- For the priest talent, see [San'layn].
San'layn | |
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Main leader | Blood-Queen Lana'thel † |
Secondary leaders | Blood Prince Council |
Race(s) |
Undead Blood elf |
Base of operations | Icecrown Citadel |
Theater of operations | Northrend |
Affiliation | Scourge |
Status | Defunct |
The San'layn are a faction of darkfallen, led by a host of vampiric blood elf princes[1][2] who appear to hold influential positions within the Scourge, often acting as ambassadors,[3] overlords, and servants in direct contact with the Lich King. The San'layn were created after Arthas took the most powerful of Kael'thas' shattered forces into his service.
The Crimson Hall contains the leaders of the San'layn, undead blood elves who oversee the Scourge's operations throughout Azeroth. The blood-princes Valanar, Keleseth, and Taldaram were raised into undeath by the Lich King to avenge themselves while protecting their blood-queen, Lana'thel.[4]
Elder Ko'nani of the Kalu'ak states that "the Dark One rides forth again with his San'layn..." showing that they are a major, or at least leading, part of the Scourge offensive. Depending on how the sentence is read, it may mean the San'layn were part of a previous attack of some kind.
The only non-named San'layn seen regularly in-game appear in the Temple City of En'kilah in northeastern Borean Tundra and in the Crimson Hall in Icecrown Citadel.
Known members
- For the Krokul sometimes referred to as Darkfallen, see Argussian Reach.
Darkfallen | |
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Faction/Affiliation |
San'layn (Scourge), Forsaken, Quel'thalas (Horde), Ren'dorei, Darnassus (Alliance),[5] Knights of the Ebon Blade |
Character classes | Blood mage, Dark ranger, Death knight, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warden, Warlock, Warrior |
Homeworld | Azeroth |
Language(s) | Thalassian, Darnassian |
The Darkfallen[6][7][8][9] (also spelled darkfallen)[10] are undead elves, including the dark rangers of the Forsaken, the vampiric San'layn of the Scourge, and the death knights of the Ebon Blade.
Darkfallen are accessible as a playable option in the form of a skintone for the void elf, night elf, and blood elf races upon completion of the [Return to Lordaeron] achievement, or by simply playing one of those races as a death knight.
History
Third War
When Prince Arthas Menethil invaded Quel'Thalas, he raised the fallen members of Sylvanas Windrunner's army either as incorporeal banshee or as intact bodies. These fallen high elves would become known as Darkfallen, prowling the lands as either dark rangers or blood mages for the Scourge.[6] Others were reanimated as death knights, becoming the Lich King's champions.[11]
When the Lich King slowly began to lose his power after Illidan's failed attempt to kill him in Northrend, many Darkfallen dark rangers had their conscious will restored. They later joined Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken in Undercity, as elite agents and personal guards of the Banshee Queen.
The Frozen Throne
In the aftermath of the Third War, the blood elves were cut off from their source of magic, the Sunwell. Desperate for aid, their prince Kael'thas Sunstrider pledged allegiance to Illidan Stormrage who taught them how to siphon magic, and how to wield fel.[12] The blood elves, or Sunfury, seeking to avenge their fallen brethren, participated in Illidan's attempt to destroy the Lich King.[13] Arthas intervened, and the two armies clashed, but the undead ultimately defeated Illidan's forces at the foot of Icecrown.[13][14] Arthas raised the fallen blood elves as a new generation of vampyr Darkfallen in service to the Scourge,[15] organizing them in the sect known as the San'layn.[16]
Wrath of the Lich King
During the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, the Death Knights of Acherus managed to free themselves from the will of the Lich King, among them were some Darkfallen death knights such as Koltira Deathweaver. Under the lead of Highlord Darion Mograine, they formed the Knights of the Ebon Blade, took control of Acherus: The Ebon Hold as their headquarters, and cooperated with the Argent Crusade to defeat Arthas Menethil during the Scourgewar.
