 Lady Liadrin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title |
Blood Knight Matriarch, Lady of Light[1] |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Blood elf (Humanoid) |
| Class | Blood Knight (formerly high priestess and warrior) |
| Reaction | Alliance Horde |
| Affiliation(s) | Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, Blood Knight Order, Horde,[2] The Sha'tar, Shattered Sun Offensive, Sunsworn, the Silver Hand |
| Former affiliation(s) | House Sunstrider |
| Occupation | Matriarch of the Blood Knight Order, member of the Shattered Sun Offensive, leader of the Sunsworn |
| Location | Various locations |
| Status | Alive |
| Relative(s) | Salandria (adopted daughter), High Priest Vandellor (mentor/adopted father) |
| Mentor(s) | High Priest Vandellor |
| Student(s) | Kelantir Bloodblade, Galell |
| Companion(s) | Redemption (mount) |
Lady Liadrin (pronounced /liːɑːdrin/) is the matriarch of the Blood Knights, Silvermoon's order of blood elf paladins. Once a high priestess of the Light, Liadrin became disillusioned with her faith after the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas, and spent the following years honing her martial prowess against the undead occupying the Ghostlands. When M'uru was shipped to Silvermoon by Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, Liadrin was summoned by Grand Magister Rommath to partake in a radical idea the magi had devised: the empowerment of Light-wielding warriors by siphoning the captive naaru's holy energies.
Contemptuous of the Light's failure to protect her homeland in its hour of greatest need, Liadrin volunteered herself for this notion, and thus became the first of the Blood Knights, an order she rules to this day. Following Kael'thas' betrayal, Liadrin sought redemption for her people; and with the revitalization of the Sunwell, she has rekindled a far more harmonious relationship with the Light. Liadrin, though called zealous, arrogant, and short-tempered by some, has always led her order with strength and conviction; and after fighting to rid Quel'Thalas of the Scourge, Liadrin now seeks the utter destruction of its progenitor, the Burning Legion. In her eyes, the Legion's downfall is all that matters.[4][5]
Biography
Blood of the Highborne
Liadrin as a priestess, with Lor'themar, Galell, and Dar'Khan.
Liadrin's parents were slain by Amani trolls, creatures the high priestess developed a particular distaste for during her earlier life. She was raised by High Priest Vandellor, whose tutelage first inspired her passion for the Light. She had attended several Thalassian ceremonial occasions, including the promotion of Lor'themar Theron to ranger captain and, later, ranger lord.
Liadrin accompanied Magister Dar'Khan Drathir to investigate malfunctioning runestones, along with her apprentice Galell. The group was ambushed and captured by an Amani raiding party, and interrogated by Chieftain Zul'jin himself in a troll sacrificial chamber, who was eager to find further weaknesses in the runestones protecting the land. The ranger Lor'themar Theron had also been captured. By assaulting Zul'jin with a Light-based attack—transferring the pain she had endured in the last few minutes back at Zul'jin—Liadrin was able to create an opening for the group to escape, Dar'Khan mustering the energy to teleport them to safety. Liadrin was briefly enthralled by a tiki mask which granted her three disturbing visions of her companions: Dar'Khan as an animate corpse, Galell in a twisted and deformed state, and Lor'themar writhing in flame. In time, each vision would become a reality.
Second War
After the Orcish Horde broke off the siege of Quel'Thalas, the Amani, conversely unwilling to abandon their long-coveted goal of reclaiming the land, were left in disarray. King Anasterian resolved to crush them once and for all. He dispatched raids of magi and priests to supplement the Farstriders and warriors, and Liadrin was made part of Halduron Brightwing's company. Liadrin and Brightwing came across Zul'jin himself amidst the burning land set aflame by the rampant red dragons, and after cutting down the trolls, the elves captured the leader of their most hated enemy. To take revenge for the deaths he had caused, the rangers tortured Zul'jin extensively, with a brutality that unnerved even Liadrin. She suggested that Halduron put an end to it and simply finish him off, though the pair were interrupted by an Amani raiding party, who succeeded in wounding Halduron and rescuing their captured chieftain.
Third War
Years later, Liadrin had become a high priestess, and had watched her apprentice turn into a fine priest in his own right. She reflected on the rumoured plague encompassing Lordaeron, grateful that the elves had enjoyed a relatively prosperous decade in contrast. In hindsight, Liadrin believed it was a good decision for the country to distance itself from the humans.
Quel'Thalas's tranquillity would not last. King Anasterian's health was failing, and Liadrin believed that her king, receiving disturbing reports from his advisors, was growing greatly concerned about something else. Some time later, the undead Scourge championed by the twisted prince Arthas Menethil, fresh from laying Lordaeron to waste, turned their gaze toward the high home of the elves, and invaded the kingdom. Liadrin, though safely within the walls of Silvermoon, observed the phalanxes rushing through the land, and could scarcely believe her eyes. She was present when Arthas demanded the elves open their gates, offering them the gift of eternal servitude in return for their compliance, and threatening to slaughter all of their loved ones if they refuse. With Anasterian and the Sunwell on their side, the elves held steadfast in their opposition, though Arthas in turn was prepared for this this possibility and planned to lay siege to the elven capital.
