The story of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft. The history of Sylvanas Windrunner in the world of Warcraft Where is Sylvanas Windrunner in the undercity
Sylvanas Windrunner is dead. But we already know this. But "what does that mean?" - a completely different question.
Who is Sylvanas Windrunner? Leader of the Silvermoon Rangers, sister of Alleria and Vereesa, lover of Nathanos Marris. A stubborn, unshakable girl who always got her way. According to elven law, a human could not become a ranger commander, but... Sylvanas changed that. No one could stand against the Scourge alone, but... Sylvanas succeeded.
Until a certain point. At that fateful moment, her life was cut short. But he never retired.
Banshee
In the "Faces of War" video, we witness the death of Sylvanas at the hands of Arthas. But then something happens that she never expected. The Lich King rips her soul out of her body and keeps her from leaving this world. At this moment, she sees three important things that greatly influenced her in the future. The first is the face of Arthas plunging a sword into her body. As he rips her soul out, Sylvanas looks into his eyes, her tears forever imprinted on her face as a frozen reminder of what he did and what she failed to do.The second is her lifeless body and the battlefield around. The Scourge is closing in on Silvermoon, sweeping away everything in its path. Sylvanas failed to protect them. She was unable to defend herself, as evidenced by her corpse lying on the ground.
Third, and perhaps most important, the dead mother and child. A family that left this world too soon. In fact, Sylvanas was also a mother, and her children were Quel'Thalas and Silvermoon City, whom, despite all her efforts, she could not save.
Sylvanas is in an intermediate state between life and death. When the Lich King stabbed her, Sylvanas thought it was the end. But for her insolence, the lord of the dead doomed her to this terrible state and eternal torment.
But when the Lich King lost control of the Scourge after the Third War, Sylvanas suddenly felt something she hadn't felt in a long time - free will. As a result, a very important question arises: what will a being stuck between life and death be like if it is given the opportunity to move on?
Revenge
Has Sylvanas retained all her memories? She remembers her sisters and remembers what happened before her death. But the strongest and most powerful memory that will never leave her memory is the very moment of her death. And the face of Arthas, who looked into her eyes, turned her into a terrible creature.And that's why, when she had a choice, Sylvanas wanted revenge. She attacked Lordaeron former home Arthas, and took him for herself. She followed the path of vengeance, reaching all the way to the Frozen Throne and its new ruler.
But she wasn't just looking for revenge. She wanted everything Arthas had done to her to return to normal.
When given the opportunity, the first thing Sylvanas decided to do was find and retrieve her body. She then rallied the free undead and gave them hope for new life. And although they were not the kel "dorei, for whom she once fought so bravely, they were also her people. And she protected, supported and directed them, like arrows in her quiver, releasing Arthas at the target of her hatred, The Lich King.
But she couldn't reverse what Arthas had done. When the Lich King fell, Sylvanas went to the Frozen Throne, but found nothing there. His death also did not bring her satisfaction. She got her revenge, got her body back, got supporters... she got everything she wanted. And finding no other reason to live, she threw herself off the Icecrown and flew down.
Pain
She didn't die. The Valkyrs decided to give her a second chance and showed something important - a vision of the future, in which those whom she left were dying. Garrosh Hellscream used her people as pawns, throwing the Forsaken into the middle of nowhere.But the vision did not affect her in the way it was supposed to. She had a purpose. The Forsaken were arrows fired from the heart of the Lich King. And they successfully hit him. Isn't this the end? She refused the Valkyrs and went to a dark, unknown place.
And in this vast, empty darkness on the other side of life, Sylvanas experienced something that she had not experienced for a very, very long time. She began to feel. It was terrible.
Pain, regret, horror, fear, hopelessness, agony. Will she experience this forever now? It was unbearable, ruthless. And then the Valkyrs appeared again, and this time she agreed to return. She found herself a new goal - to provide her people with a better life. And although it looks like altruism, in fact, her motives were completely different.
Each of the army of the dead that surrounded and protected the Dark Lady belonged to her body and soul. But there were no more arrows in her quiver. They became protection from the endless darkness. They were worthy of wise command, and no orc would send them to slaughter recklessly as long as Sylvanas remained in the world of the living.
The Forsaken were no longer the arrows in the Banshee Queen's quiver. They were her shield, shielding her from what she experienced after death. As long as they are alive, they fight to protect her.
Alive. Dead. Who cares? If only not to feel that hellish pain that awaits her on the other side.
Phantom pain
In War Crimes, Sylvanas is reunited with her younger sister. Vereesa's sudden appearance came as a surprise to Sylvanas, as did her desire to kill Garrosh. To do this, she needs a special, undetectable poison that Sylvanas and the Forsaken could easily obtain. But more surprising was that Vereesa supported her sister.The thought entered Sylvanas' mind that he might never see Veresa again. A strange pain she shouldn't have felt, comparable to a phantom pain in a long-lost limb, stabbed her so hard that Sylvanas had to bite her lip to keep from screaming.
Near the end of the book, Sylvanas almost convinced Vereesa to stay with her in the Undercity after Garrosh was killed. But I forgot to mention that my sister would have to become like her. Sylvanas wanted to kill her sister and then raise her from the dead so they could rule the Forsaken together.
But her plans never materialized. Vereesa was unable to commit such a terrible act and at the last moment warned Anduin about the assassination attempt on Garrosh. She wrote a letter to Sylvanas, explaining that she could not carry out the plan they had devised together and that she would not join her in the Undercity. Sylvanas was furious. She ran into the forest and tore the animals apart with her bare hands until the pain in her heart stopped and the chill returned to her soul and mind.
Sylvanas felt pain. The pain of loss loved one. But this story was not real, since Sylvanas Windrunner is dead.
Who are we if not slaves of this torment?
That was what Sylvanas showed Delaryn to Summermoon in that fateful moment. Delaryn asked if she remembered that she had once been the protector of her people. Sylvanas showed her her memories. Arthas face. Her defeat, dead bodies strewn across the battlefield, one of which belonged to her. The last moments of her life, imprinted in memory with amazing clarity. Moments that spurred every action she'd taken since. Because she can't move on. She cannot look back. She can just exist, always remembering that terrible moment that was supposed to be her end, but something is not right.Life is pain. There is no hope. That's the whole point of Sylvanas. That is what drives her. It is all she is and all she will be.
But Delaryn's face showed no horror or rage. She started crying. But not about himself or his people, but about Sylvanas. Because she saw who the former defender of the cel "dorei had turned into. And in Delaryn, she causes not fear, but ... pity. Having lost her life, she made her an enemy. She has no hope, and therefore she seeks to destroy her for everyone else.
Sylvanas has faced horrors that are hardly imaginable. Her death was tormented and forever etched into her memory, as clearly as her last tears were etched into her skin. She exists with the thought that if she leaves everything and moves on, then the only thing that awaits her is eternal, unquenchable pain.
But she cannot bear the tears of one lonely night elf shed in sympathy for her grief.
Burning of Teldrassil
There is no justification or forgiveness for Sylvanas' act. She was driven only by anger. She wanted to achieve only one thing - to undermine the strength of the spirit of the Alliance, which will lead the Horde to victory. But Sylvanas forgets that the Horde is driven only by honor. And there is no honor in Sylvanas' actions, as Saurfang tells her. And it's only a matter of time before the rest of the Horde realizes it too. This has happened before with Garrosh Hellscream's reign and ended in mutiny.But Garrosh and Sylvanas are very different. Garrosh simply killed those who did not comply, leaving corpses lying on the streets of Orgrimmar as an example. Sylvanas, on the other hand, can revive her victims, turning them into obedient puppets and strengthening her army.
Garrosh Hellscream wanted to conquer Kalimdor and possibly all of Azeroth for the Horde. He wanted to turn the Horde into a war machine that would dominate and prosper. But his vision of the Horde didn't match up with what others saw, which led to the rebellion. But still he did everything for the good of the Horde. The same cannot be said for Sylvanas. Because, after all, Sylvanas doesn't care about the Horde. To care for someone, you need to be able to feel, which Sylvanas physically cannot.
What is its ultimate goal? Perhaps this is the achievement of world peace. But not in the way everyone imagines it. She will turn everyone into undead. There will be no wars, feelings, life itself. Just a cold, unfeeling, aimless existence.
And sooner or later we'll have to do something about it if Sylvanas doesn't kill everyone first.
Christie Golden's novel "Before the Storm" evokes one bad feeling about the upcoming expansion. After reading the book, I can't imagine how Sylvanas will be able to survive the Battle for Azeroth and remain the leader of the Horde. It seems to me that even her title as Ruler of the Undercity and Banshee Queen of the Forsaken is in jeopardy.
And it's not because of Anduin Wrynn, no. It is unlikely that a leader who uses vast resources only for violence, which costs her power and turns her people into dispossessed refugees, will not last long. In the book, Sylvanas makes bad decisions that will turn against her in the future.