Battle for Azeroth
Following the War of the Thorns, the Forsaken raised to undeath fallen night elves, turning them into Darkfallen dark rangers. While a few sided with Sylvanas Windrunner after she raised them, many of them including their leader Delaryn Summermoon joined Calia Menethil in a quest to learn life as undead.[17]
Shadowlands
Following the war against the Jailer, several Darkfallen joined the Forsaken as they mustered in the Tirisfal Glades. After the Ruins of Lordaeron were cleansed, Dark Ranger Velonara joined the Desolate Council, the new governing body of the Forsaken. While Delaryn and other Darkfallen night elves joined the Horde, Dark Ranger Velonara said those who wished to depart and rejoin the Alliance were free to do so.[5]
Appearance
Darkfallen mostly retain the builds of their still-living kin. Their once lustrous skin is now pale and lifeless, while the color of their eyes were displaced by a glow of crimson red or icy blue.
Notable
Notes and trivia
- Prior to the release of the novel Sylvanas, the term "Darkfallen" was exclusively used in reference to the San'layn. The terms were not treated as synonymous (many mobs have "Darkfallen" in their name but use <The San'layn> as a title), but the exact distinction between them was never explained by Blizzard. Sylvanas clarified the issue by revealing that non-San'layn elves like dark rangers are also Darkfallen.
- [Embrace of the Darkfallen] was a death knight Azerite trait which increased Leech when [Vampiric Blood] expired.
- A "Darkfallen Handmaiden" mob was created in patch 7.3.0 but never added.
- Though the Darkfallen are listed in the World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Bestiary, their entry was never added.
Gallery
- World of Warcraft
Undead high elf
Undead blood elf
Undead night elf
Undead Dark Warden
"Dark ranger" customizations.
- Cinematic stills
Sylvanas in the Legion cinematic.
Sylvanas in the Battle for Azeroth cinematic.
Sylvanas in the Shadowlands cinematic.
- Art
Dark ranger art for BlizzConline.
San'layn concept art from The Art of Wrath of the Lich King.
BlizzCon 2016 poster artwork.
A dark ranger in Curse of the Worgen.
Luthion the Vile in the Death Knight manga.
- Hearthstone
- RTS series
Dark Ranger icon from Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
Dark Ranger portrait from Warcraft III: Reforged.
Sylvanas portrait from Warcraft III: Reforged.
- Heroes of the Storm
Sylvanas in Heroes of the Storm.
References
- ^ Their model name is "vampyrbloodprince".
- ^ Quest:Shatter the Orbs!
- ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/features/dungeons/utgarde.xml
- ^ Icecrown Raid
- ^ a b [60] Path of the Dark Rangers
- ^ a b World of Warcraft: Sylvanas, pg. 184
- ^ Prince Taldaram#Adventure Guide
- ^ Blood Prince Council - Prince Valanar yells: Do you see NOW the power of the Darkfallen?
- ^ Presence of the Darkfallen
- ^ Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 20
- ^ Classes of World of Warcraft
- ^ Fury of the Sunwell - archived page
- ^ a b The Return to Northrend (WC3 Undead)
- ^ A Symphony of Frost and Flame (WC3 Undead)
- ^ [25-30] Return To Caladis Brightspear
- ^ [60] Magus Installation
- ^ [50] The Hidden Need
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Ranks and types
- Darkfallen Archmage <The San'layn>
- Darkfallen Bloodbearer <The San'layn> - Retainer of Prince Valanar.
- Darkfallen Blood Knight <The San'layn>
- Darkfallen Commander <The San'layn>
- Darkfallen Deathblade <The San'layn> - Retainer of Prince Valanar.
- Darkfallen Lieutenant <The San'layn>
- Darkfallen Noble <The San'layn>
- Darkfallen Tactician <The San'layn>
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.
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It is believed that the word "San'layn" is possibly Thalassian for "Darkfallen".
Their abilities to serve both as field commanders and infiltrators imply that they were created by the Lich King to replace the nathrezim, who stayed loyal to the Burning Legion.
References
Template:Undead