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| The Mortis Glossary |
| Aegwyn: | Also known as the Matriarch of Tirisfal.
Both a founding and first Guardian of the mysterious Order of Tirisfal, Aegwyn is an enigmatic figure whose appearance in Azeroth's history has often heralded important events. Over 1,000 years old, at the time she conceived her child she was also the last Guardian of the Order of Tirisfal.
Aegwyn is best known for the child she bore with the kingdom of Azeroth's preeminent Conjurer, Nielas Aran. The child, Medivh, was supposed to be the repository of the great power she wielded as the last Guardian. However, the child was tainted while still in the womb during Aegwyn's second notable claim to fame, her confrontation with, and defeat of, the Daemonlord Sargeras.
Though bereft of the power she had transferred to him, Aegwyn attempted to stop her son's nefarious activities, only to be banished by his magic. History last mentions her warning Azeroth's King Llane of Medivh's schemes immediately prior to the First War. Her current whereabouts, as well as whether she lives or not, remains open to speculation.
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| Al'Akir the Windlord: | One of four of the most powerful elemental lieutenants on Azeroth.
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| Alexstrasza: | Also known as the Dragonqueen, and the Life-Binder.
One of the Five Great Aspects, empowered by the mysterious Titans as the guardians of the tranquility of Azeroth, Alexstrasza has been Queen of the Red dragons since Chaos was turned to Order, long before the Night Elves discovered magic and Sundered the world. It was Alexstrasza who placed an enchanted acorn within the second Well of Eternity, which sprouted into the monolithic Nordrassil.
Following the First War the sons of Blackhand, Rend and Maim, with the aid of the shaman Zuluhed the Whacked and the Dragonmaw Clan, managed to capture and subjugate the Dragonqueen. Held captive and kept in a constant state of pain by the dark magic of the Dragonmaw, Alexstrasza's eggs were taken from her and trained to fight for the Horde.
Following the Second War Alexstrasza was freed from the clutches of the Warlock Nekros by Rhonin, agent of the Kirin Tor, an act that solidified the defeat of the already battered Horde.
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| Alleria: | An Elven Ranger that, presumably, served with the Alliance during the Second War, Alleria lost her family when the Horde attacked Quel'thalas. As a result, Alleria led a group of other Rangers in an effort to track down and destroy the only Orcs that remained undefeated, the Bleeding Hollow Clan.
As Ner'zhul sent orcs back into Azeroth from Draenor to gather the magical artifacts he would need to open more Portals, Alleria accompanied Khadgar, Danath, Turalyon, Kurdran and Sky'rie through the Dark Portal in an effort to end the threat of the Horde for good. She helped to combat Deathwing, and aided in defending Khadgar while he closed to Dark Portal into Azeroth. Whether or not Alleria and the rest of the companions survived remains to be seen.
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| Alliance, The: | Also known as the Alliance of Lordaeron.
A term used to define the various nations and races that have opposed the Horde. The members of the Alliance have changed several times over the course of Azeroth's history.
During the Second War, King Terenas formed a council with a delegate from each of the seven human kingdoms. Six of the seven nations agreed to unite their forces against the onslaught of the Horde. These nations included; King Terenas' own Lordaeron, as well as the remnant forces of Azeroth, the militant Stromgarde, the naval power of Kul Tiras , the small but powerful mageocracy of Dalaran, and the minor nation of Alterac. Only the powerful kingdom of Gilneas refrained from joining, confident in their ability to resist the Orcish invasion. The Elves of Quel'thalas, the Dwarves of Khaz Modan, and the Gnomes of Khaz Modan were also integral to securing victory for the Alliance in the Second War.
The Alliance was short-lived, however, as peace evidently weighed heavier on the kingdoms' unity then conflict. Before long the Alliance was fractured and only the kingdoms of Azeroth, Lordaeron, Kul Tiras, the nation of Dalaran, and the Dwarves of Khaz Modan remained steadfast in their commitment. This was the state the Alliance would remain in until after the Third War.
Though tenuous, the Alliance currently consists predominantly of Humans, Dwarves, Gnomes, and Night Elves.
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| Alonsus Faol: | Also known as Archbishop Alonsus Faol, and the Abbot of Northshire Abbey.