Prerequisites
Recently, the Windrunners: The Three Sisters comic was released, based on the events that took place between Sylvanas and Vereesa in the War Crimes novel. It shows the rift between the three Windrunner sisters. Ever since the Dark Portal closed at the end of Warcraft II cutting off Alleria from home, the lives of the three have gone their separate ways.One of the consequences of the meeting between Vereesa, Alleria, and Sylvanas was that the Banshee Queen became convinced that the Forsaken and those who had been their friends and loved ones would never be the same again. The living cannot accept the dead or forgive them for not finding peace.
And with Christie Golden's new book, Sylvanas is taking very specific actions to reinforce that position.
missed opportunity
In the novel, Anduin Wrynn approaches Sylvanas with a proposal to end hostilities between the Alliance and the Horde. For one day, for the Forsaken and those close to them to come together and see if they can coexist peacefully together. Sylvanas believes this is impossible, but realizes that if she refuses, she will fall in the eyes of her people. And so that this does not affect their devotion, she agrees. But in the end, when some of the Forsaken decide to stay with their loved ones in the Alliance, Sylvanas goes to extreme lengths.She openly kills members of the Devastated Council who were planning to join the Alliance. She kills Calia Menethil and even those who still remain loyal to the Undercity and their queen. And in doing so, Sylvanas has inadvertently created one of the biggest threats to her reign as Queen of the Forsaken.
The threat in the face of Calia, which has turned into a completely the new kind undead. It was not necromancy that brought her back to this world, but the Light of Heaven itself. Kaliya is not alive, her body does not breathe, but it does not decompose either, because the Light flows in her veins.
existential threat
If Sylvanas had let Calia live, she wouldn't have gotten into such a serious problem. Alive, Calia would never have been able to become a true leader in the eyes of the Forsaken. Some might accept her, but her connection to Arthas, and the fact that she was a living being who could never understand what it means to be undead, would have kept her from becoming a full-fledged ruler.But as an undead, can Calia Menethil understand how the Forsaken feel? Can this woman offer them another way? Will it give the Forsaken a new life where others don't see them as a rotting nightmare?
The book makes it clear that being a Forsaken is terrible in many ways. They cannot heal and can die much more easily than a living person. They do not age and can exist indefinitely, but their bodies can easily fall apart from simple wear and tear. In many ways, the Forsaken are very fragile - Sylvanas had to go to extreme lengths to restore Nathanos to the form he had in life.
But Kaliya doesn't have to worry about that. The Light supports her, and from the book it can be seen that the Light has long been preparing her for the fate of becoming a beacon of hope for the Forsaken. As a living priest, she could not do anything, but as an undead... Now Sylvanas had a serious rival.
Serious rival
But the biggest threat to Sylvanas isn't Calia. It's... Sylvanas herself.Sylvanas has been unable to see things differently since her death. By default, she considers everyone she meets the same hypocrites as herself. She thinks that people will always do the same, regardless of any factors. The reunion with her sisters only caused her pain, which struck her to the very heart. Therefore, she believes that any reunion is doomed to failure.
She only sees the cases where the Forsaken's reunion with their loved ones failed, ignoring everything else. Therefore, she is unable to even imagine that some Forsaken and humans can bridge the gap between them and express love for each other. She doesn't mind the fact that some Forsaken want to flee to the Alliance just to be with their loved ones.
And it is easier for her to kill her own people in cold blood and cruelly than to let them go to meet a better future. But she got so carried away that she began to kill even those who did not plan to join the Alliance. And all because Sylvanas saw the very idea of the relationship between the living and the dead as a disease that needed to be eradicated from her people.
Sylvanas vs. Forsaken
This is because her current quest for immortality and preventing the Forsaken from becoming extinct involves an attack on Stormwind. She wants to turn all its inhabitants into Forsaken. And this plan will bring together all the efforts that both parties have made to reunite with their beloved. But this is only due to the fact that she herself cannot imagine another way to reunite with her sisters. When she had the opportunity to mend her relationship with Vereesa, she only imagined killing her and then resurrecting her as one of the Forsaken.Sylvanas sees the Forsaken as all she has left. Her actions in Windrunners: The Three Sisters show that she is unable to open up to her sisters and express the feelings she has for them. Sylvanas even prepared, but was never able to carry out her plan to kill Vereesa and Aleria, as she was not ready for the simple emotional conversion of her younger sister.
And this is a tragedy. Sylvanas killed the members of the Ravaged Council in Arathi not out of treachery, but because she sees in them something she can't bring herself to believe. Even while inanimate, she feels emotionally hungry from losing touch with her family. She sees weakness in him, ridiculing the very fact of such affection as an excuse. But that hunger still eats her from the inside. And due to the fact that she cannot satisfy it at home, she does not allow everyone else to do it.
Everything has to be paid
On the one hand, we see the problem in the form of Calia Menethil, which Sylvanas herself created. On the other hand, the Sylvans' attempts to turn the Forsaken into a semblance of themselves. But another threat to her rule is the Horde itself.With the Legion attacking, Sylvanas' choice as leader was clear. She was the greatest tactician and the most experienced general. The only ones who even slightly reached her level were Varok Saurfang and Lor "themar Theron. Theron was her right hand during the Third War, but in experience and quick wits he did not reach her level. Just like Saurfang, although he was a veteran First and Second Wars.
But an excellent military leader may not be such in peacetime. And Sylvanas understands this very well. She sees the Alliance as an enemy and intends to keep the Horde in a state of constant war. And for this, she even blackmails Baine Bloodhoof with his correspondence with Anduin. She makes it clear that for the sake of mining Azerite, she can easily accuse Bane of treason.
Sylvanas does not want, and perhaps is unable to see the Alliance as anything other than an enemy, because she needs a permanent enemy. While she is the leader, she stands on the deck of an unstable ship. And caring only about the Forsaken, she forgets about the rest. Saurfang even tries to discreetly point out to her that she should be warchief of all the races of the Horde, not just one.
In addition, she sees the war with the Alliance as the only way to save the Forsaken. Having lost the advantage of a limitless Valkyr force that she could have had if she could control Eyir, she wouldn't have to kill the people of Stormwind to replenish her ranks. Her goal is to destroy the Alliance. In other words, peace between the factions is a threat to her.
Victory Conditions
As a leader, Sylvanas cannot accept that her people's desires are different from her own. She cannot take a different position, although she is aware that this will destroy her. All this time, she leads people who do not trust her motives. And she herself created a rival for herself, who understands the Forsaken very well, since she herself once was the same, even before their death. And when they lose Lordaeron, Calia Menethil may be the only one who can give them back their home.Sylvanas nevertheless does not give up and begins a new phase of the war with the Alliance.
Sylvanas faced many challenges. A rebellion within her ranks has resulted in the deaths of many Horde warriors, and the Banshee Queen is now distrusted by many of her allies. Sylvanas began to fortify her territory in Tirisfal Glades in order to create the right state for her people. Although she claims that her loyalty to the Horde has not waned, some are unsure of her true intentions.
After the fall of Arthas Menethil, Sylvanas learned that she, too, was cursed and would have to spend eternity amidst darkness and torture in afterlife. The val'kyr offered her their service, and Sylvanas was able to return to the world of the living and will remain in it for as long as her val'kyr exist. Knowing the fate that would inevitably befall her, Sylvanas began to appreciate the Forsaken more, who became a defense against the terrifying darkness. Sylvanas has led her people in aggressive assaults across Lordaeron, and much of the Eastern Kingdoms mainland is already under her control.
Sylvanas took part in the Battle of the Broken Shore, where the Alliance and Horde tried to counter the Burning Legion. She gave the command to retreat, seeing that Vol "jin was wounded and that the other leaders were almost out of strength. Although the Horde was saved that day due to Sylvanas' act, the Horde's retreat left the Alliance in a vulnerable position and, possibly, caused the death of Varian Wrynn . In Orgrimmar, Vol "jin, dying of Fel poisoning, announced that Sylvanas would become his successor as leader of the Horde. At the funeral pyre of Vol "jin, Sylvanas delivered a speech to the Horde warriors that they should help her avenge the death of the former leader.
early years
Sylvala belonged to the well-known Windrunner lineage of the High Elves. She had an older sister, Alleria, a younger sister, Vereesa, and a brother, Lirat. As a family, they lived in Windrunner Spire, built in the calm forests of Quel'Thalas. Sylvanas joined the rangers and eventually became their leader, rising to the rank of leader of the rangers - commander-in-chief of all high elves troops.
Second war
fiction in the Warcraft universe.
