Harmlock Hardshield

> "*The Nobles goal is to build a fortune, ours is to build our homeland flowering and strong. For her we will work and we will build. For her we will make each man a hero, ready to fight, ready to sacrifice, ready to die. - Harmlock Hardshield"*
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### Relative(s)

Arghar Hardshield (Father)Magnus Hardshield (Brother)

Karluck Hardshield (Nephew)

### Occupation

Warlord of Northern Alterac RegionRuler of Harmlock's Pride (Formerly Manor's Hold)

In the realm of Alterac, where power and ambition intertwine, there stands Lord Harmlock Hardshield, the current ruler of Harmlock's Pride, formerly known as Manor's Hold. Leading the feared Blackstone's Vestige, he is a man of cunning and manipulative personality, harboring deep-rooted hatred towards nobility. Despite mysterious his and fearsome aura, he has garnered the unwavering respect of his men and officers due to his remarkable ability to salvage them from a turbulent past under a former leader of the mercenary group.

Harmlock's quest for dominance knows no bounds, but he is not one to dirty his hands personally. Instead, he employs a masterful manipulation of those around him to fulfill his ambitions. His father, wise enough to discern his son's growing cowardice, witnessed Harmlock's penchant for using others as tools to further his own agenda. He is known to toy with the lives of those he deems expendable, and ruthlessly eliminates anyone who stands in his way. His reputation amongst his men is that of a cunning wolf, skillfully twirling the screws of fate while remaining seemingly idle himself.

As the leader of the infamous Blackstone's Vestige, Harmlock's callousness is matched only by his boundless ambition. His thirst for power is insatiable, and he sees the weakening control of Gunther's forces in the region as a golden opportunity to seize even greater influence. Together with his loyal adjutant, Corvac, they chart their path in Alterac, seeking to rise above all opposition.

In his private journal, Harmlock's writings reveal his unyielding belief in the necessity of conquest and dominance. He envisions a world where he holds absolute control, leaving the weak to face their inevitable demise while those who follow him bask in glory. In his mind, the muster of formidable men paves the way to fulfill their thirst for victory.

Yet, despite his Machiavellian ways and lust for power, there is no denying that Lord Harmlock Hardshield possesses an unparalleled sense of loyalty towards his faction. For the benefit of the Blackstone's Vestige and his people, he makes calculated decisions and takes decisive actions, ensuring their survival and prosperity.

In the weary realm of Alterac, where schemes and treachery lurk around every corner, Lord Harmlock Hardshield reigns as a complex and formidable leader. His cunning nature and unyielding ambition have carved a path for him and his followers, leaving a lasting mark on the fate of the land. Only time will tell if his thirst for world domination will be quenched or if others will rise to challenge the relentless ruler of Harmlock's Pride.

## Background

Harmlock Hardshield, scion of Arghar Hardshield, a humble vassal to House Perenolde. From his early days, Harmlock exhibited a complex blend of traits—struggling with cowardice while also battling furious outbursts. Like his father, he immersed himself in the art of war, honing his skills at the local training facility in Lordaeron.

However, everything changed when the dark clouds of invasion swept over the lands of Alterac. As the raids escalated, Harmlock's father made a difficult decision, sending him away to seek a different path, with the promise to return only when the invasion had passed.

On his journey, Harmlock found himself drawn to the ranks of a merciless mercenary band, known as the Blackstone Legion. Under the command of a fierce leader known as "The White Wolf," Harmlock pledged unwavering loyalty, despite moments when his allegiance was tempted by bribes and valuables offered by enemies and captives. Over time, he rose through the ranks to become a Captain, entrusted with a legion of men under his command.

The turning point arrived when the Blackstone Legion's home base fell under siege, orchestrated by a coalition of rival mercenary bands and local lords. In a desperate bid for survival, Harmlock decided to leave his post, abandoning his comrades and their leader to their fate. Upon returning to assume control of his father's lands, he left his siblings behind, and "The White Wolf" met her end at the hands of the enemy army.

Driven by a fervent desire to preserve the legacy of the Blackstone Legion, Harmlock rebranded it as the Blackstone's Vestige. In the lands of Lordaeron, he set out on a quest for popularity and wealth, capitalizing on local unrest within the legion. His ultimate goal was to elevate himself to the esteemed rank of "Lord."

As events unfolded, the Blackstone Vestige transitioned from a band of ruthless mercenaries to a dedicated security detail, safeguarding the Perenolde Household. Throughout their service, they showcased unwavering loyalty and formidable prowess under Harmlock's leadership.

