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| full_name= Old Man Franks
| full_name= Old Man Franks
| game_name= Oldmanfranks
| game_name= Oldmanfranks
| guild= Alea Iacta Est
| guild= Alea Iacta Est Verendus
| image= Image:OMF.jpg
| image=  
| title= Knight of the Ebon Blade
| title=  
| race= Undead
| race= Undead
| gender= Male
| gender= Male
| class= Death Knight
| class= Warlock
| profs= Herbalism Alchemy
| profs= Mining Jewelcrafting
| age= Unknown
| age= Unknown
| height= 6'
| height= 6'
| weight= 180lbs.
| weight= 180lbs.
| eyes= Ice Blue
| eyes= Glowing Orange
| hair= None
| hair= None
| skin= Pale White
| skin= Pale White
| home= Acherus: The Ebon Hold
| home= Undercity
| birth= Unknown Farm, Tirisfal Glades
| birth= Unknown Farm, Tirisfal Glades
}}
}}


Old Man Franks is an Undead Death Knight, and [[Charter#Cohort|Cohort]] of [[Alea Iacta Est]]
Old Man Franks is an Undead Warlock, and [[Charter#Cohort|Cohort]] of [[Alea Iacta Est]].


==Description==
==Description==
Old Man Franks stands somewhere between 5' 8" and 6' tall. Whatever his appearance was in life, in undeath his skin has turned a pale white. Before his conversion to a Death Knight, his head held strawlike hair that was slowly turning green, but he is now completely bald. The skin around his mouth and jaw has rotted away, leaving only dead muscle tissue and teeth showing. His face has a permanent scowl etched into his brow, and his eyes glow with the searing ice blue that marks all Death Knights.  
 
Old Man Franks stands somewhere between 5' 8" and 6' tall. Whatever his appearance was in life, in undeath his skin has turned a pale white and he is now completely bald. The skin around his mouth and jaw has rotted away, leaving only dead muscle tissue and teeth showing. His face has a permanent scowl etched into his brow, and his eyes glow with magical light.


== Character History ==
== Character History ==
===Days as a Simple Farmer===
Long ago, in the days when undead were a mere nuisance created by the occasional rare insane wizard studying forbidden arts, in the lush countryside of Lordaeron, there lived a simple old farmer. This farmer lived alone, as his wife was long gone and his only son had died long ago in the war. This old man was mostly content with his lot in life, though. Farming came easy to him after many years, and most people left him alone, which is how he liked it.
Long ago, in the days when undead were a mere nuisance created by the occasional rare insane wizard studying forbidden arts, in the lush countryside of Lordaeron, there lived a simple old farmer. This farmer lived alone, as his wife was long gone and his only son had died long ago in the war. This old man was mostly content with his lot in life, though. Farming came easy to him after many years, and most people left him alone, which is how he liked it.


His only irritation in life was the presence of the nearby village's children and their constant persistence in trespassing on his lands. These he chased mercilessly with all manner of farming tools, driving them off his land. Over time, his age, isolation, and legendary temper garnered much legend about him, and many parents warned their children never to go on his land, lest they meet some terrible fate. Which of course, as children are curious creatures, drove the brave and stupid to trespass on his land all the more often, and making the farmer all the more angry. In his old age, he really couldn't ever catch them, anyway.
His only irritation in life was the presence of the nearby village's children and their constant persistence in trespassing on his lands. These he chased mercilessly with all manner of farming tools, driving them off. Over time, his age, isolation, and legendary temper garnered much legend about him, and many parents warned their children never to go on his land, lest they meet some terrible fate. Which of course, as children are curious creatures, drove the brave and stupid to trespass on his land all the more often, and making the farmer all the more angry. In his old age, he really couldn't ever catch them, anyway.


This continued on for a number of years. Until one day, when he went outside to chase down what he thought was the same children he was always having to deal with...and found himself staring at their animated corpses instead. The zombies easily killed him, and their necromancer overseer soon raised him up to join the ranks of the dead.
This continued on for a number of years. Until one day, when he went outside to chase down what he thought was the same children he was always having to deal with...and found himself staring at their animated corpses instead. The zombies easily killed him, and their necromancer overseer soon raised him up to join the ranks of the dead.
===Forsaken===


Time passed. What activities the old farmer took part in are lost to all but the records of the Scourge, if such records even exist.
Time passed. What activities the old farmer took part in are lost to all but the records of the Scourge, if such records even exist.
Line 37: Line 43:
Lost, confused, and very angry, the old farmer shambled around the Undercity, his new home, seeking employment, seeking some way to serve the Forsaken, and seeking some way to once again be left mostly alone.
Lost, confused, and very angry, the old farmer shambled around the Undercity, his new home, seeking employment, seeking some way to serve the Forsaken, and seeking some way to once again be left mostly alone.


