Ryndra Arathane

Ryndra Arathane is a proud Blood Elf and former Knight of Silvermoon. Since her transformation from Paladin into Death Knight, Ryndra's half-life has been a constant struggle. Where she once knew the joys of life, she sees the cold embrace of death. Ryndra now searches for a reason to continue, something to keep her living her life.
==Personality==
=== The Paladin===
Ryndra the Paladin was a true example of what the Paladins should be. Even after the destruction of the Sunwell, she held on to much of the beliefs behind her training. They had formed the basis she lived her life around. Courage, honour, duty. They were the very things that bound her soul to this earth and gave her a reason to live. Even in the face of so much death and destruction, Ryndra never faltered. She was not considered skilled enough to fight on the front lines but she inspired those around her to carry hope in their hearts that the day would be won. No matter the task at hand, that was what she did. She inspired those around her to greater deeds with her determination and her willingness to sacrifice everything for her homeland. But there was little place for honour or duty when Undead arrived at their doorstep. Ryndra understood the sanctity of life and the abominations that had entered their lands. It was all she could do to free them of their taint.
Outside of the ranks of the Paladins and later, the Blood Knights, Ryndra was still a girl. She loved to laugh and play. She was humble and caring and would do everything she could to help those around her. This stayed with her until until the very day she changed. Ryndra was never necessarily the life of any party. But she was someone whom you could share with, who would listen and give you her time because she could, not because she had to. She enjoyed just living, the simply things like the wind toying with her white-blonde locks, the cold waters of Stillwater Lake and the softness of her bedsheets. Ryndra never had any idea that something would happen that would rip her away from everything she loved and twist her into the very thing she hated the most.
===The Death Knight===
After being one of the Lich King's servants and losing her Mentor and the man she had begun to develop feelings for to the treacherous lands of Northrend, Ryndra reverted back to becoming a lost individual. All that her mentor had strived for, every lesson she'd learnt since returning to the Horde and the Sin'Dorei was soon forgotten. Ryndra has and always will be permenately changed by what she has become. She loathes herself and what she is and seeks to rise above it. She seeks a purpose, something that would awaken at least some of what she knew in her again.
But now, she is a ruthless individual who is not adverse to using her full array of powers to get what she wants. She has all but forgotten her Paladin training, all but forgotten her beliefs. She will use any method available to her to get what she wants. Right now, Ryndra has little use for morals and it brings her in to more trouble than she seeks. For she cannot become more than a death Knight while she still acts as one would expect. As has become evident in recent times, she would so casually raise the dead without a thought. Such things still linger in her from her training as a Death Knight.
But there is still a softer side to the new Ryndra and it is rarely seen. Inside, she is still the girl she used to be, but it is buried under so much destruction, pain and self loathing. She seeks a way to find a purpose, find a reason to keep going, to truly let the softer side flourish as it is only really seen around her animal companions.
==Appearance==
===As a Paladin===
Ryndra was always a lithe and agile child. She loved running and playing and this continued long into her life. Ryndra's love of exercise kept her fit and health but in the end, she looked little different from many other High Elves and later, Blood Elves. She was very proud of her beautiful looks and soft pale skin. Ryndra stood a little shorter than the average for the majority of her brethren but she was proud of this. It made her stand out a little and her opinion, made her look that much more attractive. She enjoyed having dexterous hands and walked with a confidence that never truly came never arrogance. She never considered herself better but was proud of what she was and it showed in everything she did.
Ryndra's long white blonde hair reached down just below her shoulders and was always soft and pristine. Usually, it was tied back for exercise and manual work she was so fond. But even then she kept it pristine to the point of vanity. It was the part of herself she was most proud of was her hair. When not her typical silver armour of a Paladin, she wore robes that hugged her form with the sleeves finishing just below the elbow. Her favourite was one she still possesses, one of dark emerald green with gold trimming.
===As a Death Knight===
Unsurprisingly, the Death Knight kept all of her physique and stature that she had as a Blood Knight. She still stands a little shorter than what was average for her race and her hair is still around the same length. But there are changes more than just the eyes. Her hair, while still kept well, is now an onyx black. Her face is mared by the corruption coursing through her veins causing her features around her mouth and nose to be slightly distorted and her skin is deathly pale.
On her back, Ryndra bears the ugly scars that caused the corruption to spread through her body. Three claw marks that run from her right shoulder blade disagonally down to her left ribcage. The scar is black and pulses with a dark energy. Ryndra always makes an effort to keep all of her scars and marks that she is a Death Knight as hidden as possible. From the mask she wears to constantly keeping herself clothed when around others.
==Background==
===The Early Years===
Ryndra Anariel Arathane was born to Calovan Arathane and Anariel Arathane on the seventh day of the third month a little over a century ago. Anariel and Calovan in particular were very caring parents, intent on instilling the belief of the Light in her from an early age. To his delight, his Daughter happily shared in their beliefs even then. Ryndra was a very attentive child. Always took the time out to listen and ask questions, she was never afraid to get things wrong. Many times she did but she learnt from each mistake quickly and it is a trait that she has carried with her throughout her life. But that was not what she was known for.
