Zaria R. Blackmoore

"We are not standard issue."

Lady  Zaria Reneigh Blackmoore (Born Zaria Perrington Reneigh, 15 December, 9 L.C.) is the current Matriarch of the Order of the Citrine Eagle; an order sworn to protect the pioneers seeking to hold stake in a new dawn for the Alterac Mountains. She is also well known for her long career as a Knight of the Silver Hand. With a well-versed background and the inheritor to the lands of Talongrab, Blackmoore has found relative success in her endeavors to rekindle the Alteraci spirit within those of her retinue. As a loyal supporter of the Grand Alliance, Blackmoore is best known for her service in campaigns such as the Siege of Orgrimmar, and the Conflict in Alterac Valley.

With a military career that began within the ranks of the Argent Crusade, Blackmoore soon departed from the neutral order to serve alongside her fellow humans within the Stormwind Army during the battle for Andorhal. Since then, Lady Blackmoore has earned numerous accolades for her service to the Grand Alliance, and the Kingdom of Stormwind for diligent medical services in key battles of the Fourth War. Having since turned her focus to her home in the Alterac Mountains, she has gained favor within the Stormpike Clan for offering the aid of the Citrine Eagle in the long and costly battle against the Horde. This earned her and others aligned with the Citrine Eagle Stormpike Insignias to represent their allegiance to Alliance forces with similar goals in the region.

With her goals focused upon the Alterac Mountains and the ruined Kingdom of Alterac for the past few years, Lady Blackmoore has encountered relative success with the restoration and revitalization of the County of Blackmoore (once referred to as Telliway). One major success within the region has been the construction and fortification of a sizable portion of the once expansive Talongrab City.

=History =

Childhood
Born to Deborah Reneigh, an Alteraci triage nurse, and Matthew Blackmoore, a member of the House of Blackmoore, Zaria was preened, along with her twin sister Avirin Q. Reneigh to be the heir to the families wealth, should their parents expire.

Though, her and her sister were born at the unfortunate time of the Siege of Alterac after its betrayal to the Alliance of Lordaeron, meaning the family might have lived in turmoil a long time if not for their fathers Lordaeronian nobility status. With his known peerage of an entirely different nation, and the veiling of allegiances of the House of Reneigh, Matthew and Deborah were easily able to leave the newly destroyed Kingdom of Alterac before turmoil took the nation. They had predicted conditions in the North would only worsen with the sudden events, and after a long stay in the House of Blackmoore family home of Pineridge their father had chosen to move their family south to live within the walls of Stormwind City, where all was well for the time. This had occurred during Stormwind's bustling reconstruction phase. As Zaria was being preened to be one of the potential heirs to the family's holdings and wealth.

It was within Stormwind where her mother taught the tenets of the light, and where her father taught the twins the value of the Three Virtues. During this time, Stormwind had been under heavy reconstruction by the Stonemason's Guild. The Blackmoore parents would do their best to censor their children from the riots and uprising, but the two children were too distracted by the horrors occurring outside their window. Deborah managed to sooth their minds and hearts with her trademark voice, making Zaria forever comfortable with her mother's songs.

Zaria's childhood was marred by this event however, and she and Avirin would begin to take advantage of the aftermath of the Stonemason Riots and upheavals in the city. As the Defias Brotherhood was forged, Zaria began to creep about the Elwynn Forest and peek in at their meetings. She always felt bad for them, and would bring them apples and snacks, completely oblivious to who they were and the atrocities they committed. No one in her family had found this out, however. Zaria today still does not realize she had made friends in the Brotherhood at an exceedingly young age. Luckily, she was never taken for ransom money.

Early on in her life, Zaria took a deep interest in her Mother's baking prowess, but was denied at every turn to obtain her mother's baking secrets from her. However, she would always watch closely and take mental notes. Deborah did let her stir, naturally. Overall, her childhood was rather tame and normal compared to most.

However, Avirin was quite rambunctious as a child, and started taking Zaria along on marvelous adventures within the City of Stormwind, as well as the Elwynn Forest. Though poor Avirin would be downtrodden with the neglect of their parents, as they had pampered Zaria to become the heir to their wealth, as she was older - by about two minutes. Avirin however did not seem to mind for the time, the pair had too much fun together in childhood, although, this would prove to be the spark that would spur on Avirin into some tragic future events.

A lone gnome with green hair, one Avirin would seek to tease and taunt, calling him a 'Moss Beard', Of course the old gnome did not take to kindly at the constant teasing and poking of the two sisters, taking great offense even, chasing them down in an attempts to bring them to justice with their father. The pair had ran off, but the gnome was on hot pursuit. Though Avirin, tricky and devious in her young age had pulled the twins into a small hole within the side of a hill, waiting for the gnome to get close enough. - It was when he passed their plan would be enacted, Avirin had pulled him into the cave by the ankle and sent them both running, the gnome falling far behind, and they escaped.

The gnome of course would return to complain about Avirin, and this was the breaking point with their father. Avirin would be punished, forced to work and learn constantly, sucking the spirits out of her, and turning her into the devoted hard worker she had become. Though, she felt entitled, deserving of something great for all these efforts, consistently memorizing scripture and learning the various accepted faiths. Sadly however, their parents did not fully recognize her efforts, regaling Zaria as their star child, which she was far from.

Adolescence
It would soon come to an impasse during their fifteenth birthday, the pair at a disconnect due to the little time they were allowed to spend with each other, reminiscing on the days of old before bed, but even that had become rare. However, their fifteenth birthday would be the day Zaria was rewarded for her efforts for the family - whatever they were. She'd receive the Blackmoore family armor, the set owned by her grandmother. Avirin had sought this out for herself however, but he received instead a blood garnet brooch, which they proclaimed had - special properties. Avirin however did not believe this garnet meant a thing, and had chosen to leave the home in the dead of night, tired of their parent's preference towards Zaria.

Her sister had ran away in the middle of the night, nowhere to be found, and Zaria could do no less than blame herself. She soon decided that there was nothing left for her on Azeroth, her own sister having abandoned her. In the dead of night, she snuck away to take the Deeprun Tram, and trek up the mountain of Ironforge, to the best cliff she could find. However, with her feet halfway off the cliff face over the Brewfest grounds, and finally tipping over, Zaria would be grabbed by none other than Ballinda Dayglow, a Knight of the Silver Hand, and an adjunct of Tenacity who refused to allow Blackmoore to fall. Moreover, from that point, Ballinda had chosen to take the girl under her wing, and find her a new lease on life, in spite of her shortcomings and lack of devotion to the preservation of life, Ballinda sought to mold Zaria into a worthy paladin. Dayglow trained the girl harshly, and taught her to keep her chin up in the face of adversity. This woman would teach her expertise in the art of halberds. A more deadly and effective weapon than a mace, although, much less like a paladin. Of course this pairing would be one near plagued with silence from the Knight, though the few words they shared brought them closer. Through many harsh lessons, painful punishment, blatant insults made to push her to her truest limits. Dame Zaria would arise from the ashes, no longer a girl, but of course, not as harsh as her teacher. At her knighting, by her own will, Dame Ballinda offered Zaria her own halberd, Echo. And with that, Dame Zaria P. Reneigh the Lighthearted was born, for her overly friendly mannerisms and kind-hearted nature, the latest Knight of the Silver Hand.

During her time as a Squire, Zaria received the opportunity to attend the Royal University of Stormwind, as her family was a noble house, and the University had accepted the nobles of other lands with their falling. She was encouraged to work towards a Mastery in Finance, and with it, co-founded and aided in the operation of the Trade District Bank.

The bank as of recent is under operation by Mister Perrington, Zaria's title of Chief Operating Officer is a recent development, but Mister Perrington still operates the entire bank as he is stubborn, and fears retirement. She graduated, and was knighted prior to the events that started the War against the Lich King.

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Zaria quickly latched onto the idea of unity between the Silver Hand and the Argent Dawn promised by Tirion Fordring, becoming a Knight of the Argent Crusade for a brief time, participating in the conquering of the Crusaders' Pinnacle. At the dawning of the Argent Tournament, the Dame had received some dire news from home, a package from her father, which held a letter, which read: "Dearest Daughter,

I write you today on the date of August the third, year thirty of the Lotharian calendar to inform you with a heavy heart that Deborah has fallen to a sickness incurable. She wanted you to know that she loved you and Avirin both, and to not fret. She looks forward to your visit to her gravestone, so you may say your final goodbyes. She has also had me send this to you, her box of recipes that you kept trying to steal in your younger years. It is your turn to take them, and do with them what you will. Do take your time, and go with the light, my child."

- Love, Dad

The Dame's mother died while Zaria was on her expedition in Northrend, and she was quite crushed by the ordeal, but, enclosed in the package provided by her father was her mother's box of recipes. She had chosen to open a bake stand on the tournament grounds to provide the champions and spectators of the Argent Tournament with delicious baked goods, an homage to her mother. This is where she had found that apparent passion for baking. It was a confusing time as well, for she had developed a customer base with similar names Lysenna Vandire, and Lynnesta Val'kirn. Through both of them, fast friendships were formed. With Lynnesta, a common love of baking, though fledgling and minimal for them both. With great efforts on both of their parts, they divulged a wondrous and profound skill in the craft of baking.

However, in light of her mother's death, a strikingly similar pair would take the Argent Crusade by storm during the war on the Lich King. But, neither of these two were actually even the same race. Lynnesta Val'kirn, a knight within the ranks of the Argent Crusade to aid against the Lich King, and aid in operations in the Argent Tournament would soon hit it off with Blackmoore, and, post mortem of Zaria's mother, Zaria would choose to confide the feelings of doubt and despair to Lynnesta.

But of course, Lynnesta had started off as a simple customer at Zaria's bake stand which she had opened after her mother's death in honor of her, who sought to delve into the arts of baking. And so began training to become the first Knight of the Oven. Zaria was a cruel teacher, reprimanding Lynnesta on her mistakes by making her eat the foods she truly ruined, be it burnt, or lacking enough flour. But Lynnesta thankfully was quick to catch on, and a wonderful distraction to Zaria's woes on her mother recently dying.

Together, they had something they could share, the baking recipes of Blackmoore's mother, which they would both slowly grasp onto, adopt, and edit in their own special ways to make them their own. Though Zaria did never actually explain as to why she chose to distract herself with baking. But soon that would all be revealed when she had attempted to go home on a month's leave and was swiftly declined. Falling into the arms of Lynnesta and explaining everything to her. How her mother had died, how she wanted to go home and say goodbye to her, the fact the box was the last item she had of her mother's. Which at the time may have been a tad too much for Lynnesta, but she handled the grieving Knight well, and, they could finally connect.

The joy of connecting with Lynnesta would thankfully be long realized, as they had both been shipped away from the tournament grounds together. Assigned to camp outside of Icecrown Citadel, along with the Knights of the Ebon Blade, and other Argent Crusaders.

The two had decided to be tricky and devious while camped out before the Citadel, their shared love of coffee spurring an idea. One where they would lace their coffee with a certain sedative and offer it to the other men and women at the encampment. This went off without a hitch, and for two days, the men and women promptly found themselves tucked in corners, just trying to 'Hold it in', as they had proclaimed.

