The Lich King is one of the most compelling and popular antagonists inWorld of Warcraft. There have been three Lich kings in the history of Azeroth; Ner’Zhul, Arthas, and now Bolvar Fordragon. Each was tasked with commanding the undead scourge, and the majority of them used the scourge to lay waste to Azeroth. It was not until Bolvar took up the mantle that Azeroth could rest and focus their efforts on other forces.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlandssaw the return of Bolvar Fordragon after Sylvanas Windrunner destroyed his helm and shattered the veil of reality. The last time that the majority of players had seen him was inWrath of the Lich Kingwhere he took up the helm and took a seat on The Frozen Throne, death knight players got to see him quickly duringLegion. Now he plays an instrumental role in the current WoW storyline, but many do not truly know who Bolvar is.
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Bolvar’s Early Life and Role in the Third War
Not much is known about Bolvar Fordragon before his stint as Regent of Stormwind. Blizzard has shared that when he was a boy he spent his time impressing his paladin mentors. He impressed them so much that King Thoras, king of Stromgarde, heard of his feats. Bolvar also played a small part inThe Third War of Azeroth, the war that is depicted inWarcraft 3: Reign of Chaos. During the war, Bolvar sent his daughter, Taelia, to Kul Tiras where she would be raised away from the war. Taelia was accepted as a ward for House Proudmoore, the house that Jaina Proudmoore hails from. Throughout the Third War Bolvar would send Taelia letters regularly to keep up with her while assisting the Alliance in the war.
The Regent of Stormwind
After King Varian Wrynn vanished mysteriously,his son Anduin Wrynnwas given the crown and Highlord Bolvar Fordragon was promoted to Regent of Stormwind, or Supreme Commander of Stormwind’s forces. During this time, Bolvar commanded the troops to various locations and was warned about a possible alliance between Blackrock orcs and the Black dragonflight, the warning came from Magistrate Solomon in the Redridge Mountains. Bolvar tasked Alliance players with contacting Lady Prestor, an expert on dragons and dragonkin. Lady Prestor did not believe anything that Magistrate Solomon claimed and told Bolvar to avoid sending troops that way, instead Bolvar sent Alliance players to investigate the claims and help Solomon.
Lady Jaina Proudmoore came to Bolvar with information regarding King Varian’s disappearance and Bolvar quickly acted. The Defias Brotherhood was involved, and apparently, they had a powerful ally in Stormwind. Lady Prestor tried to claim that the Brotherhood’s involvement was pure speculation and that Bolvar should not pursue them. He became aware of Lady Prestor’s treachery but unwillingly became a pawn ofthe black dragon Onyxiaafter Lady Prestor gifted him the Drakefire Amulet. He was able to break free and Lady Prestor was revealed to be Onyxia the entire time, being beheaded upon King Varian’s return.
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Wrath of the Lich King
King Varian returned and took his place on the Stormwind throne, but then the Scourge attacked. Bolvar quickly jumped into action and helped defend Stormwind from the undead invasion. He then led the armies of the Alliance to the continent of Northrend where he aided Alliance players in defeating the lich, Thel’zan the Duskbringer. Bolvar’s army laid siege to the Wrathgate, therear entrance of Icecrown Citadel, and with Dranonsh Saurfang, commander of the Horde’s Kor’kron Vanguard, he confronted the Lich King.
Saurfang lost his life to Frostmourne and Bolvar watched as a plague explosion ripped through the Alliance and Horde forces. Grand Apothecary Putress,apothecary of the Forsaken, appeared and attacked the Alliance, Horde, and the Scourge with catapults. Bolvar ordered a retreat but was brought down by the gas that Putress threw. At the last minute Alexstrasza, the leader of the red dragonflight, appeared and breathed cleansing flames, destroying the poison and burning away the plagued flesh from the bodies. Bolvar’s shield was recovered from the battlefield and returned to King Varian. King Varian used this asan example of the Horde’s treachery, and he marched the Alliance forces on Lordaeron in an attempt to purge the Horde from the city.
Claiming the Frozen Throne
As the Horde and Alliance fought their way through Icecrown Citadel they learned that Bolvar was alive and being held captive by the Scourge. He was saved by the flames of Alexstraza, but the flames had charred his body beyond recognition.The Lich King had been torturing himin an attempt to corrupt him to his side, to no avail.
The Horde and Alliance forces successfully slayedthe Lich King, Arthas Menethil, but they were not safe yet. The spirit of King Teranas, father of Arthas, appeared and warned them that there must always be a Lich King or the Scourge would run rampant across Azeroth. Tirion Fordring, commander of the Argent Crusade, took it upon himself to be the Lich King, but then Bolvar intervened telling Tirion to place the Helm of Domination upon him instead. He wanted to provide one last act of service for Azeroth.
Bolvar took up the mantle of Lich Kingand encased himself into ice. As Tirion turned away, Bolvar told him that what happened today must be kept secret, that on that day in Icecrown Citadel both Bolvar Fordragon and the Lich King perished. Azeroth was free and Bolvar quickly got to work binding the Scourge to his will. He worked tirelessly protecting Azeroth from the undead and made sure that the power would not fall into the wrong hands. His daughter, Taelia, was told that he gave his life to defeat the Lich King.
All was well with the Lich Kinguntil Sylvanas showed upat the beginning ofShadowlandsand tore apart the helm, shattering the veil of reality. The events of the current expansion began and Bolvar became an ally once again for players. His story is far from complete, but his journey to becoming the Lich King is. Players will have to see if he survives until the end ofWorld of WarcraftShadowlandsor if his help in Zereth Mortis will truly be his last act of service for Azeroth.
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