Darion Blackmorn

Appearance
A handsome man in his early twenties, he is tall and powerfully built. His dark-brown hair has grown long and unruly while his beard is often neatly-trimmed.

Possessing both a Lord's courtesy and a paladin's sense of honor, Darion is well-spoken and clearly of Noble birth. His voice carries the distinct accent common to the people of Northern Lordaeron.

He appears to have a great deal of upper body strength and can often be seen wielding an immense two-handed greatsword with ease. His posture and skill with a blade would suggest that he was trained by a master at arms and seasoned in combat.

Armor
Darion is often clad in a rugged combination of ornate plate and boiled leather. While ornate and clearly befitting a man of Noble birth, the armor is quite dulled with nicks, scrapes and dents, indicating that it had been well used.

He has recently been seen in a magnificent suit of ceremonial armor, befitting his new position.

Weapons
A fine, castle-forged longsword rests in an ornately-tooled leather scabbard on his sword belt. Darion is also the bearer of the greatsword, Light's Justice.

Early Years and Training
Personally trained by his namesake, Lord-Paladin Darion Madarin from the time he was a small boy, he would reside at Stone Hearth Keep for much of his youth. Madarin was among the first Knights of the Silver Hand and though the boy was like a son to him, he treated him no differently than any other squire with regard to his training and because of the great responsibility and title the young Blackmorn would inherit, he was often pushed harder than the other potential Knights. He showed promise at just four-and-ten, performing his duties as a squire with nothing short of perfection. Even-tempered and possessing a strong desire to learn, his skills were slowly honed over the next three years and would save his life when Stone Hearth came under attack from the undead scourge.

During his time at Stone Hearth, Darion befriended Lord Madarin's bastard, Saidan Hayward. Close in age, the two trained side-by-side and shared in many adventures outside Stone Hearth's walls. In spite of their training and strict adherence to the Light's virtues, they were still young men and as such, were not always paragons of virtue... During a visit to Osric's Anvil, it was said that both young men lost their virginity to Sir Henry Wilhelm's eldest daughter. When Sir Henry brought the matter to the lords of the Anvil, it was quickly dismissed as rumor so as not to besmirch the honor of their liege-lord's eldest son and heir. Lord Edwin Tolvan was said to have confided in Sir Henry that if it had been only Madarin's bastard, he'd have seen the lad hanged.

Knighthood
For his valor in combat against the scourge who laid siege to Stone Hearth, in spite of Prince Arthas disbanding the Order of the Silver Hand, Darion Blackmorn was anointed a paladin in a small ceremony held in Stone Hearth's courtyard at the age of seven-and-ten. The ceremony was performed by his mentor and namesake, Lord Darion Madarin of Stone Hearth.

The Marriage That Never Was
At the age of nine-and-ten, Darion was betrothed to Lady Sandra Madarin, a marriage which would have forever joined the two houses that had remained allies for centuries. The betrothal was broken when young Darion found himself wounded during one of the many attempts to wrest Andorhal from the scourge who held it. His wounds were tended by a commoner from one of the neighboring farms and Darion fell in love with the beautiful young lady at first sight. In spite of what it meant for his house, Darion intended to marry Caitlyn Winters and as she was already carrying his child, he viewed it as the only honorable choice. Fate had other plans for the young lovers and while Blackmorn was fighting another battle against the forsaken, Caitlyn, who had chosen to remain in her family's home just miles from Andorhal was slain during a raid led by the forsaken. Darion blamed himself for the young woman's fate and believed that the Light he had sworn to serve had punished him for breaking his betrothal to the Madarin girl.

The Fall Of Stone Hearth
The forsaken had long viewed Stone Hearth as a threat to their stranglehold on Andorhal and after three attempts by the Madarins to retake it, an offensive was launched that would see the end of yet another great house. Slain while retaking the southern villages under Stone Hearth's banner, Sir Adamir Thornewood was raised by the Banshee Queen's Captains and turned against his former brothers in arms. It was his knowledge of Stone Hearth's lord and the Keep's defenses that gave the forsaken the upper hand. Rather than see his smallfolk slaughtered and his family in peril, Lord Madarin personally led an assault on Andorhal, intending to strike before their plans could be set into motion. He and his men fought valiantly, but during the explosion that destroyed the main guard towers, Lord Madarin was thrown from his horse and knocked unconscious. He was taken prisoner by the forsaken Commander, who intended to turn him as they had turned Sir Adamir. Rather than see his former liege-lord suffer the same grim fate, Sir Adamir beheaded him with his own greatsword, Light's Justice.

