Ashbringer

For the character with the title "the Ashbringer", see Alexandros Mograine. For the comic book mini-series by Wildstorm, see World of Warcraft: Ashbringer. For the in-game weapon introduced in World of Warcraft: Legion, see [Ashbringer]. For the original GM item, see Ashbringer (GM item).

The Ashbringer is a powerful sword named for its ability to slaughter the undead, leaving nothing but ash in its wake.^[1]^[2] It shares its name with its original wielder, Alexandros Mograine, former highlord of the Silver Hand, who was known as "the Ashbringer."^[3] Reports vary as to whether the sword was named after Mograine, or vice-versa.

Alexandros's oldest son, Renault, betrayed and murdered him with the sword, transforming it into the [Corrupted Ashbringer]. Alexandros was resurrected as a death knight of the Scourge, and kept the sword until his youngest son Darion killed him in Naxxramas and reclaimed the blade. Darion later discovered his father's soul had become corrupted and trapped in the sword, so he plunged it into his own heart in attempt to save him. His father's soul was redeemed, but Darion became a death knight. The sword was eventually purified after Darion betrayed the Lich King and relinquished it to Tirion Fordring.^[4]

Fordring wielded the Ashbringer throughout the Argent Crusade's campaign against the Scourge in Northrend, and used it to shatter Frostmourne and defeat the Lich King in the culminating encounter.

The sword's story has been slowly revealed since World of Warcraft's inception, and it had a pronounced role in Wrath of the Lich King, but players were unable to wield it until the release of Legion.

The Ashbringer is featured in a titular four-part comic book mini-series.^[5]

History

Origins

See also: Old Hillsbrad Ashbringer event

MograineDK — Highlord Mograine seen in Naxxramas.

During the assault on Blackrock Spire in the Second War, Highlord Alexandros Mograine of the Silver Hand took a mysterious, dark crystal from a dead orc warlock. The crystal was the "living embodiment of shadow" and it came from Draenor.^[2] Upon touching it, Mograine's hand became tainted and could not be healed.^[6]

Mograine kept the crystal a secret for years until just before the Scourge invasion of Lordaeron. He then revealed it to the other leaders of the Silver Hand, suggesting that they try to find the crystal's antithesis — a manifestation of the Holy Light itself — that could be used against the undead in the impending invasion. Mograine's peers were appalled at the sight of the dark crystal and tried to destroy it with holy spells. Unexpectedly, the crystal absorbed the spells and became the crystal of pure light that Mograine suggested moments before. They agreed to forge a weapon from the crystal that would smite the undead with such power that only a cloud of ash would remain in its wake.^[2]

Mograine and Fairbanks traveled to Ironforge, where Magni Bronzebeard forged the blade on the Great Anvil. Magni hoped the sword would be used to avenge his brother, Muradin, whom he believed had been killed by the Scourge.^[7]

Fall of the highlord

See also: Corrupted Ashbringer/Scarlet Monastery Event

After Arthas's betrayal, the Silver Hand was dissolved but the remaining leaders banded together to fight the undead of the now-Plaguelands. The Ashbringer became the most lethal weapon in their arsenal — so much so that it quickly garnered the attention of Kel'Thuzad. Balnazzar (in the newly-possessed body of Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan) sought to manipulate the remnants of the Silver Hand for the Burning Legion. After Mograine stated his intentions to attack the Undercity, Balnazzar put plans into motion to eliminate the highlord in order to protect his brother, Varimathras (who was manipulating Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken).

Balnazzar made a pact with Kel'Thuzad to eliminate the highlord: the bane of the Scourge would be destroyed, and the dreadlords' agendas would continue. He corrupted Mograine's son, Renault, and set a trap for the highlord. Renault led his father and High Inquisitor Fairbanks to Stratholme, where legions of the Scourge attacked them. Renault fled and hid while Mograine and Fairbanks fended for themselves. Fairbanks eventually became trapped alive under a pile of corpses. Mograine alone continued to smite thousands of the undead with ease, but was eventually wearied and dropped his blade in fatigue. Renault came out of hiding and slew his father with Ashbringer, which corrupted the blade. Later, Kel'Thuzad resurrected Mograine as one of his death knights of Naxxramas and reclaimed his corrupted blade. Renault became Commander of the Scarlet Monastery, and Balnazzar gained complete authority over the Scarlet Crusade.

