Valentris Mendenhall



Name: Valentris Mendenhall

Race:  Human

Birthplace: The Kingdom of Lordaeron

Age: 48

Relationship Status: Widowed

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Occupation: Mayor of Helmsburg

Affiliations: Helmsburg, The Kirin Tor, Pheta Dioniss, The Violet Protectorate, The Steamwheedle Cartel, The Alliance (Formerly), The Alliance Expedition (Formerly), The Kingdom of Lordaeron (Formerly), Shattrath (Formerly).

Languages Known: Common

Physical Description:
''Valentris is taller than most humans, rivaling a normal Night Elves' height. His build is slightly above average, but considerably muscular. His hair and facial hair are very well kept, with a long scar running up the right side of his cheek just towards the side of his head. Donning the Tabard of Helmsburg, which also presents the heraldry of the town, the armor of Mendenhall is made primarily of golden-mail, with the exception of a golden breast plate covered by the tabard.''

''Around his neck is a dented and bloodied Alliance pendant which appears to be considerably old. This pendant would normally be tucked underneath Val's armor, unseen by most unless he was to remove his armor. The origins of the Pendant to many are unknown, and only those who Mendenhall truly trusts will ever know.''

''On his right index finger are two rings, one more masculine and larger than the other. The smaller ring being the more feminine one, possessing a medium-sized crystal atop the ring. Both rings sat in unison, and once again those who noticed the ring would be curious as to why he had two rings on the same finger.''

''Strapped to his belt is the sheathe of his Broadsword, Anlarch, a weapon forged by the Orcish Weaponsmith Grorak. The weapon is made of pure steel, the hilt trimmed in a pristine golden Celtic-lined design which gave it shape and familiarity. The blade itself thinned in the center of the weapon before widening out at the tip, which formed a jagged point which would be used for stabbing or slashing his foes with formidable effect.''

Personality:
''Valentris attains the quality of being an honorable man, but also possesses a level headed attitude about himself. At the same time Valentris prides himself on keeping his word, and will do what he can for his allies should they require his immediate aid. A man of the wars of old, Valentris has grown to accept the opposite races of the world from the Horde, and strives for neutrality for the greater good of the world and his people in Helmsburg. ''

''When it comes to battle, Valentris is normally found in the heat of the fray itself, standing beside his men and his allies to fight against their common foes. Normally a level-headed man when in combat, Valentris normally observes parts of the battle-field to see where the tide can be turned, if it can. Though, despite his level-headed behaviour, Valentris has a sense of protectiveness over his people and allies, and will normally make sure those that harm them suffer for such acts.''

''To those closest to him, Valentris is a kind and loving gentleman, and does what he can if they are in need. Though, despite his kind qualities and fair understanding of others, Valentrisis a stern and strict man, who normally makes his point extremely clear and normally will back it to the hilt. Normally undaunted in the face of danger to his people, Valentris conducts himself with utmost professionalism and pride, having an unwavering sense of confidence for the people he looks over in Helmsburg.''

History:
Valentris Mendenhall was born to Dralith and Mirade Mendenhall in the Town of Brill within the Kingdom of Lordaeron. The youngest brother of the offspring of Dralith and Mirade,Valentris was one of two brothers, the other being Mathias Mendenhall, his elder brother. His parents and Grandparents, Dagreth and Valerie Mendenhall, owned a market in the Town of Bree in which they traded general supplies to those who required them. The Mendenhalls were but a commoner family, but a well respected one due to the services of trade they offered to the people of Brill and other areas of Tirisfall. When Valentris was a young boy, he would often act as a courier of sorts, travelling all over Tirisfall delivering ordered goods in which the Mendenhalls sold. At the time his eldest brother Mathias had not long joined the Alliance Army, and was normally enlisted to guard the town of Brill during his service.

On one particular occasion, Valentris visited a group of Wizards when he was tasked with delivering some magical reagents to them within the City of Lordaeron. Upon speaking to one of the Wizards he delivered the reagents to, Valentris was intrigued by their small magical bastion within the City, and vowed to the Wizard that when he was a few years older he would visit them once again to learn their magics. Though the Wizard was at first apprehensive about this, he eventually saw the good in Valentris' soul, and agreed that he would teach him the ways of Wizardry when he believed he was ready.

