Hieja

Name and Titles

 * Hieja, the adopted name to protect his true identity. The name was inspired from his mentor, Fel-Doctor (FDr.) Hieja, who recently passed away.
 * Vordin Greyflame, his birth name. Hieja has long since stopped divulging his family name to those with whom he speaks, and following the death of his master, he fully accepted the nickname "Hieja" as his mantle and title.
 * Twilight Pilgrim, a nickname that originated from Lordaeron. It references his reputation as a good and noble man being somewhat tarnished by his search for demonic knowledge.
 * Mothrandir, his name as used by those Elves that he has met in his travels, meaning Dusk Traveler.
 * Naragthar (to the Dwarves), probably meaning Black-staff.
 * The Uncorrupt, a self-proclaimed title that acts as a testament to the pride he feels for his resilience to the warping influence of the demonic energy which he manipulates.

Appearance
Hieja stands at an average height of 5' 9", with a lean and muscular body and pale skin. His unkempt grey hair persistently hangs down to his shoulders. His green eyes contain a distinct intensity which suggest careful thinking behind all words and actions. His stature is always upright and composed. Due to recent events in his life, he has aged by many years and appears to be in his late thirties.

Hieja speaks quickly and purposefully with a kind intonation, although when angered or agitated, he can summon a booming and surreal voice which often shocks those who haven't experienced it.

Generally calm and thoughtful, Hieja himself is not naturally intimidating.

Upon entering combat, his movements become strong and lithe as he manoeuvres throughout the battlefield and commands his demonic minion. Hieja is tenacious and devious when it comes to fighting, employing complex tactics and strategies involving the exploitation of the terrain, his minions and abilities for the ultimate purpose of defeating the enemy. When manipulating demonic abilities and conjuring shadow magic, he continually utters a barely audible muttering of incantations while his hands and arms quickly cycle through inconceivably complicated hand seals and formations that culminate in the execution of a spell.

Family
Father: Vyktal Greyflame

Mother: Caphira Greyflame

Early life and the Second War in Azeroth
30 years ago, a blossoming love within the magicratic society of Dalaran was finally realised when the proud and powerful Vyktal Greyflame became engaged to the beautiful and intelligent Caphira Runeshard. These two brilliant and respected Magi had been childhood friends who studied and fought alongside one another throughout their lives, all while pursuing their studies and striving for the stars. Over the next 2 years, the couple were married, and finally Caphira bore a child: Vordin Greyflame.

4 years later, the beginning of the Second War beckoned to the forces of the Alliance, and Dalaran offered its forces to Sir Lothar. With the establishment of the Human army in Lordaeron, Vordin's parents left to seek out comrades who had fled from the destroyed Stormwind, leaving Vordin to be watched by the Dalaran carers.

For the next 4 years, Vordin grew up within the city while his parents fought in the War. Rare was the opportunity that Vordin saw his parents, and his carers were strict and foreboding in their nurturing and teaching of the child. Although he was safe, Vordin became troubled and anxious.

His main role model became the prestigious Archmage, Kel'Thuzad. Occasionally Vordin would evade his carers so he could catch a glimpse of the Archmage in the library or outdoors, and marvel at the sight of the most respected man in the city. However, following a year of strange activity, Kel'thuzad abandons the way of the Kirin Tor and leaves Dalaran, never to return.

Mortified by the departure of his hero and saddened by the prolonged absence of his parents, Vordin begins having severely troubled sleep. As the weeks pass, Vordin finds that every descent into a dream results in the manifestation of vivid nightmares, with a deafening cacophony of unintelligible voices filling his mind and thrusting him awake. And so begins Vordin's insomnia, causing him to fall severely behind in his magic studies.

3 years later, Vyktal and Caphira return from the fighting. Although they are overjoyed to see their son, they are disappointed to find him failing at his studies due to lack of sleep. Vyktal decides to teach Vordin the ways of the Magi himself. The parents take their son to the Doctors regarding the insomnia; however all proposed cures prove ineffective.

Over the next few years, Vordin shows definite improvement and becomes a proficient wielder of Fire-based magic under the tutelage of his Father. However, due to his lack-of-talent in any other magic school, Vyktal is furious to realise that Vordin's prospects in becoming a highly ranked Magi within Dalaran were non-existent. Seeing his son as a disappointment, he sends Vordin back to study under teachers of the city while he goes abroad with Caphira to do magical research towards the war effort. Despite all this, Vordin is still plagued by his relentless insomnia.