He found mostly odd jobs in that time, never anything permanent. He was on the verge of losing everything when he was approached by a group of Horde adventurers: two trolls, a tauren, and a blood elf. One of the trolls asked him if he needed work, permanent work. The old farmer responded that he was just a simple farmer, and no one seemed to think he was good for much. The troll knew this, of course. He'd been observing the farmer for some time. His name was Dahkar, and he wanted to employ his services. The old man responded that he couldn't remember his given name, but his family name he still remembered: Franks. He also remembered that most folks just called him The Old Man. Dahkar then asked if Old Man Franks was interested in working for him and his companions. In the course of their journeys, they often came across useful or interesting items of various sorts that for whatever reason, they could not always afford to keep with them at all times, so they mailed them back to a central bank in the Horde's cities. Howver, many times they needed to retrieve these items when it was not practical to return to the city to do so.
He found mostly odd jobs in that time, never anything permanent. These jobs took him to random locations throughout the Undercity, and he often found himself passing by the Magic Quarter. He watched in passing as the many mages within practiced their craft, but for reasons he could not explain, the presence of the casters referred to as the “warlocks” amazed him. He did not understand it at all, but some part of him knew that it was unusual for them to be in the open. He wondered why the authorities were not hunting them down for this, all the while also pondering why he felt this way. It intrigued him, one of the few things in his new unlife that did.  


It would be his job to serve as their collective banker: Store and catalog these items in the Horde's central bank for them when they sent them in from the field and send things back to them as they requested.
===Starting down the Dark Path===


The Old Man known as Franks accepted.
Eventually, during one of his starker periods of unemployment, he decided to simply approach them. He asked them about this feeling that he did not understand, and why the warlocks were able to practice their craft in the open. The warlocks whom he spoke with understood, and explained that his feelings were probable leftovers from his former life. As humans, yes, they had been forced underground, to hide their craft from the ignorant and foolish who did not truly understand it. But Queen Sylvanas was not so foolish. She knew they were powerful weapons that could be used to wage war upon the Scourge, and she would permit them to learn and teach others their ways


For years everything went well for Franks in his new life. He had a simple job for which the archmage and his friends paid him well, his interaction with people was kept to a minimum, and as a member of the Forsaken, there were practically zero annoying children to deal with. His employers only rarely removed things from their collective bank without going through him, and even when they did that, left detailed lists of everything they removed for his records, including compliments on his organizational skills. Life seemed to be good for him in the Undercity.
The old farmer felt something stir in his mind, urging him on. This path held promise and purpose. It held power, and he should take it! If the farmer had stopped to think about it for a moment, he might have realized that that voice he imagined hearing was not so imaginary, and the sound of it sounded very little like his own voice. But he dismissed these thoughts as the foolish thoughts of a child, and immediately asked to join them, and learn the ways of the warlock. Surprised and amused at his boldness, they agreed to provisionally accept him, provided he demonstrated his ability to learn, and quickly. If not, he would be...unwelcome.  


Until the time of the Scourge Invasion.
He surprised them all, picking up the basics quickly. Even the old farmer was amazed at how easily and quickly he took to casting spells of shadow and flame, to channeling the fel energy of the Burning Legion for his own ends. Within weeks, he had learned all that he could without an apprenticeship to a more experienced warlock. He was infuriated to learn that he would have to wait, as there were none available to accept him as an apprentice. He angrily reminded them of how quickly he had taken to the path, how he had gone from an aimless old farmer who knew nothing of magic at all, to one of the top students in the Undercity! How could no one be available to teach him?


During the undead's almost frequent rampages through the Undercity, Old Man Franks was finally caught off guard. A Scourge monster destroyed his body, ending his necromantic existence. Or so he thought.
His teachers told him, matter-of-factly but with a hint of steel in their voices, that they were sure that any warlock would happily take him on as a promising apprentice, once they finished training their current ones. He would have to be patient. It’s not as if he aged anyway, what should time matter to him?


