[WoRBot]

The New Lich King: Picking Apart Patch 3.3 Lore

It's almost a given that someone is going to take the reigns from Arthas (the Lich King) at the end of Icecrown Citadel: The Frozen Throne and be the next big-baddie once Deathwing is finally taken out. So many character's stories culminate with patch 3.3, as well as the legacy of the Ashbringer, that it's almost like a soap opera or watching Clue in World of Warcraft form. Who was it that stabbed Arthas in the back and stole his bling?

There are a few frontrunners, in my opinion, for taking up the torch after we finally stick it to Arthas. Afterall, Blizzard has plans for Frostmourne -- the main reason players will never see it as an item -- and I doubt it's to simply destroy it. The most important thing to remember is that all of these characters are major contributors to the lore of Wrath of the Lich King, yet aren't mentioned in the Faces of Cataclysm at all.

Highlord Tirion Fordring

Ever since the loss of his son Taelan way-back-when in classic WoW, and through his fight with Arthas at Light's Hope Chapel and into Northrend where he's tirelessly pushed the Alliance and Horde to focus on bringing down the Lich King, something within Tirion Fordring has to be faltering. It's the textbook "mad-with-vengeance" story to a t, with his sanity on the brink as he pushes harder and harder to topple the Frozen Throne and bring Arthas to "justice."

Is it really about justice anymore for Tirion? He sure didn't seem to care about justice when he allowed the Alliance and Horde to slaughter each other in Crusaders' Coliseum; kind of like when Arthas mercilessly slaughtered the citizens of Stratholme, or when he turned on the mercenaries he paid to destroy the ships in Northrend, just before they would have recalled his expedition prior to finding Frostmourne.

Tirion also wields the Ashbringer, which has already been corrupted once. Will it be corrupted again?

High Overlord Varok Saurfang

High Overlord Saurfang -- also known as Varok Saurfang, brother of Broxigar -- has been resolute in his service to the Horde for years. He was the Supreme Commander of the Might of Kalimdor -- an offensive on the silithid during the opening of the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj -- and now watches over Garrosh Hellscream in Northrend, acting as advisor. During the battle for the Wrathgate, you're tasked with delivering Saurfang the Younger's battle armor back to Varok. While he is proud of his son, and states that there's no better end for an orc, he has no idea what the battle through Icecrown will bring.

After leading the Horde to a victory in a race against the Alliance aboard Orgrim's Hammer, Varok will come face-to-face with his son -- Deathbringer Saurfang -- the Lich King's "most powerful death knight." Honor will be tarnished, and who knows how the proud father will react when he has to put his son to death. While Varok has been steadfast in his devotion to the Horde to this point, killing his own son may be the fuel needed to push him over the edge.

Highlord Darion Mograine

He served the Lich King in death until meeting Tirion Fordring and has his own reasons for wanting to bring Arthas down. Darion Mograine feels betrayed for what happened at Light's Hope, but also wants to redeem his father who was a servant of the Lich King in Naxxramas before it returned to Northrend. Darion originally wielded the Corrupted Ashbringer, though how he came across it is unknown. Is his father still "alive"? Will Darion come across him in Icecrown and fall victim to the Lich King's control again, ultimately succeeding him when he's defeated?

His agendas are obviously his own -- focused on the Knights of the Ebon Blade, which Blizzard also has plans for beyond Wrath of the Lich King. But what are those plans? They certainly aren't mentioned for Cataclysm, so it's something longterm. It's also interesting to note that Mograine has a forge in Icecrown, as mentioned in this Shadowmourne quest, The Sacred and the Corrupt, where you're to place Arthas' old hammer Light's Vengeance and Runeforged Saronite into Highlord Mograine's forge. Will his visit to Icecrown cause his control over his mind to slip once more?

