under the watchful eye of a commander, Sal and 2 others of his brethren (who had been picked intentionally with the intent of seeing if they were worthy) were to take 3 squads of a score each and take care of a border problem. A somewhat large group of trolls was harassing a small town near the edge of the Elrendar River. While the other 2 assessed the situation and went for the “by-the-book” tactics that they thought would ensure their victory, Sal had a different plan in mind. Scouting ahead to see the troll village ((For the record, this was a complete war-base for the trolls; No women or children were there)) for himself with his scouts, he formulated a plan of attack in his mind, putting the pieces of where each warrior would be most useful.

The attack, at least for Sal’s group, went for the most part pretty good. Only one injury, and that because of a mis-timed swing (nothing serious though). While the other 2 group unfortunately suffered 2 casualties each (Their budding commanders who decided commanding wasn’t their bowl of soup), and each an archer. Sal, having killed almost a dozen himself, and his men strutted back into Silvermoon victoriously, to the tune of cheers from their gathered families. After this, Sal enjoyed about a century of relative peace.


Chapter 2: The Wars:

Then the Orcs came.

The orcish horde poured through the Dark Portal, ravaging the southern kingdom of Stormwind. War raged for many years, the other races watching as the two nations battled viciously. Eventually, Stormwind itself fell to the onslaught and a small group of survivors, led by Anduin Lothar, head to Lordaeron, where King Terenas uses his political power to form the Alliance of Lordaeron between the humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes.
Sal, not part of the small force sent with Alleria Windrunner, stayed behind, ever watchful. The High elves stayed mostly out of the conflict, until, unexpectedly, Alleira came back with news of a Horde onslaught. King Anasterian, outraged and defiant against the trolls he had fought millennia before with Stromgard, ordered the mobilization of Quel’thalas’ armies. Sal, excited at the prospect of warfare, yet nervous at the same time, actively prepared his forces.

Salarissian took part in the defense of Quel’thalas, and was especially angered by the burning of his homeland’s beautiful forests. The elven armies fought back viciously against the trolls, and eventually helped the other races of the Alliance subdue the orcs as well.
After this, Sal watched helplessly as, to his dismay, his king ordered the secession and return of the armies to Quel’thalas – Breaking apart the Alliance and splintering his friendships with many of the people he had fought with during the war.

Sal barely managed to avoid death during the Third War, multiple times. During the initial assaults of the Scourge, he assisted Sylvanas Windrunner in the defense of the kingdom, eventually retreating to the Sunwell itself as a last defense. He saw the duel between Anasterian and Felo’melorne and Arthas and Frostmourne, and was severely demotivated by seeing his king fall before him. He almost charged Arthas out of hopelessness then and there, but Ronath Lightspear, his mentor since before joining the order, stuffed him under a pile of dead bodies to save him, just before being decapitated himself.

After wandering for days and weeks in his desecrated homeland, Sal finally managed to join up with Prince Kael’thas, as one of the last pockets of defense against the Scourge. Suffering, as all his people did, from the disconnection from the Sunwell, Sal and his allies were desperately in need of a moral boost. Grimly, in honor of their fallen families and friends, they called themselves “Sin’dorei” – the Blood Elves, a constant reminder of their grim past, and grew ever more apart from the remaining high elves.

Kael’thas, at the same time desperate to save his people from total extinction, abandoned the Alliance and threw his forces in with the demon hunter Illidan and his naga. The remaining Alliance and high elves cast them out of the Alliance for good as traitors.

With nowhere left to turn, Sal accompanied his Prince to Outland, where the Sin’dorei and Lady Vashj sought to free Illidan from Maiev, who had recaptured him. Free once more, Illidan gathered his forces to strike Northrend and Arthas – A chance at vengeance that Sal eagerly awaited.

Engaging in an all-out war against the Scourge, Illidan’s forces attacked Northrend. Sal, accompanying Kael’thas, helped the Prince save Tyrande, and stopped Illidan’s destruction of the Lich King – though it would fulfill his vengeance, it would destroy the world. After Illidan’s near-death duel with Arthas, Illidan’s combined forces retreated to Outland – Where they would gather strength and stand defiant against Kil’jaeden, Illidan’s true master.

Chapter 3: Homecoming and the Burning Crusade:


It was at this time that Sal was sent back to Quel’thalas. Joining Kael’thas emissary, Grand Magister Rommath, Sal eagerly awaited a chance to see his homeland. Staying with his people Sal helped rebuild his homeland. As soon as he could, Sal traveled to the most eastern reaches of the kingdom – where he had sent his family to their house in hopes of surviving the Scourge invasion. Sal traveled with his companions through twisted and corrupted forest land, always on their guard, and after weeks of travel finally arrived.