''Years later, when Valentris was a teenager, around seventeen, he revisited the Wizard. The exact Wizard he met years before, now known to him as Kithrin, greeted him into their small group and soon began teaching the boy. Valentris began learning the arts of Arcane Sorcerry. At first, he kept these studies secret from his family, as he was extremely apprehensive and afraid as to what his family would say if they found out he was practicing these magics. It was not until one day, as he was "Delivering" a package to the Wizards, his brother Mathias had grown suspicious of his lengthy absences during the day. Mathias following him to the Wizard's holding, and was angered at what he saw. After dragging Valentris back to Brill, he informed his parents of what he was doing.''

''Dralith and Mirade were at first furious, along with his brother, Mathias. Valentris pleaded with them that the Wizards meant no harm, and were only teaching him how to become a Wizard. To Valentris' surprise, it was not the reason that his parents were not furious, it was the fact that he was neglecting his job as a courier for their business to go and study with Kithrin, which was costing them reputation with their business and money. After the misunderstanding was dealt with, Dralith and Mirade told Valentris to follow his own path, and if he wished to learn how to be a Wizard, then they would gladly support it. Valentris would return to Kithrin and continue his studies for the next few years, unaware of what was to come next...''

News would begin to spread across the Eastern Kingdoms that the Dark Portal had opened, unleashing the hordes of strange creatures known as Orcs into Azeroth in the Black Morass. After assessing the threat, the leaders of the Alliance identified that the Orcs threatened Stormwind, forces were organised to help combat the threat before it could reach Stormwind.Valentris at the time was drafted into the Lordaeron Forces, to his reluctance, along with Mathias. Valentris was exceptionally nervous, as he had never fought properly in combat before and had not encountered the Orcs before. Not to mention, he still did not finish his training with his master, Kithrin, who he reluctantly left behind in Lordaeron.

Having only been taught the main principles and skills of spellcasting, Kithrin gave Valentris a pair of wands that would help him due to being at a disadvantage of not being able to cast spells more efficiently or being skills in close quarter combat like the other footmen like his brother. Upon arriving in Stormwind with the Lordaeron Forces, Valentris was awestruck at the intense military presence there was in the City, due to the threat already having attempted to attack them and failed catastrophically after the Orcs arrogantly tried heading straight towards Stormwind. None the less, Valentris tried to hone his skills before it was his time to enter the fray, but Valentris grew anxious and unsure as to if he could learn enough in time....

When the time came to move out, Mathias was by his side, ensuring his younger brother was not so scared of the idea of going up against these strange creatures. Their force was moved to the Grand Hamlet to defend the lands there from the oncoming Horde advancement. Upon entering the dense forest foliage of the Grand Hamlet, Valentris and Mathias detachment encountered heavy enemy numbers, as the Orcs began storming through the forest. At the time, the Stormwind Forces already engaged were locked in a brutal blood bath, the once lush green forests of the Grand Hamlet now soaked with the blood and gore of hundreds of Stormwind and Orcish soldiers, both fighting to destroy one another.

In such a fight, Valentris made his first kill against a nearby Orc Grunt after using his Arcane Wands to blast the Orc with Arcane Energy. The fight itself lasted around ten minutes, which worried Valentris because he knew that these were simple ground troops, and he had only barely bested the Orc. During the battle for the Grand Hamlet, it was there thatValentris would slowly begin to accustom to the art of magical warfare against the Orcs. Though his efforts for a rookie were noteable, it was not enough, combined with the Alliance Soldiers, to push the Orcs back. The Kingdom of Azeroth would loose the Grand Hamlet to the Orcs...

Over the next four years, Valentris and Mathias would partake in skirmishes across the lands of Stormwind, fighting in areas such as Westfall, Goldshire and Northshire, desperately trying to stop the Horde from completely destroying the southern territories of Stormwind. It would not be until the assassination of King Llane Wrynn that Lord Lothar would decide to pull all the remaining soldiers out of Stormwind, conceding that the Kingdom of Azeroth had been lost. Valentris and Mathias were among the luckier members of the Lordaeron Forces to flee Stormwind before landing on the shores of Lordaeron.

Being reuinited with his family was a heartfelt moment, but alas it was not to last...

