Squad Silversong

Squad Silversong was a part of the Farstriders of Silvermoon's Ranger Corps, during the reign of Anasterian Sunstrider, prior to the fall of Quel'Thalas as a result of the Scourge invasion under Arthas' leadership. It was previously known as Squad Fairwind, but was renamed in the aftermath of the Second War, in honour of the group's fallen Lieutenant, Thyraen Silversong.
==History==
===The Second War===
The regiment had been deployed to the southern border of Quel'Thalas, to investigate a blaze at the edge of what was then called Eversong Woods. A combined effort of Horde forces, led by Ogrim Doomhammer, and Amani trolls under the guidance of the cunning Zul'jin, were burning the trees of the southern forest. Boldly, they attempted to fend off the invaders, but hopelessly, as the elves found themselves severely outnumbered. Angered deeply by the fiendish destruction of his homeland, it was reported by other rangers, who rushed to the scene, alerted by smoke, that Thyraen was the last to fall bringing down a score of trolls and a few orcs in a personal massacre, beforehand. It was soon after that Lirath Windrunner's squad joined the fray, retrieving slightly more successful results before he too, met his savage demise.
Following the events at what was to be immortalised as the "Blackened Woods", Alleria Windrunner, furious at her brother's death, marched upon the throne room of Silvermoon, tossing the head of a forest troll to the feet of her King. Anasterian, provoked by the news that the elves' mortal enemies had allied themselves with the forces the humans struggled against in battle, he immediately mobilzed the high elf forces, and sent them marching for war, led by Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner.
Drafted from another division, Jaelen Willowbrook was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, to lead a squad of mostly recruits, drafted freshly from the completion of their training, in what would be the replacement of Silversong's fallen men. Despite what would appear to be a starting disadvantage, the group quickly began to become an organised taskforce, adapting to each other's individual capabilities, and using their skills with near-perfect accuracy. Under Jaelen's charismatic leadership, and the advice of older, ranger veteran, Narimis Lightrose, the Farstrider vanguard gained notice amongst the rest of the Alliance forces, for their continued positive results. With the conflict's eventual close, the regiment had suffered only one casualty, that of Narimas Lightrose, who drew his last breath in one of the final battles, for the much contested area of the Thandol Span. He was badly burned from the flames of a red dragon, bent to the orcs' will under influence of the Demon Soul. He died shortly thereafter, in a medic tent.
===Aftermath===
What followed the bloody conflict, came to be an era of relative peace. With the Horde, for the most part, locked away in internment camps throughout Lordaeron, the quel'dorei were able to withdraw from the human kingdoms and return to their magical forestland, with little cause for concern. During this time, the squad was able to bond on more of a social level, rather than the primarily militant relationship they'd already established. Feralyn, younger sister of the deceased Thyraen, the group's namesake, had enlisted amongst the ranger division, shortly before the war's end, and even afterwards, continued to hunt down any stragglers of the enemy forces in an attempt to avenge her brother. Wounded or otherwise, she was relentless in her thirst for troll-blood, and left no survivors on her trips. Selena Cloudwing often ventured with her on these dangerous expeditions, the risk-hungry duo often being daring enough as to attack their meagre camps around Zul'Aman.
The Falconwild brothers, Llefior and Ilthawyr (Llefior being the eldest), were the group's more relaxed, womanising members. Forever chasing the skirts of elven maidens, through the streets of Silvermoon, or taking drunken tumbles through the woodland bushes, with women of somewhat less repute. More than once they had each vyed for the affections of their female comrades, and generally failed miserably, not to mention also trying to woo a certain Lieutenant's younger sister. Despite their idealistic lifestyle, in battle, the pair were always deadly serious, and made little time for tomfoolery.
Jaelen, was often found with at Silvermoon's archery range, flaunting his talents, with friend and comrade, Aelthan Sunlasher. The pair frequently made competitions out of their skills, seeing who was able to empty their quiver the fastest and most accurately, and such. While determined rivals, they were also extremely close, and Aelthan always seemed to end up at the dinner table of the Willowbrook family to gorge himself, and share glorious tales. It had been during this time that he took a romantic interest in Jaelen's sister, Eilynaera, though for the most part, it tended to be playful, and harmless.
The Lieutenant's own love-life was eventually more successful, as he managed to forge a relationship with his right-hand woman, the Captain of Squad Silversong. Ildriea Evergreen, was rather smitten with him, and the feelings were deeply returned. It wasn't unusual to find the couple sat along the banks of the Elrendar River, with topics of conversation ranging between the stars in the night sky, and the still fresh memories of the southern campaign against the greenskins. In general, the squad were a tightly-knit bunch, and shared a strong bond, built on loyalty, respect, and past experiences battled through as one.
