User:Wingates

= History of the House of Wingates =

The War of the Ancients
As long as there was evil tempting the world of good to turn, the House of Wingates has stood by to battle the dreadful forces of darkness. An order of Warlocks, forged from the same family line, forging a strong bond with the demons in their stead. Long before the Burning Legion waged its war, Alamanceir Wingates had forged a pact with the demon lords of the lesser planes that would give him and his family line the force that they would need to aid Malfurion Stormrage in the war against Sargeras. Joining his power with the Highborne, in an attempt to banish Sargeras, Alamanceir's spirit was unfortunately ripped from his body and merged with that of his trusted voidwalker, Barnak.



Returning to Gnomeregan
While the battle raged on, Alamanceir, in his new form, returned to his wife and son in the ancient home of the Gnomes. Distraught with woe for his family's sake, the Gnomish Void vowed to never allow himself rest until the House of Wingates honor was restored. Entrusting his son Icaros to the Dark Order, Alamanceir waited for him to grow into a strong Warlock to take up his father's staff and continue with their tradition.

Expelling the Darkness
As Icaros continued his studies, Alamanceir, fought a losing battle with the heads of state. The leaders of Gnomeregan did not approve of the cursed and displaced warlock continuing to live within the walls of their city. They believed the only way to get rid of the bad luck that was looming about them was to exile the Wingates family from their homeland and deny them their birthright. Infuriated and concerned for his family Alamanceir gave an ultimatum, he instead offered himself as the exile so that his family might stay to live in the city they had lived in since birth. Begrudgingly, the council agreed and Alamanceir was sent out into the world alone. Disappearing from knowledge, Icaros continued to train to follow in his father's footsteps so as to perhaps restore the family name.



From Boy to Man
As Icaros grew he joined other gnomes in the art of engineering and found that not only was he having fun, but he was creating fabulous works of machinery. In time the boy grew into a man and found his training was complete. Now a fully trained warlock and a master engineer, he married and raised his son Aramanis until the signs of encroaching evil stirred in Gnomeregan. Fearing for the safety of his family, Icaros sent them to live in the mountains of Winterspring. Taking up his father's staff to fight for freedom.

A New King Rises
Soon, as the neighbooring dwarves felt the loss of the High King Modimus Anvilmar, a dark wind stirred in Gnomeregan. The 3 Dwarven Lords, Thane Madoran Bronzebeard,Thane Khardros Wildhammer, & Thaurissan, began their fued for the crown. Taking no side in the battle, Gnomeregan was preparing for a new threat that had begun to rear its head. Icaros felt it in his bones that the War of the 3 Hammers did nothing, but stir new foes from old darkness. Hearing the call of his people Icaros took position as the Headmaster of the Dark Arts Academy that had begun to form inside Gnomeregan and began teaching the young students of what lives in the dark and why we fear it.

Thorium Hearts
After the Second War, Icaros felt the need to reunite with his family after years long past and traveled to Winterspring. Finding it to be much like his home of Dun Morogh, Icaros reunited with his wife and son, vowing that he would never leave them again. Aramanis, now 128 years old, was ready to begin his life as an adventurer and follow in his father's footsteps as the next warlock from the House of Wingates. Under his father's training, and with his mother's watchful eye, Aramanis grew into a powerful and intelligent wielder of the dark arts. With his newly forged power, he began to seek out his place among society leaving his parents to live peacefully in the city of Winterspring.



Keeper of the Void
As the Third War raged on, Aramanis felt his call to the front lines. Neglecting the usual forms of travel, the Heir to the House of Wingates instead walked the road to Moonglade and convinced the Druids of the glade to send him to the city of Stratholme to join with the forces of Arthas Menethil and Jaina Proudmoore. As his gryphon touched down inside the city he felt the odd eyes of the city's townsfolk upon him. Seeing the dead look in their eyes, Aramanis summoned up all of his power and opened a portal to the lesser planes summoning to him a voidwalker. As the portal opened a group of people rushed him screaming for his blood. Aramanis swallowed hard, fearing this would be his end before hearing the bone crushing thud of flesh on stone. There before him stood a large voidwalker, it's arms wrapped around the whole group crushing them. With little time left, Aramanis fled the city with his new demonic companion. Safely out of the reach of the Scourge, Aramanis looked to his dark servant. "What is your name, voidwalker?" he spoke as though expecting an answer. "...Barnak." Came the reply.

You Can Never Go Home
Fearing for the safety of his homeland, Aramanis fled to the gates of Gnomeregan only to find his ancestoral home littered with bodies and the remaining gnomes that still inhabited the grounds were changed, as if by some evil force. Finding shelter in nearby Ironforge, he was reunited with several of his people that managed to escape. The story they told was horrible, and the price they paid dear. Taking pity on his countrymen, Aramanis took up arms with them and vowed to help in any way he could.



A Woman in the House of Wingates
Working beside High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque, Aramanis found himself starting a family with the King of Gnomes youngest sister. After he believed it enough time he took her as his bride and she bore him a daughter. This would be the first girl to be born to the House of Wingates. Aramanis, though unnerved at the prospect of a female baring his name, loved the girl. She bore his features, aside from her bright pink hair, and he decided that being his child he would name her Aramina.

A Dark Shadow Falls
Time flew by around the family as Aramina was taught the finer points of being a lady in the Gnomish court. She spent Summers in Winterspring with her grandparents and traveled with her mother to the pools of Moonglade with her mother in the spring to pick sweet orchids. Her life was filled with joy, while the life of her father was filled with dread. Establishing himself with not only the Gnomeregan Exiles, but also the Argent Dawn he knew what lay ahead on the horizon. Taking up his adventuring gear once more he mounted up with Barnak by his side and traveled to the Blasted Lands. The word among the whispers in the dark told a story of the Dark Portal opening. Upon arriving he found he was not the only one that had heard the news. He was joined by a vast force of horde and alliance that feared the dark portal would stir and bring forth something dark and evil into Azeroth.



Hell Hath No Fury
As Aramina waits patiently for news from her father at the front lines she practices working on the favored craft of all gnomes, tinkering. Taking to it like mad she constructs her first Mechanostrider in only weeks, making her the youngest to master the art of engineering. A party is held to celebrate, but the joy is short lived as Aramina's father's voidwalker returns carrying his staff. Feeling the fury of all her ancestors boil under her skin, Aramina gathers her things and leaves the city of Ironforge for Winterspring.

Banging on her Grandfather's door, Aramina gives him the grave news. Beside herself with grief and remorse she pleads with him to teach her the dark arts. She feels that a grave injustice will be done to leave her father unavenged. Begrudgingly, Icaros agrees to teach his granddaughter as he had taught his son before her. Within 3 short years Aramina, the only offspring of Aramanis, is ready to take up his mantle and, with her voidwalker Barnak, fight alongside the Alliance to help protect Azeroth from the encroaching evils of the Lich King.