Donovan J. LaFleur

"The Uprising? Bitter hearts at their purgatories, ill-fated men of mysteries."
Donovan James LaFleur, born before the Orcish Invasion of Azeroth, died after the Uprising's demise, was the Shadow Marshall of The Spine, and a high ranking deathstalker of the Undercity until his betrayal. He was widely known as a charismatic nobleman and a military leader, yet a vicious ladykiller, thief, grifter and a liar on his darker side, who caused fear and loathing on Alliance settlements both in his life and unlife. Maintaining a selfish gung-ho attitude for his entire time of existence, his legacy for the world causes shared opinions.
==Family & Early years==
His family name LaFleur comes from an old western Alteracian dialect, meaning "the Rose". The family was of noble origin, being an influential part of Stormwind for generations. It had been funding itself, gaining power and wealth through war since it's first rise, causing disdain in many lesser inhabitants. 
His father, Edhart, was a greedy aristocrat, who maintained the family business alone, planning and working out a way to leave his brothers out of the inheritance's reach upon Donovan's grandfather's death. His mother Filna was from a working-class family, only married Edhart to access a noble life through his wealth.
They lived in a subtly abusive relationship. Edhart never beat his wife, instead threatening her with poverty and such if she refused to bend for his will, as she often manipulated him in different ways, claiming divorce would reveal her non-blueblooded origin, for example. Even though they were unhappy with their relationship most of the time, divorce would have been a catastrophe for both of them. 
Donovan was born after four years of their marriage, and lived a good childhood. Even during the wars he had access to high-standard education, proper meals every day, and his home had never suffered even a scratch. 
When he was barely a teenager, his life turned around. A huge amount of the family's wealth had been gone with the wind, as his mother had an affair with an unknown man who only used her to gain access to the money. Enraged to the point of insanity, his father killed both his mother and then himself short after, forcing Donovan to move to Redridge with his poor grandparents of her mother's side. Despite having inherited gold which was a great sum in the local's eyes, he drifted into criminality, from thieving to arsons and other violent acts. This continued until he was a young adult, as he moved back to Stormwind and forced himself to have some manners, however, it wasn't the end of his deliquent lifestyle.
==Adulthood==
As an adult, his name was gaining attention and fame on the streets of Stormwind. He had now given up on 'crimes for degenerates' as he calls it, instead cheating people and organizations, having a reputation of a fine man with bad intentions. He however had an obsession for chasing down the man who ruined his family, and everything he ever did was contributing to his cause in a way or another. This continued for it's time, until he was sent to a working camp as a prisoner by the Crown. His ship was ransacked by the Bloodsail, and he and a few others were taken prisoners.
Eventually he joined the Bloodsails due to the circumstances, and after years had passed, he even married the ship's high elven captain, whom he had an illegitimate son with. Paradise on the sea didn't last long, as the ship was sunk by the Alliance navy. He and a few others next found theirselves from Tanaris, having to resort to banditry to survive.
A year or two later he found his way back to Stormwind, trying to focus on the con man and leave the crime to minimum.
==Death & Reanimation==
After returning to Stormwind under a new alias, he kept working on finding his nemesis. A numerous amount of gold was spent on it, with no results. A few more tricks and cheats to gain some of the lost gold back, but they were going to be Donovan's bane. He was sent to Northrend on a prisoner ship again. For much to his surprise, he met a venerable man there, who turned out to be the man Donovan had always been hunting, and even became him in a metaphorical way. With only few words spoken, Donovan had already strangled him to death. The ecstasy of vengeance was short lived, as he was killed and thrown in the sea by the guards just seconds after.
Not long after his death, his lifeless body washed up on the shores of now shadow-ravaged Tirisfal. A Forsaken necromancer used the opportunity, only to be killed by the startled "pawn". Donovan, having no idea about his location, and not even of his status. 
Eventually he assimilated into the Forsaken perfectly, begun his grim career as unliving.
==The Apothecarium==
During the Apothecarium, Donovan, much to his annoyance, served as a low-ranked shade for the Testing department. He quickly rose through ranks, eventually being the right hand of The Raven. In the events of the Isilliosis crisis, he unknowingly contributed towards its spreading under the cover of ignorance, as masterminded by Duskmantle. After his plan was exposed, Donovan, as with the rest of the Apothecarium and the Horde hunted him down to Netherstorm, where Duskmantle was captured and brought to Hammerfell for execution. Donovan and some others from the Apothecarium were taken into custody by the Horde, and he was sentenced to prison until the investigation had been completed.