Seeking to free his father, Alexandros's other son Darion Mograine led a mission into Naxxramas with a small party of Argent Dawn members. Upon finding him, Alexandros was unresponsive to his son's pleas and attempts to redeem him, forcing Darion to reluctantly kill him. Darion took the Corrupted Ashbringer, with his father's spirit bound to it. Alexandros's voice led Darion out of Naxxramas to Renault at the Scarlet Monastery. Darion confronted his brother, who lashed out and attempted to kill him. Before Renault was able to deal the final blow, Alexandros's spirit emerged from Ashbringer and decapitated him, saving Darion. The spirit of Alexandros then retreated back into the blade.

Some time later, during a Scourge assault on Light's Hope Chapel, Darion impaled himself with the corrupted Ashbringer in another attempt to free his father. Darion was resurrected as a death knight and became Highlord of the Death Knights of Acherus.

In World of Warcraft, it was stated that Alexandros is one of the founders of the Scarlet Crusade. The comic later depicted the formation of the Scarlet Crusade occurring after Alexandros's death, in which case he would have never been a member.

In World of Warcraft

The Ashbringer has been the subject of intense speculation since the release of World of Warcraft. Rumors were fueled by data-mined graphics and item statistics, as well as NPCs alluding to its existence.

At the launch of World of Warcraft, the only reference to the Ashbringer by name was made by Caretaker Alen. It was hinted at further with the introduction of Dire Maul. Alexia Ironknife, Bardu Sharpeye, Caretaker Alen, Narain Soothfancy, Commander Eligor Dawnbringer, Shen'dralar Zealots and [Nat Pagle's Guide to Extreme Anglin'] all make references to the Ashbringer. Information from these NPCs implied that the Asbhringer was somehow lost and that Nat Pagle and Prince Tortheldrin knew the location, and were even willing to tell the player; however, they have never shared their knowledge.

The mystery surrounding the Ashbringer created great interest and discussion among players, who searched for a hidden or unlockable quest that would reward the Ashbringer. Rumors regarding an acquirable Ashbringer persisted until a European CM admitted that it was not in-game, quickly followed by Eyonix's confirmation:

European CM Response on Ashbringer! | 2006-02-24 19:15 | Eyonix

It's true that currently Ashbringer is not in the game, although one day in the future it will be, but not until after there is an awesome legendary item for casters. ;)

View original post

The caster legendary item being referred to was [Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian], which was added in patch 1.11.0.

Corrupted Ashbringer

Main article: Corrupted Ashbringer (non-canon^[8])

In the original version of the Naxxramas raid, players encountered Highlord Mograine as a death knight of the four horsemen. He wielded the [Corrupted Ashbringer], which could be looted after the battle. It is not obtainable in the current version of Naxxramas.

Upon wielding the blade, the player becomes friendly with the Scarlet Crusade (although it does not appear in the reputations window) and hated with the Argent Dawn. A scripted event can be triggered upon entering the cathedral in the Scarlet Monastery.

In the event, Scarlet Commander Mograine welcomes the player as the crusaders bow before him or her. Unexpectedly, the spirit of Mograine's father, Highlord Mograine, appears in full Dreadnaught's Battlegear and smites his son for his betrayal. The highlord frees High Inquisitor Fairbanks's spirit from his undead form and disappears. Fairbanks proceeds to tell the story of Renault's betrayal and says that the Corrupted Ashbringer is beyond redeeming.

Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Fordring Ashbringer — Tirion Fordring wields Ashbringer after the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel.

Players can find Darion Mograine within Acherus, with the Corrupted Ashbringer, in the death knight starting area.

At the Lich King's command, Darion launched an attack on the Argent Dawn at Light's Hope Chapel. In the battle that ensued, Corrupted Ashbringer began to turn on Darion. When the death knights were forced to surrender, Tirion Fordring revealed that the Lich King knowingly sent Darion and his knights into a trap. Shortly thereafter, the Lich King himself appeared. Darion relinquished the Ashbringer to Tirion, which became purified in his grasp, forcing the Lich King to retreat.

In Howling Fjord, Alliance players can complete a quest to retrieve a [Sacred Artifact] from Utgarde Catacombs. Upon returning it to Valgarde, a nearby cleric unmasks himself as Tirion Fordring and equip the artifact, which is revealed to be the Ashbringer. The dialogue explains that Tirion was convinced by his advisors to travel to Valgarde in disguise, while Ares the Oathbound was entrusted to transport the sword separately to Northrend. This was a security precaution to protect the leader of the Crusade, should the Lich King's forces go after the sword's keeper in an attempt to kill Tirion. Fordring can later be seen wielding the Ashbringer in Icecrown.

Destruction of Frostmourne

During the final battle against the Lich King in Icecrown Citadel, Tirion Fordring shattered Frostmourne with Ashbringer, releasing the souls trapped within.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

After the victorious march on the Icecrown Citadel, Tirion returned to his old home - Hearthglen. There, he began establishing a new Argent Crusade base, and the Ashbringer, the sword that shattered the Frostmourne itself, serves as a symbol of a new dawn for everyone.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

Main article: Ashbringer (artifact)

Ashbringer is the artifact used by retribution paladins in World of Warcraft: Legion. Tirion was captured by the Legion and died after being tortured, though an adventuring paladin was able to recover the Ashbringer at the Broken Shore. Before he died, Tirion declared the adventurer the new Ashbringer and the sword's wielder.

Trivia

The Corrupted Ashbringer appears as an obtainable weapon in Diablo III.
In Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, Tirion Fordring appears as a legendary card, and upon death he equips the player with an Ashbringer weapon.
The Ashbringer is a type of cleaver falchion, a bladed weapon in use in Europe, through the 13th and 14th century, bearing great resemblance to a machete. ^{[citation needed]}

Rumors and 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.

The crystal

Ashbringer crystal — The dark crystal from which the Ashbringer would be crafted, before and after its purification.

According to Blizzard's lead writer, Micky Neilson, they planned on the crystal from which Ashbringer was created to be a darkened naaru. This was implied but never explicitly stated.^[9]

The naaru had not yet arrived on Draenor via Tempest Keep when Mograine obtained the crystal, suggesting that only the naaru aboard Oshu'gun - K'ure and D'ore - could have been its source.

With the reveal of K'ara in Warlords of Draenor, however, a third (and potentially more likely) possibility has emerged for the source of the Ashbringer's crystal.

Old questline

The Ashbringer may have been originally intended to be in the game much earlier. Parts of what seems to be a scrapped quest line can be pieced together:

Nat Pagle learned of the location of the Ashbringer and wrote about it in his book, [Nat Pagle's Guide to Extreme Anglin'], of which players only had the last page.
Shen'dralar Zealots in Dire Maul said that Prince Tortheldrin knew the location of the Ashbringer and was willing to tell the adventurer if one were to bring him the [Head of Nefarian]. Also in Dire Maul was the full (but unreadable) copy of Nat's book, A Thoroughly Read Copy of "Nat Pagle's Extreme' Anglin.", which could be found in dusty tomes. It could be surmised that the Prince, being a historian and bibliophile, likely read Pagle's book, learned of the Ashbringer's location, and discarded the book in Dire Maul where the adventurer found it.
The zealots' words suggested that the Ashbringer was likely to be the legendary item associated with Blackwing Lair but was changed to [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker], which required Elementium Ingots from Blackwing Lair. This was supported by the fact that the Ashbringer's original item ID was changed to host Thunderfury.^{[citation needed]}
At one time, [Timolain's Phylactery] could be looted from Large Vile Slimes in the Weeping Cavern of the Western Plaguelands. Lengthy discussion on the official forums led to the premature yet popular conclusion that Timolain was the name of the mage referred to by Bardu Sharpeye and Alexia Ironknife, and therefore was the crafter of the Ashbringer in its original questline. Bloodmage Thalnos was also speculated to be the crafter of the Ashbringer at one point, as the Scarlet Crusade had no affinity for the arcane.

The implementation of the Ashbringer was likely delayed so that the story could be fleshed out with the addition of Naxxramas. Blizzard has since acknowledged these old rumors by implementing a very similar questline to obtain the [Heart of Corruption], an item which makes it possible to transform the Ashbringer artifact into a [Corrupted Ashbringer] look-alike.

The second son

During the days of The Burning Crusade it was a common speculation that David Wayne would eventually end up being revealed as the second son of Highlord Mograine. It all began with the Corrupted Ashbringer Scarlet Monastery event which mentioned another Mograine living in Outland and who might be able to forge Ashbringer anew. David's relative youth for a member of the Sons of Lothar, his isolation, his blacksmithing skills and dialogs all led people to think he was the one High Inquisitor Fairbanks was speaking about, but Wrath of the Lich King eventually revealed that the other son was actually Darion Mograine, which was now the canon holder of the [Corrupted Ashbringer].

Gallery

The original World of Warcraft Ashbringer model, added in vanilla.
The updated World of Warcraft Ashbringer model, added in Legion.
The World of Warcraft corrupted Ashbringer model.
Magni forges the Ashbringer.
A statue of Tirion Fordring wielding Ashbringer in Hearthglen.
The Ashbringer and [Corrupted Ashbringer] as they appear in Diablo III.
From the Azeroth Armory Ashbringer video (based on the Crest of the Redeemed artifact appearance).