Despite grappling with his inner fears, Harmlock's strategic brilliance and ability to inspire his men became evident as war loomed on the horizon. His journey from a timid boy to a commanding leader and the founding of the Blackstone's Vestige served as a testament to his tenacity and adaptability in the face of adversity. The upcoming war would prove to be the ultimate test of his mettle.

### The Rivalvry

In the aftermath of the collapse of Hasten Hochen's Empire, the lands of Alterac were plunged into chaos and uncertainty. In the midst of this turmoil, two formidable leaders emerged, Faustust and Harmlock, each vying for control of the fractured realm.

Faustust, a brilliant militarist, believed that strength and discipline were the keys to restoring order to Alterac. He assembled a powerful army of loyal soldiers, drawn from various factions seeking stability and security. His goal was to forge a centralized rule that would bring an end to the constant power struggles that had plagued the land for so long.

On the other hand, Harmlock was a master of manipulation and cunning. He believed in using guile and strategy to achieve his objectives. Gathering influential allies and forming secret alliances, Harmlock played the political game with finesse, always staying one step ahead of his adversaries. He saw the chaos as an opportunity to seize power and establish a web of control that would ensure his dominance.

Their rivalry was fierce and relentless. Faustust's disciplined legions clashed with Harmlock's subtle maneuvers, and the land bore witness to a continuous struggle for supremacy. Each time one of them gained an advantage, the other found a way to counter their move, leading to a seemingly perpetual stalemate.

As the rivalry intensified, the threat of ogres invading their land loomed large. The ogres, driven by their insatiable appetite for conquest, saw the turmoil in Alterac as an invitation to invade and claim new territory. Realizing that the ogre invasion posed an existential threat to their ambitions, Faustust and Harmlock were forced to set aside their differences temporarily and form a tenuous alliance to defend their homeland.

Putting aside their militarist and machiavellian approaches, Faustust and Harmlock pooled their resources and strategic acumen. Together, they rallied their forces, united by the common goal of repelling the ogre menace. Despite their deep-rooted rivalry, they displayed an unexpected synergy in the heat of battle.

The ogre invasion proved to be a brutal and relentless conflict, testing the limits of the newfound alliance. Faustust's disciplined troops held the frontlines, while Harmlock's cunning tactics disrupted the ogres' formations and supply lines. Their combined efforts managed to stave off the immediate threat, but the ogre invasion continued to cast a long shadow over Alterac.

### The truth

the lands of Alterac found a semblance of peace under the watchful eye of Faustust and Harmlock, now known as the Twin Pillars of Alterac. However, the surface tranquility masked a clandestine struggle that simmered just beneath the surface.

Behind closed doors, Faustust and Harmlock continued to scheme and plot, engaging in backroom politics and clandestine maneuvers. Their alliance, born out of necessity, was held together by a fragile thread. Each warlord yearned for undisputed control over Alterac, and neither was willing to relinquish their ambitions.

The veneer of friendship they projected in public was a mask that concealed their true intentions. They waited, biding their time, each hoping that the other would make a fatal misstep that would provide the perfect opportunity to strike. For now, their war remained silent, fought in the shadows of intrigue and deception.

As the years passed, the tension between Faustust and Harmlock grew, like a coiled serpent ready to strike at any moment. The people of Alterac marveled at the outward harmony between the Twin Pillars, unaware of the powder keg of enmity simmering just beneath the surface.

In the dark alleys of the capital city, whispered secrets exchanged hands, and rumors of betrayal circulated like wildfire. Spies from both sides infiltrated each other's ranks, seeking to gather intelligence and gain an upper hand. The intricate web of subterfuge kept the warlords entangled in a delicate dance of manipulation and deception.

The throne of Alterac remained contested, and the looming threat of another war, even more devastating than the ogre invasion, hung like a shadow over the land. Both Faustust and Harmlock knew that the biggest war had yet to come, a conflict that would determine the fate of Alterac and its people.

The common folk celebrated the apparent stability brought about by the alliance, unaware of the storm clouds gathering on the horizon. In public, Faustust and Harmlock maintained a facade of unity, working together to bolster the realm's defenses and rebuild what the ogre invasion had left in ruins.

But in the dead of night, behind closed doors, they continued to play a dangerous game of chess, positioning their pieces carefully, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Each was determined to outmaneuver the other, and their shadowy rivalry threatened to plunge Alterac into chaos once more.

The day would inevitably come when the facade of peace would crumble, and the warlords' true intentions would be laid bare. The fate of Alterac hung in the balance, and the people braced themselves for the storm that was bound to break free, driven by the machinations of two cunning and power-hungry warlords.

Only time would reveal who would emerge victorious in this shadowy struggle for control, and when the biggest war would resume, it would shake the foundations of Alterac, leaving it forever changed.