Varimathras

Varimathras is a dreadlord in the service of the Burning Legion. He was forced into allying with the Forsaken, under the direct control of Sylvanas Windrunner, in exchange for sparing his life after he and his brothers were overcome by her undead forces. Though he swore allegiance to Sylvanas, Varimathras remained loyal to the Legion and eventually staged a coup for control of the Undercity. Punished for his blunders, Varimathras suffered eternal torment at the hands of the Coven of Shivarra until his death at the hands of Azeroth champions.

In World of Warcraft, Varimathras was a quest giver located in the Royal Quarter of the Undercity. In Wrath of the Lich King he appeared only to characters who had not finished the Wrathgate quest chain, but he was removed completely and replaced by Bragor Bloodfist in patch 3.3.0.

The breaking of Ner'zhul
At Kil'jaeden's command a group of dreadlords consisting of Varimathras, Tichondrius, Balnazzar, Detheroc, and Mal'Ganis tortured the orc shaman Ner'zhul after he had escaped from Draenor to the Twisting Nether. Eventually, Ner'zhul, his sanity cracking, would agree to serve Kil'jaeden. Kil'jaeden passed the orc's spirit through death and revived as a spectral entity. The dreadlords bound his disembodied spirit to a specifically crafted set of armor and a mighty runeblade called Frostmourne. These items were locked in a diamond-hard block of ice to imprison Ner'zhul. The Lich King and the dreadlords who had tortured him were then sent to Azeroth in order to weaken any resistance that the Burning Legion would in face during the Third War. While the Lich King gathered his strength, Varimathras and his fellow dreadlords would serve as jailors and executors meant to hasten the Lich King's task by any means necessary. To this end, they would construct the Icecrown Citadel within Northrend. Though seemingly broken by the dreadlords, Ner'zhul sought vengeance and was able to play on the dreadlord's fears of Kil'jaeden in order trick them into allowing him to hurl Frostmourne out of the Frozen Throne.

The Third War
It was the dreadlords Mal'Ganis and Tichondrius who first spread the taint and corruption of the Legion across Lordaeron and Felwood respectively, and after their deaths by the hands of the enemies of the Scourge, it was Varimathras and his two brothers, Detheroc and Balnazzar, who were put in charge of the undead forces in Lordaeron while Archimonde took his forces across the sea to Kalimdor to siphon energy from the World Tree, Nordrassil, on Mount Hyjal. Several months passed after Archimonde's departure and subsequent death during the Battle of Mount Hyjal, yet the three dreadlords were unaware of the events and continued their vigil over Lordaeron, maintaining their occupation of the Capital City. No sooner had they begun to suspect the possibility of their plans going awry when King Arthas burst into the city bounds, announcing the defeat of the Legion and the death of Archimonde. He had come to reclaim the throne of Lordaeron and exact his vengeance on the dreadlords to complete the circle of defeat for the Legion, but Varimathras and his kindred quickly escaped his wrath, taking refuge within the Plaguelands where they plotted their next move.

Knowing that they would not be able to defeat the loyal army of the Lich King, in addition to the combined might of the loyal lich Kel'Thuzad and dark ranger Sylvanas, Varimathras instead appealed to Sylvanas alone in secret, revealing to her the diminishing powers of both Arthas and the Lich King and making a deal for her aid in overthrowing the weakening death knight. Thirsty for revenge for turning her into the cursed undead, Sylvanas reveled in the chance to exact her vengeance upon Arthas. After the dreadlords separated him from his forces, Sylvanas attempted to assassinate him. However, due entirely to the interference of Kel'Thuzad, he escaped her vengeance. She instead turned her eye back to the Lordaeron capital city. Arthas fled to Northrend and was no longer a threat, so the conflict was narrowed down to the forces of the dreadlords against the forces of Sylvanas, both vying for control of Lordaeron and ultimately freedom. As the Lich King's control over the Scourge continued to wane, more and more undead were becoming free-willed and loyal to Sylvanas.

