Ulrach

Information

Player: Thoradin

Character Full Name: Ulrach Wayland

Character In-Game Name: Ulrach

Nickname(s): None (that he knows of)

Association(s): Stormwind, The Grand Alliance

Race: Human

Class: Warrior (Exemplar)

Skills and Abilities: When fighting with the flag of Stormwind upon his back he will occasionally shout words of encouragement, hoping to instill courage and strength into his men. He will also attempt to demoralize his enemy the same way.

Age: 49

Sex: Male

Hair: Cut trim at times, but it is a golden color. He also keeps clean shaven.

Eyes: Light Green

Weight:Roughly 140lbs without his gear.

Height: Around 6ft 7in

"'Specialness'": Acting rank of Colonel, along with the soldiers of Elwynn Battalion (Around 300).

Usual Garments/Armor: His armor consists of standard issue Stormwind Plate, with a few markings to determine his rank. He carries a banner of Stormwind, which he tightly fastens to his back.

Other: He carries a small satchel or backpack depending on his travels; however he mostly leaves that up to the Quartermasters under his command.

Personality

Alignment: Lawful Good

Ulrach followed a rather strict, but simple moral code that his mother and father instilled into him. Do what is right, because it is right. This meant that Ulrach would, no matter the cost, make sure that he was honorable in battle. No cheap shots, no backhanded swings. It also meant he gave medical aid to enemy combatants, when applicable.

Some of his men might say that he is a hardass, making them perform strict regiments of extensive exercise, weapon and armor cleaning, and whatnot. Which is true, he would make them do all of that and more, for their own good. For when battle came, all of his soldiers were ready, and able, to fight. Ulrach would also describe himself as undyingly loyal to the Crown, moreover, the current King Varian.

History

Born in the backwater village of Grand Hamlet, Ulrach was the first-born of three children. His father, a Guardsman, was eager to have boys, and overly excited when Ulrach was not the only boy. His mother, a seamstress, was happy no matter how they came out. Ulrach was well loved, making many friends with the other children of the town. When the lad turned fifteen he eagerly joined his father in the town guard, which wasn’t all that big.

For roughly three years the boy trained under his father, learning a basic technique or two for fighting off the occasional bandit raid. Life was simply, Ulrach even fell for a young woman who lived on a farm just south of the village. He would often ask the Captain for the patrols that went past her home, for more than just talk. However, peace did not remain long for Ulrach and his idyllic fantasy. Rumor spread as traders and adventurers alike fled from the East, speaking of a horde of green monsters. Grand Hamlet was ill-prepared for what was to come. They had begun to evacuate the civilians as a light reinforcement came from Stormwind.

Grand Hamlet fell before the battle was over, and with it fell Ulrach’s father. Fortunately, he was able to escape with the remainder of his family, and his young love. They fled to Moonbrook first, as did many other refuges. There Ulrach was drafted from his family into the Army proper, his light armor was exchanged as he was taught to use plate-mail, as well as several new techniques for using his sword and shield. The months following were fairly tense, as word spread of the monsters progress west. Eventually South Elwynn was overrun, Moonbrook was next.

Civilians were once again evacuated as best as possible, however the greenskinned menace struck midway. Many innocent bystanders were slaughtered before the Army could rush into action, throwing grunts like Ulrach into the fray. The Battle for Moonbrook was lost, what few soldiers remaining there were captured and killed. The Army was on the retreat to Goldshire, fighting these ‘Orcs’ the entire way. They arrived at the city, as it was under heavy attack, with a good portion of the town aflame. Before long, it became a mad dash as everyone, soldier and civilian alike, fled for Stormwind.

Once inside the city, Ulrach had very little time to find his family, and his love. In fact he never did find them as he was called back to the city gate to help defend. The army threw everything they had at the orcs to defend Stormwind. Siege weapons, wardogs, everything that one could think of. In a brave move, Stormwind sallied forth from the walls to attack the Orcs. The battle was won, or it seemed like it at first. The orcs crashed upon the walls like a tidal wave, breaking through the gates and slaughtering all within. Ulrach only just managed to survive by ducking away from the fight and heading for the docks, hoping on a ship within moments of it leaving. He looked back, gazing at the large city in flames as smoke bellowed out like hell was rising.

The War had been lost; Ulrach and his comrades were down-trodden. Silently they remained, until the fleet approached Hillsbrad, where they offloaded at a small fishing village along the coast. After several days of searching, Ulrach finally found his siblings and his lost love. He decided that he could no longer wait, and married her in the coming week. Ulrach remained a member of Stormwind’s Army, being promoted to the rank of Corporal.

During his time in Southshore, Ulrach began to mingle a bit in the culinary arts. Mainly his wife had bought an absolute load of spices and herbs with no real reason to use them. Over the course of several weeks, Ulrach had finally made a breakthrough. With a selection of twelve different herbs and spices, he had made some of the best fried chicken anyone in his unit had eaten.

Over the next year or so, Ulrach trained and raised his own child, a son. However, news came that the Orcs were on the move once again. They were burning and carving a path through the mountains, northwards past Khaz Modan. Soon enough, the Second War ensued. At first it was typical, and seemed possible that the Alliance could win, so Ulrach thought. As long as the Thandol Span was held, all would be okay.