Ryndra followed just as much in her Mother's footsteps as she did in her Father's at that age. In between learning about the Light, she of course spent much of her time playing. This was one of the things she loved the most. She was always seen running and laughing with the other children. She was always the fastest of the group then, able to put in bursts of speed where she needed to. She was slightly competitive but always tried to encourage her friends as she had been taught. All of this set the firm ground work for what she would become in later life.
Ryndra was soon on her way to becoming an adept student of the Light as her studies intensified as she grew older. But she took everything in her stride, working hard on the tasks given to her. No matter how menial or seemingly useless, she understand that every task must be done for society to work. Although her Mother became more distant as Ryndra got older, she stilled loved both her Parents dearly, even if Anariel's chosen profession took her away for several days at a time.
===Paladin Training===
Ryndra's training continued and her Father began to teach her more into the ways of the Light. He began to teach her how to call upon its power to heal wounds. His goal was for his daughter to become a devout Priestess. Ryndra found it a struggle to call upon the Light at first. It was not until she realised she was doing it for the wrong reasons that she began to grasp the essence of how to heal. With her Father's guidance, she became adept at healing minor wounds but she still had much to learn.
When the day came that her Father was called before the Knights of the Silver Hand, Ryndra's Mother was out on a campaign. Knowing that they would be gone and back before her Mother returned, Calovan took his Daughter with him. Ryndra was brought before Uther Lightbringer and though the meeting was short-lived, it had an effect upon the girl for many decades to come. Upon returning to Quel'Thalas, Ryndra asked her Father to train her to become a Paladin. It was the proudest moment of his life. Though they had wanted her to be a Priest, seeing the devotion in her eyes, Anariel and Calovan could not refuse.
With the basics of healing already under her belt, Ryndra excelled in her training exercises. She took her skill with a blade from her Mother and her devotion from her Father to become a brilliant student of the Light. She was precise and unyielding in her abilities and once more, her competitive edge was not without inspiring those around her to do better.
===The Scourge Invasion===
Not long after the Third War began, Sylvanas dispatched Rangers to the lnads of Lordaeron in the hopes of bolstering their defences against this faceless enemy. Anariel and her squad of Rangers were one of the ones sent out on the scouting missions. Whatever happened to Anariel's Rangers is a mystery. Some say they fell and were risen again, others believe they were wounded and had sought refuge away from the Scourge and yet others believe they were some of those that helped form the Scarlet Crusade. Whatever the fate of these Elves, they have not been heard from or seen since.
Ryndra continued to learn and improve under the watchful gaze of her teachers. She continued to work at her studies of the Light and for a long while, looked to be heaidng towards to school of the Holy Light to be her chosen path. But the turns in Ryndra's life were never made without some form of catalyst. As her Elven brethren began to be returned from the frontlines during the Third War, she found herself training more and more in art of Retribution spells. But by the time the Scourge were on Silvermoon's doorstep, her training was far from complete.
Her Father was on the very frontlines. The Scourge fell upon his shield and the shield of his comrades, but the numberless hordes of undeath soon drove the would-be defenders back. But Arthas and his minions were far too powerful. For each Elf that fell, his armies grew until there was nothing more than undeath as far as the eye could see. The mass of walking corpses was unrelenting, unthinking and without mercy. Calovan was pulled down and slain. He died a warriors death, defending his homeland. There was no greater honour for him.
Ryndra was not a capable frontline troop by that point. So she took it upon herself to rally those around and prevent fear spreading as much as she could. As the Elves boarded ships bound for safety in distant lands, Ryndra was one of those who maintained order and was the last to leave the now tainted shore of Quel'Thalas.
===Esoteric Illusions===
Ryndra remained with her people, defending them and battling through all the trails they faced as they tried to recover their homeland. From pushing back to Scourge to combating the Amani Troll Kingdom, Ryndra fought bravely as she completed her Paladin training. Her ability to rally those around her proved invaluable as the units she fought in earned many honours in combat though the Paladin never took any credit for any of the deeds. She was proud to see her comrades flourish and become stronger.
As the battles in Outland began to draw to a close, Ryndra found herself back in Silvermoon more and more. It was there that she was approached by Kelnas Sunwing and Aérandir Ravenmist. Seeing the Paladin proud of her duties, they asked if she would be interested in joining their Organisation. Though the Organisation served the Horde is less upstanding ways than the Paladin would have preferred, she was happy in her roll there. She met many great friends there, most of whom were lost during the disbanding of the organisation in later years.
Under the Ravenmist's orders, she served closely with the Argent Dawn, aiding in combat against the Undead where she had reluctantly gained a certain specialisation. Although alot of that came from being a Paladin, much of it was from personal experience. Ryndra took to these new duties with pride. Proud to have a reason to continue fighting once more. She was called back briefly to serve alongside the Leaders in combat on the borders of Tirisfall against a massing Undead Incursion. The Scourge were driven back but in the process Ryndra suffered a wound from what she had assumed at the time was just another Ghoul.