Soon of course the war in Northrend would end with the death of the Lich King, and they would both go their separate ways. Zaria however chose to remain within the ranks of the Argent Crusade.

The Cataclysm Cataclysm-Logo-Small.png
After the war against the Lich King, Zaria was deployed back to the Western Plaguelands to Hearthglen to begin assisting the Argent Crusade and the Cenarion Druids in restoring the area to former glory. She had the privilege of seeing this come to pass, even noting they managed to purify the waters and restore the area of Uther's Tomb. She took great pride in this for a time, all until the Alliance-Horde war came to Andorhal.

Blackmoore heard of all the atrocities committed in the rebuilding town, and noted farmers from the Alliance were returning only to be either plagued or slaughtered by the Forsaken. This outraged Zaria, and led her to grow a distaste for the Argent Crusades inaction to the situation. This called for her departure, and re-entry into the Grand Alliance.

Upon her return, Zaria had the opportunity to see the world once again, however, after a slew of formal military training and retraining, Zaria was picked up by an "elite" squad of troops, and their leader, Sid, a Night Elf Druid, along with his crew of butt kickers. This group was known as the Nightstalkers. For most of the time, they all successfully fought against the Horde on the battlefield, and Zaria managed to earn several trophies and honors for her efforts, and a position as Knight-Lieutenant.

She met a lot of interesting people along the way. An assassin with a fixation for all things cheese, a cocky paladin who claimed himself to be unbeatable, and a druid woman whose hair was abnormally greasy.

However, this would all lead them to the siege of Wrymrest Temple, a place Zaria would aid in reclaiming the nearly felled temple while assisting the offensive against the stone giant Morchok and Kohcrom as someone on the front lines with a sword and shield, taking a good brunt of the hits. With their fall, she was put into combat with a Twilight Drake, alone, while her group had stayed behind due to an attack by some elementals provoked by a rogue named Argorock. She was crushed underfoot by the beast, breaking multiple bones and being dispatched from active duty for the rest of the campaign, as well as the Pandaria front.

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The venture to Pandaria was quite eventful for the Matriarch, even though she was forced to sit out on the Alliance's pay, and sent into a long vacation for her healing burns and crushed hips, she managed to venture out and explore the lands on her own. Meeting the locals of the Valley of the Four Winds, venturing through the Krasarang Wilds and stumbling upon a Tauren camp, where she quickly befriended them, and learned how to speak Taurahe to a moderate degree.

Along her trips across the various lands of the mystical and mysterious Pandaria, Zaria had come along an old friend, Miss Val'kirn would become a shining star in her life once more, and once again, the two would get to share a long bout of bonding in a cold region of the world, the two seemingly having a natural affinity to mountainous regions. They explored the summit together, and even had their first taste of Kafa together. Through their adventures the stumbled upon quite a good deal. Though, there was something missing, the one thing to make the trip worth it. A visit to the Temple of the White Tiger to regale the great Xuen, of course. There, a show of strength was needed to remain, and strength in unity they showed to the monks of the temple. Zaria had proved herself, and it seemed as if her wounds would no longer hinder her. And with this, her final adventure in Pandaria was complete, all until the Siege..

Upon the Siege of Orgrimmar, Zaria was fit enough to fight once more. Although she had considerable trouble because of the lack of spacing between the joints of her hips, she was able to offer the Alliance aid in the form of healing, once again alongside her compatriots of the Nightstalkers, she and her team were well and able to enter the city, but not without great costs. She was constantly sent to the back lines, the only one strong enough to drag the wounded and dying back outside to the medical tents. Thankfully a Tauren Druid by the name of Perrington was able to take her place on the battlefield, or supplement for her healing prowess in her absence. She had also met this druid during her ventures in the Krasarang Wilds, and became quite fond of him.

However, the strenuous activity of constantly dragging those unable to move back and forth took a great toll on former wounds. After the Siege of Orgrimmar, she was discharged honorably from the Grand Alliance Medical Society and Military. Having a reputable past, she earned various accolades for her service, and is now a veteran. But, she still seeks out ways to aid the Military indirectly, even funding her own force in support of the Grand Alliance.

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At the very beginning of the War against the Iron Horde, Blackmoore was restricted access into Grand Alliance Military functions and operations due to her considerable injuries wrought during and after the Siege of Orgrimmar. However, her eagerness and willingness to hear a new call and the horns of war was quickly satisfied not a few months into the debacle. The Nightstalker's had long since moved on to become a more inclusive neutral mercenary group, and Zaria sought no part in having a stake with them after the departure of most of the original members.

Zaria was quick to hear the call of her motherlands, joining the City-State of Alterac to aid in the defense of her birth lands. As a Knight of the Silver Hand, she was more than welcome to join Alterac's Order of the Citrine Eagle, an order of Alteraci paladins that was previously under the leadership of Gandic Morthain. Upon becoming apart of the City-State, she strives to prove to her Alteraci kin that she was more than worthy of a more prominent role within the City-State.

However, even with her entry into the City-State, it was mostly just an excuse to have access into the lands of Draenor, always searching for new opportunities to aid in the war effort. Her time would come in this matter during the Grand Alliance Invasion of Tanaan after her ascension to Highlord of the Citrine Eagle.

Countess of Blackmoore
Soon after joining the City-State of Alterac, Dame Blackmoore began fraternizing with a Miss Myriany Harrow, who was set to be the future Duchess of Gavenstead, a Duchy in Eastern Lordaeron.

Their friendship was quickly forged and trust between the two, and Almar MacEntire, the Duke of Gavenstead, even with Alterac's tensions with the Duchy. The MacEntire's were more than generous with Dame Blackmoore, offering to aid her in the reclamation of the ancestral lands of the House of Reneigh, known as the County of Dallidale. After the reclamation of the lands between Alterac and Lordaeron, Blackmoore renamed the holdings the County of Blackmoore in a show of family pride.

This loyalty to the MacEntire's brought about mistrust to the Upper Echelon of the City-State, and the new Countess was left under scrutiny for some time.

Under rule the County of Blackmoore has seen great improvements, and is one of the major breadbaskets to the City-State of Alterac. As an area just above the Uplands, it was the most accessible focal point for the trade of grains and farmed goods.

The Return of a Sister
Ten long years past, and the Blackmoore twins had drifted apart far too much, much to their regret and despair. Though, Avirin valiantly sought out her family once more at the age of twenty five, after a long career in the Grand Alliance military, a now decorated veteran. Though her return was not welcome by all, but, Zaria however was pleased, and quite ecstatic to see her sister yet again, never again did she need to despair over where her sister could be, because from the on, Avirin would be living in the confines of the Blackmoore Manor. Where, admittedly, Zaria would coddle her to no ends.

Their reunion quickly brought them to their father, who was rather irate with Avirin. But, in his beleaguered and drunken state was convinced to show compassion to his long lost daughter by Alverdo Blackmoore. Matthew, their father, then willingly accepted Avirin back into the family. Avirin now resides with Zaria in the confines of Blackmoore Manor.

A Growing Family
All seemed normal the day Zaria had met Allse Kerringer. Pleasantries were exchanged and they went about their business, Blackmoore vehemently supporting his running and upkeep of the Lone Wolf Inn. within the confines of Strahnbrad. However, all was not what it seemed to be.

A simple first meeting quickly tumbled into a loyal friendship, the first one since Blackmoore's shaken welcome into the City-State. It would be through their work together that the Kerringer family could survive and prosper.

Through this bond of friendship, Zaria was privileged to meet Allse's daughter, Whisper Kerringer, though, she would reveal to her that Whisper was not her real name, but an alias. The girls hit it off, Whisper finally having someone she can related to away from her family, feeling comfortable enough to reveal to Zaria that Whisper was involved with another woman, and was nervous that her parents would denounce the relationship. This was something Allse had admitted to already knowing, and it was up to Zaria to dispel the doubt in Whispers heart that she might be denounced by her parents. Through loving mentoring and guiding, Whisper learned her parents already knew of her ventures, and they all worked through it as if.. Zaria was family?

Though life was happy for the Kerringer's for a brief period, they soon found themselves at a bit of a standstill until - one day Whisper, her sister Leona, and Alex, Whispers companion went to relax in the Park. Zaria had of course made plans to visit the trio as she had never actually met Leona. On her way, the girls would be found unconscious, surrounded by a small band of common thugs set on defiling them, per say. The Matriarch fought with zeal and savagery and dispatched two of them, one turning tail and the last, tossed a smoke bomb that would knock the Matriarch out. She'd awaken some time later, near naked, the girls gone, the man looming over her. Until of course, Allse placed a bullet in the mans head. A relief, truly, but the pair needed to find his daughters. Following clues and footprints, as well as magical traces left by the men, they would find Leona and Alex tied up in a small home, though it would seem Whisper was going to be taken away. And of course, the head honcho of the small gang whisked Whisper away to a mysterious encampment, and once again, the hunt was on for Whisper!

On a fateful day in Westfall, after a long bout of following clues and the like, Zaria would come across a small encampment of these common thugs, and once again the fighting ensued. Though sadly, when running into a tent, Zaria would find Whisper in an unfortunate state with one of the kidnappers. This tore Zaria's heart apart as she felt powerless against the stronger man, an anti magic zone stealing her power from her as she was sent to fend the man off on her own. Of course the day would soon be saved by the Baroness Elenial De'Mont, who would charge in with no fear and dispatch the rapist.

Of course, this changed the entire dichotomy of the pairs relationship. A bond of friendship soon turning into one of family ties, and trust. The Kerringer Household seemed to welcome and trust Zaria more than any other, and this trust would not go unnoticed.

The Second Sister
Zaria, in her time serving under Alterac had come across many interesting characters. From the richest of nobles, the the most crass (although endearing) of corsairs. This one would be the latter. An'lyen Rosefeather, Captain of the Iron Wolf, and a mercenary of the Blackbird Company had found way to Strahnbrad along with the mercenary company that had harbored her to warn the Alteraci of the looming threat of what is now understood to be the Argus Wake.

Though this brought about some issue, and a contracting of the Blackbird Company, there was one among them not so prim and proper for this gathering. An'lyen, a half elf of Kul Tiras blood so kindly had tossed a tauren horn onto the dinner table as the representatives were eating, much to the distaste of everyone; aside from Zaria, who found the mannerisms quite endearing. It was the start of a fast friendship, one which would long last.

Through thick and thin the pair has stuck by each other, as Zaria and An'lyen were tasked with the long, uphill battle of finding An'lyen a lover. Of course, through multiple efforts, some heartbreak on the side of the half elf, and a wolf pup, An'lyen had finally found love with Zaria's twin sister, Avirin Q. Reneigh. Through their happy bond they have remained a pair for months.

With this occurrence, the pair sought to solidify their bond of friendship in blood and sisterhood. Zaria, being apprehensive at the idea at first soon cast aside her doubts, and swore a blood oath to An'lyen. The two were then considered sisters by blood oath.