His body was spirited away from the Undercity by a group of ghouls and carried far to the east...to a necropolis floating in the sky. There, the ghouls brought him before the master of the Hold. A man clad in full plate armor, riding a terrifying undead steed, and carrying a weapon so legendary almost anyone would recognize even it's corrupted form. Highlord Darion Mograine, Lord of Acherus, and general of the Scourge's new order of Death Knights.
Patience was not among whatever few virtues he had, but he forced himself to accept their words. He continued studying on his own, what little he could do, as warlocks do not share their secrets likely. He heard other students whispering of a master warlock who lurked within Undercity’s caverns, and he immediately questioned them about it. It was told that this Grand Warlock, Evrae, was among the first of the Forsaken’s warlocks and was immensely powerful. The story also said that after a long career as an adventurer, Evrae had returned to the Undercity, built a secret lair somewhere within its walls, and holed himself in to conduct his own research. He had been seen extremely sporadically since then, and always in the presence of Sylvanas, seemingly advising her on matters only they knew.  


Mograine took great pleasure in twisting the mind of the old man. Many years ago, Darion Mograine had been one of the boys that had frequently been chased off of Franks' old farm. Now he would turn that anger to a more useful purpose. "This entire world is the property of the Lich King" he spoke into Franks' mind, "and all of these living are trespassing on it. You will be the instrument of the Lich King's will. You will get these filthy living off of his lawn. And I will give you the power to do it."
Upon hearing this story, the old man felt an old feeling stir in his mind again. A familiar voice whispered that here was a teacher who could instruct him! He deserved to learn from the best! He immediately announced his intention to seek out the Grand Warlock. His teachers were amused. He was not the first neophyte Warlock to seek out Evrae. Many had before him, and none was successful in their goal. Two apprentices had never returned, and after their disappearance, Evrae had come to them and informed them that he had no time for appretinces, any who disturbed him again would be used as fodder for his experiments.


With those words, Old Man Franks was brought back to unlife. His eyes glowed with the searing blue that marked him as a Death Knight.
The old farmer was not dissuaded, his thin patience at its end. His teachers shook their heads at such a waste, but made no move to stop him. He began scouring the Undercity for any sign of the lair of Evrae, driven on by that old stirring voice in the back of his mind that he continued to attribute to himself and his desire for a purpose in unlife. It took months of looking and speaking with various Forsaken, but he finally heard of an Orc Warlock who had located Evrae, but was dismissed summarily instead of killed by the Grand Warlock. He journeyed to Orgrimmar and spoke with this warlock, one Neeru Fireblade. Eventually, Neeru gave up the location.


His mind twisted and changed by the power of the Scourge, Old Man Franks gleefully served the Lich King, ruthlessly exterminating the Scarlet Crusade vermin and screaming for them to get off his lawn in the process. In time, he stood by Highlord Mograine's side as the Highlord led the brutal attack on Light's Hope Chapel. After their defeat, Old Man Franks watched as Arthas revealed his betrayal of them all to kill Tirion Fordring, and continued to watch as Mograine delivered the Ashbringer back into his hands.
===The Dark Master===


The searing power of the Light as the Ashbringer was transformed to it's holy state snapped the delusion that Mograine had placed on him, and he suddenly remembered his life as a Forsaken and his former job.
The old farmer returned to the Undercity and finally located the Grand Warlock. Sensing the great power within his undead frame, he knelt before him and asked to become his apprentice. The old warlock laughed at him, informing him that he had not taken a single apprentice in years, and asked what the farmer thought he had that so many others who begged him for this very same honor did not. He had no answer for him, and could only kneel in silence. Lord Evrae yelled in anger, calling him an arrogant fool, and turned his magic on him, draining his life away. The old farmer slowly resisted, eventually breaking the spell with one of his own, draining the strength Evrae had taken back into himself. Once he was restored, Evrae broke the spell with ease. Laughing, he pronounced the farmer’s efforts impressive, and agreed to take him as his apprentice. He asked for the farmer’s name. The farmer looked at his new master and responded that he could only remember part of his name from life, Franks, but he also remembered that most simply called him the Old Man. Evrae laughed and told Old Man Franks to rise, as they had much work to do.