Months passed by, the orcs had long since broken loose into Arathi, and eventually Hillsbrad. In a daring move, Alterac had moved against Ulrach’s company. Most of the Officers were slain, leaving newly appointed Sergeant Wayland in charge of some thirty soldiers. They took to the hills, laying traps and ambushes for Alterac’s forces that had marched against them. On one occasion, the Alteraccans surrendered. Going against the words of his men, Ulrach had the prisoners of war marched to the Capitol City. He made sure that all of them were taken, even stopping to make sure their wounded were taken care of.

In return, his superiors granted him the rank of Captain, giving him his own company of soldiers. Under his leadership, Brill Company became very efficient. They set all manner of traps and ambushes for the orcs, eventually becoming one of the more decorated units in the War. His company even took part in the reclamation of Stormwind, chasing the foul demons from their holes in the ruins of the once great nation.

In the years that followed the Second War, Ulrach finally had a chance to slow down. He was promoted to Major, and spent most of his time during the Interim training soldiers, and raising his family. He felt peace at last. The most that Major Wayland had to deal with was the occasional Army Ball, parade, or on the rare occasion; send soldiers to clear out a bandit holding.

Over time Ulrach was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, seeing as his predecessor had died during the fiasco in the Throne Room, when Windsor had returned to Stormwind. When the King returned, orders were thrown left and right. The Army built up once more, as word spread of trouble in the east. The Dark Portal was rumored to be awakening. At this point Lt. Col. Wayland and his battalion marched to the Blasted Lands, reinforcing the already stationed Nethergarde Forces. Something big was about to happen, you could just taste it in the air.

When it happened, when the Doom Lord Kazzak appeared, the fighting was fierce. Horde, Alliance, Argent Dawn; all were fighting against the vile throes of the demons. Eventually their villainous lines were broken, as the armies of all three charged forward into the broken realm of Outland. Once the way-station at the Stair was built, progress could be made. Riders of all manner of beasts were sent out, to learn of the status of former armies. Eventually the news came from the brass that Lt. Col. Wayland was to spearhead his Battalion into the dark forest of Terokkar. They had to link up and reinforce the battered Allerian Stronghold.

Almost a week after they crossed over into the dark woods, trouble began to show up. At first it was the feeling; as if something was not right. Then came the birds; horrible, screeching, monstrous birds that even made off with one or two of his men when they would attack. And finally the natives came; cultists, arrakoa, and of course, orcs. It was hell for Ulrach and his men, as they cut their way through the dense forest. By the time they reached the Allerian Stronghold, Ulrach’s six hundred man battalion had been whittled down to just under three hundred.

About a week after arriving at the Stronghold, Ulrach had greatly reworked the fort’s defenses, with collaboration among the Stronghold's leading Officers. Oil vats, spike pits, fire holes; everything that a fort needed, he worked out. Whether it was through sheer luck of supplies, or through clever use of surroundings, Ulrach had helped transformed their defenses. This was in perfect timing, as a large warband of felorcs had set their sights on the battered fortress. Hundreds upon hundreds of redskinned monsters crashed onto the walls of the stronghold. At times, entire groups of the orcs would be lit aflame, or fall into a spiked pit. Strategically placed cannons and a makeshift trebuchet fired, ripping through the orcs with maximum effectiveness. By the time the orcs had retreated, they had only managed to destroy and burn one of the outer defense towers.

Over the course of the Outland Campaign, Lt. Col. Wayland continued to move his battered battalion throughout the broken planet, aiding Alliance settlements when needed. Eventually, the Campaign was widely considered a success. Veterans from the Second War finally returned home with the soldiers recently dispatched there. Ulrach had a brief period of rest with his family in Stormwind City.

The War against the Lich King had begun, and with it Lt. Col. Wayland and his Elwynn Battalion had been shipped off to the frozen north. Howling Fjord had indeed earned its name, the winds were cold enough to shill a man to his very core. Elwynn Battalion set off almost immediately for the soon-to-be fort of Westguard. From there they kept guard of the area, fighting off Vrykul attacks that seemed almost constant.

After time, when the Fjord cooled down, Ulrach received orders to head north. The Fight for Icecrown had at long last come. His soldiers moved into position, along with a number of other troops. The glacier was soon loud with the sound of battle. Massive gunships flew overhead, firing their payloads at the enemy lines on their way to the Citadel itself. Horde, Alliance, and Crusade lines all charged the Undead with ferocity yet to be matched. Ulrach maneuvered his battalion into a pincer, crushing all opposition and rescuing a group of almost over-run steam tanks. In return they brought down an incoming bone giant. The fighting lasted for what seemed like forever, with many brave and valiant soldiers dying all around.

Ulrach was eventually ordered to pull his men out, to recover what wounded soldiers they could. Ulrach sat on an icy hillside with a half-written report in his hand. He watched the fireballs go off in the distance as the last pockets of the damned were eradicated. With a memorial service for the dead, Ulrach and his battalion returned home, with more medals than they had left with. Ulrach himself had finally earned the rank of Colonel, and requested time for his men.

He got what he wanted, for himself and all his men. Rest and relaxation so desperately needed; time invaluable to spend with family and friends. This kept for some time until Ulrach received new orders, to give tactical aid to some BFE village out in the Wetlands. A cushiony job, he figured as he left off for the settlement of Whitehaven.