Azalae Clarke

Azalae Louise Clarke is a priestess and member of the Order of the Golden Hawk. She currently resides in Stormwind.

((WIP of course))

Early childhood
Azalae Louise Clarke was born just north of Lordaeron city to a moderately wealthy couple. Her father, Silas Clarke, was a low ranking, but well known officer in the Lordaeron Army, and owned a small blacksmithing company that supplied much of the Northern Army's weapons. Her mother, Annette Louise Clarke, was an ordained priestess of the Light who served much of her time as a missionary. As a young child, Azalae had differing experiences with her parents. While her father was often away on various missions, Azalae and her mother were very close and it was rare they were not seen together. She accompanied her mother on various missionary trips through the northern kingdoms, often sitting in on her mother's lectures and studying while her mother offered medical or Light-based healing to those who weren't well enough to travel. It seemed only natural that Azalae would follow in her mother's footsteps and study under the church to become a priestess herself.

Second War
Azalae's plans were disrupted with the onset of the Second War. With her father fighting under Lothar's banner against the Horde, her mother was whisked away to an outpost for soldiers of the army and was tasked with offering medical attention. Dragged alongside her mother, it was during this time that Azalae learned the bulk of her medical knowledge. Once the Second War had ended, Silas was rewarded for his achievements and leadership during the war, and was given a small piece of land just north of the capitol city.

Rise of the Scourge
Azalae and her family left Brill to establish their home on the newly acquired land and to spend long overdue time together. Silas and his daughter grew to be very close during this time - he had come to realize that he had missed most of her childhood and was saddened that she was now nearly an adult. The peaceful time for them did not last long. It was during their time away that they heard the rumors of a plague spreading through the North. As the cities fall one by one, her family fled their new home and traveled to a small village in the west - one her mother had frequented on her missionary trips. Most of the people had fled to Azeroth by this point so the village was lacking in numbers and the Clarkes were welcomed right in. They held up here for several years - integrating themselves into the group. Her father became part of the local militia, while her and her mother, the only healers in the village, were very busy.

Berranger Militia
Azalae soon became bored of staying in the village, and due to the recent bond that had grown between her and her father, she longed to join him out on his runs with the militia. He was happy to have her, and rather than sheltering her from what was going on, he wanted her to know what to expect. His health had been waning over the recent years and he was worried he wouldn't live much longer. She soon was promoted through the militia, even earning herself the title of Sergeant among their ranks. Though this held little creed due to the militia's battered numbers, Azalae took pride in her title.

=== After several years of living roughly with the other villagers, their numbers and supplies slowly dwindling down, and Silas' health slowly declining, her family finally conceded the decision to travel south to reunite with family friends and other disparate members of the Northern Army. Her parents went to stay in a quaint home in Redridge while Azalae decided to travel to Stormwind for the first time. She was shocked to learn how many northerners had taken up residence in the city and she took the time to volunteer in the church library, reading and organizing the much neglected section.

Though she was happy for some stability finally, she grew bored quickly. There were more than enough healers around so her services weren't necessarily needed, and she had grown fond of the military lifestyle. After only a month of having been in the city, she was approached by a member of the Order of the Golden Hawk, a holy-based military group who seemed to be made up wholly of northerners. They were a smaller group, something she was used to, and was very happy to be recruited into their ranks.

Philosophy
Since Azalae never received any formal education under the church, her views and beliefs tend to differ from what she believes to be stringent teachings. While she reveres the Light, her time is more often spent meditating rather than praying. She lives a moral and good life, but does not see herself as limited, or enslaved to the teachings of the church. She regards the Three Virtues as necessary, and they provide her with a conceptual framework for her beliefs, but feels as though too many people let the Church do all the thinking for them. She is largely attracted to people with what she deems a "free and open" mind. This is largely due to her travels as a young child, believing that they have given her as much of an education as a book would.