Liadrin was disturbed by the sight of the fallen Ranger-general Sylvanas Windrunner, whose ghostly visage had been paraded by her killers in front of Silvermoon, and was fearful of the other atrocities the despoiler of Lordaeron would commit. Arthas began his attack, and Liadrin assisted in healing the wounded elves in the chaos. Her faith shaken by the onslaught, she barely managed to save Grand Magister Belo'vir, who was organizing Silvermoon's defenses in the fallen ranger-general's place. The grand magister instructed Archmage Rommath to prepare the city for evacuation and to send the soldiers to Quel'Danas to protect the king and the Sunwell, acknowledging that Silvermoon was about to fall. He and Liadrin soon joined them.
The Sunwell's power had been bound by Dar'Khan, who had betrayed his people in favor of the Scourge. Liadrin questioned how the prince would cross the ocean, her fear of the elves' impending deaths rising by the moment. Arthas conjured his path of frost, and Liadrin reunited with Vandellor. The two high priests healed Belo'vir's wounds in the ensuing battle, though the grand magister was overrun by the Scourge, mauled by Arthas, and cast aside. Against Liadrin's imploration, Vandellor rushed to heal Belo'vir, while Liadrin herself witnessed the showdown between Arthas and Anasterian which he lost. Liadrin then checked on her mentor, who was killed by an abomination. About to share in his fate, a grievously wounded Belo'vir saved Liadrin, teleporting her out of the fray with his final action. Liadrin was safely away when the Sunwell was tainted by the rebirth of Kel'thuzad. His mission complete, Arthas disposed of Dar'Khan and left Quel'Thalas.
Wracked with guilt, Liadrin refused to beseech the Light now. She returned to the survivors in Silvermoon to report that an Amani force was preparing to secure the Sunwell from the Scourge. The newly-returned Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider prepared for an attack on the tainted well, to put an end to the dark energies pulsating through it and to stop their enemies. Liadrin volunteered for the task, but not as a priestess; she took a weapon, and asked Lor'themar to have his men train her with it.
Along with a number of survivors (including some future Blood Knights), Liadrin accompanied the prince to Quel'Danas. Liadrin killed a risen Vandellor during the battle, and the group fell back after the prince and his magi destroyed the tainted Sunwell.
After the battle, Kael'thas proclaimed the high elves reborn as the blood elves.
Founding of the Order
Five years later, Liadrin still struggled with the guilt she felt the day the Scourge dawned on Quel'Thalas: guilt for failing to protect her country, her brethren, her mentor; guilt for the fear she had let control her, and guilt for not dying herself. Pained by the loss of the Sunwell and quite reliant on external sources to sate her hunger for the arcane, Liadrin, now living in an abandoned, run-down manor in the Ghostlands, etched out a living as a warrior, cutting down all Scourge remnants that crossed her path. Liadrin had previously aided in the reclamation of Eversong, though while others remained behind to rebuild, Liadrin had vowed to end the Scourge forever and ventured to the undead-infested south. There, she dealt with her rage toward the Scourge in the best way she could—destroying them at every turn. Though Arthas was out of her grasp, she believed that Dar'Khan Drathir was still out there and hunted him vigorously. As she exterminated the Scourge and hunted Dar'Khan, Liadrin dreamed of the day she would exact revenge in the names of Vandellor, Belo'vir, and all the other elves who had fallen due to Drathir's treachery. During this time, she was supplied with arcane objects by an anonymous source, though she had a vague idea of her benefactor's identity.
Liadrin was one of the few aware of the alliance between Prince Kael'thas and Illidan Stormrage. Though she accepted that the elves needed to sate their innate thirst for the arcane with mana crystals and mana tapping, she was wary of the fel magic that the lord of Outland was known to embrace, and Liadrin was worried that this dark influence may rub off on the prince. Liadrin's eyes had since turned a brilliant emerald-green.
Liadrin was summoned by the regent to Silvermoon, and Halduron (who she had nearly mauled with a mace after mistaking him for an intruder) took her to the royal palace, Sunfury Spire, where she reunited with Lor'themar. Liadrin could barely believe her eyes: the city had been almost completely reclaimed, and felt like home again. They were interrupted by Belo'vir's successor, Grand Magister Rommath, who made Liadrin a unique offer: the prince had sent back a subdued naaru named M'uru to Quel'Thalas, for the elves to drain for its magic. However, Rommath, Astalor Bloodsworn, and several other magisters were not content with this notion—they believed they had found a far better use for the holy being's power.
Rommath told Liadrin that her life was led by extremities, be it the devout priestess or the ruthless warrior. He handed her a 
[Blood-Tempered Ranseur], a weapon that symbolized the balance between her two paths, and offered her another option—one that would allow her to utilize both of her chosen paths; indeed, through this, she would never be abandoned by the Light again. He introduced Liadrin to the captured M'uru, and he and Astalor assisted her in forging a link with the being. When Liadrin channelled the Light through it, there was no warmth or love, but there was power; if not at a moral cost, then a physically challenging one. Accepting the proposal, Liadrin was infused by M'uru's power and became the first of the Blood Knights, and a new era in Thalassian history was born.
The Blood Knight
Taking up the mantle of Blood Knight Matriarch, Liadrin began to forge her new order; however, the Blood Knights were not initially met with praise. Indeed, many elves scorned them for their method of empowerment. Overlooking her knights' training with pride, Liadrin could only feel foolish for having been so beholden to the Light; "why be a servant, when one can be a master?" Liadrin presided over the reclamation of Sunsail Anchorage from the Wretched, instructing her knights (among them Vranesh, Cyssa Dawnrose, Mehlar Dawnblade, and Bachi) to work in tandem.