Queen of the Forsaken
Arthas, summoned by the Lich King, went to Northrend, and Kel "Thuzad hid, considering his future plans and waiting for orders. Sylvanas and her new sisters - the banshees - had free will, but she was still worried. Despite the lack of control from the outside Ner'zhul, Sylvanas and her supporters remained terrible monsters in appearance.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Varimathras. The dreadlord invited the banshees to join him and his brothers, who were intent on taking over Lordaeron. But Sylvanas did not want to immediately give up her hard-won freedom. She replied that she had already helped the Nathrezim and demanded that they leave her alone. Varimathras ominously warned that those who did not become their allies would be rejected, and Sylvanas should not interfere with the new rulers of the Plaguelands. However, she remained adamant and, when the Nathrezim finally left, she knew that a fight with the last demons of Lordaeron was inevitable. She had only banshees and a few other undead on her side, and it took an entire army to confront the Nathrezim.
Scouting the surrounding areas, Sylvanas discovered many creatures that can be forced into her service thanks to the banshees. She ordered the sisters to seize control of Mug "thol - the ruler of the local ogres, Blackthorn - the leader of human bandits, Tangled Mane - the ruler of the gnolls - and the Murloc King of the Puddle. Those who could not be controlled were killed. With more allies, Sylvanas easily won over Varimathras and was about to kill him.But the Nathrezim begged him to spare his life, promising loyal service.He knew the tactics of his brothers and the location of their hideouts.Sylvanas understood that trusting such a cunning demon was a big risk, but she felt that she could control him enough to force With the help of Varimathras, the host marched against the forces of Detheroc.
Detheroc had done a good job of securing his own, seizing control of High Commander Garithos and his men. Sylvanas took over the minds of his scouts and infiltrated the camp while its inhabitants slept. She killed everyone who came across her so that people would not have time to raise the alarm. By the time they did, it was already too late. Sylvanas wreaked havoc on Detheroc's army and, breaking through to him, quickly slew him. After the dreadlord's death, Garithos was freed from his control. Sylvanas saw how arrogant and stupid he was, but she understood that he could be useful. She lied to him, promising to cede control of the capital of Lordaeron if the humans helped her deal with Balnazzar.
The night before the attack on the capital, Sylvanas encountered the undead with free will. She spoke of their place in the world and what would happen when they helped her take over the city. An alchemist named Lydon asked her what would become of the people of Garithos. Sylvanas replied that they were only needed for the upcoming battle.
The troops of Garithos and Sylvanas attacked the capital at the same time and from different directions. Breaking into the city, Sylvanas found the caches left by royal family and used them to my advantage. Although Balnazzar called for demonic reinforcements through the portal, the combined forces of humans and undead defeated him. Sylvanas demanded that Varimathras personally kill her brother. He froze and replied that it was forbidden for the Nathrezim to kill each other. Sylvanas pressed on, wanting Varimathras to prove her loyalty. The dreadlord obeyed and killed Balnazzar. However, he managed to survive and later become the leader of the Scarlet Crusade. When Sylvanas ordered Varimathras to kill Garithos as well, he carried out the order with gusto.
With all the enemies now dead, Sylvanas announced to the Nathrezim that they were no longer part of the Scourge and would call themselves Forsaken. They will find their own place in this world and destroy anyone who dares to stand in their way.
Sylvanas quickly began developing her new empire of the undead. Freeing many of the undead from the Lich King's control and calling them her people, she broke into the catacombs beneath the ruins of the capital and captured them for the Forsaken. They completed the network of twisting catacombs and crypts begun by the Scourge. The Undercity became the capital of their state.
Sun Well
The source of information in this section is comics and manga in the Warcraft universe.
One day, Sylvanas went to Quel'Thalas for personal reasons and encountered the resurrected Dar'Khan Drathir, an employee of the Scourge. They fought in the ruins of Silvermoon, and Sylvanas helped Kalecgos stop the traitor from absorbing the Sunwell's energy. Although she was unlucky at first, she distracted Dar Khan long enough for Anveena to regain her power and destroy him. Sylvanas promised to keep Anveena's secret so that Arthas would never reach the well's energy.
Joining the Horde
The Forsaken, who had built their own empire, knew that the next step in their revenge on Arthas was to secure their place in the world. Although Sylvanas fought in the Plaguelands Civil War and successfully conquered the ruins of the capital, the relatively small number of Forsaken would not be able to hold off the conquered territories for long.
The Banshee Queen began trying to find new allies. She sent numerous emissaries to Warchief Thrall, ruler of the Horde, but members of that faction were not thrilled about the possibility of accepting the undead into their ranks. Only the good-natured tauren of Thunder Bluff reacted differently to the Forsaken. Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem saw an opportunity for redemption for the people of Sylvanas, though he was fully aware of the sinister nature of the Forsaken. He convinced Warchief Thrall that the Forsaken should become allies of the Horde, despite all misgivings. The people of the free undead would also help the Horde establish a presence in the mainland of the Eastern Kingdoms, which was controlled by the Alliance for the most part. With the protection provided by the Horde and the backing of even the Argent Dawn, the Forsaken were able to maintain their lands in Lordaeron.
Dominance of the Forsaken
The source of information in this section is World of Warcraft Classic.
Joining the Horde allowed the Forsaken to expand their mighty empire. Sylvanas, who freed the undead from the influence of the Lich King, ruled over her people from the throne room of the Undercity. She wrested from the ranks of the Scourge and her former student Nathanos Marris, who was named the champion of the Banshee Queen and settled in Marris Manor to train and guide new champions for his queen.
Sylvanas sent Horde adventurers to be trained by Marris and also to help defend against the Scarlet Crusade, which was a threat to the Forsaken. Sylvanas ordered the creation of the Deathguard, which quickly became one of Azeroth's most powerful spy organizations. The Queen oversaw experiments to create a plague capable of destroying the Scourge - for this the Royal Pharmaceutical Society was founded, whose ranks continued to grow.
Battle for the Undercity
When the combined forces of the Alliance and the Horde attacked Angrathar, the Wrathgate, a rebellion broke out in the Undercity. Varimathras and entire hordes of his demonic brethren captured the capital and destroyed all who did not want to recognize their authority. Sylvanas almost died during the coup as well, but she managed to escape along with several supporters and made it to Orgrimmar. Thrall and Sylvanas, not intending to give the Nathrezim time to establish themselves, launched an immediate counterattack. In the midst of the discussion, Jaina Proudmoore arrived with the bad news - due to the death of Bolvar Fordragon, King Varian Wrynn is preparing for war against the Horde. He sent Jaina to get an explanation about what happened at the Wrathgate. Although Thrall and Sylvanas explained why the Horde could not be held responsible for Putress's deed, Jaina warned them that Varian would still seek retribution.
The Banshee Queen, at the head of the Horde army, has come to the Undercity to reclaim the capital under her control. She burst into battle along with Thrall and Vol "jin and screamed because of the fate that overtook her people. Sylvanas made her way to the throne room and, having fought with Varimathras and destroyed him, regained her throne. As soon as this happened, King Varian broke into Undercity at the head of his own army.Discovering that the Forsaken were experimenting on captive humans, he was about to declare war on the Horde.Entering the royal quarter shortly after Varimathras' defeat, he rushed to Thrall and Sylvanas and called them monsters.However, Jaina Proudmoore teleported him out of the Undercity and withdrew the Alliance forces back to Stormwind.
All traitors and rebels were destroyed, and Sylvanas regained control of the capital and the Forsaken. But the events that happened at the Wrathgate did not suit Thrall, and the leader of the Horde ordered Kor "crown to remain in the Undercity and control local residents. Soon, Sylvanas personally went to the northern mainland to finally take revenge on Arthas.
Ice Halls
Sylvanas sent the Horde forces to the Ice Halls, located inside Icecrown Citadel, to fight the Lich King and take revenge on Arthas for the destruction of Quel'Thalas and the conversion to the undead. The banshee queen, accompanied by dark rangers Kalira and Loralen, gave orders to the heroes of the Horde throughout the battles in the Cursed Halls and eventually allied with several champions of the Argent Tournament.When the party was victorious on Ick and Shout, Shriek begged Sylvanas for mercy and tried to save himself by revealing that an unguarded Frostmourne was further in the halls.Krik was killed by the Scourgelord Tyrannus. and Sylvanas decided to go to the Halls of Reflection... Before entering the halls, the squad had to fight Tyranny, and immediately after his death, Sindragosa appeared, which destroyed almost all the Horde fighters, not counting Sylvanas, her two rangers and champions... The Banshee Queen sent Kalira for reinforcements and entered the Halls of Reflection along with Loralen and the champions.
Inside Arthas' private quarters, the party discovered Frostmourne, and Sylvanas once again felt the pain of her death by the runeblade. She tried to make contact with the souls trapped inside Frostmourne, hoping that she could find salvation there. Before her appeared the ghost of Uther the Lightbringer, who warned that the Lich King already knew about the invasion and was heading here, and trying to defeat him here was just foolishness. Uther said that after killing Arthas, someone else would have to take his place so that the unruly hordes of the undead would not swallow the whole world. He also revealed the secret that the Lich King can only be destroyed in the place where he was created - the Frozen Throne.
