Nicholas Colting

"I was damned from the moment of my birth."

Appearance
Compared to the average soldier, peasant, or his family, Nicholas could be considered skinny. His arms and legs are toned enough, both from multiple retreats and interrogations, but his chest can only be considered average.

His skin could be considered just a tad darker than snow, completely unscarred. His hair black as a raven's wing, and long enough to extend, nearly, to the small of his back.

His eyes are a slate-green mix, unastonishing and constantly searching, though hardly ever in worry. Such a thing would surely ruin interrogations, and as such, he often appears emotionless.

Early Life
As all bastards unfortunate enough for Driance to call his own, Nicholas and his brother, Rentle, were both taken from their young mother after the Naval Captain's assignment to patrol Southern Quel'thalas was finished. While Ebonpool was still alive and well, some villagers say the wench cried for her son's abduction. The reality, however, was they were both a day away from being drowned.

Nicholas and his brother were the last bastards Driance ever had before his marriage, and as such were thrown onto the island he was "Gifted" with. They were both told what would happen when they came of age, but Lordaeron's fall stopped Nicholas' from ever happening, although Rentle was given his early.

In the Crusade
Driance had lost his love for Kul Tiras after the Grand Admiral died, caring not for the son who inhereted it, and so the former-sailor left to assist his beloved ally. With him came the other forced-Knights, true-born son and daughter, and Nicholas. Driance left only the guardsmen and his last bastard, his advisor, and James to run the keep.

They were each told where they'd be assigned, Driance was to sail to Northrend with the Crusade's Grand Admiral, Karob the calvary, Rentle the vanguard, and Nicholas interrogations. The now-interrogator was sent to Tyr's Hand and, the next day, former-Kirin Tor taught him how to immolate his enemies effectively.

It didn't take long for the temptation of corruption to take him; Power, an easier method of solving his problems, and an aura of fear. At least when needed. Of course, no one told him about the cost, but a young adult's mind is easily swayed with the more forbidden magic.

In the end, it wasn't the Shadow that uneased him, nor the temptations to make his mentor disappear, or peasants, or any other sadistic effects unchecked corruption might bring. Nor was it what compassion lay bottled inside him, or the Argent's heresy.

His sister had been killed, and her son considered liable. Unable to put his nephew through the torment he'd put dozens of others through, Nicholas gave into one urge; killing his mentor. Once the shadow over his back had fallen, he faked demands to travel to the Monastery at once. Sadly, the child he'd risked his life to save was taken during the night by an over-zealous soldier from the Brotherhood of the Light and slain while his uncle slept.

It seemed nearly timely, and some Crusaders, before their final hour of life, blamed Nicholas and his mentor for Tyr's Hand's demise. But he'd never know any of it, content enough with his retreat to Quel'athillien and exemption of his former occupation, although the child's face continued to haunt him.

Current and near-current
His true-born brother seemed to swear the entire family to House Albrecht around the same time he took the woman Nicholas had adored from afar, causing him to resist murder during the First Grand Crusade, in which most of his half-brothers died, and harbor hatred for Karob until his supposed death.

After returning to Quel'athillien, Nicholas was full of remorse and attempted to copy his brothers in their profession, even James was able to look imposing given the right armor. He managed to fit into a guard position well enough, mostly given useless positions, but he eventually worked his way up enough to guard his sister-in-law.

It didn't surprise him to see his beloved pregnant, only because of how his brother had always behaved. He'd abandonded class long ago, eventually proposing to her only a few weeks before his step-children were born. Although he was Knighted and made legitimate during the Crusade, very few bothered learning who his family was, and as such his wife keeping the family name was assured not to be looked down upon.