User:Joshmaul/Ublaz Deathspear

"'We have accepted our corrupted brethren back into the fold before, but I understand your reluctance to welcome your elder brother. Remember, however, that although he reeks of death and his continued existence is an insult to our way of life, he is still one of us - he understands that, hence his decision to exile himself. He is the head of your family, but you are the future of the family...as you are now the only way that your line will continue.'"
 * - Baine Bloodhoof, High Chieftain of All Tauren, to Telek Eaglespear

Ublaz Eaglespear was a warrior of the tauren who followed Hamuul Runetotem into the ways of druidism. Ublaz was killed during the first Scourge Invasion and resurrected in their service, where he took the name of Ublaz Deathspear. Now freed again, it was the influence of an influential sin'dorei ambassador that kept him from being shunned by his people...

Biography
Ublaz was a member of the Eaglespear tribe, a smaller tribe that had been part of the Bloodhoof tribe. Originally a warrior, Ublaz felt a strong connection with the Earthmother and had an appreciation for nature. Thus, when Malfurion Stormrage trained Hamuul Runetotem in the ways of druidism - ways lost to the tauren for generations - Ublaz was quick to become one of Hamuul's students.

As a Druid of the Claw, Ublaz fought in the Battle of Mount Hyjal alongside the Horde. When the battle ended, Ublaz accompanied his chieftain, Cairne Bloodhoof, to the mesas of Mulgore to settle their people in their new capital city of Thunder Bluff, where he helped Hamuul train new druids.

The Scourge Strikes Back
When Kel'Thuzad returned to plague the world of Azeroth with his menace (and with the dreaded disease that had destroyed Lordaeron), Ublaz was on the front lines against the necropolis that assaulted Mulgore, and later joined a Horde assault force that travelled to the Eastern Plaguelands to combat the Scourge on their doorstep. During an assault on Kel'Thuzad's fortress of Naxxramas, Ublaz was slain by the flesh titan Thaddius, but the Scourge denied him the chance to join his ancestors. Instead he was resurrected and "held in reserve" for a special purpose. That purpose was revealed when Ublaz was awakened and transferred to Acherus: The Ebon Hold.

Ublaz took the name "Deathspear" and served at the Lich King's bidding during the assault against the crippled Scarlet Crusade. Filled with unholy strength, Ublaz left a path of destruction so brutal that even his teachers, particularly Instructor Razuvious, saw great potential in the undead tauren. It was said by Artimus Devaneaux, who had also been a Scourge death knight during the war against the Crusade, that the destruction of Havenshire was largely due to Ublaz's emotionless butchery. He slew anyone and anything that stood in his path, leaving his mark on the battlefield that day.

Ublaz arrived too late to partake in the battle for Light's Hope Chapel, but was there long enough to see its result. His connection to the Lich King severed, Ublaz swore himself to the Knights of the Ebon Blade and endured the gauntlet of rotten fruit, spit and insults in Orgrimmar with his brothers.

Reconnected to His People
After receiving Thrall's blessing, Ublaz travelled home to Thunder Bluff, where he was immediately taken prisoner by the Bluffwatchers and sentenced to death for high treason by High Chief Cairne Bloodhoof, a veteran of the Third War himself. The execution was stayed by an unexpected benefactor, a renowned sin'dorei diplomat that the tauren knew as "Akiticha", or "warrior of blood" - Master Ordevaas Portalseeker.

Ordevaas had had meaningful interactions with another death knight, Settra of Borealis, the General of the Forsaken, and despite his personal qualms believed that the death knights could be of use in their battle against the Lich King. Ordevaas also pointed out that Tirion Fordring, a man respected on both sides for his sense of honor, had spoken on behalf of these knights of death (privately, however, Ordevaas had questioned his sanity, but still recognized the truth of the Silver Hand leader's words). Thanks in no small part to Ordevaas interceding on his part, Ublaz was spared and allowed back into tauren society...but was still watched by his people for signs of treachery.

Contacted by the Council of Deathlords, Ublaz was named "Deathlord of Mulgore" - the first Deathlord of mainland Kalimdor - and given the full support of council head Artimus Devaneaux.

After the Council's Fall
Following Artimus' decision to join with Saavedro's Lordaeron Deathsworn, Ublaz went his own way into the wilds of Northrend in search of a greater understanding of his powers. For more than three years, even after the death of the Lich King and the Shattering ravaged the lower continents of Azeroth, Ublaz entered the ruined Scourge fortresses and self-trained himself in his art. Upon his return to Mulgore, he saw the changes to his people and their lands after he left. The Barrens had been ravaged, Cairne was dead, and Baine was now High Chieftain. As he went before the new leader of his people, he was surprised to see his younger brother Telek there, geared in ornate armor, wearing the colors of a sin'dorei Blood Knight, and wielding a massive sword. Telek was a member of the Sunwalkers, an order of holy tauren warriors wielding powers similar to paladins.

Ublaz, wary that his brother would use his powers to slay him, knelt before his new High Chieftain. Telek acknowledged his elder brother curtly but respectfully, as he handed him the ornate spear that was the symbol of their family, stating that he was now the head of their tribe. Ublaz accepted the weapon and declared that he would journey into the wilds of Kalimdor at the behest of the goblin mercenary Kitrik and his Grand Army of Kezan, knowing that he would not be accepted in Mulgore. Wishing his younger brother well, Ublaz departed Thunder Bluff without another word. Baine observed that though Ublaz was the tribal chieftain, it would be up to Telek to ensure that the Eaglespear line continued.