Weapons of Legend: Ashbringer

Heroes and villains rise and fall, but the most common legacies they leave behind are their weapons. In these Weapons of Legend articles I'll cover the history of some of these pivotal tools of war in hopes of gaining insight into the events and characters surrounding them.

Ashbringer

The tale of the Ashbringer itself is covered, quite fittingly, in the comic mini-series of the same name (World of Warcraft: Ashbringer). That same comic reveals to us the story of the man who earned the name 'Ashbringer,' and the fall of the Silver Hand and the rise of the Scarlet Crusade and Argent Dawn in its place. It also reveals to us the origin of Darion Mograine and how he came to be a death knight.

As it is told, a mysterious artifact of darkness was discovered during the assault on Blackrock Spire towards the end of the Second War. Taken by Alexandros Mograine, it was later discovered that this artifact actually had a dual nature. When struck enough by the Holy Light, the artifact began to change.  No longer an artifact of darkness, it had become an artifact of Light.

Thinking this could be used in the coming war against the undead Scourge, Alexandros and the remaining Knights of the Silver Hand had a powerful weapon forged by King Magni Bronzebeard of Ironforge. This weapon, imbued with Magni's vengeful passion at the reported death of his brother, Muradin, became a beacon of power against the evil of the Scourge.

The weapon, named the Ashbringer, was given to Alexandros Mograine, who used it to cut a swath of destruction through the invading Scourge forces the likes of which had never been seen in the war. His skill, and the habit of the sword's ability to turn the undead to ash, earned Alexandros himself the name of "Ashbringer."

Unfortunately, the victories of the Ashbringer were short lived, for Alexandros himself was betrayed by his first son, Renault Mograine, near Stratholme. It was here that Renault took the weapon and ran his father through, resulting in Alexandros's spirit becoming trapped inside the blade. His desire for vengeance against his son's betrayal corrupted the sacred weapon.

Alexandros Mograine was raised from the dead as a death knight by Kel'thuzad, and he was given back his weapon of choice. He again, found himself wielding the Ashbringer, only this time it was a vessel for his corrupted soul.

It was not too long before Darion Mograine, the younger and more favored of Alexandros's two children, braved the defenses of Naxxramas and faced off with his father. It was here that young Darion was able to take the corrupted weapon and flee into what remained of the kingdom of Lordaeron.

The voices from his father—voices from the blade itself—urged Darion to the Scarlet Monastery, and it was here that Alexandros's spirit found his vengeance. As Darion approached his brother, the truth about Renault's betrayal was revealed. Then, much to the shock of both Darion and Renault, Alexandros's spirit emerged from the sword and killed the elder of the two boys.

Vengeance had been served.  Frightened at the truth, young Darion fled the Scarlet Monastery and made his way to the Plaguelands, where he had been guided by a dream by Fairbanks. It was here that he met the self-exiled Tirion Fordring.  Fordring, being a former paladin of the Silver Hand, was no stranger to the Light or its adversaries. He revaled to Darion that only an act of love greater than an act of evil could free Alexandros's spirit.

It was then that Darion chose to travel to Light's Hope Chapel. Unfortunately, the Scourge had plans of their own, and they had prepared a massive assault against Light's Hope. The few soldiers who pledged their loyalties to the Argent Dawn stood valiantly in defense of their fellows, both living and dead.

For, you see, beneath Light's Hope Chapel existed the remains of a thousand of Azeroth's greatest heroes. Re-interred beneath the small church in an effort to prevent Arthas from resurrecting good men and women for his undead ranks, this concentration of spirits of the Light made Light's Hope a potent location indeed.

As the Scourge closed in around the small chapel, Darion Mograine remembered Fordring's words. In order to free his father's soul from its torment within the blade, he would have to make a great sacrifice of his own. And so, on the holy ground of Light's Hope, Darion Mograine ran the blade of the Corrupted Ashbringer through himself.

This sacrifice, this act of love, resulted in an explosion of power from the thousand souls buried there. The Scourge was decimated.

But the sword's tale is not over. While Darion succeeded in freeing his father's spirit from the weapon, he also succeeded in chaining himself to the blade. And once again, Kel'thuzad and the Scourge found themselves a champion.

It is here where we pick of the story of the Ashbringer in Wrath of the Lich King. We meet Darion Mograine as he leads the Ebon Blade of Acherus against New Avalon and the Scarlet Crusade. As a death knight, we follow him into battle in a second attack against Light's Hope, and it is here where we see the opening of the next chapter of the sword.

In this battle, as the brave defenders of Light's Hope fight off another endless onslaught of Scourge, Tirion Fordring appears and hands the Scourge its defeat. He confronts Darion and reminds the boy of his past, and a fading memory of Alexandros Mograine seems to catch the young death knight unexpectedly.

That is, until Arthas himself arrives and once again claims the soul of the elder Mograine. Tirion, enraged that Arthas would attempt to defile holy ground, strikes back at the Lich King. And Darion, feeling the corrupted weapon itself no longer answering his commands, tosses the Ashbringer to Fordring, who is miraculously able to cleanse it and strike back at Arthas.

And this is where things are currently, with Tirion Fordring in possession of the cleansed Ashbringer. Do we know how he cleansed it? Not really. It's a piece of lore that was somewhat glossed over during the opening death knight events. Do we also know why players have to retrieve the Ashbringer from within the Utgarde Catacombs in the early Alliance quests? No, we only have a vague idea of how Fordring lost it in the first place.

But despite these side bits, the story of the Ashbringer waits patiently until Icecrown Citadel opens up.  And then who knows what will happen?