As it turns out, several of these raids had been made against both the Horde and Alliance with the intent of bringing down or at the very least wounding some of the heroes of the Forces. Thanks to her training, Ryndra was able to hold back the corruption that back coursing through her being. But it became too much for her. She sought the help of Sunwing. His experience with Fel and Demonic magic proved invaluable it stemming the corruption, allowing the Paladin to return to active service.
===Transformation===
It was in her service to the Argent Dawn that came Ryndra inevitable fall. As Naxxramas returned to Northrend, the Scourge in the Plaguelands began to fight with renewed vigour and purpose. Ryndra was quickly called up to defend a vital caravan of supplies to Light's Hope Chapel. Needless to say, those supplies never reached their intended destination. Many soldiers of the Argent Dawn fought and died that day only to be reborn again and Ryndra was no exception. She rallied around her, inspired on by visions of her Father and Mother. The Paladin fought until she was overwhelmed.
But Ryndra was not killed that day. Once weakened, the corruption in her system took full hold of her body and mind, transforming her into the creatures now known as Death Knights. Her own feelings numbed, her memories all but eradicated. Ryndra like many others became an instrument of the Lich King. She fought without mercy or respite. Humans, Dwarves, Elves, Orcs, whether able to defend themselves or not were all felled by her blade. She was unrelenting in carrying out the Lich King's every whim and did so with almost pleasure. A Master of Ghouls and Ebon Plaguebringer, Ryndra wasn't let go of his whim so easily.
Despite the events of Light's Hope Chapel, The Lich King kept his vicious talons in many Death Knights still, using them to cause damage once settled back into the Horde. Ryndra was one of these few. But the equally merciless Esoteric Illusion swiftly brought an end to Ryndra rampage before it ever began.
===Rebirth===
With the last essence of the Lich King ripped from her, Ryndra was sent to Nagrand. There, she was to wait for further instruction from Esoteric. The further instruction came in the form of someone who Ryndra, at first, wasn't too pleased to see. A Paladin by the name of Zero'nthar. Their relationship was rough at first, Ryndra fought the Paladin at any given turn she could. But Ryndra's skill and strength compared little to his own.
As time went on, Ryndra respect for his strength and appreciation of his patience began to grow. For a short while, it looked as though Ryndra would become human once more. They spent increasingly long amounts of time together training and simply talking. As Ryndra slowly began to return to herself, she found her feelings for Zero growing. That was until the Warsong Defensive changed everything.
Esoteric answered the call of the Defensive and even Ryndra was not spared from being enlisted. Once again, her expertise were valid in fighting the Scourge and her want for revenge caused her to fight harder. Zero however, was called to fight with a contingent of Blood Knights aiming to use the distraction of the Defensive as a way to weaken the Lich King's forces. Like many others in her life, Ryndra never heard from him again.
The Warsong Defensive ended in a brutal final battle. Once again, Ryndra was almost overwhelmed by the Scourge but thanks to Kelnas Sunwing, she was returned to health once more. Since that day, Esoteric Illusion began to fall apart. Many friends were lost along the way.
===The Search Begins===
With another of those close to her gone and many others falling away, Ryndra cut her ties completely. She left to wander Azeroth, in search of something. Of what she wasn't sure. The chance of finding her Mother all but forgotten, the Death Knight wandered aimlessly. From the frozen tips of Storm Peaks to Tanaris' expanse of desert, she travelled. Along her path she made friends and enemies.
Some of these were outcasts like herself. Rogues, Mages, Death Knights, Pirates, Smugglers, Thieves. Very little is certain of what took place during the year she was away. The only thing that is certain is that along the way she acquired her Phase Blades. How a Death Knight came about such weapons has been of much speculation. Did she earn them through some trial? Did she lay her hands on them in a more uncivilised manner? Whatever her methods were, she possesses the Blades now and is deadly with both.
Ryndra has now returned to continue her search for what she has now deemed a purpose. All she knows is that she can serve the Horde in war and with war brewing on the horizon, now seems as good a time as any.
==Important Characters==
===Calovan Arathane===
The Father of Ryndra, he was a proud Paladin who taught his daughter everything she knew. He died defending Quel'thalas from the Scourge.
===Anariel Arathane===
Ryndra's Mother and a Ranger. Anariel's Rangers never returned from a mission. It is not known whether they survived the Scourge Invasion and where Ryndra once had hope, she has all but forgotten.
===The Ravenmists===
Aérandir and Sinkalia Ravenmist were two of the Leaders of Esoteric Illusion. They provided shelter and guidance to Ryndra, before during and after her transformation into a Death Knight.
===Kelnas Sunwing===
A demonologist, Kelnas was the third leader of Esoteric Illusion. Kelnas fought hard to rescue Ryndra from the Scourge and helped her fight the initial corruption. She will forever be grateful to this Blood Elf.
===Master Zero'nthar===
Ryndra's Mentor, Zero as she called him, helped her on the way to recovery. He taught her more on the use of a blade and restored some of her humanity. Though she will never admit it, she was developing strong feelings for him.
Category:Characters
Category:Blood Elf
Category:Death Knight
Category:Horde
Category:Female
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