At that moment, the Lich King arrived and took back his sword and pulled Uther's ghost inside it. He called on Falric and Marvin, two loyal captains, to kill those who dared enter his private quarters. As the champions of the Horde battled the wraiths, Sylvanas and Loralen set off in pursuit of Arthas, who had fled to the inner sanctuary of the halls. The squad defeated the ghosts and followed Sylvanas, discovering the lifeless body of Loralen along the way. In the next chamber, Sylvanas battled the Lich King, and the champions joined her. However, the ruler of the Scourge was too strong here, just as Uther had warned. Sylvanas, along with the champions, began to run away from Arthas, who summoned ice walls and the undead to slow his opponents. They reached a cliff and, realizing that it was a dead end, they decided to die in the final battle against the Lich King. However, the warship Orgrim's Hammer flew up to the cliff and managed to save them. During the escape, Sylvanas realized that the power of Arthas had grown tenfold, and to defeat him, an army would be required that even the entire Horde could not muster.
Fall of the Lich King
After a long siege of Icecrown Citadel, Tirion Fordring and the champions of the Argent Tournament managed to defeat Arthas and kill him. The Ashbringer's strike also shattered Frostmourne, releasing all the trapped souls. Among Arthas' belongings, a chest containing a vial of Sylvanas' blood was found, and the heroes delivered it to the banshee queen.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: So it's over.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: I can't even believe it. Too many times the Lich King has made a fool of me.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: After all, he paid the price for the atrocities he committed against my people.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: May Azeroth never forget the terrible price we paid for our weakness, for our pride.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: But now what? What will become of those who have been freed from his bonds, but are still in the captivity of a mortal body?
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Leave me alone.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: I need to think.
Agreement with the Val'kyr
The source of information in this section is fiction in the Warcraft universe.
After killing Arthas, Sylvanas came to the Frozen Throne alone. Although she was annoyed that she did not see his death in person, she was comforted that the task assigned to her back in the lush forests of Quel'Thalas was finally completed. Sylvanas could only think about the bright fate that awaited her before Arthas tore out her soul elf and turned her into a banshee. She decided to throw herself from the top of Icecrown Citadel so that the saronite spikes below destroyed her body. As Sylvanas contemplated the end of her long journey, nine val'kyr surrounded her and showed visions from her past, studying her. The Banshee Queen ignored them and stepped down the cliff.
She saw the future of her people in a vision. Without the rule of their queen, the Forsaken army was almost completely destroyed when Garrosh Hellscream ordered them to lead an invasion of Gilneas. At Bastion, Apothecary Lydon was organizing a last-ditch counterattack against the invading Alliance forces. King Varian Wrynn was preparing to enter the Undercity, within whose walls the Forsaken lit huge fires and jumped into them to avoid their executioners. When the vision ended, Sylvanas was in purgatory and saw that her body was again the way it was in life. Next to her were the val'kyr, who also looked alive. Annhilda explained to Sylvanas that the banshee queen sees the trace left by her life. Sylvanas realized that she was in the sanctuary because of the val'kyr, and demanded that she be released. Annhilda revealed that she wanted to offer her a choice and show the consequences of her leaving. Sylvanas shouted that she did not care about the fate of the Forsaken, and Annhilde replied that the elf needed to see everything else. The Val'kyr disappeared, and Sylvanas felt that time had stopped.
Her soul fell into an endless abyss, and time meant nothing here. She saw only darkness and felt only pain, cold, fear and hopelessness. Nearby is someone terrible, stabbing her claws, but Sylvanas could not scream. She also sensed the presence of Arthas Menethil, whose soul was a frightened blond child reaping the rewards of a life full of mistakes. Sylvanas realized that she would have pitied him if her soul had not been so tormented. Her eternity was to be an endless void of darkness and a nameless world of suffering.
Some time later, a ray of light broke through the darkness, and nine Val'kyr came for Sylvanas, who surrounded her with light and protected her. Sylvanas found her voice, but she could only cry, and Annhilda, touching her face, repeated that they needed her. Val " the kirs said that they longed for freedom from the Lich King, and now they need a vessel - a creature similar to them. Sylvanas, who knew life and death, was worthy of power over them. The souls of the val'kyr would be connected to the soul of Sylvanas, and this would forever free them from the Lich King. Sylvanas would return to the world of the living and continue to exist as long as the val'kyr were alive. The Banshee Queen realized that an alliance with the Val'kyr could delay the fulfillment of her dark fate, and accepted Anngilda's offer. She replied that she would take Sylvanas' place in eternal darkness, and a bright light flashed. The Banshee Queen woke up near Icecrown Citadel. She was surrounded by eight the remaining Val'kyr.
The Val'kyr, who sided with Sylvanas, had the ability to raise the dead, although they were not as strong as the Lich King. Thanks to them, the Forsaken were able to replenish their ranks, which for a long time was considered one of the main problems of the people. When Sylvanas spoke about Garrosh, he expressed his displeasure and ordered one of the commanders to monitor all the actions of the Banshee Queen.Garrosh and Sylvanas even quarreled when he asked how she was now different from the Lich King, and Sylvanas replied - loyal service to the Horde.
During the invasion, and deliver it to the queen. Sylvanas gave Darius Crowley a choice - either the front stops fighting, or Lorna becomes one of the Forsaken. Darius ordered the battle to stop, and Sylvanas allowed him to leave with his daughter and the soldiers. After that, Lord Godfrey killed the queen with a shot and fled to Shadowfang Keep. Commander Kromush, Garrosh's henchman in Silverpine Forest, ordered the three Val'kyr - Agatha, Arthur and Dakla - to return Sylvanas, and they sacrificed themselves so that the queen could be resurrected. This once again proved to the Banshee Queen that the Val'kyr are a guarantee of the future Forsaken.
During the battles at Andorhal, Sylvanas hid under the name Lindsey Blacksun in order to personally follow the events. After the Alliance's victory, Sylvanas revealed herself and confronted Koltira Deathweaver, blaming him for being weak due to the truce with Thassarian. The abomination chain pulled Koltira into the portal leading to the Undercity, where Sylvanas decided to purge him of compassion and make him a true servant of the Horde, or rather, herself.
Due to all of Sylvanas' actions, the Argent, back in the Plaguelands, have been keeping a close watch on her and all the Forsaken. Although the free undead provided significant support to the Vanguard during the war in Northrend, Sylvanas now increasingly resembled the Lich King she fought against.
Attack on Theramore
The source of information in this section is fiction in the Warcraft universe.
Sylvanas attended a Horde council called by Warchief Garrosh, where he revealed his plans to attack and destroy Theramore. The Banshee Queen opposed Garrosh's idea, fearing that the Alliance might unleash their wrath on the Forsaken and the blood elves if their main base on Kalimdor was threatened. Sylvanas repeatedly glanced at Lor "temar Theron, waiting for support, but the ruling blood elf lord was silent. Garrosh promised Sylvanas that the Horde could handle any Alliance counterattacks, and Sylvanas provided him with Captain Frandis Farley to help in the siege of Theramore.
Siege of Orgrimmar
Mists of Pandaria to World of Warcraft.
When Garrosh Hellscream was defeated, Sylvanas was present at his capture along with other leaders of the Horde. Thrall announced that Vol "jin would be the new leader, and Sylvanas nodded in agreement. However, she was not particularly enthusiastic about the fact that she would have to obey the troll.
"Chief Vol'jin". Don't you think that sounds absurd? At least I'm not going to take orders from a troll. However, he brought the rebels together and won today. He also proved that he is almost impossible to kill - and I like it.It takes time to check what kind of dough it is made of...
Judgment on Hellscream
The source of information in this section is fiction in the Warcraft universe.
After the siege of Orgrimmar, Sylvanas and other rulers of the Horde were called to the Temple. white tiger in Pandaria to be witnesses at Garrosh Hellscream's trial. Sylvanas didn't like the idea of a trial that would replace ordinary execution, and she opposed the appointment of Baine Bloodhoof as Garrosh's protector. When Baine's defensive speeches proved better than the Banshee Queen would have liked, she accused him of sympathizing with the Alliance, forcing the tauren chieftain to deny her accusations.
