Raynor Family/Children of Pheonix

The Children of Pheonix was a unit commanded by Illidan Raynor and comprised of lively characters who had two passions in life:

• Fighting & Drinking

Most nights were spent around a camp-fire singing battle songs whilst downing barrels of ale. They told endless tales of their heroic battles in their previous lives. For Children of Pheonix is a relatively newly formed squad but whose members claim to have a wealth of previous experience.

Many of a tale told is known to contain the odd embellishment, but the tale of their pasts’ is perhaps found hardest to believe by many. To quote the tale, which is readily told to many an inquisitive stranger:

The Tale of Formation

The valley of Yeoath in South-West Anfalas had for many a year been the centre of tales of a flying beast. No-one had ever actually been attacked by the creature which was only ever seen or heard at night, but it was feared by many.

Not long ago though, two peasants from farms located just over the border in the region of Elroth had been riding for 6 hours and were searching for somewhere to set-up their camp for the evening. They picked a spot on the edge of some woods three/fourths the way up a hill overlooking the valley of Yeoath.

Their equipment was concealed in bushes while they visited a local tavern in the late afternoon. Here the peasants: Pholack & Tronso, mixed with some locals and heard all about the mysterious creature sightings.

After purchasing ample ale for the evening they left the tavern at the onset of dusk and returned to their equipment to set-up a tent and camp-fire.

After a meal of wild boar caught earlier in the day, Pholack & Tronso continued telling tales and singing songs. Until, a high pitched squeal pierced the calm night air of the full-mooned evening.

“I just heard a noise coming from outside!” exclaimed Pholack. “Finally, I told you I wasn’t imagining it” replied Tronso.

Although after several jugs of ale neither were completely sure of their senses, but both realised they had just heard the call of a bird most locals denied existed. Normally they would have cowered at such a sound, hiding in their tent until it went away, but after several drinks the two wanted to investigate.

They took their short swords and made their way towards the hill’s summit which was underneath where a large grey shape could be seen flying in the moon-light. After several hours they approached the summit having traversed many treacherous cliffs. They realised now that on the very top tip of the summit was a large nest. As they approached the nest a large bird flew down and landed upon the nest.

The bird, thrice the size of a human, then gazed at the terrified pair. Instead of killing them though, the bird started talking to them.

She said she was a falcon, named Nebouriabrial who lived on the hill and flew above it and in the lightness of a full moon, down into the usually dark valley. She said she was worried, for she had amazingly good eyesight and could see so far that on a very clear day she could sometimes even see into the future, but recently has not liked what she has seen.

Nebouriabrial, explained how the bird guards its nest on the hill so that once every 100 years it may produce an offspring. But, she said, she was worried she would not be able to protect her nest from legions of “man-breeds” should they attack it.

The Falcon then said “The man-breeds who are my enemies and who attack me, are invaders to these hills. To help defend them, I have brought back to life 36 Falasan man-breeds who died in battle. They will not be able to remember anything about their lives before their final battle and will always live in anticipation of the next one.”..

Check the large cave on the west-side of my hill. There you shall find the warriors.”. The peasants made their way to the cave and found the soldiers as the Falcon had proclaimed.

Unfortunately, the warriors were far more worked up than the falcon had said and upon entering the cave both Pholack & Tronso were killed. As the blood-lust from their previous battles’ wore off, the warriors realised what they had done. Feeling remorseful they then took the bodies back to Elroth, to the farm the peasants had lived and worked on .

Not having had a chance to hear the Falcon's story, the warriors wnadered around bewildered by their reincarnation. After two days pillaging a heavy drinking - the one other skill they had kept - a farmer shouted from atop the palisade of his fortified farming village, "if it's battle you want then you should go join the army of Falasan and protect - rather than kill - her citizens". Bored of the futile attempt to gain entry to the well-entrenched farming village, the men indeed decided to go join the army. Enlisting in Elroth, the troops were soon summoned to Barad Gardor where an eager, young, noble, Illidan Raynor believing the fanciful story of the soldiers, took command and ordered his new troops south to join the bulk of the Falasan host in the newly conquered southern land of Jagla.

Disclaimer

It should be noted that many have refused to accept the warrior’s stories. Although they offer no proof of their past, they are all adamant their tale is true. Illidan, who at first believed the story wholeheartedly now thinks to himself: “Whatever, as long as they fight well”