Muradin Bronzebeard

The dwarves have been out of the spotlight in Warcraft for some time now, the last major dwarven villain being Dagran Thaurissan, emperor of the Dark Iron dwarves in Blackrock Depths. Of course, Brann Bronzebeard has been the focus of many tales, ranging from what we thought would be his appearance in Ahn'Qiraj (or potentially uncovering his death), to Northrend where we finally meet him in Ulduar. Muradin Bronzebeard, being a brother and longstanding friend to the Alliance, is a perfect candidate to become the next evil threatening Azeroth.

He was a friend to Terenas Menethil and saw Arthas lose control of himself first-hand. He was there when Frostmourne was discovered, and received a nice little head injury because of it. Being close to the Alliance during the years when Arthas was growing up also meant he knew Bolvar Fordragon, who he will likely encounter should the Alliance be successful in the race against the Horde in Icecrown. What if that bump on the head did more to Muradin than just knock him out? What if he now desires Frostmourne as his own?

Someone New

It's entirely possible Blizzard will throw a wrench in the gears and introduce a new villain when Arthas dies. It doesn't necessarily have to be a brand new character, but it could be someone who hasn't ever been prominent in lore to this point. An example of this would be the Wrathgate quest series, where Grand Apothecary Putress was introduced with the launch event for Wrath of the Lich King and played a major role in the first chapter of the expansion's lore.

However, I don't think so. It's someone that will shock players more than introducing a new character. Metzen mentioned we'll "leave a part of ourselves up in Northrend" at BlizzCon, and this is likely what he meant. As members of our respective factions, we're going to feel the effects of this war on the Lich King in more ways than one.

What do you think? What are the chances of one of these characters succumbing to the whispers of Arthas and Ner'zhul, taking on the armor of the Burning Legion?

[Zain]

Ever since reading the War of the Ancients trilogy, I've been itching to pick apart the goblin forged armor around Deathwing's hide! If Garrosh is going to be the new warchief, what's going to happen to Thrall?

Quote

Frostmourne is not going to be obtainable by players because it has a "unique fate" according to Chris Metzen.

I personally agree with this .... and again it's eating at me!

[chao]

I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that Tirion is faltering or losing his sanity. He seems portrayed as the most uncorruptable character out there.

The dialogue during the Faction Champions fight makes it clear that he does not want the Horde and Alliance to fight each other. He only allows it because he realizes that if he does not the offended faction will likely leave him.

As for the Ashbringer being corrupted again - not likely. At LHC, Tirion touched the Corrupted Ashbringer and that was enough to instantly purify it.

The only way I could see Tirion becoming the Lich King is if he decides to do so willingly to save someone else.

Saurfang and Muradin almost certainly can't become the new Lich King for logistical reasons. If you're an Alliance character, Saurfang loses the race and never gets to Arthas. If you're a Horde character, Muradin loses and never gets to Arthas.

[Kody]

chao said:

I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that Tirion is faltering or losing his sanity. He seems portrayed as the most uncorruptable character out there.

It's fairly common in writing stories like this. The most incorruptible always have a weakness that in the end corrupts them.

Tirion's is that he always cares about the greater good. It may end with what you say, he thinking it's for the greater good that he sacrifices himself to save someone else.

[rhorle]

I don't think any of the characters mentioned fit for becoming a new lich king. I don't even think a new lich king will happen. It would be silly if the combined forces of horde, alliance, and neutral can overcome arthas when he is at his strongest that a person brand new to the powers won't be overcome?

What I see more likely is the blade being stolen, lost, something and it ends up in the next guys hands. Or the "special" fate could be some heroic destruction cinematic or something. I definitly don't think another lich king will happen.

One idea that sounds plausiable to me is that it gets stolen by the scarlet crusade demon guy (can't remember which one of the 3 it was in icecrown). Then we will see it in the hands of the next burning legion/sargeras boss. As the storyline is progressing down the titan path with Cata since they cover a doomsday device in uldum of titan design.

A new lich king would just be old and boring. And make a stupid second expansion since it would be alot of the same stuff.

