Vincent Godfrey

Art by Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

General

Titles: Lord
Species: Human
Gender: Male (He/Him)
Hair: Gray, shoulder length and with a matching beard
Skin: White
Status: Deceased

Known Languages Common, Thalassian (Rusty)

Vincent Godfrey was one of the noble lords of Gilneas that had evaded the affliction of the worgen curse. He was a trusted advisor of Genn Greymane, but when the king succumbed to the curse, he turned his support toward his son, Liam Greymane, though they frequently disagreed on what the future of Gilneas looked like.

Description

Godfrey was a older man with gray hair that was worn to his shoulder and a matching beard. He was fit despite his age, as he enjoyed horseback riding and trapping in the Gilnean countryside. He was normally well but practically dressed, and he sported a nice top hat and a pair of round lens glasses.

To his core, Godfrey was a patriot that adored his country and everything Gilneas stood for, but he was also an ambitious man that sought to keep his role in the hierarchy secure. He had been close to the royal family for decades, and was once a trusted advisor of Genn Greymane, though his loyalty to the former king waned after the decisions that led to the outbreak of the worgen curse. Instead, he sought to advise Liam, though the pair of them were frequently at odds due to their differences in opinion concerning how the future of Gilneas should be forged. Godfrey believed that he knew the best path to Gilneas's future, and that future did not have the worgen as part of it. He was willing to utilize underhanded and ruthless tactics to prove such a point, as could be seen with the conception of Operation Silverfall, but ultimately his conviction in his ways waned after he saw the effectiveness of other means, and he realized that his way was not the way to save his country.

Biography

Chapter Five: Civil War

Godfrey had set up his base of operations in the pop-up town that had evolved around Greymane Manor after the fall of the capital city to Alpha Prime and his Wolf Cult. When Uther Menethil and his companions arrived to speak with Liam Greymane about a potential solution to the worgen issue, Godfrey met the group with obvious suspicion and, in the case of Tol'vas Moonshadow, thinly veiled aggression. However, he honored Liam's choice to discuss matters with the lords as a whole at once, and set off to inform the others of the meeting that would take place.

During the meeting, his suspicion remained, as Uther also brought up the threat of the orcish and demonic legion that had invaded Quel'Thalas and had started to push into Lordaeron. He accused Uther of offering help so that Gilneas would owe him aid in turn, but pointed out that Gilneas was in no position to fight another war, and twenty years ago, Arthas Menethil had refused to listen to the council of Genn Greymane and appointed Daval Prestor has king of Alterac - a problem that the Alliance was now faced with with Prestor's ascension to High King. He also noted that the newly returned Mia Greymane had breached protocol by achieving temporary re-admittance of Gilneas into the Alliance, though the statement was swiftly shot down by Liam.

Uther and Godfrey got into a heightened exchange about the matters at question, as he pointed out that he and his fellows offered a solution, and Godfrey was reticent to accept aid when it was staring him in the eye. However, the vote of the council ultimately tilted in favor of aid from the outsiders, a decision that Godfrey hoped would not "doom the spirit of the land".

However, the following day Uther reached out to Godfrey and they went riding in the countryside so that Uther could apologize for his combative behavior. Godfrey was surprised at the gesture, but accepted it, and noted that Uther showed far more wisdom and humility than his father did at his age. Godfrey extended his own request to Uther, as he had observed that Liam seemed to simply be holding the crown until Genn returned, but he firmly believed that the time of Genn Greymane had passed, especially after how his actions had driven their nation into catastrophe. He asked that Uther talk to Liam and try to inspire him to take hold of the crown, as the prince seemed to be fond of the young paladin already. Uther promised he would do what he could.

Uther gently goaded Godfrey into a race to return to the manor, and despite himself, and the fact he was bested by the younger man, it seemed the man enjoyed the contest. When the returned to speak to Liam, Godfrey advised the prince to take precautions, as the full moon was fast approaching and he was intending to visit with the worgen under Darius Crowley, the very man that had risen up against Genn in the rebellion.

However, when Liam returned with Darius Crowley and a pack of worgen in tow, the man was outraged. There was tense air between himself and Crowley and neither of them liked the other, but Liam swiftly dispersed the altercation and told Godfrey to gather the council for another meeting. When Liam later explained that he intended on allying with Crowley in order to take back their home, Godfrey was incensed, and he pointed out that, not only had worgen been brought into the fortress around Greymane Manor, it was also on the day of a full moon. What was more, Liam also came forward about the revelation that the imposter of Testament Greymane that had been held prisoner in the oubliette was, in fact, his illegitimate daughter that he would legitimize.

While still furious, Godfrey resigned himself to the decisions being made, and ultimately left, as the other lords seemed inclined to allow the motions to pass. He had passed orders to his men to enact "Operation Silverfall" before the meeting, which had been a plan to eradicate the worgen that had been brought into the town. However, following the meeting, Godfrey informed his men and those of his associate, Benedict Ashbury, that he was calling off the operation. He informed them that they had been defeated, and the resources were better suited in aiding the king. He, meanwhile, set off on a ride to clear his head.