===Arthas' March and the Fall===
Years later, came the betrayal from a member of the Convocation of Silvermoon, Dar'Khan Drathir, who sabotaged Quel'Thalas' defenses by handing their defenses from the undead, into enemy hands. Following these actions, Arthas Menethil, Crown Prince of Lordaeron, and Death Knight of Ner'zhul, led a wave of necromantic forces upon the elven kingdom, destroying one of their protection runestones in the process. Given the nature of the surprise attack, the squad found themselves scattered across the kingdom when the horde of undeath washed through the forest, and they were unable to make a stand against the force, as a unit.
Selena was the first to make contact, and was unprepared for the tremendous numbers of the Lich Kings servants, while valiant, the last-minute defenders decided to cut their losses and retreat to bolster their numbers before making a stand. It seemed that as the swarm swept through what is today known as Tranquilien, the quel'dorei were at least managing to make a small dent into the army, largely down to the aid of Silvermoon's Ranger-General, Sylvanas, but even that was for nought when they realised their own comrades were being ressurected to kill their own kin. It wasn't long after Sylvanas' bold sacrifice, slowing the advance of the Scourge for a good while, that Selena eventually fell, pierced by the blade of a dead, former ally.
The Falconwild's had rushed to the increase the numbers of the defenders, gathered ready to collide with the head of this lifeless host, bows drawn back in anticipation from the rear of their resistance, while magi flanked the sides, and infantry tightly grasped their blades, worried, sweating. It took several volleys of arrows to even notice any sort of difference amongst the towering numbers of the army the death knight commanded, several of them marching on, despite arrows in many of their lifeless organs, but it was clearly having some effect. Sadly, not enough of one, and the defenders were once more sent on the retreat.
Along the walls of Silvermoon's front gates, arguably held the largest resitance, with thousands of elves, looking tired, confused and fearful, all at once. Among them, Jaelen, Aelthan, Ildriea and Feralyn. Eventually Llefior was able to join them, as the retreat was mostly successful, but despite it all, Ilthawyr was the second squad casualty, and one of many, many more in the grand scale. When the host next met head on with the defenders, and the survivors, the resistance was hard, and bloody. A savage, yet short fight for survival; elf versus ghoul, banshee versus ranger. Even more disturbing, were the battles fought through teary eyes, as the quel'dorei plunged sword and arrow into the dead flesh of those they once knew, the zombified fallen, offering the same in return. Even with the glorious dragon-forged blade of Quel'Delar, slashing amongst the swarm, it seemed their numbers were endless. When the battle eventually reached the grove of the Sunwell, those who could had either hidden, or fled, Jaelen holding his ground for as long as he could, but when the news eventually reached him of Thalorien Dawnseeker's demise, he too made a desperate dash for freedom, and survival.
===Splintering===
With the widespread destruction amongst the quel'dorei lands, and the frantic attempts of escape when the Scourge armies had eventually become too much, contact amongst the squad became difficult, and for some, impossible. Struggling to know who had lived and who had died, they concentrated on setting things right in their own way. Some getting as far away as possible, others returning to the ruins, to claw through the rubble of their towns and city. Hoping to find friends and family.
==Squad Members==
===Formerly:===
Lieutenant Thyraen Silversong
Scout-Captain Narimis Lightrose
===Upon Splintering:===
Lieutenant Jaelen Willowbrook
Scout-Captain Ildriea Evergreen
Ranger Aelthan Sunlasher
Ranger Llefior Falconwild
Ranger Selena Cloudwing
Scout Feralyn Silversong
Scout Ilthawyr Falconwild
==Recent History==
Since the mobilisation of the Alliance forces on the frozen continent of Northrend, three of the squad's final members, have come into contact again. Llefior, fighting as a ranger within the Alliance Vanguard came into contact with both Jaelen, and Ildriea, in Icecrown, as they battled Scourge forces under the banner of the Silver Covenant. The couple had made camp in the Glacier alongside their quel'dorei allies, mostly tasked with culling the numbers of ghouls and nerubians. The camp welcomed Llefior, and his company into their midst to recover, before they continued on with their assigned mission. Through this meeting it was discovered that Llefior was in contact with Feralyn, and that she had remaind on Kalimdor, defending Theramore.