The First War:
A year later after returning to Lordaeron, the Horde would begin launching assaults on the newly formed Alliance of Lordaeron. Valentris would know that he and his brother would be called to arms once more, and so they would. To his parents dismay, as they thought the pair would not return, Valentris promised his mother and father that he and his brother would return to Lordaeron safely. After spending one last supper with the Mendenhall Family, Valentris and Mendenhall embarked on their war against the Horde in what would be known as the Second War.

The first conflict the brothers participated in was the skirmish at Tarren Mill after it was discovered the Horde had captured a contingent of Quel'dorei. Valentris and his comrades fought their way through the marauders that had recently been assaulting the coastal towns of Hillsbrad, who put up a very valiant defense. In this particular battle, Valentris lead a small group to rescue the Quel'dorei inside the prison camp at Tarren Mill, whilst Mathias held the rest of the Orc Forces at bay. Though Valentris was successful, he retained a grievous wound from one of the Orc jailers, being slashed across his chest and being sent to the ground. The Orc was almost prepared to kill Valentris when one of his friends, Darius, saved him.

After the accomplishment at Tarren Mill, Valentris spent a great deal of time out of combat, recovering from his wounds. Due to almost being killed, Mathias requested from his superiors that Valentris was left with the reserves until he was properly trained to fight with a blade. Being held back by his brother, Valentris was angered as he felt sitting around doing nothing did not help him contribute to defending his lands. As Mathias began to continue to fight and rise through the ranks, Valentris continued to train with a blade and learn the path of the sword. In the coming months building up to the Battle of Darrowmere, Valentris began combining both his skills in magic and his newly found skills with a blade. In time, Valentris would soon discover that this was the path of a "Battle-Mage".

After all of Valentris' training had been finished, he felt he was ready, his wounds healed and his mind fresh with new skills to utilize to defend the Eastern Kingdoms. Reuniting with his brother, now a Lieutenant within the Alliance Forces, Mathias' detachment would move out with a number of other regiments to Darrowmere with the aid of Uther the Lightbringer. During the battle, Mathias was impressed by his brothers newly found skill in combining his magical powers and the blade in which he was trained to wield. Valentris himself felt proud once more at being able to stand strong against the Orc threat, however to the Alliance dismay, they would soon find themselves turning against their former kin of Alterac following Lord Perenolde's betrayal after helping the Horde. After Anduin Lothar's death at the hands of Doomhammer during the infamous Assault on Blackrock Spire, Valentris and Mathias were part of the forces making what they thought was the final assault on the Dark Portal. The battle itself was long and bloody, many of Valentris' friends whom he had grown fond of over the years fell during this battle. Valentris can remember Mathias making a heroic speech to his men when all hope to destroy the portal was fading, helping to turn the tide of battle. The Mathias that Valentris had grown to respect and loved during his youth returned that day, and he cherished that moment in his heart forever.

However despite destroying the Dark Portal, it was apparent that the Orcs were still able to swarm the world of Azeroth through the rift that still existed after the Portal had fallen. The victory was short lived, as the Orcs made an assault on Nethergarde keep in which Valentris was present, Mathias and his other soldiers recuperating from their costly victory at the Dark Portal. During the battle, Valentris learned that the Dark Portal was still open and that there was only one crucial decision; to Travel into Draenor and fight the Orcs on their home world.

And so, the Alliance Expedition was formed and soldiers from the Alliance were chosen for such an Expedition into Draenor to save Azeroth from the Orcish threat. Valentris and Mathias were chosen to help lead squadrons for the battle to come. Before battle, Mathias had told Valentris that if he should fall, it was his duty to look after his sons and wife, to help continue the Mendenhall Bloodline so that his sacrifice would not be in vain. Valentris felt his heart sink as he thought his brother was more confident than this, but he accepted his brothers words and made the promise.

After venturing through the Dark Portal, and facing the Horde in a number of battles such as The Fall of Auchindoun, the final battle came as the Alliance Expedition would stand their ground against the Horde as Khadgar tried to seal the Dark Portal to stop Azeroth being potentially destroyed by the backlash of energy from Draenor's discorporation. The battle itself was hard fought for and bloody, with Valentris utilising his abilities to his full extent.