After seeing to it that the wagon was well-protected in case of an attack, Sal and his best friend Derainian entered the stronghold. They thoroughly searched the entire household. Sal was dismayed to find that the entire keep had been ravaged by the Scourge. Hopeless, they checked basement, the entrance to the vault - where Sal’s father had stored their entire fortune. There, they found the remnants of Sal’s family – hacked to bits by Sal’s father, and burned so they’d not be raised.

Upon seeing this, Sal broke down. Subdued and sickened, he was comforted by the fact at the knowledge of his family being truly dead and not mindless monsters. His hope broken after seeing this, Sal managed to grab a simple tool, a shovel, and headed out to a grove he used to play in as a child. Tears occasionally falling from his face, dug 4 graves and gathered 4 large pillar-like stones. Using a small chisel he had found near the remnants of the forge, he chilsed out small remembrances on the tombstones, and then, using his knowledge of enchantment, cast a unique spell over each, along with enchantments to help the tombstones stand the test of time.

Over his father’s grave and tombstone, the enchantment Sal used made the tombstone hot, as if it were burning, signifying his father’s ever-burning passion for life and his fiery personality; It also caused the writing to glow red-gold, reminiscent of a sunrise. For his mother, the enchantment caused the tombstone to be surrounded by roses, his mother’s favorite flower. The writing also shifted colors, sometimes red, sometimes blue. For his sister, Sal’s enchantment caused the entire tombstone to glow, enveloping the entire grove in a soft white-blue color, the tombstone sometimes twinkled like the stars. For his younger brother, Sal’s enchantment made the tombstone to shiver and excrete a joyous aura.

After this, Sal took the time to reconcile himself with his family’s death, knowing that it wasn’t his fault but still wishing he could’ve done something. Standing over their graves, he solemnly swore an oath to each of them: He would do whatever was in his power to protect the entirety of the Sin’dorei, no matter the cost.

Returning to Silvermoon with the fortune and the will Sal’s father left him in the vault (stored and secured by arcane means; Nothing had breached it), Salarissian took control of his father’s businesses and estates. Using his newfound power, and wishing to fill the halls of his home with laughter again, Sal opened the doors of his hall, offering it as a refuge to many elves and giving many new places to work for. He also adopted a few children that had been orphaned during the Scourge assaults, giving them new homes and eventually restoring their demeanors, though not as happy and innocent as they once were.

Once again satisfied with his home, Sal turned his attention to the rest of Silvermoon. Wishing to help, he took many ideas to now-Regen Lord Lor’themar Theron. Having known Lor’themar a small bit (They fought together, though they didn’t have much contact with each other), Sal used his new position as a powerful leader of the city to help rebuild the kingdom. Whenever new ideas and projects came up, Sal gladly helped. It was in this way that he was first choosing to fulfill is promise; By rebuilding their shattered lives and homes.

One day, just after having dinner with his servants, song and daughter on his estate just outside of Silvermoon, word came to Sal from a guardsman that a small group of Amani trolls were headed towards them. The scouts had no idea what they were up to, but knowing trolls, Sal concluded they were up to no good, especially after Derainian, his best friend and a mage, granted him a “second sight,” which he used to spy upon the trolls. Seeing their war painting, and noticing their compass direction was heading towards the orphanage, Sal realized that he had to do something.

Gathering his sword and armor, his shield having been lost during Quel’danas’ battles, Sal mounted Screecherii, his black-gold hawkstrider, and rode as fast as he could to the orphanage, his guardsmen following. Just as the trolls were about the reach the front gates of the orphanage, shut and barred, though they’d not hold for long, Sal intercepted them, his warstrider screeching and his sword glimmering in the light of the sun.

Not afraid for his own life, thinking only about his people trapped inside and of his promise, Sal bellowed, “Band’or shorel’aran!” and leapt into the midst of the trolls. The nearest trolls, completely taken by surprise, were taken into the embrace of death before they realized they were under assault. By the time the nearest trolls had readied themselves, Swift had taken nearly a dozen trolls into the embrace and his guards had plunged into the flank of the group. At the end of the day, not a single troll had left the battlefield alive and Sal was heralded as a hero among the Sin’dorei who had witnessed the battle, word of his prowess already spreading through the city like wildfire.

