Atyrian Ryland

''"To Serve in War is the epitome of Faith. To put your life fully in the hands of the Light, to face down evil on a battlefield, to stand before others in the fray as a paragon of virtue, there's is nothing like it. When your adrenaline roars, when your heart soars, and finally when victory is claimed, you will know the true Glory of the Light. However, there is an etiquette to victory, and a limit to defeat. Know courage in the fight, but compassion after it." - Atyrian Ryland, in his book The Pilgrim Knight''

Atyrian Ryland was born in Andorhal, fourteen years prior to it's destruction at the hands of the Scourge. The son of a Priest and a Paladin of the Silver Hand, the latter a Lady with some small land holdings, it seemed Atyrian was marked out for a life dedicated to the Light. However, his father and mother professed a desire to see their son live a life where he would not have to see the horror of the wars they had lived through, and decided that he should become a priest, not one to seek combat but one to give sermons in churches. However, it seemed impossible to keep him away from the urge to learn combat, sometimes coming home from play with bruises from wooden swords. His mother relented, and began to train him from the age of ten in combat so he could undertake training to become a Paladin later on in life. However, the Scourge attack separated Atyrian and his younger sister, Kiera, from their mother, and killed their father. He was then trained by a wondering Dwarf Paladin by the name of Thane Thorenon Warmhearth, a jovial man with a great love for life, and the things in life that were brewed in particular, who had come to their aid after they had escaped. The dwarf taught Atyrian for the next four years of his life to be a Paladin, the two going on to join the Argent Dawn. Thorenon grew to love Atyrian as if he were his own son, and Atyrian saw Thorenon as a surrogate father figure. After Thorenon's death at the hands of the Scourge, Atyrian was sent to Northshire, where he enlisted. He served with the Alliance for the most part, but after the Wrathgate he enlisted in the Argent Crusade as a Crusader, soon rising through the ranks to become a Lieutenant. However, after the end of the Northrend campaign Atyrian served in Andorhal, then Vash'jir, Pandaria and Draenor, before being sent home after the Broken Shore, the Alliance efforts seemingly shattered. Atyrian returned to Light's Hope to join the new Knights of the Silver Hand, and then returned to Stormwind, where he joined the Covenant, his heart longing to reclaim his homeland from the Forsaken.

Childhood
"I found you in the ruins of your civilization. Your birthright was dust, your inheritance a name. On such a foundation heroes can be made. The Prince with everything to lose faltered, the orphan with nothing will prevail. For Righteousness, you will live by the sword, and most likely die by it." - Thane Thorenon Warmhearth, recorded in The Pilgrim Knight.

Atyrian Ryland was born on the Eleventh Day of the Ninth Month, the year being six years after the First War, and at the start of the Second. He was born to Father Heironymus Ryland, a priest, and Lady Julia Ryland, a Knight of the Silver Hand. Atyrian's childhood was devided between studies into the nature of the light and getting into mock sword-fights with other children in the city. After he came home one time with quite a few bruises to show for his time outside, his mother decided it was pointless to train him as a priest when the boy obviously wished to fight. At age ten, he began his training, his usual studies now punctuated with combat theory, as well as the odd bout with a small training dummy. However, after fourteen years, the Scourge came to Andorhal, sending the city into turmoil. Lady Julia was away, they were not sure where since the disbanding of the Silver Hand, and when the attack began Heironymus was giving a sermon in the cathedral. When the bells started ringing, Atyrian immediately took his younger sister and began making his way to the Cathedral. He was intercepted by a footman, who told him that the city was lost, and urged them to follow him to the outskirts. However, during their flight, the footman was attacked by a ghoul, and devoured in front of the children. Atyrian picked up the fallen footman's sidesword as if it were a longsword, and stood in front of the ghoul, praying that the light would protect him, before striking out against the ghoul. Atyrian watched in surprise as light travelled through his blade, causing his boyish strength to be supplemented with holy might, and slicing through the ghoul's decaying spine. His triumph was cut short as he was confronted by yet more ghouls. In a flurry of light, a Dwarf Paladin slew the ghouls, before turning to the boy and his sister, and motioning them to follow. They followed the Dwarf out of the city, and to where he had tied his ram. He introduced himself as a follower of the Argent Dawn named Thorenon Warmhearth and a friend of their mother's, and stated he was going to lead them to South Shore, where they had relatives. They were lead there, but when they reached it, Thorenon stated that he had been impressed by the young boy's faith, and offered to take him on as a Squire. Atyrian, filled with excitement, though measured with the grief at the loss of his home, agreed, and began his life in service to the Dwarf.

The Dwarf's Apprentice
"To forge a good weapon, one must heat it, batter it, temper it, and repeat. Such is the same with your path, my student. You will be tested, battered, until what blunt becomes honed.A blade can be forged in a day, but a Paladin takes years to perfect. Test yourself as I test you when I'm gone, Lad. Be sure my blade never shatters." - Thane Thorenon Warmhearth, recorded in The Pilgrim Knight.