Still, despite their services to Silvermoon, the knights' reputation did not improve as much as Liadrin had hoped. Cyssa was outraged at this, though Liadrin told her to give them time. Back in the Hall of Blood, Liadrin was met with the familiar sight of her former apprentice, Galell, who had come to apply to the Blood Knight order in the hopes of reconciling with the Light. Galell, who had struggled with his arcane addiction more so than many other elves, hoped to find deliverance in the Light once more. Liadrin maintained that there was little warmth in the path the Blood Knights tread, but that it may be in his best interests to feel the Light once more, even if he has to force it to recognize him. Liadrin promised that the road will not be an easy one, that his training will be testing, and that she will expect total obedience from him as a Blood Knight.
The Farstriders had noted an increase in Scourge activity around the former residence of Dar'Khan Drathir, and Liadrin and a contingent of knights went to investigate. They found a trapdoor and a diary, adorned with unfamiliar symbols. Believing it to be a clue, Liadrin took it. Later, she ventured to Lor'themar's office, catching him fletching arrows. The regent told her that while he had misgivings for the creation of the Blood Knights, their formation may have been for the best. Liadrin caught an intriguing glimpse of a letter bearing the Horde's symbol, and Lor'themar told her of his negotiations with them. Lor'themar, despite his personal misgivings regarding the knights' methods, believed that the Blood Knights may yet achieve something great to esteem them in the eyes of their critics.
Liadrin and Solanar took over the vigil at Dar'Khan's residence, though Galell had gone missing. Liadrin discovered a trail of blood and entrails, following it to Galell, who was spattered in troll gore. Later, Dar'Khan's diaries were deciphered, which mentioned that an individual named "Thadirr" would be collecting three important artifacts created by Grand Magister Belo'vir during the Troll Wars: the 
[Stone of Light], the 
[Stone of Flame], and the Stone of Spark. Liadrin mused that with these items, the Scourge could be contested, which is likely why this person was keen on acquiring them before the sin'dorei. Liadrin informed Lor'themar that she would set a trap for this Thadirr, and Halduron told the two of the apparent re-emergence of Zul'jin and the Amani from Zul'Aman.
Liadrin was summoned by Rommath after she saw the grisly sight of a murdered elf called Orovinn, who had been hanged from the Shepherd's Gate. Rumours abounded that one of the Blood Knights was responsible, as Galell had been seen fleeing the night before and had gone missing. Vexed, Rommath left to discuss the negotiations between Quel'Thalas and the Horde with Kael'thas, and told Liadrin to solve this before he returned. Consensus among the Blood Knights was that Galell's magic intake was off-balance, or that M'uru's voice had driven him mad.
As it happens, the trap laid for Thadirr—an anagram of Drathir, the elves quickly realized—was quite the opposite. The Lich King had learned of the Blood Knights' emergence, and planned to take them into his service in undeath, tasking the now lich-like Dar'Khan with this mission. While Lor'themar and Halduron arrived to fight off Dar'Khan and relieve the Blood Knights, Liadrin went to find Galell. She found her old apprentice in a Wretched-like state in the old troll sacrificial chamber, and he admitted he had murdered his dealer, having been driven to madness by his excesses. Erratic and reduced to a pitiful wreck, yelling at Liadrin that this was the only way to suppress M'uru's voice, Galell lunged at her and began attacking. Liadrin was forced to kill him, his death raising the sharp question of whether or not she was walking the right path.[6]
Burning Crusade
Lady Liadrin resided within the Blood Knight headquarters in Silvermoon City, next to the subdued M'uru. She oversaw the training of new members of the Blood Knight order, and instructed members with tasks both mundane and martial, from helping to fund the order to taking the fight against the Scourge into southern Quel'Thalas and even the Plaguelands. In an attempt to assert their authority over the light to all the "so called paladins" of the world, Liadrin tasked high ranking members with burning and defiling the Alonsus Chapel.[7]
Treachery of the Prince
Despite its rapidly-increasing influence, however, the Blood Knight order took a massive blow after Prince Kael'thas sold his loyalties to the Burning Legion, and stole M'uru from Silvermoon. Liadrin observed the results of this treachery herself. With the order now without its source of power, a desperate Lady Liadrin traveled to Shattrath City to meet with its leader A'dal, another naaru, to find a new source of power. In doing so, Liadrin learned from A'dal that M'uru had known of his fate long ago, and had allowed himself to be manipulated by the blood elves — knowing that he would be the catalyst to their ultimate redemption (see quotes below), and that Prophet Velen of the draenei had learned of it some time ago. Inspired by this knowledge, Liadrin renounced her loyalty to House Sunstrider, and fought alongside the newly-formed Shattered Sun Offensive to end Kael's dark ambitions on the Isle of Quel'Danas and finally to restoring Silvermoon to its greatness.
In her absence, her second-in-command Lord Solanar Bloodwrath has taken on the role of training aspiring Blood Knight masters within Silvermoon. Without Liadrin personally present to put the Blood Knights' political interests on the table, Grand Magister Rommath represented them in Sunfury Spire in her place.[8]
Meeting with A'dal
Liadrin donning the Shattered Sun tabard.