A Highlord Rises
Countess Blackmoore had been a prominent part of the Order of the Citrine Eagle ever since her joining. But as time moved on, the once reliable Highlord Gandic Morthain began to shirk his duties and become distant from the order. She found that he was off far too busy having relations with his lover Jennifer Lioncrest, and was allowing the great order of Alteraci paladins to come to ruin under his command. In a decision by Kormed Wolfheart, Gandic was stripped of the title of Highlord, and the order went without a leader. With this news and without his title, Gandic Morthain chose to run off into the Alterac Mountains with his lover, irate with his loss of power.

Even with the distrust of the Countess in the City-State of Alterac, Kaiser Wolfheart had granted her the opportunity to lead the Order in a new beginning, claiming that the light shined upon her, and would bless her in her endeavors under the Order of the Citrine Eagle.

Under her control, the Order itself has been re-oriented in favor of forming into a official chapter of the Order of the Silver Hand, under the Arch-chapter of Stormwind. This has offered the new Silver Hand Chapter the opportunity to participate in a continent spanning council known as The Court of Uther, and, the Chapter has been thriving.

The "War" on Gavenstead
The tensions between the City-State of Alterac and the Duke of Gavenstead, Almar MacEntire eventually came to an impasse once Blackmoore was dubbed Matriarch of the Citrine Eagle. Many attempts at peace and diplomacy were quickly overshadowed by the innate hatred Kormed Wolfheart felt for those of Lordaeron birth. While Lord MacEntire sought peace with the pretender king, the pretender would have none of it. War was on the horizon, and there was only two - one from each side, who could really tip the balance in ending hostilities between the factions. One of these people being Blackmoore, and her counterpart Sindorel Felclar II.

Together, these two would take on all they could to help create peace between the two competing factions. Their work with one another questioned by most, and near kept secret from the factions. Although, this nearly seemed hopeless, as both the Duke of Alterac, as well as Gavenstead were stubborn, and staunchly refused to work with one another. Though pride and nationalism took them both long enough for Gavenstead to fall to a massive wave of scourge (for some reason). It was with this that, a sad peace could be maintained, as the factions of Gavenstead were warring with one another, and it was by the blessings of Lord Felclar that Gavenstead was purged and purified. Though, there were looming threats in the Lords own holdings.

A long lasting curse upon his family members, long trapped within another realm of vile creatures and dark intent; and they were coming to take over the world. This again brought the Lord to plea for the aid of various sects, but his pleas sadly had gone unheard. And his lands were doomed to be sacked by these mysterious and mythical creatures. Many had fallen, sadly. And the aid from Zaria would hopefully not go unaccepted.

Zaria, in an attempts to protect and save the legacy of the people of the Manse, offered the Lord the chance to move his people from the coast of the Swamp of Sorrows, into the walls of Blackmoore, where they would be protected should his house, and his lands fall. The offer was taken, and numerous individuals sought refuge within the walls of the County of Blackmoore.

Overambition
As of recent, Countess Blackmoore has had her eyes set on lands north of her own, at the very end of the Thondroril River, in a valley deep within the northern mountains of Lordaeron. Astordale was once a proud farming nation, which like all provinces of Lordaeron fell to the Scourge. The former duchy had long since been populated by fleeing necromancers and thieves. This was the place where the massive waves of undead that conquered Gavenstead were created, the claiming of this lands was to ensure this threat would never come to pass again.

The Countess, with her own armies, a group of Alteraci volunteers, and the Stoneward Host all banded together in order to lay siege to the Duchies capital city of Hawkenforth, which was led to a swift victory. And thus, the Countess became the Duchess of Astordale on claim and conquer.

The Duchy of Astordale saw little to no success in re-population due to the focus on the Ousting of Kormed Wolfheart. As a result of this, the duchy is currently still in ruins and has yet to see rebuilding efforts. This is one of Blackmoore's less than talked about endeavors, and remains such due to her not wanting to take focus on it until the time comes where a proper reclamation can take place.

The Shade
On a fateful day the Matriarch was swept away mysteriously by some entity known as the Shade, a being of pure shadow, dead set on the suffering and pain of his victims. Luckily for the Matriarch, the Citrine Eagle caught on quickly from some tips from the pair vying for her love at the time, both receiving letters of her capture. It was a rather quick rescue, as the Citrine Eagle along with Ithalin Belados, Alverdo Blackmoore, Losaine Morningray, An'lyen Rosefeather, and Chrisana Rilke went scouring the globe to find the Matriarch, ultimately finding her in Feralas as she suffered from some internal bleeding, which, was quickly healed by her sister, Avirin Q. Reneigh.

Though the Shade was defeated for now, it would soon return, as it manifested into the body of a new host. This time a farmer in the Hillsbrad Foothills where he would strike at the Grand Cleric Losaine Morningray, who nearly died from the attacks, if not for the near severe over-exertion of the Matriarchs power, leaving her weakened for a time.

There was a long grace period of peace, and all was well. All until the evil cackles and threats began to emanate through the minds of those involved yet again. Once again would the Shade return, and once again antagonize the Grand Cleric, stealing away her children. Luckily for the Grand Cleric, Calwen Kerringer so graciously offered herself in exchange for her children, being taken by the Shade, and once again, the search was on for one of Zaria's kin.

The group of Allse Kerringer, Aeristani Vintel, Zaria R. Blackmoore, and her sister Avirin Q. Reneigh found Calwen Kerringer in a bunker in the Storm Peaks. Where a magi would break the bonds that kept her chained to a dark altar of blood and gore and, shadow magic. With Calwen's freedom came her own transition into a shade, her body marred and scarred as the transition was sudden and quick. The being of pure light, now nothing more than a being of shadow. It would take some time for Calwen to ever be willing to make the change back, with the stealing away to the Timeless Isle by Donovan Glypheye, and then, stealing the Matriarch and Allse Kerringer to the same place.

The idea was simple, fount power into one body, where the light energy could be properly spilled into the new shade, and replace it with light energy. Both Allse and Donovan would have Zaria be this fount of power, providing her with the mana pool she needed to properly push the shadows out of Calwen, and, in a brilliant display, the light she wielded turned silver for a time. Her hair also turned white from the overload of mana temporarily bleaching her features.

An Abrupt Return
All was well in the Blackmoore family house, and aside from Chester vanishing from the home, all was quite wonderful and, happy. All until the day Allse Kerringer decided to inform Zaria as to what was happening. The Shade had returned, according to him, and it had been sending assassins Zaria's way at a consistent basis, ad he was stopping them in their tracks. Once again it was time to act, but where would you find something so hidden in the shadows? Well, it has to come to you.

In his usual fashion, the Shade took to harming those Zaria proclaimed to love, this time, Leah Beaumont. This time, the Shade had a different plan, because Leah was like a sponge to shadow or 'easily corruptible' as he taunted the Matriarch with over and over again as he forced Zaria's lover to attack her. All the while, putting up a defensive only harmed someone who the Shade had taken hostage, Allse's daughter, Whisper. Whisper had somehow succumb to the Holy magics Zaria used on Leah to get the Shade out of her, and became a being who constantly combated with herself. Half shadow, and half light. Or, half Zaria, as Whisper continued to assume.

The same night, Allse had come to Blackmoore Manor to tell Zaria that Whisper and Leona were both captured by the Shade, and they were all send to the Bloodmyst Isle, along with Lona Deruse to go find the children. They would both be found, and after a hard fought battle, Whisper would be saved, but Leona, Allse's younger daughter was possessed by the Shade as Zaria got a successful strike on the being.

Time had passed, and Allse's daughter began to train - now learning how to dabble in what was dubbed a 'necessary' balance of Light and Shadow magics. The Shade had overtaken a part of Whisper's body, and she now needed to learn how to utilize it. As Lora did this, Zaria and Allse chose to venture out to find Allse's daughter, Leona, the one who was possessed by the shade.

She was found in Shadowmoon Valley, sitting atop a moonstone and siphoning the powers from within it. This wa made to be the final stand, and it truly was a battle to remember. The Shade made certain to possess Leona outright, using her as a weapon against Allse and Zaria - but the two proved stalwart. Ultimately, the Shade and Leona were captured and bound by chains of Light. But, as Zaria tried exorcising the corruption from Leona's body, she began to fade away.

A leap of faith needed to be taken - kill the girl, and kill a great evil, or keep her alive with the corruption seeping into her? Well, sadly this story would have great sacrifice. As Zaria purged the Shade forevermore, the girl would vanish into nothingness. Leona was gone.

But, they had finally killed the shade that haunted them, and the Kerringer's, and Zaria were free to live their lives in potential safety. But Zaria will never forget the final words of the Shade. "Next time, I will just kill you."

- The Shade

Ousting of the Wolf
With the Matriarch a now prominent part of the City-State, and a significant force in making the Silver Hand Chapter of Alterac strong, it was time to aid the City-State in endeavors more related to Alteraci interests. Her and the Citrine Eagle making the fateful decision to aid Kormed Wolfheart in quelling the rebellion of Katelyn Wolfheart.

The beginning was slow, starting with a duel between the wolf versus the champion of Katelyn. But this is merely where it had begun. The Kaiser chose to march on the Barony of Wolf's Maw. the stronghold of the rebels forces where he ordered the murder of all within the barony, women and children included, defending the order by claiming "Eggs produce spawn." And so it had begun, the Citrine Eagle refused the fight, and a duel between the Kaiser and the Champion ensued once more while the Citrine Eagle sought to protect those who were innocent within the town. Only to find those innocent already dead, their bodies marred and mangled.

These events spurred the Kaiser to be tried for war crimes, which would be postponed as he had gone to Tanaan Jungle alongside the Citrine Eagle and his own forces, but that was not enough to excuse himself apparently.

The day had came, the Imperial Diet. The Lawspeaker said the Kaiser was unfit to rule, and a republic would be formed. With little opposition the Assembly of Alterac was formed until the Kaiser had arrived late to the Diet, arguing that his position should be maintained. His requests denied and with a lack of reason, Kalliopi Lund had revealed the Kaiser had slain his former wife and his child, and, he did indeed confess to the crime.

The Matriarch did not cease to act upon this crime. With messages sent out far and wide, this was needed to be made known to the world, and preferably towards the Archbishop, and The Court of Uther. It began with his Knighthood, which she personally deemed him unworthy of possessing for the order to murder a child.The first trial was set, Saturday, the first of August, 35 L.C., and the Court of Uther Tribunal: Kormed Wolfheart went underway. This is where the Matriarchs efforts would begin. The Court of Uther saw it her way, the man being deemed unfit to hold his Knighthood.

Admittedly of course, this was a trying time for Zaria, this was very clearly not something she wanted to do, nearly abstaining her vote out of pity for Mister Wolfheart after a long conversation between the two so he could sway the voters.

The next part of her involvement in the ousting came in the trial against Toderick Stoneward, where it would be deemed if his actions against Mister Wolfheart would be deemed lawful or not. Nearly being forced onto the Grand Jury to judge the man's fate, she'd listen with open ears and objective thoughts alongside Mother Bronwynn Branson and Geranelm Syla. This trial would dictate the fate of all other titles held by Kormed Wolfheart.

The grand jury had decided, with all the information gathered that the actions of Toderick Stoneward were indeed lawful, and thus, the Wolfheart's titles were snuffed out in a flash. There has been no pleasure taken in this by Blackmoore, but of course, one must do what is right.

