Gordon

Biodata

Background and History

Gordon came from a family that had served the royal family of Lordaeron as guardian knights for generations. On reaching adulthood, he joined the Silver Hand as a Paladin. During the culling of Stratholme, he obeyed Prince Arthas’s orders to kill civilians. Haunted by their deaths, he gradually lost his ability to sense the Holy Light and was expelled from the order 6 9.

While searching for surviving human villages, Gordon discovered a Dreadlord’s stronghold and suffered a chest wound during the encounter. He later fought a necromancer alongside Unas, killing the mage but dying from his injuries. Unas brought him back with Redemption 5 6 8.

Gordon led the vanguard in the expedition against the Dreadlord. After losing soldiers and falling victim to a nightmare spell during the pursuit of a Dreadguard, he blamed himself for their deaths and Darian’s near death. He resolved to seek a Holy Light mentor and take leave from active missions 22 23 26 55.

Gordon subsequently submitted his resignation to the North Maple Legion and chose to pursue the Holy Light as a Monk under Brother Kolorov. Before returning to the monastery, he passed the Flame Knight’s legacy to Unas and trained him in fire control 62 63 68 72.

Appearance

Gordon is a muscular knight with a heavily scarred body 23.

• Hair: Long and pale while serving as a knight; he later shaved his head when he chose the monastic path 16 62.
• Distinguishing mark: A black ring around his heart, left by his battle with the Dreadlord 23.
• Clothing: Wore armor and a red tabard as a knight; later changed to a gray linen robe and cloth shoes 1 16 62.

Personality

Gordon is serious, blunt and devoted to being useful. He can be mocking toward Unas and uncompromising with subordinates, but he also takes responsibility for the soldiers under his command 7 15 18 26.

He remained a believer in the Holy Light even after losing its favor. For him, the Light represented protection, making his part in the Stratholme massacre and the deaths of comrades especially painful. He opposed Abbendis’s expulsion of dwarves and elves, arguing that it weakened their forces 7 15 55.

After deciding to become a Monk, Gordon sought to pursue revenge without letting hatred govern him. Darian noticed that his formerly cold manner had grown gentler 62.

Abilities and Skills

Fire Combat

Gordon combines swordsmanship with fire magic, coating his blade in golden-red flames and projecting fire at enemies 5.

• He released three waves of fire to clear dark creatures from the vanguard’s path 25.
• His fire energy can be exhausted, and his flames were useless underwater 5 23.
• He taught Unas to coat a weapon in flame and perform a small Flame Slash. Gordon had not mastered extending the coating into a solid flame blade 63 68.

Swordsmanship and Command

Gordon is a battle-hardened fighter who leads the expedition’s vanguard 4 16.

• He beheaded the necromancer after Unas drove away the mage’s skeletal warhorse 5.
• He threw a flaming greatsword through a Dreadguard’s attack, severely wounding its shoulder and wing 18.
• He rallied soldiers during the Lordamere Lake ambush and stayed behind with Unas to cover their retreat 22 23.

Holy Light Knowledge

Although Gordon lost the ability to wield the Holy Light, he retained knowledge from his time as a Paladin 6 9.

• He lent Unas a Libram containing his notes on Holy Power, meditation and bodily reinforcement 15 16.
• He encouraged Unas to find his own understanding of the Holy Light rather than simply follow another person’s path 15.

Equipment and Items

• Firekiss — The Joseph family’s red crystal sword, lost to a Dreadguard and later recovered by Unas. It is exceptionally hard and amplifies fire magic; its forging material includes a Ruby taken from a red dragon. Gordon planned to purify the demon’s enchantments on it 18 55 63.
• Fire Ring — A source of fire energy whose inheritance Gordon passed to Unas through a magic circle. Gordon warned him not to let High Elves touch it 63 64.
• Verigan’s Fist — A Holy Light-affinity warhammer Gordon received at his consecration. He gave it to Unas after losing his own Holy Light abilities 15.
• Libram — A book of scripture and Gordon’s Holy Light training notes, which he lent to Unas 15 16.
• White Obsidian — A gem used to activate a Holy Light Barrier and serve as the vanguard commander’s token 18 21.
• Black Wind — Gordon’s warhorse and companion through many battles 6 19.

Relationships

• Unas-Lawugade — Comrade and student. Unas resurrected Gordon, vouched for his experiences and returned Firekiss; Gordon defended Unas before monastery authorities and passed the Flame Knight’s legacy to him 6 13 55 63 72.
• Darian — Served under Gordon in the vanguard. Gordon trusted him with command of the soldiers, though Darian resented repeatedly being left behind 18 26.
• Sally Whitemane — Served in Gordon’s vanguard despite regarding him as a fallen Paladin. Gordon later pressed her to help pursue the Dreadguard 10 25 26.
• Maxwell Tyrosus — Had worked with Gordon’s father and continued to look after Gordon 13.
• Arthas — The prince whose orders Gordon followed at Stratholme. Gordon later harbored intense hatred toward him 6 26.
• Durand — A Silver Hand Paladin with whom Gordon had a tense relationship; Durand ordered Gordon and Unas searched at an outpost 8 9.
• Brother Kolorov — The Holy Light mentor under whom Gordon planned to cultivate as a Monk 62.

Notable Quotes

“We were supposed to be their protectors…” 6

“Everyone can have their own path of the Holy Light. To me, the Holy Light probably means protection, so when the things I protected were destroyed, I lost the Holy Light as well.” 15

“I want revenge, but I won’t let hatred take over my mind anymore. Since the path of a Paladin is closed to me, I want to choose a different path of the Holy Light.” 62

Trivia

• The word “wachter,” meaning “Guardian,” is inscribed on Firekiss and is the Joseph family’s motto 55.
• Gordon had given up drinking by the time Unas returned Firekiss to him 55.
• He told Unas that he would return to Stratholme when he was ready 68.