Lady Liadrin vows to fight alongside the Shattered Sun Offensive.
- General Tiras'alan says: Why do you suffer the presence of this despicable Lady Liadrin? She and her followers distort the Light and make a mockery of all we stand for!
- A'dal says: Patience, general. The Light embraces all who enter Shattrath in good faith.
- A'dal says: You are welcome in Shattrath, Lady Liadrin. We have long awaited your arrival.
- Lady Liadrin says: Thank you for allowing me to speak, A'dal. I know many of your allies despise me and my knights for our treatment of M'uru.
- Lady Liadrin says: When he was given to us by 'Prince' Kael'thas, we believed his power would help lead our people into a new age.
- Lady Liadrin says: I've come to realize our path was a false one. We were betrayed by the man we called our prince. In his lust for power, he sent the felblood to attack us, and spirit M'uru away to the Sunwell.
- A'dal says: Both our peoples suffered greatly at the hands of Kael'thas and his agents, Lady Liadrin. Your people were not the authors of their own fate, but they will die if they do not change.
- A'dal says: M'uru accepted his role in this long ago, knowing full well what would happen to him. Will you accept your own?
- Lady Liadrin says: I... I don't understand. You -- and M'uru -- knew all along that this would occur?
- A'dal says: It wasn't I who foretold it, but Velen of the Draenei:
- A'dal says: 'Silvery moon, washed in blood,'
- A'dal says: 'Led astray into the night, armed with sword of broken Light.'
- A'dal says: 'Broken, then betrayed by one, standing there bestride the sun.'
- A'dal says: 'At darkest hour, redemption comes, in knightly lady sworn to blood.'
- Lady Liadrin says: I see it clearly now. I renounce my loyalties to House Sunstrider and its false prince.
- Lady Liadrin says: I pledge the blades of my Blood Knights to the defeat of Kil'jaeden and the restoration of Silvermoon.
- Lady Liadrin says: We will fight beside you, A'dal.
- A'dal says: The Shattered Sun Offensive will surely benefit from the addition of your knights, Lady Liadrin.
- General Tiras'alan walks over to Lady Liadrin as A'dal speaks to give her a
[Tabard of the Shattered Sun], which she puts on. - A'dal says: The battle for the Sunwell is but the first step on your new path, Lady Liadrin. Shattrath is open to you and all who follow you.
Fury of the Sunwell
Following the death of Kael'thas, along with the darkened M'uru and the defeat of Kil'jaeden, Liadrin travels to the site of the defiled Sunwell alongside Prophet Velen. She laments that the blood elves may never be able to atone for the sin they committed in damning M'uru to his fate, though Velen acquires the "heart" of M'uru, and channels it into the Sunwell. In a massive blaze of light, the font of power is restored, which Velen notes may be the start of a rebirth in the soul of a nation.
Following the victory at the Sunwell Plateau, Lady Liadrin witnessed the rebirth of the Sunwell firsthand. Acknowledging the road ahead as a hard one, Liadrin has since rekindled a far more positive relationship with the light. The Blood Knight matriarch has turned her attention to freeing her people from their magical addiction once and for all, and restoring the sin'dorei to their greatness.
- Enter Prophet Velen.
- Prophet Velen says: Mortal heroes, your victory here today was foretold long ago. My brother's anguished cry of defeat will echo across the universe, bringing renewed hope to all those who still stand against the Burning Crusade.
- Prophet Velen says: As the Legion's final defeat draws ever-nearer, stand proud in the knowledge that you have saved worlds without number from the flame. Just as this day marks an ending, so too does it herald a new beginning...
- Prophet Velen summons a large crystal from the sky. The crystal hovers above the Sunwell.
- Prophet Velen says: The creature Entropius, whom you were forced to destroy, was once the noble naaru, M'uru. In life, M'uru channeled vast energies of LIGHT and HOPE. For a time, a misguided few sought to steal those energies...
- Enter Lady Liadrin.
- Lady Liadrin says: Our arrogance was unpardonable. We damned one of the most noble beings of all. We may never atone for this sin.
- Prophet Velen says: Then fortunate it is, that I have reclaimed the noble naaru's spark from where it fell! Where faith dwells, hope is never lost, young blood elf.
- Lady Liadrin says: Can it be?
- Prophet Velen says: Gaze now, mortals - upon the HEART OF M'URU! Unblemished. Bathed by the light of Creation - just as it was at the Dawn.
- The heart of M'uru disintegrates and flows into the Sunwell. The Sunwell reignites in a fount of blinding light.
- Prophet Velen says: In time, the light and hope held within - will rebirth more than this mere fount of power... Mayhap, they will rebirth the soul of a nation.
- Lady Liadrin says: Blessed ancestors! I feel it... so much love... so much grace... there are... no words... impossible to describe...
- Prophet Velen says: Salvation, young one. It waits for us all.
- Prophet Velen says: Farewell...
Liadrin arrives at the Sunwell.
Lady Liadrin and Prophet Velen observe the Sunwell, moments before its rebirth.
Liadrin kneels before the Sunwell.
Post-Quel'Danas
Lady Liadrin giving a sermon at the restored Sunwell.
