Nathanos Blightcaller

Nathanos Blightcaller (born Nathanos Marris) was the champion and bodyguard of the Banshee Queen of the Forsaken, and a teacher of new Forsaken hunters. In life, Nathanos was the first and only human "ranger lord," trained by the high elves of Quel'Thalas, and was close to Sylvanas Windrunner. He died and became undead during the Third War, joining Sylvanas's rogue Forsaken shortly afterward. As Nathanos Blightcaller, he would stand in the Eastern Plaguelands, battling the Alliance heroes sent to kill him and faking his death. During the Burning Legion's third invasion of Azeroth, his body was restored with the help of Sylvanas's Val'kyr, allowing him to serve his liege with renewed strength. As the Dark Lady's champion, Nathanos played a major role in the Horde's war effort throughout the Fourth War. He ultimately remained loyal to Sylvanas after her abandonment of the Horde.

After a failed gambit to kill Bwonsamdi, the loa of death, he retreated to the Marris Stead. In time, he was discovered by the Argent Crusade, who informed the Horde and Alliance. In the ensuing battle against their champions, Nathanos was confronted and killed by Tyrande Whisperwind.

The Ranger Lord


In life, Nathanos Marris was a master strategist, but more importantly trained by the high elves in the ways of war, and was admitted to the elven Farstriders. Nathanos's accomplishments were unprecedented. He was a tactical genius, responsible for Alliance victories spanning a decade of conflict. Nathanos Marris was the first and only human ranger as well as the only human ranger lord, the highest rank in the Farstriders' hierarchy below ranger-general, appointed as such by Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner.

His inclusion in the ranks of the ranger lords was not without its conflicts. Nathanos was on the receiving end of prejudice from his elven comrades, many of whom objected to the presence of a human in their ranks. Halduron Brightwing and Renthar Hawkspear both argued against his inclusion in their ranks, and Nathanos had a particular animosity with Sylvanas's second-in-command, Lor'themar Theron, who claimed Nathanos felt intimidated by the elven rangers; Nathanos believed he could match Theron shot-for-shot. Kael'thas Sunstrider, the crown prince of Quel'Thalas (who was rumored to have sought Sylvanas's hand in marriage) also opposed the appointment, but Sylvanas insisted on it anyway, impressed with Nathanos's ability and believing that the high elves must practice tolerance with the outside world. Still, Nathanos felt unwelcome in the ancient city of the elves and tired of their politics, instead choosing to reside in his native Lordaeron, at his childhood home. As a Ranger Lord, Nathanos owed allegiance to Silvermoon, and was obligated to fight in its defense should the elves demand it. Sylvanas frequently visited him at the stead, officially to hear his reports, but rumor spread throughout the Farstriders - and the elven kingdom at large - that Sylvanas had been continuing a romantic relationship with her human pupil. Nathanos worried that these rumors would negatively impact Sylvanas, who required the goodwill of her compatriots as ranger-general.

Sylvanas visited Nathanos at the Marris Stead shortly before the onset of the Second War. She spoke to him of a potential invasion of Quel'Thalas from the Old Horde and met Nathanos's young cousin, Stephon Marris. Before leaving, Sylvanas spent the night at the stead.

Death and freedom
After the fall of Stratholme, the Scourge swept over the once-great nation of Lordaeron, killing all in its path and raising the fallen as cadaverous undead. Despite his great skill, Nathanos Marris fell as well at his house, murdered by the abomination Ramstein the Gorger. Nathanos rose as a mindless thrall of the Scourge, bound to the will of the Lich King, spreading the plague of undeath through the kingdom of his birth. Somehow though, deep in his soul, he knew that Sylvanas would come for him, and she did.

Sylvanas, who had been killed and raised as a banshee by Arthas during the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas, had later been freed from Ner'zhul's control during the Plaguelands civil war, and scoured Lordaeron for signs of Nathanos. When she found her old disciple, he had been reduced to a pitiful sight, a decaying slave feasting on corpses of his own making. Nathanos did not immediately recognize her, and attempted to attack her with the unending rage filling the void in his soul, but was fettered by dark ranger arrows while Sylvanas called him to his senses. Sylvanas tore Nathanos free from the Lich King's will and told her disheveled former pupil of the plight of the Forsaken. She named Nathanos her champion, in their quest to avenge themselves upon Arthas. After he was freed by Sylvanas, Nathanos hunted Ramstein the Gorger across the Plaguelands for months until the abomination fled to the safety of Stratholme.

In death, Nathanos retained the deep loyalty he had felt towards Sylvanas in life. Were she to perish at the end of their quest, he knew he would happily follow her. According to Lor'themar, he was already a bully and a braggart in life and undeath magnified his worst traits.

World of Warcraft


Nathanos returned to his old home, the Marris Stead in the Eastern Plaguelands, with his pet blighthounds on the banshee queen's orders. There he recruited Horde soldiers to fight against corrupted animals (such as plaguebats), the Scourge, and the Scarlet Crusaders of Tyr's Hand.

Nathanos collected relics from the battle of Darrowshire, for unknown reasons. He kept them in his home. Nathanos appeared to be secretive regarding personal details of his former life, even sending Horde adventurers to retrieve the Quel'Thalas Registry that contained his file. He made sure to inform adventurers that the registry was not to be read. Nathanos took a special pleasure in tormenting the lodge's elven residents, his former comrades, who had scorned him even while alive.