After Arthas' retreat, Varimathras again visited Sylvanas, offering her a position in the dreadlord's army as an agent of their new world order. She refused, unwilling to once again give up her freedom. Varimathras then labeled her an enemy of the Burning Legion and warned her not to get in the way of their rule over the Plaguelands. Sylvanas knew that if she and her people were to ever live in peace, the dreadlords would have to be destroyed. She scoured the forest using her banshees to possess the most powerful denizens in order to build up her forces. She then sent her army against the forces of Varimathras, who stood no chance against them. Sylvanas devastated his forces and was ready to execute the dreadlord — who begged her for his life. He offered his service, as well as his knowledge of his brothers' tactics and base locations, in exchange for his life. In an act of twisted mercy, Sylvanas accepted his offer and ensured Varimathras that his life would be spared. Sylvanas then used her newest subordinate to seek out the base of Detheroc, who had enslaved a large number of human soldiers, manipulating them to do his bidding. Leading them was Lord Garithos, leader of the last remnants of the Lordaeron army. Despite the additional threat, Sylvanas was able to strike a crippling blow to both the humans and undead of the Scourge, using her banshees to possess some wayward scouts and infiltrate Detheroc's base. While the enemy forces slept, Sylvanas moved quickly to disable and destroy one base after another before they were able to notice the disturbance. Sylvanas tore Detheroc to shreds, and with him dead, the human forces regained their free will and were left with no choice but to forge a tenuous alliance with Sylvanas. With Garithos and his forces at their side, they then moved on to combat the final threat, Balnazzar.

They assaulted Balnazzar's stronghold in the Lordaeron capital ruins in a two-pronged attack, Sylvanas' forces attacking from one side while Garithos' forces attacked from another. Balnazzar called in demonic reinforcements through a demon portal, but despite his resilience, he was ultimately defeated. He was cornered by Sylvanas and Garithos, and, as a last testament to Varimathras' loyalty, Sylvanas ordered him to kill his brother. Varimathras was reluctant to break the nathrezim code that they must never slay one of their own. However, he valued his own life above all else, and with no further hesitation brutally "killed" Balnazzar (Balnazzar however had faked his own death).

Once the task was complete and the dreadlords had fallen, Lordaeron was finally free of the Scourge. Garithos then demanded that Sylvanas and her forces get out of "his" city. Sylvanas instead gave Varimathras the order to kill Garithos. He did so with pleasure and thus solidified his place among the Forsaken of Lordaeron. Within the sewer system of the ruined capital city, Varimathras aided Sylvanas in the construction of the new capital, henceforth known as the Undercity. It was also at this time that Sylvanas named her people, the free-willed undead, the Forsaken.

Ashbringer
Though he was in the service of the Dark Lady, it was revealed that he was not loyal to her and was still in contact with Balnazzar who wielded the disguise of Saidan Dathrohan. After Balnazzar learned about Alexandros' plan to destroy the Forsaken, he commanded him to kill Alexandros using his sons, Renault or Darion. Some time after the Scourge attacks on Hearthglen and Light's Hope Chapel, the two dreadlords met and Varimathras received another ingredient for the new blight from Castillian.

Legends: Crusader's Blood
Reynah Firecaster learned that her brother, Rinn Firecaster was killed by a captain of the Scarlet Crusade. When Reynah arrived to Undercity she begged Varimathras for an audience with Sylvanas Windrunner demanding justice for her brother who was killed in their lands. Varimathras, however, brushed her off, telling her that Sylvanas has more to worry about than one death and if she wants justice done do it herself.

Later on, Varimathras alongside Sylvanas attacked a camp of the Scarlet Crusade and defeated its leader, Renee Lauer, who was responsible for the deaths. After this, Renee was resurrected as a Forsaken.

World of Warcraft
He served the Banshee Queen as her majordomo and lieutenant, and worked ceaselessly to safeguard the Undercity from all threats. Sylvanas tasked him with conquering the human and dwarven lands in southern Lordaeron. He used to send Horde adventurers into the Scarlet Monastery to deal with its crazed inhabitants. High Executor Darthalia was also under his direct command and she orchestrated his planned assaults on the Alliance forces of the Hillsbrad Foothills.

Varimathras suspected that Andron Gant provided aid to some other group and had his Deathstalkers examined it. He ordered the death of Fenwick Thatros in Silverpine Forest, as well as to obtain documents from Ambermill about Dalaran's current status. He also sent Apothecary Faustin and Deathstalker Zraedus to Duskwood in order to survey lower Eastern Kingdoms.

Wrath of The Lich King
Varimathras noticed Sylvanas when she felt that Arthas has awoken.

In the wake of the Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, it was revealed that Varimathras had plotted his way into controlling a substantial part of the Forsaken, using them and his chief underling, Grand Apothecary Putress, to launch a surprise assault upon the combatants at the Wrathgate. This ambush resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Alliance and Horde soldiers, including famed Alliance hero Bolvar Fordragon.

He was confronted by Thrall, Sylvanas, and the adventurers during the Battle for the Undercity. During the battle against his summoned Legion minions — overlords, dreadwhisperers, and invaders — Varimathras made reference to "years of planning" (attempting to undermine Sylvanas) and the voice of an unseen "Master" berated Varimathras for his failure to prevent the Horde party from reaching the throne room. At this point, Varimathras entered the fray himself and was defeated.