Following the Lich King's brief assault on the heart of the Horde's powerbase, Lady Sylvanas Windrunner moved to recruit the sin'dorei forces to aid in the despoiler of Quel'Thalas' downfall—the Blood Knights included. After Lor'themar Theron committed to the war effort, the regent lord planned to have Grand Magister Rommath represent Liadrin's interests until she arrives. Rommath later sends word to Liadrin herself, reporting back to the regent lord with the Blood Knight matriarch's preparations for the war.[8]
The Path to Redemption
During the quest to restore Quel'Delar, adventurers are admitted access to the Sunwell by Halduron Brightwing. Within, Lady Liadrin is seen speaking to groups of blood elf pilgrims about the battles the sin'dorei have yet to face, and how it felt to see the Sunwell restored.
- Lady Liadrin says: My brothers and sisters, words cannot describe what I felt upon seeing the Sunwell rekindled.
- Lady Liadrin says: In that moment, the Light revealed to me the truth of the terrible things I had done.
- Lady Liadrin says: Our people had walked a dark path and mine was among the darkest of them all.
- Lady Liadrin says: But the Light showed me that I was not lost. It helped me to find the strength to survive in spite of all that had happened and all the evil I had wrought.
- Lady Liadrin says: It is a strength that we sin'dorei all share. It is a strength we will need to free ourselves of the addiction ravaging our people.
- Lady Liadrin says: It will be the most difficult battle we have ever faced, but our resolve and the power of the Sunwell will sustain us until we have been restored to our greatness.
- Blood Elf Pilgrim says: Well said, my lady. We sin'dorei will be free and we shall be great again!
Warlords of Draenor
Liadrin in Shattrath City, preparing to battle Socrethar.
Following on from The Burning Crusade's epilogue, Liadrin is depicted as having a much more positive relationship with the Light. She is also seen wielding Quel'Delar, or at least a blade with an identical model.
Liadrin accompanies Thrall and other Horde heroes to join forces with Archmage Khadgar and members of the Alliance in fighting off the Iron Horde invasion. She is among the first to travel through the altered Dark Portal, directing the coalition against the Iron Horde forces. Liadrin is sickened by the depravity of the Iron Horde and aims to wipe them off the face of Draenor. Liadrin survives the assault in Tanaan Jungle, and can be found battling the Iron Horde and healing the wounds of Frostwolf and draenei stragglers throughout the escape attempt. She meets captured Yrel during the battle against the Shadowmoon clan and escorts her back to the group. After the Dark Portal is destroyed and an Iron Horde ship is procured, Liadrin and the rest of the Horde forces end up in Frostfire Ridge.
Liadrin commands a Blood Knight-led sin'dorei force named the Sunsworn. After detecting the presence of demons in neighbouring Talador, Liadrin and her forces arrive at Auchindoun to assist Exarch Maladaar and the Auchenai in defending this most sacred of draenei precincts. Liadrin swears that not a single demon will enter the grounds on her watch, and hopes to halt the Burning Legion threat before it can engulf all of Draenor. She directs Horde members in the region to drive the Legion out and keep the spiritual well out of Gul'dan's hands.[1]
When Teron'gor is identified as Liadrin and Maladaar's opponent and the Shadow Council is fought off from Auchindoun, Liadrin returns to Sunsworn Camp to plan her next move. She and Astalor Bloodsworn then relocate to Retribution Point to rendezvous with Maladaar when 
[Leafshadow] is recovered and Auchindoun's defenses are heightened. The two leaders depart to assist the player at the scoured Remains of Xandros, arriving in time to battle the pit lord Mongrethod; Liadrin destroys the annihilan with a Light-based attack while Maladaar immobilizes him. Victorious, Liadrin has Knight-Lord Dranarus relay their victory back to Warchief Vol'jin on Azeroth.
After Shattrath City is attacked and seized by the Shadow Council and the Sargerei, Liadrin moves her forces to the Spire of Light to fight the invaders back alongside the Auchenai and Sha'tari Defense. When Socrethar's lieutenants are slain, Liadrin goads the treacherous former exarch into battle and confronts him at Maladaar's side. With his death, Liadrin is confident that the Auchenai will soon be able to reclaim their city.
She is later seen with the other Horde leaders at the Gates of Tanaan confronting Warchief Grommash after the death of Azuka Bladefury.
Fury of Hellfire
After Gul'dan takes over the Iron Horde, Liadrin and her Blood Knights begin searching for a way to cure Gul'dan's Fel Orcs. She enlists the aid of Shadow Hunter Denjai and Adventurers in this endeavor. Upon hearing of renewed Shadow Council activity within Auchindoun, she and Yrel return and discover it to be under attack by the Sargerei. They are able to push the traitorous Draenei out and discover Teron'gor had continued devouring souls up until he was recovered by Tyrant Velhari. Teron'gor, now calling himself Gorefiend, is cut off from his feast of souls and Auchindoun is saved once again as Gorefiend leaves for Hellfire Citadel.