The next day, Sal received summons from the Silvermoon guard that he was to report to Regent Lord Theron’s chambers at once. Upon entrance, Sal was greeted formally by Grand Magister Rommath, the new Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing, and then informally asked how Sal would feel about being sent back to war. Thinking about it, the somewhat-surprised warrior replied that he’d do anything it took to protect his people and his homeland. Hearing this, a grin split the 3 leaders faces, and Sal was given command of one of the armies sent to the new Outlands, to search for Kael’thas and his new “solution” to the Sin’doreis’ addiction.

Sal eventually joined the Horde with the others of his race, and battled everything from Fel-Orcs to Arrakoa in his quest. Upon arriving at the city of Shattrath, his mind was invaded by the great A’dal, who requested that peace was kept of him in the city. He agreed and entered the city, where he learned the truth of his Prince– from none other than Voren’thal the Seer, rumored to be missing.

Sal turned the brunt of his efforts towards defeating his former-prince and his other compatriots and masters, helping A’dal and his forces enter Serpentshirne Cavern, the grim Hellfire Citadel, and even the dread Black Temple itself. Even after all this, standing upon the topmost spires of the Temple, Sal felt that it wasn’t finished yet.
He was right.

Soon after Illidan Stormrage the Betrayer’s death, Kael’thas and his Felsworn, seemingly returned from the grave, invaded Silvermoon City and seized a captive Naaru, M’uru, that had been the source of the Blood Knights’ power. Traveling to the Isle of Quel’danas, Kael’thas sought to summon his true master, the great evil, Kil’jaeden the Deciever. Sal once again joined with A’dal and became a powerful member of the Shattered Sun Offensive, battling the Felsworn and their demons for Quel’danas itself, and defeating his prince once and for all, and even helping the Shattered Sun push Kil’jaeden back through the repowered Sunwell.

Victorious and feeling invigorated by the return of the Sunwell, now a holy as well as arcane source and restored by M’uru’s heart , had no time to rest.

The frozen snows of Northrend awaited… as did the Icecrown Citadel, where Arthas and Frostmourne waited for the heroes of the Burning Crusade.

Chapter 4: The Frozen Heart of Northrend:

[Chonar]

Gonna go right ahead and ask the most obvious question; Since yer gonna be using that title, will you be playing a character that canonically killed the Lich King?

[Sal the Shieldhog]

Gonna go right ahead and ask the most obvious question; Since yer gonna be using that title, will you be playing a character that canonically killed the Lich King?

Though it is the title from that, no. There are a few reasons I use to explain this:

1. Since the Sunwell now channels the Light and Holy energies, there is a connection with that.
2. The Sin'dorei are all about stuff like that (Look at their names, for example; Sunstrider, Dawntreader, ect).
3. He is a champion of the Sin'dorei people; Thus, given that and the connection with the Sunwell being pure again, "the Light of Dawn" could be used that way.

Although, he didn't directly assault Arthas, Sal was still there at Icecrown Citadel, hackin' and slashin' through the Scourge with the Argent Dawn.

EDIT: I don't think anybody who directly fought Arthas survived, other than Tirion (and Bolvar). I might be wrong though; I'll look it up.

[Chonar]

Though it is the title from that, no. There are a few reasons I use to explain this:

1. Since the Sunwell now channels the Light and Holy energies, there is a connection with that.

Ah, that's very cool. I like that!

EDIT: I don't think anybody who directly fought Arthas survived, other than Tirion (and Bolvar). I might be wrong though; I'll look it up.

Well, there's obviously mighty Kingslayer Orkus, totally canon.

[Sal the Shieldhog]

Ah, that's very cool. I like that!



Well, there's obviously mighty Kingslayer Orkus, totally canon.

True (Off-topic a bit, but that was one of the best and saddest quest-chains I've ever done =/), but I've just always thought of the resurrection at the end there to be solely for game-play purposes.

Either way, there were other forces that needed to distract the other Scourge so they'd have a chance to fight Arthas; Sal was one of those.

[Sal the Shieldhog]

Updated.

I've decided to post what I've completed so far. The first chapter details his life from birth to the onset of the First War.

---------- Post added 2012-01-29 at 02:00 AM ----------

Updated.

Added Chapter 2. Follows Sal's journey through the First, Second, Third, and First Scourge War.

[Sal the Shieldhog]

Updated.

Added Chapter 3. Follow's Sal's path through the events prior and during the Burning Crusade.

Updated "Equipment" section. Shows what armor he used previously, and his current armor (and the "lore" behind it).