With much of his house's might engaged in brutal conflict on three fronts, Lord Jon Blackmorn ordered his son to come to Stone Hearth's aid. At the request of Lady Madarin, a host was assembled in an attempt to free her husband from his captors, led by Darion and Edric Blackmorn. They were joined by Lady Victoriea Holfmann and all that remained of Stone Hearth's might, but before they could reach Andorhal, they were met by forsaken Commander Varithos and a dozen of his Deathguards. Darion ordered them to a halt as Varithos held up Lord Madarin's severed head and began to speak. "Your lord is dead and Stone Hearth shall fall. Leave these lands or join us in undeath." He told them before tossing the severed head at the hooves of Blackmorn's mount. So enraged by the loss of his mentor and a man he held dearly as a second father, Blackmorn ordered them to charge and show no mercy. Battle was joined in the thick forest just miles from the city of Andorhal and Commander Varithos' reinforcements arrived just in time to counter what would have surely been a masacre. While the Madarin soldiers urged him to retreat, Blackmorn refused and was quoted as having said: ''"Run if you will, but I will not retreat until Lord Madarin's remains are returned to his wife and Light's Justice retrieved." ''

Inspired by the young paladin's determination, the men remained at his back and despite many casualties, the forsaken were defeated. The battle ended when Darion slew Commander Varithos in single combat and Sir Adamir Thornewood was taken prisoner. Adamir Thornewood was later beheaded with Light's Justice and the sword relinquished to Madarin's widow to hold in trust for the child she carried. Thornewood's last words were: "I make no apology for what I have done, for surely I spared him a fate more cruel than any death known to you mortals." He then met Darion Blackmorn's eyes and spoke once more. "You do me a greater service this day than you can know. It is with good will that I accept my fate. The Light has abandoned me. May it always protect you."

The Tolvan Uprising
With his father fighting the forsaken in Hillsbrad and his sister safe at Chillwind Point, Darion took it upon himself to lead the host his Uncle had assembled to put down the The Tolvan Uprising. He would lead his bannermen in what would be remembered as one of the most brutal masacres in the region's history and still regards it as his darkest hour.

Marriage
Darion shocked most of his family by marrying the half-Quel'dorei, Lady Victoriea Holfmann--a sin in their eyes, which would forever taint the Blackmorn line. The young paladin had fallen in love with her not long after they fought side-by-side while defending Stone Hearth from a forsaken siege. It was her fiery temper and the fact that she was perhaps the equal of any man in combat that drew him to the much older, half-Quel'dorei--and when the news of his younger brother's death during the siege of Rosegarde reached him, it was she who consoled him.

Theirs was an odd marriage to say the least, though it did not take place without the blessing of Darion's Father. To him, her Quel'dorei blood meant a generation that would live longer, thus ensuring his legacy. There was also the matter of her house's great wealth and what it meant for the Blackmorns. Lady Victoriea herself had led men into battle and Jon respected her all the more for it. He knew that when the time came, he could count on his Daughter in-law's financial support in his effort to drive the forsaken from the north. He had consented to the marriage with a single caveat. She was not to join his son in battle if she became with child. Victoriea protested, citing her past experience in combat while carrying her first child, but the old wolf stood firm. He would not have her take such risks while carrying his Grandchildren, who he was certain would be sons. Jon himself had sired two true-born sons, two daughters and a bastard boy by the mistress he'd taken after his first wife's death while birthing their youngest daughter. Family mattered most to Jon and he'd be damned if this hot-headed woman would take risks with his son's heirs. What he did not know was that Lady Victoriea already carried Darion's child, conceived the first night she'd taken him into her bed. Victoriea finally consented to the old man's wish and she and Darion were married that June in the courtyard at Wolf's Crossing, the Keep's reconstruction halted so that all the smallfolk could attend. It was a smaller ceremony than Darion would have liked, but it seemed to suit his bride just fine.

