Timolain the Accursed

Timolain was a human mage commissioned by the Scarlet Crusade to create weapons. After he attempted to create a dark "counterpart" to the Ashbringer, Grand Inquisitor Isillien killed him. However, Timolain had created a phylactery, which eventually allowed him to resurrect as a lich.

History
The mage Timolain took up residency in Hearthglen after he was commissioned by the Scarlet Crusade to create powerful bows and guns to fight the undead. He once visited Prince Tortheldrin in Dire Maul and gave him a copy of A Complete Copy of "Nat Pagle's Guide to Extreme Anglin'.". While there, he beseeched the prince for help, saying that he needed to fight fire with fire. When Timolain left, Tortheldrin presumed he went back to his allies.

Rumor says that the Scarlet Crusade killed him either while he was working on a remarkable weapon or after he had completed it. Two possible reasons for his murder were speculated: either the Crusade was just that distrustful of the arcane, or he was killed to cover up evidence of his work.

In truth, Timolain had turned to necromancy and created a dark crystal, a counterpart of the holy artifact that fuels the Ashbringer. Before he could put it into a blade, Isillien fed Timolain to a vile slime. During his long and excruciating demise within the slime, Timolain used his necromantic powers to bind himself to a phylactery and threw the crystal into the Thondroril River.

During the Burning Legion's third invasion of Azeroth, the slime was killed by the new Highlord of the Knights of the Silver Hand, allowing Timolain to revive from his phylactery. With Timolain's help, the Highlord found and reclaimed the crystal.

Quotes

 * say

You will find no fight here, paladin. I can do you no harm, and bear no allegiance to the dark creatures you seek to destroy.



I suspect you know. We would not be meeting otherwise.

My story is simple. The original wielder of your blade proved unable to stand against the endless throngs of undead that threatened our world.

I sought a different approach... one that could not fail.



I devised a way to fight the scourge using their own magic against them. It was a simple process, really - I had a veritable river of souls at my disposable from the Lich King's rampage.

In the end, I created a counterpart to the holy relic that fuels the Ashbringer's strength, but before I could properly seat it within a suitable blade I was found out by Isillen and his dogs.

The rest, as they say, was excruciatingly painful.



Before I was devoured ever so slowly I did two things.

The first, as should be obvious, was putting my necromantic learnings to the test, sealing my soul within the phylactery you found. It did nothing for the pain of death... but it has served its purpose.

Afterward, as I was already half-consumed by the creature, I hurled the crystal into the river beside you in hopes that someone might still put it to use against the forces of darkness.



If you seek it, you will find it there.