User:Extractum

Highlord Extractum Zeliek is the current Paladin-General of Stormwind. He is a veteran of all three major wars to date on Azeroth and is either 65 or 66 years of age, originally a member of the House of Nobles of Lordaeron before it's demise and take over. His continued activity in service of the Alliance has been marked in several major conflicts in Outland and Northrend, being a veteran of both the Battle for the Wrathgate and Ulduar to name two of his most recent ventures. He's usually found in the Cathedral of Light outwith military activity and Alliance representation, otherwise he can be found anywhere and everywhere. He is a leading diplomatic figure in Storwmind because of his principles in equality, peace and his vast experience in dealing with different languages and races. Unlike many military leaders in the Alliance, he is known to be welcoming and friendly to peoples of the Horde through both respect and principle, even if initially sceptical. In his own words he finds it "massively difficult to maintain a grudge towards a fellow mortal even with viable cause." He maintains a good relationship with the Blood Knights, and it has been rumoured that he and Lady Liadrin were romanticaly involved, such rumours have been dismissed quickly by Extractum as "farcical and untrue" but he has never denied Liadrin's beauty, saying "Liadrin is a charming, witty and beautiful Sin'dorei but I respect her as a Paladin above all other qualities!"

Before the year of the King
(Following the unofficial timeline) Born in the year -33, Extractum lived a good life, the son of a promising nobleman of Lordaeron with his brother. Slatwart followers of the Light, his family were wealthy land ownerswho were always charitable and compassionate to thier serfs and those living on thier lands and villages. When Extractum was 20, his father dies in the year -13, he inherited the property and title of his father and he felt at the time that he did not deserve such a title or territories and felt he was unable to be a noble effectively. Despite this, he pressed on and followed his Father's motto of "Eternal Vigilance." He soon became embroiled in the political affairs of the Kingdom of Lordaeron as one of the representatives in the governing system. He served some time as the Lordaeron ambassador to the Wildhammer Clan in Aerie Peak, where he became a very adept honorary gryphon rider, respected by many Aerie dwarves in the process, this experience would stand him in good stead in later life. He became knwown to be both leveled headed and intelligent beyond his years, and by the year -8, he had become both beloved by his poeples and close to the House of Menethil, entailing a close freindship with King Terenas II and an almost uncle like staus with the young Prince Arthas. These were to be the only years of peace Extractum would ever see.

The First War
In the year 0 (Year of the King), The Horde of Draenor, led by Gul'dan, came forth from the Dark Portal and mounted an assault on the City of Stormwind. Far to the North at this time, he only heard rumour and tail of the barabaric orcs slaughtering innocent people. Such tails chilled Extractum to the bone. It wasn't until after the succesful defence of the city of Stormwind that it was eventually destroyed by the Orcish Horde. The reality of the impending disaster struck Extractum as he opened up the gates of his lands to Human refugees coming from the Kingdom of Stormwind to the South, it was then that the penny dropped. He took up arms as a warrior taking a small militia of men from his lands to help the refugees flooding from the South.

Extractum was present in his balcony in the Lordaeronian throne room when the Lion of Azeroth, Anduin Lothar came in the year 5. He heard his speech which called for the armies of the Human Kingdoms to come together as one race and to fend off this threat of alien attack from the Dark Portal. He instantly strode to King Terenas side and gave him a short explanation as to why this was an important venture for his Kingdom. Trusting his 38 year old friend's advice as a fortification of his own initial optimism, Menethil nodded his head and Lordaeron became the base for the Alliance of Lordaeron.

The Second war
The years of the Second War, were the longest of Extractum's life. He became a Paladin at the end of the First War, joining the Knights of the Silver Hand, under the direct command of Uther the Lightbringer at the age of 39. He fought in countless battles, pushing the Orcish Horde back meter by meter until Warchief Blackhand was in the continent of Azeroth once again. Eventually, after gaining prestige for valour, courage and mercy in both the Alliance of Lordaeron and the Silver Hand, the war was wan, but not at the cost of his hero, Anduin Lothar who was slain at the base of Blackrock Mountain by Warcheif Blackhand.

After the Second War
After having victory over the Horde in the Second War, Extractum settled back into the role of a nobleman, maintaining loyalty to both his Holy order and the monarchy of Lordaeron. Because of his strict addherance to the principles of the Light, his compassion led his thinking. He protestied vigorously against the encampent of the Orcs across Lordaeron, claiming that Humanity was becoming just as ruthless as the Horde once was.

He witnessed the rise of the New Horde. He would never admit it except after a few ales in the Lion's Pride Inn, but he was pleased when he saw Thrall become a strong and wise leader, confrming his suspicions that Orcs weren't all evil, mindless creatures. Extractum once said to a keenly listening crowd "That'll remind the narrow-minded racists in the Keep who the real monsters were! Internment camps... boarish Aedelas didn't know what he was messing with!"

