Tendael Dawnlight II

"You think you can stop me? Get in line."

Tendael Dawnlight II, known otherwise as Setrien, is an elven lord, military strategist, and Sovereign of the Dominion of the Sun.

The Early Years
Setrien was born in Evandien to the House of Dawnlight ten years before the first opening of the Dark Portal. During the course of his youth, Setrien demonstrated a reserved nature, partly due to the high expectations placed on him by his father. His education came from some of the finest scholars of Quel'Thalas, reinforcing his already shrewd personality. When he turned the nascent age of sixteen, it became time for him to select a path of war. Setrien showed little interest in combat, focusing instead on the history of Azeroth. Nevertheless, his father would not accept a son son who could not fight, thus enlisting him in the Farstrider academy.

Setrien's training at the academy shaped him into a disciplined soldier, bestowing him new sets of skills and expertise. Although he was a capable wielder of the bow and arrow, he showed an impressive level of proficiency in swordsmanship. Yet, in spite of his improvements, Setrien was uncooperative with his instructors. Instead of relying on working as a team with his comrades, he often set out to accomplish objectives by himself, convinced that they were holding him back. Although he was heavily criticized, Setrien eventually graduated from the academy and tasked with patrolling the boundaries of Eversong Woods.

While serving the Farstriders, a romance blossomed between Setrien and a woman in his squad named Valiel Goldenleaf. The two dated for a while, enjoying the company of each other as they kept vigil over the forest. Eventually, however, their relationship began to wane once Setrien was pressured into breaking off the relationship by his father who was more concerned with his son advancing in his career. On one somber night, Setrien broke things off with Valiel, and the two went their separate ways.

It was only a few months later that Arthas Menethil invaded Quel'Thalas with the Scourge, ravaging the countryside and slaughtering the high elf population in droves. Setrien's captain was slain very early in the onset, leaving his squad in disarray. Setrien's first thought was to find Valiel. Unfortunately, he was too late. When he found her, she was on the brink of death. In her last moments she confessed that she still loved him, wracking his heart with sorrow. After she passed away, he burned her body to keep the undead from reanimating her. By then, the Scourge had reached the Sunwell, forcing Setrien and the rest of his surviving kin to go into hiding.

When Arthas departed from Quel'Thalas with the resurrected Kel'Thuzad, he left behind a detachment of his Scourge to keep the remaining elves subdued. Setrien was among many who banded together to reclaim Silvermoon and drive the Scourge back. The work, though long and arduous, was eventually completed. When Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider selected his elite forces to aid the Alliance in the south, Setrien was not among them. He spent the next few years in Quel'Thalas helping fight off the seemingly endless tide of undead. Stability in the kingdom was eventually found once again, but Setrien would never be the same. Even when the Lich King was finally vanquished at the end of the war in Northrend, his mind remained battered from the death of Valiel and mass genocide of his people.

The New Legacy
A few years later, Setrien was shocked to receive news of his father's death. Searching for answers, he left the Farstriders and ventured into the world on his own. For several months, no one knew of his whereabouts. Then, one day, Setrien reappeared and announced his intention to succeed his father and become the next Sovereign of the Dominion of the Sun.

This announcement came as a surprise to the members of the Dominion, especially considering Setrien had no experience leading. Coincidentally, it was around this time that Volanaro Ael'aran resigned from the position of Sovereign, leaving a void in the leadership of the organization. Colius Thalaron, acting at the behest of the Dominion Eminency, decided to allow Setrien to prove his eligibility in a trial by fire. He was granted temporary authority to lead the Dominion forces in an expedition to Outland. Setrien accepted the challenge, and with the full force of the Dominion under his command, he vowed to accomplish the objectives set out for him.

Upon arriving at the abandoned Manaforge Ultris in the Netherstorm, the young commander found that the Volanaro had already requested the help of several organizations, including the Hand of Vengeance, Warscar Reach, Undercity Nexus, and Bloodsworn Legion. Despite his inferior notoriety, he was appointed as Force Commander of the coalition, further expanding his responsibility.

