LIFE / UNDEATH

He doesn’t have any strong feelings towards Ner'zhul. This iteration of the Lich King was the one that nearly terrified the still living Kel'Thuzad to death before granting him the secrets to becoming a lich. He does, however, have strong feelings towards Arthas. To him, he’s cultivated and raised up someone who was blinded by their failing faith to see the true potential of necromancy and of undeath.

Kel'Thuzad is also very conniving, very opportunistic, and very, very dangerous when it comes to shifting alliances. If Arthas had ultimately lost his battle with Ner'zhul it would’ve been a shame that someone with so much potential had been in truth so weak-willed. He would’ve still followed Lich King Ner'zhul in his plans.

Because at the end of the day Kel'Thuzad very much wants everyone to be undead and dominated by the more powerful undead. His allegiance to the Lich King isn’t out of forced mind control but loyalty to a cause. Arthas is a great Lich King in his books but Ner'zhul would’ve played the part just as well.

      “ You know what they say. Sharing is caring, starting with spreading those good spirits. Not a moment too soon from the looks of it. ”

      The progress of Valeera’s eyes, from the care-worn parchment and to the king lording over them all, seems to stall somewhere in between, skeptical and not a little bit mischievous. This is what happens she doesn’t check in as often as she should.

      “ Can those wait, or should I stage a distraction? ”

         There's a glint in Varian's eye, something that akin to the unruly young man he was so many years prior when he swings around to look at Valeera. Really look at her. It pains him, sometimes, to be denied the same freedom that she has. But he has a duty to Stormwind and his son. He is past grand adventures and fighting in pits for sport.

           “ I am fine, just a simple flub on my words is all that is. “ 

               “ I am fine High Exarch, it’s been a long venture on Argus. “

S t o p i t

The rogue Scourge in question only freed themselves from Arthas not out of some sort of ritual of the Light like the Death Knights at Light's Hope but because they were consuming the leftover Life magic of a fallen red dragon. Because of this horrible combination of life and death, they were able to shake off whatever control the Lich King held over them. Now, granted, they weren't very intelligent, to begin with, so they just kept feeding on the life force of this dead dragon. It wasn't an issue of reach—Bolvar could still communicate with the Deathlord even that far out.

So basically, no, Bolvar's hold over the Scourge hasn't relented. If anything they are tightly contained to the ruins of Ice Crown. From what little we've seen of Ice Crown Citadel, it seems to have fallen into a state of ruin. Bolvar has no desire to make an undead war machine that will sweep up everyone in its path. He seems to have a very clear direction towards his anger, as well. He states that he won't command the dead to leave you alone in Ice Crown Citadel, but you have to remember you're also trespassing and capable of doing great harm. Either it's a case of can't or won't when it comes to curbing the Scourge's desire to kill those who are not Scourge.

I personally headcanon that the Lich King has all of the terrible traits of the individual wearing the helm amplified. Bolvar was held between life and death by the flames of the red dragons and was tortured by Arthas and then made Lich King as a result. While Bolvar in life was a very forgiving, calm, and patient individual, Lich King Bolvar has his grief and anger multiplied. The dragons, no matter the flight, have his ire. He has no issues with commanding the Deathlord to interrogate dragons at Wyrmrest Temple with force or send the Deathlord into the Ruby Sanctum where they can choose to destroy the flight's last brood.

Probably gonna work on my character bios and clean up this blog.

      ❛   IT HAS BARELY BEEN A MONTH, and yet this calm makes it feel as though it has been much longer than that.   ❜    Indeed, the end of the Alliance’s efforts on Draenor, or rather the Draenor of the past, was still fresh. Yet after such intense fighting and the agonizing slow climb to victory, even a moment of peace felt like forever. Still, Chun felt blessed. It meant that, for the first time in a long time, there was time for a walk and a chat with Varian. Something that was still a rarity even in times of brief peace.    ❛   I trust you’ve been catching up on your sleep ?   ❜

               closed starter for @loreifying

         He cannot recall a time when he caught his own reflection and didn't see tired, sleepless eyes looking back at him. Perhaps before the first time that Stormwind burned; when the burden of the crown was a distant possibility shouldered by his father. Even now, Varian prepares for the next battle.

@loreifying – va/rian / sc.

      “ Do you ever think about opening a window? ” Some people are fans of dramatic entrances. Some people like the stiff and formal stuff. Val/eera, at the end of the day, is just Val/eera, inviting herself right on in after shaking off the guards. Letting them see her at all was for their benefit more than hers. They’re just doing their jobs. “ I can practically smell you languishing under piles of work from over here. ”

         “ I've thought about opening a window, yes, and tossing all of this out. ” Politics are tedious, frustrating, and even on a good day are enough to madden even the most patient Pandaran monk. There are days he longs for the simplicity of a warrior's life: a clear enemy and a fight to win. Easy answers and paths are not among the parchment before him.

       “ I’m sorry for the disappearance, Exarch. I did not plan on taking a extended stay from Argus like I have. “  It’s like a crushing blow to the highlord. Worry crosses her face as if she’s done something to upset Turaylon. Eyes advert from him onto the planet. The barren wasteland that once was a budding home to the Draenei. So many questions, so many answers that could be given, but yet… She was silent as she stood next to the him. / @loreifying 

        Turalyon knows well the horrors of war. A thousand years he's spent in the Twisting Nether battling back demonic forces to keep his home and family safe. To someone as young as the current Highlord, this must all be very new and frightening. He doesn't blame her for having duties that take her elsewhere, either. They fight on many fronts.

          Then, there are those who use the fel for something more. He's no stranger to the temptations and corruption that it brings—his own skin is marred by the blood of a pit lord—and he commends anyone who isn't like Gul'dan.

          “ The Legion may be gone but there are still many threats left, ” he says, hefting his battle axe from the sheath on his back. “ I trust you will be ready, blood elf. I believe there's more going on than you or I can see. ”

          Sylvanas is distant at the best of times and unreadable and unknowable at the worst. While she is a fierce woman and worthy of the titles that she holds, Saurfang still worries that the mining operations that Gallywix has taken upon himself to drag the Horde into are not in their best interest.

          He remembers being stationed in Silithus. He remembers the sounds of scurrying legs across the sand and the way they poured forth like water from a river, washing away even the most seasoned of warriors in their fury. It seems distant, one crisis that seemed to follow after another and another, far more terrible than the last.

          “ I urge you to ask her to rethink her plans. Nothing good will come of stirring up the silithid once more, ” he finishes.