Character Focus: King Varian Wrynn

11/17/2009 at 3:48 am (Character Focus, Lore History)
Tags: Alliance, Anduin Wrynn, bad guys, character history, Garona, Garrosh, good guys, King Varian Wrynn, lore, Orcs, WoW, WoW History

The Return of the King

Victory was on the side of the Alliance, this time – but not without its losses. Varian had lost his father’s best friend, a man who had been his protector and savior, to yet another group of orcs. The seed of hatred within him grew just a little larger. King Terenas persuaded the Alliance to help fund the rebuilding of Stormwind, and young Varian was officially crowned King at the tender age of eighteen. Terenas was pleased, having grown fond of the young prince over the years, admiring his cleverness and his strength and viewing him as his second son. The newly crowned King Wrynn was to return to Stormwind with two people serving as advisors to him – a noble warrior named Bolvar Fordragon who was a fierce and loyal friend to the young King, and a clever noblewoman of Lordaeron named Katrana Prestor who was his direct contact with the House of Nobles.

King Varian’s return was the beginning of an idyllic period in Varian’s life. He led his troops from one end of the kingdom to the other, mopping up orc forces and hoping, praying to come across the assassin that had murdered his father so he could have his revenge. In his absence, he delegated the final section of Stormwind’s reconstruction, the rebuilding of Stormwind Keep, to the House of Nobles. A group of Stonemasons led by a man called Edwin VanCleef came to Stormwind looking for work, wishing to lend their help in rebuilding the great city to its former glory and hoping to forge a new future for themselves at the same time, and the House of Nobles promised them just compensation for their assistance. The walls of Stormwind Keep shone once more, with King Varian returning home to preside over them – and while he would never forget his father or Lothar’s tragic deaths, he was happy to lead his people in a time reminiscent of King Llane and Lothar’s happier days. During this pleasant time, Varian met a young woman named Tiffin, falling deeply in love with her and marrying her to the delight of Stormwind’s residents. The two soon brought to the kingdom another spark of joy – a son was born, and Varian named the baby Anduin in honor of Lothar.

Unfortunately, the happy ending that had come to Varian was not meant to last. The Alliance that had served so well in forcing back the orcs forces began to splinter, the human kingdoms of Stromgarde and Gilneas seceding after the Alliance’s victory along with the elven Kingdom of Quel’Thalas. Anduin Lothar had been instrumental in the Alliance, serving as a diplomat to all, and with his death, the outer kingdoms of the Alliance had lost their most valued ambassador. King Varian vowed to stand by King Terenas and the Alliance as they had stood by him in his time of need – for without the Alliance, Stormwind may never have returned at all.

But strange reports soon filtered down from the north – reports of a mysterious plague that spread rapidly through the towns and cities of Lordaeron, and news of an undead Scourge that razed the lands. Varian was concerned, but the biggest shock of all was the news that Prince Arthas, Varian’s best friend in his most dire hour, had slain his father King Terenas, stabbing him through the heart and allying himself with the undead Scourge. Varian was shocked that his friend would do such a thing – and perhaps Arthas’s betrayal reminded him of another betrayal earlier in his life, when the half-orc that had served as one of his father’s most trusted advisors slew King Llane in cold blood. To this day, King Varian views Arthas as the ultimate traitor to the Alliance.

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