Ashbringer

• Ashbringer
• Binds when picked up
• Unique
• Sword
• Two-Hand
• Speed 3.00
• 201 - 247 Damage
  + 30 - 50 Holy Damage
• (88.0 damage per second)
• Requires Level 60
• Chance on hit: Blasts a target for 700 Fire damage.
• "Blade of the Scarlet Highlord"

For the character with the title "The Ashbringer", see Alexandros Mograine. For the comic book mini-series by Wildstorm, see World of Warcraft: Ashbringer.

Ashbringer in its original state

Ashbringer, Blade of the Scarlet Highlord, is the sword of former Highlord Alexandros Mograine of the Scarlet Crusade. The blade was named after Alexandros (The Ashbringer) and his uncanny ability to smite the undead to nothing but a flurry of ash. He was betrayed and murdered by his oldest son, Renault, using the sword. Alexandros was resurrected as a death knight by archlich Kel'Thuzad, and he still possesses Ashbringer, although it has been defiled by his murder and transformed into [Corrupted Ashbringer]. Following Mograine's death, the sword was wielded by his other son Darion and later Tirion Fordring.

Ashbringer is one of the most hyped and lore-rich items thus far in the World of Warcraft, but is not yet known to be obtainable by players. The known item statistics are certain to change if it is introduced. While the sword's story has been slowly revealed since World of Warcraft's inception, it will have a pronounced role in Wrath of the Lich King.

Ashbringer is featured in an eponymous four-part series of the World of Warcraft comic book.

History

Mograine gazes upon the dark crystal

Origin of Ashbringer

Main article: Ashbringer/Old Hillsbrad Event

During the assault on Blackrock Spire in the Second War, Highlord Mograine of the Silver Hand claimed a mysterious dark crystal from a dead orc warlock. The crystal was the "living embodiment of shadow," and originated from Draenor. Upon touching it, Mograine's hand became afflicted with wounds that could not be healed.

Mograine kept the crystal a secret until the first whispers of the Scourge reached Lordaeron. He revealed it to the other leaders of the Silver Hand, suggesting that they search for the crystal's polar opposite - a manifestation of the Light itself - to be used against the impending undead holocaust. Mograine's peers, appalled at the sight of this dark crystal, attempted to destroy it with a holy spell. Unexpectedly, the crystal absorbed the spell and became its antithesis, the very crystal of pure light that Mograine suggested moments before. It was decided that from this crystal a weapon would be forged that would smite the undead with such power that only a cloud of ash would remain in its wake—The Ashbringer.

Mograine and Fairbanks traveled to Ironforge, where King Magni Bronzebeard forged the blade himself, infusing it with rage and vengeance for his brother Muradin who fell before Frostmourne.

Death knight Highlord Mograine, as seen in Naxxramas

Fall of the Ashbringer

Main article: Corrupted Ashbringer/Scarlet Monastery Event

After the Silver Hand was dissolved following Arthas' betrayal, the remaining leaders banded together to fight the undead of the now-Plaguelands. Ashbringer became the most lethal weapon in their arsenal - so much so that it quickly garnered the attention of Kel'Thuzad. Balnazzar, in the newly possessed body of Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan, sought to secretly manipulate the remnants of the Silver Hand for the purposes of the Burning Legion. After Mograine stated his intentions to attack the Undercity, Balnazzar put plans into motion to eliminate the Highlord in order to protect his brother, Varimathras, who in turn was manipulating Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken.

Balnazzar made a pact with Kel'Thuzad to eliminate the Highlord: the bane of the Scourge would be destroyed, and the dreadlords' agendas would continue. He corrupted Mograine's son, Renault, and made plans to set a trap for the Highlord. Renault led his father and High Inquisitor Fairbanks to Stratholme, where the legions of the Scourge awaited them. Renault fled and hid while Mograine and Fairbanks fended for themselves. Fairbanks eventually became trapped alive under a pile of corpses. Mograine alone continued to smite thousands of the undead with ease, but was eventually wearied and dropped his blade in fatigue. Renault came out of hiding to exploit his father's vulnerable state. He took up Ashbringer and slew his father, which simultaneously corrupted the blade by using it for such a treacherous act.

Meanwhile, Kel'Thuzad resurrected Mograine as one of his death knights and reclaimed his corrupted blade. Since then Mograine has resided in Naxxramas. Taelan Fordring has succeeded him as Highlord. Renault became Commander of the Scarlet Monastery, and Balnazzar gained complete authority over the Scarlet Crusade, twisting into the zealous faction it is today. Followers of the Crusade believe that the "chosen one" who finds Ashbringer will be the harbinger of the Crusade's triumph.