Nathanos's death did not go unnoticed, nor did the fact that a body had never been found. Master Mathias Shaw, head of 7 - the Stormwind intelligence agency - received some disturbing reports of unusual Forsaken activity in the Eastern Plaguelands, and sent five agents to investigate. Only one of those agents returned, babbling incoherently about "Nathanos" and the word "Blightcaller." He died in his sleep just days after his return, and Alliance adventurers were asked to go investigate their disappearance. The only thing SI:7 had to go on was that Nathanos Marris may have been slain by this "Blightcaller," but the truth was far less pleasant. After investigating the grounds around the Marris Stead, adventurers uncovered the ugly reality - Nathanos was the Blightcaller, now a champion of the Banshee Queen.

Once it was determined that Nathanos was the Blightcaller, King Varian Wrynn and Bolvar Fordragon enlisted Alliance adventurers to gather an army and destroy him. Nathanos, however, managed to survive this through faking death.

Cataclysm
After surviving the Alliance assassination attempt on his life, Nathanos decided to reside in the War Quarter of the Undercity, where he trained Forsaken rangers. The quests he gave are now given by other NPCs.

Nathanos has been training a new generation of Forsaken rangers, representing both their past and their future. He would also stand with Sylvanas as her right hand in the Royal Quarter.

Nathanos was the only person Sylvanas confided in regarding her experience atop Icecrown following the Lich King's defeat. Nathanos knew that should Sylvanas ever find herself facing that damnation again, he would gladly end his own undeath to face it at her side. Part of him hoped for it.

Dark Mirror
As the Legion began invading Azeroth, Sylvanas called Nathanos to partake in a ritual meant to make him stronger. He agreed to take part, though not before attempting to provoke her. When he discovered that the ritual would involve the Val'kyr sacrificing his cousin Stephon Marris, he felt no regret, only the duty-bound oath he had made towards Sylvanas. The Val'kyr proceeded to place herself between the human and the undead and began chanting guttural words in an ancient tongue, flashes of blue and gold pulsing from her hands. Nathanos lost his senses for a time, his world exploding in fire and pain. When the Blightcaller's wits returned, he found that he had been transformed to become stronger than before and not be as decayed and withered as he had been. However, upon looking into a mirror, he noticed that his new face was not entirely his own. He then noticed that the second ritual table was empty save for a bit of ash and oily residue stains. Sylvanas directed Dark Ranger Anya to escort her champion to the armory to see him outfitted in a manner befitting his station. Along the way, Anya implied to Nathanos that Sylvanas had feelings for her champion, a notion that the Blightcaller disagreed with, as he personally felt that whatever emotion his mortal heart might have held, now it had room only for rage and contempt. After picking out a green and gray mix of mail and leather, a clean and well-maintained breastplate caught his eye and caused him to reflect back to the ritual and to the empty altar next to his. For the briefest of moments, Nathanos felt regret.

Legion
Following the death of Vol'jin, Nathanos and the other dark rangers are seen protecting Sylvanas, the new warchief of the Horde. He fought against the demons when they were revealed by the newly-accepted Illidari.

Nathanos issued summons to the Horde champion on behalf of Sylvanas and led them to the Forsaken fleet approaching Stormheim. Predictably, Nathanos retained his dry humor and low regard for most of the figures he crosses paths with (particularly the worgen, whom he writes off as "beasts"), save of course for Sylvanas. He is accompanied by his pet bat, Bloodwing.

When the Alliance led by Genn Greymane and Sky Admiral Rogers took the chance to bombard the Forsaken fleet, Nathanos made his queen's safety his first priority, but was ordered to take the fleet on the offensive. He led the Forsaken forces in a counterattack against the 7th Legion and worgen troops. The Blightcaller and his men boarded the Skyfire and caused havoc in the hull, planting vials of blight to take it apart from within. Nathanos battled Greymane on the ship's deck, and was unimpressed with his opponent until he goaded Genn into assuming his worgen form. Nathanos gained the upper hand and managed to wound Greymane (Horde version), but the battle abruptly ended with the destruction of the Skyfire, which plummeted down into Stormheim. Nathanos and Greymane survived, although Nathanos's face became "even uglier" than it was before.

Nathanos took command of the Forsaken stragglers, and led his rangers in a ruthless hunt across the region to locate Sylvanas. He was certain the queen survived, and sought bloody revenge on the Alliance forces remaining in the area. With the help of the champion, Nathanos was able to discover that Sylvanas safely escaped, but did not wish to be pursued. Respecting the Dark Lady's wishes, Nathanos turned his attention to claiming the Aegis of Aggramar, though he ultimately left the quest to Horde adventurers after reuniting with his master in Dreadwake's Landing.

When a Horde player reaches Prestige Rank 2, Nathanos can be found in the Undercity alongside other notable leaders of the Horde. During A Royal Audience (Horde), he is present at the ceremony hosted by Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner that congratulates the character for their battles against the Alliance, following their receiving of the High Warlord's Medal of Valor from the warchief, as well as an artifact appearance.

When Sargeras, lord of the Burning Legion, was defeated, he stabbed Azeroth in Silithus. Soon after the Bilgewater Cartel discovered a new material at the wound called Azerite. Nathanos sent Horde adventurers to meet with the goblins in Silithus and oversaw the fighting at the Seething Shore from an unnamed gunship.

Soon later, he arrived to the Orgrimmar Embassy with the other leaders.

