User:Anasyan/House Anarion

Timeline
Relative to Timeline (from official site, 2007).

Anasyan Anarion
Ambassador Anasyan Anarion is the current and only living heir to what remains of the Anarion estate and its holdings, making him the de facto fifth head of the household. Though the title was never formally and ceremoniously awarded to Anasyan, the rite is presumed given the circumstances concerning the fall of the Thalassian kingdom. This situation, coupled with his own reservations to taking up the mantle, has been both a source of controversy and criticism regarding his place in the post-Third War Kingdom.

Backstory
Born roughly two hundred years prior to the events of the First War to Veronar and Syl’aruil Anarion, Anasyan is the second of a particularly small main house, preceded only by Azrelyn who was more than a century his senior. As was typical of Elven nobility, Anasyan led a comfortable lifestyle as a rather spoiled, mischievous child. In adolescence, he had attained some notoriety amongst his tutors for being a troublemaker and a daydreamer, seemingly more interested in trivial misadventures than his studies. This was a stark contrast to his lineage, particularly when compared to his sister, Azrelyn who was considered a prodigy amongst her kin and peers.

But for all of his nonchalant theatrics, Anasyan’s knack for the arcane came as no real surprise. The Anarions were renowned for their mastery of arcane magic, even amongst the magically inclined elves of Quel'Thalas. His induction into the Falthrien Academy, however was nothing short of miraculous, requiring the intervention of Archmage Zahri Keth’atear who saw any potential in the antics of the young Anarion. As his father’s oldest friend and confidante, Zahri was well acquainted with the Household and saw much of his old friend’s character in Anasyan. A veteran of the Troll Wars, Archmage Keth’atear was a skilled battle mage and tactician, making him a proponent of the importance of practicality when teaching fledgling wizards. Though initially obstinate, the method appealed to Anasyan more so than the endless hours of study within the spires of Falthrien (Additionally, it is widely believed amongst his peers that the true appeal existed in the new variety of nonsense that could be devised with this new found knowledge). Before long, the young elf had exceeded all expectations and was a prime candidate for apprenticeship at the prestigious sanctums of Quel’Danas; a position he would turn down in favour of study under Zahri at Dalaran.

His years at Dalaran were uneventful for the most part. Under Zahri’s tutelage, Anasyan grew particularly fond of elemental magic and abjuration (the latter credited to the influence of his master), pursuing warding spell-craft coupled with mineralogy. His adventurous spirit was still very much in tact, manifesting itself during the numerous scholastic excursions that the wizard undertook on behalf of the Kirin Tor throughout Lordaeron and, later on, the Eastern Kingdoms at large. These studies not only honed his skills as a scholar, but also forced him to explore the more martial aspects of spell-craft due to the dangers of the high roads.

Anasyan was able to gleam a wealth of information about the Kingdoms and peoples of the continent, resolving his world-view and understanding his place in it. Most important of all, perhaps, was that his travels brought him to conscript the services of a Farstrider named Firralar Deruj; a fiery, skilled lady of the bow whom he would go on to espouse. Interestingly enough, their relationship was not founded on common terms and mutual understanding. Firralar made no secret of her distaste for the aristocracy and regarded Anasyan as a spoiled, ignorant noble-blood who wanted to make a personal playground of the wilds. In turn, the young wizard saw the ranger as a pompous ruffian and an urchin. Their petty squabbles were well known amongst the other scouting parties at various lodges throughout the Eastern Kingdoms and very nearly cost the duo their lives on more than one occasion. However, over the years the two grew close, tying the knot, as it were, just short of the First War. The joys of the Anarion household were doubled shortly thereafter when Azrelyn was named the fourth head of the house, taking the reins of Lordship from her legendary father.