A Hero in an Eagle Guise
The ousting in fruition, and the people of Alterac in peril, Matriarch Blackmoore rallied what citizens remained within the borders of the City-State under the banners of the Citrine Eagle, which had become (once again) the occupying force of all government owned lands within Alterac.

She looked like a hero to those who knew her well, it seemed as if (so far) no one would contest her, and that everyone would rally behind her for the ousting of the wolf, something her and Lord Stoneward both unknowingly worked hand-in-hand in accomplishing. Perhaps they'd realize this in time.

It was time to depart for the Citrine Eagle, to break away from the Alteraci government. Some might contest this had little rhyme or reason, although, that was still to be debated. The Citrine Eagle was destined to be sovereign within the borders of Alterac, but with this move, once again, the Reformed Kingdom would become defunct.

Now the Citrine Eagle grows, pressing its advantage within the mountains to defend and serve as heroes in of the cold. Their exemplary work, while not boasted, has become a hallmark in the storied and dramatic history of the Alterac Mountains. Now, in the town of Strahnbrad, they encourage for the goodly folk of Alterac to stand at their side, to work hand in hand for the greater good, for there is strength in unity.

The Highlord, and the Scribe
"What language to the Quel'dorei speak again? Thalasssayin'? That. There was this noble paladin that traveled Lordaeron after the fall of Stratholme to purge the dead. He wasn't aligned with the Argents, Lordaeron, or even his own people... It's an old Hillsbradian folktale, I know it like the back of my hand.. I should tell you one day. Anyway, he blessed the staff after Lordaeron fell or the dead may not touch it, or it will turn their very essences into ash... I don't think it was that dramatic, but I've never seen it put to the test.

It was father's mission to return it to it's rightful owners, and one day I would like to do the same but even if I cannot I know it will find it's way home.

Vigilance."

- Yoes Andra

With the Citrine Eagle a mere fledgling and autonomous order as Zaria Blackmoore had taken up the charge of Matriarch, it was apparent the new chapter needed the proper assets to make it what it had soon later become. Along came Yoes Andra, a woman clad in priestly robes with a book in hand. Zaria at the time had taken it upon herself to approach the woman with the inquiry of her work, and she had proclaimed she had lost touch with the Light some time ago. Here was her chance for redemption, but of course not in some profound way. Zaria had offered the woman a chance to rekindle her faith, and a place to house the thirty-seven orphans under her stead. Yoes agreed, and quickly hit it off with the other members of the Chapter. A simple woman with a book in one hand, and a wine glass in the other.

Though their friendship didn't spark immediately, as Zaria had come to the assumption she was invading the Matrons space at the time, it would now seem that presumption was silly at best. It would also be noted at the time Yoes was afflicted with a bad knee, and needed a cane to walk most everywhere.

Zaria had taken note of the woman's love of books, and offered her the position of transcriber to the order, to notate Low Court and other significant events. As well as write documents. A simple and humble beginning to something superb.

It would truly be a long while before these two truly sparked, a relationship almost nearly pure business, or once again, so Zaria thought. She offered the woman home and hearth, which was accepted, and had at best coddled Yoes unwittingly, but as to why - well no one could really tell. The Orphan Matron almost felt spoiled by the Matriarch, in her selflessness saying she was undeserving of such praise, but of course, that never stopped our Matriarch. Though sometimes, Yoes would near equate this to being treated like a child. How could the truth come out after that? That Zaria did all she could - because she was head over heels for someone she knew little about, the one she was most curious about. The humble, the motherly, she simply found this appealing and enrapturing to say the least.

It would soon be found - the level of trust the Matriarch sought with most of her Eagles, though this connection would prove to be much different than the rest. Zaria learned much of Yoes, her past, the home she had sought refuge in after the plague was deployed on Southshore. The stories of her mother and father and those they were employed under, especially her Mother. For her mother's portrait hung in the old home they had visited, with a child in arms. It could only be one person, Yoes. The ordeal had wrought the pair with despair and sympathy on the Matriarchs part. Who would leave someone's side after revealing such information? Who could shrug them away like they are nothing? Well, it would seem Zaria could not. Though, Zaria will always regret missing the multiple assaults on Yoes on the steps of the Cathedral of Light, her getting pushed down them... a lot.

The pair found love and - all that mushy gushy stuff that it came with. They were and still are near inseparable, when Zaria manages to set the time aside. Yoes, understanding Yoes still stands by her as an equal partner, and a outstandingly marvelous love. Zaria holds regrets for not being able to see her as much but alas, a grievance she has not yet expressed. Yoes soon gave into Blackmoore's pleas to seek out training as a paladin, and with such, Yoes had accepted the charge, replacing her robes with plate, and becoming squired under Kavid "Slick" McTash. Zaria continues to support Yoes' efforts, and the chastity stuff.

But their flourishing love would not last. Not because of hatreds or disagreements, but a failure to protect Yoes when she needed Zaria most. Yoes died to a gunshot within the region of the Eastvale Logging Camp, and Zaria wholly regrets her decision to be blinded by her own thoughts to be there by her side in Yoes' greatest time of need. This event marked a great challenge for her to overcome, and swore her to duty to her order as penance for her mistakes.

Taking on a Squire
With the Citrine Eagle in full swing, Highlord Blackmoore's days became busy - and monotonous. Momma Boss Ladies world doomed to the endless jive, a certain groovy chick would appear from the universe to bless Momma Boss Lady with her pure - awesome and everlasting funk. Her name is Ekaterine Crystalrose, but she is called Kat because she is a Kat. "Mreow!" This tubular chick met up with our Momma Boss Lady at a crackling bonfire in the Grizzly Hills. This chick had some spunk, and Zaria could tell. That same bangin' bodacious chick would soon sign into and join the Citrine Eagle to serve Alterac, and that's when everyone's world was flipped topsy turvy.

It was this groovy chick who has since shown Zaria life can go on without groovin' to the jive beats, and listenin' to those square birds. To just strut your stuff like the bodacious babe she OBVIOUSLY is.

Though, the teen Blackmoore had met was seeking something greater for herself, to become a Knight of the Silver Hand. But the present Highlord was uncertain about the girl to say the least. Her free spirit was heartening, but it proved a risk in maintaining virtue. Zaria however, chose to take the plunge, and appoint this woman as her very first Squire, and the first Squire of The Citrine Eagle. The Highlord oversaw each and every trial the girl partook in, and taught her how to humble herself.

However, this pairing was quite the peculiar one. Ekaterine maintained her rather youthful demeanour, making her abrasive when she was disciplined. When times were tough, the 'Black Kat' spawned, causing Ekaterine to become - angsty and totally deep; at least from what Blackmoore read in her black book of goth poems. Blackmoore sometimes feared she even coddled her Squire from time to time; but this doubt was diminished when Kat presented the fact she sought to be more professional, when she was closer to becoming a Knight.

With no doubts in her mind, Blackmoore chose to have the ceremony done, and through there connection - Zaria dubbed Ekaterine Dame Ekaterine the Groovy. The first Knight of the Silver Hand to be sworn in fully from aspirancy in the Citrine Eagle - setting the stage for a generation of Alteraci Paladins

New Family, and a New Future
Zaria had not thought much of her mother, long since having accepted her death - but that does not mean her memories would not come back to instill Zaria with some old knowledge. Matthew Blackmoore, Zaria's father had sent over many boxes of her mother's old relics, keepsakes and memories. These were items Zaria had never seen, but she wanted to sift through them - as it would take to long, and by a twist of fate Kaldea Crystalrose volunteered to aid her.

But it was indeed a twist of fate, as the two scanned through the items, Kaldea came across a picture book. She recognized one of the children, who was one of Deborah's brothers. The further Kaldea delved, the more she learned about Zaria's quartet of uncles. Benwell, Sheldon, Jethro, and Devon.

After scanning through various documents and files in the boxes, Kaldea and Zaria managed to find the link between the black haired man who had caught Kaldea's eye, and her suspicions. A letter was in the box, addressed to Zaria's mother detailing how one of her brothers had fled to Lordaeron after conflict, and had rising in rank in Lordaeron's military - and now had a wife, and a daughter. That daughter was Kaldea

Zaria had a new cousin, even if she was a bastard she still shared a bit of Zaria's blood, and she will cherish her as such, as family.

A New Purpose
With the latest campaign against the Knights of Perenolde, Blackmoore has taken a liking to the new splinter faction, adamant in supporting their place in the Alterac Mountains as they struggle to make a name for themselves. As the Citrine Eagle pushed for the ousting of Nathaniel Halliway, Zaria suddenly began to feel a new sense of purpose within her own order.

Though, she was the victim of bad planning, entrusting a new recruit with the most important task of collecting information after handing over Johanna Welkes to the Knights. This however did not go well, as the new recruit was a worgen, and failed to control his rage. This introduced a potential new menace to the Citrine Eagle in the near future, and Zaria quietly blames herself for this.

However, with the great success in the sacking of Dal'enah, the Knights of Perenolde's main fortress, the splinter faction of Knights maintained their name, but worked under a new purpose. Zaria seeks to support this new order in Alterac, but is still uncertain if they had done the right thing. Savagery had won the day in the sacking of the Fortress, and Zaria will never forget that. She was given an honorary position as a Knight of Perenolde, an honor she will never forsake.

The Sword and the Soul
Loss, a thing that plagued the Citrine Eagle endlessly, and something the Matriarch needed to learn to find acceptance in. Every death is blood on her hands, and it is up to her to make the right decisions for the well-being of the Order. But, with the death of Bonveron, the game suddenly changed. A will, and through his loyal service to Zaria, the knight of Acherus willed his runeblade to Blackmoore. It was a generic scourge classed runeblade, and one that would drive a normal person mad with considerable swiftness. With such knowledge, Zaria decided to lock the sword away for a time, but still wanted to honor the name of an old friend.

After a discussion with Sir Shindo Malphur, the pair spoke about an anvil within the fallen city of Stratholme which was able to aid in cleansing the corruption from the blade, so that she would be better able to use the weapon. It was an opportunity that was too good to pass up, but a party would be needed to enter the city to operate and cleanse the blade safely. It would take some time, but with the combined efforts of Sir Shindo, Horacea Agnelli, Sylvia Dawnblade, and Lona Triton, the team made their way into the ever burning city.

As predicted, the group came across a myriad of undead, as well as a small trio of Scarlet Crusaders who felt the great and awful powers of the weapon Zaria chose to use in the endeavor, and Bonveron's blade would taunt them for the entire journey. The screaming and thoughts of doubt that penetrated their minds with the power of the blade was near insurmountable but - in contrast to the gruesome thoughts of death and doubt, the City itself was oddly quiet, this only furthered the groups apprehension.

Entering the chamber in which the holy forge was located revealed a dark and terrible secret, a necromancer of the Cult of the Damned sought to corrupt the forge for his own nefarious purpose, and trapped the adventurer's within by summoning the restless dead that laid in the grounds on the outskirts of the forge. The battle was great, be even through the doubts that crossed the minds and the evils that plagued them from the powers of the blade, they persevered. With their combined might, and fortitude, the killing blow on the necromancer was dealt by Dame Sylvia, and Shindo was able to press on with the purification of the blade.