During one of his discussions with Ivan Felsorrow and Seleste Felsorrow, Setrien discovered that Volanaro had contracted the Hand of Vengeance to produce a biochemical weapon for use against the Alliance. Setrien astonished everyone when he refused to allow the weapon's use, deeming it immoral. This decision disappointed the Dominion superiors, who believed that rejecting the Hand of Vengeance's help only strained relations between the two organizations. Afterwards, Setrien renegotiated the terms of the contract, insisting that the weapon be made non-lethal.



On the second day of the campaign, Setrien received word from scouts that the Alliance was moving east across the Bloodmaul Pass, a massive land bridge in Blade's Edge Mountains. Without much time to prepare, he assembled a detachment of the Horde's strongest to travel to the bridge in an effort to halt their advance. The Battle of Bloodmaul Pass lasted nearly an hour and resulted in Horde triumph, granting an enormous boost to the morale of his forces. Setrien returned to Thunderlord Stronghold with his men to celebrate their victory.

On the third day of the campaign, scouts reported that remnants of the Alliance maneuvered around the pass and arrived at Toshley's Station. Setrien prepared his forces to attack the station and finish them off, but was forced to postpone the attack due to a surprise ogre raid on the stronghold. The combined Horde forces managed to drive the ogres back, but the battle deprived them of their preemptive advantage against the Alliance.

Later that day, Setrien discovered that the Hand of Vengeance had captured one of the Alliance soldiers from the previous battle and were interrogating him in the stronghold's great hall. The prisoner, a High Elf by the name of Tarso Valcari, divulged information on the Alliance's intentions in Outland. After learning of an impending attack on the Horde-controlled manaforge, Ivan and Seleste Felsorrow allowed Setrien to question the prisoner himself. It was from his conversation with Tarso that Setrien became aware of the Westbrook Military Tribunal and his father's fate. Setrien was shocked to learn that leader of the Alliance forces in Outland, Erich Gottfried Manstein, was among the three justices who presided over the tribunal that sentenced his father to life in prison. Setrien made a promise to Tarso that he would personally see Manstein fall, then began to prepare for the defense of the manaforge.

The next day, Setrien led his forces back to the Netherstorm, reinforcing the manaforge's defenses as they waited for the impending Alliance attack. Within a few hours, the Alliance launched their assault on the facility from three sides, initiating the Battle of Manaforge Ultris. Horde forces were overwhelmed and forced to fall back, leaving the Alliance an opportunity to push in and temporarily take control. By the time the Horde had regrouped and made their second advance, the Alliance had already made their retreat. After the manaforge was retaken, Ivan Felsorrow shared a report with Setrien, revealing the Alliance's true intentions. It became clear that the attack on the manaforge was only a gambit in Manstein's grand design, which would culminate at Death's Door.

The Horde forces pursued the Alliance back to Blade's Edge Mountains, making a final stop at the Mok'Nathal Village to gather reinforcements and prepare for the final battle. Manstein's plans were exposed, and it was now a race against the clock to stop him from opening a demonic portal located at the end of a nearby valley. The portal, dubbed "Death's Door", would be used to summon the two former heroes of the Alliance from the Twisting Nether: Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner. However, Setrien was convinced that Manstein's plan would go awry, and that demons of the Burning Legion would spill from it instead.

The Battle of Death's Door took place on the final day of the campaign. After delivering a short speech, Setrien led his forces through a tunnel which brought them to the bottom of the valley. There, they realized that the Alliance were entrenched. Three lines of defense stood between the Horde forces and the portal on the opposite end of the valley. In a heroic charge, the Horde breeched the first line. Setrien then rode forth, along with Ivan Felsorrow and Warlord Grash'gar, to confront Manstein before the second charge. The request for parlay was answered, but Manstein only used it as an opportunity to taunt the Horde and proclaim his quest to be the destiny of the Alliance. Just when Setrien began to realize that Manstein was losing his mind, Alliance ambushed the parlay and captured both him and Ivan Felsorrow. The two were brought back to the portal, forced to watch as the battle raged on under the command of the Warscar's Warbringer Grash'gar.