Wanting little more than to return to that era, but knowing that it was impossible, Old Man Franks took the only path he felt was right: He vowed to fight. He swore loyalty to the now-free Highlord Mograine's new order of the Knights of the Ebon Blade, and accepted his first mission: to give his aid, along with many of his fellow Death Knights, to the Horde.
Old Man Franks continued his training under the Grand Warlock, often sent out on missions by the Dark Lord which furthered the cause of the Forsaken, the Blood Elves, and the Horde as a whole, all of which continued to refine his skills. Soon the day came when Kazzak, the demonlord, reopened the Dark Portal leading to Outland and left there to rejoin the Legion. The Horde and the Alliance would soon follow, to end the threat of the Burning Legion once and for all. Evrae informed Franks that he was sending him to Outland to serve the Horde, and that he would not be going alone. Evrae was sending him with an old friend from his days as an adventurer: the troll Archmage Dahkar and his companions, a tauren druid named Grothi and another troll named Durnnit.


As the Death Knights trudged into the city of Orgrimmar and endured the hate and the trash thrown at them, Old Man Franks spotted his former employers amongst the onlookers. Breaking away from the group, he approached them and said "Seems I won't be able to fulfill my duties anymore, Archmage." Dahkar looked among his friends, and then replied "We be goin' to Northrend, mon. Arthas gotta lot to answer for. Should we give em your regards?"
===Adventuring with the Archmage and Downfall===


The Old Man's eyes blazed brighter for a moment and he hefted his runeblade. "No. No, I'm going to come with you. I'll be happy to give them myself"
Together, the group adventured across Outland, helping the Horde develop several strongholds along the way and fighting the legions of soldiers in employ to Illidan or the Burning Legion. He was present with his adventuring companions, who by then had become close friends and had brought him into the largest and most influential Horde adventurers guild, Alea Iacta Est, when they discovered that one of Kael's manaforges was supervised by demons of the Legion. The awful truth, that Kael had sold his own people out to the Legion, somewhat amused Franks. He threw himself against Kael's forces at the Sunwell with reckless fury, believing that as a Warlock of now-fairly substantial power, he could easily triumph over the legions of demons in their path. Without his master Evrae's guidance, he plumbed dark tomes of forbidden power, taking whatever he could use against the Legion. He discovered dark powers the likes of which horrified his companions, and was in part responsible for spreading their knowledge across the wider Azeroth: other warlocks soon learned of his powers and discovered them for themselves. His inadvertant spread of these was the final straw for Dahkar, Grothi, and Durnnit. After KIl'jaeden's defeat, Dahkar informed the warlock that he no longer would have any association with him. He was delving too deeply into demon magic, and no good intentions of using the power to help the Horde would save him from being just as damned as Kael'thas. At Dahkar's recommendation, AIE centurion Stigg removed his membership from the guild as well.


Dahkar smiled behind his tusks, and extended his hand. "Welcome to da team, den, Death Knight. And welcome to da Horde."
Cut off from his wider network of support and bereft of guidance following the Legion's defeat, Franks wandered alone. He was all but unwelcome among the allies he had built among the Scryers, none of the Blood Elves there wanted to associate too closely with a warlock, for fear of losing the favor of the Naaru. The warlocks of the Undercity no longer had anything to teach him, and most were jealous of the favor he had obtained from being Evrae’s apprentice.


Old Man Franks extended a bony hand and shook it back.
He returned to his old master in Undercity, only to find that Evrae had disappeared without a trace. None within the walls had even noticed he was missing. With nowhere to go and nothing to fight for, Franks stayed within his master's lair, isolated with only books and his pet demons as company. This isolation, combined with the dark knowledge and powers he now carries within him, have driven him somewhat mad.


Dahkar, Grothi, Nihl, and Durnnit accompanied their friend to Thrall's chamber and stood by as Thrall confirmed the Death Knight's presence in the Horde. Old Man Franks now accompanies his friends across Northrend's icy landscapes, seeking to thwart the Scourge wherever they can.
===Reawakening===