[batkat]

I would have to disagree with your view of Tirion. He does not seem revenge obsessed as Arthas was, for several reasons. One It wasn't the Scourge that killed his son, it was the villainy that infested the Scarlet Crusade that led to his son's demise. He was also able to kill those that killed his son, so vengeance has already been dealt for that incident.

The mad with vengeance syndrome just doesn't fit the personality you encounter throughout Northrend either.

And as for the Tournament, it's stated that its purpose is to raise morale. I also think that it was Tirion's intention through the tournament to inspire cooperation between the Horde and Alliance not increase the rift between them. I don't know about the Trial of the Grand Crusader, but in Trial of the Champion the only character that is supposedly killed is the Black Knight. All others are merely defeated into submission.

If anyone were to become the next Lich King I would put my money on Varian Wrynn, or Darion Morgraine. I doubt it would be Wrynn, but of all the characters heading to the Frozen Throne both he and Darion Morgraine have the most hate between them. Wrynn is technically the most vulnerable too. While it might shake Saurfang to see his son a death knight, Wrynn was affected a great deal more by Bolvar's death. And if Bolvar is to be a Death Knight as well (And it makes sense for the Alliance version of the raid, if Saurfang is to be the Horde boss.), it would most certainly take a sharp stab at Wrynn's own stability to see the man he loved like a brother turned against him by the Lich King. It will at least fuel his hate for the Lich King and the Horde even more, and possible cause him to do something wreckless.

Your reasons for Darion are pretty sound though, but I guess you didn't read the Ashbringer Comic as it tells how Darion got a hold of the Corrupted Ashbringer.

[Kody]

batkat said:

I would have to disagree with your view of Tirion. He does not seem revenge obsessed as Arthas was, for several reasons. One It wasn't the Scourge that killed his son, it was the villainy that infested the Scarlet Crusade that led to his son's demise. He was also able to kill those that killed his son, so vengeance has already been dealt for that incident.

The mad with vengeance syndrome just doesn't fit the personality you encounter throughout Northrend either.

And as for the Tournament, it's stated that its purpose is to raise morale. I also think that it was Tirion's intention through the tournament to inspire cooperation between the Horde and Alliance not increase the rift between them. I don't know about the Trial of the Grand Crusader, but in Trial of the Champion the only character that is supposedly killed is the Black Knight. All others are merely defeated into submission.

If anyone were to become the next Lich King I would put my money on Varian Wrynn, or Darion Morgraine. I doubt it would be Wrynn, but of all the characters heading to the Frozen Throne both he and Darion Morgraine have the most hate between them. Wrynn is technically the most vulnerable too. While it might shake Saurfang to see his son a death knight, Wrynn was affected a great deal more by Bolvar's death. And if Bolvar is to be a Death Knight as well (And it makes sense for the Alliance version of the raid, if Saurfang is to be the Horde boss.), it would most certainly take a sharp stab at Wrynn's own stability to see the man he loved like a brother turned against him by the Lich King. It will at least fuel his hate for the Lich King and the Horde even more, and possible cause him to do something wreckless.

Your reasons for Darion are pretty sound though, but I guess you didn't read the Ashbringer Comic as it tells how Darion got a hold of the Corrupted Ashbringer.

Yeah, haven't had a chance to read it yet.

[batkat]

Zain said:

If Garrosh is going to be the new warchief, what's going to happen to Thrall?

In one of the previews of the WoW comic, it is stated that Jaina and several others would be reinstating the Council of Tirisfal to watch over the new Guardian. Thrall is mentioned as one to be approached for a position due to his mastery of the Shamanistic arts. It is likely that is the reason he leaves the Horde to Garrosh.

[rhorle]

batkat said:

In one of the previews of the WoW comic, it is stated that Jaina and several others would be reinstating the Council of Tirisfal to watch over the new Guardian. Thrall is mentioned as one to be approached for a position due to his mastery of the Shamanistic arts. It is likely that is the reason he leaves the Horde to Garrosh.

