Tarias Firebrand

Tarias Firebrand
The Waywarder
Full Name	Tarias James Firebrand
Gender	Male
Race	Human
Class	Spellcaster, Hidden Warlock (RPG)
Affiliation	The Alliance, The Kirin Tor (Formerly)
Occupation	Hunter, Relic Seeker
Status	Active
Mentor(s)	The Red Mage (Formerly)
Primary Languages	Common, Thalassian, Kalimag, Eredun
Alignment	True Neutral

Overview

Tarias Firebrand, otherwise known as Thorezal in Kalimag, is a reclusive spellcaster originally hailing from Darkshire. Once deemed a failure in the eyes of the Kirin Tor and banished from their ranks, the headstrong arcanist has ventured to the edge of the afterlife and returned a new man, his ideals warped by the energies lingering within him.

He's currently venturing from continent to continent, erasing demonic threats with a shocking determination.

Appearance and Personality

Little is known of Tarias' personality in his early years, such records of education and lawful observation being lost during the fall of Brightwood and remaining that way. Whilst indeed neglectful to mention anything regarding that of his family and childhood, brisk citations have been made which acknowledge an alteration with both his mindset and overall psyche - pointing more-so towards the temporary destruction of his homeland than any individual circumstances. The current show of disposition is that of a passively-secluded individual, never venturing out of his way to seek anything that isn't needed nor gravely desired. Despite the visually obvious indifference towards elementary situations, Tarias has displayed a willing form of verbal contribution toward topics which contain foreign information regarding either magic itself or magical items - either which capable peaking the man's interest; the sorcerer having attained a tenacious desire to expand his knowledge. Despite showing obvious signs of arrogance and self-loathing, an undeniable side effect of arcane – and fel - corruption, Tarias, though few and far between in terms of occurrences, displays an almost territorial sense of defence towards a handful of individuals. Be it friend or family, the man offers an almost possessive desire to keep them safe from those who seek to do them harm. Whilst his willingness to indulge in the curiosity of others is short and the confidence in his own abilities often tends to influence his decision, Tarias observes each situation from both his own and a secondary perspective; contemplating the results of his actions with a diminutive amount of care remaining present at the forefront of his mind. The man is indeed a strenuous one to converse with, remaining hard-headed to his fold and never ceasing in his efforts to express that which is his, often offensive, opinion in a manner that is as careless as can be.

The most distinct observation one is able to make about Tarias' visage is that of his eyes; more-so what remains of them. Whilst originally an alluring brown, his orbs have come to be replaced with a pair of smouldering embers and are covered by a soiled blindfold, worn out by both time and usage, at all times though never seeming to inhibit his vision in the slightest. Alike those he often surrounds himself with, the man's hair remains at shoulder length – often neglected and only aiding in his overall health-lacking physiognomy. Whilst hard to notice, Tarias' frame is littered with small clumps of ash and hard-to-spot stains of black dust - undoubtedly a due result of his fiery spells. Few scars linger on the man's body though those that do are clearly visible. A single, long streak sprawls across the length of his right leg, almost matching the gruesome claw-marks that, almost competitively, linger on his chest.

Biography

Induction to Magic

Little is truly known of Tarias' origin and childhood, the majority of information - other than his name, birthplace and early magical potential - lost with the destruction of Stormwind and never to be found again. The earliest notable actions of the soon-to-be-sorcerer was his gradual venture to Dalaran, inevitably striving for his induction to the Kirin Tor and ambition for arcane mastery. Several documents lay claim to observations regarding Firebrand's prodigal skill, effortlessly and rapidly surpassing the initiates that surrounded him with the utmost of grace and prowess; displaying no intention of slowing down. From a simple 'Blink' to a masterful teleportation, the young sorcerer quickly climbed the ladder of hierarchy and into the upper echeloned. Though, gifts tend to be squandered when they've been present since birth. As Tarias' skill increased, so did his arrogance; remaining ever-equal to his masterful control of arcane and, ultimately, proving to be his downfall.

Prodigy's Banishment

A depiction of Tarias' early teachings.