The Alliance slowly began to lose ground, pressuring Manstein to accelerate his plans. He returned to the portal as the rest of the Congregation of the Silver Hand held the line, ordering his sorcerers to expedite the ritual. Setrien watched with grim satisfaction as Manstein began to unravel before his very eyes. With the temporal rift becoming more unstable and the Horde closing in around them, agitation soon spread throughout the remaining Alliance ranks. In the final moments of the calamity, Manstein fell on his sword, interrupting the ritual and compelling the last defenders of the portal to flee. What happened next was quite mystical. Setrien and the Horde forces witnessed Mantein's body levitate before the portal, become bathed in Light, then vanish through the rift just seconds before it disappeared. With the portal closed and the Alliance defeated, Setrien returned with the Horde back to Mok'nathal Village where they celebrated their victory. For their aid in the campaign, Setrien vowed to repay the debt he owed to the other organizations by helping unseat Garrosh, then returned with the Dominion back to Quel'Thalas.

The Rebellion
A few weeks later, Setrien was invited to attend a summit at Razor Hill for the impending siege of Orgrimmar. With permission granted from the Dominion Eminency, he traveled to Durotar as a representative of the organization. At the summit, Setrien was confronted by Grash'gar. The Warbringer questioned whether or not the Dominion would honor its word and lend support to the approaching conflict. Realizing that he had no authority to speak on behalf of the Eminency without their consent, Setrien reluctantly abstained from committing forces, claiming that he required the title of Sovereign before making such a decision on his own. Although disappointed with his response, Grash'gar acquiesced, allowing Setrien to journey back to Quel'Thalas and discuss the situation with his superiors.

When he arrived back in Quel'Thalas, Setrien was appointed Regent-Sovereign while his official ascension remained pending. The question of whether or not the Dominion would send aid to the rebellion was put on the table. After much deliberation, the Eminency finally agreed to send a detachment of forces to battle. Once more, Setrien was granted authority over the Dominion soldiers, another opportunity to prove his leadership. Using portals, he made frequent trips to Razor Hill to meet with rebel leaders and analyze the situation. One of these leaders, a magister by the name of Anetho Dawnpride, entrusted Setrien with a number of secrets gleamed from the Kor'kron. In return, Setrien reaffirmed the Dominion's arrival in the coming days.

As preparations were made for war, Setrien continued his training under the tutelage of Colius Thalaron. Before long, the former ranger was able to command the Light to augment his strikes and heal minor wounds. His progress was interrupted, however, when the time finally came for the rebel forces to take action. Deploying a number of siege weapons from Dominion's headquarters, Zenith, Setrien led his forces through Azshara to secure a staging point near the northern gates of Orgrimmar. During the escort, the convoy was ambushed by kaldorei radicals known collectively as the Hand of the Goddess. Nevertheless, Setrien and the Dominion fought off the assailants and made it to the Mountainfoot Strip Mine where they established their base.

The first operation conducted against Orgrimmar was to besiege the rear gate with ballistae. The bombardment proved successful, allowing the Dominion to assault the city and deal significant damage to its infrastructure. The progress came to a sudden halt, however, on the nineteenth day of the campaign. The Might of Stormrage, a militant kaldorei faction under the command of Ashamal Shalah'aman, blindsided the Dominion in a fatal ambush which destroyed their siege. Suffering grievous casualties, Setrien and his surviving forces retreated through a portal to Quel'Thalas. With the first bitter taste of defeat at the hands of his father's murderer, Setrien vowed to hunt Ashamal to the ends of the world.