Yeah also the fact that thrall is involved in the goblin start quests. Though that is silly to me. Thrall captured by a force of low level alliance soldiers that a low level goblin can destroy with thralls imbuing him with thunder?

If thrall is that powerful then he shouldn't need the goblins. Though sounds like there is more to the story. As I can't see any force but an elite force capturing thrall under any circumstance.

[Kody]

Yep, Thrall will become a member of the new Council of Tirisfal and should eventually become the next Guardian of Tirisfal. This will be happening after 4.0 ships.

It's the main reason he's stepping down as Warchief. It's because he's moving on to far greater things to protect Azeroth as a whole, not just the Horde.

[batkat]

rhorle said:

Yeah also the fact that thrall is involved in the goblin start quests. Though that is silly to me. Thrall captured by a force of low level alliance soldiers that a low level goblin can destroy with thralls imbuing him with thunder?

If thrall is that powerful then he shouldn't need the goblins. Though sounds like there is more to the story. As I can't see any force but an elite force capturing thrall under any circumstance.

They waited until Wintergrasp was going on to capture him.

[batkat]

Kody said:

Yep, Thrall will become a member of the new Council of Tirisfal and should eventually become the next Guardian of Tirisfal. This will be happening after 4.0 ships.

It's the main reason he's stepping down as Warchief. It's because he's moving on to far greater things to protect Azeroth as a whole, not just the Horde.

He isn't becoming the Guardian, he's becoming a member of the Council who helps to guide the Guardian. The Guardian is supposed to be Me'Dan Garona's son.

Im actually excited to potentially finally seeing Gorona in game.

[Leviathonlx]

chao said:

Saurfang and Muradin almost certainly can't become the new Lich King for logistical reasons. If you're an Alliance character, Saurfang loses the race and never gets to Arthas. If you're a Horde character, Muradin loses and never gets to Arthas.

It's been heavily speculated that something will happen to Saurfang in Icecrown since that is the only way to explain Garrosh becoming Warchief over him. In the end Blizzard can just write the lore with both of them dieing during the raid on the Citadel or maybe Saurfang just meets his end during the Arthas encounter.

batkat said:

He isn't becoming the Guardian, he's becoming a member of the Council who helps to guide the Guardian. The Guardian is supposed to be Me'Dan Garona's son.

Im actually excited to potentially finally seeing Gorona in game.

With how Med'an is being taught all the magics (except demonic) it seems more likely he will be the next Aspect of Magic considering Metzen has already stated that the next Aspect of Magic will not be a dragon. Thrall will most like become the next guardian no matter how much we want to not see that happen

batkat said:

In one of the previews of the WoW comic, it is stated that Jaina and several others would be reinstating the Council of Tirisfal to watch over the new Guardian. Thrall is mentioned as one to be approached for a position due to his mastery of the Shamanistic arts. It is likely that is the reason he leaves the Horde to Garrosh.

He actually denies the offer at that time and instead sends Rehgar Earthfury.

rhorle said:

I don't think any of the characters mentioned fit for becoming a new lich king. I don't even think a new lich king will happen. It would be silly if the combined forces of horde, alliance, and neutral can overcome arthas when he is at his strongest that a person brand new to the powers won't be overcome?

What I see more likely is the blade being stolen, lost, something and it ends up in the next guys hands. Or the "special" fate could be some heroic destruction cinematic or something. I definitly don't think another lich king will happen.

One idea that sounds plausiable to me is that it gets stolen by the scarlet crusade demon guy (can't remember which one of the 3 it was in icecrown). Then we will see it in the hands of the next burning legion/sargeras boss. As the storyline is progressing down the titan path with Cata since they cover a doomsday device in uldum of titan design.

A new lich king would just be old and boring. And make a stupid second expansion since it would be alot of the same stuff.