History first mentions the Archbishop as the leader of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics during the First War. However, since there is no mention of a change in the hierarchy anywhere around that time, it is reasonable to assume that Alonsus Faol was also the man who helped to subdue the raging power of the young Medivh and, subsequently, the man who was responsible for the young sorceror's care while he lay comatose.
Due to the grievous losses the ranks of the Clerics suffered during the First War, Archbishop Faol, along with the aid of his apprentice Uther Lightbringer, helped to forge a new Holy Order. This Order would be suited not only to providing the people of Azeroth with hope and faith, but to protecting them during the rigors of war as well. Thus, the aged Alonsus Faol and the young Uther Lightbringer founded the Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand.
No mention is made of the Archbishop's death and though it is possible he still lives, it is more likely that he passed away between the Second and Third Wars due to old age.
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| Alterac: | Alterac was one of the six human kingdoms to join the Alliance during the Second War. Ruled by Lord Perenolde, Alterac was the weakest kingdom of the Alliance and a relatively small contributor of soldiers and supplies.
Fearing for his kingdom should the Alliance fail, Lord Perenolde collaborated with the Horde, supplying them with information in exchange for the survival of the kingdom. The combined might of the Alliance turned its wrath upon the small kingdom, ruthlessly crushing it as punishment for Perenolde's treachery.
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| Anduin Lothar: | Also known as Sir Lothar, Lord Lothar, and Regent Lord of Azeroth.
One of King Llane's personal Honor Guard, Sir Anduin Lothar was a hero of the First and Second Wars, leading the armies of Azeroth against the invading Orcish Horde, and leading the people of Azeroth in their retreat across the Great Sea to the lands of Lordaeron.
Having routed the Orcs and driven them back to their last stronghold of Blackrock Spire, Lord Lothar led his forces there under the belief that Doomhammer wished to negotiate. Lord Lothar and many of his men were slain by an ambush.
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| Antonidas: | Also known as the Archmage Antonidas, Head of the Kirin Tor of Dalaran.
Antonidas was the aged leader of the Kirin Tor, and possibly one of the most powerful wizards in the world. At the venerable age of 71, the Archmage's health was gradually failing. His apprentice, Jaina Proudmoore, served as his agent abroad.
It was the Archmage Antonidas who was responsible for suggesting that the Orcs' lethargy following the Second War was a symptom of withdrawal from the Warlock magic that had sustained their bloodlust for so long.
Antonidas was slain in defense of the Violet Citadel, the capital of his beloved magocratic nation, during the Third War.
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| Arathor: | The Empire of Arathor.
Long ago, the humans of Azeroth lived a nomadic, tribal lifestyle. Eventually one tribe, the Arathi, grew to dominance and saw the benefit of uniting the other clans, thus forming the first human nation, 2,800 years before the Dark Portal was opened.
The High Elves of Quel'thalas sought the aid of Arathor in combating the Troll threat, and in exchange for the knowledge of how to use magic the Empire of Arathor consented.
Eventually the Empire grew too large to sustain itself and 1,200 years before the Dark Portal was opened, after 1,600 years of power, it fragmented into seven different, individual kingdoms.
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| Arcane Magic: | The origin of arcane magic is questionable, but it has been suggested that the Eredar consumed their own world, and in the resulting destruction magic was sent to all the various worlds connected by the Twisting Nether.
None deny the power that arcane energy can bestow upon a person willing to delve into its mysteries, but many question the wisdom of such a course. Though it was arcane magic that bestowed immortality upon the Night Elves, it was also arcane energy that caused the dissension among their kind. It was also arcane magic that drew the Burning Legion to Azeroth, and many blame the Sundering of the world on the arcane power wielded during the final conflict of the War of the Ancients.
Arcane magic undoubtedly has a corrupting influence upon all types of Elves, transforming them both physically, as evidenced by the Naga and the High Elves, and mentally. It is an addictive force, driving those who interact with it to desire more, until the use and desire for magic exceeds all other concerns.