In the World of Warcraft, it is stated that Alexandros is one of the founders of the Scarlet Crusade. The comic depicts the formation of the Scarlet Crusade occurring after Alexandros' death, in which case he would have never been a member.

In World of Warcraft

Ashbringer has been subject to intense speculation since the release of World of Warcraft. Rumors have been fueled by data-mined graphics and item statistics, as well as NPCs alluding to its existence.

Alexia Ironknife, Bardu Sharpeye, Caretaker Alen, Narain Soothfancy, Commander Eligor Dawnbringer, Shen'dralar Zealots and [Nat Pagle's Guide to Extreme Anglin'] all make references to Ashbringer. Information from these NPCs implies Nat Pagle and Prince Tortheldrin know the location of Ashbringer, and are even willing to tell the player; however, they have never shared their knowledge.

At the launch of the World of Warcraft, the only reference to Ashbringer by name was made by Caretaker Alen. It was hinted at further with the introduction of Dire Maul. The mystery surrounding Ashbringer created great interest and discussion among players, whom searched for a hidden or unlockable quest that would reward Ashbringer. Rumors regarding an acquirable Ashbringer persisted until a European CM admitted that it is not in-game, quickly followed by Eyonix's confirmation:

European CM Response on Ashbringer! | 2006-02-24 19:15 |  Eyonix

It's true that currently Ashbringer is not in the game, although one day in the future it will be, but not until after there is an awesome legendary item for casters. ;)

View original post

The caster legendary being referred to is [Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian], which was added in Patch 1.11. The item statistics of Ashbringer found in the game files will be updated before the sword is made available to players.

Corrupted Ashbringer

Main article: Corrupted Ashbringer

Players encountered the resurrected Highlord Mograine in the original Naxxramas as a death knight of the four horsemen. He wields [Corrupted Ashbringer], which could be looted from the Horsemens' cache.

Upon wielding the blade, the player becomes friendly with the Scarlet Crusade (although it does not appear in the reputations window) and hated with the Argent Dawn. A scripted event can be triggered upon entering the Cathedral in the Scarlet Monastery.

Scarlet Commander Mograine welcomes the player as the crusaders bow before him or her. Unexpectedly, Highlord Mograine's spirit appears in full Dreadnaught, revives Fairbanks and smites and kills his son (Renault, the Scarlet Commander) for murdering him. Fairbanks proceeds to tell the story of Renault's betrayal and that the Corrupted Ashbringer is beyond redeeming. Luckily, Mograine has another son who resides in Outland and has the ability to forge a new Ashbringer. Fairbanks does not give any quests.

In Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Tirion Fordring wielding Ashbringer, as seen in the WotLK beta

In contrast to Fairbanks' words, it is revealed in Wrath of the Lich King that Alexandros' second son is Darion Mograine, death knight and Highlord of the Knights of the Ebon Blade. He wields Corrupted Ashbringer.

Darion somehow came into possession of Corrupted Ashbringer and used it to kill himself in order to free his father's spirit. Darion was resurrected as a death knight of the Scourge.

At the Lich King's command, Darion launched an attack on the Argent Dawn at Light's Hope Chapel. In the battle that ensued, Corrupted Ashbringer began to turn on Darion. When the death knights were forced to surrender, Tirion Fordring revealed that the Lich King knowingly sent Darion and his knights into a trap. Shortly thereafter, the Lich King himself appeared. Darion throws Ashbringer to Tirion, which became purified in his grasp, forcing the Lich King to retreat.

According to Commander Eligor Dawnbringer, who conducts a briefing on Naxxramas, Alexandros Mograine disappeared after the first confrontation in Naxxramas:

"The final Death Knight, Lord Mograine, was the finest warrior that the Death Knights had ever seen. However, after the events in Azeroth, he vanished without a trace. It is yet to be seen who Kel'Thuzad has appointed in his place."

In the Howling Fjord, players encountered the dying Ares the Oathbound of the Order of the Silver Hand within the Utgarde Catacombs, one of the uninstanced wings of Utgarde Keep. Ares gave a quest,  [70] The Shining Light, which required players to retrieve a "[Sacred Artifact]" from another location in the dungeon. Once retrieved, he asked the player to return it to Lord Irulon Trueblade in Valgarde. Trueblade told the player that the weapon will be used by Tirion Fordring - the new Highlord of the Argent Crusade - in the Crusade's campaign against the Scourge, perhaps even using it against the Lich King himself. A nearby cleric then unmasked himself as Fordring and equipped the artifact, which was revealed to be Ashbringer.

Rumors and speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Role in Wrath of the Lich King

Some believe that Ashbringer is the Light's answer to Frostmourne, and that the two may eventually contend with one another: Frostmourne in the hands of Arthas, Ashbringer in the hands of Tirion Fordring or the player.

