User:Joshmaul/Council of Deathlords



The Council of Deathlords referred to two separate but similar groups. Both are organizations of death knight commanders representing various locations throughout both Azeroth and Outland. The fundamental difference between the two, however, is that one (the original) serves the Lich King, while the other (split from the original) serves the forces that oppose him.

The Councils in both the Scourge and the Ebon Blade are now defunct, with the Ebon Council having split to either join the Lordaeron Deathsworn or the Grand Army of Kezan.

History
The Council of Deathlords was organized by Baron Rivendare a year before the reopening of the Dark Portal. The Baron sent several necromancers from the Cult of the Damned and death knights trained in the halls of Kel'Thuzad's fortress of Naxxramas to places under Scourge control or places that could be subverted for their purposes. His lieutenant was Artimus Devaneaux, recently corrupted into Scourge service.

Though he is considered something of an on-again/off-again servant, Artimus took to the task that the Lich King gave him. Reorganizing the Council, Artimus saw that Razorfen Downs and Razorfen Kraul were lost - the priest Sekhesmet had killed both ambassadors and destroyed Amnennar the Coldbringer, cutting off any Scourge influence in Kalimdor. With that in mind, Artimus set his headquarters at Utgarde Keep in Northrend, aiding the Scourge operations (led by the Scourge overlord of Howling Fjord, Prince Keleseth) in preparation for the arrival of Alliance and Horde forces to combat them.

The Council needed a new Deathlord for Lordaeron - the necromancer Lor'revan Kethlir was sent to Naxxramas, which was returning to Northrend - to replace Baron Rivendare, who had been killed by Saavedro of Stratholme. Artimus, now head of the Council, captured a Sha'tari vindicator named Joranaan outside Stratholme, and realized that he could also send a Deathlord to Outland. Taking the name Koschei, the corrupted vindicator was sent to set up shop in Auchindoun and attempt to subvert the spirits of the dead. It was Koschei that provided a solution to the vacancy in Lordaeron.

The warlock Joshmaul the Corruptor had captured and turned a draenei vindicator named Velenkayn with the aid of former Scourge general Settra. Velenkayn had familiarized himself with the Plaguelands region and was well-suited to the task at hand. Trying to find a way to avoid the Scourge's baleful stare, Joshmaul - without consulting Settra or any of his other lieutenants - met Koschei outside Auchindoun and, realizing who the Deathlord served, delivered Velenkayn to him, who then presented him to Artimus as a "peace offering".

The conflict between the Scourge and the living comes ever closer. When Artimus was defeated by Saavedro and went into hiding, the Council was again momentarily leaderless...but then Artimus returned months later in Azjol-Nerub, again taking up the banner of the Scourge. The Council would one day reunite, at a time and place that will be decided by the Council head - and Artimus would be at the forefront of the conflict between the Council and Saavedro, who remained Artimus' greatest single enemy. But things turned out quite differently than anyone had anticipated...

Acherus: The Turning Point
Called by Baron Rivendare prior to his unfortunate beheading, Artimus left Utgarde Keep to meet with Highlord Darion Mograine, leading an expedition based out of Necropolis Acherus, also called the Ebon Hold. It was said by Instructor Razuvious that even Naxxramas, the citadel of Kel'Thuzad, could not withstand a direct assault from Acherus. With Naxxramas returning to Northrend, Acherus was to be the major Scourge fortress in Lordaeron, located in a secluded area east of the city of Tyr's Hand. Little did Artimus realize that his actions at Tyr's Hand would be subject to a prophecy made by one of Saavedro's confederates, a draenei farseer - actions that would result in Artimus being freed from the Lich King's dominance.

With the Battle of Light's Hope Chapel and the formation of the Knights of the Ebon Blade, the Council split. Baron Rivendare - raised by the Lich King, and somehow given a new head - became the Council leader for the Scourge, while the new Council of Deathlords - part of the Ebon Blade - is now headed by Artimus. Artimus chose Koschei, Settra and Velenkayn as his lieutenants, Settra serving as his ambassador to Sylvanas Windrunner and to the Horde. Settra, who had recently broken from Joshmaul, was more than happy to aid death knight brothers - who were as "forsaken" as he was - and accomplish the ends that both the Ebon Blade and the Dark Lady desired: Bringing an end to the Scourge. The Council from the Ebon Blade has changed the definition of "Deathlord" somewhat, making them emissaries rather than outright overlords.

Over time, the Council allied with their former enemy, Saavedro of Stratholme. Saavedro had recently arrived in Northrend and had been aided by the Knights of the Ebon Blade in their battle against the evil troll Drakuru, who sought to be the Scourge overlord of Zul'Drak and raise an army to take the capital of Gundrak itself. Aided by Ordevaas Portalseeker, Saavedro derailed Drakuru's plans, and the Lich King struck him down for his failure. Stefan Vadu, who had led the effort against Drakuru, had spoken well of Saavedro's efforts to Artimus, who still retained the stigma (in Saavedro's mind) of Scourge service, and both came to realize that they could be allies. In time, they became brothers-in-arms, and Artimus personally pledged the support of the Council to both Saavedro and Ordevaas, who were connected to the top leaders of their respective factions (though officially, the Council remains neutral).

The Scourge
Thanks to the efforts of Saavedro of Stratholme, Ordevaas Portalseeker and Artimus Devaneaux, the Scourge Council of Deathlords has been wiped out; the most recent to fall - both slain by Saavedro - were Orbaz Bloodbane, one of the trio from the Scarlet Tavern (the others being Thassarian and Koltira Deathweaver), and Baron Rivendare, who was slain (again) in Naxxramas...but the Baron's return from beheading in Stratholme makes his fate somewhat dubious.

In addition, the darkfallen brothers Keleseth and Valanar - both involved in the war in the Scarlet Enclave that Artimus had taken part in, and both defeated by Saavedro, Ordevaas and Artimus - have recently been raised in undeath by the Lich King, along with Prince Taldaram (who was slain by the three men in Azjol-Nerub's lower halls), and brought to Icecrown Citadel to serve as an honor guard of sorts to their queen, Lana'thel.

The Ebon Blade


With the blessing of Darion Mograine, Artimus Devaneaux reformed the Council under the banner of the Ebon Blade. Though he is head of this new Council, of which Mograine is a member, Artimus remains subordinate to the Highlord as a Knight of the Ebon Blade. The fact that this has not caused any form of conflict is a sign of the respect the two men hold for one another.

The Council's most bitter enemy, besides the Scourge, is the insane warlock Joshmaul the Corruptor, who has embarked on a campaign of assassination against members of the Council. The draenei shaman Jaeden'laek made a prophecy regarding the Ebon Council, how it would be split by the controversy surrounding Artimus Devaneaux's secret alliance with Joshmaul - and that the orcish Deathlord Seekthreed would somehow factor into it.