Even with the great powers within the blade, purifying it was quite the ordeal. It was a quest to free their friend from the sword he was trapped inside for all eternity, and the party would imbue their powers into Shindo's blacksmith hammer, purging and cleansing Bonveron's soul, and freeing him from the blade. With the blade purified, Zaria could hold a weapon of great power in homage to an old friend, gone but not forgotten. In relation to the original wielder of this blade, the party agreed to simply name this weapon of great power "Devotion", in homage to Bonveron's great devotion to the family he died for.

Rise of the Legion [[File:Legion-Logo-Small.png]]
A world in turmoil, and an oncoming march of the Burning Legion, Blackmoore found herself at a bit of an impasse. With the Hillsbrad Foothills under a constant invasion, Zaria decided that the Citrine Eagle would assist the Alliance Coalition within the confines of Aerie Peak, a staging ground to assist with the invasion upon Hillsbrad. Fighting for the home front with the Alliance at her back was comforting, but the oncoming tide was near unbeatable. She and the Eagles were tossed around the world on a continental hop between Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms to combat the Legion on multiple fronts.

However, even with the Legions return, Zaria felt no fear when attempting to profess love to he Paradigm of Respect of the Citrine Eagle - Horacea Agnelli. The pairs bond had been blossoming for a time prior, but in the face of death, they realized as a unit they would survive. Each one had a similar dream in mind, and they sought to fight for it. They were now apart of a great bond, and Zaria was ready to do her best to keep that maintained; fearing that her own position might keep her away from Horacea.

Blackmoore and the Eagle's were soon deployed towards Dalaran, which had been under siege for about a weeks time. And, after the discovery of a great artifact that could bring down Dalaran in the region, the Alliance was quick to act in countering this great threat. early all losing their lives in combat with a Demon Hunter who was aboard one of the legion warp ships. And from here, the Citrine Eagle could finally go home. In this turbulent time, Zaria led the charge for the Eagles, and did her best to properly delegate tasks but - even that proved less than fruitful.

The Broken Isles
The Legions comes, and to counter the Burning Legion, the heroes of Azeroth begun their search for the Pillars of Creation. With this knowledge, Lady Blackmoore beckoned the Citrine Eagle to move along with the Alliance to aid in the finding of these relics. However, with Greymane's war against the Forsaken in Stormheim, many of the Order sought to assist him in his charge alongside the Gilneas Brigade. Now, the Matriarch takes a journey to Stormheim, having heard of the Vrykul in the area, she takes great interest in their practices and culture.

Stormheim
Having arrived in Stormheim, Zaria and the Eagle's were quick to befriend a straggling Vrykul Mystic that had guided them in the direction of Greywatch after assisting in the clearing of the Citrine Bay. Zaria however, once arriving to Greywatch, followed Lona Triton into the region of Skold Ashil along with others for the sake of trying to befriend the shieldmaidens on the day of Brewfest. The interaction with them began with mistrust, and then followed by Zaria presenting her best fighters available for a duel against the shieldmaidens. However, Zaria taunted the leader of these maidens, insisting she win a duel to earn herself one of the war bears the warriors were riding, as she had left her own mount behind.

The leader, later known as Astrid retorted by insisting only real warriors rode bears, and Zaria would have to prove her strength against Astrid in a duel of honor. The Matriarch was quick to accept, and even managed to hold her own in a brief but furious duel, all until an explosion detonated in the camp.

Vrykul women fell, and they began to accuse the Eagles of sabotage, but they were quit to retort and warn the Vrykul women of the Forsaken in the region, and identified the gases from the detonation as the Forsaken Blight. Soon enough, a squadron of deathguards arrived to do battle with the shieldmaidens, unaware of the Eagle's presence. Quick to go into action to earn their trust, the leader of these Forsaken was slain by birds of the forest dropping her from the skies.

With newfound admiration for the Eagles, Astrid complimented the Eagles on their valor and might, and even rewarded Zaria with her bear, which she named "Olga". But befriending the Vrykul was far from a paltry task. Being invited into Astrid's home, Zaria began to befriend the leader of these shieldmaidens. They spoke of many things, the Forsaken, Helya, and Zaria found a newfound admiration for the deity of these Vrykul known as Eyir.

However, Zaria had her own agenda to fulfill, noting around the region of Skold Ashil there were powerful orbs that emitted a strong holy presence, Zaria inquired about obtaining one, and was quickly granted one with surprisingly little question. What purpose was this orb for? The reforging of Zaria's libram. Now with the tools she needed, she was able to start the formation whenever she wished.

Binding the New Libram
All the tools she could need were within her grasp. Four Symbols of the Ancient Kings, Spirit Dusts from an enchanted pick of Pandaria, holy water from Stratholme, and the orb she had received from Astrid the night before. Several items of great power, and all for her tome. The Matriarch's dream of being able to summon a pure being of the Light might finally get to be realized, and she was eager to take the chance.

The hour after an expedition with the Eagle's, Zaria stole her partner Horacea Agnelli away in the night back to the town of Skold-Ashil, a place blessed by the Lights purity with its proximity to the Temple of Eyir, and this is where Zaria had set her sights.

Entering the great halls was likely something she would never be able to do again, so her and Horacea did their best to relish the moment as they entered a temple of great legend among the Vrykul people. Her time there would be brief, so their work would need to begin quickly.

The old and worn libram was set in the center of the large platform, and the tools she needed were all placed in or around the tome. The four symbols took to the cover of the large text, and the waters and dust used as an offering for their entry. With their powers combined - Zaria and Horacea began to bind the tome in a temple of valor.

The ritual to reforge her tome almost proved to be deadly. The great forces of the lights purity, and the amplification of power from the symbols nearly made the torrent of light in the temple blinding as the tome was bound together, the symbols empowered and fused into the tome, and the light of Eyir embraced the new relic. But this great power offered something - unexpected.

As the tome flew into the palm of the Matriarch's hand, the powers imbued within her for the briefest stint, and herself ascended to a being near-akin to that of a Val'kyr, but only for a few quick seconds before returning to her normal form. It was a perplexing experience, but one that was only once in a lifetime. This result worried her greatly, and the night after in a bout of combat holding her now overcharged tome, something went amiss.

A small sprite-like creature made of nothing but the lights purity broke free from the cover of the tome in the mist of combat against a Kvaldir, in the shape of a small Val'kyr with hyperactive tendencies. Knowing little of what it might have been, and stupefied by the display in combat that this small entity presented, Zaria began to look for answers as to how she could come across this sprite living in her libram again, assuming it came to be with the tools she used to empower the tome primarily being tools of Eyir.

The Littlest Guardian
Curiosity taking her, she simply needed to keep the small manifestation of the Light in her presence long enough to speak with it, whatever it may be. On a night alone with Horacea Agnelli after a mission was completed, the pair wandered off alone with Zaria's libram in tow, set on summoning the small infantile Val'kyr into their midst once more. It wasn't a daunting task however. The Libram always seemed to rumble with a great untapped power these days, perhaps it was just the eager manifestation looking to be free from the tome.

But it wouldn't take long to unleash the powers held within the Libram. All it took was Zaria opening the book, and from its pages, the small angel-like figure shot forth and fluttered around the pair at a breakneck pace. If not for Horacea's quick actions in trapping the small figure in a shell of Light, the image may have returned to the tome. The feisty little image did its best to escape its new prison but, to no avail.

However, the little figure soon calmed down as its gaze caught witness to her creators. The once wiry and hyperactive figure seemed to smile at the pair, even waving at them as if she knew them both. The tide of the interaction soon changed, and Zaria got to speak with this - manifestation of the Light. To Zaria's disappointment, she learned her months of work in empowering her tome to summon one of the few Guardian's of the Ancient Kings culminated into - this tiny figure before them. But, if the Light's will was for her to help train the littlest guardian, she would take the charge in stride. However, keeping the guardian out for a prolonged period brought Zaria great stress as the figure began to siphon the energies of the Light from her after a certain point, being unable to maintain itself. The "guardians" name was Svipul, and alongside Svipul and the rest of the Eagles, Zaria now had the tools she needed to combat the Forsaken in Stormheim.

In the Shadows of Valor
An offensive against the Forsaken began with a coalition of the Grand Alliance headed by Berenal Grayblade known as the Shadows of Valor Conflict. And in the Shadows of Valor, Zaria would not bode all too well in the battles to come, falling victim to several accidents throughout the campaign.

Attempting to board a Horde ship - she met her match by a much larger and stronger Orcish veteran who put up a grand battle against the Matriarch. The pair managed to fight for nearly an hour without any signs of wear on one-another. However, as the battle raged on and the Alliance were being forced off of the ship, Zaria made the mistake of showing the Orc into a table, giving him leverage to knock her down, and with a slam of his weapon on her helm, she passed out.

In the next instance of her failures was during a duel of honor funded by the Valarjar in which the Alliance and Horde needed to prove their mettle to the Vrykul. Zaria was put up against a Tauren that - dressed just like her? It fascinated her that they both could don such similar armor, and in this duel of honor, using her limited knowledge of Tauren language, she began to speak to this Tauren. From there, it was much less of a duel of rivalry, as much as it was the pair testing one-another. The battle was fierce, and they both took advantage of openings presented during their chats to make the other reel in pain. However, Algrubel found an attack of opportunity, and used his great strength to send Zaria flying backwards, and nearly knocking her out. But since the Tauren didn't aim to kill, he nodded to her, and limped away with the grievous wounds he has also suffered. In spite of Zaria's loss, the Alliance as a whole proved victorious that night.

Between that night, and the next, the Valajar offered each faction their blessing if they could fund a champion worthy of the blessings of the Stormforged, the guardians of Odyn. With Zaria's injuries, she chose to stay out of the duels, and came across two very familiar figures cheering on their comrades. It was Algrubel, and the Orc whom had knocked her out on the ship. With little apprehension due to the lot of them being watched by the Valajar, she stood beside them while observing the duels along with her beloved.

In a twist of fate, the pair whom had beaten her in fair battles both complimented her on her fighting prowess with their limited knowledge of common, and she did the same. Her and Algrubel however began to share their backgrounds, and the reasons they fight - as she had then learned he was a soldier of the Kor'kron Legion. In spite of this, she knew he wanted to rekindle the old respect the Kor'kron had among the Horde until their betrayal at Orgrimmar, aligning themselves with Garrosh. She understood the plight, and found a new respect for the two warriors who had defeated her in battle.

She exited the campaign feeling victorious, in spite of the Alliance loss. In the shadows of valor, virtue won the day, and Zaria found newfound respect for her foes.

To Helheim and Back
With the defeat to the Horde in Stormheim, and the increasing tensions between the Vrykul and the members of the Alliance, Zaria was eager to get the Eagles invested in a great last ditch effort to prove themselves to their Vrykul allies. Having joined with a small clan of one survivor of a tragedy in Morheim, Zaria sought to bring him great honor by doing great deeds with the Eagles last few days in Stormheim. Being thrust into a hopeless assault near an abandoned town overtaken by the Kvaldir, and a band of mystics that sought to banish the unworthy to the depths of Helheim, Zaria and the Eagles were brought low, and overwhelmed by the forces that sprung free from the mists. Zaria, along with several others were sent into the depths of Helheim.

