Varian Wrynn

King Varian Wrynn
Title	King of Stormwind, Lo'Gosh the "Ghost Wolf", Croc-Bait
Gender	Male
Race	Human
Level	?? (boss)
Class	Fighter, Warrior, Aristocrat, Gladiator
Affiliation(s)	Alliance, Alliance of Lordaeron, Kingdom of Stormwind, Valiance Expedition, previously Crimson Ring
Occupation	King of Stormwind, Leader of the Valiance Expedition, previously gladiatorial slave of Rehgar Earthfury
Location	Throne Room, Stormwind Keep, Stormwind City
Status	Alive
Relative(s)	Landen (great-grandfather) Adamant and Varia (grandparents) Llane (father) Anduin (son) Tiffin (wife, deceased)
Mentor(s)	Terenas Menethil, Anduin Lothar, Hjalmar Anvilmar
Alignment	Chaotic good [citation needed]

"I am the King of Stormwind and no one, not the naga, nor the Scourge, nor the fiery lords of the Burning Legion will keep me from my people!"

Varian Wrynn is the son of the late King Llane and rightful king of Stormwind. Following his disappearance while en route to a diplomatic conference, Varian's ten-year-old son Anduin was named king in his place. However, events have led to his eventual return to his homeland and his rightful throne.

A human amnesiac who washed up the shores of Durotar in World of Warcraft: The Comic has been confirmed to be Varian Wrynn.

According to [Blizzard], Varian Wrynn will become a major player in the Warcraft Universe; a super-dynamic human character which will replace the human heroes that are either old, dead, or super-villains. He has even been described as the "anti-Thrall".

Leading the recent campaigns against the Scourge of Northrend and the Forsaken of Lordaeron, he has solidified his status as the undisputed military leader of the Alliance.

Biography

The First War

Young Varian in the burning streets of Stormwind.

Varian Wrynn was born to King Llane in the peaceful Kingdom of Stormwind and lived a joyful and prosperous life as prince of Stormwind as a youth, but all that changed when the orcs appeared from beyond the Dark Portal and attempted to destroy his homeland, thus ushering in the First War between his beloved Kingdom of Stormwind and the Horde.

Anduin Lothar, the   [Champion of Stormwind], rallied his countrymen and armies and gutted out a desperate attempt to hold the Horde at bay and to keep them away from King Llane, Varian, and Stormwind. While Lothar enjoyed some small success in holding back the Horde, his efforts were dashed when Garona Halforcen, who had become an ally to Stormwind, betrayed King Llane under orders from the Shadow Council and cut his heart out, giving it to Gul'dan. Varian could only watch helplessly as his father was murdered and the Horde overran his kingdom, burning its homes and slaughtering all who stood in their way.

Exodus to Lordaeron

Anduin Lothar, convinced that Stormwind could not be retaken and was lost to the might of the Horde, gathered Varian and all who remained in the city and led a desperate attempt to escape their murderous enemies. Narrowly escaping by boat into the sea, they headed North while Lothar gathered his thoughts aboard his ship. Consulting with Varian and the Kirin Tor mage Khadgar, they determined that in order to preserve Humanity from annihilation by the Horde they would need to warn King Terenas, ruler of Lordaeron, of the danger that loomed on the horizon.

After landing at the port of Southshore Lothar gathered Prince Varian along with Khadgar and several knights and marched towards Lordaeron. Upon arriving young Varian was greeted by King Terenas, who treated him as an equal king despite Varian's young age. King Terenas quickly offered him his pledge to stand by him until his homeland was retaken and invited him to stay with him for as long as he was willing. Although at first Varian was slightly shy being in a Kingdom he had never seen before, he quickly overcame his timidity and Varian found King Terenas' son Arthas Menethil, who was just a few years younger than he, as a great new friend and the two quickly formed a close friendship. Shortly after he began staying in Lordaeron, King Terenas formed the Alliance of Lordaeron. Under the command of Anduin Lothar, its Surpreme Commander, this alliance was finally able to put an end to the Horde reign during the Second War. However, the victory came at a great price as Anduin Lothar was killed shortly before the war ended and would not live to see the retaking of his Kingdom of Stormwind, which would come shortly after his death.

