Born in Andorhal to Viscount Mattheau Garabaldie and his wife Melissa Garabaldie, Briggette is the youngest of the Garabaldie children. The family fled to lower Kingdom when Andorhal was lost to the scourge. Her father was granted lands in Elwynn for his years of service to the King before and after Andorhal was lost. Her brother Randell was set to inherit the estate. Her sister Victoria married a northern noble. Briggette’s ability with the light was discovered at 10 and at 12 she was squire with the Argent Dawn. At age 20, she became a full fledged Paladin and pledged her service under the Argent banner.
Apprenticed as a blacksmith alongside her squire duties, Briggette learned the art of lightsmithing, channeling the power of the light within a sword or armor as well as some dwarven runebinding to empower blades and shields for extra protection and damage.
In the late days of the Fourth War, a young Argent knight left the floundering organization with the intention of joining an order recommended to her by a commander of the Argent. Highlord Raseri was praised as a smart, capable leader of an order that worked to protect Azeroth. And so it was, the young paladin made her way to Stormwind, introduction letter in hand to swear the oaths of the Legion of the Dawn.
Her early days as a Private were typical of those at that rank. Train, deploy, fight. She took extra time to learn the history of the order. But she was just a typical soldier making no real mark to catch her superiors’ attention. A follower by nature, others passed her in rank as she seemed to stall, no purpose to inspire her to do more.
Shortly after Briggette was raised to Sergeant, an almost failed mission spawned a drive in the paladin. She became a champion of training especially of basic skills so that never again would a Dawnsman lack the knowledge of a weapon’s use or first aid methods that could save another’s life. It took determination and courage to push past her normal quiet demeanor to see her vision into reality. These sessions became the foundation for her command style.
Briggette began to make a name for herself as a capable solider.
When the Dawn took the fight to Nazjatar, she was injured in the crash to the sea floor. She spent months recovering and rebuilding her strength. Upon her release to active duty once more, Briggette and a group of new recruits were captured by a Naga patrol. While under captivity, she made an effort to rally the spirits of both the Alliance and Horde prisoners. Her natural hopeful demeanor coupled with her blossoming leadership skills maintained the captured’s morale. Together with a Horde Lieutenant, she organized an escape with the prisoners. The Dawn arrived to free them just as the plan was unfolding. The teamwork she encouraged led to another promotion.
From Nazjatar, the Dawn began its campaign against the Old God in Uldum. In the desert, Briggette had the first death of someone under her command. She had to write to the loved ones of the deceased, one of the hardest things anyone in a leadership position must do at one time or another. Balancing her compassionate nature with the harder elements of duty became a test the paladin would find a constant companion in the coming years.
Her skills as a leader, the gaining of knowledge on command and strategy, led to the paladin to be raised to a Knight. The second oath taken, Briggette became even more devoted to the Dawn. She read at every free opportunity. Absorbing books on strategy, history, and the Light. Power that had been barely tapped into, began to be called upon with more frequency. She was determined to become a better paladin and servant of the Dawn.
As the Old God began its assault upon Pandaria, the Dawn split forces between the two warfronts. In the vale, Briggette and another were cut off from the rest of the Dawn and attacked by a Faceless One. The two took on the creature allowing the rest of the troops to retreat to the relative safety of the Dawn’s camp. Briggette called upon the Light and it answered, allowing the paladin to sprout holy wings and channel the Light through her blade to end the Faceless One.
Her years of service and dedication were recognized with a promotion to Knight-Lieutenant. Once more back in command, Briggettte was sent to Kul Tiras with her regiment. Within the forests of Drustvar, the Dawn discovered a cultist plan and began to work to dismantle the cult before they could wreak havoc on the greater world. Under the bowels of Stormsong Monastery, their ritual was put to an end, just as the Banshee tore the sky in Icecrown.
The darkest days of Briggette’s life started shortly after. Word came to the paladin of undead sightings in the Eastern Kingdoms stretching as far south as Stormwind. By the time she was able to return to Elwynn to check on her family, they were dead. An attack upon her family’s estate saw everyone killed by the raging monstrosities. She had been too late. Depression settled around the paladin’s heart and she withdrew from the Dawn and the Light.
Years passed. And then redemption broke through the self-imposed darkness. A letter from a friend and commander. A return to Dawncall. A welcome home. The Dawn was changed as was the Knight Lieutenant. But for Briggette, the Dawn was etched forevermore as her true place to belong.
Upon her reinstatement, the Dawn headed to the Dragon Isles. There Bri re-established herself as a devoted member to the cause. Her strength with the Light manifested in healing the Highlord and Highguard in a fight against the Djaradin.
A challenge to her compassion reigned as Briggette took it upon herself to try to mentor a struggling Dawnsman whose loyalty made Bri question if they were a good fit for the order. Each conversation seemed to bring her fears about the individual more into focus. Until a final negative comment made the Knight lose her composure. Her anger boiled over and set off a chain of events that she regrets to this day. While the actions of the individual were their own, she learned a valuable lesson in what happens when restraint is relaxed.