The pair soon became close, the paladin's love of life soon lifting Atyrian from a depression that was onset with the loss of Andorhal. The Dwarf had a unique way of teaching, going from town to town aiding folk with the young man, and then retiring at their inn's in the evening with a pint or two of the local favourite. He would speak on length about the nature of faith, but his most notable lecture is as follows:

"Now lad, listen here. There are a few of our profession that believe that Ale is corrupting, that it is something best avoided. I tell you this is nonsense! Ale is a worthy reward after a long day, and a symbol of what hard work can achieve. This ale, mind, has a staggeringly long process behind it. I'm not brewer, but I know it's been grown, cut down, fermented, kegged and then set forth upon the world. It takes a lot of work to make a good beer, and making it is it's own reward. The same can be said for the life of a Paladin. It will be hard work to train you, you'll have to be trained in combat, and taught in prayer and virtue, before you too can be perfected! However, when you're done, you'll be the better for it, and so will the world.

''Ale itself is not bad. An excess of it is bad, and to drink to excess is unwise. Some may say the same about righteousness, and faith. To be faithful and righteous is good, but to overdo it may lead to zealotry, the pit that your Scarlet Crusader falls into. Best to be moderate in ale, moderate in righteous fury. And lad? Enjoy life. Yours will be devoted to good deeds, so don't feel bad about an ale or two in the tavern afterwards, because I sure don't. Be Light-fearing, but also Light-hearted."''

Eventually, the pair set off to the Ruins of Lordaeron to aid the Argent Dawn once more, around Atyrian's eighteenth birthday. For his birthday, Thorenon bought him his first ale, and then gifted him with his first true weapon, as he had been using Thorenon's side sword and a spare shield until then, while Thorenon used his mighty warhammer. Thorenon gifted the young man a well-forged longsword, complete with a small inscription. "Lighthearted" on one side, "Light-fearing" on the other, in Dwarven. The Dwarf told him he was proud of Atyrian, and stated whereas many dwarves worked on master-pieces in beers, weapons or armour, Thorenon worked on a master-piece of training, that being Atyrian.

This celebration was short lived, as their party of Paladins was later assaulted by the Scourge. Thorenon, realising that they were being wiped out, gave Atyrian a letter, and put him up on a warhorse, telling him: "I did not work four years on my master-piece to throw it away, lad! I'm sorry, but this isn't your time, its mine. Go to Northshire, and give this letter to the abbot. He'll understand. I love you, lad, and I'm sure you'll do me proud. Light protect and guide you... now go, before I start weeping and loose my concentration. Go!"

Knight of Stormwind
"Blood is all these savages know, so let us educate them with such! We shall mark our borders with blood, theirs and ours!"- Knight Captain Graham Westwark, Recorded in The Pilgrim Knight.

On eaching Northshire, Atyrian finalised his training, being recognised as a Paladin a month after arriving. He later enlisted there to join the Old Town Brigade as Cavalry, having been trained in mounted combat by Thorenon, albeit only in simplified forms. During his time with the cavalry, Atyrian excelled as a leader, soon rising to the post of Knight Lieutenant, and placed in command of a small cavalry contingent. His commanding officer commended him highly, though expressed worry for the boy being "Squemish" in the face of real war, stating that he was not prepared to "fight dirty", often using the Light as a crutch in these times where others would use dirtier tactics. However, most agreed that this nobility made him stand out on the battlefield, to the extent that many more honorably opponents would seek him out in combat with knowledge of a fair fight being assured. "The Noble" became a moniker assigned to him by his Captain mockingly, but soon the name stuck as more than jest.

However, this was not to say that Atyrian thought well of his opponents. When asked if he showed honour out of a mutual sense of it on the battlefield, Atyrian denied this outright. "Orcs are savages." He stated. "They live in huts, waiting in expectation of war, so that they may succumb to inherent blood lust on the battlefield. We can have no peace with such war-bent creatures. I am not noble as I expect it of my enemy, I am noble so I do not stoop to their level."

Old Wounds Reopened
However, soon home called to the Paladin, and he returned to the Plaguelands, rejoining the Argent Dawn as a Paladin, and serving there for some time, primarily as a combatant against the Scourge there. He was there during the expeditions to Outland, and was present at the Battle of Light's hope.

At Light's Hope, Atyrian was confronted with a cruel and ugly twist of fate. While holding off ghouls for some time, in his fatigue he saw a black armoured figure, a little shorter than he, charge towards him out of the fray. He blocked the blow barely with linebreaker, while the second blow smashed into his helmet. Retaliating, the young paladin swung an uppercut to the Deathknight, who dodged backwards, but the tusk of his scourge helmet caught the blade, sending it off him, revealing a familiar face.

Despite the pale white beard, and the face changed with the palour of death, Atyrian recognised his mentor, Thorenon Warmhearth, now Icehearth, a Knight of Archerus. Atyrian called out to his mentor, falling into a defensive stance, trying to reason with his former friend. The Death Knight charged onwards, finally locking his axe with Linebreaker, which flared gently with light. The Death Knight gazed into his own eyes, his own pale face, next to the Dwarven runes spelling "Light Hearted." The Death Knight backed off, shaking his head, pausing from his attack. As this happened, the Battle ended with the arrival of Tirion Fordring and the revelation of the Litch King's gambit. Atyrian left the Argent Dawn with this revelation, feeling a need to leave behind the past once more, and responding to missives stating the recalling the Old Town Brigade to serve in Northrend.