Sylvanas arrived at the fortress of Grommash, the last of the rulers of the Horde, and saw the dying Vol "jin. The troll said that he had communicated with the loa and knew about the impending death. In his last minutes he turned to Sylvanas and said that she should become the new leader of the Horde. Although Sylvanas was amazed at what she heard, she delivered a speech at Vol'jin's funeral pyre, addressing the Horde warriors. She wanted them to help her avenge the murdered leader. Other Horde rulers made statements of their allegiance to Sylvanas, who became the new leader. Thanks to the Illidari who arrived in Orgrimmar, the demons that were about to attack the leaders of the Horde at a time when they were vulnerable were uncovered, but by the combined efforts of the demon hunters and the heroes of the Horde, they were able to destroy the minions of the Legion.Realizing that the Illidari will play an important role in the coming war, Sylvanas asked the hero to act as a messenger for the Horde and keep a close eye on their actions.
Dialogues from the game world
The source of information in this section is an addendum cataclysm to World of Warcraft.
Speech on Hallow's End
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: Children of death, hear my call!
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: We have endured terrible tragedies in our lives.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: We've seen our homes leveled to the ground.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: We screamed in pain as our loved ones were slaughtered in front of us.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: And after all the horrors of life, we haven't even found peace in death.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: And so we burn the Wicker Man as a token of our victory over old enemies!
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: We paint our faces with ash to warn new enemies - those who fear us and think we are monsters.
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: Those who question our place in this world...
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: We are not monsters! We are not a brainless army of ghouls!
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: No...we are much more fearsome...
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: We are the chill that runs down the back of a coward...
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: We are the embodiment of relentless fury!
- Lady Sylvanas Windrunner yells: WE ARE THE FORSAID!
Hello everyone, Belka is with you again, and today we will talk about the history of the famous elf - Sylvanas Windrunner. Probably everyone saw her in the world of World of Warcraft, but not everyone knows "who is she".
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner was the leader of the trackers Silvermoon City. in the story "Before dawn" she is described as a beautiful elf with golden hair that fell to her waist, with beautiful patterns of laces on her high boots, in a camisole embroidered with leaves. She was one of the best archers in the family and had 2 sisters - Alleria and Verisu.
At times Second War she defended Eversong Woods from the onslaught of the horde.
Soon when the armies of the dead king Arthas invaded Kel'Talas to Sunwell exactly Sylvanas got in his way. An army of rebellious corpses, fresh and withered; huge, thoughtless creatures sewn from different parts of the bodies; unknown flying animals, similar to stone statues, awakened to life; huge spiders, crept up to the borders of the territories of the high elves.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
Sylvanas met with my people Arthas fighting near the first gate. However, the strength Arthas was too powerful. Her people died, and after death they rebelled on the side of the enemy.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
Sylvanas tried her best to stop Arthas and save civilians and children. She blew up the bridge in the way of his army, however, this did not stop the former prince. Lordaeron. He ordered to simply build a bridge from the bodies of the undead, thereby poisoning the river at the same time Elrendar.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
Her troops retreated to Spire and took up defensive positions there. There were only about 25 of them. They fought skillfully, using first their bows, and then swords and daggers, but this was not enough. Sylvanas fought like a wild lynx in the Eversong Woods, pouring all her pain and fury into the attack.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
At the end of the fight Arthas killed Sylvanus using your Frostmourne. However, since the army Arthas suffered serious losses in the battle with the elves, he despised and at the same time admired Sylvanas. Arthas did not give her the freedom of death, but doomed her to eternal life and service in the guise of a banshee. For that Sylvanas hated him.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
You serve my triumph, Sylvanas. You work for the dead. Obedience you will crave. Arthas is the first and most beloved of my death knights, he will rule over you forever, and you will find it joyful.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
She had to do the will of Arthas for a long time. He was too selenium. At the same time, she often taunted and grinned at Artos, because he failed to break her will.
When the forces Lich King began to weaken and with it began to weaken Arthas, most of the undead, including Sylvanas got rid of control. Maintaining the strictest secrecy, she met with three Dreadlords who informed her that the forces Lich King vanish and it's time for retribution. As a result windrunner was finally able to carry out her plan and take revenge on the prince.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
As the undead got out of hand, Arthas had to run to Tirisfal Glades. Banshees accompanied him there. Sylvanas, straight to her right into the trap.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
She came out of the forest, holding a bow in her hands. For one wild moment, he thought he was back in Quel'Thalas and before him was a living elf. But no, her hair was as black as midnight on a new moon, with white streaks. Her skin was pale with a bluish tint, her eyes glowed with silver. It was Sylvanas, but it wasn't her either. This Sylvanas was neither alive nor incorporeal. Somehow, she regained her body, which he ordered to be safely hidden in an iron tomb, which only added to her torment. But now she was in it again.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
Sylvanas shot at the helpless Arthas with a poisoned arrow and almost killed him, but the servants who came to his aid, led by Kel "tuzadom stopped her.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
Sylvanas Windrunner escaped with only one hope - to kill Arthas. After all, he took a lot from her. Even if she prolonged his death by a day...weeks...she still couldn't make Arthas suffer as much. His death would not bring the dead back to life, cleanse the Sunwell, nor make her alive again, with peach skin and golden hair. But she felt…great.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
Using a demon Varimathas she was able to get rid of other demons and finally create her own state in Lordaeron, the stronghold that became Forsaken- undead out of control Arthas, for the sole purpose of killing The Lich King.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
But they did not have time to succeed: in the ranks Forsaken an uprising broke out, led by Varimathas and Gnillis, who are near Wrathgate Icecrown Citadel fired plague shells, killing many warriors Alliance and Hordes. A dark stain has appeared on Sylvanas' reputation.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
Later standing on top Icecrown Citadels, she greatly regretted that she was not here at the right time when Arthas fell.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
She wished for death, so she jumped down, but when she knew death, she felt only emptiness and suffering. She was saved from death by one of the 9 Valkyr. The ones who served the Lich King. The Valkyr showed her the future and showed her that her people would come to an end if Sylvanas did not intervene. The Valkyrs offered her an agreement. As a result of the Valkyr Annhilde gave her life in exchange for the life of Sylvanas. At the same time, Sylvanas connected her life with the lives of the Valkyr, thereby freeing them from imprisonment. Lich King.
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
History of Sylvanas Windrunner in World of Warcraft
As long as they live, Sylvanas will live.
Today we will look at another significant character- Silvanus! This is one of the most controversial heroes in the Warcraft universe, not only for fans, but also for the inhabitants of Azeroth.
bright lady
Sylvanas Windrunner was born in Quel'Thalas, the realm of the quel'dorei (high elves). She belonged to an ancient and respected family, whose members for many centuries defended the country from the encroachments of the enemy. Silvana was the second child in the family. Her sisters were named Alleria and Vereesa, and her younger brother was Lirat. Like her sisters, young Sylvanas joined an ancient order of rangers called the Wanderers. There, she quickly earned a reputation for her fearlessness in battle against the high elves' ancient enemies, the forest trolls of the Amani Empire (Zul'jin's compatriots). She subsequently replaced her mother Lyrisa as the Ranger General of Silvermoon, thus becoming leader of the Farstriders and head of the defense of Quel'Thalas. In her new post, Sylvanas made the controversial decision to include the human Nathanos Marris among her rangers. Several of her countrymen, including Crown Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, opposed the entry of a human into the high elf order. Many noticed how proud Windrunner was of her new apprentice, who quickly rose through the ranks to become a Ranger Lord. There were rumors that they were secret lovers (and the story dark mirror confirms this theory).
At the same time, the bloodthirsty Orc Horde arrived in Azeroth through the Dark Portal. She destroyed the southern kingdom of Stormwind and forced the other human nations to unite in the Alliance of Lordaeron to counter the new threat. The high elf ruler, King Anasterian Sunstrider, originally intended to provide them with only material assistance, but changed his mind when news came that the Horde had formed an alliance with Zul'jin and his trolls to attack Quel'Thalas. Using the red dragonflight (a flight of the captured Dragonqueen Alexstrasza) in their army, the Horde was able to ravage the forests of the elf kingdom. Sylvanas and her sisters joined the fight against the invaders. With great effort, the Alliance was able to drive the enemies out of Quel'Thalas, but many of Sylvanas's elves and relatives, including Lyrath, died at the hands of the Horde. Shortly thereafter, the Allies defeated the invaders and destroyed the Dark Portal. But then the orcs on Draenor were able to reopen the gate, after which Sylvanas' older sister, Alleria, volunteered to join the Alliance Expedition to Draenor. The expedition was able to destroy the Dark Portal in the very dimension of the enemies just as the Orc shaman Ner'zhul tore the planet apart. The fate of the participants was unknown, and many of the inhabitants of Azeroth considered them dead. Sylvanas kept a sapphire necklace with her for a long time, in memory of how Alleria saved their homeland from the orcs. Despite the loss of her loved ones, and even after Quel'Thalas left the Alliance, Sylvanas remained true to her duty, continuing to protect the kingdom of Quel'Thalas for another 12 years, until the Scourge arrived.
