Titles or Nicknames: (the) Professor, Svet
Age: Early Adulthood
Race: Blood Elf
Gender: Female
Hair: Copper
Eyes: Fel Green
Height: 5'5”
Weight: 115-120lb.
Notable Physical Features: Short and skinny even for one of her own race, never wears cosmetics, keeps her posture straight at all times. Her bony fingers seem to be just a tad too long. Hardly any meat on her frame at all. There is a light horizontal scar just beneath her right eye.
Place of residence: Frequents a variety of hideouts, but as of late, she and Duroxas have taken to living in Stranglethorn Vale.
Place of Birth: Fairbreeze Village
Known Relatives: Duroxas Quel'Ivan (husband), Aravinda Eryn Quel'Ivan (toddler daughter), Mitiuth Ascent (deceased brother), Braylinhal and Adamaris (cousins)
Religion/Philosophy: “I am a woman of science and fact. The powers I have been gifted with the power to wield come from those Titan creators; Light and Darkness, as they are known to some, the manifestations of Creation and Destruction as pure energy.”
Occupation: Certified Professor, Archaeologist, Scribe and Healer
Guild Rank: Supplicant
Known Associates: Duroxas Quel'Ivan, Selash Gustblade, Ugraz Bloodmaw
Known Nemesis: Vaedoras Starshade
Special Skills: Research, writing propaganda material, well-versed in methods of reprogramming minds.
Positive Personality Traits: Highly intelligent, unassuming of new people, passionate about learning. Can debate for hours about nearly any topic that interests her. Capable of rallying people together with words and making friends quickly. Compassionate toward children, highly protective mother. Eloquent.
Negative Personality Traits: A spineless coward that enjoys preying on the weak and will even leave associates in danger to preserve herself. Lack of forethought, often dwells in her own mind. Can talk for hours about nothing if allowed to. Morally bankrupt. Suffers from disorganized type Schizophrenia.
History Before The Grim:
Early Years
Svetlaena's parents were among the nobles of Fairbreeze, and before she was old enough to know them, the family fell into malevolent danger and she was given to the church for protection, her birth kept mostly a secret. She has combated the thought that she was abandoned through her life by deciding she wouldn't have wanted such irresponsible parents in the first place. She was brought up by the Priests of Silvermoon and trained in the Light, and from an early age she regularly went to another teacher to learn the ways of Shadow. This 'indecisiveness' caused the Church to be quite irritated with her, but her talent was remarkable enough that she was not cast out. Svetlaena felt very strongly that none of the others or her superiors really liked her, and whether or not it was true, she behaved as it if was, intentionally alienating most people in stubbornness.
The Scourge attack on the Sunwell was her breaking point. She and many of the lower-ranking priests managed to survive by hiding in a sealed room. The screams of the doomed and the dying, however, could still reach their ears, and she was unable to stand it, struggling to free herself. Her foolish impulses to leave the room and help those suffering outside were so strong that she had to be held down and given draft after draft of strong liquor until she could no longer stay conscious. When the reconstruction began and the elves took to fel energies to sustain themselves, she also had to be forced to take the tainted mana by her superiors who were obligated to ensure her well-being. These two incidents she found unforgivable, and left the Church-- much to their relief.
Once she left, Svetlaena was able to find others that were more willing to teach her what they knew. When the Blood Elves joined the Horde, she settled in Brill and spent much time as an underling in the Undercity's Apothecarium-- until the Lich King's attack came to Orgrimmar. She set out for Northrend.
During The Northrend Campaigns
Svetlaena established herself in Dalaran, and took up work as a lab assistant in the Violet Citadel. It was here her talents were finally recognized in any significant way and she quickly climbed the ladder. Within a mere two months she was granted the title of Professor. It was during this time she met and quickly fell in love with the infamous Kal'dorei rogue, Illisade Shadesong. When she was granted her title, as well as housing provided by the Kirin Tor, the two moved into a flat in Dalaran together.
Soon after all this, Illisade was reunited with his child Kairiel, and Svetlaena took over the 'mother' role in place of the now-Death Knight parent. However, through a series of tragic events, Kairiel came to be executed by the Raven Cross. Heartbroken, lost, and rejected by her former love, Svetlaena retreated into the halls of Eldre'thalas to study and come to terms with these events.
The result of opening a cursed book titled Mirror of the Heart, Svetlaena sunk into a deep enchanted sleep, and entered a dream-world of personal trials. Her savior was a bizarre Highborne named Rhiandri, who tended to her during the sleep, and even entered a trance to enter the dream and aid her in overcoming these trials, and they both broke free.
The Professor left the ruins with a renewed sense of living. She began working with Selash Gustblade of the Warsong Liberators, who offered her a position to help restore her place in the Horde. She departed the ranks of the Pale Heart to do this, but not without first marrying one of its senior officers, Duroxas Quel'Ivan, who had faithfully stood beside her during her times of loss (and even through cruel things she's done to him directly), and eventually turning him to the ranks of the Liberators.
After the Fall of the Lich King
All the while, however, darkness and anger became increasingly prevalent in her mind. She felt betrayed by her past, by those she had sought peace with. During one night of contemplation she crossed paths with a Kal'dorei civilian bearing a strong resemblance to her former love, and before she knew what was occurring, she had brutally murdered the man. The release from the anger was very satisfying-- but temporary. Ever since, many of those belonging to the Alliance weaker than herself have died in her attempts to control her rage and frustration.In the midst of her pregnancy, Svetlaena's view of the Alliance became sealed with negativity when she was captured while on personal reconnaissance in Stormwind. The trial was a mockery of law and civility alike, many members of the faction quite rightfully wanting her death for her civilian killings. They cared not for that of her unborn child. After two weeks of imprisonment spent learning everything she could, and admitting to various war crimes such as murder and the performing of bizarre experiments, her fellow Horde extracted her from enemy hands.
The first omens of the Shattering came not long after the birth of Svetlaena's daughter, Aravinda Eryn Quel'Ivan.
The Cataclysm
The world was changed forever with the events of the Shattering, and in time, Svetlaena's life would change as well. The Liberators' benefactor becoming Warchief would spell their end, as the need for the band of mercenaries had run out. Though, as she was taking in this event, a silver lining would come with it in the form of an official clearing of her name. In the eyes of the Horde, she had atoned for her crimes. Svetlaena's honor had been restored.She tells most that she quit her position in Dalaran, citing annoyance with their bias toward the Alliance, when the truth is that she was dismissed for professional misconduct. Having found a place among familiar comrades in Borrowed Time, and dealing with the inconvenience of keeping her daughter in hiding, the loss of yet another thing to juggle was not negative.
She lay low for some time, gathering information and dealing with other prominent threats such as the return of Ragnaros, but even with the frequent excursions the Professor grew bored again. She began to write for the first time since the Liberators, this time submitting it to a neutral paper known as the Violet Eye, amusing herself by writing the same radicalist work that she penned for the now-disbanded group.
As the war against Deathwing died down and the Destroyer's remnants hung in the faction capitals, his reserve forces being discovered and rooted out bits at a time, Svetlaena and Duroxas found themselves with little to do. Duroxas suggested they join the Grim, which Svetlaena accepted only after great hesitation; not only could such an established organization help them keep their family protected, but perhaps it was just the work they were looking for.
History In The Grim: Has just begun. She recently made her past known to all the Grim by leaving a stack of copies of a letter in the guild hall for anyone to read, completing her second task.