Luther Alburton

Summary:
Luther Alburton is a Cleric of the Holy Light with both a checkered past and committing controversial actions, however not secularly or militarily criminal---rather, questionable ethics.

On the whole, Alburton is Neutral Good---however delving into the Chaotic, varying upon the situation---wise in theology and fairly competent in military leadership.

Early Life:
Luther Alburton was the son of Luthareas Alburton, who was a poor farmer in the Northern Headlands of Gilneas. Given the Kingdom's rigid isolationism, the industrial economy and the Alburton Family's quality of life, the Church of the Holy Light seemed the only way to mend such wounds---or even escape altogether.

Daily, Luther would go to Light's Dawn Cathedral for educational and material purposes: food, clothing and hope for better days to come. He would be accompanied by his cousin, Louis Alburton, Jr.---whose father, Louis, was Luthareas' brother who lived in Gilneas City as a Mason.

When the Scourge had made its horrid debut in Lordaeron, tragic tales had begun sweeping through Gilneas by means of the Wall Guards and Darius Crowley's Men. It was then that the Scarlet Crusade moved into various Churches and Towns to actively recruit Priests, Paladins and convince donations from Benefactors. Given the atrocities spoken of and the chance at making a better life, Luthareas accepted and joined.

After years of waiting for his father's return and holding the Crusade's messages in his heart, Luther had received a tattered tabard from a Messenger---declaring that Luthareas was dead, however unknown the cause. Luther, from a desire for closure or the instilled zealotry from the Scarlet Missionaries, believed that he had to leave Gilneas and join the Crusade.

Upon telling Louis, Jr. of his intentions, the two had a falling-out: Louis believed Gilneas was home and that the two should overcome adversity and help Gilneas as Brothers of the Church, Luther being adamant and determined to not let his father's contributions to the Crusade be all for nothing. The two have not spoken in years, save through brief conversations by mail---so as to "check up" on each other.

Adulthood:
Upon giving his last farthing to a Smuggler, Luther left Gilneas and headed to Stormwind. Until he could join the Crusade, he would work a series of "odd jobs" and send what little he would earn back home to his ailing mother. This continued for many years, however still with the passion to join the Crusade and ensure his father's legacy.

But when the Cataclysm came and news of the Forsaken campaign in Gilneas was announced, Luther despaired. He was all but certain that his mother was dead and that the various misdeeds of the Old Crusade not only denied him of his ambition---but utterly denounced his father.

Luther came to the Cathedral of Stormwind to pray for his parents, then meeting a Scarlet Bishop in the middle of the nave. The elder clergyman was Tywin Ladekahn of the Scarlet Hammer---a reformist group that had separated from the Old Crusade, which held enough respect and support from the Church of the Holy Light to exist and continue recruiting.

Luther jumped at this chance, assaulting Bishop Ladekahn's ear with questions and a great enthusiasm to learn more. The Bishop smiled, waving his hand to silence the young man and initiated him into the Hammer.

Scarlet Hammer, Part One:
Becoming an Acolyte and Brother of the Scarlet Hammer, Luther was charged not only with healing and empowering his newfound brethren in battle---but to convert others on the streets, interviewing and inducting the worthy. Every few days, Luther would preach the Old Doctrine to the brethren throughout their marches, during their downtime at camp, before and after each battle.

One noteworthy achievement in his early service to the Hammer was his participation in the Siege of the Scarlet Monastery: the Hammer, the Clergy of the Holy Light, the Greyblades and the League of Lordaeron joined forces to assault the Monastery in Northeastern Tirisfal Glades. While efforts continued to mop-up various High Inquisitor Whitemane Loyalists across the Glades, Luther, Ambassador Cassarian Lorik and an aide ventured inside...

Upon entering the Courtyard before the Cathedral of the Monastery, the trio found a Loyalist Armsmaster before a regiment of Archers and Paladins training. The Armsmaster humored the Hammer Envoys' presence, but spat upon the notion of surrender. After a back-and-forth argument and demands between Cassarian and the Armsmaster, Luther placed himself between them and made a desperate plea to him:

"Let us end this bloodshed, Brother", urged Luther. "We were never meant to kill our brethren and the Scourge most certainly gain from our shared struggle. Put aside your differences and agree to coexist and work with us---so that our Holy Mission may continue, without such hatred and bloodshed between us."