Fall of Quel'Thalas
20 years after the orc invasion of Azeroth, the demonic Burning Legion once again tried to conquer Azeroth. Lord Kil'jaeden captured the orc Ner'zhul and turned him into a ghostly creature known as the Lich King. He was ordered to create an undead army called the Scourge to weaken Azeroth's defenses. This was preparation for the invasion of the Legion itself. This plan was overseen by Kil'jaeden's demonic agents, the Nathrezim, also known as the dreadlords. Soon, an epidemic of a mysterious plague swept through Lordaeron, the people infected with it began to turn into mindless zombies. Crown Prince Arthas Menethil engaged the Scourge, but his desire to save his homeland led him to wield the runeblade Frostmourne and become a death knight loyal to Ner'zhul. He subsequently killed his father Terenas and destroyed Lordaeron. Soon the dreadlord Tichondrius ordered the prince to retrieve the remains of the fallen necromancer Kel'Thuzad and resurrect him in Quel'Thalas using the sacred Sunwell. This fountain of magical energy served as the center of the entire quel'dorei empire.
As Arthas and his Scourge fought their way through the forests of Quel'Thalas, King Anasterian began to raise an army. Elven mages and priests gathered in the capital city of Silvermoon, and Sylvanas and her rangers went into the forests to organize defenses outside the city. Her soldiers attacked the dead from all sides, which increasingly infuriated Arthas. However, the Scourge continued its advance north towards Silvermoon City, leaving only corruption and ruin in its wake. The area would later become known as the Deadpath. The elves hoped that the capital could be protected by three magical barriers: two enchanted gates and a magical shield known as Ban'dinoriel, the Watchman. But Sylvanas did not know that the traitor Dar'Khan Drathir had already told Arthas how to overcome these obstacles: the other elven gates and Ban'dinoriel could only be destroyed with the help of the Key of the Three Moons. Soon, all three barriers fell before the death knight.
Knowing that the rangers could not win, Sylvanas ordered them to hold the line on the outskirts of Silvermoon City. Sylvanas' troops took the first blow. Windrunner personally engaged the fallen prince of Lordaeron, but Arthas soon gained the upper hand and stabbed the leader of the rangers. Dying, Sylvanas stated that she deserved a quick death, to which the death knight replied that after all that she had arranged, her death would not be quick. Moments later, she died, and Arthas ripped her spirit from her body and turned her into a tortured ghost that could unleash its pain on the living with a scream. Unlike other mindless Scourge warriors, Sylvanas retained her consciousness and the ability to think independently. However, she was bound by the iron will of the Lich King, and Arthas dictated her every move. He told the elf that the suffering of her people was on her conscience. He only wanted to get to the Sunwell, and the intervention of the rangers forced him to exterminate her countrymen.
Sylvanas joined the Scourge and took part in the massacre in Silvermoon City. After the successful conversion of Sylvanas, Arthas also turned several kel'dorei women into banshees, after which he transferred them under the control of Windrunner. Thus, she received the title "Queen of the Banshees." With the fall of Silvermoon, King Anasterian and the surviving elves retreated to the isle of Quel'Danas, which was located north of the Sunwell. The Scourge had no ships to cross the water, but Arthas used Frostmourne to create an ice bridge to it. Sylvanas was forced to watch as the death knight and his troops slew the king and many other high elf defenders. This forced she let out a deafening banshee cry, full of not only pain and despair, but also hatred for the man who took everything she had, including her house and king. .
The Scourge traveled south to the human city of Dalaran. There, Kel'Thuzad summoned Archimonde, the demon lord, who began the Burning Legion's invasion. Archimonde also proclaimed that the Lich King and the Scourge had served their purpose, and that the dreadlords would now take control of the undead. Shortly thereafter, the Legion's armies overran Azeroth, destroying all that was left of Lordaeron's resistance. The demons then traveled across the Great Sea to the western continent of Kalimdor. Most of the Scourge sailed with them, including Arthas. Sylvanas, Kel'Thuzad, and the remaining undead settled in Lordaeron under the care of three Nathrezim brothers: Balnazzar, Detheroc, and Varimathras. In Kalimdor, the Legion was defeated by the combined forces of the mortal races at the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Together they were able to destroy Archimonde and most his troops. Arthas himself barely survived and, gathering the rest of the Scourge under his banner, retreated to the Eastern Kingdoms.
Rise of the Forsaken
A few months after the Legion's defeat, Arthas returned to Lordaeron, proclaiming himself king. He banished the three Nathrezim brothers to the eastern part of the kingdom, which would become known as the Plaguelands. The creator of the Lich King, Kil'jaeden, responded by sending the demon-turned Illidan Stormrage to destroy Ner'zhul. Using the artifact Eye of Sargeras, he was able to seriously damage the Lich King's prison, the Frozen Throne, but was defeated by a group of other night elves. Ner'zhul's power began to drain, weakening his grip on the Scourge. His champion Arthas also began to lose strength. The death knight himself began to experience agonizing visions in which the Lich King spoke of a threat approaching the Frozen Throne. The fallen prince should immediately go to the rescue of his master in the snowy Northrend.
Sylvanas soon realized that she no longer heard the voice of the Lich King. She got free will. She was soon invited to a secret meeting with the dreadlords, who told her that Ner'zhul was losing his power. Wanting revenge on Arthas, the banshee agreed to help the Nathrezim overthrow the death knight, but insisted that she would do it "her way". The next day, the dreadlords took control of most of the Scourge and attacked Arthas and Kel'Thuzad in the ruins of Lordaeron's Capital. The weakened king gathered the remaining loyal undead and fled from the rebels. Meanwhile, Sylvanas has discovered and reclaimed her elven body, becoming a "dark tracker". As Arthas fled the capital into Tirisfal Glades, he met with a group of banshees who escorted him to the center of the forest. Windrunner suddenly appeared there and shot him with an arrow laced with paralyzing poison. She promised the immobilized death knight the same"quick" and the painful death he gave her. But this was prevented by Kel'Thuzad, who repelled the attack of the banshee with the remaining loyal warriors of the Scourge and saved Arthas' life. Sylvanas was forced to flee, but swore that she would never stop hunting for the death knight.
After Arthas sailed to Northrend (where he merged with Ner'zhul, becoming the Lich King) and left Kel'Thuzad in command of the Scourge in Lordaeron, Sylvanas and her followers gathered in the Plaguelands, intent on taking control of Lordaeron themselves. One day, Varimathras appeared to her, saying that the dreadlords intend to establish a new order in these lands and hope that the dark ranger will join them. Being in the power of the Lich King for too long, Windrunner did not want to commit her life to the next master, and rejected the demon's offer. In response, the Nathrezim launched a series of attacks on her main camp, but the Dark Lady took advantage of her banshee minions. She used their ability to inhabit living beings, enlisting the support of new servants. Among them were Chieftain Mug'tol's ogres and bandits of Lord Blackthorne's men. Together with her new minions, Sylvanas destroyed the camp of Varimathras and was ready to kill the dreadlord, but he began to beg for mercy, promising to help in defeating his brothers. Windrunner agreed to let the demon live.
Sylvanas' forces continued their advance across the Plaguelands. The dreadlord Deterok settled in his fortress and telepathically subdued the soldiers of the Alliance and their racist commander Otmar Garithos (you may know him from history ). The Dark Lady ordered her banshees to take control of several human foot soldiers and open the gate. This allowed her to attack the servants of Detheroc. After the death of the demon, Garithos and his people regained their sanity, and Sylvanas offered them to return their kingdom if they could help deal with the last dreadlord, Balnazzar, who settled on the ruins of the capital of Lordaeron (in fact, she did not intend to return the kingdom to people). Garithos reluctantly agreed, and the next day the combined armies of the undead and humans met on the outskirts of the city. Sylvanas, Varimathras and Garithos launched an assault on the Capital. Although Balnazzar had a formidable army, he was unable to stop them. The Dark Lady ordered Varimathras to kill her brother. He declared that the Nathrezim were forbidden to kill their own kind, but Windrunner was able to to convince obey him. She then ordered Garithos to be killed as well, which the demon did with great pleasure.
After destroying both the dreadlords and Garithos, Sylvanas' undead were in complete control of the capital city and the surrounding region of Tirisfal Glades. The Banshee Queen proclaimed that her subjects would henceforth be known as the Forsaken. They will try to find their own place in the world, hold Arthas to account and kill anyone who gets in their way.
Reign of the Dark Lady
The Forsaken established a new kingdom in the Undercity, a complex of crypts, dungeons, and sewers beneath the capital of Lordaeron. Arthas, before being forced to flee to Northrend, intended to make the place a Scourge stronghold. The Forsaken have completed the construction of the city that has become their new home. Sylvanas personally traveled with several dark rangers, former subordinates of hers who had also been turned undead, to the Plaguelands. There she found her old apprentice, Nathanos Marris. She freed him from the will of the Lich King and made him her personal champion.