Unbeknownst to him, he had been followed by Velameestra in the guise of a white raven, and when he approached the cliffside that overlooked the sea with the intention of throwing himself off it, she materialized and stopped him. She asked what he was doing, and he explained that he couldn't watch his country go in the direction Liam had proposed, but he requested the mage return his horse to the manor. Velameestra tried to talk him away from the cliffside, but he was insistent, thus the elven mage encased him in a dome of force to prevent him from jumping. Godfrey shouted at her in a fury and demanded to know why she wouldn't let him die, to the point that he pulled a gun on her and attempted to shoot it at her through the dome, but the bullets bounced harmlessly off it. He raised the gun to his head instead, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger, and he dropped to his knees in defeat.

Velameestra released the wall of force and approached him. She plucked his fallen top hat from the ground, dusted it off, and placed it back on his head, and Godfrey admitted there were a lot of preparations that needed to be made, but Gilneas was still possibly doomed. She replied that the nation would go out fighting, and that was when Godfrey was allowed to die, a sentiment he said he would hold her to. He returned to the manor, and his loyalists were surprised to see him, but he immediately launched into action to organize the people.

Godfrey was miffed at the betrayal of Hiram Creed, as he had hoped a man like him could offer sturdy supports to Gilneas in its most trying times, but he redoubled his efforts in showing support for Liam and those that sought to save Gilneas, including backing up Uther when he assuaged the paranoia that had erupted following Creed's death. His position amongst the Gilneans made his words particularly effective, and the paranoia ultimately waned.

Uther followed up with Godfrey and admitted that he knew about Operation Silverfall, and he desired to know why the lord had chosen to call it off. He admitted that, while he knew he had saved lives with his cut-throat approach, his policies had been unable to truly save Gilneas, and Uther and his companions had done more in a matter of weeks than he had managed in decades. He admitted he saw something in Uther's eyes that he had not seen in Gilneas for a long time: hope for tomorrow. However, it was something that his shriveled heart was unable to see, and he had decided it was time for young ambition to take its role.

Plans for the assault on the capital city were made on the outskirts of the city in Godfrey's tent following tactics that he had aided in formulating. True to his dedication to his country, despite his age, he also took to the battlefield himself to fight back against the Wolf Cult and reclaim Gilneas.

Death

Godfrey was mortally wounded in the attack on the capital city by several Starlight Slasher worgen, though he had managed to kill them in the process. Afterward, a feral worgen found him, but instead of simply slaying the beast, he allowed his guard to drop so he could deploy a grenade filled with moonwell water that triggered the Ritual of Balance. He was bit by the worgen, but the Gilnean was freed of the feral influence and could be saved.

He was found by Velameestra Windrunner and Uther Menethil during his dying breaths, and he acknowledged that Velameestra had been right when she said it hadn't been his time to die, as he had heard the cheers, so at least was able to die knowing Gilneas was free. He entrusted the key to his estate and his vaults to them as he had no heir to speak of, and he requested that his wealth be used to aid in taking down Daval Prestor, as he wouldn't be there to help himself.

He died soon after, and was buried a few days later.

Appeared In

Chapter Five: Civil War

Quotes

On the future of Gilneas: Liam. You understand what this means, yes? You understand that you are cursing all of Gilneas with this future? These worgen… if we accept them into our lives, what will happen? What will our children become? How many generations will it be until all of us are marked with this… this inner beast? Before our humanity is called into question? [...] In a hundred years, when we are all gone, and our children’s children are walking with fangs and claws… and people fear what they might do? [...] I’ve seen what these worgen are capable of. We’ve all seen it. How long until Lordaeron, Alterac, Stromgarde… turn their blades on us in fear. Is that a life you want for your children? For your children’s children? [...] No further objections. This is the path Gilneas is doomed to tread, then I can only hope it treads it with its head held high for as long as possible.
Anger at Velameestra Windrunner for preventing his suicide attempt: I won’t allow some elven witch to tell me my life is worth living! Liam is strong! He can handle it.
Resignation to Uther Menethil's optimism: I admire your optimism, prince Menethil, and I do hope that you’re right. But I am not a young man anymore. Whatever utopia you aspire to help build, I will not live to see, even should I die many years from now, in a bed surrounded by my most devout followers, and most loyal subjects. This is ambition for younger folk. But, you are right about one thing. Your judgment is not a solitary one. I accepted it for myself when I drew back from the cliff’s edge. When your… friend prescribed me the same solution. I do not believe that you will succeed. The ask to unite all peoples in peace and prosperity is… little more than the dream of one that has not yet allowed the suffering of the world to touch their mind and sink into their bones, but I also understand I am not a man who knows every solution and outcome. That much was proven to me. So prove me wrong, master Menethil. Though I may feed the worms and watch from beyond the veil by that point, a man tormented by my sins, but prove me wrong nonetheless.
Last request: I lost anything resembling an heir over the last few decades. This should open the vault… I can’t imagine all of it is there after the looting that took place, but what’s there is yours. Use it, both of you. Let it be the silver bullet that helps you take out that bastard, since I can’t do it myself.

Trivia