Veros Moonshine

"Any and all risks are worth taking in the pursuit of knowledge."

—Veros Moonshine

Veros Moonshine is a former Arcanist of Suramar and current acting Head Archivist of the Agents of Suramar. Veros had studied the art of arcane and ley-walking for thousands of years in Suramar before abruptly absconding his title, abandoning his work and settling to become a merchant within Evermoon Commons.

Despite the cynical, alcoholic, and cowardly tendencies he developed during that time, Veros would eventually use his shop as a rebel meeting point during the Insurrection, playing as a quiet piece of the rebellion. Once outside of the barrier, Veros sought to take advantage of his second chance at life, aiming to redeem himself and live the life he wanted. This would lead him to eventually join the Agents and rise in the ranks.

Veros appears in-game as "Moonshinier". His name is pronounced 'Veer•ohs'.

(Sidebar Art made by cynical-cyborg!)

Physical Description

Veros stands shorter than the average Nightborne. He is slim, his hair of a pale pink and flowing long past his back. It is often unkempt, and unshaven stubble grows freely on his jaw and upper lips. Scars mar the side of his neck, as if a creature of sorts clawed it out, nearly killing the man just months ago. His cheeks are sunken in, lips thin, and wrinkles deepen his features, making him appear akin to a human in his late fifties. Often his nose and cheeks are flushed, likely from thousands of years of drinking.

Runic tattoos cover his entire body, most prominently those on his cheeks and the intricate designs on his forearms. They glisten in the lighting and sometimes pulse with his heartbeat, even changing color to accommodate the types of magic he casts or absorbs. As of late, his work alongside the Agents has forced him to become more physically active, and as a result, he's become more toned and fit.

He is often seen wearing some variation of the Shal'dorei heritage armor, typically one with a propped collar and baggy sleeves, and some that are just a tunic piece with pants. He wears two silver earrings on each lobe, and ear cuffs on each. Handmade jewelry dangles at the tips of his ears, a crescent moon dangling from his left ear, and a sun pendant on his right. On his right wrist is a small bracelet seemingly made by a small child with three charms: a crooked yellow star, a pink cylinder with a laughing face etched into it, and a blue disk with a 'V' carved in it.

Personality

Veros is a charming man, a lover, not a fighter. He's attracted to men, women, and alcohol, and will often seek out the best places to have a good time. Though he is free from the prison that was Suramar, old, unhealthy habits remain with him, including his alcoholism and nihilism. He has a severe lack of self preservation, and it often shows in his poor decision making, be it through partying, frivolities, grand purchases, or drinking heavier than normal. At times, it also shows in more "noble" maneuvers, as he has absolutely no hesitation to put himself before danger to protect an Agent or otherwise, always willing to put his life on the line for others.

He used to be known to be a massive flirt, especially after coming out of the barrier. Emerging from Suramar after thousands of years of isolation made him a more loose cannon, wild, irresponsible, the kind of man you wouldn't want to bring home to meet your parents, but after joining the Agents of Suramar, he has now become a little more refined and responsible, and his old desire for knowledge and research resurfaced, making him the perfect candidate to serve as Head Archivist and Lead Researcher.

Abilities

Sparky Veros - Copy (2) — Veros tapping into a ley line, his magic manifesting as arcane lightning.

(SECTION BOUND FOR A REVAMP)

Veros describes himself as a conduit, and his research in ley-walking enables him to have enhanced abilities in the arcane. For thousands of years, he trained himself and his body to withstand immense amounts of power at once

The runes on his body allow him to better cast his spells, and even allow him to absorb oncoming magical attacks. They have the capability of retaining and holding onto magic for extended periods of time for Veros to release whenever.

As a ley-walker, he can tap directly into the ley lines and absorb its power directly, serving as a lightning rod and even an outlet for power to flow directly through him. The runes on him keep him from dying or exploding to such dangerous spells.

His magic often manifests as arcane lightning and arcane explosion. As a young Arcanist, explosive and chaotic spells were his specialty.

Fire magic is his weakest point, as his alcoholic tendencies make him more flammable, thus more dangerous for him to cast. They are a last resort for him to use.

After an accident while researching an artifact of Old God origin, Void corruption has infected Veros, though it's been settled enough with the help of High Priest Sunblade to remain relatively dormant within him, his spells may sporadically be laced with the dark magic. With the use of Arcane and Shadow magic, he can mimic the priest's Mind Flay spell to an extent.

Gear

Though Veros can often be seen wearing some variant of the Shal'dorei heritage armor or Suramari civilian clothing, he does have a few specific sets that he wears

Default is what he's normally seen in, an adjustment or variant of the heritage gear. In place of the violet gems that are socketed to the gear is Azerite instead, which helps empower him and his spells. The gems on his wrist allow him to remotely control mirror image constructs, store memory, host projections, and allow him to communicate to similar crystals/gems it is bound to.