Legion
Liadrin, along with Rommath, is present in Durotar during Vol'jin's funeral and Sylvanas Windrunner's inauguration as Warchief of the Horde. After the disaster at the Broken Shore, Liadrin convenes with the leaders of Azeroth's other paladin orders in Dalaran. She then travels to the Sanctum of Light, a hidden refuge located beneath Light's Hope Chapel, and pledges the aid of the Blood Knights to the reformed Knights of the Silver Hand and its new Highlord. Her service is recommended by Lord Maxwell Tyrosus, and Liadrin becomes the Highlord's second champion.[9]
When the Knights of the Ebon Blade attack the sanctum to seize the body of Tirion Fordring, Maxwell is subdued by Darion Mograine, and Liadrin serves as the paladins' last line of defense before Tirion's tomb. There, she battles the new Deathlord of the Ebon Blade, but is defeated. As the death knights begin their ritual to call Fordring to undeath, the Light itself intercedes and Darion's body is destroyed. Liadrin claims that the Ebon Blade were fools to have taken this course, as not even the Lich King himself has power on this holy ground. Faced with the fall of the Ebon Blade, the Deathlord and their Four Horsemen flee the sanctum through a hastily-conjured 
[Death Gate], leaving with only Darion's corpse.
If the player is a paladin, Liadrin will accompany them during the Battle for the Exodar. She will briefly reunite with Prophet Velen, who is pleased at how much Liadrin had taken to the Light following the battle against the Legion at the Sunwell Plateau.
Insurrection
Liadrin and her Blood Knights, accompanied by Rommath and his magisters, travel to Suramar to support the Nightfallen rebels in their attempt to seize the city from its Burning Legion-aligned masters. Liadrin sympathizes with the Nightfallen, drawing parallels to the blood elves and their own experiences with addiction and betrayal years prior. She believes that the sin'dorei understand the Nightfallen's plight better than any other. Liadrin has bulletins and posters put up within Suramar City itself to spread word of the Horde's arrival, to offer hope to the Nightborne populace and show them that a future lies beyond the chaos. She allies with Tyrande Whisperwind and her forces, who had also answered the call to war, and both night and blood elves enter Suramar to scout and prepare for an attack.
Liadrin and Rommath in Suramar.
Liadrin is critical of the elven forces within the Alliance camp. Liadrin refuses to allow Vereesa Windrunner to protect the coalition's flank, stating that Vereesa is too obsessed with vengeance on the Horde to be trusted. She also does not consider Tyrande's sentinels suitable for this type of direct battlefield, believing that Tyrande should recuse her forces from the main assault and focus on scouting. Liadrin states that her Blood Knights are the only ones prepared to carry the weight of this conflict.[10]
When a council for war is called, Liadrin and Rommath meet with Khadgar and the Nightfallen leader, First Arcanist Thalyssra. Liadrin tells Thalyssra that her people's struggle echoes the sin'dorei's own, and pledges to cleanse Suramar of the Legion. On the eve of battle, Liadrin, like Tyrande, is somewhat ashamed to admit that her forces have been exchanging offensive items and insults with the other elven camp, and has adventurers clean both camps of such items before insults turn into violence.
Liadrin and her sin'dorei join up with the Thalyssra and her shal'dorei to lead the charge into Suramar, supported by Tyrande. The combined elven army successfully breaches the city, and strikes straight to the foot of the Nighthold, but the kaldorei, sin'dorei, quel'dorei, and shal'dorei are confronted by Grand Magistrix Elisande herself. When she turns to address Liadrin, the magistrix expresses some anger that the sin'dorei would oppose her, having believed that they, of all elves, might have understood the choice Elisande made to save her people.
Using her great powers over time magic, Elisande traps the entire elven army in a time stasis and leaves. Liadrin is able to escape when Khadgar returns to break her and Tyrande out of the spell, but the rest of their forces remain frozen in time on the steps before the Nighthold, the battle lost.[11]
Locations
| Notable appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | Level range | Health range |
| Suramar | ?? | 15,589,005 |
| Notable appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | Level range | Health range |
| Shattrath City | ?? | 1,397,200 |
| Sunwell Plateau | ?? | 1,397,200 |
| Quest:The Purification of Quel'Delar | ?? | 1,397,200 |
| Assault on the Dark Portal | 100 | 9,785,400 |
| Talador | 100 | 978,540 |
| Dalaran | 100 | 6,730,460 |
| Sanctum of Light | 110 | 15,589,005 |
| Quest:Meeting of the Silver Hand | 100 - 110 | 6,603,750 |
| Quest:The Fourth Horseman | 110 | 8,314,136 |
| The Exodar | 100 - 110 | 660,376 |
Quests
- Assault on the Dark Portal
- Talador
- Quest:The Lady of Light
- Quest:Holding the Line (Horde)
- Quest:Sunsworn Camp
- Quest:Scheduled Pickup (Horde)
- Quest:Ogre Diplomacy (Horde)
- Quest:Retribution for the Light (Horde)
- Quest:Come Together (Horde)
- Garrison Campaign
- Quest:Garrison Campaign: The Fall of Shattrath (Horde)
- Quest:Reclaiming the City (Horde)
- Quest:Socrethar's Demise (Horde)
- In Pursuit of Gul'dan
- Legion
Please add any available information to this section.
Battle with Lady Liadrin
Lady Liadrin when she was still in Silvermoon City.
Her solitude could be an underestimation of her power. Once you enter battle, her speed is immense and her attack power is high enough to take a well-geared level 70 player down in a matter of seconds. Although, with a well-geared healer and a high amount of mana per 5 seconds, you can take Liadrin down with three people. A tank, a healer, and a dps or two. Be aware that with three people it is a very long fight, around 15–20 minutes, but the reward is great. She drops anywhere from 60 gold to 100 gold.