Children
Their son was born September fifth, Darion Edric Blackmorn II who is to be officially recognized as the heir to Wolf's Crossing. Now three months old, the child remains at Summer Hall, the Blackmorn estate in Stormwind where Victoriea's other two children also resided. Summer Hall was safer that Wolf's Crossing, so long as the forsaken maintained a foothold in Lordaeron and Darion would not risk loosing what remained of his family, having lost so many to the bombing of Theramore. Grooming Lorrain for her duties as the house's Ambassador to Stormwind afforded him the opportunity to spend more time with his infant son and his two step-children, both of whom had taken to calling him "Papa Darion" much to their Mother's surprise. He was a different man with them and they loved hearing the stories he often told them about growing up during the rise of the Order of the Silver Hand. He told them of his namesake, the late Lord of Stone Hearth who was among the first Knights of the Silver Hand and had gone into battle with Uther himself. In spite of the pain of losing his father and so many others, Darion's time with the children reminded him of what they died for and what he continued to fight for.

Highlord of the Silver Hand
At the request of Queen Madelynne, Darion has succeded Jorn Buzan as Highlord of the order of paladins. Darion's own vision for the order's future includes a council comprised of senior paladins and priests, with the purpose of training a new generation of paladins. In addition to the paladins, he still commands a respectable number of his own soldiers and with the future of the Kingdom uncertain due to the installation of men of vile birth into its government, Darion has begun rebuilding house Blackmorn's military strength. He has recently dedicated Saint Varyk's Cathedra in Wolf's Crossing to serve as the base of operations for the Order of the Silver Hand. Darion has refused to nominate a Regent to rule Wolf's Crossing in his stead, insisting that his lady wife is more than capable of doing so when duty has called him elsewhere. His appointment as Highlord has been the subject of much controversy and many have questioned his worthiness to lead the great order of paladins.

The Duke of Dawnshire
Following the death of Henry Whitehall, 5th Duke of Dawnshire during the Dawnshire Offensive, Darion was presumed to be the next Duke as he is first in the line of succession. Whitehall's widow, Caterinia has challenged his right of succession, insisting that if Wolf's Crossing is to retain its sovereignty, he neither needs, nor deserves the great title and holdings in Lordaeron. His succession has not yet been confirmed or denied by Queen Madelynne.

The Dread War
Though he was under no obligation to do so by Royal Command, when Darion learned of the uprising in Blackmarsh and the beginning of what would be known as the dread war, he assembled several Knights of the Silver Hand and thirty of his own men at arms to aid the Lord Chancellor and the Queen's men in the battle of Brunshire. On the eve of the battle, when it was discovered that they faced an army of professional soldiers, Darion sent his squire and a pair of guardsmen to Osric's Anvil with orders to bring thirty more men and three cannons. Unfortunately the reinforcements would not arrive in time to turn the tide. Though the battle was a defeat for the Monarchists, the soldiers of Wolf's Crossing stood firm in the face of overwhelming enemy numbers and were among the last to leave the field of battle. After the battle, Lord Dirk Thorne agreed to send the Captain of his guard to escort Blackmorn's reinforcements and ensure they reached Thorn's Hill in time to thwart the advance of the rebels, but as fate would have it, the Captain betrayed the men of the crossing and led them into an ambush, resulting in the massacre of more than half their number.

The battle of Thorn's Hill proved to be a grievous defeat for the Monarchists, but even more so for the Blackmorns, who lost sixty of their own soldiers during what Blackmorn referred to as the most foolish charge ever ordered. Darion himself was captured after making a daring attempt to rescue the Lord Chancellor. He was later ransomed by his wife, who agreed to Rance Creed's terms for his release. The terms were as follows: The house of Blackmorn may not raise arms against the house of Creed. Lady Victoriea and her men must leave Blackmarsh immediately and Darion must relinquish both his armor and the greatsword, Light's Justice. Though he was given no opportunity to refuse such terms, Blackmorn chose to honor them, rather than besmirch the honor of his house and his Kingdom.

