Remembering Northrend

The continent of Northrend has been associated with a great tragedy, and great conflict in the past. With the Wrath of the Lich King expansion looming, and our ability to visit this land many speak of but no one has actually been in, it is important to know the story about the conflicts that have happened in this icy continent in the past.

The land of Northrend has had many powerful beings in the past, even before the dreaded Lich King. The entire Kingdom of Azjol-Nerub, Nerubian land, was there way before, where the Nerubian race prospered.

The Spider War

When the Lich King came into Northrend, imprisoned by his superiors in the Burning Legion, he first waged war against the Spiders in Azjol-Nerub. This would be known as the War of the Spider.

While Thrall was liberating his brethren in Lordaeron, Ner'zhul continued to build up his power base in Northrend. A great citadel was erected above the Icecrown Glacier and manned by the growing legions of the dead. Yet as the Lich King extended his influence over the land, one shadowy empire stood against his power.

The ancient subterranean kingdom of Azjol-Nerub, which had been founded by a race of sinister humanoid spiders, sent their elite warrior-guard to attack Icecrown and end the Lich King's mad bid for dominance. Much to his frustration, Ner'zhul found that the evil nerubians were immune not only to the plague, but to his telepathic domination as well.

The nerubian spider-lords commanded vast forces and had an underground network that stretched nearly half the breadth of Northrend. Their hit-and-run tactics on the Lich King's strongholds stymied his efforts to root them out time after time. Ultimately Ner'zhul's war against the nerubians was won by attrition. With the aid of the sinister dreadlords and innumerable undead warriors, the Lich King invaded Azjol-Nerub and brought its subterranean temples crashing down upon the spider lords' heads.

Though the nerubians were immune to his plague, Ner'zhul's growing necromantic powers allowed him to raise the spider-warriors' corpses and bend them to his will. As a testament to their tenacity and fearlessness, Ner'zhul adopted the nerubians' distinctive architectural style for his own fortresses and structures. Left to rule his kingdom unopposed, the Lich King began preparing for his true mission in the world. Reaching out into the human lands with his vast consciousness, the Lich King called out to any dark soul that would listen....

This is the War of the Spider excerpt we are allowed to read in World of Warcraft, within the Scarlet Monastery or the Scholomance - Ner'zhul, the Lich King, having defeated the Spiders with his powers, made their king, Anub'Arak, his follower, and many afterwards. Not only did he take them as troops, but he also took their design for his own buildings. Some spiders still survived, and sought refuge from the evil power, and await the time when they can strike back.

Evidenced by their welcome of Anub'arak to the ancient Kingdom of Azjol-Nerub, these spiders still hold a grudge against any scourge, as they attacked their former king without thinking twice, and any who were with him.

Prince Arthas's Fate

Prince Arthas, as we know, was once a devout follower of the Light, and wanted to protect his people from the Undead invasion at all costs. A key battle was fought in the city of Stratholme, since Arthas had found it completely corrupted and set to become undead under the command of the Dreadlord Mal'ganis, he decided to purify the city by killing everyone in it before they turned into mindless servants.

Uther the Lightbringer was against this decision, and was sent back to the king, demoted by Arthas himself - unfortunately, this proved to be the worst thing that could happen. Mal'ganis, defeated in Stratholme, laughed at Prince Arthas and provoked him to chase him if he wanted the corruption to end. Mal'ganis is the first one to utter the word Northrend in Warcraft III, a challenge Arthas gladly accepted, following him to Northrend to attempt to slay him and end the plague.

Arthas landed in what was called Daggercap Bay in Northrend. Completely enraged at what had been going on, he didn't even feel the cold of the land, whereas his troops wondered what had possessed him to become so irate as to follow the Dreadlord to this land.

Arthas searched for a good place to set up a camp, and met up with his old friend, Muradin Bronzebeard, who also questioned his motives for being in Northrend. First thinking he was sent to help Muradin and his men, he soon learned Arthas had come to slay Mal'ganis and wouldn't leave until this happened. Defeating the nearby Scourge camps, he found out Mal'ganis had escaped once more.

The troops continued pressing on near Draktharon Keep, where they met Mal'ganis once more - he came to taunt their foolishness for coming to Northrend, and surrounded their base with undead troops before they could do much of anything in their camp. In despair, Muradin and Arthas took to the mountains with a small detachment of troops to find the fabled sword, Frostmourne, that could possibly aid them in defeating Mal'ganis. They found Frostmourne, however, the warnings from the Revenant guarding it nor Muradin's warning that the blade was cursed were enough to stop Arthas from claiming the sword.

Arthas's last words with his soul intact were ""Now, I call out the spirits of this place, I would give anything or pay any price if only you will help me save my people"

Taking Frostmourne immediately took Muradin's life. Arthas was successful in defeating Mal'ganis's troops, however, the sword's whispers would eventually drive him mad, and turn him into the Lich King's first Death Knight.

Stay tuned as we revisit more of Northrend's Story later.

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