Before the Storm
As Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner's stalwart champion and bodyguard, Nathanos relayed to Sylvanas the ongoings of the Undercity. Nathanos reported that while many were proud that a Forsaken has been crowned warchief, others resented that she had forgotten those who were loyal to her in order to attend to the needs of other Horde races. As Sylvanas paraded with a diverse contingent of Horde races on their way to the celebration feast, Nathanos elaborated that she left a power vacuum behind in the undeads' capital, and the Desolate Council was created as an interim government to attend to the Undercity's needs. Word has also reached the Undercity of Sylvanas' efforts to create more Val'kyr in Stormheim and how her plans were foiled by Genn Greymane. The Desolate Council has reservations about her actions and has requested an audience with her to speak of disagreements about their future. Sylvanas confided to Nathanos her plans to bolster the ranks of the Forsaken by directing the Horde's bloodlust against the humans of Stormwind.

Later on, Nathanos relayed an invitation to Sylvanas to attend the Desolate Council's ceremony which honored the Forsaken who fell in the war against the Burning Legion. On Nathanos' return to the Undercity however, he reported that Sylvanas was not able to attend with her duties preoccupying her and has sent Nathanos as an emissary in her stead. While Vellcinda Benton and Nathanos discussed plans for the Forsaken, they were interrupted by Alonsus Faol who gave them each messages from King Anduin Wrynn; one of which was addressed to Sylvanas and concerned the proposal of the Gathering. Nathanos was furious Alonsus was a Forsaken and fraternizing with the Alliance High King, but Faol claimed he was politically neutral as he was not a member of the Horde, but a simple priest of the Light. Nathanos traveled to the Gallywix Pleasure Palace to relay King Anduin's missive to Sylvanas. Nathanos advised Sylvanas to use the Gathering to her advantage by publicly supporting it and either using the reconnection with their loved ones to motivate the Forsaken to continue existing as undead and prolong their will to propagate or use the hurt feelings from the reunion's failure to sway the Forsaken masses to be amenable to bloodlust and vengeance on the living. After hearing Nathanos' opinion of the Desolate Council not being a threat and considering the benefits, Sylvanas consented to the Gathering, but only with the Desolate Council members' sole participation and a small group of humans. Sylvanas and Nathanos returned to the Undercity, where she clarified her concerns and stipulated the conditions for the Gathering.

Nathanos attended the Gathering with Sylvanas and observed the event from Thoradin's Wall. He continued to advise Sylvanas on how she could use the Gathering to politically benefit her. However, when she ordered all the Forsaken participants to be executed despite some of them not defecting, even he was shocked by her ruthlessness.

War of the Thorns
Nathanos Blightcaller helped hunt down Alliance spies infiltrating Orgrimmar and was ensuring that the meetings of his warchief remained private. Eventually, Varok Saurfang let Nathanos in on his and Sylvanas' secret plan and recruited Nathanos to act out an adversarial relationship with him in order to trick the Alliance into thinking Saurfang was chafing against Sylvanas's rule and was bullying her into endorsing a major Horde campaign in Silithus. The Alliance took the bait; fearing the Horde was proliferating Azerite weapons, they sent a sizable night elf fleet to Silithus as deterrence. Tyrande Whisperwind traveled to Stormwind City to help the Alliance leadership plan the war, leaving only Malfurion Stormrage and his skeleton crew of night elf defenders for the Horde to contend with. This primed the Horde's campaign for their true objective: the conquering of Darnassus.

When the Horde army marched to Ashenvale, Nathanos rode with Saurfang. Nathanos contemplated how Saurfang was trusted by the Horde due to his history of warfare and sacrifices but was resentful that the Horde hadn't given Sylvanas the same trust even though she had accomplished just as much if not more than Saurfang. Nathanos viewed the Horde as weak-willed and short-sighted, and only Sylvanas knew what laid beyond life and had the will to act. Although some may consider her actions cruel, Nathanos supported her regardless because life was cruel and fleeting and it delighted him that her plans soared over the horizon of mortality and frightened many. Nathanos was also elated to carry out Sylvanas' will — to kill kaldorei on their own soil and take their home for her.

Despite fierce resistance from the night elves, the Horde had managed to secure Ashenvale. Still, Nathanos complained how steadfast the night elves were to resisting him, even to the bitter end. After rescuing Saurfang from an ambush in Astranaar, Nathanos accompanied the Horde army into Zoram'gar Outpost in Ashenvale. Upon learning about the appearance of the wisp wall on the border of Ashenvale and Darkshore, he was confident his dark rangers and demolishers could take it out, though Sylvanas Windrunner warned him not to underestimate it. When Sylvanas ordered Varok Saurfang to find a way to Darkshore through Felwood's mountains, Varok asked Nathanos if he knew any smugglers there. He responded that they could find one and persuade him to help the Horde. Nathanos introduced a darkspear troll named Rejiji to Saurfang, and Reijiji led Saurfang to a smuggler's pass they could use to scale the mountains of Felwood. Together, Rejiji, Varok, Nathanos and a part of the Horde army went into Felwood, and eventually reached Darkshore from the north. Once there, they desecrated the forests, luring the wisps to them and dispersing Malfurion's wisp wall.

Once the Horde breached Darkshore, the night elves were defeated. However, Nathanos along with Sylvanas were enraged to learn that Saurfang had let Malfurion escape alive. Nathanos yelled that Malfurion will return to take many Horde lives in vengeance, but Saurfang was content with his decision and would face the night elf when that day came. When Nathanos threatened Saurfang with violence, Sylvanas broke up their bickering and told them to focus on finishing the battle. Saurfang set out to make arrangements for the boarding of Teldrassil, and Nathanos contemptuously answered his questions about the logistics of the next step.