Rise as king

With Stormwind retaken and slowly being rebuilt (thanks to King Terenas, who had urged the Alliance to help fund the rebuilding of Stormwind), Varian, now in adulthood, was officially crowned King of Stormwind. King Terenas himself was well-pleased with how Varian had grown into a clever and noble King, feeling a father's pride as he had grown attached to Varian over the years, considering Varian his second son. The Stonemasons, led by Edwin VanCleef, came to lend their help in rebuilding Stormwind and hoped to forge a new future for themselves, with aspirations that riches would soon follow their work's completion. After many months Stormwind was finished, reborn as a kingdom of majesty and architectural brilliance eclipsing even its once-pristine condition before the First War. It was during this time of renewed tranquility that Varian would marry a young, beautiful woman named Tiffin and conceive a son, Anduin, named for Lothar.

However, the Alliance soon began experiencing difficulties as arguments over land and politics arose. Eventually the elven Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, along with the human kingdoms of Stromgarde and Gilneas, broke away from the Alliance. Despite this, King Varian vowed he would stand by King Terenas and the Alliance as they had stood by him in his time of need. It was also during this time that the Stonemasons who had rebuilt Stormwind demanded to be paid for their service to King Varian and the House of Nobles. However, the corrupt House of Nobles, under the influence of Katrana Prestor, refused to adequately pay the guild for its work. King Varian was unable to negotiate a resolution because the House of Nobles held too much political power and outmaneuvered him repeatedly.Template:Cite Though they were compensated for their work, the House of Nobles rewarded them nowhere near the amount that the work had been worth and so Edwin VanCleef and the Stonemasons set to rioting in the streets of Stormwind, demanding just compensation. The riot was dangerous and chaotic and in the confusion Varian's young queen was brutally murdered. Edwin VanCleef fled Stormwind with the Stonemasons while Varian mourned Tiffin's death. He fell into a great depression but over time regained his determination and vowed to continue to create a new and better world for himself, his son and the people of Stormwind.

Abduction

Soon after, Varian journeyed to Theramore to speak with Lady Jaina Proudmoore regarding Horde/Alliance relations. En route, he was abducted by the Defias who had been told of his diplomatic trip through a spy rumored to live within the Kingdom of Stormwind itself. Rumors circulated that he was taken to Alcaz Island and was held captive there.Template:Cite These rumors were true.

Shortly after King Varian was kidnapped, Bolvar Fordragon was made Regent-Lord of Stormwind and vowed to find and rescue King Varian at any cost. Lady Prestor also became a royal advisor, and convinced Highlord Bolvar to have King Varian's 10-year-old son, Anduin Wrynn, crowned King of Stormwind, though the actual power remained in Fordragon's hands until either Varian was returned or Anduin reached the age of ascension.

Gladiator

Template:Graphic novel

An amnesiac Varian Wrynn, as seen at the beginning of Issue #1.

Lo'Gosh the gladiator, wearing the belt of Anduin Lothar.

Varian somehow managed to escape his confinement and leave the island, though his bid for freedom was not wholly successful. Half-drowned and suffering from memory loss, he was found washed up on the shores of Durotar by a caravan of orcs led by the gladiator trainer Rehgar Earthfury. After successfully fighting off an enormous crocolisk using only a stick, he was captured and enslaved as a gladiator by the impressed shaman. Unaware of the human's true identity, Earthfury humorously nicknamed his new slave "Croc-Bait" and threw him into a cage with his other two gladiator slaves: Broll Bearmantle and Valeera Sanguinar. That night, in order to help him remember his past, Broll placed Varian in a trance, wherein he saw a vision of himself as a child in a burning city.

After arriving in Orgrimmar, Rehgar led the trio to the secret armory of the Crimson Ring in the Hall of Legends, where, after seeing a familiar-looking lion-headed plate belt, Varian received another flashback: a bald, bearded man stands on the deck of a boat in a storm, wearing the belt and called Varian "lad."

Eventually the three traveled to Dire Maul in Feralas where the gladiatorial contests took place. After a bloody battle, they emerged the victors. Impressed by Varian's skill at arms, the crowd gave him the orcish moniker "Lo'Gosh" — which means "Ghost Wolf".