==The Spine==
After half a year in custody of the Horde, Donovan was freed by the agents of the Spine, doing all the necessary paperwork to the freeing legitimate and official in the Horde's books. The Spine faced constant trouble due to the events at the Wrathgate, Duskmantle's betrayal and Shadowsworn's rebellion, maintaining a very vigilant and neutral aspect in political matters. Working mainly to boost up the organization itself, Donovan first participated as the right hand of Hainricht Kastner, and then taking the role of Shadow Marshall, the leader of the Deathstalkers. Donovan was then drafted for a special mission by Aleric Hawkins himself, leaving the role for Montague M. Rude. After several months, he came back to the ranks of Spine. After Rude resigned from the position, Donovan took the burden of Shadow Marshall on his shoulders once again, until the rebellion took place.
==Death==
The Spine eventually revolted against the Horde and the Forsaken, claiming Sylvanas as a false queen. The organization was then labeled as a terrorist faction by both Horde and the Alliance, having no allies nor army except for a small division. The Spine committed many dreadful acts, with the former department leaders masterminding them. Although most of them already knew all odds were against them, Donovan including, they continued spreading havoc upon Azeroth. During it they captured Relcha Kim'belore and Sorlain Amaran from the Convocation of Elrendar, as well as Kren Demonbane of the Thousand Eyes. Donovan grew fond of the first two, often exchanging words and interesting discussions regarding all kinds of subjects. Eventually having to resort to torture, the Spine also made the lives of the trio hell incarnate. In a conversation, Amaran questioned Donovan's confidence in the Spine's campaign, he admitted that it will result in their deaths, claiming that perhaps it shall be Amaran himself who shall take his life. While the end was closing near, Donovan actually felt sorrow when they had give the hostages way. In the siege of Thunder Bluff, the last measure, he knew it's failure was inevitable, and refused to take part in it. Instead, he watched from the cliffs as his colleagues fell.
Donovan escaped back to Tirisfal Glades to meet an old friend, giving her his most loved heirloom, the gun which has passed down from father to son for centuries. Although as the Shadow Marshall and one of the most skilled deathstalkers in history, he could have hidden in the shadows for eternity or until the whole world would've forgotten about him, but simply chose not to. He left a message to Amaran, to meet him in the cliffs of Gilneas to have the standoff. When Amaran arrived, instead of fighting, both of them laid down their weapons to have their final conversation. Donovan explained his motives, and then told the knight to fatally blast him with Holy magic, so that no necromancer could ever touch him again. He asked the knight to retire from the soldier's life, claiming he's done enough for his people, recommending him to live off his days as a peaceful family man who will be honored by his nation. Said words angered the knight, frustrated even from the thought that he would give away everything he has fought for, after which Donovan cursed him for his arrogance, jumping down the cliff with a grin on his face, leaving his mark on the world.
==Mindset==
Donovan was a very cynical person, having no belief in almost anything non-mundane. He had little value for honor, calling it as a mere excuse or a tool to control the masses. Instead, his love for beauty, class and taste is renown among everyone who knew him. This includes alcohol, weapons ( mainly handguns ), art, and women.
He was a very selfish person, letting absolutely nothing get in his way when it comes to reaching his goals. By all means, he was not 'evil' just for the sake of it, instead he valued his own independence more than anything, willing to even slaughter a thousand babies to achieve it. Although, with all of that, there's still a fact about his emotions that he doesn't like; he can still feel pity.
He sees no divine paths nor quests for glory as important, and even if he was very humble, he had an obsession for 'leaving his mark upon the world' through way or another, which was another reason for him to join the Uprising.
== Items and Heirlooms ==
"The Rose"- A family heirloom, gone from father to son for over a hundred years. It's a masterfully crafted single-action revolver, decorated with a 'roses and thorns'-themed engraving coiling around the barrel. In both the holster and the handle, there's the coat of arms of his family, and the letters "L.F". Even if it's practically of little use, it is still capable of killing as proven by the many executions set in motion by Donovan, and it's worth would linger in thousands of gold as it's a very old heirloom of a known family. 