After securing Darkshore, Sylvanas gave Nathanos and Varok orders to secure the beach and prepare to invade Teldrassil. As Sylvanas went off to speak to a gravely injured Delaryn Summermoon, Nathanos inspected the carnage of the battle. His examination was interrupted by Sylvanas who suddenly ordered him to burn down Teldrassil. Nathanos hesitated for a moment only for Sylvanas to repeat her order more sharply, causing Nathanos to set off on executing her command. Wide-eyed, Nathanos watched Teldrassil burn.

Battle for Lordareon
During the Battle for Lordaeron, Nathanos led an assault against the Alliance alongside Lor'themar Theron in the back side of Lordaeron Keep in an attempt to stop them, but was defeated when void elven reinforcements led by Alleria Windrunner came to aid King Anduin Wrynn and his force. Alliance forces win the battle and the Horde is forced to retreat into the throne room, where he received orders from Sylvanas to saturate the Ruins of Lordaeron with the Forsaken Blight. Following this, he and the other Horde leaders were seen on a zeppelin flying away from the plagued Lordaeron.

Stormwind prison
Later, Nathanos then gathered Thalyssra, Rokhan, and the Horde champions on Sylvanas' orders for a mission in Stormwind City. While en-route to Stormwind Harbor, Nathanos instructed the Horde members about mission and later helped them escape from the city.

Upon reaching Princess Talanji's ship, Nathanos tried to make Talanji sail them to Orgrimmar under Sylvanas' orders, but Talanji refused, sailing them instead to Zandalar.

Horde War Campaign
Nathanos can be found aboard the The Banshee's Wail docked at Port of Zandalar, where on orders from Sylvanas he directs the Honorbound's operations to secure their position on Zandalar and Kul Tiras. He questioned Garona about her loyalty to the Horde and revealed that he knew that her killing of King Llane Wrynn wasn't her choice. In turn she pointed out that the zeal at which he struck out against the Alliance seemed to be motivated beyond his loyalty to Sylvanas, causing Nathanos to admit that after the Alliance rejected the fallen of Lordaeron and started hunting them, he vowed to hunt the Alliance in turn.

With outposts established on Kul Tiras and convinced that the Horde partnership with the Zandalari Empire would be secured, Nathanos directed Horde the into establishing a more a suitable base for operations against the Alliance. To this end, he directed them to conquer Timberfell Outpost within Tiragarde Sound and then reinforce the newly controlled outpost. Following the death of Captain Amalia Stone, Nathanos ordered for her body to be placed within a wagon.

Seeking to learn about the Kul Tiran fleet, Nathanos sought the body of a Kul Tiran war hero and directed the Horde to the Barrowknoll Cemetery within Drustvar. After the Horde examined the graveyard of its inhabitants, Blightcaller decided to focus their attention on Marshal M. Valentine. After breaking into Valentine's crypt, Nathanos discovered that the crypt didn't actually contain the corpse of Valentine. He was then subsequently informed by the resurrected Captain Stone that the Marshal's body was lost at sea. He later sent the Speaker of the Horde to aid Rexxar and Lilian Voss in discovering the location of Thomas Zelling, a powerful tidesage capable of discovering Valentine's body. When the Val'kyr Kyra left the Banshee's Wail, Nathanos was surprised but approved of the choice to resurrect Thomas Zelling as a Forsaken.

While the Speaker searched for Valentine's body, Nathanos and the rest of the Honorbound abroad the Banshee's Wail came under attack by the Alliance. While looking for Valentine's corpse, the Speaker unexpectedly discovered the body Derek Proudmoore, Crown Prince of Kul Tiras. With the Alliance driven off the Speaker brought both corpses onto the Banshee's Wail. Valentine was soon after resurrected as a Forsaken and sent to Boralus to inform Katherine Proudmoore that the Horde was in possession of her son's corpse, which was located at Plunder Harbor. While the Kul Tirans besieged the harbor, the defenses of Boralus were weakened, just as Nathanos planned. While the Horde and Fogsail Freebooters fought to defend the harbor, Nathanos ordered the Speaker of the Horde and Zelling with breaching Boralus and acquiring the Abyssal Scepter. After the Abyssal Scepter was acquired, the pair returned to inform Nathanos of the mission's success when they were interrupted by General Cadarin who offered the life of Valentine in exchange for the body of Derek Proudmoore. Not to be deterred, Nathanos refused, an act which cost Valentine his life. Following the death of General Cadarin, Nathanos gave the order for the Abyssal Scepter to be used to destroy the Kul Tiran fleet and ordered for Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner to informed of the mission's success.

Taking advantage of the Siege of Boralus, Nathanos led a Horde strike team to claim Azerite within the city. He also directed Horde agents with breaking into Tol Dagor in order to reclaim a captured Horde asset.

Tides of Vengeance
After discovering a black moon now hangs over Darkshore Nathanos sent scouts in order to discover what caused the transformation. However, none of them returned and Nathanos became convinced that the night elves were up to something. In order to discover what the Army of the Black Moon was up to, Nathanos ordered for the lieutenants to be hunted down and interrogated. He also ordered for the slain night elves to be risen into their service, in order to replenish Horde forces in the area. After witnessing Tyrande's transformation into the Night Warrior through the Lost Wisp, Nathanos revealed that he was unsettled and remarked that they needed to accelerate their plans.