Oddly enough, humans seem to have avoided the corruption of arcane magic so far. The Archmage Antonidas, head of the Kirin Tor of Dalaran prior to the Third War, was 71 years old and exhibited no obvious symptoms. It is reasonable to assume, however, that prolonged exposure such as the longevity of the Elves might allow, is responsible for the corruption that is evident in their kind. The lifespan of humans might simply be too short to allow the arcane energy time to incubate, infect, and corrupt the host wielding it.
Though there remains much debate over the subject, it is an unassailable conclusion that arcane magic has been integral to the defeat of the Burning Legion, both in the distant, and recent, past. Arcane magic is still used by humans and orcs, and its use has even spread to Dwarves and Gnomes.
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| Archimonde: | Also known as the Defiler.
Born of the Eredar race, Archimonde was chosen by the fallen Titan, Sargeras, to lead his army into battle in an effort to raze the ordered worlds of the Great Dark Beyond.
Archimonde chose the Pit Lords as his favored servants, and their leader Mannoroth served as the Defiler's brutal champion. Under the Defiler's leadership the Doom Guard served as his personal guard and the Warlocks of the Eredar race as his tacticians and strategists.
Archimonde led the first invasion of Azeroth, the attack upon the unified continent of Kalimdor, entering through the Well of Eternity with the help of the Night Elf Queen, Azshara. Archimonde and the Legion were banished, however, when the Well was destroyed.
The Third War saw Archimonde's return, however, and ultimately his destruction. Empowered by tremendous spiritual energies, Nordrassil, the World Tree, destroyed Archimonde as he tried to steal its power.
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| Azeroth: | 1) The world upon which nearly all of the events that have conspired took place. Though Azeroth originally contained one continent,known as Kalimdor, it was split into the diverse landmasses and islands it now has as a result of the Sundering. It is the native world of Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and most of the other species that are currently residing within it.
2) Prior to the First War, the kingdom of Azeroth was the most powerful of all the human lands. However, Azeroth was also the first land to feel the wrath of the Horde, as the Dark Portal was opened within their borders. The Orcish armies, under the command of Blackhand, defeated the unprepared soldiers of Azeroth and razed the lands and kingdom to the ground. Stormwind Keep was among the first of the human strongholds to fall, but following the Third War refugees from Lordaeron fled to the south and rebuilt the city, dubbing it New Stormwind.
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| Azshara: | 1)Azshara was Queen of the Night Elves nearly 10,000 years ago, before the Sundering shattered the continent of Kalimdor. She had a magnificent temple built around the Well of Eternity, from which the Elves derived their longevity, but from which also came the study of the Arcane.
Azshara surrounded herself with a caste of Elves she dubbed Quel'dorei, or "High-borne", and together they plumbed the depths of the mysteries of the Well of Eternity. Though Azshara was loved by all of her people, in time the Arcane energies of the Well began to transform Azshara and her Quel'dorei. When the Burning Legion came seeking the source of the magic ripples they detected, it was Azshara and her followers who granted them access to the world through the Well of Eternity, and who revered Sargeras as a god.
Following the War of the Ancients and the explosion of the Well of Eternity, Azshara and her elite Quel'dorei were submerged by the sea rushing in to fill the vacuum, apparently destroyed. However, following the Third War, a mysterious aquatic race appeared upon Azeroth known as the Naga, claiming to be the same High-borne of old, with a Queen that remained brooding within the depths of the ocean.
2)A jagged stretch of coast along Kalimdor's northern border, located east of Ashenvale Forest and north of Durotar. It was once part of the glorious capital Zin-Azshari prior to the Sundering, but was reduced to a ruined landscape following it. It was named by the Night Elves that survived the Sundering after their once loved, fallen Queen.
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| Black Tooth Grin Clan: | Called the Black Tooth Grin after the practice of each member knocking out one of his teeth to signify his loyalty to the clan. Originally part of the Blackrock Clan, the Black Tooth Grin Clan splintered from the larger faction before the Horde passed through the Dark Portal and into Azeroth.
The clan was ruled by Rend and Maim, the sons of Blackhand, and though they did not openly oppose Doomhammer it is probable that they were biding their time and consolidating their power until the moment to avenge their father arose.