The being M'uru, also in the chamber, was a friendly unit to Alliance members though would not aid in the attack, even if the beams from the magi were broken.
Personality
As a priestess, Liadrin was devout, faithful, and pious. She took pride in her role as a preserver of life and was content, guided by King Anasterian, the Sunwell, and the Light. Though not disparaging of other races, Liadrin prioritized her own people's well-being, and considered it a positive thing for the elves to have distanced themselves from the outside world prior to the Third War. Liadrin's will was tested during the Scourge invasion, in which her ability to wield the Light was hampered by the growing dread she felt at seeing the undead hordes lay waste to her kingdom. Her ability to properly channel the Light began to falter in the face of these horrors, a crisis she blamed the Light itself for.
Liadrin was jaded and dispassionate by the Third War's aftermath. She believed the Light, in its fickleness, had failed not only her, but Quel'Thalas itself, and swore off its use. She also dealt with a great sense of guilt, having lost elves in the war (including her foster father) whom she had respected and loved, yet had survived herself. Vengeful, Liadrin reinvented herself as a warrior, and dedicated her life to exterminating the Scourge. Grand Magister Rommath believed that Liadrin's life had been led by extremities, from a pious priestess to a ruthless warrior. Liadrin found balance as the first Blood Knight, allowing her to reconcile her two walks of life on her own terms. One trait that persisted from her days as a priestess was Liadrin's strong belief in the importance of unity, which she instilled within the Blood Knights. Liadrin rekindled her passion for the Light after the restoration of the Sunwell, which now channels holy energies as well as arcane.
Though ruthless in battle and possessing an intense hatred for most of the sin'dorei's enemies, Liadrin is not without mercy. She is a pragmatist who sees no value in excessive cruelty or brutality.[6]
Arsenal & abilities
Liadrin wielded a staff while she was a priestess, and like most priests she could also invoke the Light through hand gestures and mental concentration. Though primarily a healer, Liadrin was also versed in more dangerous priest abilities, such as the ability to transfer pain from herself to another. She once attacked the Amani chieftain Zul'jin himself with such an ability.
After swearing off the Light, Liadrin reinvented herself as a fighter and chose a mace as her weapon of choice, requesting some of the Farstriders to train her with it. She fought on Quel'Danas against the Scourge and the Amani with it, and continued using a mace against the lingering undead in the Ghostlands. When Liadrin became the first Blood Knight, she was given a [Blood-Tempered Ranseur] during her induction, which she wielded against the Wretched and the Scourge.
In The Burning Crusade, Liadrin (see Battle with Lady Liadrin below) lacked a weapon in Silvermoon City and fought with her fists along with Retribution skills.
In Warlords of Draenor, Liadrin is portrayed as a powerful retribution paladin. She has access to a variety of unique Light-based skills, some for healing and defense ("Light's Reunion") and others for causing offensive holy damage on a considerable scale ("Liadrin's Wrath.") She is seen wielding Quel'Delar, or at least a blade with an identical model.
Quotes
Blood of the Highborne
- "With the Sunwell to protect us, our kingdom is invincible."[6]
- "Our role is to preserve life and illuminate our comrades in the splendor of the Light. It is far easier to draw blood than to staunch it, and when you lie battered and dying on the battlefield, you will thank the Sunwell for our talents."
- "Our kingdom has survived and our people prosper, and Zul'jin, for all his blustering and posturing, has faded into obscurity. We must be thankful for what we have."
- "Times change. People change."
- "What good is a force that fails to perform when it is most needed? The Light is a fickle and worthless thing, and I will have none of it. As of the day my mentor died, I was a high priestess no longer."
- "The errors you committed here today are symptoms of the greater affliction: a lack of unity. You all still behave and act as individuals, mindless of the fact that you are now part of something greater. You are a team. Acting as anything less will only serve to get you killed."
- "All or none."
- "Our foes should know that they are in peril, from the lowest foot soldier to the mightiest hero."
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft trailer
- "There was a time, long ago, when I fell under the influence of treachery and darkness. I now go into battle, redeemed by the purifying power of the Light! I am Lady Liadrin, and when I shine the Light's wrath upon you, there will be nowhere to hide."
Liadrin before the Sunwell, redeemed in the Light in her Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft character trailer.
Liadrin in Quel'Thalas in her Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft character trailer.
Legion
- Greetings
- "I am the blade of the Light."
- "Anaria shola."
- "I answer to the Light."
- "Pleasantries can wait."
- Farewell
- "Remain vigilant."
- "Shorel'aran."
- "Fight well."
- "Al diel shala!"
- Irritated
- "I don't have time for mind games."
- "I'm not the... touchy-feely type."
- "Really? Really? We're still doing this?"
- "You are so not receiving a card for Winter's Veil this year."
Trivia
- Lady Liadrin was voiced by Dana Lyn Baron in Burning Crusade, now voiced by Misty Lee in Warlords of Draenor and Legion.
- Lady Liadrin is wearing the tier 3 Redemption Armor. This is ironic as she would later seek redemption from A'dal and the Light.
- Lady Liadrin is probably named after Liandrin from Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series.
- Liadrin is the alternate hero (player character) for the paladin class in Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, and the fourth alternate hero to be revealed. Unlike other alternate heroes, Lady Liadrin is not obtained through a microtransaction; instead, she is obtained through a special World of Warcraft promotion that includes leveling at least one WoW character to level 20, which rewards the [Fledgling Hero of Warcraft] achievement. Her flavor text reads: "Since the restoration of the Sunwell, the Blood Knight Matriarch's mood seems, well, sunnier!"