Under orders from Sylvanas, Nathanos called for Delaryn Summermoon to be raised into undeath. However, when Horde adventurers attempted to raise her, they were attacked by Sira Moonwarden. After Sira was defeated, Nathanos ordered for her death. Though adventurers can carry out this task out if they refuse Nathanos himself will deal the killing blow on the warden, dryly noting that he knew the adventurers "didn't have it in them" to kill her. At Nathanos's command the Val'kyr Brynja and Signe began raising Delaryn Summermoon and Sira Moonwarden, however during the ritual Nathanos was attacked by the Army of the Black Moon led by Tyrande Whisperwind. During the battle, Nathanos was empowered by the Val'kyr which allowed him to survive Tyrande's onslaught until Signe restrained her, though Tyrande broke the Val'kyr's bonds, and Malfurion Stormrage joined the fray. In response, Brynja personally entered the battle to aid Nathanos which gave Signe enough time to finish the ritual. Following their resurrections, Delaryn Summermoon and Sira Moonwarden declared for the Forsaken causing Tyrande to lash out and kill Brynja. The death of the Val'kyr caused Nathanos to order the Horde forces to retreat. After he declared that "They will all pay", Nathanos called for the Horde to prepare for battle. During the warfront battle itself, he coordinates the attacks against the kaldorei.

As part of the renewed war effort, Nathanos ordered the Speaker, Rexxar, and Zelling to launch an assault against the Azerite supply that was in the possession of Kul Tiras and the Alliance. With the Azerite now in Horde's hands Nathanos revealed that it was already being prepared for the Horde's next attack. After Trade Prince Gallywix engineered a plan with the claimed Azerite to deal with the Alliance, Nathanos sent the Speaker of the Horde to aid Gallywix, at the Trade Prince's own request. Blightcaller personally instructed them to ensure that he stays alive as the Alliance previously made an attempt on Gallywix's life. Under orders from Nathanos, Rexxar, Valtrois, and the Speaker worked to break Lady Priscilla Ashvane out of her prison and deliver her to Sylvanas.

After receiving word that the Alliance had mounted an attack through Nazmir Nathanos sent the Speaker to the Great Seal in order to confer with King Rastakhan and Princess Talanji. He later participated in the battle against the Alliance within Nazmir itself. Following the death of the Blademaster Telaamon and the destruction of the Abyssal Scepter, Nathanos, along with his allies, discovered that Telaamon and his forces were a bait to lure them away from Dazar'alor in order to weaken the city's defenses. Realizing that the city was in danger, the combined Zandalari and Horde army rushed back to defend the city, with Nathanos among them. Amidst the fighting, Nathanos heard Talanji's wail due to discovering her dying father, and the Blightcaller locked eyes with Jaina Proudmoore. As Proudmoore departed, he gave the order to get to the king.

Nathanos attended the funeral of King Rastakhan, where he encouraged Talanji to let her grief be stated by vengeance against the Alliance. He was later present at Talanji's coronation.

After Baine Bloodhoof called champions of the Horde to aid him in a secret task, Sylvanas's loyalist sought to bring it to Nathanos's attention. In response to Baine wishing to act in the shadow, Nathanos gave them his protection and ordered them to aid Baine in his task to discover what he was planning. Nathanos was later informed that Baine, with the help of Thomas Zelling, liberated Derek Proudmoore and delivered him to Jaina Proudmoore. In preparation for the leaders of the Horde gathering at Warfang Hold in Stormsong Valley, Nathanos sent Horde heroes to help secure the area. During the meeting of the Horde leaders, Nathanos held Zelling at bow point when Sylvanas revealed that she knew Zelling had aided in returning Derek to the Alliance. After Baine admitted his own role in the event, Nathanos killed Zelling which outraged Baine. Following Baine's arrest, the Dark Lady and her champion left the stronghold.

Rise of Azshara
Under the orders of Sylvanas, Nathanos called for the Speaker of the Horde to join the Horde forces to embark upon the warships. Convinced that the key to victory over the Alliance was within the Horde's grasp, Nathanos declared that what they had to do next was done for the Horde. Revealing that he had been entrusted with a mission of the highest priority from Sylvanas, Nathanos directed the Speaker to speak with Captain Rez'okun when they were ready to set sail. The undead would then use the black blade to guide the Horde fleet and the pursuing Alliance fleet towards Nazjatar where both fleets would be attacked by the naga under Queen Azshara's command after the seas were opened.

Following the naga attack, Nathanos expressed satisfaction when the Speaker got back on their feet and revealed that their survival was key to the Dark Lady's plan. Though the Horde fleet was destroyed, Nathanos was pleased to see the vaunted Alliance fleet in ruins. He then remarked that he had a mission to complete and then departed from the rest of the Horde forces. In his absence, the Horde rallied under Lor'themar Theron and First Arcanist Thalyssra and aligned with the former slaves of the naga, the Unshackled. When Lor'themar sent adventures to rescue Baine Bloodhoof from execution at Sylvanas's command, loyalists were able to rendezvous with Nathanos and inform him of Lor'hemar's actions. In response, Nathanos remarked that Lor'themar showed his true colors at last and regarded him siding with Baine as a pity. He then ordered them to play along and remarked that the traitors were in for a surprise once they reached Bloodhoof. After Nathanos was informed that Baine was saved from execution, Blightcaller mentioned that while it was vexing to allow their quarry to believe that they had escaped from them, they must trust in the Warchief's plan. He warned that their loyalty would soon face an even greater test. After revealing that he has been recalled to Orgrimmar, Nathanos instructed the loyalist to remain in Nazjatar and play along with the traitorous vipers until they are summoned.