But despite their control of the Undercity, the Forsaken's hold on Lordaeron was tenuous. The Scourge of Kel'Thuzad still held a large portion of the Plaguelands. A fanatical sect of paladins known as the Scarlet Crusade have begun a series of raids on the undead camps. Sylvanas made her way to Quel'Thalas, where the surviving high elves, who called themselves blood elves, were staying. They refused to join the former ranger general as they feared the undead. Wanting to help her people, Sylvanas sent ambassadors to various factions, among them the Alliance and the Horde. The ambassadors that went to the Alliance never returned, but one of the Horde races, the good-hearted tauren, decided to give Sylvanas a chance. Their Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem believed that the Forsaken could still redeem themselves. He convinced Thrall to invite Sylvanas to the Horde capital of Orgrimmar. The warchief showed sympathy for the Forsaken, for the orcs themselves had a very dark past. He also considered the strategic importance of being able to establish himself in the Eastern Kingdoms, specifically in Lordaeron. In the end, Thrall decided to accept the Forsaken into the Horde.
Several months have passed. The Forsaken strengthened their position in Tirisfal, fighting the Scarlet Crusade, the Scourge, and other threats in the region. At the same time, Sylvanas created an order of alchemists known as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. It began the creation of the New Plague, which would be able to kill not only the living, but also the undead. This would be an excellent trump card in the fight against Arthas.
Meanwhile, Sylvanas' homeland of Quel'Thalas was still unsettled by the Amani and Scourge trolls. The latter took control of the Ghostlands, a dark region to the south of the kingdom, dominated by the traitor Dar'Khan Drathir (now undead). Sylvanas, sympathetic to her former brethren, convinced the leader of the Horde to ally with the blood elves. She also sent several Forsaken to aid Quel'Thalas in the battle against the Scourge in the city of Tranquillien in the Ghostlands. Warchief Thrall was skeptical about including the blood elves in the Horde due to their inability to deal with the threat right in front of their gates on their own. But the heroes of the Horde, together with the Forsaken and the leader of the blood elves, Lord Regent Lor'themar Theron, were able to defeat the Scourge and kill Dar'Khan. This finally convinced the leader to include the blood elves in the Horde.
While traveling through the Ghostlands, the heroes of the Horde also stumbled upon Windrunner Spire. It was the home of Sylvanas and her sisters, now overrun by the Scourge. There, they discovered an old necklace that Alleria had given her sister years ago. When they brought the jewel to the Dark Lady, she rejected it and sent them away, claiming that Alleria was dead to her along with her old life. But despite her protests, the locket really mattered to her. This can be understood from the fact that after these events, she and her banshees began to sing an ancient elven dirge,Lament of the Highborne. She could be heard in the Undercity.
Fall of the Lich King
Shortly thereafter, Arthas suddenly awakened in Northrend and sent his Scourge to attack the main cities of the Alliance and Horde. Sylvanas and her High Apothecary Putress traveled to Orgrimmar to meet with the leaders of the Horde to discuss their next steps. Like many others, Windrunner tried to convince Thrall to launch an attack on Northrend. After the capital's defenders had to fight off a full-scale attack by the Scourge, the warchief agreed to send his forces north under the leadership of the orc warrior Garrosh Hellscream. An army of Forsaken called the Punishing Hand has joined the Horde forces. While both factions were advancing across Northrend, the Forsaken completed the creation of the New Plague. Alliance and Horde united inbattle at the Wrathgate, serving as the southern entrance to the Lich King's stronghold, Icecrown Citadel. But when the battle broke out, Putress and a group of traitorous Forsaken unleashed the Plague on all the gathered armies, killing thousands of soldiers. At the same time, an uprising broke out in the Undercity. A faction of demons and the undead attempted to kill Sylvanas, forcing her and her Forsaken loyalists to flee the city. They tried to take refuge in Orgrimmar. It soon became clear that Varimathras, Sylvanas' adviser, had been playing his game for a long time and made an alliance with Putress, wanting to overthrow the Banshee Queen in the name of the Burning Legion.
The Horde and Alliance quickly mounted separate attacks on the Undercity. Sylvanas and Thrall attacked Varimathras, and King Varian Wrynn led his forces against Putress, also hoping to reclaim Lordaeron for his faction. When both traitors were killed, the king immediately tried to attack the leader, wanting to end the Horde here and now. Bloodshed was avoided thanks to the sorceress Jaina Proudmoore, who teleported the Alliance army to Stormwind. The Undercity was back in Sylvanas' hands, but distrust of her and her subjects grew among the Horde. The faction's leaders attempted to convince Thrall to bring the elite Kor'kron Guard into the Undercity to prevent further plague experiments.
Months later, after many battles in Northrend, the siege of Icecrown Citadel was launched. While the main Horde forces were besieging the central gate, Sylvanas led her champions, along with several dark rangers, through the secret entrance in search of answers that could shed light on how to defeat the Lich King. The Dark Lady and her companions reached Arthas' personal sanctuary, the Halls of Reflection, where they found Frostmourne floating unprotected. When Sylvanas tried to make contact with the spirits within the sword, the former master of the death knight, the legendary paladin Uther the Lightbringer, appeared to her. He told her that after Arthas' death, someone else must take his place to keep the Scourge from destroying Azeroth. He also revealed that the fallen prince could only be defeated in the place where the Lich King was created, on the Frozen Throne, atop Icecrown. Arthas himself suddenly appeared, driving Uther's spirit back into his sword and then leaving his commanders, Falric and Marvin, to destroy the party. Sylvanas went after him. After defeating the ghostly servants of the Undead King, the Horde champions met with Windrunner and escaped together through a secret passage in the Citadel before being rescued by the Horde's flying ship Orgrimm's Hammer.
In the end, Arthas was killed on the Frozen Throne, not at the hands of Sylvanas, but at the sword of the paladin Tirion Fordring and several Alliance and Horde champions. After that, the human paladin Bolvar Fordragon sacrificed himself, becoming the new Lich King. Among several items that could be found near Arthas' body was a vial of Sylvanas' blood, obtained in her last seconds of life. It was brought to the Dark Lady, whereupon she spoke of the defeat of the Lich King:
“So it's all over. I felt it, but I couldn't believe it - too often the Lich King had made a fool of me. At last he has paid for all the suffering he has given my people. Let future generations always remember what the price of weakness is... the price of pride. But what will happen to those who, freed from his power, remain prisoners of their mortal bodies? Leave me. I have a lot to think about."
State of the Forsaken
Shortly after the fall of the Lich King, Sylvanas alonewent to the Frozen Throne . The man who had tormented her for so many years, and whom Windrunner swore to destroy, had died without her even being there. She was watched by nine val'kyr, winged ghostly creatures. They were female vrykul, called to serve the Scourge in Northrend. They were supposed to raise the fallen, turning them into undead. They were still subject to the new Lich King Bolvar. Sylvanas ignored them. Believing that she no longer had a purpose in life, she decided to commit suicide by throwing herself from the top of Icecrown. She fell on the spikes of saronite, a metal made from blood ancient god Yogg-Saron. He is able to destroy both the bodies and souls of the undead. After her death, Sylvanas discovered that the Val'kyr imprisoned her in some kind of limbo. They started sending her visions showing her what would happen if she died. The Forsaken will become cannon fodder under the Horde's new warchief, Garrosh Hellscream, before disappearing entirely under the onslaught of the Alliance. Sylvanas replied that she did not care about the fate of her people, since she no longer needed them. After the visions ended, the Dark Lady found herself in a gloomy, terrifying afterlife, where nightmarish creatures began torturing her (there she saw the spirit of Arthas Menethil in the form of a frightened boy). She was saved by the Val'kyr, who offered her a deal: they would return her soul to her body and allow her to return to the world of the living, but only if she connected their lives with hers. This would make the Val'kyr her servants and grant her power over life and death. Windrunner agreed. The leader of her new allies, Annhylda the Summoner, has taken the place of the Banshee Queen in the world of the dead. Sylvanas herself returned with eight Val'kyr to Azeroth to continue ruling the Forsaken in Lordaeron. She saw in them a new hope, something that could save her from oblivion. Her servants, being undead, could not reproduce, but with the help of the Val'kyr, she could create new subjects. Each returned by these creatures was offered a choice: return to the grave, walking their own path, or join the Dark Lady if they so desired.