She was chosen as an emissary to the Red Dragon flight and set the stage for the Dawn’s alliance with all the flights. Her calm, compassionate nature was a boon when dealing with the various entities around the Dragon Isles. This success alongside her record of past accomplishments saw Briggette promoted to Knight-Captain
The primalist threat reared its head, and Briggette was put in charge of locating where they were hiding. Partnering with the Vol’kar and a shaman vulpera, the Dawn tracked down clues and found a cell of primalists holding the tuskaar village of Imbu hostage. With their Vol’kar allies, the Dawn cleared the village of the primalists and stopped a ritual to hold the tuskarr’s patron spirit hostage. The fleeing primalist leader was then tracked down to the Forgotten Reach and the threat from these primalists was ended at last.
The Dawn turned its gaze back to the Eastern Kingdoms, where a threat from an Scarlet uprising was starting to become a major concern. The Dawn made landing just outside Tyr’s Hand clearing a path to the fortification and taking over the Argent Stronghold with an order from Stormwind. From the secure location of Tyr’s Hand, the Eastweald Crusade began. Her unwavering loyalty and leadership skills, saw the captain promoted to Knight-Lord. With her increased responsibilities, new challenges and missions saw her gaining even more respect from those who served with her. Two tasks were given to the newly promoted Lady to accomplish.
The first task set was to clear the lingering scourge from New Avalon. Mindless undead and a roaming giant kept the former farmlands from being useful for the people still living in the Eastweald. Weeks of carefully carving safe havens in the mindless undead mobs saw the lands finally freed of the terror allowing for the work to begin in restoring the land to the once healthy farmlands.
Her second task came from Dawncall itself, a routine inspection led to the discovery of a milase upon the Dawn’s ships. From there a danger was discovered close to the forest of Oakwood. A demon trapped after their invasion years before had begun to corrupt the people and land closest to the outskirts of Oakwood. A small team led by Briggette investigated and eventually was able to rid Dawncall of the demon’s influence. Though the creature’s escape was a mark against the Knight-lord’s record.
Back in the Eastweald, the scarlet’s uprising became a full out war against the Dawn and the Forsaken and Living settlers of the land. Knight-Lord Garabaldie and her forces aided the Highlord and the forces of the Horde in seeing to the end of Lord Augustmonte and his evil plans to use Lightforged Blood to enhance his soldiers. Victories and challenges presented themselves to the Knight-Lord throughout the crusade. Each a learning opportunity in strategy and planning.
A connection with the Forsaken was forged in the finding of her aunt, thought lost in the battle for Andorhal that had her parents flee to Stormwind when she was a baby. A crisis of beliefs was worked through as she grew closer to her aunt and a forsaken knight under Councilor Songsear’s command.
As an emissary of the Dawn, the Knight-Lord was sent with the Telle’kron under a banner of peace to ally with the leaders of Silvermoon. Again Bri’s skills at diplomacy lent their way to successful negotiations with Silvermoon and a rekindled alliance with the elves.
Into the badlands, a small team of Dawnsmen were called to aid in some mysterious disappearances. With help, a caravan was set up to discover the true enemy. A narrow escape confirming their true enemy was Blackrock Orcs thought long gone from the area. A surprise retaliation by the Orcs upon the city of Blacksands, led to the Dawn arriving in force to re secure the Badlands and fight this threat. The true plan of the orcs to attack Stormwind was uncovered and the Dawn and Horde forces joined together to save Redridge and stop the orcs before they could reach the Captial. A foolish noble tested Briggette’s patience with the nobility of the kingdom and set the stage for her final severing of the last thread to her former life.
The quiet after the Blacksands Incident allowed the Knight-Lord to move all of her belongings from her family’s estates to her home on Dawncall. A true home that was just hers became a reality upon the isle.
Peace was interrupted by the destruction of Dalaran and the discovery of Khaz Algar. When Dalaran was destroyed, it was feared their Highlord had perished in the fateful crash. Briggette was one of the first to lead a team to the Isle of Dorn. Since finding their leader whole and hearty, she has lead one mission after another in aid of the Earthen and Arathi
Her services were rewarded with a chance to inspire Dawnsmen for generations to come. The paladin has taken her third oath with the Dawn and is now a Highguard, one of the most trusted within the order. With command of all of the Dawns forces under the Highlord, Lord Marshal Briggette Garabaldie works tirelessly to uphold the values and tenets of the Dawn while protecting Azeroth by commanding the Dawn's forces wherever evil can be found.
Many come seeking the light of the Dawn in times of desperation and distress. What they find is a brotherhood full of camaraderie and purpose. From the freshest Private to a seasoned Knight-Lord, the order is one of like minded individuals skilled in the ways of war. The Dawn is a bulwark against the evils that seek to destroy and tear down what is good and righteous in our world.