Though most of the Eagles banished to these forgotten depths would meet with one-another in short order to begin the quest to escape from the area, Zaria found herself in a rather precarious position within the depths of Helheim. Thrust into the Eternal Battlefield, Zaria was a ways away from the Eagles she had been sent to Helheim with, and was forced to fight on her own every waking moment she was present within the depths of Helheim. As a capable warrior, and faithful supplicant to the Light's graces, Zaria was well and able to bring her foes low within the Eternal Battlefield. So dominated and thrived there -- as nary a fallen or unworthy Vrykul could seem to bring her low.

Though, in her struggle within the eternal battlefield, she found herself meeting a precarious figure within the depths of the fight, a fallen Val'kyr that loomed over the battlefield, and she sought to challenge it herself. Bold as her wishes might be, the hapless Matriarch tossed a great hammer of Light the way of the fallen Val'kyr, and she was thoroughly dragged out of the Eternal Battlefield to enact honorable combat with the fallen Val'kyr. Having never thought she would ever square up to such a creature of legend, she did not relent in her charge, and sought to free the fallen Val'kyr from her...unfortunate state. She learned much of this Val'kyr; that her name was Turid, that she sought out great power in a manner similar to that of the Templar, and that her quest for power fooled Turid into bending a knee to the Sea Witch. Though with faith on Zaria's side, she endured against this once great warrior, and in a show of honor, the pair stood down against one-another. From there-on, Turid played a small role in helping the Eagles escape the depths of Helheim, and for her actions to aid the lost heroes, was able to ascend to rejoin her ascended sisters.

Having left Helheim a hero, and aid in redeeming a fallen Val'kyr, Zaria's time within Stormheim thereafter was short lived, as the Eagles were forced away after the Shadows of Valor Conflict and were driven to Highmountain.

Pilgrim's Bounty Nightmare
". . .With some prodding, I met with Lady Blackmoore and Dame Crystalrose. The rest, as they say, is history. Tonight, I offer my thanks to Lady Blackmoore, for not only all the good she does, but for, perhaps, saving my very life. Now, I nominate her to come up and speak. And do be kind, dear, and tell everyone how talented I am."

- Adler Dufaud

In the midst of Pilgrim's Bounty, Blackmoore had the chance to spend time with friends and family in the region of Thunder Totem. However when there was calls for toasts, she was rather astonished at the amount of them that had some sort of dedication to her. She was a tad inebriated, so she tried to chalk it up to others trying to suck up to the boss lady. However, even though she was a bit touched, she would not get the chance to thank everyone after the festivities, for a Feltotem assault on the area caused great havoc in Thunder Totem. She, along with Issabeia Heartsong, Vivian Tapp, Clara Ashton, and Cathlin Whitlock were stolen away by the Feltotem to be sacrificed for a horrible ritual.

The group was locked into cages within the Feltotem encampment which bordered the Chieftain Burial Grounds of Highmountain. There they all learned they were to be used for a ritual to help empower the Legion presence within the region. With her hands bound together by ropes, she was living her worst fears. The exact situation Blackmoore feared the most was upon her, as she was no longer in control of her own actions. For the duration of the imprisonment, she did her best to remain quiet to not attract attention to herself, but tried to remain confident that they would all be saved - since it was neigh impossible to escape otherwise. She did not care about herself being saved, and mostly worried for the others otherwise.

The Citrine Eagle and The Radiant Vigil had come to the rescue of the captives as quickly as they could, but sadly for Zaria and Issabeia Heartsong, it was too late for them. The pair was dragged off into a cave bordering the encampment as they were chosen to be the first sacrificed. Hope waned, but Zaria's persistence and hope kept her heartened that the Light will save her.

The next night, the group quickly came to her and Mother Heartsong's rescue just before their sacrifice. Zaria thereafter spent a week in recovery, and soon after the Eagle's as a whole returned home on temporary leave.

Return from the Isles
After being battered on the Isles, and leaving with the Citrine Eagle with a sense of fulfillment, Zaria returned home only to be met with the perils of the Alterac Mountains that had been kept untouched since the departure of the Citrine Eagle. Day after day a new threat arose to face her, and the Eagles. Through faith in the light and her men, the group had prevailed but — such things came with great stress upon the Matriarch. Standing up against a gang of air corsairs that kept Talongrab imprisoned under threat of destruction, facing off against the Burning Legion within their own homes after being clearly made a threat — and the general dangers of Alterac itself were a task to manage for a single woman. And because of this, her stresses raised tenfold.

Having been thrust into a position of power so long ago left her unprepared to deal with long term stresses in spite of her ability to work well under pressure. In this time she only further lost the old Zaria that lingered within her. But, in her long period of doubt, the Matriarch found something worthy of breaking her free of her woes — family.

In their ventures within Highmountain sometime ago, Zaria had met Jolaini Pond, a mage seeking out a new group to work with outside of mercenary groups. With the mages origins in Hillsbrad, and desire to uncover her own past, Zaria sought to help her in the minor ways she could. With their return to the Northlands, Zaria and Jolaini took a brief journey together to begin to seek out the names and origins of Jolaini’s blood parents. Little did they know, it would connect them together. A vision cast through a blood ritual made it known that Jolaini’s father was none other than Sheldon Reneigh, brother to Zaria’s mother, Deborah Reneigh. Finding new blood on her mother’s side sparked a fair amount of inspiration for Zaria to press on and find her footing in her position of command — even if it wasn’t very clear to Jolaini herself (and may never be).

On top of all these developments, this also served as the time the Brotherhood of Clemency aligned closely with the Citrine Eagle. Which paved the way for the Matriarch to work more closely with an old friend, Marcus DeBray. With the rise of new, capable men and women of the Light within the Order, new hope was sprung throughout the Mountains in spite of Zaria’s struggles early on to ensure some of these men and women of the Brotherhood felt truly at home within the Alterac Mountains.

Chasing Ambition
With the great changes that came from the return home, Zaria also began a journey to delve into some more personal ambitions. Her dream to someday summon a Guardian of the Ancient Kings still lingered in her mind, and in her own quest to seek out fulfillment she pushed along on the long quest to hopefully someday empower Svipul enough to see her grow into a fully fledged Guardian. However, that journey would take a turn for the stranger. Within the months of struggle while fighting alongside her retinue, Zaria earned a grievous scar in a bid to try and heal a fellow Eagle, and managed to save them from near-death. However this effort overwhelmed Zaria, and began to break away at her being. Several rifts infused with the Light burned into her arm, and left her with a permanent set of scars that could not seem to be mended. But, this new show of power brought about new confidence in her journey; and to treat her light-infused arm she began to funnel the powers that brought her a great amount of pain into her Libram to ease herself, and empower the tool she used to summon Svipul.

But, with this ambition led to yet another journey with a few familiar faces. On a quiet night, the Matriarch, Shindo, Lona Malphur, Jolaini Reneigh, and Jenifleur Wyther set out to the lands of Stormheim to rekindle a bond of friendship with the Vrykul known as Hagar, and find a way to manipulate the wound on Zaria’s arm to better serve her. With the Eagle’s past failures in Stormheim, there was a great deal of apprehension, but the journey itself brought the group to Skold Ashil to meet with the Vrykul shieldmaiden Astrid. Having nearly defeated Astrid in a duel before, Zaria still had the respect of Astrid, and the blessing to visit Skold Ashil when she needed to. While the others of the group ventured the holy grounds, Zaria and Astrid began their work to treat the light-etched wounds on her arm.

In doing so, Astrid had managed to manipulate the wounds on Zaria’s arms into runes of empowerment. These would be used to enhance the Matriarch’s casting, and signify alignment with the Shieldmaidens of Skold Ashil. In their time away from the group, the Matriarch learned much more of the saga of the Valarjar, and the place of the Alteraci within them. This invoked a great pride in her ancestry, and sparked many changes in her own attitude, and outward appearance. With newfound pride, and newfound skills, Zaria seemed ready for anything.

But then, the Legion home world loomed above Azeroth...

Argus
The time for war came the night of the Wonderlight Ball during the Tournament of Ages. After a long and exciting week of meeting new faces, and rekindling old sparks that the Matriarch did not predict would even make themselves known. With the suddenness of the onset of a new chapter in the war against the Burning Legion, Zaria and the Eagles were more than prepared to make the journey to Argus. Or so they thought..

For weeks, the men and women of the Citrine Eagle prepared through their own methods, and rallied together in a bid of unity to take the journey to fight the Legion alongside the Army of the Light. In this time, with tenacity invoking those who would fight against the Legion — Zaria began to decorate herself with warpaints to show reverence to the great tenacity of Ursoc — a being the Matriarch only learned more from through a Druid of the Claw she held great respect for. But with her change in outlook, and new hope for the future, her and the Eagles set off to Argus to take the fight to the Legion.

On the surface of Argus however the Matriarch would find that the trials within Alterac, and the many perils she faced before were little compared to the Legion. However, there was a surprising disappointment within her — having been apart of the second wave to relieve others — since there did not seem to be the great threat or defense on the Legion home world as she once suspected. And upon meeting a Vindicator of the Army of the Light known as Darsuuni, she found a great suspicion of the Lightsworn.

In spite of the great hardship that came with being stationed on Argus, the Matriarch did find solace in several aspects of the Legion world. She took great interest in researching the vestiges of life that remained on the planet. From the petrified forest, to the gem of Draenei civilization known as Mac’aree. Her own investment in uncovering the mysterious properties of the echoes within Mac’aree prompted group endeavors with the Citrine Eagle, as well as a few instances of fighting within the Jed’hin arena.

Later on in the Citrine Eagle’s expedition to Argus, with the guidance of Allse Kerringer, Zaria found a greater interest in the methods of the Krokul tribe to hide away from the Legion for such a prolonged period of time. She and a few Eagles began to learn from one — though the training had been cut short. She hopes to delve further into their methods in the future. Since then, the Eagles have managed to create a means of travel from Azeroth to Argus by way of a portal constructed with Argus waystones. This allowed Zaria and the others to more freely roam between assignments.

Legion's Fall
Having been apart of several expeditions to and from the Legion world of Argus exclusively with the Citrine Eagle, the time had come for the forces of the Alliance to push back against the Burning Legion one final time, as the Army of the Light pushed in, the Grand Alliance Siege of Antorus bolstered the forces, and acted as a back-line bulwark for the main fighting force on Argus.

The Matriarch's experience with the Alliance assistance was bittersweet. While the thrill of helping dispatch the Legion brought about fulfillment, the old scorn of members of the Alliance hung heavy on those who flew the colors of Alterac. While she was not one to react to the prejudice of others, her resolve was heightened to act as a powerful asset to the Alliance offensive to earn the respect of her peers. Along the way, she even managed to forge a bond with others as she made the purpose of the Citrine Eagle's burden clear to them.

Despite her reservations, and through the great potential unleashed from the Citrine Eagle as a whole, and the groups resilience, they exited the Legion's fall as heroes.

= Personality =

Zaria is a benevolent person, even if she always holds up a commanding presence among her peers. She takes on the embodiment of a leader so others don't need to, but it is hard to tell what virtue she exemplified as a Squire. Zaria does her best to live her life by the guidelines of the Three Virtues and this has forged her personality.

