User:Joshmaul/Donal Heskin
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This article is a player character biography page for Donal of Cenarion Circle US created by Joshmaul. The contents herein are entirely player made and in no way represent official World of Warcraft history or occurrences which are accurate for all realms. The characters and events listed are of an independent nature and applied for roleplaying, fictional, speculative, or opinions from a limited playerbase only. |
"Our destinies are not absolute, Donal. Oh, there will be shamans and seers and truthsayers and what not who will tell you otherwise, but ultimately, who you are is less what life makes of you, and more of what you make of life. The only certainty is that you will be something - what that is, that's entirely up to you."
- - Lorewalker Ord'taeril Ketiron
 Donal Heskin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Human (Humanoid) |
| Level | 60 |
| Class | Rogue/Sailor |
| Affiliation(s) |
The Alliance Kingdom of Stormwind Kul Tiran fleet Lordaeron Deathsworn |
| Occupation | Captain's steward, Pearl Queen |
| Location | Aboard the Pearl Queen, based in Boralus |
| Status | Alive |
| Relative(s) | Taran (father, deceased), Madeline (mother, deceased), Eran (grandfather), Katerina (grandmother, deceased) |
| Mentor(s) |
Sir Eran Heskin Captain Elizabeth Pellerin |
| Alignment | Lawful good |
Formerly acting as squire to his knight grandfather, Donal Heskin has undergone something of a career change in adulthood, though still trying to uphold the knight's code.
Biography
Born on the family farmstead in Westfall, Donal was the only child of Taran and Madeline Heskin - but it was his grandfather, the knight Sir Eran Heskin, that he aspired most to be like. Taran's relationship with his father was strained because of Eran's long-standing service to the crown and the Alliance, and he did not want his son to be "taken up by a life that leads one to abandon his family", disregarding the fact that Eran and his wife Katerina remained happily married during that period. Donal enjoyed listening to his grandfather's tales of heroic battles and ancient civilizations (Eran had been involved in the Northrend campaign as part of the elite 7th Legion, an allegiance he would maintain for years after), developing a keen interest in Titan lore upon seeing relics that the elder Heskin had found in the halls of Ulduar.
At ten years old, Donal asked to become his grandfather's squire, to learn about how to be a knight protector of Stormwind like the old man. Taran grudingly agreed to send his son along, thinking that he would be so horrified by the world beyond that he would come home and stay on the farm. Taran was chagrined when this was not the case; though Donal saw some soul-shaking sights in his time at Sir Eran's side, his interest in the world beyond Westfall never wavered, and he was assured by the solid presence of the veteran knight, who had sworn he would die before he allowed any harm to come to his grandson. Donal remained at Sir Eran's side during the Fourth War, witnessing the mak'gora between Saurfang and Sylvanas at the gates of Orgrimmar, and how King Anduin had chosen to stand beside a former foe against an even greater threat. "Such moments never last," his grandfather said to him afterward, "but when they do, we must treasure them - for we must never lose the hope that one day, we will break the vicious cycle and find a true peace."
Donal was forced to grow up quickly following the Fourth War. Taran had become so embittered with hate for his father that he swore his soul to the Jailer, who promised him power and a place in his new cosmos; all Taran asked for in return was Eran's death. When the Cult of the Damned - now in the Jailer's thrall - rose up again, Taran barricaded himself inside the farmstead, holding his wife, his mother, and his son hostage. Taran shot and killed Madeline - who had stepped in to take the bullet for Katerina - and was about to finish off Eran himself when Donal took his training sword, small but sharpened, and ran it through Taran's back, protecting his "grandda" from the "monster" his father had become. The act continues to haunt him to this day, though he knows he acted rightly.
Following the war for the Shadowlands, Eran began to wonder if the knight's life was truly for his grandson, and indeed whether it was what Donal actually wanted. He was concerned that circumstances could well turn Donal against him, just as Taran had done. He took counsel with the void elf Lorewalker Ord'taeril Ketiron, who had helped in Donal's education. The Lorewalker warned the elder Heskin that Donal had become too reliant on him, and his actions (such as killing Taran) had been almost totally dependent on the idea of keeping his grandfather in his life; to truly thrive, he would have to find a new experience, one that did not involve Eran. Furthermore, Donal proved to be more of a quick-on-his-feet blade fighter, rather than an armored battler like most knights. He had also reached an age where he was both impatient and somewhat brash, what both Eran and Ord'taeril referred to as "typical teenage rebellion". Ord'taeril did not think Donal would take to the formality of monk discipline, as he had... but both men knew someone who could help him find his way.
To that end, Ord'taeril arranged a meeting with Captain Elizabeth Pellerin, an officer of the Kul Tiran fleet who had known Eran since the Second War, and suggested that Donal be made a part of her crew. The captain agreed, and travelled to Stormwind to meet with the Heskins. She offered to bring Donal aboard her ship, the Pearl Queen, as her personal steward, having him run errands aboard ship and in port, as well as giving him tips on the finer points of using a blade... but making clear that she would not be a soft touch. Hesitant to leave his grandfather, Donal nonetheless understood that what Eran was doing was not a bad thing, but an effort to help him find his way; he too had begun to wonder if he really wanted to be a knight. He also enjoyed sea travel, having been aboard ships with his grandfather frequently during the Fourth War. And so, he finally agreed, and left aboard the Pearl Queen that day.
Captain Pellerin made clear to her crew that they were to act as normal - as promised, there would be no coddling, and so Donal was often hazed by the crew, who joked about how he was actually a "dog's pet" rather than the other way around (despite the fact that the crew actually knew and respected Eran), and walked around in his Stormwind tabard (the one concession to his uniform Pellerin allowed him, understanding national pride) because he was "too good" to be like them. It took a great deal of effort not to snap or collapse in tears at the constant taunts, because he was bound and determined not to shame himself or his grandfather... but at the same time, he began to come out of his shell a bit more, and show that he was not docile, either. He eventually earned the respect of the crew, particularly of the first mate, Alexander McDonnell. While the first mate was Pellerin's right hand, Donal began to earn a reputation as her left.
Eran had given Captain Pellerin something to give to Donal when she judged the time was right. Within three years, Donal had grown considerably, and was well-liked by the crew. The captain decided to give Donal his grandfather's gift, a relic the elder Heskin had found in Ulduar - a blade of great age whose edge had not lost its keenness. The crew being who they were, of course, they could not help but razzing Donal about his "fancy toy", but the years at sea had led him to see that it was all in good fun... he was one of them now.