The Third War
With his affiliation with both Lordaeron and the Silver Hand, he was very very disturbed and concerned by the spread of the Plague of Undeath across his homelands. When he seen Andorhal had fallen due to corrupted grain supplies, he knew the situaton was going to go from bad to unfixablly terrible. Andorhal was the centre of both grain production and transportation, it fell first, but it had had enough grain deliveries from the city for surrounding cities like Brill and Stratholme to deduce diasterous results. The latter being both closest and largest in vicinity, he rushed with the Knights of the Silver Hand to Stratholme, where Arthas was already in command. He watched and was horrified as Arthas ordered he and his order to purge the city of unliving and alive inside. When Uther the Lightbringer refused Arthas such blatant slaughter, he disbanded the Knights of the Silver Hand. Extractum, now a high ranking commander of his Holy order, turned and with his superior Uther, rode away from the city, leaving the blood on Arthas' hands.

Arthas' command couldn't break the spirit of the Knights and Extractum reported the Prince's odd and worryingly violent behaviour to King Terenas. The matter was dusted over, the King reluctant to believe the jabberings of the 58 year old Veteran. However, Extractum new that this would not be forgotten so easilly.

Sure enough, months later when the Prince returned triumphant from Northrend with his two trusted lietuenants Marwynn and Falric the crowds threw petals down upon him, hailing his return. Extractum stood amongst the crowds that towered over Arthas' in a hooded cloak, although he loved the man before him like a son he couldn't deny a change had occured in him. He saw he no longer wielded Light's Vengeance the Holy warhammer gifted to Arthas by Archbishop Alonsus Faol, in it's place he held a glowing blue weapon from which Extractum could sesne evil. Hours later, it became apparent that by some "accident" Extractum's friend, King Terenas Menethil II had died, but deep down he knew that it was down to Arthas' newly found malevolence.

During this war, another sorrow befell Extractum, with the death of his younger brother during a Silver Hand scouting party at the hands of the newly rising scourge. This caused Extractum to mourn for 3 months continuously before he could console himself with the fact his brother's spirit was with the Light.

After the Kingdom fell from plague, the loss of it's ruler and the splintering of the Alliance before all that, Lordaeron was brought to it's knees. Many had died and many stayed in the now darkened lands. Extractum travelled South, assuming a position in Stormwind given to him by the House of Wrynn.

Before Renewed Conflict
Extractum desperatly held onto the now severly diminished groups and clumps of Paladins that once made up the Knights of the Silver Hand. He tryed desperately to hold them all together, with some degree of success. Notable Paladin such as Duthorian Rall, Grayson Shadowbreaker and many dwarven Paladin in Ironforge gave thier continued support to the Order. For a while however, he focused on his duties to the new Kingdom to which he belonged. He became a great teacher in the Cathedral of Light and spent a lot of his time in the Royal Library.

After the last of Lordaeron's defunct landowning barons had died away, King Varian Wrynn proclaimed Extractum the first ""Steward of Lordaeron."" Another title Extractum felt he could not fulfill was given to him, but he was not going to turn away such an honour, as he felt realistically that there was no one left with as much patriotism as he who could revitalise the people of his broken continent. Along with this honour, he was made a Highlord to further dignify his claim to Lordaeron's stewardship and in gratitude for his past accomplishments in the name of the Alliance.

World of Warcraft
Since such times, Extractum has participated in the majority of Alliance military action. He has lead many battalions into battle and has become known for his part in battles such as the Assault on Blackwing Lair and the battle of Zul'Gurub in Stranglethorn Vale. His most prominent victory was when he assisted the Argent Dawn in the Eastern Plaguelands, where he both entered the floating necropolis of Naxxramas and commanded the Alliance forces that took part in the attack. It was also within the necropolis that he was reintroduced to his brother, Sir Zeliek, who had been risen as one of the Four Horseman by Kel'thuzad. Extractum was elated with joy to see his brother was okay, although now unliving and serving the Scourge, it was not willingly, he had retained his sanity through sheer strength of will and faith. Extractum had never been more proud to be a Zeliek than when he saw his brother continue to manipulate Holy magics even in undeath. He proceeded to send his borhter's spirit on to the Light for good, this time being able to say his final goodbye like he never could during the Plague of Undeath. He was also the man who landed the final blow upon Kel'thuzad, claiming victory in the name of the Light and the Allaince.

For his skill in battle and strategy, and no doubt his vast wealth of experience, at the age of 63 we was proclaimed a Champion of the Alliance and the Paladin-General of Stormwind, making him the principle commander of Paladin forces in the Human capital(and unoffically the entire Alliance, due to even prominent Dwarf Paladins from Ironforge taking orders from him through respect.)

