So here we are again,
Yeah,it's maintenence night,servers are down,so it's blog time!
Everybody who plays WoW,regardless to if you follow it or not,knows that the game is crawling with lore. Stories, Legends, battles fought long ago etc etc.
Personnally,i love the lore. I love knowing each NPC's backstory,the history of a race or faction. How the heroes of the Horde & the Alliance have played fundemental parts (lore wise) in the Warcraft we know today.
But where do you fit into all this? You're obviously not a nobody - your character has likely done amazing things in the context of lore. Killing Kel'Thuzad,for example.
This guy is like second in command of the Scourge. And you killed him! You're a hero to the people of Azeroth!
But where did it all begin for you? I know,i know - Elwynn Forest or Durotar or some other place that you ran away from bears and scorpions. What i mean is,what is YOUR character's lore? His/her back story?
Anybody with a love (or even a like) for lore has most likely thought about this.
I certainly have! So i'm going to share with you,Fayt's fateful (pardon the pun) Beginnings.
Fayt started life in a small sleepy village,now known as Darkshire. His family were a of Noble birth,who had bought a home on the land when it was lush with life & bounty. His parents had decided that their children,Fayt & his sister Althea, deserved a new beginning in the forest that promised wonder & adventure.
This was of course before the corruption caused by Karazhan,a Tower hidden in the canyons to the east of the forest in which Darkshire was founded. This forest is known to commoners & adventurers alike as "Duskwood". An appropriate name given the unnatural darkness that would come to grip the forest and its inhabitants in its dangerous grasp.
As Fayt grew,his father,the elected Mayor Ello Ebonlocke,set up a defense for the village,to protect the people from the monsterous creatures that now lurked in the formerly peaceful forest. This elite group became known as "The Night Watch".
Led by the seasoned veteran warrior,Captain Helvas Grange.
Fayt's days & nights were filled with an edge of constant danger. This proved to be an advantage. As Fayt became a young man,he found he was more curious about the creatures in the forest than afraid. He found himself increasingly at odds with his Father as his urge to explore developed. He came to his Father with serveral destinations he felt close enough to be "safe" but far enough to be considered adaventure. He approached his father one day with the sugesstion to let him at least venture to a T juntion road that split off to the south (toward the Troll ridden Jungle known as Stranglethorn Vale) and further west (to the farmlands of westfall). His father,of course refused. Explaining that not even the Night Watch ventured that far.
Fayt knew the junction from trips he would take as a boy (before the forest became corrupted) he & his sister would ride with the tradesmen,on their way to exchange timber & wolf pelts with the farmers of Westfall. He had always loved these trips. It was one of the few times they'd actually meet other children they could play with. Ferw families had moved to Darkshire at that point. So the pair would occupy their time with various things they considered fun. Althea loved to bake and read. To Fayt,this was boring. He and his sister never fought, but they never grew close.
Since he had never actually seem anything dangerous in his entire time living in the village,Fayt felt his father was simply being over protective. He thought this had something to do with his mother. He vaguely remembered her. Before any of the infinite blackness had strangled the forest. His only memory of the night she left was filled with thumping noises and the piercing sound of screams. He seldom let his mind slip to that dark memory,but when it did,he always fell deathly cold at the notion that these screams were the dying wails of his mother.
This memory gripped Fayt now,as he left the Mayor's office,were his father was working with the Night Watch to deal with a new threat. Some type of Wolf was all Fayt managed to catch as he shuck off the dark memory.Wolves were one thing Fayt did not fear above all else.He knew the creatures avoided the roads of men,and rarely attacked humans unprovoked.
It was settled. He'd visit the junction. He was nearly a man now after all. 13 years of age. He was due to begin weapons training soon.He could handle a jaunt through the dark forest he had spent much time in as a boy.He didn't have any bad feelings toward his father denying him.He knew his father was blinded by a fear of...of something. Fayt had yet to be proven that there was ANYTHING to be afraid of.
He departed the village shortly after 5pm,they tolls rang out on the odd sounding village Bell Tower. He stared at the Bell as it rang.The sound was eery.Almost haunting.He felt that sudden cold as his mind raced back to that memory. *Thump* *thump* *thump*....SCREAMING!Glass shattering screams!They shook to the core! *nong* ? *bong* ?? *bong* ??? *bong*....