With the fall of Stormwind to the Orcish invaders, Anasyan’s travels were sidelined and he returned to Dalaran to continue his forays into the arcane. Though the course of the invasion grew increasingly worrisome to the wizard, he elected to abide by Quel’thalas’ inclination towards neutrality. This turned into a point of contention between him and the freshly inaugurated Lady Anarion, who was eager to prove her mettle in the Thalassian court; all discord was set aside when the Horde and its Amani allies razed the southern woodlands of Eversong Forest. Azrelyn’s wish was granted and she, along with several notable Anarions marched off to the front alongside the Alliance of Lordaeron. Not to be left behind, Anasyan enlisted as a Kirin Tor envoy with the Royal Navy, likely a bid to remain near his betrothed who was conscripted as a fleet marksman.

Accustomed to small-scale skirmishes in the wilderness, the wizard quickly caught on to the harsh realities of full-scale conflict and the very real possibility that his home would be lost to the ravages of war. The previously unassuming wizard was tempered by his experience into a capable battle-mage and a crafty arbitrator between Quel’thalas and the allied coalition. However, when the Alliance pushed the front to Draenor, Anasyan stayed behind, returning to Dalaran to join his mentor in examining the sleuth of artifacts and information requisitioned by the Kirin Tor from the Horde’s Daemonology adepts. This preoccupied much of his time, particularly when coupled knowledge, later on, implicating the Last Guardian in the invasion. In the meantime, Azrelyn returned, victorious from the Dark Portal, her position as a worthy and notable successor to her lineage’s accomplishments secure. Firralar elected to retire from her own excursions alongside the Farstriders and devoted much of her time to restoring the scorched forests of Eversong.

The worthy respite, however would be short lived.

To be continued...

Characteristics & Personality
One need not look too far beyond the gross generalizations and stereotypes of wizardry and arcane sorcery to understand and appreciate Anasyan Anarion, or so the rumors go. His proficiency at manipulating the arcane has claimed a stake in almost every aspect of his life, as is typical with the vast majority of Azeroth’s Thalassian populace. Carrying himself with an air of thoughtful pursuit, it is often difficult to catch the elf parting ways with his frequent ponderings, some of which have the half-life of a fleeting moment depending on his mood. These thoughtful whimsies birth inquiries that necessitate investigations that usually involve a sea of parchment, fire, and at times, the all too sharp apices of minerals and metal. At this point, the elf normally disappears for extended stretches of time to seek his answers, though it is most likely that the seclusion is a self-imposed measure to avoid potentially disastrous distractions. Such are the trials of a student of the arcane, and for all the experimental failures and dead-end inquiries, it is an affliction that he would gladly bear.

But the aspect of the mage is but a counterpart in the dichotomy that is Anasyan, leaving sufficient space for the diplomat, as well. Though, at times eccentric, he is surprisingly sociable when approached, his trademark warm grin and gentle speech permeating his expression, exposing his honourable & noble heritage. As a member of the Anarion main house, such mannerisms go without asking. What is known about the enigmatic elves hints at a prowess when it comes to mastery over the arcane arts, steeped in Highborne traditions and the Thalassian code of valor. Such standards seemed to have outlived the tragic family past the razing of Quel’thalas during the Third War. As the last living heir, Anasyan has hurriedly grown into the role of his forefathers, feverishly pursuing what ambitions they held through the millennia and hoping to ensure that their legacy carries on past his own prime. As such, he is fiercely loyal to Quel’thalas and the ideals that birthed her, even if it brings him at odds with his present-day kin.

Anasyan stands at a height that is about average for a High Elf and is built more firmly than a typical practitioner of the arcane; a nod at his experience as a battle mage and a facet that brings out a different, commanding side of him when in the heat of battle. The wizard's only other distinguishing feature is a silver streak that runs across his hairline, a birthmark of sorts amongst his kinsmen.

As for his clothing, Anasyan dons robes, and nothing else for a garb. His twin-overlapping vestments are etched on the seams with dimly glowing highborne rune-words that resonate with arcane magic. His choice of weapon drifts between a stave and blade, though he doesn't seem to carry a personal preference. The blades are etched as well, though the runic markings on their forms glow with an azure aura.

Nomenclature
All names save for 'Anasyan' & 'Zahri' were crafted using a variety of Tolkien-esque name generators as well as the D&D Elven Names compendium