Nathanos called for loyalists to meet with Sylvanas Windrunner in Orgrimmar and expressed his belief that their forces shall exterminate Saurfang's revolutionaries. He then journeyed to Orgrimmar himself, where Sylvanas ordered for loyalists to deliver Eitrigg to him. After Eitrigg was brought before him, Nathanos declared that the orc lacked the necessary resolve that the loyalists had. He ordered for loyalists to sabotage the enemies siege weapons, burn the propaganda that dissidents within the city have been spreading, and to rally the citizens of Orgrimmar to their army. With their house in order, Nathanos declared that it was time to deal with revolutionaries and Alliance outside the Gates of Orgrimmar.

However, before the battle could commence, Saurfang, recognizing Sylvanas's loyalists as their brothers and sisters in the Horde and unwilling to spill more Horde blood, challenged Sylvanas to Mak'gora, which Sylvanas accepted after he pointed that she wanted to make him suffer. After Saurfang's death and Sylvanas's abandonment of the Horde, Nathanos left Orgrimmar and the Horde to rendezvous with Sylvanas at the Windrunner Spire within the Ghostlands. The two conversed before wishing one another a safe journey as they departed, with him calling her "my love". Unbeknownst to Nathanos and Sylvanas, Lor'themar called for the Farstriders to track them down while 7 agents started scouring the Eastern Kingdoms for them.

Heritage of Gilneas
An Emerald Dream version of Nathanos appears in Gilneas City during A Gilnean's Dream as part of the Heritage of Gilneas. He is killed by Tess Greymane and the Gilnean champion.

Shadows Rising
Alongside Sira Moonwarden, Nathanos was tasked by Sylvanas with killing the troll loa of death himself, Bwonsamdi. To that end, they allied with the Widow's Bite, a group of Zandalari rebels led by a witch known as Apari. In contrast with Sira's concerns, Nathanos was confident that while they focused on their mission Sylvanas would triumph over any Alliance or Horde agents that came upon her. He also took delight in the rumors and propaganda that the Widow's Bite was spreading against Talanji as he wanted the young queen to regret ever turning her back against the Banshee Queen. After meeting Apari in Nazmir, he and his squad were found by a Zandalari patrol. Flying on pterrordax provided by Apari, they lured the patrol on a beach and had the Banshee's Wail's dark rangers kill shoot the trolls.

In order to weaken the protections around Bwonsamdi's shrines, Nathanos was forced to hand over something precious and irreplaceable to the witch. Thus, after a moment, he handed his officer's badge given to him by Sylvanas when they were among the Farstriders many years ago and warned Apari that if she failed to destroy the loa's shrines as promised, then the consequences would be severe. After the witch departed to begin her work, Nathanos instructed Sira to remind him to drown her in the bogs of Nazmir after their mission was complete.

As the Widow's Bite and the Banshee loyalists fought side by side, they finally clashed with the Zandalari Empire in Nazmir, where they were discovered attempting to sacrifice children in order to weaken one of Bwonsamdi's shrines. During this conflict, Nathanos commanded the combined armies and was noted by Zekhan to be smiling while firing arrows at his enemies. In the end, this skirmish ended with the children saved, and Nathanos commanded his forces falling back. In the aftermath, Nathanos asked Sira if the theatrics with the children sated her bloodlust, causing her to wonder if he had a weak stomach. Nathanos was unmoved and reminded Sira that if the Zandalari were galvanized enough, they could pose a threat to their plans, especially if they acquired a few orc battalions.

After dealing with another holdout of Bwonsamdi's worshipers, Nathanos found himself faced with the ghost of Stephon Marris, which Nathanos saw as his one true regret. Despite declaring the ghost not real, when the spirit demanded to know how he could allow Sylvanas to sacrifice himself, Nathanos found himself justifying the action, showing that he believed the spirit to be his younger cousin. However, once Stephon declared his queen had made some nasty friends on the other side and how the lords of death would never let her win, and as she is chained to undeath she will be chained to the forces of the Shadowlands, Nathanos quickly realized that he was actually speaking to Bwonsamdi, who had either sent a vision of or appeared as Stephon to mock him. In outrage, Nathanos declared that Bwonsamdi knew nothing of it, that he didn't know her as he did, and in response the loa simply jeered at him remarking that it was his game and they were playing it by his rules.

After arriving at loa's Necropolis, Nathanos prepared traps, anticipating that Bwonsamdi could receive reinforcements. Unbeknownst to Nathanos, Tayo, the lieutenant of the Widow's Bite, had grown increasingly disgusted with Apari's tactics, especially those against children. When Apari sought to harm another child in order to summon Bwonsamdi, Nathanos witnessed Tayo stopping Apari. After Tayo left, Apari let her go as she believed that Tayo would simply return. When Visrynn went to follow her, Nathanos called her off and told the dark ranger that they no longer needed her. When Bwonsamdi appeared Nathanos gave the order to attack.

Unknown to Nathanos, his decision to ignore Tayo would prove costly as she defected to the Horde, with Thrall later noting that her aid proved instrumental in saving them from Blightcaller's traps. Though caught off guard by the Horde and Zandalari reinforcements, Nathanos remained focused on the mission to the point of ignoring Apari's death, the resulting collapse of the Widow's Bite, and even Sira's calls for aid. Ultimately in the face of his numerous enemies, Nathanos was forced to flee the battlefield, using the same magic that Sylvanas used to kill Varok Saurfang.

He reported directly to Sylvanas, who had just defeated the Lich King Bolvar Fordragon and shattered the Helm of Domination, how Bwonsamdi still lived, Sira Moonwarden had been captured, how the Horde came in full force, and her champion believed that Bwonsamdi will now only grow more defiant. Though acknowledging that it was a blow to her plans, Sylvanas was confident that it was a blow that they could overcome. In response, Nathanos decided to return to the Marris Stead to await further orders. Sylvanas ordered him to not remain idle, expecting him to return to her with a means to prevent Bwonsamdi's meddling.

