This content chronicles the tragic fall of Prince Arthas Menethil from a noble paladin to the Lich King, driven by a desperate quest for power to save his people, ultimately leading to his corruption and the damnation of his homeland.
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>> This entire city must be purged. >> Jana,
>> Jana,
>> I'm sorry. Arthus, I can't watch you do
this. I should have stopped and never
[music] Long ago, this land comprised
the northern kingdoms of Lorderon, ruled
by King Terrannis Menithil.
Terrannus had a son named Arthus. Arthus
took for himself a cursed blade known as Frostborn.
Frostborn.
>> Behold, Meritan, our salvation, Frostborn.
>> I will give anything or pay any price if
As a promising young paladin, Arthus was
trained in combat by Meridan Bronzebeard
and learned the ways of the light under
Uther the Lightbringer. Soon after his
induction into the Knights of the Silver
Hand, a plague gripped the Northlands of
Lord Deron, I joined Arthus to help
investigate an insidious disease that
caused [music] the dead to rise again.
After fighting the infected undead, we
encountered the necromancer Kel Thazad
and discovered his plans to infect out
villages under the orders of the
dreadlord Malganis.
Hello again, children.
I am Kel Thazard, and I've come to
deliver a warning. Leave well enough
alone. Your curiosity will be the death
of you.
>> Are you responsible for this plague, necromancer?
necromancer?
Is this cult you're doing?
>> Yes. I ordered the cult of the damn to
distribute the plagued grain, but the
sole credit is not mine.
What do you mean?
>> I serve the dreadlord Malganis.
He commands the scourge that will
cleanse this land and establish a
paradise [music] of eternal darkness.
>> And what exactly is this scourge meant
to cleanse?
>> Why, the living, of course.
His plan is already in motion. Seek him
out at Strathor if you need further proof.
proof.
But we arrived too late. The citizens
had already consumed poisoned grain that
would doom them to rise into undeath. To
stop [music] the plague from spreading
further, Arthus ordered his knights to
purge the [music] entire city. Uther and
I were horrified and refused to obey his
cruel command. Those who remained loyal
to Arthus joined him and began the
culling of Stratholm.
Arthus sought vengeance upon Malganis.
Unfortunately for you, it won't end
here. Your [music] journey has just
begun, young prince.
Gather your forces and meet me in the
Arctic [music] land of Northrand.
It is there that we shall settle the
score between us. It is there that your
true destiny will unfold.
>> But the demon slipped away to the frozen
land of Northwind.
While leading his forces in pursuit of
Malganis, Arthus came upon his former
mentor, Meridan, searching for a
powerful blade called Frostworn.
When the sword was found, Murdan read
its inscription and warned the prince
that the weapon was cursed.
But Arthus believed that the blade would
give him the power to save his people.
When the weapon broke free, a shard of
ice struck Meridan down. Heeding the
call of Frostorn, Arthus claimed the
sword and left Meridan for dead.
This is a light forsaken land, isn't it?
You can barely even see the sun. This
howling wind cuts to the bone, and
you're not even shaking.
My lord, are you all right?
You lied to your men and betrayed the
mercenaries who fought for you. What's
happening to you, Arthus?
Is vengeance all as important to you?
>> Oh, spare me, Meridan. You weren't there
>> Behold, Meridan, our salvation, Frostborn.
Frostborn.
Hold that. There's an inscription on the
de. It's a warning. It says, "Whomsoever
takes up this blade shall wield power
eternal. Just as the blade rens flesh,
so must power scar the spirit.
Oh, I should have known. The blade is cursed.
cursed.
Let's get the hell out of here. I would
gladly [music] bear any curse to save my homeland.
homeland.
Oh, leave it [music] be, Arthus.
Forget this business and lead your men
home. Damn the men. Nothing shall
prevent me from having my revenge, old
Now I call out to the spirits of this place.
place.
I will give anything or pay any price if
Frost Mourn in hand. Arthus confronted
Malganis, who told him the voice he was
now hearing was that of the Lich King, Nirzul.
Nirzul.
Obeying his new master, Arthus slew the
dreadlord and abandoned his troops as he
pushed [music] deeper into the frozen moist.
moist.
>> So, you've taken up Frostborn at the
expense of your comrade's lives, just as
the dark lord said you would. You're
stronger than I thought.
You waste your breath, Malganis.
I heed only the voice of Frostmore. Now
>> you hear the voice of the dark lord.
He whispers to you through the blade you wield.
wield.
What does he say, young human? What does
the dark lord of the dead tell you now?
>> He tells me that the time for my
vengeance has come.
>> [music] >> might
[singing] be.
>> Ah, my son, I knew you could be
victorious. no longer need to sacrifice
for your people.
You no longer need to bear the weight of
your crown.
What is this? What are you doing my son?
>> This kingdom shall fall.
And from the ashes shall arise a new
order that will shake the very foundations
foundations
Arthus returned to Lord Deron. The
kingdom rejoiced at the homecoming of
its beloved prince.
But that joy turned to ashes when Arthus
entered the throne room and ran the
blade through his father's heart.
Arthus scourged the land in the name of
the Lich King Nerzul.
>> By killing your own father and
delivering this land to the scourge, you
have passed your first test. The Lich
King is pleased with your enthusiasm.
>> Yes, I've damned everyone and everything
I've ever loved in his name.
And I still feel no remorse, no shame,
no pity.