==In Combat==
It took the assault of the Horde on Northrend and the Scourge to bring him out of his seclusion. Learning of the Forsaken’s presence in the Howling Fjord, and their attempts to develop a plague to wipe the Scourge out, he journeyed to their based in New Agamand to lend his efforts, for reasons only he could fathom. Over time, he began rebuilding old connections with former associates, though staying clear of Dahkar and his friends. Eventually, he was quietly readded to the Alea Iacta Est guild. Slowly his sanity returned, and his old gruff and grim personality resurfaced. The strange powers he had unleashed during the Sunwell fiasco had either been forgotten or become so commonplace that no one blinked twice at them, happy to have whatever tools could be thrown at the Scourge. He began anonymously sending gifts of crafted gemstones to his former friends, most of whom had not journeyed to the Howling Fjord.  
In his early days as a Death Knight, Franks was trained in the Path of Blood. He used this style during the Scourge's campaign against the Scarlet Crusade in the Eastern Plaguelands, and continued using it for the intial weeks of his expedition into the Outland. Other Death Knights demonstrated to him the advantages of the Path of the Unholy, and he soon retrained himself as one of their number. This style continued well into his forays into Northrend, when he met his fellow Knights [[Luchioun]] and [[Ted]]. These two had developed a new combat style involving the use of two one handed weapons, mixing elements of the Paths of Frost and Unholy. After seeing the power and potential of this style, Franks trained himself in it under their teaching. Having mastered it, he believes he has truly found the combat style that suits him best, and now works with his teachers to further refine and develop dual-wield combat styles.  


== Connections to other Characters ==
Finally, Franks met up with his former friends in Dalaran and mended fences, so much so that Franks fought alongside his old compatriots within Icecrown Citadel. He was not present for the Lich King's death, but helped destroy many of his strongest lieutenants.  
* [[Dahkar]] -  The Old Man owes Dahkar much. The Archmage's offer of a job saved him from destitution, and his acceptance of him after his conversion to Death Knighthood was instrumental in the Horde's overall acceptance of his fellow Knights. Dahkar also provides a stability and measuring rod for him, as his furious temper is less controllable for him now more than ever. Franks routinely vents this against the Alliance, a solution that while Dahkar finds troubling, he finds a better option that his fellow Horde.


* [[Grothi]] -  Grothi's druidic training and societal upbringing cause him to distrust the Forsaken at best. His tribal matriarch, Magatha, campaigned heavily for the Forsaken's inclusion in the Horde and their presence in Thunder Bluff, and as far as Grothi is concerned, that means they're trouble. He distrusts Death Knights even more, given that their very powers seem to be an affront to nature itself. The two in concert, in the form of Franks, are sometimes too much to accept. Franks knows this and shrugs it off. He is what he is, and he will fight the Scourge with his powers, whether the druid has the stomach to accept it or not. He knows nothing of whatever plot this Magatha is involved in, and he is not inclined to take part in one.
===After the Cataclysm===


* [[Durnnit]] -  The shaman, despite a similar background to Grothi, is more pragmatic with regards to Old Man Franks, and the two have worked well together in the past. Franks respects the shaman for his willingness to get in close with his opponents and get his hands dirty.
After the events of the Cataclysm, Franks fought alongside the Banshee Queen against the Worgen within Silverpine Forest. After that battle was won, he resumed his life as an Adventurer, currently aiding the druids of Mount Hyjal against the Twilight's Hammer.  


==Views on Other Races and Factions==
The death of the Lich King sparked a realization in Franks' mind. The mortal races of Azeroth have overcome forces they should have had no chance against. Demons, Old Gods, and now the most powerful demigod to Azeroth have all fallen to them. He believes it's only a matter of time before a confrontation with the Burning Legion's lords is both inevitable and winnable. When that happens, what will become of the fel power he has worked all of his unlife to master? He does not know, and thus he has institued a backup plan. He has begun collecting the bones of many of the Forsaken's greatest fallen warriors, and built a new body. Using a scroll of necromantic magic, he has been able to fuse the bones together into a working Forsaken body without a mind, an empty shell. He then developed a ritual to transfer his mind to this form. Shockingly, the process worked, and he is now able to briefly transfer his mind into his new warrior body, with many of the skills of the warriors that composed it intact. He now jumps frequently into this body to train his new skillsets, while perfecting the ritual to make the transfer permanent, allowing him to still remain powerful after the Legion falls.
Old Man Franks has one major ambition in his life, and that is to destroy the Scourge. He has not had a major goal lke this for any number of years, and his viewpoint of others is dominated by how willing they are to help him in this goal, and partially to how others accept him due to his state.


Obviously he regards his fellow Knights of the Ebon Blade as a brotherhood, especially his teachers, Luchioun and Ted. The Argent Crusade also holds a high degree of his respect, as they completely accept them and work alongside them despite their undead state.
==Player==
 
The Alliance seem to want him dead every time they encounter him, and so Franks regards them as obstacles, either to be avoided or slaughtered depending on how persistent they are. He will not willingly fight another member of the Ebon Blade unless they insist on it, which he finds the height of idiocy. The Ebon Blade should be fighting the Scourge, not each other.
 