After the fight, Rehgar took Lo'Gosh and Broll to the tauren city Thunder Bluff for a cleansing ritual in the Pools of Vision. In the waters of the pools Lo'Gosh saw another vision: a fair-haired female who was ostensibly his wife holding an infant boy, telling him that his people and his son need him. Unfortunately, his vision was interrupted by a cave elemental which he subsequently defeated. Nevertheless, having learned more of his past, he planned to escape from Rehgar at the next possible opportunity.

In thanks for defeating the cave elemental, Broll and Lo'Gosh were invited to the tent of Hamuul Runetotem, elder druid of the tauren. He told Varian the legend of the original Lo'Gosh — a massive, white wolf-beast renowned for its ferocity in battle, already 10,000 years old when the Burning Legion first invaded Azeroth. According to the arch druid, the wolf's legend extended through Azeroth to trolls, goblins and dwarves who all had their own version of the story. In each tale, Lo'Gosh's unyielding will and sheer ferocity enabled him to push through the boundaries of the afterlife to aid his people. Hamuul then gave Lo'Gosh a feather, which Broll immediately recognized as belonging to a hippogryph. The night elf used it to call Sharptalon from Ashenvale, and immediately made a bid for freedom with Lo'Gosh.

Broll and Lo'Gosh eventually reached the Cenarion Enclave in Darnassus, and were summoned to dinner by Tyrande Whisperwind. Tyrande sent the two to Theramore, where Jaina Proudmoore would be able to help restore his memories.

Upon arriving in Theramore, Jaina vowed to Lo'Gosh that she would unravel the mystery surrounding him, and called upon her chamberlain, Aegwynn, to help. Breeching the dark aura surrounding Lo'Gosh's memories, visions revealed a fire and a voyage, the birth of his son, the death of his wife, and new darkness. Despite an invisible wall preventing Jaina and Aegwynn from further delving into his memories, they were able to confirm that he had been traveling to Theramore, and that he was, in fact, Varian Wrynn, the Lost King of Stormwind.

Clearly having been the victim of a dark magic attack, Jaina prepared one of her own ships to carry Varian to Stormwind in the Eastern Kingdoms, where she hoped that he could learn the identity of his enemies. Now knowing that his wife is dead, Varian was eager to return to Stormwind and reunite with his son, though Aegwynn advised him that circumspection was necessary, as Anduin could be endangered by any hasty actions. On the docks, Broll and Varian reunited with Valeera and prepared to set out for Stormwind.

Revelations

Varian holding Tiffin as she dies.

While Varian, Broll, and Valeera were traveling on the Wavecutter — Jaina Proudmoore's private vessel — Varian contemplated the revelations Jaina had told him. Despite being revealed as one of the rulers of the Alliance, he became unsure if he truly wanted to resume being "Varian Wrynn" — if he had a choice, he would remain as "Lo'Gosh", a simple gladiator. Doubts began to fill Varian's head as they traveled to Menethil Harbor.

During a naga attack at sea, Varian had another glimpse into his lost memory — remembering the Defias abducting him on his diplomatic mission to Theramore, the naga attacking him on Alcaz Island for ransom, the funeral for his beloved wife Tiffin, and the day he was crowned King of Stormwind. Almost all of Varian's memory had been returned, except some vital parts of his abduction.

Jubilant throngs of Stormwind's subjects turned out for a massive ceremony to welcome home their king. However, the Varian that returned was arrogant, frivolous, and markedly interested in Katrana Prestor. The people of Stormwind had only been informed that Defias had ransomed the king, a ransom paid with a painful new tax. Upon his return, however, Varian seemed concerned only with spending more of his people's money, leaving affairs of state by the wayside. Anduin Wrynn was distressed by his father's change.

Around the same time, Lo'gosh appeared at Menethil Harbor with Broll and Valeera. The group had a chance encounter with a drunkard in Menethil Harbor, who ran after realizing that Varian was still alive. Varian and his companions gave chase with the intent of having "a conversation." The man ran to a bar filled with Defias members, who attempted to take out Varian again. During the fight, Varian met Thargas Anvilmar an emissary from Magni Bronzebeard whose brother had once trained the king.