The Black Tooth Grin was situated within the Black Morass and charged with protecting and preserving the Dark Portal that granted the Horde entry to the world of Azeroth. The Black Tooth Grin shared the fate of the Blackrock and Dragonmaw clans, defeated and imprisoned after the loss of the Second War.
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| Blackhand the Destroyer: | Also known as Chieftain of the Blackrock Clan.
Blackhand was the orc, ostensibly, responsible for unifying the Horde and leading their full might into the human kingdom of Azeroth. In reality, however, he was set upon the throne by the Warlock Gul'dan, leader of the mysterious Shadow Council. He rose to power from the rank of Raider in the Sythegore Arm and claimed the position of War Chief. The Orcish clans were in a state of momentous dissention at the time of his rise, and it is possible that without his fist directing the Horde, the clans would have waged a war of mutual extinction upon each other.
Despite being planted on the throne of the War Chief, Blackhand successfully led the Horde to victory in the First War, razing the kingdom of Azeroth and driving the inhabitants northward. However, this success was not enough to save his life as one of his strongest and most trusted generals, Orgrim Doomhammer, assassinated Blackhand and usurped the throne. Blackhand was survived by his sons, Rend and Maim, the chieftains of the Black Tooth Grin Clan.
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| Blackrock Clan: | The clan that Blackhand ruled for many years and from which he rose to prominence, and which Doomhammer later assumed control of, the Blackrock Clan was the most powerful sect of the invading Orc army. It saw countless victories against the humans in the First War, and continued to dictate the course of the Horde during the Second War.
Located primarily at Blackrock Spire, the Blackrock Clan was defeated by the Alliance during the Second War, and many of its members were placed into prison camps.
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| Blackrock Spire: | Blackrock Spire is a dark peak located in the Red Ridge Mountains of Azeroth. It was both the initial and final stronghold of the Horde during the First and Second Wars. The Spire served as the seat of power from which Blackhand, and later Doomhammer, as well as the Blackrock Clan commanded the invasion of Azeroth.
Near the end of the Second War Anduin Lothar, Commander of the Alliance forces, was lured to Blackrock Spire under the pretense of attending a parley with the Orc War Chief, only to be ambushed and slain. The Alliance, its resolve fueled by this treachery, eradicated all traces of the Horde at Blackrock Spire.
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| Bleeding Hollow Clan: | Probably the most esteemed of all the clans in the Horde, the Bleeding Hollow Clan, led by the veteran Kilrogg Deadeye, were among the first of the orcs to pass through the Dark Portal and into Azeroth. One of the largest clans before invading, they remained a powerful force throughout the First and Second Wars. The Bleeding Hollow was unquestionably loyal to the Blackrock Clan, and placed the needs of the Horde above all else.
During the Second War, as a reward for their unparalleled performance in battle, the Bleeding Hollow Clan was given the honor of guarding the refinement operations at Ironforge in Khaz Modan. The Bleeding Hollow was the only clan to avoid defeat in battle or capture at the hands of the Alliance during the Second War. Following the defeat of the Horde it was the Bleeding Hollow Clan alone that managed to evade pursuit and escape back through the Dark Portal to their home world of Draenor.
Though they served Ner'zhul faithfully following the Second War they were abandoned by the shaman as he fled through one of the portals he had created upon Draenor, one of the many portals that threatened to tear the world apart. Kilrogg Deadeye and Grom Hellscream, along with their Bleeding Hollow and Warsong clans, were able to escape back through the Dark Portal and into Azeroth. Hellscream and the Warsong clan were able to evade capture, but sadly, the aged Kilrogg and his Bleeding Hollow Clan were rounded up and placed within the internment camps along with the rest of the Horde.
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| Blood Elves: | bitter, disgruntled group of High Elves led by Prince Kael'thas, these elves are simply survivors of the devastation of Quel'thalas. They assumed the name "Blood Elves" in remembrance of those who were slain. They are rabidly addicted to Arcane magic, and have turned to demonic sources in an effort to acquire the necessary energy.
After the Third War the Blood Elves fell into conflict with their ally, the commander of the human forces, and a flagrant bigot, Lord Garithos. After receiving a hopeless task from Garithos that surely would have been the end of them, the Blood Elves allied with the Lady Vashj and the Naga to overcome the Undead. Taking this as an act of treason, Garithos had the Blood Elves arrested and sentenced for execution. With the aid of the Naga once again Prince Kael leads his faction of Blood Elves through a portal to Outland, where Illidan has fled.
