Celeste Allaire

**Nation**
 **Born**
 **Titles**
* Knight of Stormwind
* Lieutenant
* Lord Marshal of Alcestenne
* Knight of Balor
* Knight of the Silver Hand
 **Beliefs**
 **Signature**
 **Relatives**
* Séraphine Allaire (Mother) †
* Rosaline Allaire (Wife) †
* Jacques Allaire (Brother) †
* Aceline Allaire (Sister)
 **Coat of Arms**

Dame **Celeste Allaire** is a Stormwindian noblewoman, a Paladin of the Silver Hand, and a Knight of Stormwind who rules over the March of Péricourt. She presently serves as the Lord Marshal of Alcestenne, presiding over the military operations of the Duchy of Alcestenne under her Duke, Trant Laurent. In a similar capacity, she is a Knight-Captain in the Knights of Balor, charged to lead a portion of its renowned knights.

She has served the Grand Alliance with distinction for many years, a veteran of many of its wars. Her position as a noblewoman of importance upon the frontier provinces of the isle of Balor has left her with a tenacious and bitter outlook, favoring more aggressive postures for the Grand Alliance at large and orthodox views within the Church of the Holy Light.

## Personality & Beliefs

At first glance, one could immediately define Celeste as a woman of military stock, raised into her role not only as a Knight but as a noblewoman from a young age. She carries herself with a distinct and grim determination, born especially of her consecutive service in the First and Second Wars alike. Many would describe her as a woman of great intensity, one who is incredibly blunt and entirely unafraid to speak her mind on matters of military or religion when pressed.

With matters of the Grand Alliance, she is a figure of some controversy for her advocacy of focusing on the interests of humanity over that of the other races of the Alliance, favoring policy and decisions that either bring humanity to the forefront or relegate the other races of the Alliance to the sidelines. To her, the interests of Stormwind are above all else, and she believes that it is in the interest of the Kingdom to strike with great vengeance: the total and complete destruction of their enemies. By reputation, she is quite the warhawk.

Her orthodox views on the Church of the Holy Light are no secret, either, as she is often at odds with her more modern peers - believing that the Church should be focused on upholding more conservative interpretations of the Virtues of the Holy Light. This typically manifests in her intolerance towards heathens, schismatics, and other would-be subversions of the Church as a whole.

## Description

Celeste is a older woman that has been forged in a practical lifetime of warfare, and it is visible immediately in her grizzled, rugged disposition. The scars across her face were not subtle -- jagged and garish, wrought of Orcish axes and innumerable duels. She made no effort to hide them; they were not marks of shame, but of pride.

Her age is present on her face in the form of subtle wrinkling and gaunter features, but the boons of the Holy Light have kept her from the worst of her age. She was a tall and imposing woman, striking a muscular and broad figure that did not seem to decay with her age. She carried herself with a confidence and intensity that is unsurprising of her station, but many would describe her as stern-looking, rarely the sort to muster a smile in a public context.

Her black hair was kept short, styled rather simplistically, and within it there were obvious streaks of silver that denoted her age. The hair itself was course by nature, but well-maintained. She was rather particular about her appearance, not so much as a noblewoman but as a soldier - favoring pragmatic aesthetics over vain pursuits of beauty.

## Biography

Born to a militaristic and aristocratic noble family on the dangerous and coastal province of Péricourt on Balor Isle, much was expected of Celeste from a young age. Her mother, Séraphine, was a renowned Knight of Stormwind - and her father was an aristocratic tradesman who derived his wealth off of a long-running maritime company out of Péricourt's harbors. She was taken explicitly under the wing of her mother, to train in the ways of warfare, but disaster would come to the isle of Balor much sooner than any had expected with the outbreak of the First War.

The Stormreaver Clan and the forces of the Blackrock Clan alike brought a significant force to the isles, given its strategic importance, and Péricourt was thrust into some of the worst of the fighting given its coastal prominence. Despite her young age, the Dame Séraphine expected her children to contribute to the war effort, one and all, given the dire circumstance. Celeste took up arms as much as she could and shadowed her mother during the brutal campaigns to both defend and reclaim Balor.

Throughout the First War, the people of Balor fought relentlessly, and were forced to sacrifice much. Celeste's own father, Cyprien, was lost in the Stormreaver Clan's sacking of Argevés, an act which inspired a fervent and unending hatred of the orcs for the young girl. She wishes to this very day that she was older, that she may've exacted vengeance for this killing from the Stormreavers herself.

Due to its comparative unimportance, the people of Balor were not forced to evacuate northward with much of the then-destitute Kingdom of Stormwind. Celeste's next years were that of immense turmoil in the ravaged holdings of Péricourt, as even the end of the war left the province and the isle at large in poor standing, both economically and militarily. Celeste would persist in her military training under her mother while the Kingdom was rebuilt, but naturally, the isle would never see the resource allocation it required from the mainland to bring itself back onto its feet.

As Celeste came of proper age, she was able to distinguish herself in a multitude of provincial disputes and minor uprisings in Pericourt and the broader Duchy of Alcestenne, quickly forging a reputation as a young but surprisingly competent field commander. These positions and opportunities were partially granted at the behest of her renowned mother, but her prowess was recognized nonetheless, and she was bestowed a Knighthood for her service.

Soon enough, Celeste was sent to the mainland to serve her Kingdom once more, mopping up remnants of the Orcish invaders and continuing to garner a reputation for herself. Her service was scattered across many of the Kingdom's holdings amidst the Second War, and finally, with its end, she was able to return home to Balor with moderate decoration and begin working hand in hand with her aging mother to secure Péricourt's future.