Shadowlands


Nathanos returned to the Marris Stead. On one of their patrols, the Argent Crusade saw Nathanos sitting on his front porch, not even trying to hide, and they alerted the Alliance and Horde. Genn Greymane and Lor'themar Theron sent champions to deal with him. In the midst of their battle with him, Tyrande Whisperwind ambushed him. The power of the Night Warrior in her had grown, and she now easily dispatched the undead bowman. Before killing him, she attempted to interrogate him, to learn of Sylvanas' location. Nathanos instead offered cryptic answers and gloated that killing him would merely send him straight to her. He proceeded to attempt to taunt Tyrande further, only for her to kill him mid-sentence, after which she resumed her hunt for the Banshee Queen.

The Alliance and Horde champions reported these events to Greymane and Theron respectively, who both expressed satisfaction with the outcome, disappointment at not being able to partake in the battle themselves, and concern over Tyrande's state of mind.

Despite his belief that being killed would send him to his queen, it was revealed during the Battle for Ardenweald, that this was not the case as Sylvanas was ignorant of his death until Tyrande revealed it.

Abilities

 * A Gilnean's Dream

Battle for Azeroth

 * Horde War Campaign


 * The Battle for Lordaeron (Horde)
 * The Speaker's Imperative (Horde)
 * Battle for Azeroth: Mission Statement
 * The Stormwind Extraction
 * The War Campaign (Horde)
 * The War Cache (Horde)
 * Time for War (Horde)
 * Mission from the Warchief
 * The Kul Tiras Campaign
 * Deeper Into Kul Tiras


 * A Trip Across the Ocean
 * Return to Zuldazar (Drustvar)


 * Stay of Execution (Horde)


 * We Gotta Job to Do

Legion

 * Stormheim (Horde)
 * The Warchief Beckons
 * The Ranger Lord
 * The Windrunner's Fate
 * Wrath of the Blightcaller
 * A Grim Trophy
 * The Dark Lady's Bidding
 * Clear the Deck!
 * Dreadwake's Dilemma
 * A Gift for Greymane
 * To Skold-Ashil


 * Summons to Orgrimmar
 * A Recent Discovery
 * Witness to the Wound (Horde)

Horde

 * To Kill With Purpose (old)
 * Un-Life's Little Annoyances
 * The Ranger Lord's Behest
 * Duskwing, Oh How I Hate Thee... (old)
 * The Corpulent One (old)
 * The Call to Command
 * The Crimson Courier / The Crimson Courier (original)
 * Nathanos' Ruse
 * Return to Nathanos
 * The Scarlet Oracle, Demetria
 * Ramstein (quest)
 * The Champion of the Banshee Queen

Alliance
His death was the objective of the quest Order Must Be Restored (quest).

One strategy was to take Nathanos down as fast as possible, whilst reducing the aggro on weaker party members. This enabled the group to at least complete the quest, or gain honor under the Honor system for the kill, while all the party were (still) alive.

You needed at least 8 people in a raid group at lower levels, with a main and off-tank.

Focus on Nathanos himself and take him down as fast as possible. He can be taken down in a minute or so, at which point no more skeletons will be added. The Blighthounds will not do any serious damage until he is down. Deal with them second, and the skeletons third.

Avoid healing as 2-4 skeletons are attracted to the healer. This includes direct heals, heal over time spells, Warlock's drain spells, bandages, potions, pet heals, and life-stealing enchants. Rather than heal, run; stop fighting to reduce threat (trinkets etc. with Spirit bonuses are useful here) and heal normally; or let your tanks do the healing to attract aggro back.

It was easy to solo him at level 80, especially if you are a tank.

Classic

 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * yell


 * Aggro
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say

Cataclysm
Be gone,. I have no need of you in my hunt.
 * Non-hunter gossip

On-click

 * Greeting
 * Out with it.
 * Do not test me.
 * What is it?
 * Make it quick.
 * Hmmmm.


 * Irritated
 * How dare you?!
 * I should wear your entrails as a necklace!
 * If you run now you may live.


 * Farewell
 * Hmmh.
 * Make yourself useful.
 * For the Dark Lady.
 * Try not to get yourself killed.
 * Get moving.

Gossip
The Vol'jin's funeral dialogue happens after Nathanos' Legion graphical update, giving him a new human model.

Not now!
 * Vol'jin's funeral

I'm here to ensure the Warchief's protection. Draw your weapon against her and you'll be dead before the first drop of your blood hits the ground.

As for anything else... it doesn't concern you. Understood?

Well, well... the illustrious . Still basking in the glory of your victory over the Legion, no doubt.
 * Orgrimmar Embassy



The Dark Lady has entrusted you with securing new allies for the Horde. For your sake, let us hope her faith has not been misplaced.

You?

They put YOU in charge of procuring new subjects for the Dark Lady?



On-click

 * Greeting
 * Humph... Speaker of the Horde.
 * The Zandalari do not seem to like me much.
 * The Warchief's will be done.
 * We need that Zandalari fleet.


 * Farewell
 * The Zandalari fleet must join the Horde. Make it happen.
 * Get Zandalari to join the Horde, hero.
 * The Alliance is not going to wait for us to build a fleet before they attack. We need the Zandalari.
 * The war with the Alliance will end us if we do not have the Zandalari fleet.