Well I guess a certain Dreadlord could always get a hold of the blade for future use. Of course I would prefer the story of one of the heroes deciding to be a Warcraft version of Tal Rasha and deciding to attempt to control whatever is inside the blade (since we will probably find out there is much more to Frostmourne than we think in the Halls of Reflection) which in the end would result in their corruption.

This post has been edited by Leviathonlx: 11 October 2009 - 11:58 PM

[Kody]

batkat said:

He isn't becoming the Guardian, he's becoming a member of the Council who helps to guide the Guardian. The Guardian is supposed to be Me'Dan Garona's son.

Im actually excited to potentially finally seeing Gorona in game.

There's actually a lot of speculation regarding both, with one possible outcome being that Thrall actually takes over as the Guardian for one reason or another.

It makes me wonder if we'll see Medivh at some point in the future. Being the father of Me'Dan could heavily influence that outcome.

Also with regards to Tirion, the prime example in Warcraft lore would have to be Neltharion.

[jericho]

A would like to second (or third) some of the other people's statements about Tirion. Lore wise, he only reluctantly stepped in from his exile to save LHC and lead the Argent Crusade. Even if the age old storyline of "Justice turning into Vengeance" was to happen with him, we have to give Blizzard a little faith. They are not going to lead us down the same path as Arthas himself walked down. Remember his path was Justice turning into Vengeance.

That being said, I think you are forgetting one character and his foreshadowed part in the future of this expansion, Highlord Bolvar Fordragon. Alexstrasza herself speaks that is fate is not what it appears during the happenings at the Wrathgate. If we know for sure that Saurfang the younger is a boss in Icecrown, what do we know of Bolvar? I am not even going to come close to say that Bolvar will become the new LK. What I would assume is that we will see some kind of mysterious "end" for the sword having to do with Bolvar.

Do we see an "Arthurian Legend" type end to this expansion? I truly believe we will. The foreshadowing and references are there in spades. Arthas was named after Arthur, Bolvar Fordragon is a Pendragon reference, just to name two. Toss in the lady in the lake and Black Knight quests and we see more and more references. How could we not see a reference in Icecrown itself?

[Kody]

jericho said:

A would like to second (or third) some of the other people's statements about Tirion. Lore wise, he only reluctantly stepped in from his exile to save LHC and lead the Argent Crusade. Even if the age old storyline of "Justice turning into Vengeance" was to happen with him, we have to give Blizzard a little faith. They are not going to lead us down the same path as Arthas himself walked down. Remember his path was Justice turning into Vengeance.

That being said, I think you are forgetting one character and his foreshadowed part in the future of this expansion, Highlord Bolvar Fordragon. Alexstrasza herself speaks that is fate is not what it appears during the happenings at the Wrathgate. If we know for sure that Saurfang the younger is a boss in Icecrown, what do we know of Bolvar? I am not even going to come close to say that Bolvar will become the new LK. What I would assume is that we will see some kind of mysterious "end" for the sword having to do with Bolvar.

Do we see an "Arthurian Legend" type end to this expansion? I truly believe we will. The foreshadowing and references are there in spades. Arthas was named after Arthur, Bolvar Fordragon is a Pendragon reference, just to name two. Toss in the lady in the lake and Black Knight quests and we see more and more references. How could we not see a reference in Icecrown itself?

You know, that's actually a good point. It's quite possible Bolvar isn't a boss and instead Saurfang is the boss for both factions, with Bolvar appearing at the end of the Lich King encounter. He definitely exists in Icecrown, based on Highlord Bolvar Fordragon (VO DUMMY).

The question is what that voiceover is about. I guess we'll find out when the sound files are added to the PTR.

[batkat]

Leviathonlx said:

It's been heavily speculated that something will happen to Saurfang in Icecrown since that is the only way to explain Garrosh becoming Warchief over him. In the end Blizzard can just write the lore with both of them dieing during the raid on the Citadel or maybe Saurfang just meets his end during the Arthas encounter.