As the battle raged on he began to tire, the fight itself becoming a brutal close quarter brawl with each enemy locked with a member of the Alliance Expedition. In the fray, Valentriswould spot Mathias leading a valiant charge towards reinforcing forces of the Horde. As the foes clashed, Mathias fought in single combat against a monstrous Warsong Orc, the leader of the reinforcing warband coming to try to stop the closing of the portal. Valentris would try to rush to the fray upon seeing his brother struggle against his foe, but alas there was too many foes in his way, and soon Valentris went with the current of battle and was parted from his brother for the rest of the battle. It would not be long before the Orc whom Mathias fought engaged Valentris in combat, which raised questions as to whether his brother had survived or not... In the end, Valentris would best the Orc who retreated as victory would be seized by the Expedition.

After the victory at the Dark Portal, Valentris struggled to search for his brother. Asking many of the soldiers, he would only be met with members of his regiment announcing "Mathias is gone, Valentris. He is one of the fallen.". In disbelief and sorrow, Valentris would continue to search amongst the fallen before finding Mathias, bloodied and beaten from his battle with the Orc commander. Tears would run down his face as the reality that his role model and elder brother had fallen, feeling a heavy burden upon him as he realized that all the expectations of his parents had now fallen upon him. Taking his brothers Alliance Pendant as a token of rememberance, Valentris would venture with the rest of the Expedition into one of Ner'Zhul's rifts in an attempt to escape the destruction of Draenor...

Trapped on a Broken World :
Eighteen long years Valentris would spend with the remnants of the Alliance Expedition, under the command of Danath Trollbane, battling the viscous and relentless swarms of demons that assaulted them daily within the broken world of Outland, the remnants of Draenor merged within the Twisting Nether, home of the demons. In this time, Honor Hold was erected by the remnants of the Expedition to act as a command post within Draenor. Over the years, Valentris came into contact with a fellow female soldier known as Eveline, whom he was smitten with after getting to know her. The two would begin seeing each other during off-duty hours, the pair growing fond of each other before eventually having a romantic relationship with each other. Valentris was overjoyed with his new found love, but also feared for her safety, due to the dangers in which Outland possessed. Although, the pair would fight alongside one another for quite some time, this strengthening their bond and close relationship. After many years of spending their time together, Valentris would propose to Eveline before eventually getting married.

Soon enough, the Dark Portal would re-open, and the Grand Alliance and the Horde Forces would surge into Outland after the Doomlord, Kazzak, re-opened the portal to unleash the Burning Legion upon Azeroth. Being reunited with his former kinsmen from the old alliance, Valentris would spend the the next few months being sent by Danath Trollbane to conduct a series of attacks against Kargath Bladefist and his Fel Horde. The two forces continuously clashed in Hellfire Peninsula before Kargath was ultimately killed by an assaulting group of heroes assisting the forces of Honor Hold.

Unfortunately for Valentris, during this time he had grown stressful over his willingness to win the war and return to Azeroth to reunite with his family. Eveline at the time began spending more time around the other soldiers as Valentris was more busy attending to the war effort. In time, Eveline would begin having an affair with another soldier, to Valentris' sorrow when she informed him. After trying to fix their failing marriage, Eveline returned the ring that Valentris had given her when he proposed, and she and her lover were transferred back to Azeroth to attend to other matters. Valentris would spend a great deal of time dwelling on Eveline's betrayal, Valentris unable to fix the broken heart which she had broke.

Once this task was done, Valentris requested to be sent to Shattrath to join the forces there in their efforts to take the fight into Shadowmoon Valley against The Betrayer. With eagerness to join his Dwarvern brethren at Wildhammer Stronghold, he was sent with the forces of the Aldor and the Scryers to siege the Black Temple. Though the first initial assaults proved troublesome for the combined forces, they eventually pushed through to the very gates of the Black Temple. Focussing primarily on the Illidari Forces trying to keep the entrance and remaining ramparts safe, Valentris assisted the Aldor and Scryers in the final battle against the Illidari Forces, as a group of champions were sent into the Temple to finally kill Illidan.

After victory was theirs, Valentris prepared for the journey home to Lordaeron...