- In her Hearthstone artwork her eyes are now glowing golden with the Light, like those of Turalyon and the paladins during the Second War.
- Her TCG artwork is also used by the Shattered Sun Cleric card.
- One of her titles, the Lady of Light, is shared by Galadriel of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
- Liadrin's steed is named Redemption.
- Like many players, Liadrin has a habit of changing her tabard to reflect the faction she's current championing. She wears the [Blood Knight Tabard] for most of The Burning Crusade and Warlords of Draenor, a [Tabard of the Shattered Sun] during Patch 2.4.0 and its aftermath, and a [Tabard of the Lightbringer] in Legion.
- The Horde Paladin tier 9 sets are named after her, as is [Lady Liadrin's Conviction], a reward from the Horde version of A Tribute to Insanity (25 player). She is also referenced in a legendary paladin ring, [Liadrin's Fury Unleashed].
- Liadrin noticed the talent of the blood elf orphan Salandria, and Salandria's farewell note to players says that she was released into Liadrin's personal custody. Liadrin herself was an orphan, and was adopted in a similar manner by High Priest Vandellor.[6]
- Liadrin is one of the two Horde paladin leaders, the other being the tauren Aponi Brightmane, leader of the Sunwalkers. Amusingly, Aponi has been seen wearing the aforementioned tier 9 gear styled for Horde paladins, bearing Liadrin's namesake.
- Liadrin, in many ways, plays the exact same role as Farseer Nobundo. Both became the first of their class, not only in their race but also in their faction, and both are the leaders of their class in their respective races; Lady Liadrin leads blood elf paladins, and Nobundo leads draenei shamans. Both have also played their part in Children's Week (though Liadrin no longer appears in person, Salandria does mention her in the farewell letter to players). Similarly, Alliance Shaman Tier 9 sets are named after Nobundo, like Horde Paladin Tier 9 sets are named after Liadrin. Furthermore, both have lent their aid to important factions with ties to their classes: the Light-revering Shattered Sun Offensive and the shaman-based Earthen Ring. Nobundo was the main character of the short story which introduced his order of draenei shaman, (Unbroken), while Liadrin is the protagonist of Blood of the Highborne, focusing on the creation of her own paladin order. Both were authored by Micky Neilson.
- Blood of the Highborne hints at a relationship (or at least the potential of one) between Liadrin and Lor'themar. The two place high amounts of value on one another, and several passages indicate a mutual attraction.
- As of Warlords of Draenor, Liadrin has interacted with several major draenei characters. She met Prophet Velen in The Burning Crusade, fought with Vindicator Maraad while storming the Dark Portal, located and rescued Yrel from the Shadowmoon clan, and joined forces with Exarch Maladaar in Talador. Ironically, she has had never a direct interaction with her most direct counterpart, Nobundo.
- Liadrin is one of four famous paladins mentioned in the [Empowered Seals] spell. If a paladin uses [Seal of Righteousness], Liadrin's Righteousness will be the name of their judgement's proc effect.
- Liadrin's official artwork depicts her donning the Shattered Sun tabard and somewhat oddly tearing up the Blood Knight one. Presumably, this was to emphasize her turn against Kael'thas, but the red-on-black phoenix remained the emblem of the Blood Knight order even after his defeat, and Liadrin herself is shown wearing her Blood Knight tabard again in subsequent appearances.
- The carrier Liadrin's Shield is named after her.
- [Lady Liadrin's Coin] can be fished up from the fountain in the version of Dalaran.
Speculation
The Matriarch and the Prophet
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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.
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Lady Liadrin's interactions with Prophet Velen (and by extension, the naaru), along with her status as a Light-wielder, have led to some speculation regarding her future: pertaining to the naaru prophecy of the Army of the Light. Velen's direct intervention to assist the blood elves and restore their Sunwell as a fount of Holy Light could be considered conspicuous, as Velen himself has been noted as rarely leaving the Exodar for anything unrelated to preparations for the looming battle against the Burning Legion, which the Army of the Light is, according to the naaru, destined to counter.
As such, it is possible that the prophet intervened for more than merely an altruistic purpose: perhaps helping Liadrin and her Blood Knights find the Light again will have larger ramifications down the line. Liadrin has since developed a positive relationship with the draenei, having fought beside them against the Legion on both Azeroth and Draenor.
Patch changes
- Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): Now appears as a quest giver in Draenor.
- Patch 3.3.0 (2009-12-08): Now also appears in the phased version of Sunwell Plateau.
- Patch 2.4.0 (2008-03-25): Relocated from Silvermoon City to Shattrath City.
- Patch 2.0.3 (2007-01-09): Added.
Videos
References
- ^ a b Quest:The Lady of Light
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg 147
- ^ Quest:Take Me To Your Leader
- ^ Blood Knight lore blurb, Legion
- ^ Champion lore blurb: Lady Liadrin
- ^ a b c d Blood of the Highborne
- ^ Quest:True Masters of the Light (3)
- ^ a b In the Shadow of the Sun
- ^ Quest:The Blood Matriarch
- ^ Quest:Take Me To Your Leader
- ^ Quest:Temporal Investigations
External links
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