The Descent
Months after the siege had ended, Setrien slowly began to lose sight of his dream for a peaceful world. Ashamal's brutal reminder had only been the first of many failed attempts at diplomacy. The most grievous incident occurred in Westfall where Setrien confronted Maxen Montclair for the first time. In effort to disperse a large anomaly known as the Raging Vortex, the Dominion forces established a camp near the Gold Coast where they were closely watched by the First Regiment. When Setrien discovered an abundance of indurium ore in a mine shaft within the valley, he ordered the Dominion to seize it and begin harvesting right away. Unsurprisingly, hostilities erupted between the two factions, aggrandizing the animosity between Setrien and the humans.

Another incident occured in the Twilight Highlands, where a coalition of New Horde forces set out to bring the wayward Dragonmaw back under their banner. Setrien brought the Dominion as a supporting force, but the coalition found themselves embroiled in an escalation of conflict with the Wildhammer dwarves and a number of Alliance reinforcements. Setrien's aggressive nature towards the Alliance was an unsettling discord to a number of Horde leaders present during the campaign, especially following the turmoil of the siege.

Upon returning to Quel'Thalas, Setrien discovered the most troubling news since his father's death. The interest on the debt owed to the state by the Dominion had reached an exorbitant amount. On top of this, the organization had just finished funding the ley-cruiser project and their funds were nearly depleted. Faced with bankrupty, Setrien had little choice but to hand the organization over to the state. The Dominion was absorbed into Silvermoon's army. State officials weren't without mercy, however. Setrien was elevated to a higher rank and allowed to retain management of the organization, now called The Fireborne.

Pained by remorse, Setrien's behavior took a turn for the worse. The shame of losing his father's organization caused him to become stressed and temperamental. Without a proper way to vent his frustrations, he turned his aggressiveness upon the most convenient targets he could find: the Alliance.

When the call to arms came from the Arathi Highlands, Setrien needed no excuse to bring the Fireborne to the battlefront. A summit called by Ivan Felsorrow explained the threat of Alliance encroachment on the Highlands following the assassination of Columban V at the hands of the Undercity Nexus. Setrien garrisoned his forces at Duskfall Overlook, a war camp just outside the dilapidated gates of Stromgarde. During the course of the campaign, Setrien fought to keep the Alliance on the defensive while Horde leaders made plans to besiege the fortress. During a number of tactical meetings, Setrien condemned a few of the Horde leaders in attendance, including the leader of the Undercity Nexus. As politics began to threaten Horde victory, Setrien's patience started to wane. It was imperative that he achieve victory in Arathi to retain what influence he had left over the remnant of his father's legacy. Out of desperation, he put aside his emotions and cooperated in a successful siege of the fortress.

Setrien's assault on Stromgarde's defenders was unforgiving. More humans, dwarves, and quel'dorei fell to his blade that day than any other battle he'd participated in before. When his wrath had subsided, his hands were stained with blood. Startled by his own lack of pity, the young commander began to question what he was becoming. In a state of existential crisis, he withdrew the Fireborne from Stromgarde and returned to Quel'Thalas for reconciliation, leaving the spoils of victory to the Forsaken.

The Tribunal
On the return home, Setrien and his forces encountered Montclair and his regiment as they were locked in battle with Amani trolls. Quick to take advantage of the situation, Setrien had the Fireborne assault both groups at once, a decision that ultimately led to the annihilation of the Amani, the retreat of the regiment, and the capture of the Lord Marshal himself. Montclair was taken as a prisoner and brought to Quel'Thalas where he was held captive in a dilapidated elven home along the border of the Ghostlands. Holding Montclair fully accountable for the death of his father, Setrien castigated the human while physically assaulting him. Although the attacks were brutal, nothing seemed to break the Lord Marshal's will. When Setrien demanded that he disband his regiment and step down as head of Westridge, the human refused.