Though the drunk escaped, Varian found a defias mage to question. Though the mage did not reveal who wanted Varian dead, he said that the person had paid in Stormwind gold. The mage mocked Varian by claiming that his son would be murdered. The three gladiators and Thargas then continued on their way to Stormwind.

A few days later in Stormwind City, King Magni Bronzebeard was on a visit and was discussing war plans against the orcs and Dark Iron dwarves with king "Varian" and Bolvar Fordragon. However, Varian Wrynn did not want to send troops to help the dwarves against the dark irons. King Magni left disappointed but while going to the Deeprun Tram he was met by the young prince Anduin Wrynn who told the dwarven king he too suspected something about his "father".

Some time later, as Anduin was practicing his archery with his "father" and inquired him how he was kidnapped by the Defias, and wondered how he came in the hands of the Naga for a ransom, to which his father told him his past was blank and he could not recall any events.

Upon arriving at Ironforge, Lo'Gosh was informed by King Magni that much of what had transpired was no coincidence and that someone was secretly orchestrating the events, knowing of Varian's significant importance to the Alliance. Magni had previously enlisted the aid of Highlord Bolvar Fordragon and Marshal Windsor at the behest of young Anduin, who suspected the Varian in Stormwind to be a imposter. Varian, having studied sword fighting with Windsor for years, held a deep respect for him as a friend and ally. A disturbingly short time after Marshal Windsor began his investigation, he had come to the conclusion that the imposter Varian may not only be an imposter, but a Dragon.

As Varian and Magni continued to converse they were secretly being followed by a bearded man. Valeera sensed arcane energy being manipulated and witnessed the man creating a dagger with the intent to kill Varian. Valeera quickly subdued the man, but he transformed into a black dragon and fled.

Outside Stormwind, Anduin, Varian, Bolvar, and Lady Prestor were riding horseback through the countryside with Anduin trying to implore his father to listen to Stormwind's problems, but before he could elaborate, his horse was purposely roused by an unknown assailant causing Anduin to lose control and tumble over a ledge, Varian swiftly caught Anduin, and upon making physical contact, his mind is enveloped with visions of the Defias carrying him while knocked out, strapped to the ground and covered in a rune-circle with robed figures casting dark magic, being chased on Alcaz Island by naga, and finally jumping over a cliff reaching for branches just beyond his reach.

Anduin, embracing his father, lost any doubts about him being an imposter. Varian started to tell Bolvar, Anduin, and Lady Prestor about his visions until Lady Prestor touched him and remarked how astonished she was by his nobility. Bolvar surmised that Varian becomes befuddled when around her and loses his honor and respect for others and becomes more anxious in discovering the secrets of Varian's abduction and sudden return knowing this would lead to trouble.

Via magic, Bolvar informed King Magni that Windsor's report indicated he was close to discovering the dragon's identity but was captured by Dark Iron dwarves in Blackrock Depths. Varian and his allies mounted and rode to Blackrock Depths and rescued Windsor, who revealed to Varian what he had discovered regarding his investigation.

Return as king

Marching through the gates of Stormwind, Lo'Gosh and his friends were halted by General Marcus Jonathan under the direct jurisdiction of Katrana Prestor, who ordered their immediate arrest and execution as traitors. Windsor succeeded in convincing Marcus of his loyalty to Stormwind as they had previously served together under Turalyon.

Katrana Prestor hastily gathered soldiers only to have the false-Varian tell her that she was disobeying the chain of command and was not in charge of Stormwind. Entering Stormwind Keep, Lo'gosh declared Katrana's masquerade was over and called her by her true name, Onyxia.

Revealing her dragon form and transforming multiple guards into dragonspawn, Varian and his allies began battle in the great hall of Stormwind Keep. The arrival of Highlord Bolvar Fordragon along with Anduin greatly aided them in securing the keep but Reginald Windsor was killed moments later by Onyxia.