Crusader, Azure and Argent
"The Argent Dawn always seemed to be the less zealous of the two splinters of the Silver Hand in the Plaguelands. However, after Light's Hope a fury burned up in the heart's of my fellows and I, one that could not be quenched. From the light of the Argent Dawn came a burning fury that would outshine the Scarlet Crusade, as the Sun outshines a mere flame. This fury would engulf Northrend, Icecrown, and the Frozen Throne itself." - Sir Atyrian Ryland, The Pilgrim Knight.

Azure
Atyrian re-enlisted with the forces of the Alliance at Valiance Keep, and soon found himself once again in the Old Town brigade. The Brigade was assigned under command of Highlord Bolvar Fordragon, though posted at Westguard Keep. Atyrian soon made a name for himself among the men for his devotion to the Light in these times, not only providing the support of the Light on the battlefield but also hosting sermons, using whatever small venues he was able to muster in short notice before engagements. The troops named him the Azure Crusader, in reference to the Alliance blue surcoats he wore over armour usually issued to Argent Dawn paladins. After the battle below Naxxaramus at Westgard, Atyrian was sent to Fordragon Hold to assist with cavalry support there, only to be asked, along with his Knights, to fight as foot soldiers in the battle at the Wrath Gate. The waves of undead fell before them, but the Vrykul halved Atyrian's Lances quickly, and Atyrian found himself praying for salvation once again. This time, his prayer was answered not by friend, but by a former foe, as the Horde joined the struggle. However, the final betrayal of Putress ended the campaign of the Old Town Brigade. As plague fell around them, Atyrian managed to shield himself from the blasts using the light, dragging his sergeant with him out of the plagued battlefield, only to have him die in the snow nearby, as the Red Dragon Flight arrived. With this defeat, Atyrian went around the survivors, rallying those he could who would still fight against the Litch King, and marched onwards through Northrend, relying on the Tuskarr to provide them with supplies to reach whatever outpost they could. Soon, however, the motley band of Wrath Gate veterans, some few footsoldiers and knights, and one slightly battered siege tank, was picked up by the Argent Crusade. Taking this as a sign, Atyrian took up the Crusading Colours, and joined the throng, soon finding himself at the Argent Vanguard, at the doorstep of Icecrown.

Argent
The destruction of the Old Town brigade weighed hard on Atyrian's mind. Bar a few stragglers, the entire unit he had fought with for so many years now lay dead, plagued then seared to a crisp even while they defied the Litch King at the Wrath Gate. His superiors in the Argent Crusade worried he may be mentally unstable, so they entrusted him with simple duties, and given duties around the Vanguard, such as being placed under the supervision of the Captain of the Watch during his long, sleepless nights under the dread Aurora Borealis in Icecrowns skies, to sleep through mornings through shear exhaustion, and constantly being denied positions in outward expeditions. However, the destruction of his tent by an avalanch changed this. Atyrian was forced to share, or freeze. However, it seemed that this misfortune had a positive effect. With new found company, Atyrian began to become more settled, and soon was considered worthy for combat once again, taking his place as a mounted Crusader, even taking part in the battle in front of the Citadel, when at last the gates were broken open. He still remembers the day when they turned from the Citadel, as the Highlord told them what had been done, as the happiest day of his life, followed by one of the most pleasant nights, rumours flying around about a more intimate situation with a his tent-companion.

The Eternal Crusade
"Dear Sister,

''I write to tell you the Northrend Campaign is ended. I write not from the Vanguard nor the Tournament Grounds, but from temporary lodgings in Stormwind. Tomorrow, I take the tram to Ironforge, and begin the long ride to Southshore. I miss you, Sister, and I have much to discuss.''

''However, I bring mixed news. The Argent Crusade believes their task done, and returns to it's holdings in the Plaguelands. While I admire Tirion, I cannot help but think him naive. You and I both know that with the death of the Litch King, Sylvannas will be more bold in her campaigns. However, they will rebuild what was lost in the East, while ignoring the threat to the West.''

''I have changed Argent for Azure once more. There is a task force being sent to retake Andorhal for the Alliance! It is, admittedly, led by a Death Knight. However, it is my duty to ensure that this doesn't effect the Campaign. To think, Sister, soon we may rebuild our house there, and soon we can resettle the estate!''

''I leave the Argent Crusade, but I still consider myself a Crusader. One must look past the trappings of faction and the individuals such as the Litch King or even the Banshee Queen herself. While evil exists, we must strive against it. If Good cannot exist without Evil, then surely the True Crusade is eternal?''

''I look forward to seeing you, little sister. Lookout for our banners when we come. The Lion pennants will fly over Southshore, and then Andorhal. King Wrynn will grant us vengence, and perhaps grant the fallen peace.''

King's Honour,

Tirry." - A letter from Atyrian to his sister, thought to date between the Death of the Litch King and the Cataclysm.

TBC