The crystal

The dark crystal from which the Ashbringer would be crafted, before and after its purification

The crystal from which the original Ashbringer was created is likely related to the naaru, and may in fact be a naaru.

The naaru life cycle is one of reincarnation. When a naaru's physical form is damaged, it becomes "darkened." The naaru will persist in this state until they slowly regenerate their powers from the Light over many years, after which they will be "reborn" into their "Light" form again. The crystal shown by Highlord Mograine in Old Hillsbrad demonstrates similar properties: a holy spell was cast on the dark crystal and it became a crystal of light. Furthermore, the crystal was described as a living embodiment, suggesting that it is alive, or at least sentient -- possibly a darkened naaru. If the crystal is not a darkened naaru, then it is almost certainly closely associated with them, perhaps one of the Ata'mal Crystals.

Mograine also states that the crystal is from Draenor. The naaru had not yet arrived on Draenor via Tempest Keep before the Second War, leaving only a few naaru as the possible source of the crystal—K'ure, who resides in Oshu'gun, or D'ore, who was injured in Oshu'gun's crash upon Draenor centuries before, currently interred in Auchindoun. D'ore himself tells the player:

D'ore:"Without the void, the Light cannot exist." And if this is true, then one can only wonder what someone could make of a full Naaru.

Which are suspiciously similar to words used by Mograine:

Commander Mograine: "Can good exist without evil? Can there be light without dark?"

File:Muru spark.JPG

M'uru's spark above the Sunwell

After Kil'jaeden's defeat at Sunwell Plateau, Velen and Lady Liadrin arrive at the Sunwell. Velen uses the remaining "spark" of M'uru to reignite the Sunwell. Liadrin's experience upon being filled with the Sunwell's energies is not unlike that of Mograine's when touching the Ashbringer crystal:

Lady Liadrin: "Blessed ancestors! I feel it ! So much love ... so much grace ... there are ... no words ... impossible to describe!"

Commander Mograine: "I... It... It is beautiful. What I felt when I touched it... The Light coursed through me and I through it... It healed my spirit."

Their similar experiences, along with the new knowledge that a naaru's essence can be consolidated, suggests that the spark of another naaru may have been the crystal from which Ashbringer was forged.

It should be noted that M'uru's spark appears identical (although larger) to the dark Ashbringer crystal, although this may be coincidental.

Old questline

Ashbringer may have been originally intended to be in the game much earlier. Parts of the quest line can be pieced together.

Nat Pagle learned of the location of Ashbringer and wrote about it in his book, [Nat Pagle's Guide to Extreme Anglin'], of which players only have the last page. Shen'dralar zealots in Dire Maul say that Prince Tortheldrin knows the location of Ashbringer and is willing to tell the player if one were to bring him the  [Head of Nefarian]. Also in Dire Maul is the full (albeit unreadable) copy of Nat's book, [A Thoroughly Read Copy of "Nat Pagle's Extreme' Anglin."], which can be found in dusty tomes. The Prince, being a historian and bibliophile, likely read Pagle's book, learned of the Ashbringer's location, and discarded the book in Dire Maul where the player finds it.

The zealots' words suggest that Ashbringer was likely to be the legendary item associated with Blackwing Lair but was changed to [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker], which requires [Elementium Ore] from Blackwing Lair. This is supported by the fact that Ashbringer's original item ID was changed to host Thunderfury.

Additionally, at one time, [Timolain's Phylactery] could be looted from Large Vile Slimes in The Weeping Cavern of Western Plaguelands. Lengthy discussion on the official forums has led to the premature yet popular conclusion that Timolain is the name of the mage referred to by Bardu Sharpeye and Alexia Ironknife, and therefore is the crafter of the Ashbringer in original questline. Bloodmage Thalnos was also speculated to be the crafter of the Ashbringer at one point, as the Scarlet Crusade has no affinity for the arcane.

The implementation of Ashbringer was likely delayed so that the story could be fleshed out with the addition of Naxxramas, and appears to have been further delayed to be included in Wrath of the Lich King.

Trivia

An "Ashbringer" meme has developed on the official forums. Posts that raise questions about Ashbringer, particularly where one may obtain it, often solicit a response of "the Ashbringer..." in reference to the Old Hillsbrad event. Indeed, this response is used alongside "It's a trap!" and "Fool! You've activated my trap card!" whenever players feel a post is not worthy of a real response.

See also

• [Corrupted Ashbringer]
• Alexandros Mograine
• Darion Mograine
• Renault Mograine
• Ashbringer Quotes
• Old Hillsbrad Event: The Origin of Ashbringer
• Scarlet Monastery Event: Retribution of the Ashbringer

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB