Sir Colson Aspenwood
Artwork by Athena
Name: Colson Aspenwood
(COLE-son AS-pen-wood)
AKA: Cole
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Class: Paladin
Role: Healer/Damage
Faction: Alliance/Silver Hand
Professions: herbalism, jewelcrafting
Homeland: Stormwind
Player: Athena
badge_race_human_male.pngbadge_class_paladin.pngbadge_role_healer-damage.pngbadge_profession_herbalism.pngbadge_profession_jewelcrafting.png

RP Hooks

  • Paladins/Knights of the Silver Hand/Argent Crusade/The Light: He is ready and willing to talk about paladins, and the Light at any time. Be prepared that he can and will quote the Tomes from memory.
  • Mt. Hyjal/Theramore: He was there at the battle, and he was in Theramore since it's construction up to early Year 25.
  • Mordecai/Cressidha: If you know either of them, he is the guy to chat to about them. They are his People.
  • Twilight's Hammer: He's got a long standing beef with this cult group.
  • Scarlet Crusade: A significant aspect of his arc for becoming a Holy paladin. He will be friendly towards any Scarlets who have left the Crusade, and will be willing to talk to current Crusaders.
  • Stormwind Nobility: He almost certainly not only knows your family, but you may be actually acquainted, if you are from a noble house.
  • Aspenwood Wine: He can talk about the family wine with clear specifications at any time.

Appearance

6'0", with a slim athletic build except for his shoulders, which are broader than average for his frame. He shares his sister's wheat blonde hair and cold gray-blue eyes, and they bear a strong resemblance to each other with a Classic Aspenwood nose and strong jawline. Although he rarely smiles when he isn't around his sister, his husband, or one of his close friends, his face is amiable and polite, and he has very symmetrical features.

Colson does not make big expressions, with few exceptions; most of his expressiveness is in micro-expressions and slight movements of his face. He looks neutral most often, and is often found to be inscrutable by people who don't have extremely high perception in reading emotions and faces or people who know him very well.

He moves with a natural grace that has been honed further by his mannerisms, and he is quieter than it seems he should be, for a man in full plate. His armor is always extremely well kept, and these days, he is mostly in a dark gold and dark blue set.

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Tattoos

His left arm is covered shoulder to wrist in a tattoo of words, with most quotes pulled from the Tomes of Light and other important writings of the Light, as well as the paladin vows.

His speaking voice is a mid-range baritone (voice claim John Park), and his singing voice is a lyrical (lower range) tenor that is classically trained but sounds very unremarkable (voice claim, a less expressive/interesting version of David Archuleta).

Personality

Lawful • Compassionate • Devoted • Patient

ALIGNMENT: LAWFUL GOOD

Lawful Good is his way of life in more ways than one. Despite his commitment to traditions and rules, he is not unwilling to work alongside those who do not share his values so long as they can agree on a common goal. Stoic and controlled, he nonetheless feels things very deeply, which is made manifest in his undeniable skill in healing. His love for the Light is matched only by his love for his sister Cressidha. Colson is a loving husband, and deeply affectionate as a friend to those he cares for greatly. People often find it easy to trust Colson, as he is genuinely exactly what he seems to be: the holy calm compassion and polite mildness are not a mask he wears to impress people; it's who he really is.

He has committed fully to the life of a Holy Paladin, and has cultivated his beliefs about the balance between Compassion and Retribution for his personal path as a servant of the Light. For a long time, Colson was unable to weaponize the Light in Combat, drawing from Compassion even for harm — only since exploring the other side of himself has Colson finally come into greater balance as a paladin. As a paladin, Colson does not consider the "live your life in service to the Light and others" as a suggestion; he has a deep commitment to others, and to aiding the innocent.

He has strong beliefs about the necessity of equality and equity in society, despite acting within the obligation of his family's social position. Colson can and will leverage his family name on other people's behalf, but never his own. As a noble, Colson has been trained in all manner of things, from proper manners to playing piano to dancing to correct forms of address.

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The Knight-Captain (top left), Lord Colson (top right), The Holy Paladin (lower left), the Lieutenant (lower right)

Colson often feels and behaves as though there are different sides of his personality: The Knight-Captain (a forceful, decisive leader willing to act on behalf of others in a leadership or protective role), Lord Colson (his most Society appropriate self, that he believes his parents and eldest brother would approve of, who is capable of circulating within the highest circles of Polite Nobility with ease), The Holy Paladin (all the aspects of his most holy self that has taken the words of the tomes to true gospel of the mind and heart, guided by his vows to a near extreme), and The Lieutenant (the blend of partial leadership and guidance, as well as support, for Cobalt Company). Those who know him well often see that Colson is always all of these — always "Colson", no matter what he seems to be wearing at the moment.

This Character Is In A Monogamous Marriage And Cannot Be Romanced

History

BIRTHDAY: NOVEMBER 2ND, YEAR 0

Colson was born in the old city of Stormwind the year the Dark Portal opened to a high noble house (Duke/Duchess level by standard British nobility concepts) of Stormwind. His family fled the fall of Stormwind, and Colson was raised with his sister Cressidha on the Varley's farm until it was safe to return to the newly rebuilt city.

When his sister Cressidha was struggling with mastering her powers as a frost mage, Colson decided to attempt to learn how to heal himself to assist her. He showed an aptitude for the Light, and it was suggested to him that he join the open call for people to attempt to become a paladin. Colson was selected by Saidan Dathrohan (among many other hopefuls) for the Holy Libram, where Colson studied in Lordaeron for several months until he was selected to be a paladin. He officially joined the Knights of the Silver Hand at age 18, and studied for a year to master his powers, and was considered a disappointment. He was unable to fully demonstrate the range of Holy powers, and when the call when out to aid Lady Jaina Proudmoore, Colson left Lordaeron to follow her.

In the time leading up to the Battle of Mt. Hyjal, Colson discovered he was capable of healing their new Horde and Kaldorei allies, and forged a bond with an orc named Sarog Warsong, a young warrior who remained by Colson's side through the weeks and the final battle. At Mt. Hyjal Colson remained in the final third camp where the Kaldorei held the last line of defense before the World Tree. Colson did not cultivate many human relationships during those days, but he did form a strong connection of respect with the kaldorei.

After the battle, he went with Lady Jaina Proudmoore to Theramore, where he was promoted to Knight Lieutenant out of turn based on his family's name. He spent several years at the level, until he was promoted once again in Year 24 to Knight Captain, following several highly successful operations. In Year 25, Colson's request to leave the army was granted, and he was given an honorable discharge. He spent three months in Teldrassil and Ashenvale after, wandering the areas, doing any work or job that anyone wished of him for aid. He met many kaldorei during that time, and spent two weeks wearing furry underwear in honor of the druidic traditions.

In the summer of Year 25, Colson joined Cobalt Company to rejoin his sister, who he had always intended to work alongside, since childhood. He was paired with several other paladins, who were much newer to the order, and formed a bond with one of them in particular, and a tentative friendship with the other. Things came to a head when an altercation got out of hand, which led to Colson being put on Probation, which he took very seriously.

In the autumn of Year 25, Colson was made a Lieutenant of Cobalt Company, and joined the front squads to work alongside his sister in the Plaguelands. This led to an eventual confrontation with the Scarlet Crusade and Sir Dathrohan, and a long delayed breakthrough for Colson's ability to use a fuller range of the Light's powers.

Colson is a squad member, following Cobalt Company through the Dark Portal and into Outland. He lived in Telredor, Zangarmarsh for several months, and currently resides in Telaar, Nagrand.

On March 19th, Year 26, he married the love of his life, Mordecai Aspenwood (né Harbrooke). The wedding was massive, with around 300 guests, and very well attended by the Eastern Kingdom nobility.

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Mordecai and Colson on their wedding day

Relationships

Cressidha
Colson's (older by 30 minutes) twin sister, and one of the two most important people in his life; she's the reason he joined the army, and the reason he left it. They understand each other in ways that others don't, and she is his heart.
Mordecai
Colson's husband, married March 19 Year 26 (formerly Cressidha’s fiancé), the love and light of Colson's life, the other half of the two most important people to Colson: his shield, his angel, his beacon, his soul itself. He would do anything for Mordecai. Anything.
Mother
Colson’s mother, who he has always felt close to for their shared mannerisms. He tries to write to her regularly, although he always prioritized Cressidha more.
Father
Colson’s father, whose interests in gardening is what inspired Colson’s own interest in botany. They have a warm relationship, but time and distance have created a habitual lack of interaction, if no alteration in Colson’s affection for his father.
Bertrand
Colson’s (now) eldest brother. As one of the few Aspenwoods really capable of code switching in social situations, Colson has always felt that Bertrand is who people wish Colson would be more like. They have a positive relationship, but not an especially close one.
Amadeus
Colson’s older brother, once the eldest of the Aspenwood children, who died during the Cataclysm Shattering. For most of his teens and adulthood, Colson considered Amadeus the person to aspire to become, the man Colson wished he was. That evolved after his marriage to Mordecai, but some part of Colson will always feel as though Amadeus was the ideal to strive to become.
Lucy
Something of Colson's sister-in-law technically, as the former wife of Colson's husband's brother Gavin, and later the sister of Colson’s brother Bertrand, what really matters is that Lucy was there when Colson needed her most, and while Colson always found her manner somewhat difficult to read, he enjoyed her company. He was forever grateful to her quick thinking, and admired her competency and intelligence. He attempted to resurrect her at the final assault of Icecrown after the Lich King killed those fighting there, but was unsuccessful.
Priscilla
Bertrand’s wife, and Lucy’s sister, who Colson has a positive relationship with, though not especially close.
Gardenia
Amadeus’ widow, and mother of the heir to House Aspenwood, Arnold Aspenwood. Colson has only a passing acquaintance relationship with her.

Writings

Title Summary
(2025-12-25) Elle's Winter Veil Letters Joelle writes to his friends on Winter Veil. Presents included in most cases.
(2025-12-23) First Winter Veil For her first Winter Veil in Stormwind, Aszera makes a significant effort on gifts for friends and family.
(2025-09-21) Tea, Blushleaf, Rings Estel writes her paladin buddy Colson with a present and a request. The request is unrelated to the present. The present is not a bribe.
(2025-04-30) A Message of Loss and a Message of Hope Mordecai Aspenwood makes a public address at the Cathedral of Stormwind on the anniversary of the Cataclysm. The truth about Archbishop Benedictus is revealed to the public at last. ~1.4k words.
(2025-02-28) The First Night Apart In the evening of Mordecai's first day on a very confidential expedition to Dragonblight, he writes to Colson. ~300 words.
(2024-10-24) Call for Heroes to Deepholm Captain Jo Sparkwire sends out invitations for a team to answer a call for aid from the Earthen Ring.
(2024-09-23) Twin Letters: Mt. Hyjal From the start of the work in the summer for Blue Squad, Colson and Cressidha Aspenwood keep up a faithful correspondence on the subjects of Blue Squad's doing, Cressidha's social life, and how many ways her brother can be unsubtle. 6600~ words.
(2024-08-26) Naga Like The Letter J Estel writes to Colson to update him on White Squad's status and make a request as his unofficial jewelry tester. ~220 words.
(2024-07-08) Not That House When Mordecai suggested that he and Colson rent out Lucy's former home from Priscilla so they could commute more easily to Mt. Hyjal, he thought it would be fine. It isn't fine. ~500 words.
(2024-04-21) The Lich King Falls; The Lich King Rises The battle against the Lich King at the pinnacle of Icecrown Citadel.
(2024-03-10) From One Twin To Another Colson writes Tinky Wickwhistle about the known fate and wherabouts of Tinky Wickwhistle. 240-ish words.
(2023-10-18) The Proposal Letter (Drafts 17, 21, 28, 31, 32, and 39) Another set of proposal drafts from Mordecai to Colson.
(2023-08-02) Letter: A Cobalt Delegation Jo sends a letter to Auralind, Azizia, Ben, Caspis, Colson, Cressidha, Dane, and Sil about an upcoming diplomatic mission to Stormwind.
(2023-06-22) Shift Change Cressidha receives a letter from Zath Tyrrell, discusses it with her brother, and writes one back. Return letter included. The next Cressidha close-third no one asked for. ~2600 words.
(2023-05-28) Flare Mordecai recalls learning Holy Nova as a child. See content warnings. ~400 words.
(2023-03-25) Saronite Is Not Black Tissue Paper Roper replies to Colson about saronite, and offers to help with figuring out the metal in raw form. 400-ish words.
(2023-03-22) Saronite Armor Colson writes Roper about the questions around saronite armor. The mail delivers a version of it. 380-ish words.
(2023-03-19) First Anniversary (Letter) Mordecai's anniversary letter to his husband Colson. All romance fluff. ~500 words.
(2023-02-08) Nightmare: The Mire In the wake of considerations about the Ebon Blade, Colson has one of his recurring nightmares about a possible outcome of his doubts. 1810 words.
(2023-02-05) A Potential Diplomatic Incident Colson and Roper exchange letters over the information around Thassarian, and what the detah knight knows about the other death knight. 780 words.
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