Research Gear is the set he wears when working within the Agency Vault and handling powerful artifacts and relics. It is enchanted and reinforced to withstand explosions and overcharge of power without harm. Mana crystals are embedded throughout the entire suit, and he sometimes wears a black mask over his mouth.

Hazardous serves a similar purpose as his research gear, except when dealing with more bio-hazardous material. While his standard research attire is enforced to withstand heavy amounts of arcane power and heavy mana damage, this hazmat gear is enchanted to lower the risks of corruption or infection, and dealing with more chaotic powers (branches of death, fel, plague, etc.)

Covert Ops has raw, crystallized mana floating above his headpiece and shoulders. These serve as a bonus mana supply, ammunition, and protective purposes, as the crystals can be reconverted back to energy to produce a barrier. In combat, he often pulls arcane from the leylines and forces the power to coalesce into crystals, so this armor is at last a visual representation of that spell of his.

Void Containment is what he wears shortly after a ritual that forced Void out of his soul and into his staff, and he uses this gear, which is enchanted by a priest, to allow him some better control on his condition.

Honorbound is the gear he wears when on missions for the Honorbound or other Horde-related endeavors. His staff was once an elite battle-staff equipped with Azerite, but after a mission in Stormsong, the Azerite has been depleted, and takes on a bloody red hue instead, vibrating chaotically.

Equipment

Helm - (Takes the appearance of Flare-Eyed Hood) Veros' helm is a strange metallic frame with a vividly glowing crystal chained to it, a runed cloth floating around it to reinforce its enchant. Touching the crystal would severely burn, as it wields powerful wards, enchants and charms that help protect the Agents and the Headquarters, powered by Veros himself.

Wrist-Gems - Enchanted crystals socketed into the sleeves of his heritage armor that allows him to remotely control mirror image constructs, store memory, host projections, and allow him to communicate to similar crystals/gems it is bound to.

Goblin Communicator - An earpiece that allows Veros to communicate with the rest of the Agents of Suramar. Standard Agency equipment.

Belt Gem - A crystal socketed on his belt that expands his mana pool by storing arcane. It has several unknown enchantments imbued in it, and provides passive aid to Veros.

Arcane-Frost Orb - An enchanted "pearl" of sorts, condensed of rich mana and frost that helps assemble and summon Veros' trusted water elemental, Laekus.

Tal'Naran - (Takes the appearance of Voidcore Greatstaff) A staff constructed in a lab, inspired by traditional orcish rituals and designed to sustain mass amounts of power at once. It is currently housing a portion of Veros' Void corruption, and allows him to have a better control of his affliction.

Tome of An'quov - (Takes the appearance of Codex of Imminent Ruin) A tome Veros discovered during a hunt for artifacts -- however, Veros has no recollection or memory of even finding the tome. Inside are pages detailing extensive rituals and spells, and can be used to help aid in casting. Not all of the Void-Infused pages of this spellbook, however, can be read without some strain.

Surgestaff - (Takes the appearance of Heptavium, Staff of Torturous Knowledge) A powerful, engineered staff that allows him to conduct more power into himself, similar to Ley-Gripper, except with an advanced filtration system. It bears the ability to conjure its own crystals and ammunition with stored power.

Ley-Gripper - (Takes the appearance of Spire of the Furious Construct) Veros' staff crafted specifically for him. Its floating "claws" are powered by arcane, and the top of the spire can be socketed with various powerful gems and crystals to empower the staff, often times replaced with Azerite. Its main purpose is to allow Veros to better tap into the leylines quickly and more efficiently, holding onto raw power for easier access.

Shandai-sin - (Takes the appearance of the yellow variant of Primal Gladiator's Mageblade) A powerful sword that was accidentally chaotically infused with Azerite. Once a normal blade, standard equipment, until Veros got it caught in an Azerite fissure during a scuffle. Now? It's a pretty kickass sword, except for the part where it's susceptible to exploding at any given notice.

Blade of the Storm - Another kickass sword prone to exploding. Once a normal blade, as all swords typically begin, Veros charged it with a powerful burst of arcane lightning, causing the blade to always be electrified to the touch. Mostly cosmetic, though it can be deadly in combat, if someone were to properly teach Veros how to wield a sword.

History

Early Life

War of the Ancients

Veros was a small child when the War of the Ancients began, the only son of two Kaldorei that lived in a village that was shortly decimated after the invasion. Being so young and living through intense conflict, most of Veros' memories of the time are a blur. Displaced by the destruction, his family was forced to flee their home town, seeking refuge at any place possible.

While hiding within the dense forest near Suramar, Veros and other surviving kaldorei migrants were discovered by demons. In the midst of the chaos, Veros' mother was slaughtered horribly before his eyes by one of the demons. The Moon Guard managed to intervene in time to save the other elves, Veros' own father scooping him up and carrying him to safety.