In spite of being forced to remain at Osric's Anvil for the duration of the combat that followed, Darion provided assistance to the Monarchist forces in the form of gryphons and the appointment of Sir Velenor Lightmane as Commander of the Knights of the Silver Hand for the remainder of the conflict. He also provided Sir Velgim Romel with a map of the area where the prisoners were being held, which was used during a daring rescue attempt that saw Sirs Karob and Darrelus freed, along with a member of the Queen's Gilnean Legion who had also been captured.

A Series of Controversial Decisions
Since Wolf's Crossing swore allegiance to Lordaeron and its new Queen, Darion's pledge to support the Queen with the might of the Crossing against her enemies has been the subject of much controversy among the Nobility and the smallfolk alike. The Crossing has remained a sovereign state since the fall of Lordaeron and gained admittance to the Grand Alliance by virtue of Jon Blackmorn's reputation as a battle Commander alone. Many have cried out for a return to the way things were under Jon Blackmorn's leadership and fear what may happen if Wolf's Crossing was to once again be part of Lordaeron.

After the deaths of more than sixty of Wolf's Crossing's men at arms, it was Darion's decision to honor the terms of his release during the Dread War that proved too much for his Cousin, Sir Alec. Alec's own son had been slain in battle during the massacre of Blackmorn's reinforcements and to be denied his vengeance did not sit well will the lord-regent of Osric's Anvil. Alec felt that Wolf's Crossing should never have been in Blackmarsh and criticized Darion's decision to join the fight against the house of Creed without a formal request from the Queen. To appease his Cousin, Darion named him lord of Osric's Anvil and had a chest of gold delivered to him at his seat of Hammerfall to cover the cost of training and equipping more soldiers, but the gesture only served to anger the grieving father.

In the wake of the destruction of Dawnshire, reports of Thorn's Reach being under siege gave him cause for worry, so Darion ordered his Uncle Jhorin to return at once to Jonsport with all his men and see to the port's defense. He has also recently forced his sister to renounce Rosegarde and named Damon Blackvale as Lord Tytos' successor and the new lord of Rosegarde, a decision that angered her beyond words. Lorrain was then appointed Wolf's Crossing's Ambassador to King Varian's Court and sent back to Stormwind with her retinue. Her appointment was met with opposition by Damon Blackvale, who believed that such responsibility should not go to a woman.

Perhaps the most controversial of all his recent decisions was to absorb Stone Hearth into Wolf's Crossing at the request of Saidan Hayward and then to allow the bastard to sit on his Council. Though Stone Hearth's people were in favor of doing so, the people of Wolf's Crossing have questioned the Blackmorns ability to protect so vast a domain while at the same time, waging war on the forsaken. His decision to bring the entire Crimson Hart to Wolf's Crossing in order to protect its citizens against a forsaken invasion was met with no less criticism, though the mercenary group has significantly strengthened the Crossing's military might. It was the fact that Blackmorn offered them land in exchange for their swords that angered the people most.

All of the lords of the Crossing and many of its Knights have asked that Darion either appoint a regent to rule in his stead or resign as highlord of the Order of the Silver Hand, because as of late, Blackmorn has been unable to do both effectively. Blackmorn has yet to answer them and a meeting of the Crossing's Council has been called, immediately following Caterinia Whitehall's briefing on the situation with the Bloody Dawn. A report has recently come of the annihilation of Thorn's Reach and what remained of its people who did not evacuate and many are fearful that Wolf's Crossing is soon to be under siege.

Resignation
Darion has recently resigned as highlord of the Silver Hand and the council is to convene to determine his successor.

Currently
Following the dispute over his resignation as Highlord of the Silver Hand and the false charges levied against him by Lordaeron, Darion has closed his borders to Blackmarsh and the rest of Lordaeron. Darion has recently sworn fealty to Stormwind and pledged the military and financial support of Wolf's Crossing to King Varian's war efforts against the horde. Though the province of Wolf's Crossing no longer retains its status as a soveregn state, Darion retains power over all of Wolf's Crossing and its many holdings.