The bell had rang in his memory. That night,that life altering night (as it seemed to be) the bell had tolled. How many times?He couldn't make out.He quickly pulled himself back to reality and tore his gaze from the Bell.This memory,this nightmare was beginning to reach his thoughts more frequently.Why was it important?Was it to do with his mother?He didn't miss her.Did he?He had never really known her...
He shook his head,gruntly gently and furrowed his brow.He was a man,or almost at least. He enjoyed daydreaming of adventures he may have in the future,but this was unnerving him. It made him dislike delving into his imagination. He focused now on his task. A mere "memory" had chilled him more than anything he had heard tales about dwelling in this forest.
With a reaffirming glance back at the candle lit windows of the village. He departed.
He wasn't surprised nobody noticed him leave. Even at the relatively early time he left. The village (as the forest) was in constant darkness. He had plenty of cover to quickly move from behind a barnyard at the borders of the village,then run to the road that lead to the T junction.
He felt sudden elation in himself. Was he happy to be defying his Father? No,this wasn't really any type of "rebellion". He often agreed with his father. The 2 often drank tea by the fire before bed. His father would treat him as an equal. Sharing with him important matters in and around Darkshire. Was he happy to be going to the Junction he remembered passing as a boy? No not that!He had merely passed it on the way there & and back. If he were going as far as westfall,he might have attributed to that. But he was merely walking halfway there.. That was it!He was happy to be free,to be doing what HE wanted. To be on an adventure!
He laughed,he felt so good about this. He laughed with a gusto he rarely felt.
He would go on bigger & better adventures. But this would be the first step,his beginning. Tales would be told of this day!He would....!!
Fayt's train of thought was cut through likea knife through warm butter at the Haunting Howl of a nearby Wolf,or Worg as the villagers called them. His heart pounded for a minute and a stood statue still. Slowly,his blood began to flow again,
and his face suddenly flushed red. His fear had quickly been replaced by embaressment & humiliation! Some man he was! How he had gloated to himself about not fearing anything. About having nerves of steel! He kicked at the ground. His eyes darted from north to south in a vain attempt to spot something to break. Or better yet,the Worg! He hated the creature for making him fear like that! He wanted to show the creature what a man he was! He would kill it with his bare hands and present it to his Father & the Night Watch. Proof of his unbreakable nerve & affirming his manhood.
As his frustration faded. It was suddenly replaced by guilt. How would killing an innocent creature prove him anything more than a barbarian? He took a deep breath ans sighed. He had become very emotional as of late. His father assured him it was simply a step in becoming a man. "puberty" as his father & the men in the Night Watch had explained,was when a boy developed into a man. Fayt didn't fully grasp it,but it certainly explained alot.
He decided to let it slip from his mind as he continued west on the road. He was more focused on his surroundings now,he felt like thanking the worg for teaching him this valuble lesson. He noticed how the trees seemed to loom,as if watching him as he walked passed them. He considered them ancient protectors. Curious about the youth making his way through the land they guarded. He was almost tempted to greet one in a playful manner,when he heard movement from further along the road.
A low gurgling sound came from about 100 yards away. Almost too quiet to hear. As he drew closer,the sounded became more profound. He could now also make out the whimpering sound coming from the same direction. He suddenly heard movement to his left,he caught a shadow as he quickly turned. Was it a man?
He drew closer to the sounds coming from further up the road. He could make out the shape of something in the path. And there was a very distinct smell. Blood.
Believing somebody may have been attacked.Disgarding his previous caution,Fayt moved quickly toward the shape in the path.
He stopped suddenly when he cane upon it. A Worg.
It had been badly wounded. Gashes ran all over the length of its large frame. 4 foot in height and weighting nearly 100 lbs, Worgs had been comsidered the biggest threat in the forest.
Whar did this?
He knelt causiously next to the worg. The beast then became aware of his presence. It tried to move but yelped as its wounds seeped more precious plasma. Fayt moved closer to the Worg,trying to reassure the creature he meant no harm. The Wolf's breathing calmed slightly when it realized Fayt must not have been whoever (or whatever) attacked him.
Fayt studied the gashes. What could he do? The village was far aways back now. He could try run to get a priest,but would the Worg live that long? No,even if he did,the priest would never risk so much to help the creature. And Fayt would also have to explain why he was on the road to find the beast.