An undisclosed amount of years had passed since Tarias first arrived within the magical walls of Dalaran, his skill and arrogance doubling with each previous limit he passed. With seemingly limitless paths and doors open to him, the man languidly chose a route which he'd eventually be known across the world for. Pyromancy. With a natural composition as volatile as the sorcerer and raw, destructive powers to match, Tarias immediately set to incorporating his skill with conjuration and transmutation entwine with his desired, elemental nature in an dexterous way; using the air around him to empower his spells to an elevated capability beyond that of any practical means. Inevitably, the thirst for greater knowledge and power proved too much. As gifted as he believed himself to be, such only proven in recent years with his undeniably expeditious progress, the pace of mastery wouldn't come quick enough. Upon realisation that the conventional means of improvement would take him decades, the man began to doubt his own skill. He desired, and

Xolryn Narekmus (The Red Mage)

in his own mind needed, a quicker route that mortal means wasn't capable of giving him. Through a quick-thought plan, Tarias aimed to sneak within the Violet Hold and acquire any magical artifacts that would grant him empowerment - ultimately failing and, as a result of his negligence towards arcane, a lack of patience and overall attempted illegal activity, the Kirin Tor saw no other means but to banish him. Though a free man, Firebrand traversed without any true meaning. His then-pointless ventures led him from the cold wastelands of Northrend to the barren desert of Uldum before stumbling into the tavern. His eyes found themselves drawn to a magenta-clad individual, a staff laying dormant upon his back and a simple hood covering his facial features; such being none other than Xolryn Narekmus - The Red Mage.

Recovery of a Primal

As the years passed and, under the tutelage of Xolryn, the sorcerer's power increased, the day came that would eventually cement Tarias' future. With months of planning, a fortune spent on supplies and many sleepless nights, Tarias, Xolryn, David and Mithaniel ventured into the realm of eternal flame to recover, and bind, the essence of an age-lost elemental - Pyralis. After hours upon hours of hopeful tracking, tedious venturing through the volcanic wasteland and the eventual discovery of the elemental's location, a rather lengthy, spell-flinging battle begun. Whilst the elemental had the signature land and homefield advantage, the congregation of sorcerer's had the skill and numbers to, eventually, overpower him; Pyralis' very essence finding itself locked and bound to Tarias' - granting the sorcerer a temporary link to the realm of fire and an empowerment to bolster his magical strength.

Sacrament of Flame

The Vanguard battling Ragnarok.

With the retrieval of Pyralis, the respective knowledge and power being a direct result, the second, and final, stage of extra-planar operations began. As before, months of careful planning took place; the sorcerer's following up on possible leads and rumours in regards to the mythical 'Prince of Flames'; ever-curious to understand, and Tarias more-so, acquire their position and power. Inevitably, that too came to fruition. Both Firebrand and The Red Mage, once more, ventured into the realm of eternal fire; the pair searching far and wide before coming across the very target they'd come to silence. Ragnarok. The monument of elemental force fought by insidious, cowardly means; using the residual elementals to aid him against the pair of arcanists. Inevitably, after possibly hours of tactical warfare, Ragnarok fell - forever slain within the domain of fire. As the prince was no more, Tarias, entwine with Pyralis as the acting figure, took the title for themselves; numerous spirits of fire beckoning to their call and rallying to his service. Forever more, Tarias Firebrand had cemented himself within the catacombs of history as a Prince of Flame; or so it may have seemed.

Council of Equity

A depiction of the Council of Equity.

Next to nothing is known, save whispers and rumours, of the otherwise indistinguishable congregation. Having initially popped up amongst the legends of the trolls thousands of years ago as an amassment of darkened, otherworldly forces, it gradually faded into nothing more than assumed-mindless babble of the aboriginals. Those that remain sceptical in the current age often believe it was a foretelling of Gul'dan's 'Shadow Council' and dismiss that the alternative faction ever existed to begin with.

Notes

• Tarias has been known to incorporate a variety of fire-based spells of any relative means. From the Fire Shuriken to the Flamestrider Exhalation, all serve a perfect use for a given scenario.

Speculation

• A variety of trolls, after hearing of the deeds and will of Tarias, believe him to be a warrior, or even an incarnation, sent forth from Pogeyan, the fire spirit.
• Firebrand's near-universally gifted manipulation of fire has led some notable mages, and even shamans, to speculate on whether or not the sorcerer has transcended the bounds of human and elemental. This was later disproved.
• Given the magnitude of power and position Tarias had attained within the Firelands, certain sects within the Alliance, Horde and the Earthen Ring believe he may be capable of creating new Knights of Flame. Whilst this was never a proven ability by any means, it was later decided that his shattered connection to the elemental plane made the feat nigh impossible.