Lo'gosh engaged his doppleganger, claiming he threatened the stability of his kingdom and nearly cost the Alliance Thandol Span, only to have his doppleganger retort he was starting to repress her spells and regain control of his actions. Anduin, surprised by seeing two Varians, urged them to stop fighting to face the true threat, the brood mother Onyxia. The great dragon snatched Anduin and teleported them to her lair daring Varian to follow suit. Regrouping with his friends Varian was left to grieve the loss of his son and told his friends the final battle would end in Onyxia's Lair .

Relinquishing command of Stormwind to Bolvar, his old friend begins to sense that despite two Varian's commanding Stormwind, they both carried polar opposite personalties. Lo'Gosh was incredibly anxious to find his son while showing incredible will in commanding his troops, while the other Varian was calm, passive and charming ever since ridding himself of Onyxia's influence.

Arriving in Theramore, they all met up with Jaina and she told them she had discovered what dark magic was used on them in an old tome. Jaina came up with the theory that Onyxia greatly gained influence with Varian after his wife's death but periodically lost control as Varian's attachment to Anduin grew and so she attempted to reassert her control by using a spell that would not kill Varian but would remove and destroy his conscience, will and responsibility.

Jaina casted enchantments around the two Varians and they recalled the last part of their abduction: Being on Alcaz Island tied to the ground, cloaked figures casting dark magic causing unbearable pain as he desperately tries to break himself free. In a blinding flash of light he awakes to find himself laying next to an exact duplicate. Onyxia unmasked herself intending to kill the strong-willed Varian but is stopped by the arrival of Morgala Darksquall and her naga. The cloaked figures and Onyxia turn into dragonkin and battle the naga while the strong-willed Varian breaks himself free and begins to fight. He tried to free the other Varian and implores him to find a weapon but discovered his other is too unnerved to properly wield a weapon.

The other Varian is knocked off a cliff, falls into the ocean and is captured by the naga. Varian is left alone to fight and tricks Onyxia into believing she had killed him. Pleased, Onyxia left before more naga appeared. Morgala attempted to capture Varian but he fled to another side of the island and jumped into the ocean, knowing he wouldn't be followed as that part of the ocean contained many rocky shoals. His escape failed, however, as the strong tide overpowered him and he's swept away to the shores of Durotar.

Back in Jaina's tower both Varians came to the startling conclusion they are both the same person and at the same time only half of what they should be. Jaina explained that although Onyxia's spell split them in half, they were both able to fight past the spell and regain who they truly were, even though they both lived as separate beings.

One Varian became Lo'Gosh, the gladiator Champion of the Crimson Ring and fought to regain his memories and birthright. The other Varian was ransomed and returned to Stormwind, and was further ensorcelled by Onyxia. While bereft of will, he would break free once again. After a moment, Jaina unveiled two ancient elven swords, Shalla'tor and Ellemayne — meaning Shadow Render and Reaver in Darnassian, respectively. After receiving their new weapons, both Varians decreed retribution would finally be brought to Onyxia.

Corruption Ends

Leading an assault against Onyxia, both Varians engage her in battle. weapons and magic clash with her numerous dragonkin with both sides determined to win. Onyxia casts a fear spell on Broll and tailswipes Jaina removing them from the battle after growing agitated by their constant spellcasting.

Becoming desperate to end the fight Onyxia begins casting an enchantment she was using on Alcaz Island to kill Lo'Gosh, but Lo'Gosh's double responds by stepping in front of the blast saying he should die because Lo'Gosh was the embodiment of the true Varian.

Not willing to sacrifice his double, Lo'Gosh leaps alongside his other hoping to save him, the magic spell becomes disrupted having two Varians in the same radius and causes a fusion between the two, after a moment of silence one Varian emerges.

Proclaiming he was restored at last, Onyxia tries to incinerate him but Varian swiftly reaches Onyxia's head and impales her with his elven swords. With Onyxia dead Varian reunites with his son and friends telling them their long and noble deeds will be rewarded and Stormwind will be reborn with a new hope for the future.

Twilight of Peace

After regaining his title as king, Stormwind was attacked by the undead legions of the Scourge. Varian, alongside his friend Bolvar Fordragon, was successful in repelling the undead forces after a long battle in Stormwind Harbor.

