Control

"They're the best person I've never met. They may be scrupulous about concealing their identity and have an infatuation for cleanliness, but they'll always go above and beyond to see any Agent of theirs safe and happy".

―Colonel Loxley Tinkertine

Control is the title given to the Director of The Lamplighters. They are a mysterious person whose origins and full identity are hidden even from many of their Agents. Since the foundation of the original guild approximately three hundred years ago, there has always been a person referred to as Control acting as the organisation's Director.

Though this has not always been the case, the identity of Control is a closely guarded secret in modern times with many Agents and staff rarely meeting with Control outside of the braziers. Several Agents have met with Control face-to-face within the new, hidden Lamplighter HQ, though such meetings are a rare occurrence. Though they are seldom seen in person, Control remains the friendly, helpful voice at the other end of the Lantern, ready to lend a hand in any situation.

Description
Control's identity is a closely kept secret and shared among only a select few Agents of the Lamplighters. As such, very little can be gleaned about them from public records alone. Their presence is felt most regularly either as a voice across the Lanterns or - for more direct conversations - via one of the many braziers positioned around Azeroth.

Control's voice is very distinct. It is a smooth, friendly, unaccented and well modulated voice that sounds entirely androgynous; it is impossible to discern either Control's race or gender purely from their voice. It is the warm and authoritative voice most Agents grow accustomed to when interacting with the leader.

When communicating via the braziers, Control's only appearance is as a humanoid shaped silhouette standing within the white flames. There are little to no identifying markers to accompany the silhouette, but their lack of extra (or missing) appendages, short cut hair and clear androgyny to their body shape are identifying markers in and of themselves.

Personality
Control is the cornerstone of the Lamplighters who believes in the best in everyone and exemplifies The Directives as their moral centre. They are a staunch idealist and wherever possible they will do all in their power to help the Agents under their command. They are intelligent and well-learned about a variety of topics from biology to history to the intricacies of magic, but they remain eternally curious about new things. Many Agents quickly discover Control's eager interest in their own experiences and histories as people. They also have a very dry sense of humour which they use liberally during lighter conversations.

Control is never cruel when they can avoid being so; they are, however, fiercely protective of their Agents and their personal interests. That being established, Control is quick to condemn deplorable acts, even from their Agents, such as the irresponsible use of any corruptive magics; excessive or uncontrolled use of Fel or the Void or any act of sadism or evil-doing.

Origins
"...met a queer sort tonight as I set about my duties. Queerer still was their visage and conversation manner...they bid me call them 'Control' as an alternative for their much longer nomenclature...I have made plans to return with my fellows the following eve, lest I think it was all a phantom of my mind's own conjuration..."

―Excerpts from the journal of Arthur Ladimore, lamplighter, no date given

As Control is a pseudonym and not their full name, it is difficult to clarify where they were born or the place they originated from based on public records. Given their hundreds of years of continuity, Control can be assumed to either be of a race that possesses a long lifespan, or that 'Control' is a hereditary title passed from person to person through the Lamplighters' history.

What is known is that approximately three hundred years ago (the dates differ from varying surviving accounts), Control encountered a group of self trained yet haphazard adventurers in Redridge Mountains. The adventurers were hired primarily as lamplighters for the roads to dissuade night attacks and ambushes, but they also attempted to act as rangers and guides for people trying to cross the dangerous wilderness. They lent their aid to anyone in need of their help

Their intended goals were to protect their homes against vicious bandits and marauding monsters, as well as aiding their fellow countrymen wherever they travelled. Control said that these goals were perfectly compatible with what they wanted to achieve, and though they were not as physically capable of going on missions as the adventurers were, they were incredibly skilled at administration, organisation and magical invention. Control offered to join forces with these adventurers and aid them in becoming a more unified collective, to which the adventurers readily agreed.

Now working together, Control helped to organize and coordinate themselves into an organisation they dubbed The Lamplighters, as a nod to what they all were at their founding. Control established a Headquarters in Redridge Mountains close to that first meeting place, and the adventurers (now called 'Agents') unanimously decided that Control was the best fit to be their Director.

Developments
With their Headquarters established and the position of Director created, the person (or persons) known as Control lead the Lamplighters through many prosperous years. Control expanded their circle of recruitment, and Dwarves, Gnomes and even some Elves and Goblins joined their number. The greatest step forwards was when Control invented the Lanterns, and the Lantern Network which accompanied it, which allowed Agents to communicate across the continent instantaneously. With such communication available, Control was able to expand the extent of the Lamplighter's adventures from northernmost Lordaeron to southern Blackwater Cove, with some small forays into the islands off the coastline and rare excursions into Quel'thalas itself.

During this time, Control developed a few other facilities for the Agents to make use of. They founded the Seeker's Library, located in one of the tall violet towers of Dalaran. A grand assemblage of the Lamplighter's collected knowledge; the Library was outfitted with technology and magic and became a physical collection of the information Agents had gathered over the years.

Years in Darkness
Much of what was known about Control and the activities of The Lamplighters during the First, Second and part of the Third War is unknown. During the Third War, the Eredar Lord Archimonde was summoned to Azeroth and cast a ritual that destroyed most of Dalaran City. The Seeker's Library was one such casualty and was destroyed, taking with it much of the Lamplighter's collection of knowledge. Much was recovered by Agents from the wreckage and through salvage operations but some vital components were lost forever, including their reports and history during this period of time.

Shortly after the conclusion of the Third War and the defeat of Archimonde, Control was contacted by a former Agent who had been one of the first members of the original organisation hundreds of years ago: Cassius Revel. His ancient ship had ran aground in Faldir's Cove and Revel, going by the moniker of "The Curator" pledged themselves again to the revitalisation of the Lamplighters.

Developments and the Department Four Schism
With the help of The Curator, Control reorganised The Lamplighters and moved them from a loose band of Agents to a more unified collective. The first of the Departments were created that placed their Agents into groups based upon their strongest skills and for each of the four Departments, they assigned a leader and exemplar for each. These became known as The Circle with The Curator himself taking the role as Circle Member in charge of Department Four.

In this time, Control gave permission for several other, new facilities to be developed which would expand the remit of what the guild was able to accomplish.