User:Joshmaul/Desolane Felrunner

"'Illidan serves as both role model and warning - an example of both what to do and what not to do.'"
 * - Desolane Felrunner

Desolane Felrunner is an ancient night elf who followed in the footsteps of Illidan Stormrage in the years immediately following the War of the Ancients, inspired by his "fight fire with fire" tactics. Yet upon Illidan's assumption of power in Outland, Desolane began to be wary of him, believing that he was becoming too much like that which he fought against - an opinion that has not changed even following Illidan's death, resurrection, and ultimate sacrifice to contain the evil of the Legion.

Biography
Born in the city of Loreth'Aran in ancient Kalimdor (now located on Bloodmyst Isle in draenei territory), Desolane belongs to the Leafrunner family, later known as druids of the Emerald Circle, dedicated to the restoration of the region known as the Felwood. (Arrhae Leafrunner, a former druid and later a death knight captain of the Ebon Blade, was a descendant.) But druidism was not the path Desolane saw for himself. Inspired by tales of Illidan Stormrage's prowess in battle and the powers he wielded as a demon hunter, Desolane was among those night elves who emulated his example of their own volition.

After Illidan was released from his barrow den, he rallied supporters to follow him to Outland, and Desolane - having hidden in the wilds for much of the last ten millennia, shunned by his people for following in the footsteps of the Betrayer - was among those who answered his call. Yet after Illidan was nearly killed by Arthas outside Icecrown Citadel, Desolane became disturbed by what he saw as Illidan's descent into madness, and began to wonder if Illidan had become the very thing he sought to fight. Yet unlike Altruis the Sufferer, who exiled himself into the wilds of Nagrand, Desolane remained with the Illidari, right up to the mission to Mardum and their capture by the Wardens after Illidan's death.

Upon his release from the Vault of the Wardens, Desolane travelled to Stormwind, the capital of the Alliance to which his people belonged, and aided their defenders in battle against Legion attacks, and later joined the armies fighting on the Broken Isles. When Illidan returned to lead the champions of Azeroth against the Legion, Desolane remained wary of him, wondering if it would be the same as it had been before, or if he truly wished to protect Azeroth. Though Illidan sacrificed himself to contain Sargeras and the corrupted world-soul of Argus, thus ending the Burning Crusade, Desolane still wonders if the ends truly justified the means.

With Illidan gone, however, Desolane now fears that his fellow hunters will not be able to stay above the petty politics of the Alliance and the Horde, and will ultimately align with their people. Though he is maligned by his fellow kaldorei, he will ultimately answer the call to aid them in the event of war. In the meantime, however, he took to the roads and skies of Azeroth, seeking to see more of the world beyond the wilds of Kalimdor where he hid for ten millennia. Yet events would bring him home quicker than he thought, as he fought against the Horde invasion of Ashenvale and Darkshore, and aided in evacuating his people - who up to that point looked upon him, and all demon hunters, with fear and distrust - from Darnassus before the burning of Teldrassil. He now burns with a desire for vengeance against the Horde for this act, as well as for the loss of his kinswoman, Arrhae, during the siege of the Undercity.