The next day, Setrien sent a team of rogues to capture one of Montclair's associates, and the man who presided as his father's attorney at the trial: Baldrec Ashcroft. The graying human did not expect his kidnapping, and consequently did not put up much of a fight. When brought before Setrien, Ashcroft was shocked and disappointed to learn what had become of Tendael's son. With no more mercy than given Montclair, Setrien placed a number of demands upon Ashcroft, chief of which required him to notarize a testimony by Montclair which would admit the unlawfulness of the tribunal, annul its proceedings, and condemn any who refuse to cooperate in the capture of Ashamal as accomplices in his acts of terrorism. Reluctantly, Ashcroft agreed, exchanging a few words with Montclair in private before the two were separated.

On the third day, Montclair was brought into the ruins of an elven hall that had been repurposed to resemble a courtroom. Ashcroft was also brought into the courtroom, and a third: Theodora De Vries. The woman had been captured overnight to pressure Montclair even further to sign the documents. Initially, Montclair refused to cooperate, putting honor before death. However, Setrien quickly made it clear that it was not his life that depended on the signature when he lifted his blade to De Vries' neck. With grinding teeth, Montclair performed the only reasonable action and put quill to paper. Ashcroft then notarized the document, and the three prisoners were escorted back to the gates of Quel'Thalas.

Setrien's last words to Montclair before his release were bitter and conceited, but lacked their original fervor. Witnessing the human put down his honor for the life of one of his own did nothing to sate his thirst for vengeance. Although he'd achieved what he wanted, the victory still felt hollow. Plagued with apathy, Setrien allowed Montclair and his officer to go free, but not before threatening to slay Ashcroft if they attempted retaliation.

Description
"It's never hard to distinguish the ambitious youth from the veterans of war, especially when that youth is the esteemed descendant of a national hero. Like generations before him, Setrien has inherited the traits of a Dawnlight noble: prominent cheekbones, a square jaw line, and piercing eyes that glow with unrelenting determination. With the exception of his golden, spiny hair twisted into a messy foxtail at the back of his head, he appears well-groomed, a true product of his proud lineage. Perhaps the most telling characteristic of the young warrior, however, is his austere countenance. Hardly one to express anything in the way of congeniality, Setrien's reserved demeanor is a telltale sign of the burdens inherited generations of strife."

- Excerpt from Setrien's biography

Setrien is an athletic sin'dorei standing at six feet and two inches and weighing approximately one hundred and seventy pounds. His hair is blond and straight, just over sixteen inches in length. His skin is fairly tanned, free of any scars with the exception of a wound mark on his left shoulder where he was pierced by an arrow. His armspan is nearly six and a half feet long, allowing for versatile reach with his sword. He walks with a soldierly gait, never slouching or neglecting his posture. He speaks with an austere tone, wielding a broad vocabulary wrought from affluence and extensive education.

Personality
Setrien's personality is best described as taciturn. He is usually serious and direct, rarely one to reveal his emotions. Often perceived as arrogant, Setrien lacks the charisma to influence others, relying instead on practicality or intimidation. Although reserved, he is focused and determined to accomplish his goals without letting anything stand in his way.

What Setrien may lack in experience is made up for in confidence. He is difficult to coerce or deceive, and will not hesitate to retaliate when wronged. Inwardly, Setrien cares deeply for his people, especially his family. He expresses his love through action, not through words or gestures. Much to his detriment, he has a tendency to hold grudges, stunting his skill at negotiation or diplomacy. He often struggles to refrain from lashing out at those who threaten his pride.

Philosophy
To Setrien, the Light is nothing more than another source of power. Those who revere the Light as anything more than a weapon, in his mind, are dangerous religious fanaticals. His aversion to faith is so strong that he's often called for the destruction of the Church of Holy Light, calling it a "system of indoctrination utilized by the corrupt elite." Setrien's ideal world is one where magic is disseminated amongst the enlightened races of Azeroth.