It was given by Donovan during his last hours to Olivia Renn, as he held it dear to him and wanted to keep his enemies from looting it and selling it as if it was nothing but a tool.
The Hat- It's a very simple, silken jungle hat with a white panther-skin pattern on it. Between the layer there's an iron wire reinforcing it, making sure it won't be squashed nor it's model broken. Normally it wouldn't even be worth a hundred gold, but as he has been wearing it for the last 30 years, it has became his trademark. 
Currently being held my Relcha Kim'belore, however, how she got the hat is unknown.
"Conniver's Coatee" - A long trenchcoat made of thick black leather. It has been reinforced over the ages so delicately that it's very resistant against blades, especially for something made out of leather. It has several pockets, belts, sockets and harnesses inside which can maintain a large amount of items and weapons without having to carry external bags. As with the hat, it's sentimental value is very high due to it's old age.
==Skills & Traits==
Stealth - Donovan was a master of stealth and Shadow illusion magic, making him one of the most invisible people to ever walk on Azeroth. Despite his skills, he's more of a tactical figurehead instead of a frontline fighter.
Small guns & Gunsmithing - He has been training both since childhood, and had made many exceptional and expensive guns, although most of them were for ceremonial use.
Daggers - As a deathstalker, he obviously mastered assassination and combat fighting with small blades both in life and undeath, although he very rarely shows his skills.
Smooth talking - One of the things he's most known for. He had his ways for manipulating or then simply just seducing both friends and opponents, and he has used this way to access his goals a lot more often than violence.
Card games - He has been fascinated by both gambling itself and luck for his entire life, always carrying a deck with him.
==Relationships & Notable people==
Note: these are not in any order.
Ladrissa Del'liandal - The high elven captain of Crimson Dawn, a ship of the Bloodsail Buccaneers, and Donovan's former wife, whom he had a son with. Imprisoned.
Darthein - Donovan's halfbreed bastard son, who in his life was a narcomaniac and a lowlife until his death.
Nathan Black - The supervisor of the Spine. Donovan didn't appreciate the most of his decisions, but he still held him important as he was both intelligent and sane.
Felucia L.V Black - Nathan's younger sister, and the overseer of the Apothecarium's Research & Development wing. He occasionally pestered her on purpose, allured by her arrogant and dominant attitude.
Darsolenew Duskmantle - The Grand Apothecary of the Apothecarium. Donovan had deep respect for him, even after the Isilliosis crisis.
Rebekka Citreola - Former executor of the Apothecarium, whom Donovan liked due to her overall nice but responsible behaviour, something he didn't expect from a deathguard.
Sinquija Cidé - One of the best deathguards that have ever walked the cursed earth. He had little feelings, and his only ambition was to complete the mission. This was first annoying to Donovan, but later he learned to respect him.
Dresta Thornton- Despite her blind loyalty, a person liked by Donovan, something that happens very rarely. 
Donovan greatly appreciated her methods of maintaining discipline and punishing the violating troops.
Leannán Halliwell - An old friend and an executor in the Apothecarium. They shared their battles, even sometimes against eachother.
Kelmith, the Raven - His former superior in the Apothecarium. They had respect for eachother, as Donovan served as his right-hand man until the Apothecarium was shattered.
Chloe Nightdragon - Nightdragon was one of his most important people during his undeath. Both as a colleague and a friend.
Ser Crokford - He first thought of Crokford as a well-talented executor, but after he refused to join the Uprising, Donovan's opinions of him turned around. He didn't think of him as nothing but a blind, power-lusty whore.
Anthraxius - Anthraxius was possibly deathguard that Donovan respected the most in his unlife.
==OOC notes==
This player is no longer in the game. If you're seeking to contact him, he's best to be found from Steam by the name Donitz, or from http://thespine.forummotion.com/.
The pictures of him used in this article are made by the lovely Claudine / Coconut-Cloud.
Category:Forsaken
Category:Male
Category:The Spine
Category:The apothecarium
Category:Horde
Category:Undead
Category:Deceased
Category:Dead Characters
Category:Rogue
Category:Chaotic Neutral
Category:Neutral Evil