>> The rune blade that you carry was forged
by the Lich King and empowered to steal souls.
souls.
Yours was the first one it claimed.
>> Then I'll make do without [music] one.
>> Light
save my soul. [music]
>> My father and I ruled the finest kingdom
in all the world
until it was decimated
by Arthus Menithil and the Lich Kelazard.
Kelazard. >> [music]
>> [music]
>> My own death came at the hands of Arthus
when he and his army sacked my homeland
Heat. [music]
The frozen throne is mine, demon.
Step aside.
Leave this world and never return. If
you do, I'll be waiting.
>> I have sworn to destroy it. Arsis, it
must be done. Never
Arthus had to face Illan's storm rage.
After a grueling battle, the victorious
Arthus ascended [music] to the frozen
throne. He drove his blade through the
ice, releasing the spirit of Nirzul from
You are not my king yet.
>> Forget this business. Lead your men home.
home.
>> Command even if you were damn it. As
your future king, I order you. Lost your
mind, Arthus. I must consider this an
act of choice and dust of early days.
You lied to your men and betrayed the
mercenaries who fought for you.
>> What happened to you? Arthur some prince
you fired from the dead in the cold war.
[groaning and screaming] [music]
>> Now we are one. The two beings merged
into one and became the true Lich King. [music]
[music]
Should he rise again from the frozen
north, all of Azeroth will face his wrath.
[music]
for nothing. [music]
Lord [music]
knows [singing] no. [music]
My son,
the day you were born, the very forests
[music]
>> My child,
I watched with pride as you grew into a weapon
weapon
our line has always ruled with wisdom
And I know you will show restraint when
>> But the truest victory, my son, is
I tell you this,
for when my days have come to an end,
Come in all your power and glory. All
You speak of justice, of cowardice. [music]
[music]
I will show you the justice of the grave
>> [music]
>> Can you feel it, my son?
Closing in all around you.
The light's justice has been awakened.
The sins of the past have finally caught
up to you.
You will be called to account. Though my
soul was one of the first to be devoured
by your heal, there are thousands more
bound within this blade. And they cry
Look now to your defenses, my son, for
the champions of justice gather at your gates.
Let them come
for [groaning] hungers.
Light, grant me one final blessing.
Give me the strength to shatter these bonds.
>> No more office. NO MORE LIVES will be
consumed by your hatred. Free clash.
It is over, my son.
>> Father,
is it over?
At long last,
no king rules forever, my son.
I see
only darkness
Without its master's command, [music]
the restless scourge will become an even
greater threat to this world.
Control must be maintained.
There must always be
>> The weight of such a burden.
It must be mine for there is no other
tyrion. [music]
>> You hold the crim destiny in your hands,
brother, but it is not your own. Bulva, [music]
[music]
by all that is holy. The dragon's flame
seal my fate.
The world of the living can no longer
Place the crown upon my head, Tyrion.
Forever more, I will be the jailer
[music] of the damned.
>> No, old friend. I cannot do it, Tyrion.
You and these [music] brave heroes have
your own destinies to fulfill.
This last act of service
You will not be forgotten, [snorts]
brother. I must be forgotten. Tyrion, if
the world is to live free from the
tyranny of fear, they must never know
what was done here today. [music]
[music] Heat.
Now go, leave this place and never return.
How I miss those endless days in Lord Deron.
Deron.
sharpening your skill [music] with this
dull blade.
Forging you into a weapon meant to
withstand the demands of a great destiny.
You sure put them skills [music] to use,
didn't you, lad?
If only I'd been able to stop you that
day. How different things might have been.
been.
If only I'd have never discovered that
Farewell, Arthus,
my brother.
>> So, it is done.
I had not dared to trust my senses. Too
many times has a Lich King made me to be
a fool.
Finally, he has been made to pay for the
atrocities he imposed upon my people.
May Azeroth never fail to remember the
horrible price we paid for our weakness,
for our pride.
But what now, hero? What of those freed
from his grasp, but still shackled to
their mortal coils?
Believe me, [music]
I have much to ponder.
He He kept it. All this time, he kept it.
it.
I knew. [crying]
[crying]
I sensed a part of him still alive,
trapped, struggling. [music]
Oh, Arthus. Perhaps,
Perhaps,
perhaps he might someday remember what
he once was.
By the light, may he at last find rest,
free from the icy grip of that terrible
blade. [music] Arthus.
Alas, hero of Azeroth, you give me a
greater gift than you know.
Long have I struggled to forgive the
prince for his terrible transgressions.
My soul has been racked with unbearable
anxiety, dark thoughts, distancing me
from the light.
I recall clearly the gleam of pride in
his eye as he stood before me, eager
[music] to defeat the enemies of the light.
light.
Welcome, Prince Arthus. The men and I
are honored by your presence.
>> Can the formalities, Uther, I'm not king
yet. [music]
It's good to see you.
>> You, too, lad. I'm pleased that King
Terran has sent you to [music] help me.
Father still hopes your patience and
experience might rub off on me.
>> Well, it is a father's right to dream,
>> Eager to defend his people, no matter
the cost,
it is this memory of Arthus that I
choose to keep in my heart. I shall
Well met, Ranger General.
>> What is this?
Who are you?
>> Someone who shared your fate. Felled by
Arth this.
>> You have been a loyal friend, Kelazad.
I don't know what the future holds or if
I'll even return, but I want you to
watch over this land. See to it that my
legacy endures.
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