The Journey Home :
After the War in Outland was won, Valentris took his leave from Military Service and returned to the world of Azeroth which he had abandoned many years ago to save during the Second War. The first things upon standing before the imposing, hulking figure of the Dark Portal was the flashbacks of that fateful day in which the Battle of the Dark Portal happened, the death of his brother and many other comrades he had known as brothers during the Second War. With a burning ember to return to his home of Lordaeron in his heart, the thought of his family and the reunion what was the come swirled in his mind like a raging whirlwind of thought.

The journey North was long and harsh, Valentris dumbfounded and shocked at the changes his world had embraced. Orcs attacking Redridge? Undead in Duskwood? The worst of all was that when Valentris finally reached what was now known as "The Western Plaguelands", his heart sunk as the Argent Dawn informed him that his home of Lordaeron had been destroyed after Prince Arthas' Menethil's corruption and betrayal. Disappointed and in despair, Valentris returned to Stormwind where he would fade back into society, wishing to forget the past that he so bravely fought for, but to him it appeared to no avail...

Drifting from town to town, Valentris worked as an Enchanter tinkering with various items such as swords, objects of importance to people, clothing and so on. This was only to sate his cost of living. Eventually, he became the travelling hermit of sorts, tailoring the peoples needs with his ability to Enchant. In time,  Valentris would grow tired of his lifestyle, but he could not find a true calling within the world. With everyone marching off to fight the Lich King, Valentris worried about the countless lives that would be lost as a result. What if the Lich King won? What if the sacrifices made for the world were in vain, as his was? These questions came to mind during the campaign to come.

Once the war was won, Valentris watched as a smaller army of soldiers returned, many of their brothers in arms killed in combat against the Scourge. Flashbacks of the wars of old would continue to appear in Valentris' mind, the man seemingly struggling still to cope with the losses he had suffered. His brother, his family from Lordaeron, his friends... All of them were gone now, and Valentris found himself alone in the darkness of society once more. That was until a curiously familiar man approached him one day in a Tavern in Stormwind...

The Present - His Legacy:
It became apparent that a man known as Gray Stone would appear within the Tavern, bearing the strangely unfamiliar tabard of the Settlement of Helmsburg. After sitting down with Gray, who announced himself as Helmsburg's official Ambassador, the pair would begin discussing. To Valentris' surprise, Gray was the son of Darius Stone, a fellow company member within the Alliance Expedition. Gray talked about his delight to reunite with his father, but Valentris knew that Darius had died years ago in Outland... Gray then offered Valentris the chance to aid him in the Arcane Ordered of Helmsburg, to help keep the town safe. Seeing promise in this breath of life that had been breathed into him, Valentris accepted, waiting for the right time to inform Gray of his fathers true fate.

However, it was not to be... Upon Valentris reaching the settlement of Helmsburg, Valentris was shocked to hear that Ambassador Stone had been killed in a Gnoll attack in Goldshire weeks ago. His heart sank at the thought of not being able to tell the Ambassador the fate of his father, but joined Helmsburg to take over the Order, to keep the tradition of Ambassador Stone alive. Working as an Enchanter and general advisor to the Camp-Master, Gregor Woodbreeze, Valentris eventually began working his way up through the ranks, until we was summoned by Gregor himself to be ascended into the Helmsburg Council.

''Unfortunately, due to the rude interruption and defiant behavior of the Chief Architect, Jeremy Rykker, Gregor went into a meltdown and abruptly left Helmsburg. Adding to the general confusion of the people and Valentris himself, the Town had to struggle through some hardships of the Alliance and Horde conflict in the Barrens, leaderless. Until however, the people decided that Valentris was the most suitable candidate to lead the people, a position the elder Battle-Mage was first apprehensive about, unsure if he had the strength and wisdom to see these people through.''

''The trials of Valentris however proved fruitful for the town. Valentris managed to steer the town through the hardships brought on by the incursion of the Alliance, and forged Helmsburg into a true neutral society, and helped embrace equality for all races, as was his vision. In time, Helmsburg would be known for having successfully co-existed with the Horde in the Barrens after forging fruitful alliances with them, along with gaining trading agreements with Gazlowe and the Steamwheedle Cartel.''

''After the expansion of their territory and town, Valentris would usher a new age for Helmsburg, an age he hoped would be of prosperity and success to his people. All that went through his mind was the thought of if he could succeed in his goals to make Helmsburg a better place for all...''