- For the rest of Stormwind nobles, see Nobles of Stormwind. For other uses, see Noble (disambiguation).
House of Nobles | |
---|---|
King Varian Wrynn dining with his noble courtiers in Stormwind Keep. | |
Main leader | King Anduin Wrynn |
Formerly |
King Varian Wrynn ā King Llane Wrynn I ā |
Race(s) | Human |
Capital | Stormwind City |
Theater of operations | Azeroth |
Language(s) | Common |
Affiliation | Kingdom of Stormwind, Alliance |
Status | Active |
The House of Nobles is a political assembly that forms part of the government of the Kingdom of Stormwind, comprised of some of Stormwind's most powerful aristocratic bloodlines. Positions within the organization are typically inherited.[1] Under the direction of the kingdom's ruling dynasty, the House of Wrynn, the monarch of Stormwind is aided in their role as head of government by the House of Nobles, which possesses considerable power on many internal matters and the running of the kingdom's day to day affairs.
The nobles are mainly royal advisors who have major leverage over business and labor, due to the fact that they own much of the land themselves.[2] For instance, it is able to lobby for important administrative issues,[3] and possesses the right to overrule regional elected officials on matters of law.[4][5] While the nobles wield considerable power within Stormwind, the House has less influence within the Alliance as a whole.[6] They have clashed with the monarch on more than one occasion, but the monarchy has recently learned to not let the nobles push them around anymore.[7]
The king can provide the House with temporary stewardship if he leaves the kingdom.[8]
History[]
The House of Nobles already existed before the First War, as in order to secure a spot among them, the Ellerian noble family of Westfall pre-arranged the marriage of Tiffin Ellerian and Prince Varian Wrynn at her birth.[9]
During the First War, most of the nobles of the kingdom were slain by the Old Horde when they razed Stormwind City.[10] Following the end of the Second War, Turalyon helped Prince Varian Wrynn secure his place as Stormwind's next king by providing him with experienced ministers and advisors.[11]
After being razed by the orcs during the First War, the House of Nobles contracted the Stonemason's Guild to rebuild the broken city of Stormwind. They spent years toiling to rebuild the glorious city but were left broke, their fees and salaries left unpaid and unspoken for, as they were forgotten by the city's officials. When the time of the rightful payment came, the nobles of Stormwind couldn't because they ran up a huge debt by expanding the kingdom's military presence through Elwynn and into Stranglethorn, and the massive debt crippled the kingdom's economy.[12] In the shadow, Lady Katrana Prestor manipulated both sides with the Drakefire Amulet - her meddling in the rebuilding of Stormwind left the nobility unsatisfied with the craftsmanship of the guild, while the workers were enraged that the nobility despised them and were threatening to withhold payment.[13][14] Although some of the nobles supported the Stonemasons Guild, such as Queen Tiffin Wrynn[15] and Count Erlgadin, who lobbied to improve the working conditions for the stonemasons during the restoration of the kingdom.[16]
Upon returning from a foray, King Varian Wrynn was unable to negotiate a resolution that appeased both parties. While he agreed that the Stonemasons' fees were excessive, he felt the amount offered by the council of nobles was too stingy. In retrospection, Varian realized that the nobles were unduly influenced by Lady Katrana, and later suspected that half of each side had been ensorcelled by Prestor.[17] When the Guildmaster of the Stonemasons Edwin VanCleef spoke out, demanding restitution for their works, the Stormwind House of Nobles ordered the Stonemasons' Guild disbanded, and it turned into a heated dispute, which resulted in riots that led to the murder of Queen Tiffin.[18][19]
The conflict ended when VanCleef and his Stonemasons fled the city and the wrath of King Varian Wrynn, hiding in the rural areas of Westfall to escape prosecution.[20] From the shadows, Onyxia continued to stoke their rage by using her influence as Lady Prestor to cut off supplies and support to the region. They became the terrorist organization known as the Defias Brotherhood, turning to banditry and murder to recover the gold owed to them,[21] and under Edwin VanCleef's reign, they were determined to destroy the corrupted House of Nobles and Stormwind City with it.[22]
World of Warcraft[]
At some point, Lord Baurles K. Wishock caused quite a stir amongst the House of Nobles after he discovered the hidden enclave of the warlocks of Stormwind, in the Slaughtered Lamb's basement and catacombs. When he began to lobby for a full investigation, and intended to petition the king to shut down the establishment,[23] he was murdered with poison by warlocks wishing to practice their ways without disturbance.[24][25]
When the Blackrock orc Targorr the Dread was captured, he was being held in the Stormwind Stockade and sentenced to death. However, one of the bureaucratic nobles put a hold on his execution to serve as their political pawn, until he was killed by an adventurer sent by Guard Berton.[5] At the same time, the House of Nobles interfered with the judgment of the Council of Darkshire regarding the execution of the grave robber Dextren Ward, and instead had him locked in the Stormwind Stockade. To send a clear message, Councilman Millstipe sent an adventurer to execute Dexten, so that the corrupt bureaucrats understand that the people of Duskwood will stand against Stormwind if they do nothing to help them.[4]
Among the corrupt nobles, Edwin VanCleef had an ally, Lord Gregor Lescovar, an aristocrat who conspired with the Defias against King Varian Wrynn.[26] He was later assassinated by Tyrion and an adventurer on the orders of Elling Trias.[27]
As a member of the House of Nobles, Sir S. J. Erlgadin grew bitter about the role of the nobles in the betrayal of the Stonemasons' Guild. At some point, he decided to no longer uphold his position as a Count in the political assembly, and gave up both his place and title to join the Nesingwary Safari in Northern Stranglethorn.[28]
The Comic[]
When King Varian Wrynn disappeared, after being kidnapped by the Defias Brotherhood on the orders of Lady Katrana Prestor,[29] he was succeeded by his son Prince Anduin Wrynn. However, the kingdom was kept in a state of chaos and political unrest due to the corruption created by Lady Katrana Prestor and her manipulations of the House of Nobles. When Varian returned, a massive ceremony was held in the Valley of Heroes, where the citizens had only been informed that the Defias Brotherhood had ransomed the king. During the ceremony, Anduin told his father that the ransom was paid with a painful new tax imposed by the House of Nobles, and that their people were even more angry and impoverished.[30]
Blood of Our Fathers[]
During the Remembrance Day after the Cataclysm, several nobles were part of the Honor Delegation in the throne room of Stormwind Keep, selected to stand behind the king when he would deliver his memorial speech. Among them, some nobles led by Baron Aldous Lescovar, who succeeded his traitorous father, were growing discontent with costs of the Alliance wars that their ferocious King Varian Wrynn was involving the kingdom in, though they had no love for the Horde either. When Jaina Proudmoore approached the drunken group, they behaved rudely towards her and Aldous told her that she should use her influence to stop the king's current plans. However, Varian entered and was enraged to find that the nobles had been grumbling about the costs of his campaigns, to which the king harshly berated them for their petty complaints. Varian then dismissed the nobles, causing the stunned audience to slowly file out.
When Varian didn't show up in time to start his speech to the people of Stormwind, some of the nobles wanted the ceremony to move forward, king or no king, while others insisted that they should wait for their leader, no matter how long it took. When the people began to lose patience, all the nobles and other members of the delegation convinced Archbishop Benedictus to give a speech, as he was truly loved by the citizens. After King Varian survived an assassination attempt and made his speech, everyone applauded with joy, even Aldous Lescovar and his nobles were standing and cheering, swept up by the power and pride of their king's vision.[31]
Tides of War[]
Following the Destruction of Theramore, King Varian Wrynn declared war on the Horde and decided to lead a naval force towards Orgrimmar, in an effort to break the naval blockade of Kalimdor. Although the nobles tried to convince him to stay in Stormwind City, he refused to send his soldiers to fight without being on their side.[32]
Fourth War and aftermath[]
As of the Fourth War, the House of Nobles was still active in the kingdom.[33] Since Anduin Wrynn's ascension as king, the House of Nobles has seen great strides in rooting out corruption, mainly under the supervision of Mathias Shaw of the SI:7. Among the nobles targeted by the measures, Count Clessington and his household had made some questionable decisions to regain their prestige, but the king's actions against corruption only made things worse for them.[34]
After King Anduin's abduction by the Mawsworn, Turalyon was appointed as regent and protector of the realm with the support of the nobles.[35] The nobles were keen on restoring Stormwind's defenses in the wake of the Fourth War,[36] and Turalyon remained popular with them in the years to come.[37]
Dragonflight[]
Following the defeat of Count Clessington and the Defias Brotherhood at Northshire Valley, Cecilia Clessington succeeded her father as the head of her family and a member of the House of Nobles. Rather than dissolve her noble house, she used her influence among the nobles of Stormwind to support and formalize the Breadbasket Guild, an organization of Westfall inhabitants seeking to revitalize the region.[38] When they began to ask for support from the kingdom, some leadership and nobles in Stormwind City were already receptive to their requests, notably Lord Joran Tremaind who began to support them.[39] However, according to Vanessa VanCleef, while many corrupt nobles appeared favorable to the actions of the guild, they would soon send their agents, refusing to let the people of Westfall have power over them, and she would be there to stop them.[40]
For Countess Cecilia Clessington, the Breadbasket Guild was a first step towards real changes in the Stormwind society, not only by uniting the voices of the people to bring a message to the leaders of the kingdom, but also to make things evolve from inside the House of Nobles. Her long-term goal being to gradually transform the House of Nobles into the "House of the People". Although many nobles are against this project, some of the younger nobles have started to listen to her proposals, such as Lord Joran Tremaind.[38]
Members[]
- Count Remington Ridgewell
- Lord/Baron Aldous Lescovar
- Lord Joran Tremaind
- Countess Cecilia Clessington
- One member of the Ellerian family
- Former
- Sir S. J. Erlgadin (seat unclaimed)
- Count Clessington ā
- Count Erlgadin
- Lord Gregor Lescovar ā
- Lady Katrana Prestor ā
- Lord Baurles K. Wishock ā
- Possible
In the RPG[]
After the Stonemasons Guild finished rebuilding Stormwind City, though, the corrupt House of Nobles refused to pay the guild for its work. King Varian was unable to fix matters because the House of Nobles held too much political power and outmaneuvered him repeatedly. Some of the more senior of the Stonemasons, including VanCleef, were offered governmental jobs if they'd just be quiet and play along.[41]
Notes[]
- The convict Randolph Moloch had connections to the House of Nobles.[42]
- Since their conflict with the Stonemasons Guild, they have a certain reputation for reneging on their debts.[43]
- It is unknown if the Ellerian noble family still holds their place among the House of Nobles, or if any of the family are still alive to represent them.
- According to Sean Copeland, if the House of Wrynn were to disappear, the House of Nobles would decide who would succeed them on the throne.[44]
Speculations[]
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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Most members of the House of Nobles in Stormwind City Keep are presumably part of the Court of Stormwind.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ The Green Hills of Stranglethorn, pg. 5
- ^ Dave Kosak on Twitter
- ^ [30] A Noble Brew
- ^ a b [26D] Crime and Punishment
- ^ a b [25D] What Comes Around...
- ^ Dave Kosak on Twitter
- ^ Dave Kosak on Twitter
- ^ Before the Storm, pg. ??
- ^ Ask CDev Answers - Round 1
- ^ Tides of Darkness, chapter 3
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 177
- ^ [Shaw's Report]
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 36
- ^ [50-70] A Window to the Past
- ^ Ask CDev#Ask CDev Answers - Round 1
- ^ The Green Hills of Stranglethorn - Page 4
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Comic, Issue 13: Flashback
- ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 10
- ^ [Report on the Defias Brotherhood]
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 36
- ^ [50-70] A Window to the Past
- ^ The World of Warcraft Townhall/Beastiary#Defias Thief
- ^ [30] A Noble Brew
- ^ [30] A Noble Brew
- ^ [30] You Have Served Us Well
- ^ [31] Items of Some Consequence
- ^ [31] The Attack!
- ^ The Green Hills of Stranglethorn - Page 5
- ^ [15-30] Survey Alcaz Island
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Comic, Issue 8: The Return
- ^ Blood of Our Fathers
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 23
- ^ Polygon - In Battle for Azeroth, the Alliance are set to take the stage
- ^ [50-70] The New Clessington Estate
- ^ Death Rising - Mathias and Genn On Turalyon Ruling Stormwind: Genn Greymane says: Anduin entrusted Turalyon with command of our military forces. The Stormwind nobles support him serving as regent and protector of the realm.
- ^ Stormwind Keep gossip text
- ^ Genn Greymane#Dragonflight
- ^ a b Cecilia Clessington#Quotes
- ^ Lord Joran Tremaind#Quotes
- ^ Vanessa VanCleef#Dragonflight 2
- ^ Dark Factions, pg. 139
- ^ Randolph Moloch#Adventure Guide
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Comic, Issue 9: Through the Mirror Darkly
- ^ Archive lore tweets from loreology