Eventually, Veros and the other victims were able to get into Suramar as their last hope of survival. Veros' father was forced to choose between his family and his duties as the Moon Guard, and ultimately chose to leave Veros within Suramar City, promising to return when his work was done. Shortly after his father departed, Suramar was encased in a massive barrier, leaving Veros separated from everything and everyone he had ever known.

Sealed in Suramar

As a child in a massive city, surrounded by strangers and other displaced citizens, Veros had a hard time coping. It took years before he could fully recover from his trauma, and during that time, was mute, communicating only through basic sign language and pointing. He moved with other orphans, living from house to house, never having a permanent home or permanent set of caretakers, and such a deal weighed down on the young boy's shoulders.

But eventually, as time passed, and he became accustomed to this new way of life, Veros found the courage to speak again, slowly, but surely, coming out of his shell and becoming more social with the other children on the block. He picked up better habits, focusing on his schoolwork and healing himself, becoming obsessed with the idea of climbing his way to the top and making a bigger name for himself.

His peers teased him for his soft nature and odd habits, but the young child was convinced that, so long as he trained himself to be strong and smart, he would be prepared for when the barrier finally came down and he'd see the Sun and Moon again.

The Arcanist

Veros quickly became a model student, vigorously training and studying in the art of arcane, spending his free time reading or watching other mages practice their spells. He admired them immensely, and as a teenager, was eventually recognized for his talent by the other magi. Veros propelled himself with his insatiable desire to learn and grow, and as a young adult, would write his first spell book: "The Art of Arcane Explosion". Such a book had some glaring misconceptions written in, as well as a hefty neglect for safety regulations, but the book and the knowledge Veros had poured in earned him a scholarship into one of the most prestigious academies in Suramar.

For the next four and a half thousand years, Veros rose through the ranks with notable skill among his peers, taking immense interest in the ley lines that flowed through the land. He studied them independently, bringing his other classmates and coworkers along to tap into the power. Veros designed his own runes to be tattooed to his skin, and with the help of a few other Arcanists and the use of ley line ink, Veros would eventually be covered head to toe in runes tailored to enhance his casting.

Veros garnered respect, and was well on his way to living a long, comfortable life. His studies never relented, and he wrote a series of spellbooks on Ley-Walking and conduit spells, urging other mages to take interest in his brand of magic. While the series was admired, it was also frowned upon, as most of his spells involving directly tapping into the ley lines and absorbing magic to redirect were proved to be near fatal - only experienced arcanists like himself could manage to pull it off. Despite that flaw, his philosophy was well received by most.

Suramar knew him as Ley-Arcanist Veros, or Ley-Walker. And though Veros was finally coming close to his goal of rising up to become the best of the best, luxury within his reach and even a fiance, Veros found himself terribly unsatisfied.

Fall to Despair

As time passed and the Kaldorei’s features began to change into something different, Veros found himself struggling to cope. He could hardly remember how the Sun or Moon looked, and every day that he stared up at the barrier in the sky, he became more and more aware that no matter how much he worked to improve and grow, he would never surpass the barrier of Suramar. “The Sky is the Limit” became a horrible mantra that plagued Veros, and with no true outlet or anyone to talk to about his doubts and fears, Veros turned to alcohol.

In a drunken haze, Veros suddenly dropped out of his ranks, renouncing his Arcanist title, breaking up with his fiance, and abandoning his work for good. It was reported that he trashed his own home in his outburst, shaving his own head and moving across the city, never to return to the Academy of Arcane. He had absconded his own riches and home, impulsively purchasing a small shop within the Evermoon Commons, downgrading from his previous lifestyle. He decided, then, that this would be a better, more simpler way to live this life, and Veros felt no regret or shame for leaving the other arcanists. He opened up his shop happily, feeling more at peace with having the other Nightborne come by his place for supplies and food. He still struggled with his own depression and slowly increasing alcoholism, but this simple life at least kept him center enough.

(It is worth noting that his mentality during this time changed drastically during this time, his outlook becoming nihilistic and negative. He did not preach it openly, only silently believed that there was simply no hope here and that he must settle. He crafted himself specific jewelry for his ears to represent his love for the Sun and Moon, two things that he slowly became more obsessed with to the point of worshipping them. It soon became integral to his character.)

Life as a Merchant

His shop was more of a café type, serving pastries, drinks and snacks. Though he had a rocky start (after all, he was trained in arcane, not trade), his shop would become a lovely hub where folks felt comfortable and safe in.

At the early start of his shop, Veros had hardly a clue where to go with it, especially since the decision to purchase it was not thought out entirely. Such a thing left him open to scammers, and had Veros not come prepared with enough coin to invest and spend, such scams would have likely financially ruined him. One such con artist he came to know was a vintner known as Fifi Vitale. She ran a business of her own, one being a tiny, independent winery that faced competition from bigger, richer companies, and she made extra coin by scamming folks like Veros. Veros, however, hardly seemed to care, as he was at a point in his life where nothing could get any worse. He continued to purchase her products, solely because the Vitale Winery was not a well known establishment, and eventually, Fifi would relent, realizing his intentions, and deciding to become a legitimate business partner. After all, Veros was her biggest customer.