Equipment

 * Diabolos - TendaelArmorSword.jpg colossal sword, said to have been forged from the core of an abyssal, is Setrien's favored weapon in battle. Spanning nearly two meters in length and weighing roughly 30 kilograms, the strength required to wield the weapon proficiently is possessed by few. The steel is imbued with various enchantments, causing victims of the weapon to burn with a sacred fire that cannot be extinguished.
 * Heir's Burden - TendaelArmorShoulders.jpg regal suit of armor, crafted particularly for an elven lord, serves as Setrien's protection in battle. Made from a special alloy, this armor is lightweight and sturdy, especially resistant to magical effects. Special enchantments have made it even lighter, allowing him to exploit his natural agility.
 * Libram of Tribulation - TendaelArmorLibram.jpg comprehensive treatise on the art of war has been painstakingly written in this beautiful tome, decorated with Thalassian flourish and sealed with arcane magic. Rarely is Setrien seen without it, treasuring it in place of the librams normally carried by Knights of the Silver Hand.

Mounts

 * Daybreak - A Thalassian Charger fitted with elven saddlery.
 * Avalerion - A tamed legendary bird from Pandaria.
 * Emberscreech - An adolescent phoenix, the ashes of which are kept in a small flask.
 * Tellura - An Amani dragonhawk gifted to Setrien by Feloirus Firavel.

Skills
Setrien’s Farstrider training endowed him with a broad range of skills, making him a versatile fighter. Although he demonstrated proficient use of the bow, he prefers melee combat, especially with two-handed weapons. Even in full armor, Setrien is nimble and will gracefully dodge most attacks. In addition to his martial portfolio, Setrien has an elementary understanding of magic, especially with the Light.

As a result of Colius Thalaron's tutelage, Setrien's latent energy manifests as holy fire, allowing him to imbue his weapon or cauterize small wounds in battle. The skill can be wielded defensively as well, causing any physical attack to erupt into flames of reprisal. With such a variety of applications, Setrien has gone as far as branding his technique the Searing Light.

Setrien's signature spell is Coruscation. With this skill he can   temporarily render his opponents sightless with sudden bursts of blinding light. This is especially useful in melee combat, as it grants him an opening to land an attack with Serandal. Caution must be practiced when using it, however, for it has the potential to cause collateral damage to allies.

Family

 * Ysula Dawnlight - Setrien's wife, a gentle and kindly priestess who shares residence with her husband at Dawnlight Estate. She is a highly intelligent woman, versatile in both the disciplines of Light and Shadow.
 * Tendael Dawnlight III - Setrien's firstborn son.
 * Tendael Dawnlight† - Setrien's father and role model, this champion of Quel'Thalas perished before he could accomplish his goals. The two had many similarities, the most obvious being their serious attitudes.
 * Rissade Dawnlight - Setrien's mother and one of the last surviving members of House Dawnlight. She is a strong woman, but Setrien is still quite protective of her.
 * Avictaria Thel'anos - Setrien's adopted sister.
 * Maethel Dawnlight - Setrien's sister, a blood knight in training.
 * Raethel Dawnlight - Setrien's sister, a blood mage.

Enemies

 * Ashamal Shalah'aman - This ruthless kaldorei was the one responsible for assassinating Tendael Dawnlight outside the Westbrook courtroom. Setrien has sworn to have his revenge not just on Ashamal, but everyone who had a hand in his murderous campaigns.
 * Aeriyth Dawnsorrow - Considered by Setrien to be a sociopath, Aeriyth's relentless opposition to the Dominion of the Sun has earned her a high position on his laundry list. Her gratuitous taunts and underhanded tactics guarantee a vexation that cannot be easily dispelled.
 * Maxen Montclair - The Duke of Westridge was an Alliance commander in the War for Dalaran and also resided as one of the three judges on the Westbrook Military Tribunal along with Ashamal Shalah'aman and Erich Manstein. Setrien despises Maxen for pardoning Ashamal's actions, believing him to be one of the most corrupt figures of the Alliance.