The Blood Elves, in their quest for a source of magical energy, rescue ally themselves with the Naga in service to Illidan. They currently remain in the Outlands, what role they might play in the future a mystery.
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| Bonechewer Clan: | Led by Tagar Spinebreaker, the Bonechewers were one of the clans that remained behind when the invasion of Azeroth began. The name of the clan was derived in part from the cannibalistic practices of the members, and in part from the decorations they adorned themselves with. Covered in bones and body parts taken from their enemies, the Bonechewer Clan was well respected by the rest of the Horde, and feared by all who beheld them in battle.
Following the Second War, Ner'zhul had the Bonechewer tribe destroyed, as they possessed a powerful relic he wanted, the Skull of Gul'dan. Any members of the Bonechewer tribe not exterminated by Ner'zhul were probably slain during the cataclysmic explosions that rocked all of Draenor.
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| Burning Blade Clan: | Though they fought during the Second War, the Burning Blade Clan had no chieftain, no stronghold, and no structure. As a nomadic force of destruction the orcs of the Burning Blade epitomized the demonic rage that infected, to some degree, every orc within the Horde. It is possible that those orcs were driven to the brink, even over the brink, of madness by the corrupted blood flowing through their veins. Savage to the point of recklessness, the Burning Blade was controlled by the Ogres and released only when absolutely necessary.
The Burning Blade met its fate at the Dark Portal during the final battle of the Second War. Though reputedly the fiercest warriors of the Horde, the Burning Blade was routed and destroyed by forces under the command of Uther Lightbringer.
Their legacy, however, continues to live on. The elite fighting force of orc swordsmen known as Blademasters are the remnants of the nearly extinct Burning Blade clan, as can be seen by the symbol upon the battle-flags they sport on their backs. Rallying to the new War Chief Thrall, and serving as his personal guard, the Blademasters swore an oath to free all orcs from demonic corruption.
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| Burning Legion: | The Burning Legion is the name given to the army of demons by their leader, the fallen Titan, Sargeras. Originally the Titan responsible for combating the incomprehensible evil of the creatures of the Twisting Nether, Sargeras faced two distinct kinds of demons that forever altered his perspective.
Abandoning the benevolent Pantheon of the Titans due to the spritual influence of Lord Mortis, Sargeras smashed the prisons he had constructed and forged an army of demonic entities with himself as the leader. He chose two of the nefarious Eredar to serve as the champions of his forces. Kil'jaeden the Deceiver, who drew the Dreadlords into his service and chose from among their ranks Tichondrius as his second, and Archimonde the Defiler, who rallied the brutal Pit Lords to him and chose Mannoroth as his servant. Dubbing his malefic force the Burning Legion, Sargeras and his army set about their mission to undo all the works of the Titans.
First drawn to Azeroth by the Night Elves' delving into the magic of the Well of Eternity, the Burning Legion has returned several times in an effort to burn the world to nothingness on behalf of their unholy crusade. It is clear that the Legion has not yet been defeated, but simply staved off for the time being.
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| Cenarius: | A demigod who dwelt within the sacred Moonglades of the distant Mount Hyjal and who agreed to help the night elves by finding the ancient dragons and enlisting their aid.
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| Deathwing: | The dragon Neltharion (the Dragon Aspect of the Earth) as he was known after he went mad during a critical engagement against the Burning Legion.
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| Elune: | The moon goddess.
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| Eredar: | The eredar, an insidious race of devilish sorcerers, used their warlock magics to invade and enslave a number of worlds. The indigenous races of those worlds were mutated by the eredar's malevolent powers and turned into demons themselves.
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| Dath'Remar: | The brash, outspoken leader of the Highborne following the the Great Sundering.
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| Great Aspects (also the Dragon Aspects): | Nozdormu, Alexstrasza, Ysera, Malygos, Neltharion.
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| Hyjal: | A holy mountain.
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| Illidan Stormrage: | Malfurion's brother.