Founding the Valiance Expedition to cope with the Horde in destroying the Lich King, Varian sent his most trusted friend Bolvar to oversee creation of base at Angrathar the Wrath Gate in the Dragonblight, right in the shadow of Icecrown itself. Bolvar and Saurfang the Younger would wage war against the Lich King himself at the Wrath Gate but were betrayed by the Forsaken under Grand Apothecary Putress, who unleashed the New Plague, causing the death of Bolvar and his men.

After receiving word of Bolvar's death Varian is overwhelmed with anger and sorrow, having considered Bolvar a brother ruling his kingdom and raising his son for years. He sent Jaina Proudmoore to Orgrimmar to discover the reason for the Horde's betrayal. He deemed this as an act of treason and demanded retribution for his friend's death. Jaina returned and informed Varian that Varimathras and the Royal Apothecary Society had betrayed them all and the Horde no longer controlled Undercity.

Varian and Jaina gathered the Alliance army and attacked Undercity, hoping to reclaim it as Lordaeron for the Alliance and bring Putress to justice. When entering Undercity, Varian becomes disgusted by the condition of the once great city, which he knew since childhood.

Tracking Putress to the Apothecarium, Varian and Jaina defeated him. But, to Varian's horror, they also discovered dozens of mutilated and defiled human corpses, on which the Apothecary Society experimented on to create the New Plague. Realizing that, although the Alliance and Horde agreed to a small truce over the years, the Forsaken had been secretly creating a means to kill them all. Varian confronts Thrall and declares that peace can never be achieved. When a fight breaks out between the Alliance and Horde, Jaina stops Thrall and Varian from killing each other and teleports Varian, herself and the Alliance army back to Stormwind, hoping to stop further bloodshed and chaos.

Removal from Game

The subject of this section has been removed from World of Warcraft.

He was held captive for a time on Alcaz Island near Theramore Isle. Until patch 1.9.0, players could find the king in the sewer dungeons of Alcaz Island, though he served no in-game purpose. After that patch, the king was removed from Alcaz Island so that Doctor Weavil could set up shop for the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj world event instead. It has been said that the king will be relocated to an unknown place for the continuation of the Missing Diplomat questline. More on the story here. The comic series suggests that he managed to escape, possibly in the confusion created by Doctor Weavil's arrival.

With patch 1.10, Varian had been replaced with an elite level 62 monster named Tidelord Rrurgaz along with a sewer full of elite monsters.

In Wrath of the Lich King

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

King Varian Wrynn within Stormwind Keep.

As of patch 3.0.2, Varian Wrynn has been restored to his rightful throne as the king of Stormwind. He is currently located in the Throne Room within Stormwind Keep, an area previously occupied by his son, Anduin Wrynn. Both Katrana Prestor and Bolvar Fordragon are gone; Highlord Fordragon has been dispatched to Northrend, while Lady Prestor — Onyxia — was slain by Varian himself.

King Varian now gives many of the Alliance-specific quests formerly given by Bolvar Fordragon, including the questchain to assassinate Nathanos Blightcaller. In addition, he now ends the death knight quest  [55] Where Kings Walk.

A faction known as the Valiance Expedition has arisen as the main Alliance force on the continent of Northrend, taking the battle to the Scourge. The faction description for the Valiance Expedition is "The main armies of the Alliance in Northrend, moving against the Scourge and unified under King Varian Wrynn's command."

A statue of Varian, alias Lo'Gosh, stands in Valiance Keep in the Borean Tundra.

After losing his friend Bolvar Fordragon, and defeating Grand Apothecary Putress, Varian appears to declare war against the Horde during the quest The Battle For The Undercity after the attack on Thrall and his forces in the Undercity.

Valiance Keep tribute

Statue of Varian at Valiance Keep in the Borean Tundra.

In tribute to King Varian Wrynn
known to some as LO'GOSH the "Ghost Wolf"

His miraculous return from long years of exile and hardship has ignited a new fire of spirit and courage within the Alliance.

We shall march boldly into these perilous lands holding his valor and his tenacity in our hearts.