There was a young girl who frequented his shop some time after he opened. A young elf named Kalana, who admired his place and always dropped by after school to see Veros and his little decorations. Veros became fond of her, always offering her a free treat, and in turn, she would give him anemone flowers, such that would become his favorite after many years. Eventually, he learned she was an orphan, her parents thrown out of the city for an unknown reason, leaving her alone and wandering about when not with her foster home. Holding sympathy for the child, and relating his own experience as an orphan, Veros took it upon himself to raise her to the best of his ability, adopting her and caring for her when no one else would. When she expressed her desire to become an Arcanist, he set aside his own work to give her money and lend her his old books on the arcane, personally training her under his wing and teaching her all of his tricks. Despite his own deteriorating self, he wanted to give the best he possibly could to allow Kalana a bright chance at life, and soon she became a successful spellblade, moving on to even start her own family as an adult.

Kalana and her husband, Nelleris, were always seen at Veros' shop. The couple would even pick up the surname "Starshine", as it was Veros' nickname for the two of them, and named Veros godfather of their young son, Benerre.

Insurrection

Eventually, life soured, as word caught on that First Arcanist Thalyssra had been assassinated, and Elisandre let down the barrier to reveal a swarm of demons descending upon their city. Veros entered a state of panic, believing the world was about to end. He had actually ran out of his shop and dropped to his knees in the middle of the street, shouting hysterically and begging for someone to kill him before he could see his city fall to ruins. Kalana only barely managed to keep him grounded enough to pull him out of sight and calm him down before he stirred trouble.

Kalana urged him to take part of the silent rebellion that continued after Thalyssra’s “death”, and while Veros’s shop eventually served as a place for citizens to hide and drink the stashes of arcwine Veros hid in the basement, he was still too afraid to do anything brash like Kalana wanted. It was only when rules became strengthened, citizens were being shot down and many were disappearing that Veros realized that he could not sit idly. Forced to sober up, Veros began to actively offer supplies to rebels, storing other goods and weapons in his shop and deploying them to those who needed it. Having been trained extensively in the arcane, Veros was well aware of the outsider adventurers who came by in Nightborne illusions, but played innocent, allowing them to take what they needed as well to fuel the rebellion.

One day, however, the streets became eerily silent, and Kalana had not returned for some time. He grew anxious, wondering what had happened. He scoured the streets and searched for her and her husband. His anxiety soon turned to full blown panic when he went to her home and found the door ajar, her belongings strewn about and the house empty, save for Duskwatch Highblade. Veros attempted to question what had happened, and where Kalana and her son were, but the loyalist only threatened that he would meet “the same fate” if he acted out against Elisande’s rule. Veros was forced to return home.

As conflict increased, Veros eventually decided he could not stay in Suramar. He soon learned Kalana had been exiled along with other rebels, and he set his mind on finding her no matter what it took. He packed his bags that night and left the city, venturing out into a world he was no where near prepared for.

He was clever enough not to let himself become withered, rationing his supplies as he ventured out into the woods. His training in the art of arcane became useful to him once more, and he was able to defend himself enough not to perish in the wild. Having grown up in the safety of the barrier, though, did take a toll on him, as he could not have possibly been wholly prepared to meet conflict outside of Suramar.

Weeks passed, and finally, not so far from Shal'aran, Veros found her amongst the other withered. Unfortunately, she too, had withered with them.

Desperate to reach her and to save her, Veros frantically called out to her, hoping to wrack her memory and bring her back to reality. She was too far gone, though, her body nothing but skin and bones, and her eyes distant, and her hunger unchecked. She was lost to him, and when Veros refused to give up on her, she became frenzied, attacking him gruesomely. With a taloned hand, she clawed at his throat, tearing the sensitive flesh, and the last thing Veros saw before blacking out were outsiders slaying the withered Kalana and coming to his aid.

When he awoke next, he was within the safety of Shal'aran, surrounded by other rebels and outside champions that aided them. As Veros came to his senses, he recognized the young blood elves who had rescued him and killed Kalana, and in a surge of grief, anger and pain, Veros lashed out, furiously shouting and swearing at them for killing her, and he had to be subdued by a priest and the other Nightfallen before he could finish casting a deadly spell.

The days that came after were a blur. Slowly, he thinned and became weaker, and though his knowledge was useful to the others, his mind was not in the right place, and he feared death would claim him soon. The flicker of hope that their rebellion would succeed and Elisande would be overthrown was the only thing that kept him afloat. Only when he walked outside after a long while of hiding, and caught glimpse of his frail complexion in the lake did he finally wake up and realize that this was not the way to live. He swallowed his fear and decided then that he would stay alive and in the very least find Kalana’s son, and keep her spirit alive by living.

The rebellion succeeded, of course, and Veros returned to Suramar, cleaning up his old home and focusing a little more on recovering. He did not have the heart to resume his old life, however, so when the news came about that the Nightborne would be joining the Horde, Veros pounced on the opportunity to move as far away from Suramar as possible.

Joining the Horde

Shaking off four thousand years of bad habits and vices would not be easy, and he struggled coping with everything that had happened to him. He purchased a small apartment withing the Royal Exchange in Silvermoon City, where he lives now and collects souvenirs and knick-knacks he finds across Azeroth. Initially, he intended to open a new shop within the Bazaar, since he was well acquainted with the business, but it opens up few and far between.

For the most part, though, Veros rather enjoyed himself outside Suramar, going sightseeing, sunbathing, trying new foods, and experiencing cultural practices with the other members of the Horde. He danced with the trolls, drank with the orcs, traveled with the tauren, and overall spent whatever free time he had reading book after book after book. And while such experiences were fun and enlightening, there still remained the lingering survivor's guilt, feeling that he had to do more if he truly wanted to redeem himself and lead a life worth living.

The Agents of Suramar

Moonshiny — Veros as he appears in-game.

While recovering from a hangover one day in Orgrimmar, Veros came across an ad that had been left behind by someone in an inn. In it detailed the description of a group known as the Agents of Suramar, a military task force dedicated to exploring the new world. Though he felt that such an organization was not meant for the likes of him, he decided on a whim to write a letter to the Director to join the cause. He believed that if they saw him as worthy enough to join their ranks, then he must take the opportunity to learn and become someone worthy of this world.

His application was accepted.

Initially, Veros joined as a cowardly, cynical drunk, only dragging himself to their missions but hardly having any heart to partake in larger roles. The field missions were harsh on him, and he suffered various injuries from his lack of preparation and rusty skills. It weighed down on his ego and self esteem, and several times he thought about dropping out of the Agents. But he held strong, taking great interest in the artifacts the Agents were discovering, reigniting his interest in exploring and learning more. Fueled now by that near ancient desire to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself, Veros dedicated his time and energy to the Agents, befriending several of them, and becoming fond and near familial with them.

At some point during his time as an Agent, Veros regained the interest in leywalking, and ventured out to Eversong Woods for independent research, a small project that would be his first in thousands of years. Intrigued by the nexus there and the nature of the leylines within the Dead Scar, Veros studied them extensively, creating crystals from the potent mana, and discovering that the crystallization of damaged leylines was potent and deadly. He would end up leading a small excursion of the Agents and the company of Lady Nimuehdra Emberfury to prod at these leylines, and successfully crystallize non-lethal Mana Shards off the damaged leylines for further research.

This mission would eventually garner the Director's attention, bringing him to a new path.

A New Path

Veros continued to show initiative and growth as he served the Agents, and soon Director Harleena would take notice. After a Council Session one day, Veros was pulled aside and promoted in private, a turning point that would change his life as he knew it. Agent Veros Moonshine, now Deputy Director and Head Archivist of the Agents of Suramar. He knew now that he had to fulfill these duties, and he would not fail them.

As Head Archivist, Veros now had access to the Agency Vault, and was tasked with leading research endeavors and collecting artifacts for the Agency, a job he was more than happy to accept. By the Director's orders, the first artifact he would lead research on would be that of an Old God tablet the Agents discovered in Dustwallow Marsh, the only tablet they left intact for study. Eager to please and have the highest success, Veros was more than happy to take on this project, and attempt to tap into the power the tablet hosted. The tablet had a small barrier conjured over it to protect its properties, and so he and the Agents made their attempts to burst it, resulting in the destruction of his first battle-staff, a loss still mourned to this day. The Agents decide to combine their power, and in an effort to ensure that none of the Agents would be harmed should anything go wrong, Veros channeled his power to the tablet, redirecting the current of energy to himself -- should the barrier burst and chaotic magic escape, it would only strike Veros instead of everyone in the room.

And that's exactly what it did.

The spell failed, and as per his safety precaution, the Void that leaked out of the tablet coalesced and struck Veros full force, launching him across the room and rendering him unconscious. Since he had trained himself as a young mage to absorb magic and retain all forms of power, the Void had an easier time taking root deep inside him. His runes glowed strangely, pulsing with the dark power that he now housed, causing worry for some of the Agents.

However, Veros never was one to look out for himself. The very next day was the Director's birthday, and he was not going to miss it in spite of his gruesome injury. Donning a healthier illusion, he would attend instead of resting, though it would only fester further and further.

Just another day after that, Agents suddenly went missing.

Into Darkness

Director Harleena, the then Morale Officer Silan Reaux, and the then Ambassador Seilune Astrande, were reportedly missing, kidnapped by a Felborne mastermind, Dvoraak, that had been threatening the Agency in the background, creepy letters being sent to each Agent, threatening destruction and madness for them all. Now, he had struck, and was playing games on all of the Agents, taunting them. The then Chief of Security Loviattar rushed by herself to find the Ambassador and others, contact with her entirely severed, thus leaving Veros as the only highest ranking officer in charge of the Agency crumbling in fear.

File:Conspiracy.png

Pepe Silvia meme -- Veros in his haze trying to figure out where the missing Agents were.

Determined to get his Agents back, Veros hosted the Council Sessions and led investigations to finding their missing Officers and Director. They found soon that each letter that had been sent was a piece of a puzzle -- when each individual letter was put together, clues would be unveiled, showing a map of where Dvoraak had potentially taken them. Running on several days of no sleep, his runes darkened to a pitch black from the corruption he had yet to recover from, Veros took the clues he learned and led a rescue group into Felwood, intending to face off with Dvoraak and bring him to justice.

When they arrived in Felwood, Dvoraak was already waiting for them, teleporting the group into an underground complex, forcing them into an escape room. At the ceiling, a poisonous fog threatens to descend on them all if they did not figure out the puzzles that were scattered about the room. After some struggle, the Agents were eventually able to get out and descend further down, where the three missing Agents were bound, beaten and bloody. Standing in front of them, however, was the MIA Chief of Security, in armor that wasn't her own, her mind bound to Dvoraak's will, taking arms against the Agents. With heavy hearts, the Agents were forced to fight her off, and upon her defeat, Dvoraak revealed himself, slaughtering the Chief in front of everyone, unleashing chaos and hell. In sorrow and grief, Veros struck out, he and the other Agents making their attacks at the Felborne, who only laughed at their attempts. Eventually, however, the Ambassador and Veros would make their final blows on Dvoraak, his head detonated by a powerful arcane spell, finishing him off and freeing the Agents from his torment.

Though the Agents were rescued, Veros would still mourn the loss of his best friend, struggling to find ways to cope and come to terms with everything that had happened. Silan, however, after being rescued, saw to it that the Chief's sacrifice wasn't in vain. Already tainted with her own brand of corruption in her bloodline, Silan stole the Chief's corpse and broke into the Vault to steal a powerful spellbook for a dangerous ritual. Veros and a few other Agents bore witness to what Silan was plotting -- sacrificing her sanity to bring back Loviattar from the dead. The ritual worked, and in the process, Silan lost herself, becoming demented with rage, and soon the Agents would eventually locate her again and capture her within the Agency Vault, hoping to one day find a cure for her affliction.

Army of the Twisted Light

Time passed as the Agency continued their missions and flourished, all the while Veros never fully recovered from his injury with the Old God tablet. In secret, however, he would seek out an old acquaintance, High Priest Neo'la Sunblade, for consultation and perhaps healing from his affliction. Periodically he would have pains, his runes pulsing with the dark magic, and eventually, shadow magic would accidentally seep into his normal spells without control. Fearful of this, he was desperate to get any sort of relief, resorting to dangerous rituals that would only result in pain and failure. On one such occasion, Veros underwent an experimental spell while under Neo'la's care, coming close to the removal of the seed of corruption, only for it to engulf Veros in an unstable Voidform, the Arcanist's mind warped and will lost. He lashed out against the other priests and had to be subdued by force, and when he next awoke, he had no recollection of the incident happening at all. Both he and Neo'la agreed after that to cease all attempts at healing. This Voidform incident, however, left him worse off than before, and the roots of his snowy pink hair would begin to turn black.

V painty — Veros as he now appears with his hair raven-black, a result of his Void corruption.

At some point after the fall of Dvoraak, Veros ended up confessing his romantic interest to the Ambassador, and after some talking and working things out, they began a relationship together, one that would only continue to be challenged left and right to the very end.

Life as an Agent is never uneventful. A mission came up to speak with a human who allegedly had intel on an incoming attack from the Alliance. In exchange for this information, the messenger wanted immunity within the Horde. The Agents ventured down to the designated meeting place in the Eastern Plaguelands

WIP

harley's past revealed
twisted light research
defeat of the divine
segue to bfa and sol

Battle for Azeroth

While Veros was not present nor active in the War of Thorns and campaign among Darkshore, leading to the eventual Burning of Teldrassil, as he had work within the Vault of the Agents, Veros was present within the Undercity during the Alliance's Siege on Lordaeron. After suffering from strange Void-induced dreams and visions from his condition, he sought out help in understanding and deciphering the meanings behind his visions. Such led him to meeting a frail undead by the name of Sally Anne Sullivan, an "archivist" of sorts who hoarded artifacts and relics from all sorts of origins. She allegedly had something in her possession that was reminiscent of the visions Veros suffered, and they arranged a meeting for him to purchase it. Said meeting had the worst timing possible, as the Undercity was under siege the day of the trade. Caught in an unfavorable position, Veros ended up helping Sullivan evacuate with other civilians, and would find himself swept up in the battle on the surface, expending his mana supply to a dangerous extent that he could not teleport to escape. At some point during the battle, the Alliance fired at the walls of Lordaeron, and the debris that crashed down trapped Veros beneath the rubble, leaving him vulnerable and awaiting death.

The Knights of Repentance, led by the death knight Seaandra Sunblade, however, conducted their first mission here, their primary goal focused on search and rescue. Seaandra and her militia, which consisted of

It's he again — Veros as he appears after High Priest Sunblade's dangerous ritual

wip, tba

(keypoints)

near death in sol
recovering and aiding in establishing agency embassy in dazar'alor
research in vol'dun
temple of akunda
return to darkness
rebirth, high priest heals him partially

Relationships

Veros is closely tied with several others, be it through work or other means.

Personal

Marcel Bel'renn - Marcel was another powerful Arcanist that Veros worked alongside with, one who shared some of his interests in research, and one that Veros was deeply in love with. They made a powerful duo as arcanists, and intended to marry as well, but as Veros spiraled into depression and despair, he cut ties with Marcel abruptly, never contacting him again after quitting his job. Present day, neither have spoken, and neither know of each other's fates. Yet.
Fifi Vitale - Fifi is Veros' long-time best friend and coworker. She supplied Veros' shop in Evermoon Commons with goods to sell, and the two have been both business partners, lovers, partygoers, and close friends. Present day, Veros and Fifi confide in each other, crashing at each others' house now and then and offering their support in their travels. Recently, they decided it would be best for Fifi to join the Agents of Suramar as well.
Kalana Starshine - Kalana was a young Arcanist, whom Veros helped to raise, and supported her as she grew and furthered her studies. She urged him to take part in the rebellion, and helped him set up his shop into a meeting point for rebels to arm themselves and replenish on mana. She was unfortunately exiled for her acts, and when Veros searched for her, he found her withered, and nearly died against her frenzied attack.
Benerre Starshine - Benerre is the son of Kalana, a young child who went missing in light of the Insurrection along with his father. Veros is his godfather, and is currently still searching for the whereabouts of the young boy and his father.
Nelleris Starshine - Nelleris is the widow of Kalana, and a friend to Veros. Veros took him in when Nelleris was a young man and courting Kalana, and had often spent his time with Veros at his shop. Nelleris worked alongside both Kalana and Veros to continue the rebellion's efforts, but he, his son and wife went missing in the midst of it. Present day, he and his son are still MIA.
Seilune Astrande - Seilune is the former Ambassador of the Agents of Suramar, and Veros' ex-girlfriend.
Loviattar Al'shaanth - Loviattar is the former Chief of Security of the Agents of Suramar.

Friendships

Zenith Phoenix - Zenith is a blood elf Spellbreaker and guard of Silvermoon City. He was assigned to Veros when the nightborne joined the Horde, and was forced to guide the drunken man around the city and answer his questions. Veros considers him a friend.
Lord Siaris Moonspark - Siaris is a young Shal'dorei tailor who aided Veros during the rebellion. Though Veros, still cynical and bitter at the time did not want the young man to be pestering him with attempts to "clean him up", Veros eventually grew fond of him, and came to know him as family. He took care of Siaris as the insurrection took place, and now, Siaris and he visit each other often, Siaris offering his services as a tailor often.
Alyssandeur Wrenwood - Alyssandeur is a young Shal'dorei flameweaver within the Agents of Suramar, as well as Veros' apprentice. After the young man attempted ley-walking on his own after an Academy class held by Veros, and nearly killed himself in the attempt, Veros immediately decided to take Aly under his wing, and train him in the art of magic. The two of them collaborate on research as well within the Agency's Vault, both serving as Archivists for the Agents.

Business

Director Harleena - Harleena is the Director of the Agents of Suramar, a powerful Spellblade and strategic leader. Veros serves under her guidance and in the name of Suramar. Veros holds an immense respect for her, and upholds her orders to the best of his ability.
Neo'la Sunblade - Neo'la is a blood elf Void priest, and one of the High Priests of the Conclave. She and her daughters Aliya and Ronae worked alongside Thalyssra's rebels to liberate Suramar. Her daughters saved Veros' life, and she checks in on him now and then to see how he fares. As of late, she and the other zealots of the Conclave have been working to investigate the strange Void corruption within Veros, and in turn, have been helping him master the dark energy dormant within him.
Seaandra Sunblade - Seaandra is a death knight, previously serving as a guard within Brill and a bodyguard in the Ebon Blade. He and Seaandra collaborate on research on the unholy and in alchemy. Though they weren't too close to each other, it would actually be Seaandra, who, while leading the Knights of Repentance's first mission, that would save Veros during the Siege of Lordaeron from certain death.