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| Kaldorei: | The night elves. The name means, ""children of the stars."
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| Kalimdor: | A continent on Azeroth. The name means, "land of eternal starlight."
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| Kil'jaeden the Deceiver: | Chosen by Sargeras to seek out the darkest races in the universe and recruit them into Sargeras' ranks.
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| Old Gods: | a race of unfathomably evil beings worshipped by a number of hostile elemental beings on Azeroth.
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| Lord Mortis: | A powerful priest and the spiritual leader of the Mortis Consortium. A mysterious, ageless and magical being, Lord Mortis seeks a deep spiritual understanding of the workings of Mortu, whose energy creates and arranges the universe.
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| Maelstrom: | A tumultuous storm of tidal fury and chaotic energies at the center of where the Well of Eternity once stood.
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| Maiev Shadowsong: | Illidan's personal jailor.
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| Malfurion Stormrage: | A young night elf scholar who suspected that a terrible power was corrupting the Highborne and his beloved queen.
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| Malygos: | Norgannon, the Titan lore keeper and master-magician, granted Malygos a portion of his vast power. From then on, Malygos would be known as the Spell-Weaver, the guardian of magic and hidden arcanum.
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| Nathrezim: | This dark race of vampiric demons (also known as dreadlords) conquered a number of populated worlds by possessing their inhabitants and turning them to the shadow. The nefarious, scheming dreadlords turned whole nations against one another by manipulating them into unthinking hatred and mistrust.
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| Nazjatar: | A city the naga built for themselves at the bottom of the Maelstrom.
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| Neltharion: | Khaz'goroth, the Titan shaper and forger of the world, bestowed some of his vast power upon the mighty black wyrm, Neltharion. The great-hearted Neltharion, known afterwards as the Earth-Warder, was given dominion over the earth and the deep places of the world.
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| Neptulon the Tidehunter: | One of four of the most powerful elemental lieutenants on Azeroth.
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| Nordrassil: | The great world tree which grew from the acorn planted by Alexstrasza, the Lifebinder, in the second Well of Eternity. Meaning, "crown of the heavens."
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| Nozdormu: | Aman'Thul, the Highfather of the Pantheon, bestowed a portion of his cosmic power upon the massive bronze dragon, Nozdormu. The Highfather empowered Nozdormu to guard time itself and police the ever-spinning pathways of fate and destiny. The stoic, honorable Nozdormu became known as the Timeless One.
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| Pantheon: | An elite sect which sought to safeguard the structured worlds. The Pantheon was ever vigilant against the threat of attack from the vile extra-dimensional entities of the Twisting Nether.
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| Quel'dorei: | The "highborne;" the servitors of the night elv queen Azshara.
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| Quel'Thalas: | A magical kingdom the Highborne, or Quel'dorei, built.
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| Ragnaros the Firelord: | One of four of the most powerful elemental lieutenants on Azeroth.
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| Sargeras: | A once noble giant of molten bronze, Sargeras carried out his duties for countless millennia, seeking out and destroying these demons wherever he could find them. Sargeras later lost all faith not only in his mission, but also in the Titans' vision of an ordered universe. Eventually he came to believe that the concept of order itself was folly, and that chaos and depravity were the only absolutes within the dark, lonely universe.
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| Therazane the Stonemother: | One of four of the most powerful elemental lieutenants on Azeroth.
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| Tichondrius the Darkener: | First amongst the dreadlords. Tichondrius served Kil'jaeden as the perfect soldier and agreed to bring Sargeras' burning will to all the dark corners of the universe.
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| Titans: | Colossal, metallic-skinned gods from the far reaches of the cosmos.
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| Tyrande: | A beautiful, young priestess who helped Malfurion and Illidan Stormrage.
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| The Well of Eternity: | A lake of scintillating energies crafted by the Titans in the center of Kalimdor. The lake was formed to be the fount of life for the world. Its potent energies would nurture the bones of the world and empower life to take root in the land's rich soil.
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| Ysera: | Alexstrasza's younger sister, the lithe green dragon. Ysera fell into an eternal trance, bound to the waking Dream of Creation. Known as the Dreamer, she would watch over the growing wilds of the world from her verdant realm, the Emerald Dream. |
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