As a new recruit, one of the first lessons you learn is the mantra of the dawn, “we shall fear no evil, for evil shall fear us.” It is the rallying cry to bolster the hearts and souls of all within the order. But it is also the standard to which every Dawnsman is held to, to be the defender of the weak and protector of the innocent against the evilest of foes.
The path the Dawn treds is one of service. To Azeroth and its people, each and every Dawnsman swears an oath to be unbreakable in defense and stalwart in a fight where others are unable. To show mercy and compassion and believe the good everyone is capable of showing.
The holy militant order of the Legion of the Dawn is led by the example of its Highlord and Highguard. Each pledged and bound to each other in a sacred pact to guide the forces of the Dawn in its mission. The various sects of the Dawn see that the order maintains knowledge and information across multiple fronts: the clergy handling healing and religious responsibilities, the tomekeepers maintaining all of the Dawns records, Oakwood breeds the finest horses and trains our calvary, the Rising Dawn working for peaceful resolutions and restorations after the battles with our monks and druids, the engineer corps maintaining our armory and sieges, and the Inquisition overseeing the laws and our oaths are held from the lowest to highest ranks. With this foundation, the Dawn can withstand the tests of time and conflict.
The tenets of the Dawn are a guide to each member. A path to walk with valor, honor, and righteousness. In every encounter, a Dawnsman should be the example of what the rest of the order is, leaving a lasting impression of a group that serves the greater good.
But more than this, more than the tenets we swear to uphold, the Legion of the Dawn is the realization of an ideal. A dream for a brighter future made manifest in each individual who swears the oaths. Each individual within our order may give a different answer to what the Dawn means to them but each will have a similar theme. One of brotherhood, of purpose, of duty, and of service to a higher calling.
This is the heart of the Dawn, the core which carries its message through the actions of each and every member on a daily basis. We dedicate our lives to the Dawn, to its teachings, to the virtues of respect, tenacity and compassion so that we may always be the champions of good and enemy of evil.
Left them to die, all while pretending to gather forces.
SWISH. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
CRACK.
Sword in hand, panting from the exertion, Bri frowned at the training dummy split in two. Her gauntlets creaked as she tightened her fists around her hilt.
One. Two. Three. Breathe.
On repeat as she fought to hold back a scream.
With slick sound of her sword back in her scabbard, Bri looked out at the camp, her attention catching on one of the men who’d stepped forward at Spearshorn’s estate. He moved toward another, one of the veterans. When they headed towards the area, dawnsmen were already in morning training, Bri looked down at the wooden frame she’d split in two with her anger.
Her hand went to her waist and the once ever present libram was a ghost. A frustrated sigh escaped the woman. Turning and stomping back to her tent, Roberts gave her wide berth until her voice gritted out an order to see to the broken dummy.
“Yes, ma’am.” He made haste to where she had tried to work out her anger.
Bri watched him go for a moment then huffed into her tent. The sight of the rest of her armor cleaned and shining in the sunlight the open tent flap let in, caused her to pause. It was not the set she had forged carefully at Blackstone, nor was it the armor she’d made from her father’s old silver hand set in Tyr’s. But it was black and gold. And it had served her well since the fire in Blacksands.
It would serve her well until the Dark Horde was defeated. She let the flap fall closed, putting the tent into a shadowed grey. Her thoughts turned back to what she had found outside Spearshorn’s estate.
They had needed those men. It would have more than assured victory. Especially if Hill’s people had not died unnecessarily. That was the root of her anger. The sight of all those drunken men, the waste of the potential. Lives they could have helped save were burning in a pyre now.
Bri crossed the room and lifted a whetstone and cloth. The sword was pulled from her scabbard and she sat down to work at the damage she had done to the blade with her angry tirade. The sound and motion of sharpening the blade soothing her mind and allowing calm thoughts once more.
All hope was not lost. She had more than half of her people out there, marching from Stonard. Well trained and experienced fighters all. Early runners reported they would arrive before the afternoon. The Kul Tirans a boon. Duskwood’s forces a boon. Even Stonard’s forces Ritelle had rallied were a boon.
They would take the bridge. They would hold until Krol’s forces made their way through the blocked pass. The Dawn had fought tough battles before. This may be the toughest one yet, but she had no doubts that her people, all of the Dawn, would rise to the occasion and see the push by Ghorr’s forces stopped.
Bri tested the blade. Then began to rub the cloth along the runes. This at least she still had. The carefully crafted steel. The runes for strength, for dexterity, and for holy fire were polished to a gleam. She held it before her. Eyes reflecting back at her in the metal. Lenience. It was her tool of mercy. A death from the blade would be swift and merciful. Better than those who sought to fight against it and end her life might deserve.
Merciful and compassionate. Traits she strived to be as a paladin. But compassion didn’t mean letting people get away with things. Mercy did not mean one had to forgive the wrongs. Justice would come.
Bri stood the swish of the sword through the air and then she was sliding it back within its scabbard. Her gaze went back to the armor. It would serve her well on the field and the Dawn would prevail.
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