Old Man Franks does not understand Highlord Mograine's statement that the Death Knights have a seperate destiny than the rest of Azeroth and will remove themselves from it once the Scourge is defeated. Among his fellow Forsaken, Franks finds no persecution. While the other races might regard their new undead allies as monsters, among his people he is no noticably different than anyone else, save for his eye color. He has not decided which choice he will make should this situation become reality, and it gives him pause often.


==Player==
Old Man Franks is played by [[User:Oldmanfranks]].
Old Man Franks is played by [[User:Oldmanfranks]].


[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]

Latest revision as of 19:32, 2 June 2011

Warlock crest.jpg
Old Man Franks
Game Name

Oldmanfranks

Race Undead
Gender Male
Class Warlock
Professions Mining Jewelcrafting
Guild Alea Iacta Est Verendus

Mining Jewelcrafting


Old Man Franks is an Undead Warlock, and Cohort of Alea Iacta Est.

Description

Old Man Franks stands somewhere between 5' 8" and 6' tall. Whatever his appearance was in life, in undeath his skin has turned a pale white and he is now completely bald. The skin around his mouth and jaw has rotted away, leaving only dead muscle tissue and teeth showing. His face has a permanent scowl etched into his brow, and his eyes glow with magical light.

Character History

Days as a Simple Farmer

Long ago, in the days when undead were a mere nuisance created by the occasional rare insane wizard studying forbidden arts, in the lush countryside of Lordaeron, there lived a simple old farmer. This farmer lived alone, as his wife was long gone and his only son had died long ago in the war. This old man was mostly content with his lot in life, though. Farming came easy to him after many years, and most people left him alone, which is how he liked it.

His only irritation in life was the presence of the nearby village's children and their constant persistence in trespassing on his lands. These he chased mercilessly with all manner of farming tools, driving them off. Over time, his age, isolation, and legendary temper garnered much legend about him, and many parents warned their children never to go on his land, lest they meet some terrible fate. Which of course, as children are curious creatures, drove the brave and stupid to trespass on his land all the more often, and making the farmer all the more angry. In his old age, he really couldn't ever catch them, anyway.

This continued on for a number of years. Until one day, when he went outside to chase down what he thought was the same children he was always having to deal with...and found himself staring at their animated corpses instead. The zombies easily killed him, and their necromancer overseer soon raised him up to join the ranks of the dead.

Forsaken

Time passed. What activities the old farmer took part in are lost to all but the records of the Scourge, if such records even exist.

The next thing the old farmer recalled was waking up inside a crypt in Deathknell. He soon had to come to grips with the fact that he was a free-willed undead, a member of the Forsaken, and that he owed fealty to Queen Sylvanas now. He was expected to serve her and the best interests of the Forsaken and the Horde, so he did the only thing he knew: He tried his hand at farming again. His land, however, was tainted and useless for farming as a result of the Scourge. What farmlands were available were either overrun with human survivors or had been doled out by the Banshee Queen to other farmers of the Forsaken to supply their people.

Lost, confused, and very angry, the old farmer shambled around the Undercity, his new home, seeking employment, seeking some way to serve the Forsaken, and seeking some way to once again be left mostly alone.

He found mostly odd jobs in that time, never anything permanent. These jobs took him to random locations throughout the Undercity, and he often found himself passing by the Magic Quarter. He watched in passing as the many mages within practiced their craft, but for reasons he could not explain, the presence of the casters referred to as the “warlocks” amazed him. He did not understand it at all, but some part of him knew that it was unusual for them to be in the open. He wondered why the authorities were not hunting them down for this, all the while also pondering why he felt this way. It intrigued him, one of the few things in his new unlife that did.

Starting down the Dark Path

Eventually, during one of his starker periods of unemployment, he decided to simply approach them. He asked them about this feeling that he did not understand, and why the warlocks were able to practice their craft in the open. The warlocks whom he spoke with understood, and explained that his feelings were probable leftovers from his former life. As humans, yes, they had been forced underground, to hide their craft from the ignorant and foolish who did not truly understand it. But Queen Sylvanas was not so foolish. She knew they were powerful weapons that could be used to wage war upon the Scourge, and she would permit them to learn and teach others their ways

The old farmer felt something stir in his mind, urging him on. This path held promise and purpose. It held power, and he should take it! If the farmer had stopped to think about it for a moment, he might have realized that that voice he imagined hearing was not so imaginary, and the sound of it sounded very little like his own voice. But he dismissed these thoughts as the foolish thoughts of a child, and immediately asked to join them, and learn the ways of the warlock. Surprised and amused at his boldness, they agreed to provisionally accept him, provided he demonstrated his ability to learn, and quickly. If not, he would be...unwelcome.