Gossip
For now, I will let you and Rokhan decide the best course of action as he knows these people better than I.
 * In Zuldazar during introduction questline

Besides, these trolls are prejudiced against those like myself that refuse to stay dead. I do not want their short-sighted views on life to get in the way of us gaining their fleet.

We must not fail. Sylvanas must have her fleet.

So the King named you Speaker for the Horde? Good. My diplomacy skills mostly involve arrows.
 * Later

This war is long overdue.
 * In Dazar'alor

The Alliance cloaks itself in righteousness and piety. Rubbish! They spurn and revile anyone who does not fit into their narrow world-view.
 * Conversation with Garona Halforcen on The Banshee's Wail
 * Garona Halforcen walks over to Nathanos Blightcaller.
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * Garona Halforcen walks back to her post.
 * Garona Halforcen walks back to her post.


 * (starts with Garona)
 * Nathanos Blightcaller walks over to Garona Halforcen.
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * Nathanos Blightcaller walks back to his post.


 * Post-The Return of Derek Proudmoore
 * Derek Proudmoore is being kept in the Hall of Ritual until preparations are complete to properly twist his mind.
 * Derek Proudmoore is being kept in the Hall of Ritual until preparations are complete to properly twist his mind.


 * Try not to get in the way.


 * Barrowknoll Cemetery, Drustvar
 * We have some graves to unearth.

Get on with it.
 * In Lor'danel Landing, Darkshore

Relationship with Sylvanas
There are strong implications that Nathanos and Sylvanas may have had a romantic relationship while alive - with echoes of this perhaps persisting in their undeath.
 * Nathanos was unpopular with his high elf comrades during his time as a Farstrider. Sylvanas championed Nathanos's cause in the face of all adversity, from her comrades and even from elven royalty. It was widely rumored throughout the Farstriders that their ranger-general had a romantic interest in her disciple. Neither denied it; Nathanos's only concern was that it might adversely affect Sylvanas's authority.
 * In the short story Dark Mirror, Nathanos expresses an explicit attraction and deep personal loyalty to Sylvanas, stating that she is more important to him than his home, or his position as ranger lord. The text further places emphasis on the physical closeness between the two, such as Sylvanas brushing his hand with her fingertips and requesting his "company" for the night at the Marris Stead.
 * Dark Ranger Anya outright mocked Nathanos for not seeing Sylvanas's lingering favor and affection for him for what it is. "Sylvanas defied a kingdom to name you ranger lord. She scoured the Plaguelands to reclaim you from the Scourge. And today she drew upon her most precious resource to restore your strength. Think upon these things, Blightcaller, and tell me how someone so cunning can be blind to the simplest of truths."

Notes and trivia

 * During The MOTHERLODE!!: Raw Deal, Trade Prince Gallywix mockingly calls Nathanos "Banshee Prince".
 * Nathanos is explicitly referred to as a dark ranger in Before the Storm, and in-game he displays typical dark ranger abilities like the summoning of skeleton minions and the usage of a special Black Arrow. In the Trading Card Game he is classed as a ranger, a classification shared only with one of Sylvanas' TCG cards (which calls her an "Undead Banshee Ranger").
 * His generic appearance is an undead male elf named Dark Ranger.
 * Jastor Gallywix called him Nathanos "prince of all that's death and destruction" Blightcaller.
 * Despite his extremely poor treatment of the player, often referring to him or her as "imbecile" and numerous variations thereof, Nathanos has become a popular character in the franchise, and his return to the Undercity has been largely met with affection. This is perhaps due to fond memories of vanilla Warcraft, where Nathanos was a force to be reckoned with and Horde players would often defend the powerful Blightcaller from the Alliance.
 * When talked to in-game, Nathanos says he survived the attempts on his life by playing possum.
 * In In the Shadow of the Sun, Renthar Hawkspear and Aurora Skycaller make the inference that Nathanos "never became Scourge," and that Sylvanas must have "called him to her service" before Arthas could exert a proper dominion over him. This is curious, as their version of events is in direct contradiction to Nathanos's own, in which the Banshee Queen's champion reiterates his time spent as a mindless thrall of the Lich King before Sylvanas freed him. Of course, they would reasonably not have access to this information; the player only learns because Nathanos himself lets them know.
 * Nathanos Marris can be seen in the Old Hillsbrad instance in Southshore's Town Hall speaking with Bilger the Straight-laced.
 * Nathanos Blightcaller's Coin can be fished up from the fountain in the version of Dalaran.
 * Nathanos is voiced by Jim Pirri.
 * During the Battle for Lordaeron, Nathanos rides a darkhound mount that is unavailable to players. At the start of The Stormwind Extraction, he mounts a gray bat (apparently not the same bat as Bloodwing, since the coloration is different).
 * During the Horde War Campaign in Nazmir, Nathanos rides an armored skeletal horse.
 * Nathanos's "irritated" on-click quotes are all references to quotes he would yell in battle against Alliance players before Cataclysm.
 * Nathanos loathes birds.
 * Data-mined sound files revealed that Nathanos was meant to participate in the Battle for Darkshore, opposite of Malfurion.

Speculation

 * He may be related to Marshal Marris.
 * Despite the alliance between Sylvanas and the Jailer, Sylvanas was not informed of Nathanos' death. It is unknown if the Jailer simply saw Nathanos as having served his purpose like he did with Sire Denathrius or if the Jailer has hidden plans for the Blightcaller, such as a potential bargaining chip to keep Sylvanas in line or has plans to convert him into one his Mawsworn.