After the worldwide catastrophe known as the Cataclysm, Warchief Garrosh Hellscream wished to start a war against the Alliance. To do this, he needed as many of the resources of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms as possible. He also wished to establish a new port in Gilneas. It was a coastal human kingdom isolated from the rest of the world. The Great Wall of Greymane, which protected the state, was destroyed by the Cataclysm. Garrosh tasked Sylvanas with taking over Gilneas, but forbade the Forsaken from using their plague except in its weakest form. At the same time, the kingdom itself was suffering from the outbreak of civil war and the spreading curse of the worgen. It turned people into werewolves. The Forsaken attacked Gilneas and captured its capital. Later, King Genn Greymane managed to unite his people and lead their counterattack against the undead forces in the city. He was aided in this by his son, Prince Liam Greymane, and the former rebel Lord Darius Crowley. Sylvanas personally entered into battle with Genn, deafened everyone around with her scream and shot a poisoned arrow at the king, but Prince Liam saved him at the last moment, covering his father with herself. Windrunner fled, pursued by the worgen, who figured out that she was going to unleash a plague on the kingdom despite Garrosh's ban. The people of Gilneas had no choice but to evacuate to Kalimdor. The night elves helped them with this. After these events, they became members of the Alliance.
However, a sizable force remained in Gilneas, led by the worgen Darius Crowley and his daughter Lorna. They began their fight against the Forsaken in Serebryany Bor, north of the capital. After seeing a display of Sylvanas' Val'kyr powers, Garrosh found them disgusting. So he left his commander, High Warlord Kromush, to oversee the Forsaken's activities in Silverpine Forest. With the aid of the warchief's soldiers and new servants resurrected by the Val'kyr, Sylvanas' army engaged the Gilnean forces and their allies. Windrunner determined to defeat her enemies by raising the worgen-hating Lord Vincent Godfrey from the dead. Horde adventurers traveled to the ruins of Gilneas and obtained the bodies of Godfrey and two of his allies: Baron Ashbury and Lord Walden. This allowed Sylvanas to resurrect them as Forsaken. Horde adventurers and Godfrey were able to capture Lorna Crowley together. They, along with Sylvanas, Cromush, and three Val'kyr, went to the Greymane Wall, where they met with Darius and ordered him to surrender, threatening to resurrect Lorna as undead if he refused. Not wanting to sacrifice his daughter, Crowley agreed and quickly retreated with Lorna. Sylvanas was celebrating her victory when Godfrey attacked her from behind and shot her in the head, killing her instantly. The traitor, along with his allies, fled to Shadowfang Keep. Three Val'kyr sacrificed themselves to resurrect their mistress, which convinced her even more of their need.
Some time later, the Forsaken made their way to other territories, namely the Plaguelands, where the ruined city of Andorhal was located. It had by then become a battleground between three sides: the Alliance, the Horde, and the remnants of the Scourge. The forces of the first two factions were commanded by the Knights of the Ebon Blade, members of an order of death knights who freed themselves from the influence of the Lich King and helped overthrow Arthas in Northrend. The Alliance soldier was led by the human Thassarian, the Horde forces were led by the blood elf Koltira Deathweaver. Sylvanas disguised herself as a Forsaken woman, Lindsey Blacksun, and watched as Koltira battled the forces of the Scourge, and most importantly, the Alliance. There was once a strong friendship between the two commanders when they were still in the service of the Scourge. It has survived even on opposite sides of the barricades. Thus, Koltira reluctantly fought the Alliance, even when they gathered several peasants to attack against the undead troops. "Lindsey" soon revealed her true identity and ordered the Val'kyr to resurrect the human soldiers, turning the tide of battle in favor of the Horde. This caused the Alliance to leave Andorhal forever. Angered by Koltira's "weakness", Sylvanas sent him to the Undercity, where he was tortured, for the sake of "improvement" (After a few years, Koltira will be freed by Thassarian and other Knights of the Ebon Blade).
Becoming a leader
As the years passed, Sylvanas continued to oppose Garrosh's controversial politics. In particular, she opposed his plans to destroy the Alliance port city of Theramore (Jaina's home). However, Garrosh did not heed her words. Months later, Vol'jin, leader of the Darkspear trolls, rebelled against the warlord's tyrannical regime. He came into direct conflict with Garrosh, teaming up with the Horde and Alliance leaders. The rebels laid siege to the capital, while Sylvanas and her Forsaken, accompanied by Lor'themar Theron and the blood elves, attacked Bladefist's Bay, a port to the east of the city. Sylvanas suggested to the Lord Regent that the fallen rangers be resurrected as undead. The Lord Regent was not surprised by this suggestion.
The adventurers eventually broke into Garrosh's private quarters and defeated the warchief. After that, Vol'jin tried to persuade Thrall to take up the mantle of leader again, but he instead appointed the troll himself. Other leaders of the Horde, including Sylvanas, accepted the new leader, but after that, the elf declared that she would definitely not obey the orders of the troll. Garrosh was taken to Pandaria to answer for his crimes. Sylvanas would rather see him executed. While the trial was going on, the elf met with her younger sister, Vereesa Windrunner, who told her about her hatred for the former leader, because it was his attack on Theramore that killed her husband, Rhonin. Together they decided to poison Hellscream. During their meetings, they revived their former relationship, and Sylvanas herself invited her sister to become her co-ruler in the Undercity. At the same time, she understood that the Forsaken would never accept a living ruler, and therefore secretly planned to kill Vereesa and resurrect her as undead. As promised, Sylvanas gave her sister the deadly poison that the elf had slipped into Garrosh's food. But at the last moment, she changed her mind and told King Varian's son, Prince Anduin Wrynn, about the poison. This allowed him to save Hellscream's life. Sylvanas was furious.
A few years later, the orc warlock Gul'dan from a parallel universe opened the gates to the Burning Legion, launching the greatest invasion of Azeroth. First, the demons attacked the lands of the Horde. Sylvanassummoned her old champion, Nathanos Marris (who after death became known as Nathanos Blightcaller) to take part in a special ritual. They had to sacrifice some of the essence of the Val'kyr and the body of Nathanos' younger brother, Stefan. This would help her champion become stronger and more resilient. It would also allow his old decaying body to be replaced. Shortly thereafter, the Alliance and Horde troopsheaded for the Broken Shore, an island in the Great Sea, where the Tomb of Sargeras was located. It was in this building that Gul'dan opened the portal for the invasion of the Legion. During the battle, the leaders of the Horde made their way to the demon fortress and fought alongside Varian Wrynn and Alliance forces against the monster Krosa. The Alliance then headed straight for the Tomb to stop Gul'dan there, while Sylvanas and the Horde troops stayed behind to cover the ally's flanks on a nearby cliff.
The Legion soon called in massive reinforcements, and the Horde was quickly outnumbered. Chieftain Vol'jin was wounded by a demonic poisoned blade. Sylvanas was forcedblow the retreat horn in Orgrimmar.
The Alliance regarded this as a betrayal. Dying in OrgrimmarVol'jin summoned the leaders of the Hordeand told Sylvanas that the Loa, the spirits worshiped by the trolls, had told him that she should come out of the shadows and become the new leader. After that, Vol'jin died, and the Dark Lady became the new leader of the faction.
Subsequently, Sylvanas traveled with the Forsaken fleet to the lands of Stormheim in the Broken Isles. This ancient region was inhabited by the brutal vrykul of Northrend. Sylvanas' main mission was to find the Aegis of Aggramar, one of the Pillars of Creation required to close the portal to the Tomb of Sargeras. But the Dark Lady had her own motives for going to Stormheim. Unexpectedly, the undead fleet was attacked by the Alliance. During the battle, Sylvanas disappeared. She entered Helheim, the dimension of Helya, the first of the Val'kyr. In ancient times, Keeper Odin once ordered her to ferry the souls of dead vrykul to his domain, the Halls of Valor. There he hoped to create an army of the so-called Valarjar to defend Azeroth. When Helya refused, he turned her into a Val'kyr. After many years, she betrayed the keeper and put a curse on him, locking him and the Valarjar in the Halls. After that, she created a new dimension - Helheim. There, Sylvanas made a mysterious deal with Helya, in which the latter gave her a magical lantern known as the Cage of Souls. She could subdue the soul of any living being. The elf was going to use this artifact on the ancient creature Eyir. Eyir replaced Helya, creating new Val'kyr for Odin. By gaining control of her, Sylvanas could secure the future of the Forsaken. With the help of Horde adventurers, Windrunner was able to infiltrate the ancient crypt of Skold-Ashil, where she attempted to subdue this ancient creature. Suddenly on herattacked by Genn Greymane, who pursued her to Stormheim, seeking revenge. After a brutal duel, Genn was able to shatter the Cage of Souls, freeing Eyir and ruining Sylvanas' plans.
The Legion and its leader Sargeras were defeated, but in the last seconds before the defeat, the fallen titan pierced Azeroth with his giant sword. This caused the appearance of a new mysterious substance called Azerite, the blood of Azeroth. The goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel discovered this material first. Their leader Jestor Gallywixreported it to the chief, and she replied that this mineral will change everything.
It is still unknown how the fate of Sylvanas will turn, and what future awaits her in the newWar between Alliance and Horde.