He couldn't put the male (as he was unfortunate enough to learn the sex when the batted its tail aside to urinate,in what Fayt concluded was involuntary) out of his misery. He had no weapon with him,and he doubted he could do it with his hands without causing the wolf considerable pain.
As he considered, the Worg suddenly caught his eye. The beast's deep black orbs drew him in. Fayt almost felt a kinship with the beast. As the 2 stared,he sensed the air around this frantic scene calm slightly. As if the Worg knew his final minutes were upon him,and that Fayt was the one who would share them with him.
Feeling his heart warm,Fayt leaned his hand closer to the Wolf as a sign of trust & respect. Letting the creature know he would bare his last moments among the living in his memory forever.
The warmth in his chest was suddenly replaced with cold terror as he watched the Worg's eyes widen in horror! Fayt caught a black image in the reflection of the Worg's deep dark & terrified eyes. He wheeled about,but he was suddenly petrified in place at what lurched before him.
A monster. A Nightmare. Thee Nightmare.
The creature bellowed that piercing scream that had been locked in Fayt's mind for so many years. This,this thing,was what he had heard. Fayt screamed his own scream of terror,then bounded over the fallen Worg. The beast tried to rise but to no success. Fayt ran,and ran,and ran. He dared a glanced behind him. The nightmare. His gaze filled with it. Time seemed to slow around him. He tried to take in every detail of the horror bounding down on top of him.
Razorsharp teeth permeating a gaping maw,opened impossibly wide.
A snout,similiar to that of a dog,creased into a snarl. No,not like a dog,more like..a Worg.
A build like a man,but broader,covered from head to toe in Worg-like fur,Its hands & feet were gigantic,ending in rending talons,now inches from Fayt's tender flesh.
But the most terrifying feature was the eyes.
The glowed with intelligence,with intent,hate...and recognition?
Time began to flow again for Fayt,his eyes widened in anticipation. The End. His young life ended before it started. His emotions raced,why hadn't he stayed home!? Why had he been so stupid!?Why would he never live to be a great and noble man!? Why did he have to die,savagely,as a boy,a foolish and weak boy!?
He closed his eyes,tears rolled in frustration. He finally accepted his fate. He waited. He waited for the longest second. He refused to open his eyes. He flooded his mind with his happiest memories. His father and he having tea by the fire,visiting the other children with his sister in westfall,imagining all his many great adventures yet to be had.
Another second past. He didn't his final memory to be of the monster that killed him. But it became unbareable. He opened his eyes slowly,realizing he had had his hands over his ears and was sobbing loadly.
He absorbed his surroundings,as the sights & sounds filled his senses. He smelled blood again.
In front of him,bloodied tufts of fur flew everywhere. The Worg.
It had saved him,the beast had rescued him in his most desperate moment.
His eyes searched,attempting to register the scene playing out in front of him.
He gasped as he realised the Worg-man monster was literally tearing the Worg apart.
The worg wailed,it was in agony. Agony. It was already dying when Fayt had come upon it,but it mustered eveything to save him.
He leaped to his feet,he had to save the creature that had spared him his death,even if momentarily. He pulled a branch from a nearby oak,the tree almost seemed to hand him the wooden weapon. He hefted the bat,as it seemed to resemble, and swong and the beast as it savagely ripped at the wolf. CRUNCH.
Fayt felt the bone shatter. A howl. Ahowl of surprise,pain.And anger. The Monster slashed at Fayt,quickly grabbing its shattered Shoulder. It moved toward him,snapping its jaws in grinding resentment. Their eyes locked,familiarity struck him again.
"FIRE!!!" The roar of gunfire cut the moment in half. As the Beast had rended the Worg,the bullets too devestated the Monster's flesh. It fell in a bloody heap before Fayt. Breathing ragedly,it reached for him. His Father darted into his vision,intercepting the claw of the beast. "NO!He's not yours to take!Not anymore.."
The claw dropped to the ground,and the eyes,still locked with Fayt's,filled with regret. Then fell dark. Dead.
A sudden sense of loss hit Fayt. Hard. It overwhelmed him. Too much,he stiffened. Then everything went white.
He dreamed. Dreamed of the worg. Its strength,even in those final seconds. Its nobility, it had been ready to entrust its dying moments to him. Its courage. Saving him. Saving his life. His saviour.
