| The Lilac Cohort | |
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Coat of Arms: |
A purple and silver banner, adorned with a dark lilac upon it. Crested by a ship's wheel adorned with the anchor of Kul Tiras. |
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Current Head: |
Gideon Geartwist |
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Secondary Leaders: |
Anastina Seawood |
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Base: |
Lavender Landing, Tiragarde Sound |
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Founder: |
Benick "Goldenblade" Tyrian |
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Status: |
Active |
The Lilac Cohort is a mercenary - pirate crew that operates within Tiragarde Sound. A common sight in the town of Freeport , they hold their own base of operations within the waters of Tiragarde in an area known as the Lavender Landing
Once known as the Fulsbrook Fusiliers, the group started as a well-intentioned group of privateers under the banner of Kul Tiras during the Second War. Having originated from the island of Fulsbrook, a small isle off the coast of Crestfall that was completely slaughtered by the Orcish Horde; the surviving group numbered no more than one hundred and fifty people. Led by Benick Goldenblade, a former priest turned swashbuckler who was one of the only survivors of the massacre, he and what remained of his congregation gathered the remnants of Fulsbrook and rallied them to arms, forming the Fusiliers.
After the war, the Fusiliers continued activity against Kul Tiras' foes, namely pirate groups, before the death of Daelin Proudmoore at Theramore. After his demise, the Kul Tiras Navy continued to fall apart to mismanagement and poor leadership, leading to the Fusiliers rebranding themselves using the former banner of Fulsbrook, the Lilac. Deeming themselves the Lilac Cohort, they split away from Kul Tiras' naval forces and settled upon an area known as the Lavender Landing, a small coastal area in Tiragarde. There they began pirating activities, assailing vessels from other kingdoms, including the Alliance, though never harming Kul Tiran ships.
While resisting the call to arms by other pirate groups to serve Priscilla Ashvane, the group has been pressured by many other groups to cease their restraint. Even still, Captain Benick refuses to turn their blades on Kul Tiras; citing that there's nothing to be gained by harming their homeland. While this had begun to show unrest amongst the crew, none dared question Captain Goldenblade.
The crew was ultimately recruited by the Blades of Greymane to aid Kul Tiras, where they managed to take control of a Stormbringer-class ship and use it against the invading pirates during the Invasion of Boralus. Following this, the Lilac Cohort was made into an official privateer fleet of Kul Tiras. They would later ally with the Willowborne and later on, the Mother's Chosen, forming the Tidesworn Coalition. This coalition would aid the Blades with fighting Varik Hollowhart, where Benick pledged the Goldenblade to the group, reforming the mythical Grymmtide blade.
Benick and the cohort later took to the field in Silverpine Forest during the Invasion of Silverpine, where they aided with the defense of Dun Garol. During the battle, Benick distracted Lord Hendrick Cobalstant from fighting and killing Lord Reginald Buxiford IV and captain Emery Talton; giving them time to fall back. During this fight, Benick was slain, leading to Gideon Geartwist being promoted as the new leader of the cohort.