#ravencrest

From sketchbook

For House Ravencrest’s ancestral home, Black Rook Hold, see here

Members:

Lord Kur’talos Ravencrest

Lord Etheldrin Ravencrest

Lady Velandras Ravencrest

Illysanna Ravencrest

The first generation to bear the Ravencrest name started carving Black Rook Hold out of a large granite formation atop a mountain in Val’sharah. The location where it was eventually built was considered a place of power because large, dark birds made it their home. Although many generations of Ravencrests and their servants carved out and expanded the fortress, Black Rook Hold was not finished until Kur’talos Ravencrest’s life [The Well of Eternity, Chapter Eighteen].

The Ravencrests may have earned their nobility as a reward for their actions in turning the tide during a conflict between the Kaldorei and Earthen some time before the War of the Ancients. Supposedly, it was the power of Black Rook Hold that tipped the scales of power during the conflict, allowing the Kaldorei to overcome their adversaries. As a result, those of the clan Ravencrest became honored of the throne. It is noted that thereafter, the “blood of both sides intermingled”, which implies that the Ravencrests had intimate relations with royalty [The Well of Eternity, Chapter Eighteen].

The Ravencrest Monument has long puzzled people, considering it depicts a female night elf, and could not have been built in time to honor Kur’talos’ deeds during the War of the Ancients before the Sundering occurred. Brann Bronzebeard states in the non-canon RPG that the Ravencrest Monument depicts Kur’talos [RPG: Lands of Mystery, pg. 10]. However, given the conflict between the Kaldorei and Earthen, it’s possible that the monument was built to honor someone of Ravencrest ancestry who was crucial to winning the war.

Kur’talos Ravencrest

While Lord Kur’talos Ravencrest was nobility, he was not Highborne [Page: Kur’talos Ravencrest]. Despite that, he was a brilliant and charismatic tactician, qualities which later earned him leadership of the Kaldorei resistance during the War of the Ancients. He authored many books such as: Jungle Warfare: The Troll Problem, Spellbreaking, the Art of Shieldbashing, Zandalari - The True Enemy, The Raven’s Prey, The Rook’s Gambit, and Voodoo, Geomancy, and the Magic of Peasants [Quest: Learning From the Dead]. It is unsurprising that several of his books are about trolls, since Lord Ravencrest, as protector of the realm, was charged with watching the lands beyond the elven empire [The Well of Eternity, Chapter Seventeen, Chapter Eighteen] at a time when the night elves and trolls were engaging in many skirmishes [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 98].

According to legend, Kur’talos once cheated the ravens Huginn and Muninn out of the Raven’s Eye, a jewel which can decipher any language or code [Quest: The Raven’s Eye]. He did this by offering the ravens a piece of sweet elf candy in exchange for his “borrowing” the Raven’s Eye to decipher the runes of a Vrykul text they were reading. The ravens were too distracted devouring the candy to notice that Kur’talos had stolen away with the Raven’s Eye [Item: Etching from the Raven’s Eye Tablet]. With it, he nearly perfected espionage during the War of the Ancients [Quest: Ancient Vrykul Legends].

Kur’talos is technically never referred to as one of Azshara’s official advisors, however the Queen was known to take his counsel frequently. Outside of the Highborne, he was considered one of those who had the most influence with Azshara [The Well of Eternity, Chapter Nine]. Xavius was once called a rival of Ravencrest’s [The Well of Eternity: Chapter Nineteen]. Although this rivalry could be spurred by their shared affections for the Queen, it could also stem from frictions between them as Azshara’s advisors.

A senior member of the Moon Guard is typically appointed as Lord Kur’talos Ravencrest’s personal sorcerer. However, Illidan Stormrage, who was not a member of the Moon Guard before the War of the Ancients, was offered this position by Ravencrest after proving his skill in the magical arts [The Demon Soul, Chapter Two]. Later, Ravencrest would promote Illidan to the position of Captain of the Moon Guard [Quest: Ravencrest’s Legacy] following the death of Latosius, one of the senior members of the Moon Guard and Ravencrest’s advisor [The Well of Eternity, Chapter Eighteen, NPC: Latosius].

When Queen Azshara discovered that Ravencrest led the Kaldorei resistance, she ordered Varo’then to have him assassinated [The Demon Soul, Chapter Eighteen]. The elf who carried out the assassination was named Kelorn Nightblade [World Quest: Black Rook Hold: Traitor’s Demise].

The Ravencrest banner is a square banner of rich purple with a black raven at its center [The Well of Eternity, Chapter Nine]. The Rooksguard, named for Black Rook Hold, served as both Kur’talos’ personal guards and the guards of Black Rook Hold [Quest: The Rook’s Guard].

Lord Etheldrin & Lady Velandras Ravencrest

Kur’talos’ exact relation to Lord Etheldrin Ravencrest and Lady Velandras Ravencrest, who rest in two separate, albeit sizable mausoleums in Black Rook Hold, is unknown. 

Illysanna Ravencrest

Breakfast nook - mid-sized coastal light wood floor, beige floor and vaulted ceiling breakfast nook idea with beige walls

I hope you guys like it, here’s the first two pages of prologue!