Pets and Companions

Veros owns several pets, some of which are... odd, to some.

Kitty - A Suramar Manasaber gifted to Veros after the Insurrection. Veros had not anticipated taking care of such a large feline, and thus did not have a name prepared for it. The name "Kitty" ended up sticking. Kitty serves as his mount and an oversized housecat, often causing more trouble than anything.
Whiskey - A Zandalari raptor he bought off some traders while traveling (AKA the Horde BFA Deluxe mount). She's stabled in Echo Isles, and serves as a mount for him as he travels Kalimdor.
Leyla - A small mana wyrm that ended up following Veros home one day while he was ley walking in Eversong Woods. She helps him track down sources of mana and power and follows him closely. She eats too many plants.
Maya - A donkey Veros bought after getting horribly drunk in Ratchet, brawling with a goblin, and convincing a dwarven trade that his pack mule, was in fact, for sale. Maya lives with Veros in Silvermoon, and can be seen carrying his supplies and goods.
Alor - A Frostwolf puppy, a gift from his ex. Loyal and adorable, though stumbles a lot in his footing. Alor keeps great company and is extremely friendly, his personality bold and just as rambunctious as his owner.
Moltey - A Blazehound pup, a gift from Agent Mestisra. Moltey is a little difficult to manage, but her fiery exterior doesn't stop her from wanting to shower folks with love and affection.

Quotes

"I will never apologize for wanting to learn more."
"Any and all risks are worth taking in the pursuit of knowledge."
"Outside of the barrier, beyond the reaches of Suramar, we are all equals again."
"I am an Agent of Suramar, I yield to no one."
"Bloodshed and power is distracting and unnecessary."
"Azeroth just has annual invasions at this point, doesn't it?"
"Absolutely barbaric!"
"Oh Stars..."
"I don't like that sentence."
"Knowledge is to be had!"

Trivia

His surname "Moonshine" is a direct reference to the alcoholic beverage in real life. It is a pun on his drinking habits.
But because Moonshine exists in-game, and Veros has been using this surname for several thousand years, he has convinced himself that the people beyond the barrier have simply named that drink after him.
"Veros" was not his original given name. Likewise, he gave himself the surname "Moonshine" sometime after abandoning his Arcanist title and duties.
Unbeknownst to him, or anyone else outside of his immediate family, his birth name was actually "Verenos Lun'tres". It's likely that the lisp in his speech as a child caused him to mispronounce his own name. There was no one to correct him, or question if that was his real name, so he carried on as "Veros".
It is likely Veros was born in or close to Aszuna, since his mother studied in Nar'thalas Academy, and his father's work as a Moon Guard soldier was nearby. At the time of the War of the Ancients, his family was no longer living there.
His runic tattoos glow often, and work a little differently than the typical shal'dorei tattoos. When filled with magic, they'll pulse with his own heartbeat, and can sometimes even glow in accordance to his emotions. They also change color in accordance to what magic he holds or is about to cast.
Veros holds an immense passion for cooking, and is quite skilled at it. His favorite foods tend to be very spicy, and he has a preference for Orcish and Pandaren cuisines.
Veros is obsessed with explosions. Not the way goblins are, not engineered ones, no. Arcane explosions. Lightning. Chaotic crystals. He has a horrible habit of wielding and using equipment that is prone to exploding. Why does he do that, please make him stop.
Despite being able to cook, for some strange reason, every time he attempts to cook Pandaren foods that aren't noodles and ramen, his food inexplicably bursts into flames. No one seems to know why that is -- he follows instruction to the dot, and yet, no plate survives.
Tal'Naran roughly translates to "death of the mind" in Shalassian, "tal" meaning "death" in the elven languages, "nar" meaning "mind" in Shalassian.
Shandai-sin roughly translates to "consumption of blood" or "consumer of blood", "shandai" meaning "consume" in Shath'Yar, and "sin" meaning "blood" in Thalassian.
Tome of An'quov means Tome of the Heart. "An'qov" means "heart" in Shath'Yar.
Veros can't whistle.

Your Character Might Know OF Veros IF...

Your character is a Nightborne who was involved with the Terrace of Enlightenment magi and researchers somewhere between 5k-8k years ago.
Your character is a Nightborne with an interest in Ley-Walking, and may have checked out spellbooks on such an art. Veros ICly has published seven volumes in "The Art of Arc-Conduits and Ley-Walking", held in the Terrace of Enlightenment present day.
Your character is a Nightborne who frequented the Evermoon Commons within the last 5k years til before the barrier went down. They may have heard of Veros' shop/cafe there that he ran -- it was popular among young adults and students, and eventually served as a hotspot for rebels, where rations were given out as well as weapons.
Your character, present day, is aware of the Military branches in the Horde. The Agents of Suramar are a covert ops division that arose after the Nightborne joined the Horde, and Veros currently serves as the highest ranking officer, Head Archivist for the Agency.