With how Med'an is being taught all the magics (except demonic) it seems more likely he will be the next Aspect of Magic considering Metzen has already stated that the next Aspect of Magic will not be a dragon. Thrall will most like become the next guardian no matter how much we want to not see that happen

I missed the news about the new Aspect being non dragon. And as for Thrall becoming Guardian I can think of no better person.

I hate the idea of Saurfang dying. It would mean the end of a line of Orcs that were just so badass. If he does go out I hope it's like his brother Broxigar. I still giggle at the fact that he held the legion at bay and even wounded Sargaras with a wooden axe.

[jericho]

Kody said:

You know, that's actually a good point. It's quite possible Bolvar isn't a boss and instead Saurfang is the boss for both factions, with Bolvar appearing at the end of the Lich King encounter. He definitely exists in Icecrown, based on Highlord Bolvar Fordragon (VO DUMMY).

The question is what that voiceover is about. I guess we'll find out when the sound files are added to the PTR.

I would have to believe that both sides fight the Saurfang. It is after all "the Lich King's best Death Knight" (ie, there can be only one.) I do not know, ever since the Wrathgate, I have had nothing but a feeling we are going to see Bolvar with sword laying next to him sailing away into the sunset ala the last seen in Excalibur.

Another thing is the current "dead incarnations" of Saurfang and Bolvar can be seen in game. During Yogg's LK vision, he is surrounded by an Immolated Champion and a Turned Champion. Saurfang being the turned. While the location of the vision could indicate that both have been turned, Bolvar not being referred to as "Turned" is a huge hint that he is still not the LK's servant.

The fact of the matter is, Northrend (as with Outland) has already been said that it is not going to have any Cataclysmic changes come 4.0. They are not going to remove any of the Arthas stuff. The story is going to remain in Northrend just as it is now. The need for a new Lich King is nonexistent at this juncture. That being said ... I still think we see the sword in Bolvar's non corrupted hands at the end of this. If they are going to give us a new lich king, it will probably end up being Nerzhul reborn.

[jericho]

batkat said:

I hate the idea of Saurfang dying. It would mean the end of a line of Orcs that were just so badass. If he does go out I hope it's like his brother Broxigar. I still giggle at the fact that he held the legion at bay and even wounded Sargaras with a wooden axe.

They have yet to actually kill off many characters in WoW. Sure in the comics and in Warcraft they did, but WoW they have been really hesitant to permanently dismiss people. They realize that lore is the core of the game. This is why the Wrathgate was initially so potent of an event, people "died".

Sure, we know Bolvar and SaurfangTY "lived" through the encounter, but I am sure there is going to be some sort of redemption for STY at the end of the encounter. Will Saurfang himself save his son? Will he become a Tyrion type figure, exiling himself from the world after the tragedy of his son's deaths? I would hope he wouldn't be permanently dead. Right now, I am guessing we will see him as a quest giver in 4.0 as some hermit in the Barrens.

[batkat]

jericho said:

They have yet to actually kill off many characters in WoW. Sure in the comics and in Warcraft they did, but WoW they have been really hesitant to permanently dismiss people. They realize that lore is the core of the game. This is why the Wrathgate was initially so potent of an event, people "died".

Sure, we know Bolvar and SaurfangTY "lived" through the encounter, but I am sure there is going to be some sort of redemption for STY at the end of the encounter. Will Saurfang himself save his son? Will he become a Tyrion type figure, exiling himself from the world after the tragedy of his son's deaths? I would hope he wouldn't be permanently dead. Right now, I am guessing we will see him as a quest giver in 4.0 as some hermit in the Barrens.

I personally think that the reason Garrosh would be chosen over Saurfang is that he would refuse the position. He would probably continue as an advisor to Garrosh. Saurfang is already an old orc and therefore has little interest in the stresses of leadership. Though he may be a hermit like you said. he may have no wish to babysit Garrosh as he did in Warsong hold, especially after confronting his son in Icecrown.