Luther then took a step forward, trying to embrace the Armsmaster---who appeared to be showing some agreement and listening in a more respectful fashion. But before anything else was said or done, Cassarian pulled Luther aside and bid him silence before delivering the ultimatum: "Surrender and betray Whitemane or Burn along with her and the Cathedral". The Armsmaster returned to his previous behavior and gave the Envoys five minutes to leave; Luther and the Armsmaster knew that come tomorrow, one of them will kill the other.

The Siege came to its climax when the Greyblades took and held the Stables, the League of Lordaeron assaulted and defended the Main Entrance---then, allowing the Scarlets and the Clergy to split-up and take the Halls and the Monastery Cathedral. Luther went with High General Atten Tyran to the Halls whilst Cassarian, Highlord Joffrey Flameguard and Sir Tenevus Stromheart went for Whitemane herself.

When the bloody business was done, the task then became manual labor in the form of disposing the bodies; Luther depressingly dragged corpse after corpse through the Athenaeum, the Gallery of Treasures, the Footman's Armory, across the Main Entry and then outside by the Stables. Luther decided to bury the ones he was dragging, rather than throwing them atop the bonfire---as a sign of respect for those he had slain, placing a holy aura atop the graves to ensure they were not raised.

While Whitemane and her lieutenants were all found dead, despite the hard-fought progress towards their seats of power and against tenacious defenders; it is assumed that either Lilian Voss and her adventurers slew them or a small group of Loyalists took up Cassarian's offer and assassinated their leaders. However, this victory came at great moral cost to Luther---who had struck down several young Initiates in the Athenaeum and was told to "dispose of them", as if they were trash (which was a perception reinforced by how some spat upon the bodies and drank as the bonfires raged).

After the Siege, Luther took a small trip to Booty Bay with the intention to instill some fear of the Light into the notoriously-sinful Blackwater Raiders---which resulted in Cultists kidnapping, cursing and torturing him before sending him back to Tyr's Hand in a box of dead serpents. After being healed, Luther awoke and stumbled outside---finding his brethren arresting a Dwarf brother with the intention to send him for Inquisition. Having experienced torture himself, Luther turned away and wrote about the inquisition's intelligence-gathering tactics and what not to do (in an effort to make it more ethical, however fruitless it may have seemed).

In time, Bishop Ladekahn was confirmed as a Bishop of the Church of the Holy Light and not just of the Hammer. Given Luther's closeness to him and being his "heir-apparent", Cassarian and Joffrey appointed him High Abbot of the Hammer---the Head of the Clerical Sect. However, there came many debates between what the role of the Priesthood was and what powers the Council and Highlord had. Ultimately, these debates were between Luther and Cassarian and the two had enough of each other.

Luther resigned as High Abbot, writing letters to his closest friends still within and praying for them.

Ironbourne Division:
Shortly after collecting his things, Luther came across Sir Ivay Osrana and was asked to join him in defending the Faithful and supporting the New Silver Hand Council, under Highlord Meinas Highcastle. Luther quickly agreed, wishing to return to his former role as Head Priest.

After a few expeditions with the Ironbourne Division, then-Bishop Mellar Servus had taken notice of Luther's past and his current advisory role to Sir Ivay. Eventually, the two Clerics spoke and Mellar invited Luther to attend a session of the Council of Bishops. But for various reasons, the Ironbourne Division united with the Silver Hand Chapter.

The Silver Hand Chapter:
(( WIP ))

Bishopsy:
(( WIP ))

Fall from Grace:
(( WIP ))

Siege of Orgrimmar:
(( WIP ))

Excommunication:
(( WIP ))

Scarlet Crusade, Part Two:
(( WIP ))

Northern Orthodoxy:
(( WIP ))