Volhellian Duskwhisper

Volhellian Duskwhisper currently holds the rank of public relations officer within the organization known as United Aegis. He is easily recognized by the sky blue tattoos that set him apart from many other former Illidari, and is known for his laid-back attitude and the ease of his smile.

Birth
Born to Highborne parents in Winterspring, he wanted for little. The Duskwhispers had always been an affluent family, a long like of courtesans and societal elite.

The youngest child of the line, it was intended that he follow in his mother Lilliyaena's footsteps to become an arcanist - but he showed little promise with the Arcane, instead seeming to take after his father, an adherent of Ursoc.

His elder brother, Volrayden, was already a powerful warrior, so another physical combatant was undesirable. Lilliyaena tried to force her son along the path of Magic, but was unable, resorting to sending him away to be trained by druids in Feralas, considering him a failed project.

Druidism
For almost fifteen hundred years, he would train to harness the rage of the bear, but never truly grow proficient at it. The Astral called to him.

For his safety, his shan'do kept this knowledge from the boy's mother, and began training him in the ways of the Druids of the Stars. A natural mix of the world's own Nature magics, and the inborn heritage of the Highborne for the inner magics of the Arcane, this is where the boy thrived.

For another one thousand years, he trained, becoming a minor warden of Kalimdor, and partaking in the War of the Shifting Sands as a minor combatant and healer.

Downfall
Volrayden, Volhellian's elder brother, was among those few Night Elves who followed Illidan Stormrage to Outland, after the Battle for Mount Hyjal.

Volhellian was tasked by his mother to find and retrieve his brother. Against the wishes of his shan'do, he too, traveled to Outland.

Here, the ego of his brother would be his downfall.

In order to join the Illidari, Volrayden was tasked to hunt down and consume the heart of a powerful succubus known as Malva."'Come, little brother. Witness my ascendance into something far greater than our pathetic family line could produce!' - Volrayden Duskwhisper"Malva's own ego would betray her. Thinking to enrage the brothers and wear them down early, she used her magics against them, succeeding in decimating Volrayden in a devastating attack that her empowerment had caused him to choose not to evade.

Upon seeing this, her magics began to work on Volhellian in earnest, the wiry druid charging into battle against her with a ferocity she had not anticipated.

This would be the last time he would take the form of the bear.

Standing over her destroyed form, it was he who consumed her heart, quickly reverting from his massive, ursine form, with a scream of agony, the Fel power latching on to the Arcane within him in a struggle for control.

Illidari
When he awoke, it was in utter agony and confusion. His vision swam with violent colors, bright green shapes flickering around him, though small, as though at distance. He tried to reach out to them, to beg for help, but his clawed hand struck a wall.

In a panic, he threw himself against the walls of his sick room, feeling wings, horns, claws, battering against the walls. Eventually, he passed out again, only to repeat the cycle many, many more times, until he relented to his fate.

He slipped away, once, to return to Winterspring, to inform his parents of his brother's death, and his mother lashed out violently, nearly killing the newly inducted Illidari with her Arcane strengths. She banished him from their lands, and demanded he never attempt to see them again.

For the next seven years, he would serve within the ranks as a cold-hearted torturer. A hunter of sayaad, a skilled interrogator, and a brutal combatant; not only to his enemies, but to those within his proximity.

Refusing to give in after Lord Stormrage fell, he was imprisoned along with many others in the Vault of Wardens.

Release
"It's been so long. At least, it feels like years... What's going on out there? Nothing but silence, and now... combat? The ringing of steel... crunch of bones, the slick crispness of gore..." "I hear it too, my Hunter. My prison, and yours... stirs." - Volhellian and Malva, just prior to release. When the Burning Legion struck Azeroth again, and the other Illidari were released from their prison in the Vault of Wardens, Volhellian threw himself back into battle with a reckless energy he hoped would kill him.

After every victory, he found himself roaring in rage, demanding to know why the fates demanded he survive. Rising to the rank of Lieutenant within Altruis' loyal, he simply pressed on, praying he would never see the end of this conflict.

Veteran of countless battles across the Broken Isles, he eventually found himself on Argus itself, home world of the Legion. Here, he continued his cruel practices, enraging the soldiers under his command to furious heights in combat, putting lives at risk but succeeding in landslide victories. Never would he lose a soldier, and his ferocity was renowned.

Post Legion
After the fall of the Burning Legion, once and for all, he returned to civilization. Struggling in a world that no longer needed him, he became suicidal, refusing to feed and keep up his strength.

In his weakened state, he was no match for the Illidari who turned on him. Finding two of his former soldiers locked in combat in a darkened alley in Stormwind, presumably over the frightened human woman in the corner, he attempted to step in and stop them from killing one another; sensing a greater power within their former commander, they turned on him.

Within moments of their assault, a loud explosion rang his ears, the Demon Hunter above him reeling back with a gory hole in his shoulder, orange paws entering his field of view as he lay on the ground. Standing above him, was a female worgen wielding the biggest rifle he had ever seen.

Barking orders, she fired again, driving the Illidari off their prey. Their strength wasn't low enough that this feed was worth their lives. Once alone, she bandaged his wounds, introducing herself as Keely Marlfox, praising him for saving that woman, though her interpretation of events was wrong. So very wrong.

He did not correct her, remaining silent, except to give her his name, shocked that someone would attempt to care for him. Angered by his weakness, he left the city that day, retreating to the wilds to hunt - the few demons left behind, and anyone else who dared to get in his way.

Traveling south into Stranglethorn, he found himself in Booty Bay, where he found and stalked a woman who seemed like she might be a good challenge, at least for a little while. A Pandaren who stood even taller than he. But his assessment would nearly be the force that ended his life, as she fought back with strength that quickly overpowered his own.

Fleeing, he left her near death on the docks, waiting only long enough to ensure the younger one she traveled with, could heal her. After that, he fled back to Stormwind to find that Keely woman again, to help him heal. Upon explaining, in vague detail, what happened, she set off to find this Pandaren, and hire her.

United Aegis
Many months later, he had regained much of his strength, but still struggled to remain fed. Keely learned a bit more about the violent Hunter, and began a distant friendship with him, helping him see the world in a different light than before - these weak races had strengths of their own, even if they could not often keep up with him.

The memory of that Pandaren began to eat at him, eroding away the years of hatred that had kept his conscience at bay. Upon finding her name, and seeking her again, in Stormwind, she drew her blades, intent on defending herself.

Knowing he could not defeat Fanpan Zhi Lu without serious injury to himself, and... curious what she would do, he dropped to his knees, submitting to her greater strength. Confused, she backed away, and he apologized for what he had done, knowing no amount of words would ever make up for what he had intended.

Calling him a monster, she at least accepted his apology, but maintained her distance. He let her leave, and struggled with the discomfort of relenting to the weakness of emotions other than fury.

Over many months, they would find themselves running with the same social circles, Volhellian eventually hired by Keely as well, as a security guard in the neutral firm United Aegis.

A slow friendship was formed between Zhi Lu and the Demon Hunter, blossoming into something more as the two helped one another grow past their traumas.