This event marked the end of the campaign in Northrend, the united mortal races having achieved a decisive victory over the Undead Scourge (though it could not be fully vanquished), thereby saving the entire world from catastrophe. Taking the burden upon himself, the once-thought-deceased Bolvar Fordragon donned the helmet of the Lich King, in doing so becoming dormant on the Frozen Throne and binding the Scourge.
Though the Lich King, Arthas, was eventually defeated, it became apparent that the absence of a Lich King would lead to the Scourge becoming unrestrained, at which point it would eventually destroy Azeroth. The battle was a coordinated effort by the Crusade, the Knights of the Ebon Blade, the Horde, and Alliance (although they came to blows during the event), with the goal of finally vanquishing the Lord of the Scourge.
Despite these distractions, the Lich King's collective adversaries continued making gains against the Scourge, eventually taking the fight to Icecrown itself.įollowing a brief intermission in major fighting as the Argent Crusade and its champions tested and prepared themselves in the Argent Tournament in Icecrown, an assault on the Lich King's bastion- Icecrown Citadel-was launched. These included the Nexus War, the Battle for the Undercity and its aftermath, the Wolfcult, and the awakening of Ulduar. In the midst of the War against the Lich King, several other major threats presented themselves which drew the attention of the many factions. At this time, the mages of the Kirin Tor also joined the conflict by moving their city of Dalaran to Crystalsong Forest, in the center of Northrend the city would go on to serve as a launching point for many of the actions against the Scourge.Īs the Alliance and Horde began to consolidate the holdings they had gained on the continent, the Argent Crusade, under Highlord Tirion Fordring, began to bolster its forces and strike out against the Scourge. Having repelled the Lich King's forces, the Horde and Alliance declared war on the Scourge and formally launched their campaigns to the continent of Northrend, the Lich King's base of operations. The Scourge simultaneously launched determined invasions of Stormwind, Orgrimmar and Theramore, escalating the war by forcing the two factions to take direct action. First among these was the formation of the Argent Crusade after the war's first conflict, the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, which also cemented the independence of the Knights of Ebon Blade, all of these factions immediately declaring war on, and mobilising to oppose, the Scourge.Īt the same time, while the Alliance and Horde were also preparing to attack the Scourge, the Lich King preemptively struck first. In the face of a number of aggressive actions conducted by a newly-resurgent undead Scourge, a number of organizations were established to bring an end to the threat of the Lich King once and for all. The war against the Lich King (also called war against the Scourge, battle against the Lich King, war for Northrend, Scourgewar, Northrend campaign, and war in the frozen wastes ) was a world conflict fought between the Scourge, led by the Lich King Arthas Menethil, and a coalition of the majority of Azeroth's other races primarily led by the Argent Crusade. So come then, you heroes! Come in all your power and glory! For in the final hour, all must serve the one. Only then will you understand - you've been following in my footsteps all along. in the end, all that awaits you is death. Sacrifice everything as the final darkness falls. Long forgotten terrors will smother your courage. The land itself will rise up against you. You will venture deep into forgotten lands. You have come to this place seeking to bring judgement upon the damned. Zombie Infestation, Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, Battle for the Ebon Hold, Scourge Invasion of Orgrimmar, Scourge Invasion of Stormwind, Scourge Invasion of Theramore, Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, Battle for the Undercity, Icecrown Gunship Battle and Fall of the Lich King. Twilight's Hammer presence in Northrend wiped out, Keepers of Ulduar slain or restored
Up to 50,000 losses for the Alliance, unknown for other factions but presumed to be equally massiveĪlmost complete annihilation of the Scourge's command structure and vast losses for all Scourge forces heavy losses for vrykul loyalistsįairly severe, including a large portion of their mortal servants Mal'ganis (disguised as Grand Admiral Barean Westwind).Muradin Bronzebeard (briefly as Yorg Stormheart).Bolvar Fordragon ascends the Frozen Throne to become the new Lich King.Knights of the Ebon Blade become independent.Near-total eradication of the Scourge's leadership.
Death of Arthas Menethil and shattering of Frostmourne