He surprised them all, picking up the basics quickly. Even the old farmer was amazed at how easily and quickly he took to casting spells of shadow and flame, to channeling the fel energy of the Burning Legion for his own ends. Within weeks, he had learned all that he could without an apprenticeship to a more experienced warlock. He was infuriated to learn that he would have to wait, as there were none available to accept him as an apprentice. He angrily reminded them of how quickly he had taken to the path, how he had gone from an aimless old farmer who knew nothing of magic at all, to one of the top students in the Undercity! How could no one be available to teach him?

His teachers told him, matter-of-factly but with a hint of steel in their voices, that they were sure that any warlock would happily take him on as a promising apprentice, once they finished training their current ones. He would have to be patient. It’s not as if he aged anyway, what should time matter to him?

Patience was not among whatever few virtues he had, but he forced himself to accept their words. He continued studying on his own, what little he could do, as warlocks do not share their secrets likely. He heard other students whispering of a master warlock who lurked within Undercity’s caverns, and he immediately questioned them about it. It was told that this Grand Warlock, Evrae, was among the first of the Forsaken’s warlocks and was immensely powerful. The story also said that after a long career as an adventurer, Evrae had returned to the Undercity, built a secret lair somewhere within its walls, and holed himself in to conduct his own research. He had been seen extremely sporadically since then, and always in the presence of Sylvanas, seemingly advising her on matters only they knew.

Upon hearing this story, the old man felt an old feeling stir in his mind again. A familiar voice whispered that here was a teacher who could instruct him! He deserved to learn from the best! He immediately announced his intention to seek out the Grand Warlock. His teachers were amused. He was not the first neophyte Warlock to seek out Evrae. Many had before him, and none was successful in their goal. Two apprentices had never returned, and after their disappearance, Evrae had come to them and informed them that he had no time for appretinces, any who disturbed him again would be used as fodder for his experiments.

The old farmer was not dissuaded, his thin patience at its end. His teachers shook their heads at such a waste, but made no move to stop him. He began scouring the Undercity for any sign of the lair of Evrae, driven on by that old stirring voice in the back of his mind that he continued to attribute to himself and his desire for a purpose in unlife. It took months of looking and speaking with various Forsaken, but he finally heard of an Orc Warlock who had located Evrae, but was dismissed summarily instead of killed by the Grand Warlock. He journeyed to Orgrimmar and spoke with this warlock, one Neeru Fireblade. Eventually, Neeru gave up the location.

The Dark Master

The old farmer returned to the Undercity and finally located the Grand Warlock. Sensing the great power within his undead frame, he knelt before him and asked to become his apprentice. The old warlock laughed at him, informing him that he had not taken a single apprentice in years, and asked what the farmer thought he had that so many others who begged him for this very same honor did not. He had no answer for him, and could only kneel in silence. Lord Evrae yelled in anger, calling him an arrogant fool, and turned his magic on him, draining his life away. The old farmer slowly resisted, eventually breaking the spell with one of his own, draining the strength Evrae had taken back into himself. Once he was restored, Evrae broke the spell with ease. Laughing, he pronounced the farmer’s efforts impressive, and agreed to take him as his apprentice. He asked for the farmer’s name. The farmer looked at his new master and responded that he could only remember part of his name from life, Franks, but he also remembered that most simply called him the Old Man. Evrae laughed and told Old Man Franks to rise, as they had much work to do.

Old Man Franks continued his training under the Grand Warlock, often sent out on missions by the Dark Lord which furthered the cause of the Forsaken, the Blood Elves, and the Horde as a whole, all of which continued to refine his skills. Soon the day came when Kazzak, the demonlord, reopened the Dark Portal leading to Outland and left there to rejoin the Legion. The Horde and the Alliance would soon follow, to end the threat of the Burning Legion once and for all. Evrae informed Franks that he was sending him to Outland to serve the Horde, and that he would not be going alone. Evrae was sending him with an old friend from his days as an adventurer: the troll Archmage Dahkar and his companions, a tauren druid named Grothi and another troll named Durnnit.

