User:Vorbis/Ravencrest Dynasty

The Quel'Dorei Ravencrest Dynasty
The Ravencrest family's most famous member was without doubt the great Lord Kur'Talos Ravencrest, leader of the Night Elven resistance force during the War of the Ancients. However, it is not directly from Kur'talos' blood that the Quel'dorei Ravencrests draw their heritage. Rather, they are linked by his grandfather, and it is Kur'talos cousin, Kalidar, that proved pivotal in the division of the Ravencrest bloodline.

Kalidar Ravencrest was a fiercely loyal and honorable man, but unlike his politician cousin practiced arcane Highborne magic. He was particularly skilled in his magecraft, so much so that even Illidan Stormrage, Lord Ravencrest's personal caster, was said to be envious of his power at the time. Nevertheless, Kalidar played only a minor role in the War of the Ancients as, having next to no political clout, he spent much of his time cooped up in Black Rook Hold acting as one of Lord Ravencrest's generals. Upon the High General's murder at the hands of agents of the Burning Legion and the appointment of Desdel Stareye as his replacement, Kalidar was further made useless as Stareye rejeted the new Master of Black Rook Hold's request to be posted to the front lines where he could avenge his kinsman's death. Instead, he was kept in his position of military advisor - and most of the time ignored by the despotic and arrogant Stareye.

By the end of the war and still feeling bitter about remaining as a footnote in the pages of history - despite the arrival of Jarod Shadowsong and Kalidar's request subsequently being granted (but to little effect) - Kalidar refused to cease the practice of magic, the one thing he maintained would have made him a hero. He was noticed by the like-minded Dath'Remar Sunstrider and was one of the main Highborne spellcasters that unleashed a magical storm upon Ashenvale to attempt to force the Druids to change their mind on the outlawed magic. For this action, he was therefore also banished from Kalimdor alongside the other Highborne.

Kalidar had by now learned to hate the Kaldorei of Kalimdor for their various 'crimes' against him and was actually rather glad to bid them farewell and leave for another continent. The Tirisfal Glades were all he had ever hoped for - peace, quiet and freedom - and he finally felt content with his lot in life. However, upon encountering the various trials that faced them his sense of wellbeing quickly turned to disgust. Why did his misfortune seem intent on following him?

Dispite fathering a son in the Tirisfal Glades during the 'calm period' and remaining as one of Sunstrider's trusted lieutenants, he became a dark and brooding man - and a mortal at that. He was never to see his salvation in the form of Quel'Thalas as he died to a Forest Troll blade upon the journey north. His son Valin, however, was to lead a much more comfortable life as a member of the Convocation of Silvermoon. But it was not to last, Valin's life ending violently in a confrontation with bandits.