Legion
Varimathras is a boss in Antorus, the Burning Throne on Argus. In payment for his blunders at the Undercity, Varimathras has been tortured by the Coven of Shivarra. The vindictive sisters stripped away both flesh and sanity, leaving only a singular desire to inflict suffering upon the mortals who cost him everything. He was killed by the adventurers of the Alliance and Horde. Before being slain, he hinted that the Horde had been deceived by Sylvanas and were blind to the darkness in their midst. His final words, "death claims us all," echoed Sylvanas' sentiments and presaged the war against the Jailer.

Quests

 * The Power to Destroy... (original)
 * Battle of Hillsbrad (7) (Classic)
 * An Unholy Alliance (Classic)
 * An Unholy Alliance (2) (Classic)
 * Into The Scarlet Monastery (original)
 * The Crimson Courier (original)
 * The Call to Command
 * The Deathstalkers (4)

In the RPG
Varimathras has seemingly appeared to serve Sylvanas unquestionably ever since that time and now serves as her vizier, working ceaselessly to safeguard the Undercity from all outside threats, especially that of his former masters. The fact that Varimathras still has not betrayed Lady Sylvanas means that she must have a powerful ace up her sleeve, only time will tell what that might be. Then again, it's possible Varimathras has already betrayed the Forsaken, but how it has happened is not yet known. There are rumors that Balnazzar lives. It is possible that they have some grand scheme to manipulate the Forsaken and reclaim them for the Burning Legion, or for their own faction.

The dreadlord Varimathras polices the Forsaken and holds almost as much power as Sylvanas. However, there is a trend amongst the undead. They appear to be split into two camps, those that revere Sylvanas and those that follow Varimathras. Sylvanas doesn't truly trust Varimathras, but still believes he is her willing servant. If she isn't careful she may find out she no longer rules the Forsaken.

A Forsaken messenger, Kalasan, had intercepted messages from a traitor in Undercity communicating with Stratholme and Kel'Thuzad. He entered Sylvanas's throne room to tell her what he had found out but discovered his mistake. He hadn't noticed she wasn't in the throne room, and when he blurted out what he had found out, he was left alone with Varimathras who locked the doors behind him so he couldn't escape.

Warcraft III

 * "Don't be too hasty. She has great spirit, but her hatred for Arthas will ultimately serve our cause."
 * "Greetings, Lady Sylvanas. My brothers and I appreciate the role you played in overthrowing Arthas. I've come to offer you a formal invitation to join our new order."
 * "Sylvanas, spare my life. I beg you! I can be of service--I swear it!"
 * "Sylvanas has greater strength than you know, brother. I'll take my chances with her."
 * "But I... It is forbidden for one of the Nathrezim to kill another! My defection was one thing, but this..."

World of Warcraft

 * Aggro
 * Vanquish the weak!
 * Time to die!
 * None can oppose me.
 * For Sylvanas!


 * Greetings
 * I'm always on the winning side.
 * You think you can match the might of a dreadlord?!
 * Don't waste my time.
 * How will this benefit me?


 * Gossip
 * Do not presume to speak to me as though you are my equal, . Sylvanas is my queen, and I will do as she bids.
 * If you do not show the proper respect, I assure you, we can find a more than suitable place for you in the Nether.
 * But there is no reason we cannot have words if you wish to aid the Dark Lady...

Notes and trivia

 * Before his fate was revealed on Argus, he was presumed to be plotting revenge with his demon brothers.
 * During his Legion encounter, he uses energy.
 * Varimathras is the only notable dreadlord not to return in the first patches of Legion, although he was planned to appear during the development. He held the title of Mission Specialist, implying he would serve a class order, probably the Council of the Black Harvest.
 * In the novel Stormrage, Varimathras and Arthas act as Sylvanas' torturers in her nightmare.
 * Originally, after the questline he was not seen in-game again by the players who completed the quest (as part of the "phasing" system used in the Scarlet Enclave and areas of Northrend) but was visible for the players that didn't complete the quest. In patch 3.3.0, Varimathras and the abominations that previously patrolled Undercity were permanently replaced by the Kor'kron Guard and their captain Bragor Bloodfist.
 * He is voiced by Paul Eiding in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne and by Jamieson Price in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and World of Warcraft: Legion.
 * In the Warcraft III campaigns, dreadlord characters were given different colors out of concern that players wouldn't be able to tell them apart.
 * Varimathras' TCG art from the Reign of Fire set is used by Mal'Ganis in Hearthstone.
 * The physical appearance of Varimathras in Antorus is strongly reminiscent of the character Raziel from the video game series Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. Both characters suffered similar fates and as a result, their physical features include shredded wings, missing jaws, flayed, and melted skin.