Adventuring with the Archmage and Downfall

Together, the group adventured across Outland, helping the Horde develop several strongholds along the way and fighting the legions of soldiers in employ to Illidan or the Burning Legion. He was present with his adventuring companions, who by then had become close friends and had brought him into the largest and most influential Horde adventurers guild, Alea Iacta Est, when they discovered that one of Kael's manaforges was supervised by demons of the Legion. The awful truth, that Kael had sold his own people out to the Legion, somewhat amused Franks. He threw himself against Kael's forces at the Sunwell with reckless fury, believing that as a Warlock of now-fairly substantial power, he could easily triumph over the legions of demons in their path. Without his master Evrae's guidance, he plumbed dark tomes of forbidden power, taking whatever he could use against the Legion. He discovered dark powers the likes of which horrified his companions, and was in part responsible for spreading their knowledge across the wider Azeroth: other warlocks soon learned of his powers and discovered them for themselves. His inadvertant spread of these was the final straw for Dahkar, Grothi, and Durnnit. After KIl'jaeden's defeat, Dahkar informed the warlock that he no longer would have any association with him. He was delving too deeply into demon magic, and no good intentions of using the power to help the Horde would save him from being just as damned as Kael'thas. At Dahkar's recommendation, AIE centurion Stigg removed his membership from the guild as well.

Cut off from his wider network of support and bereft of guidance following the Legion's defeat, Franks wandered alone. He was all but unwelcome among the allies he had built among the Scryers, none of the Blood Elves there wanted to associate too closely with a warlock, for fear of losing the favor of the Naaru. The warlocks of the Undercity no longer had anything to teach him, and most were jealous of the favor he had obtained from being Evrae’s apprentice.

He returned to his old master in Undercity, only to find that Evrae had disappeared without a trace. None within the walls had even noticed he was missing. With nowhere to go and nothing to fight for, Franks stayed within his master's lair, isolated with only books and his pet demons as company. This isolation, combined with the dark knowledge and powers he now carries within him, have driven him somewhat mad.

Reawakening

It took the assault of the Horde on Northrend and the Scourge to bring him out of his seclusion. Learning of the Forsaken’s presence in the Howling Fjord, and their attempts to develop a plague to wipe the Scourge out, he journeyed to their based in New Agamand to lend his efforts, for reasons only he could fathom. Over time, he began rebuilding old connections with former associates, though staying clear of Dahkar and his friends. Eventually, he was quietly readded to the Alea Iacta Est guild. Slowly his sanity returned, and his old gruff and grim personality resurfaced. The strange powers he had unleashed during the Sunwell fiasco had either been forgotten or become so commonplace that no one blinked twice at them, happy to have whatever tools could be thrown at the Scourge. He began anonymously sending gifts of crafted gemstones to his former friends, most of whom had not journeyed to the Howling Fjord.

Finally, Franks met up with his former friends in Dalaran and mended fences, so much so that Franks fought alongside his old compatriots within Icecrown Citadel. He was not present for the Lich King's death, but helped destroy many of his strongest lieutenants.

After the Cataclysm

After the events of the Cataclysm, Franks fought alongside the Banshee Queen against the Worgen within Silverpine Forest. After that battle was won, he resumed his life as an Adventurer, currently aiding the druids of Mount Hyjal against the Twilight's Hammer.

The death of the Lich King sparked a realization in Franks' mind. The mortal races of Azeroth have overcome forces they should have had no chance against. Demons, Old Gods, and now the most powerful demigod to Azeroth have all fallen to them. He believes it's only a matter of time before a confrontation with the Burning Legion's lords is both inevitable and winnable. When that happens, what will become of the fel power he has worked all of his unlife to master? He does not know, and thus he has institued a backup plan. He has begun collecting the bones of many of the Forsaken's greatest fallen warriors, and built a new body. Using a scroll of necromantic magic, he has been able to fuse the bones together into a working Forsaken body without a mind, an empty shell. He then developed a ritual to transfer his mind to this form. Shockingly, the process worked, and he is now able to briefly transfer his mind into his new warrior body, with many of the skills of the warriors that composed it intact. He now jumps frequently into this body to train his new skillsets, while perfecting the ritual to make the transfer permanent, allowing him to still remain powerful after the Legion falls.

Player

Old Man Franks is played by User:Oldmanfranks.