His nightmares. The haunted village of Raven Hill. Monsters! Everybody was dead, all around him. His name "Ebonlocke" written in blood. His Father's blood. He hung in the town square. Cut him down! Save him! He reached for his sword. What sword? No weapon! Defenseless! Monsters everywhere! Everywhere! *Bong* *bong* *bong* "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
He awoke. Screaming. His father rushed to his side to clam him. He cried,wailing in terror. His sister, Althea watched from the doorway,expressionless. His father,Mayor Ello Ebonlocke, held his son to his chest. The boy had seen the horrors of the world long before he should. His son's innocence lost forever.
He awoke. His eyes stung. He remembered the last time he awoke,weeks ago. He had screamed. Screamed so much he throat felt like it bled. Shredded by his anguished cries.
Now he was disoriented. Confused. He wanted answers.
He found his father by the fire drinking. Fayt frowned when he realised it wasn't tea. He joined his father by the fire. His sister appeared in the doorway,she held a cup of tea. She quickly handed it to Fayt & wrapped her arms around him. She squeezed him tightly. Then as suddenly as she appeared,she left. He sipped the tea, it was abit weaker than he liked it. But he appreciated it more than any tea he'd ever had. He glanced at his Father,then toward the fire. Without saying anything to provoke him,his father began to explain.
He couldn't believe it.
His mother,his mother was that thing. That monster. a "Worgen".As they were known.
People affected by "Lycantropy". Becoming beasts that terrorised their former kind.
His mother had become this. The corruption of duskwood now fully dawned on him.
His father explained that he wouldn't allow Fayt to leave the village because his mother sought to take him. She was always watching,waiting to claim him. To turn him,or kill him. He was hers,in the mind of the maddened beast. The memory was the night his mother "turned". The Thumping sound was her altered form,assending the stair case,toward Fayt's room. Where he listened. The scream,that terrifying scream. Was caused when his father attacked the beast,his former wife,in much the same way Fayt had. Swinging a fore poker into her shoulder. She darted from the house,the men who would make up the founding members of the Night Watch,fired at her as she assended the rooftops with inhuman agility. She hid in the bell tower,the fired,the slugs nailed the Bell. Altering its shape,causing the disturbing toll it is now known for. But now she was gone. His "mother" was dead. So much he wanted to ask.
But no words came.
3 years pass. Fayt is accepted as a member of the Nightwatch. His father,still Mayor, maintains his over protective nature. His sister was now training to be a member of the Night Watch aswell. Many doubted her. Even mocked her. But he knew they'd eat their words one day. She'd already broken 3 target dummies. Fayt only ever patrols the village,no further. When sent on assignments,he's flanked by 2 senior members of the Night Watch. He's prevented from helping defend the village when a crazy Hermit assembles a stitched abomonation to destroy the Town.
A village no more,adventurers from all over azeroth had come to Duskwood to help them rid the forest of evil.
Fayt was filled with envy.
He watched them in the local inn. Exchanging stories,survival & equipment tips and drinking even the local drunks under the table. He wanted to live that life.
He was fully trained in weapons of every kind now. But he was most proficient with a broad sword. He had taken survival training, won the Night Watch training tournaments twice and above all else,he was ready to be a man.
On his 18th birthday, 5 years after the day of the Worg, he was promoted to captain of the Night Watch. There was supposed to be a small ceremony in his Honor. But he never appeared. No,the Town of Darkshire,and the mysteries of duskwood,while an adventure in their own right,were too small for Fayt Ebonlocke. His mind was set much further away than this place. His home. His horizons were broarder than he could have ever imagined.
He packed up some supplies and left.
4 days later,Fayt arrived at a small Valley nestled in the North of Elwynn Forest.
He had heard that the priests of the Abbey there were in need of adventurers to aid them while the mighty Army of Stormwind fought on distant battlefields.
Upon arriving in Northshire,he took a deep breath and thought "finally, the real adventure begins!"
Phew!That took ages to write.
I know it isn't genius or even clever,but its Fayt's story
(until retconned probably) and i hope you enjoyed it!
Or at least tolerated it.
I'll bring the rest of his story to the Blog soon!
Well maybe not soon...
Anyway,
I don't want Might,give me Kings so i can Shout!
What don't you understand?
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