Zaria is much less of an inquisitive mind as she used to be, but that does not mean she lacks a good deal of curiosity when she meets someone, or sees something new. She possesses an open mind to new ideologies, and is careful to observe the practices of others so that she may offer her respects to those practices. Her kind heart is normally obscured by the obligation to command her forces, but sometimes her own personal feelings slip.

Her current personality greatly contrasts the old perky and happy-go-lucky personality she used to possess. Now that she needs to present herself as a respectable leader, she makes every effort to do so. This however does not stop her humor from being consistently dry.

Political Views
In short, Lady Blackmoore is a Conservative. Having broken free of a large and tyrannical governing body within Alterac, Blackmoore has come to understand the faults with a traditional feudal system and its suppression of innovation and liberties of the people of the lands. She views excessive tax as theft, and values fiscal responsibility. She also views intervention from a political body in economic matters as unneeded and a poor allocation of resources.

With her being the sole political power within the Alterac Mountains aside from the Stormpike Clan, and with the current scattered nature of many claimed lands in Alterac, Blackmoore has made a point to ensure the other lands and claims with Alterac can maintain their political autonomy. She hopes to ensure each claimant can govern their lands as they see fit without intervention from an obtrusive governing body.

Within her own lands, free commerce has developed the formation of a magnate class that governs each individual town and point of trade through councils under the blessing of Lady Blackmoore, and the peer in control of said lands. The intermarriage of Alteraci peers and wealthy peasantry has allowed for a melding of social classes.

Religious Views
Blackmoore is devoted to the Holy Light, and its Three Virtues of Living, but is hardly a traditional worshiper. As a devoted Knight of the Silver Hand, she is tolerant and intrigued by the views of others. While some interpretations of the Holy Light puzzle her (such as the continued practice of the doctrine of the Scarlet Crusade by others), she maintains the ability to enact respectful discourse with those of other religious creeds; and often finds herself respecting elements of each method of faith in the Holy Light. She is often critical of politicized faith, as often seen in the Church of the Holy Light.

Outside of the bounds of doctrinal faith, Blackmoore has held the Shieldmaidens devoted to the Titan Watcher Eyir in very high regard, and sees their path to ascension into the ranks of the Val'kyr as a impossible goal worth dreaming of (from her perspective). Her personal reverence in Eyir's light has caused Blackmoore much personal change, and earned her a habit for acting with valor in the face of adversity under the delusion she could someday ascend to the Halls of Valor.

She does not consider Druidic practices religious in any sense, as Druids pay homage and protect the natural world. However, she does hold value to the teachings, actions and practices to the Druids of Ursoc.

The Seven Kingdoms
Blackmoore places the fate of humanity well before allegiance to any Kingdom in particular. While she rallies for support within the Alterac Mountains, and her order represents interests of the defunct Kingdom of Alterac, her efforts are an extension of seeing humanity extend across the Eastern Kingdoms as it once nearly had. Her allegiance to her home within Alterac is strengthened by the legacy left by the great tribesman that were once ruled by Ignaeus Trollbane, and reveres the warrior spirit of the first humans to be labeled Alteraci. She yearns to emulate their tenacity through her own flock, and her own actions. Her efforts to protect and serve humanity are to honor the late General Hath, a hero of the Second War after Alterac's treachery.

With Alteraci blood tied to the Kingdom of Stromgarde, her respect for the legacy of the Trollbane line extends to them, and their plight with their fallen Kingdom. Being a Northlander, Zaria holds the legacy of each Kingdom in the north in high regard. She especially holds admiration for the Kingdom of Gilneas for its past support and friendship with Alterac, and the fortitude of the Gilnean people while under threat from the Forsaken. With the House of Blackmoore's seat of power being held within the borders of the old Kingdom of Lordaeron, and a great love for her family (which she often fails to show), she yearns to see a day where Lordaeron can once again be tread upon safely by human-kind.

The Kingdom of Stormwind has been Blackmoore's home for most of her life. Throughout her time there, she has bore witness to events that brought the Kingdom to prominence, and the faults that existed with life in the Kingdom. Even if it is not her true home, she still finds a sense of national pride within the Kingdom. However, having interacted with the governing body of the Stormwind House of Nobles, she finds herself conflicted as to whether or not the nature of many nobles of Stormwind is genuine -- or to gain political favor and wealth.

Having seldom spoke or interacted with anyone of the Kingdom of Kul Tiras, or the Magocracy of Dalaran, she has only been able to interpret them through their actions observing from afar. With Dalaran's current neutral status, and Kul Tiras remaining distant from Alliance affairs, she still holds confidence both nation-states will remain steadfast in the protection of themselves, and Azeroth.

The Horde
In her youth, Zaria did her best to find respect for everything that was living and sentient. During her time in the Argent Crusade, she tended to treat everyone in a similar cheerful manner, and had little to know opinions on the Horde. She only saw the Horde as another adversary against the Lich King. This attitude remained until she was sent to the Western Plaguelands and learned about the atrocities being committed in the battleground of Andorhal. Taken aback by the Crusades inaction, Zaria took to the Alliance, and grew a newfound ire for the Forsaken who sought to raise others into undeath for their own agenda.

Her gripes about the Horde in essence all stem from the actions of the Forsaken. She does not see their need for expansion as justified, and believes they impede upon the rights of living men and women. But also believes this is to fulfill the agenda of Sylvanas to keep herself alive and in power; which means she holds pity in her heart for the Forsaken as a whole.

As for the rest of the Horde - she has a wavering respect for the union they had managed to forge. In spite of their stance against the Alliance, she sees them as a band who stick together against all odds to survive in the harsh situation they were placed in. This goes so far as her having an optimistic trust of Tauren, and (while never expressed) Blood Elves. In spite of this trust, she maintains a distant stance on Blood Elves populating Stormwind.

= Criticism of Blackmoore =

From her time with the City-State of Alterac, Lady Blackmoore has been placed in many situations of political strife and conflict. Oftentimes at this point in her life she remained notably neutral in any sort of political, or religious conflicts. During the time of the Alonsus-Stromheart confrontation and the schism of the Congregation of the Silver Hand, Blackmoore remained neutral. And as a prominent face in the Order of the Silver Hand, and Alterac, her inability to hold a stance on the conflict was met with accusations of being indecisive and easily swayed.

After taking a valiant stand against the pretender King to the throne of Alterac and claiming the Citrine Eagle as the new protectors of Alterac, Lady Blackmoore is often accused of being a usurper. However, she contests this claim by citing the unholy acts of her former leader, and his egregious ineptitude.

Long since after Lady Blackmoore came under fire for an instance with the Army of the Truthful, where she and several members of the Assembly of Alterac voted to allow a Scarlet place of worship to be constructed in Alterac City, as well as a pagan altar. The Church of the Holy Light was quick to act as they garnered Grand Alliance support to invade Alterac. This is when Zaria realized the Church had so much sway on secular matters it could be deemed corrupt. The only way the military would spring into action against Alterac is if the Order of Everstill were to fight. Everstill however would only spring to action as the will of Alonsus Secundus. However his Holiness placed lives and diplomacy before military action, and chose not to take advantage of this fact, and a peace was garnered — as well as good tidings among Alterac and the Church once more.

Ever since the incident, Blackmoore and The Citrine Eagle have chosen to seclude their business to the confines of the Alterac Mountains, which has also received harsh criticism by outsiders, even if the Citrine Eagle is always available to offer direct assistance upon request. Along with this, people have made mention to Blackmoore that she possesses great difficulty in delegating powers to others.

There have also been sentiments within the ranks of her own order that the Matriarch is often very cold to many, but especially to her own family members. On several occasions she has neglected to step in for them, or extend her appreciation to them while focused on her own work for the Citrine Eagle. Her prioritization of her own work was instilled within her by her mentor Ballinda Dayglow, and has been something the Matriarch continues to struggle with. Her focus has been cause for conflict in her personal life, even though she sees her work as beneficial in the long term.

As of recently with the rapid expansion of Talongrab, a few dissenting Alteraci peers have come to view the Matriarch's growing republic as a means of consolidation of power, and promoting conquest of weaker entities within the Alterac Mountains. While the Matriarch claims this is a means to benefit all who chose to offer their allegiance, others have viewed it as a step towards strong-arming others into mutual service.

= Physical Description = Confidence cast from Zaria's face as she looked upon those she met with a warm smile and an heir of certainty. Her facial features hinted to lineage within the Northlands of Alterac, and the way she presented herself also made the distinction. Her jaw was well-defined and complimented by a rounded nose, larger lips, and smooth skin that maintained a healthy glow and gave her a womanly appearance. Though, her face maintained a hardness through her slightly hollowed cheeks, high cheek bones, and the stern gaze that was apparent in her tired and partially-lidded green eyes.

The way she presented herself might also be cause for second glances. Her hair was pulled into braids on either side of her head to create a faux-shortness to each side, and the blonde hair cascaded down to rest comfortably at her shoulders. One smaller and tighter braid hooked over the top of her ear on either side, and a larger, thicker braid also was pulled back on either side. It was a style similar to that of a Vrykul woman, almost. And in times of ceremony or war, her face was painted with dark grey marks that resembled ursine markings tattooed onto Druids of the Claw. The tribal appearance in wartime might almost make her look like a barbarian -- if not for the way she expressed herself and acted.

Zaria's form was strong. Her thighs were thick, strong, and complimented her wide hips to create a solid foundation to fund her strength from. Her motherly hips tapered into a leaner waist and modest chest. Her arms were also rather strong looking, but most of this strength and muscle was covered in a healthy layer of fat to keep the woman insulated in the colder regions she often finds herself in. There was a fair amount of definition to each curve and muscle regardless.

When her arms were exposed, her right arm held a golden glow caused by several Vrykul runes that snaked up from her forearm, and up towards her shoulder. Each rune looked to be scarred into her arm, and kept the powers of the Light that flowed through them in-check. There was also one of these runes on her right palm. Her left arm was marked atop her triceps with four six-sided stars that descended and tapered in size. These were similar to the four stars that stood beside the Alterac falcon on the crest of the destroyed Kingdom. Along with this marking, some veins popped out of her bicep from time to time that hinted at dehydration, and muscular strain. However, on her left shoulder blade was the crest of the Kingdom of Alterac tattooed onto her back. Many scars dot Zaria's form as well, and hinted at a willingness to take to the front lines in times of need.

This was a traditional Northlander in appearance, and representation. Her raw strength and rugged appearance stemmed from her Alteraci roots, while her dignified demeanor and great faith holds strong through her fathers origins in Lordaeron. Overall, she was a fair representation of what each culture had to offer.

Armor
Held atop her head in battle, the infamous eagle guise. Worn to show patriotism to mother Alterac, and to her order, The Citrine Eagle. A layered plate helm that is adorned with small ribbed portions to resemble the scaled plate over the rest of the armor. The eyes glow an eerie vermilion, as do the outlines along the mouth guard. The only revealed portion of her face is her chin and lips, veiled by a light shade depending on the lighting. A large citrine gem sat on the forehead of the helm, but it was dim.