- Highlord Bolvar Fordragon

Action figure

An action figure of Varian Wrynn by DC Unlimited (whose line has already produced other main characters from the comic such as Valeera, Broll, and Rehgar) was unveiled at the New York 2009 Comic Con, likely to be released in the fall.

Quotes

• "I am the King of Stormwind, and no one- not the Naga, nor the Scourge, nor the fiery lords of the Burning Legion will keep me from my people!"
• " A gladiator's life is simple: You win and live, or lose and die. A king's life is more complex. The only truth for a king is that there are no easy answers."
• "I will seek out my enemies, and woe betide those who set themselves against me."
• "Greymane only complains to hear the sound of his voice."
• "I have a son somewhere, Broll, and people who need me. I'll remain with Rehgar no longer."
• "I say we rally the Alliance army and make ready for war, we can't afford to take any chances." (To the Alliance of Lordaeron)
• "If I am King, I'll put you both in fool's motley and let you natter at each other for my amusement." (To Broll and Valeera)
• "Apparently, it's nice to see you all again." (said to the Defias who aided in his abduction)
• "I was away for too long. My absence cost us the lives of some of our greatest heroes. Trash like you and this evil witch were allowed to roam free -- unchecked. The time has come to make things right. To disband your treacherous kingdom of murderers and thieves. Putress was the first strike. Many more will come. I've waited a long time for this, Thrall."
• "For too long have the Horde been left unchecked. We allowed their territories to prosper and in return for our generosity they plotted and planned our demise. Peace? Useless... it's gotten us nowhere. We have lost some of our greatest heroes to "peace." Let us see what battle brings."
• "Too long have I been gone, fighting my way across Azeroth to rediscover my past and reclaim my throne. With all the challenges that have tested the Alliance in my absence, it warms my heart to see heroes such as yourself defending our coalition." (To Alliance players)

At Stormwind Harbor

• "This latest affront by the Lich King must be dealt with. Stormwind is doing what we can, but it will require the effort of everyone to overcome. Only after the threat at home has passed can we begin to deal with the Scourge threat abroad."
• "The traitor prince Arthas tests us from his seat of power in Northrend. Rest assured that the Alliance will not sit on its haunches. Preparations are already underway... for war."
• "Defeating the Lich King and his armies will be a long and challenging ordeal. Death itself must be conquered. Many lives will be lost, but the future of Azeroth depends on our victory."
• "I only hope that you'll be able to join the battle in Northrend and contribute your skill and strength to the cause."

Tactics

In-game, King Varian Wrynn is a Warrior who resides inside of Stormwind Keep. There are several level 80 elite guards on the incline to his throne, as well as ten surrounding him; they will all aggro when he does. While in combat, he can randomly summon level 75 non-elite guards. His abilities include: Heroic Leap (a 2 second stun that does 50% weapon damage) and Whirlwind (an AOE attack causing 100% weapon damage). The Alliance Battlemasters are in the room immediately behind Varian, and can often supply a steady supply of Alliance players to defend him. Like Thrall with Horde players, Alliance players are very likely to come to aid the king if he is attacked. Killing him is the objective of the Storming Stormwind achievement.

Trivia

Varian's name was originally Varien, as recorded in the Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal manual. It was retconned to Varian in Warcraft III, a spelling echoed by World of Warcraft and the The Alliance Splinters, part of Chapter 4 in the History of Warcraft. When spelled with an "a", there is the implication that Varian was named after his grandmother, Queen Varia.

Gallery

• VarienWrynnKingofStormwind.jpg

  Varian Wrynn as he appeared in World of Warcraft prior to Patch 1.9.0.

• WoW Comic Lo'Gosh 2.jpg

  Lo'Gosh.

• Variancomic.JPG

  Lo'Gosh in Orgrimmar.

• 

  Lo'Gosh in combat.

• 

  The King in front of his throne.

• 

  Lo'Gosh Action Figure.

See also

World of Warcraft: The Comic

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB

Preceded by: Llane Wrynn I Anduin Lothar (Regent Lord of Azeroth)

Position: King of Azeroth/Stormwind

Succeeded by: Anduin Wrynn (in the absence of Varian)

Preceded by: Anduin Wrynn (in the absence of Varian)

Position: King of Stormwind

Succeeded by: Incumbent