Up to the age of 18, Vordin progresses through his studies and emerges as a low-grade Magic-user. Following the end of the Second War, his parents had returned to the city, but their research had meant that they would still rarely meet with their son. Vordin, now enraged and embittered with the life-long lack of recognition from either his Father or Mother, decided to emancipate himself from his family ties and travel to Lordaeron to seek an independent life.

The Wanderer
One day in Lordaeron, Vordin meets with class friend and successful mage Malore. She recommends Vordin to meet a strange Doctor she had met about his insomnia, nicknamed “The Wanderer”. And so, within a dark pub in Lordaeron, he meets with Fel-Doctor (FDr.) Hieja.

As they speak, FDr. Hieja reveals that he is a Warlock, and deduces that Vordin possesses a natural affinity for the demonic magic’s, as is indicated by the voices which haunt him within his vulnerable subconscious during sleep. He explains that by training in the demonic arts, he can understand and silence the voices hounding his dreams. Though Vordin is aware of the taboo with demonic magic, he perceives his natural talent in this area as being something that should be cherished, allowing him to manipulate fel energy for the benefit of himself and his people. And so FDr. Hieja decides to accept Vordin as his student and teach him how to manipulate Demonic Magic.

FDr. Hieja is a mysterious man. With an encyclopaedic knowledge of Medicine and an intimidating mastery of the demonic arts, Vordin had discovered a potent Master indeed. Regarding the name, "Hieja" was but a nickname, inspired by one of the powerful Black Dragons he had helped slay in the past. The nickname was adopted so as to protect his family from the discrimination and persecution that had followed him in his early years of studying demonology. Many years ago, he departed from his family, vowing to return once he had gained complete mastery over the demons he controls and put his powers to good use. He wandered a great distance, and has lived such an elusive existence that no one now knows his true name, or his family.

The studying and training was gruelling. Master Hieja always maintains that a truly successful Warlock will be able to use their magic against the enemy without the user’s free will succumbing in any way to the corruption of the demons. Progress is slow but steady.

Following 2 years of dedicated training, Vordin returns to Dalaran to visit his parents. Upon his arrival he learns that his Mother is absent. He meets with his Father, who is mortified to learn of his son dabbling in demonic arts. He chastises his son and disowns him, saying that Vordin will never be a respected man and will bring death to Azeroth.

Unable to do anything more, Vordin departs from Dalaran, putting his Father and Mother behind him so he can continue training with his Master.

The Third War and the Rise of the Scourge
With the advancing Scourge and the Plague of Undeath, both Vordin and Master Hieja participated in battles helping to fend off the Scourge from towns in Lordaeron. In the desperation of the war, Arthas went forth to Northrend to destroy the source of the plague. Vordin remained in Lordaeron, while Master Hieja sneaked out in the dead of night and headed north. Despite his efforts in helping the fellow humans advancing along with Arthas, Hieja unwillingly succumbed to the plague of Undeath, becoming another soldier in the Lich King's Army. Arthas shortly followed in becoming corrupted by Frostmourne and submitting to the will of the Lich King.

Following the summoning of Archimonde, and the destruction of Dalaran, Vordin left Lordaeron so as to seek out his parents. After much time spent at the ruins of his city, he eventually discovered that his Father had been killed. The remains of his Mother could not be found.

Master Hieja was in the Scourge army under the Banshee Queen, Sylvanas Windrunner. When Sylvanas liberated herself from the control of the Lich King, Master Hieja was one of the many undead soldiers who were awakened from the Scourge with his mind and freedom restored. Together with the Banshee Queen, Master Hieja joined the rest of the Forsaken in fighting back against the Scourge. Sylvanas and her Forsaken army conquered the city of Lordaeron, and drove away any remnants of living or Scourge from the land.

Vordin grieves for the loss of both his parents and his Master. Although he had not completed his Warlock training and was inexperienced, he went forth to join the Alliance so as to aid in the war effort.

Vordin was among the army of Alliance to be fighting against the Burning Legion in the final hour, holding Archimonde away from the World Tree. Malfurion Stormrage gave the signal to all the Alliance to withdraw and permit the demon to advance upon the World Tree. Malfurion performed the nature spell, destroying both the World Tree and Archimonde. Despite the terrible blow that had been dealt to the Night Elves, Vordin joined his human brethren in celebrating the defeat of the Burning legion. He then returned to Stormwind.

Post-War in the Eastern Kingdom
While living in Stormwind, Vordin learns of the reconstruction of Dalaran, but returns to his city to find it concealed by a protective aura. Despite approaching surrounding wizards, he was turned away. Although he was the son of a late Magi, he had been disowned. He was still considered a member of the Dalaran society, but not of a high enough status to gain entry. But on the outskirts of Dalaran, he encounters a strange member of the Forsaken… It was Master Hieja! After witnessing firsthand the development of the ideals of the Forsaken, he had becpme disgusted by their determination to visit death on the living. Mistrusting many if not most of them, who he saw as dangerous, he left the Forsaken and travelled to Dalaran in the hopes of seeing his old pupil. After being reunited, Master Hieja takes Vordin under his wing once more. Due to the prejudice towards the Forsaken, the Master and student adopt the lifestyle of pilgrims, constantly travelling from place to place, letting Vordin expand on his knowledge in the demonic.

World of Warcraft
Having summoned and controlled many demons, and achieved a competence of demonic magic with which Master Hieja was satisfied, Vordin was instructed to depart to Stormwind and seek out the Warlock trainers in the bowels of the Pub named "The Slaughtered Lamb". Vordin would travel the world while continuing his training alone. Master Hieja decided to put his efforts to learning more about the current activities of his Forsaken brethren.

The Burning Crusade
Vordin returns to Master Hieja's abode having achieved an incredible level of control over the fel energies. However, he finds his Master bed-ridden and close to death. Master Hieja had delved too deeply into the actions of the Royal Apothecary Society and had been caught. After being subjected to terrible torture and experimentation, Master Hieja was released into Silverpine Forest with a new poison coursing through his veins. The poison was one which they knew would give members of the Forsaken an agonizing death, and he was to be no exception. In his final hours, Vordin tended to his Master, for whom he cared deeply. Before Master Hieja had passed on, he gave Vordin sheets of information he had gathered about the workings of the Royal Apothecary Society, although much of it was missing or was in code. His last words told of the fatherly pride he held towards his student. He insisted one last time, on the importance of mastering the dark powers of the Warlock, and ensuring never to let the taint of the demons reach Vordin’s soul.

After his Master had succumbed to a true and final death, Vordin was overwhelmed with grief. Despite the loss of such a great man, he vowed to strive for greater power over the demonic arts so that he could surpass his master, and use his abilities for the benefit of the Alliance. At this time, he cast aside the name Vordin Greyflame and took on the nickname, "Hieja".

Pre-Wrath of the Lich King
With the ominous and terrifying threat of the Lich King that rose from the North, Hieja immediately answered the call of Varian Wrynn for all Alliance-members to prepare themselves for war with the scourge legions. Hieja pressed ahead with his demonic ambitions, and was successful in capturing and distilling the grotesque essence of a grim and powerful demon. By assimilating this essence, Hieja had completed the ritual, and so his inner metamorphosis was complete.





However, from the moment Hieja had completed the grim ritual, he felt the lingering remnants of the demon's conscious slowly eating away at his soul. For the remaining weeks leading to the invasion of Northrend, Hieja was plagued with the burden of his sanity and physical body slowly deteriorating under the influence of the demons spirit. Through a dangerous blood ritual and weeks of uninterrupted meditation within a coffin, he was able to at last silence the voice of the demon within his head and claim the demonic powers for his own (at east, for now). However, the ordeal aged him by many years, weakening his body and leaving his hair a twilight grey. He now relies on his own control of the energies within, to prevent his body from utterly breaking and wasting away.

The Wrath of the Lich King
He was one of the many Warlocks to accompny the Alliance soldiers on the first vessels embarking towards the dangerous lands of Northrend.

In his time in Northrend, Hieja has battled with countless horrors and overcome terrible odds while helping those who would look past his dark powers in these grim times. All this while, Hieja has persevered in scouring the edges of these frozen lands for further knowledge that could be harnessed for bettering his control over the shadow magicks and his demonic predisposition.

Guild
Hieja recently encountered the officer Hhekate, who gave him contacts for an organisation named "Valiance". he is considered a member, however he has yet to meet any from this elusive group.

Current Status
Up until recently, Hieja had seemed to have withdrawn himself from both his dark pursuits and the war effort against the Lich King. It is unknown as to whether his absenteeism was due to personal choice or forced confinement.

However, he has been seen again, and his activities suggest a definite renewal of his dedication to aid his people.