The woman's tabard was a less than opulent adornment for her attire, more so erring on the side of practical. A thick layered black trim bordered a clean citrine field that stood as the backdrop to the Alteraci crest her tabard bore proudly upon it. However instead of the traditional falcon that represented Alterac, it was now depicted as an eagle. A few insignia's were tightly pinned onto the tabard; one representing the Silver Fist of Tyr, another a simple Eagle's head in bronze, and finally a Stormpike Insignia beneath the two.

Most of her armor however was clay color, made up of scaled plate armor that rattled as she moved. The pauldrons were unreasonably ornate, and large gems of citrine sat encrusted within. A few were shattered and chipped, a grim reminder of the conflicts of old, and beyond. A gift from an old friend that she either lacked the time - or the funds to maintain, but more likely the former. The plated scales along the pauldrons ran into a layered set of under-pauldrons that could be separated from the other piece for cleaning and repairs. The gauntlets were also adorned with these gems, but the one on the right side was actually a button.

The greaves of the armor were layered, only accentuating Blackmoore's thick set thighs. Small plates lined each gap between these layers and contrasted with the regular brownish plate. The sabatons connected to this were also bulky, equipped with knee and shin guards. These are what clattered when Blackmoore walked.

Finally, a cloak rested on her back, clasped to her pauldrons. This long cloak was thick for the cold weather of the Alterac Mountains. Like her tabard it held a thick black trim. The crest of Alterac also decorated the cloak. For some reason, this cloak was also easily caught up in the wind.

Valor, Libram of the First Matriarch
Often chained to Lady Blackmoore's belt by a solid iron chain, the Libram of Valor is Zaria's personal libram. Crafted during her time as a Squire under Ballinda Dayglow, the libram serves as a vessel of considerable power for Lady Blackmoore to channel magic from, or utilize in various spells. Like any other libram, it contains prayers, hymns, and writing related to her path, and is heavily influenced by the teachings of her mentor.

The hefty libram is hardcover bound. The hard cover was wrapped in a reinforced Runecloth fabric, dyed brown. The hardcover is reinforced with Truesilver, which has dulled over time, and was tempered and painted thinly to better match the matte finish of the hardcover. Within the Truesilver reinforcement were gilded runes from various sources, but mainly High-elven, and Vrykul in nature. The Truesilver reinforcement on the cover formed into a setting for an icon on the front of the libram. A relic of the past, a gilded Symbol of Kings was set into the metal on the cover. The back of the book held the symbol of the Citrine Eagle inked into the fabric. The pages were made of a textured vellum, similar to what enchanters would use.

The Libram of Valor always hums with the power of the Holy Light, and acts as a vessel for Svipul.

Devotion, and Ljós'bera
A pair of runeblades. Devotion, and Ljós'bera are the blades Zaria has taken on as her own. Each of them are large, and reminiscent of a blade for a Death Knight. They are practically identical in all aspects. Each of them is large, with menacing spiked ends and a wide flat for the runes that adorn each of them. Each has a menacing guard with a large gemstone embedded within, a large hilt, along with a embellished pommel. Both of these blades were easily two-handed weapons, and the Matriarch would rarely ever be seen holding both of them. But while they are similar in design, they differ greatly in all other aspects.

Devotion, the first of the Matriarch's runeblades was once the blade of a Death Knight named Bonveron. After the purification of the vile weapon, Lady Blackmoore used the weapon in honor of his name, and his sacrifice to the Citrine Eagle. However, she had decided to use the blade in a hasty decision to draw void corruption from a Vrykul Seer known as Hagar. While she successfully drew out the darkness and diminished most of it, the soul of the energy that possessed Hagar lingers within the weapon. It has tried to influence her, and has a tendency to try and expose her faults and desires to protect others by driving her into a bloodthirsty rage.

After uncovering the identity of the lingering spirit of a void Etheral known as Shah'kesh within the weapon, she has kept it secured elsewhere until a time comes someone needs to have a dark entity pulled from them. In those cases, it would be used in conjunction with Ljós'bera.

Ljós'bera (in common, Lightbearer) is a runeblade crafted in the image of Devotion to be used as a supplementary, and experimental weapon. The blade itself is made of a special alloy of metals that interact well with the ley lines of Azeroth, but are also reinforced with stronger metals to create a potent weapon. Unlike a traditional Death Knight's runeblade, the runes of Ljós'bera interact with the ley lines to empower, and direct the usage of each rune on the blade.

Echo
Zaria carries a large halberd, one she decided to name Echo, as when it clatters against steel or stone, the weapon echoes and reverberates like a proper tuning fork. A shorter halberd, its haft reinforced with bands of truesteel, and the exposed bits of the haft were wrapped in a red cloth, torn and frayed from overuse, wear, and tear.

The wedge of the halberd held a pair of small shields upon it, wielded in some manner as to protect the blade that adorned the weapon from being chopped away. The blade itself? Shaped almost like an axe, aside from the gap between blade and haft, perfect for disarming an unprepared opponent. Atop the halberd, a sharpened blade, stained with blood.

Chained to her right side is a large libram which cloaked and clattered against her plated thigh, and is considered apart of her arsenal.

= Companions, and Items of Note =

Chester
Chester is the faithful Alterac Mastiff to the Matriarch. Through his storied and brief life, Chester has made a name for himself in several regards. He was found along with a litter of pups within the Uplands of the Alterac Mountain along with his mother, Beth. Him, and his family would be the catalyst and driving force in the creation of the Adopt-A-Pet program to aid the needy, and provide good homes for hounds in need. Chester became a mascot for the program, and became iconic enough to become a faux "King of Alterac," having done more than any pretender had in his short time alive.

Chester is also credited with saving Lady Blackmoore when she was attacked within Stormwind City by a criminal being sent to the Stormwind Stockades. He endured a stab to his eye, and was left partially crippled. He has since worn An'lyen Rosefeather's eye patch to cover the wound.

As he grew, he served alongside Zaria in several military campaigns, namely within Stromgarde, the Reclamation of the Blasted Lands, and the Shadows of Valor Conflict. Often within operations for the Citrine Eagle he and other Alterac hounds were used to help trace and sniff out anything that might be hiding from the Order. With the onset of the expedition within the Broken Isles, Chester has since settled down, and has retired to the life of a domesticated hound. He still remains loyal to the Matriarch, and is prepared to fight with her at a moments notice.

Atall
Atall is a Frostwolf that was being raised to fight against the combined forces of the Grand Alliance and the Horde during the Siege of Orgrimmar campaign. Kept chained to his masters side at all times, the Frostwolf was bred and trained specifically to target healers and dispatch them from combat. However in a turn of events when Atall was sent towards Zaria, she barely managed to best the beast as her war party fought back a group of Kor'kron Legionnaires. Rather than dispatching the wolf, she tried using the Light to soothe the beast, and make it much more docile.

By choice, Zaria had never tried to use the large and hulking bear of a wolf as a mount. For a few years, Bjomolf was kept safe within the stables of Blackmoore Manor. But such a life is not satisfactory for a hound who was bred to be a champion. With the Matriarch without a proper mount, this wolf was quick to present them self as an eager servant -- at least until Blackmoore can find a more reliable mount. She remains wary of the wolfs aggressive nature. She does however hope to find loyalty in the wolf that she had passivized so long ago.

Ever since she met this wolf, Zaria had not given him a true name. She referred to him as "Bjomolf," another term for a wolf in Vrykul tongue. Though after nearly a year spent with the wolf, she took to the Lordaeron-knights tradition of naming her mount after a quality. She now refers to this wolf as "Atall," an old common word for aggressive, or fierce. She has accepted the beasts nature, and now embraces his aggressive tendencies, honing them against those who dare harm those she cares for.

The wolf it self nearly resembles a large bear in size and shape. Even after years away from combat, this wolf retains a considerable amount of muscle that was covered up by light grey fur. A snarl holds upon its expression as a long gash clips from its nose towards its mouth. However hints of its pedigree were apparent in the large canines that stuck out from the beasts gaping maw, and their cleanliness was only a bonus of the privileged life it has lived since its capture. Sharp claws decorate large paws that create massive footprints in their wake.

When armored, Atall wears reinforced leather along the top of his head, with small flares upwards to emulate some more imposing spikes that once adorned the armor. His ankles are kept strapped in fur lined leathers, reinforced with some metal bracers. For the most part however, this set very closely resembled the Kor'kron armor most worgs were equipped with by Garrosh's forces. The one signifying factor of the wolfs affiliation is merely the metal shields covering the top of its hind legs, inscribed within them were the crest of the Citrine Eagle.

Olga
Olga is the newest mount in Zaria's collection. This fierce Bear was granted to her by a head of the Valajar Aspirants near the temple of Skold-Ashil in thanks for assisting against an attack by the Forsaken against the area, which was dutifully thwarted.

Olga is a brown bear bred to assist her master in battle, as many Vrykul bear mounts are. The sigil of a warrior is impressed into the fur of her left shoulder blade, and her fur along her back and the top of her head has a strange grey color, unlike the rest of her fur.

In light of Zaria being unable to bring her steed Rose to the Broken Isles, Olga serves as the mount of someone deemed a true warrior among the aspirants of the Valajar - as well as (for now) a respected ally to the local Vrykul battle maidens. However in her ventures around the Isle's, Zaria's steed would die without her being able to go home to help her. Olga had returned to Alterac with the Eagles. However the bear remained homesick, and with such Zaria sent Olga back to the Shieldmaiden's so the Mother Bear could thrive at home and function as the Matriarch's mount while she was present on the Broken Isle's.

The pair remain in good tidings with one another, and while connected by a warriors spirit, Zaria knows Olga's place is not in Alterac.

= Offices and Honors =

Grand Alliance Decorations and Medals
Medallion of the Alliance Alliance Commendation for Leadership Fourth War Campaign Medal with two battle bars. Iron Horde Invasion Campaign Medal with one battle bar. Broken Isles Campaign Medal with four battle bars.

Stormwind Decorations and Medals
Conspicuous Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross King's Cross Stormwind Royal Red Cross

Foreign Orders and Decorations
Stormpike Insignia

= Quotes =

"Look to the night sky and see the blanket of darkness that washes over us. The stars are but specks within the void. But the void is emptiness, nothingness in comparison to those little specks of light that decorate the skies. Stars that provide warmth and illuminate the cvoid so far away. To us they are the smallest sparks, but throughout the cosmos they light up the darkness."

"To call yourself humble is not humble in the slightest."

"From the snowy mountains, to the hottest jungles. The enduring spirit of humanity is continental."

"I was knighted, and granted the post-nominal "the Lighthearted". How times change..."

"I'm the Matriarch, Diane. Nothing will stop me so long as I have my eagles to return to."

= Gallery =

Pictures
=Endmatter =

Musical Influences

 * Big Gigantic - The Little Things
 * Ricko James - A Samurai's Death
 * Warlords of Draenor, Tides of War
 * Ulduar, the Titan's Song
 * Ukulele - Quand vient l'amour (Comes Love) (Zaria and Avirin Theme)
 * Ukulele - Love Rest - Gracie Terzian (Zaria and Leah Theme)

Voice Reference
Zaria sounds similar to Grand Marshal Julianne Tremblade.