A period of revitalization followed, as the lands of Péricourt were slowly built back up and restored to at least some semblance of their former glory - but the Third War would ravage the lands of Lordaeron, bringing Celeste back into the fray in time. Soon enough, as the Knights of Balor were established as a chapter of the Brotherhood of the Horse, Celeste was inducted into its ranks and brought northward on their crusade to fight for humanity against the ravaging hordes of undead.

This crusade was ill-fated, like many sent to aid the people of Lordaeron, and Celeste's own history in this period is chaotic. A catastrophic loss in defense of Dalaran left her separated from most of her fellow Knights, and she found herself lost in the now-plagued Kingdom of Lordaeron for many years.

In time, however, the Dame would find her way back down south after many years. She would sail back to Balor as a lost daughter returning home from failure, and upon returning to Péricourt, she was charged to take up the mantle of Marquise from her mother, who had suffered a debilitating injury in a failed uprising in Celeste's absence.

Celeste's vengeance was swift on those who had sought to desecrate the province of her birth, and she has served as the ruling lady of the province ever since, known for her militaristic leanings and ruthless disposition.

Throughout the Grand Alliance's many wars against the Horde in the following years, Dame Celeste would be called upon to serve her Kingdom once more - and she would fight wherever she was directed. Her most notable points of service, however, lie within her time serving in the Borean Tundra against the forces of the resurgent Lich King, and her participation in the Alliance's campaigns in Pandaria against the Horde.

In the modern era, Dame Celeste operates in a more explicit role in the Ducal Court of Alcestenne, presently serving as its Lord Marshal. She is a known for her highly pragmatic judgments and decision-making, leading oftentimes from the frontline in local operations - though presently, much of her work is in the form of advising and handling local unrest of unionists and rebels at the behest of her Duke. She is the head of house and presiding matriarch of House Alliare, managing the affairs of her province and directing her long-standing minor vassals.

## Titles

### Marquise of Péricourt

Dame Celeste Allaire is the lady of the March of Péricourt, a vassal province under the Duchy of Alcestenne on the northeastern coast of Balor isle. It is known for its harsh militaristic leanings and its maritime, mercantile traditions.

### Lord Marshal of Alcestenne

Celeste Allaire serves as the marshal and commander of the local forces of the Duchy of Alcestenne, having been entrusted by her Duke with the honor of leading and advising the Ducal Court of Alcestenne on matters of military importance.

### Knight-Captain of the Knights of Balor

The Dame is a Knight-Captain within the Knights of Balor, a traditionalistic chapter of knights that are known for their nationalism and orthodoxical leanings. The Knights themselves are renowned for their combat prowess in their many campaigns under the Grand Alliance's banner.

### Keeper of Aes'valesh

For her distinguished service to the isle of Balor and her intense dedication to the Holy Light, Celeste was chosen as the sacred keeper of a holy blade that is said to have been in the possession of the people of Balor since the days of the Troll Wars.

### Lieutenant of the Stormwind Army

Dame Celeste has earned the rank of Lieutenant during her service in the Royal Army of Stormwind, having been granted command of medium-sized hosts in the campaigns of the Grand Alliance. Currently, however, she leads a personal retinue of proper soldiers of Péricourt, and her Knights.

## House

Celeste Allaire is the head of House Allaire, a vassal house of House Laurent. It is known for its hardline military tradition, due to its province's position on the northeastern coast of Balor, making it often the prime target for would-be invaders, pirates, or privateers. It has long pledged its forces to that of House Laurent and the Grand Alliance at large.

With little interest in politicking or advancing its standing by underhanded means, House Allaire's prominence was primarily secured by its military prowess, but it has deep mercantile roots as well due to the nature of its profitable harbors. It serves as a valuable key to stability on the isle of Balor.

## Relationships

### Rosaline Allaire

In her service in the Second War, Celeste met a priestess by the name of Rosaline Ambermoore. Amid the blood and the carnage of fighting the Orcish menace, it did not take long for the two to forge an inseparable bond - and they would find themselves married at the conclusion of the Second War, with Rosaline taking Celeste's family name as her own. In the period of revitalization that followed the sealing of the Dark Portal, the two would rule the province of Péricourt together, and even have a child. Rosaline was tragically lost in the Alliance's war efforts in Pandaria.

### Colette Allaire

Her daughter, Colette, was born to her late wife Rosaline - and the nature of Celeste's intensive service to Alcestenne and the Grand Alliance at large left her with little time for nor interest in a direct role in Colette's raising. As such, Colette was largely raised by Rosaline, until her untimely death in the war against the Horde in the South Seas nearest Pandaria. Since, Colette has dedicated herself to studies away from Alcestenne, living the life of a scholar and a student in Dalaran. Celeste is largely estranged from her daughter, but tries to maintain some semblance of a relationship, attempting to mend the mistakes of the past with little success.

### Aceline Allaire

Celeste's sister, Aceline, has always been a more bureaucratic and diplomatic sort - rather the black sheep of an otherwise highly militaristic family. She often finds herself at odds with Celeste on matters of domestic policy, and she often attempts to take charge of matters in the region of Péricourt, which leaves them quite estranged at the worst of times. At the best of times, rare as they are, they have been known to make quite the ruling pair when they are not at one another's throats, with Aceline serving as the diplomatic go-between for domestic and business interests in Péricourt while Celeste handles matters of military import and enforcement.

## Gallery

Celeste AllaireCeleste Allaire's SignatureHouse Allaire Coat of Arms