Following his successes in Azeroth, he was once again called to arms to aid his Argent Dawn allies in the Blasted Lands in the Battle for the Dark Portal. The battle reminded him of beating back Warchief Blackhand at the end of the Second War and with this memory, his fervour grew to once again, prove his worth as a Paladin and a commander. Extractum showed great presence in Shattrath City, as a temporary advisor to the naaru A'dal in matters in Outland. He also aided in the eventual tactical meetings concerning the assault upon the Black Temple fortress and the attempt on Illidan Stormrage's life, where he was involved in the organisation of Alliance forces.

Whilst in Outland, where the shattered landscape recquired a great amount of flying, Extractum left his old stallion back in Stormwind, favouring one of the gryphons of the Alliance forces instead. After proving his worth in the Sha'tari Skyguard using a mount he had only handled for a short space of time, he was revered by the organisation. He went on to liberate the Netherwing Dragonflight in Shadowmoon Valley from the Dragonmaw Clan, and gained the respect of many drakes of the flight. Two of these dragons became good friends and joined him on his adventures. This caused him to retire the gryphon. He is known to be a fierce combatant during mounted flying combat because of his experience with the Wildhammer so many years ago and his abillity to ride a drake of any kind with great agillity and speed.

Upon returning to Stormwind, another enemy defetaed, Extractum thought he could lay down his weapon and retire from millitary work but with the undead assault upon the city of Stormwind by the Scourge, memories flooded back of his homelands to the North. He refused to allow the Scourge to consume another home and another generation of Humanity. With this rage pent up Extractum's Light powers became immensly powerful in the defence of the City and at one point he killed a Frostwyrm with a single exorcism.

He knew that Northrend was his next destination.

Upon arriving in the harsh Borean Thundra, Extractum helped defend the initial site and construction of Valiance Keep with his Holy forces. When this was completed to a respectable degree he ventured forth into the forgotten artic continent to aid the Alliance. After a breif spell in the Howling Fjord He assisted Highlord Bolvar Fordragon in preperation fro an attack on the back door of Icecrown Citadel, the new throne of his old monarch, prince Arthas. When the plague machines were activated and the Red Dragonflight breathed life upon the site, Extractum was lucky enough to have survived, as he had been charged by Fordragon to command the Gryphon riders due to his well known flight experience in the past. This defeat left a bitter taste in Extractum's mouth... glimpsing the now fully evil Arthas he knew he needed to cleanse his soul.

During his travels in Dragonblight Extractum came across a cavern defended heavilly by the Scarlet Onslaught, upon entering he found an alter with a missing weapon. Extractum found, disgarded in a pile of snow Light's Vengeance, the former weapon of Arthas Menethil. Extractum disgarded his old mace and picked up the sacred Warhammer, blessed by Archbishop Faol himself so many years ago. Extractum vowed to use this weapon in honour of all that was once Lordaeron and what he wished to make it again.

Extractum was already an Argent Champion, having belonged to the organisation for a brief time in it's earliest years, but he now came to the Argent Tournament Grounds as a Champion of Stormwind and an ambassador for the Alliance. During this time, he operated mainly from the airship The Skybreaker.

After he was chosen to be one of the few to attack the Lich King's frozen fortress, he and an elite squad of Alliance soldiers invaded the sanctum of the Lich king and slowly made their way through his ranks of undead. After killing many undead monstrosities, they finally reached the top of the Frozen Throne, upon it, sat Prince Arthas. He was now mostly unrecognisable beneath his Plate of the Damned and the crown of the Scourge the Helm of Domination (Lich King), but Extractum knew it was Arthas and that was all he needed to know. The battle was long and hard, but the Alliance forces prevailed with the aid of the new Ashbringer.

Upon his death, the broken Arthas was cradled in the arms of his Father's soul. Extractum was said to have felt not great happiness upon seeing this but great sorrow, as Arthas lay there dead, he looked just as he had so many years ago as a young child in the gardens of Capital City in. These events gave Extractum nothing but anguish as all of his pent up memories and love for his child like figure came back to him. Extractum felt like he had killed his best friend. He returned to Stormwind and returned to the Cathedral teaching, praying, preaching and reading in the Royal Library of Stormwind Keep. He says nothing of his successes in Icecrown Citadel to anyone, except that he had "completed his initial objective, that was all."

Equipment
Light's Vengeance has been Extractum's weapon of choice since it's discovery in Northrend, it is a sacred warhammer, blessed by Archbishop Alonsus Faol and originally given to Arthas Menethil at the age of 19 upon his initiation into the Knights of the Silver hand.

Extractum wears a set of Grand Marshal's armour which was blessed by A'dal the naaru, giving it increased strength and granting Extractum a greater degree of Holy magic manipulation.