The lore behind the raid: Karazhan part 1 of 3
The history of Karazhan begins with Satiel, the first necrolyte to walk the realm of Azeroth. Necrolytes are a type of necromancer who use the dark energies of the void. Eventually the necrolytes would bolster the orcish clans of draenor in the conflict against the kingdom of Stormwind.
Satiel would be given a scythe that would eventually be known as Ulthalesh the Deadwind Harvester by Sargeras. Sargeras was a titan, who like all titans, was created when a world-soul, or the spirit of a titan, matured with a planet in the great dark beyond. Basically like the solar system around Azeroth.
Sargeras created the scythe after he destroyed Mardum, a prison world he created to hold all the demons he killed in the great dark beyond. Sargeras aimed to destroy all world souls in the universe and he shattered Mardum to free the demons inside to do so. Those who agreed to do this bidding would eventually become the burning legion. Those who refused were faced with death.
In the fire of Mardum’s destruction Sargeras forged a great scythe and he used it against the demons who tried to take control of the prison dimension Mardum after its destruction.When Sargeras gave the scythe to Satiel it was simply known as ‘Ulthalesh’. Sargeras named the staff after dreadlord Ulthalesh who fought against Sargeras after the destruction of Mardum and was the last of the demons devoured by the scythe.
Sargeras gave the scythe to Satiel under the command to ‘reap the souls of Azeroth’s rebellious denizens’. This is where Ulthalesh gained the second part of its name and this is also how deadwind pass came to be. Before it was ‘deadwind pass’ it was the region next to Duskwood and Swamp of Sorrows. This area was known as the zone resembling the shape of a skull on a map. After Satiel was finished here most would rather forget the area’s history.
It is now the burial site of countless trolls who were consumed by Ulthalesh before Satiel turned the scythe on the areas denizen citizens in addition. All these actions were committed to fulfill Sargeras command. After Ulthalesh consumed all living souls the scythe gained its final name, Ulthalesh the Deadwind Harvester. Then Satiel turned the scythe on the land itself.
In addition to changing the surroundings this created a potent magical nexus in the area that eventually led to an explosion erupting from the scythe. An explosion which created a giant crater in southern deadwind pass where present day Karazhan sits. This area became a nexus of ley lines, or channels of immense power,that coursed through the earth carrying arcane magic after this incident.
Because of these acts the Council of Tirisfal took recourse upon Soleils actions. The Council of Tirisfal was a secret council made up of human, gnome and high elven mages committed to safeguarding Azeroth from demons. The Council of Tirisfal would elect a Guardian of Tirisfal, a single mortal champion who was empowered by the council. The Guardian of Tirisfal would secretly fight the burning legions and demons in Azeroth with their powers.
There have only been four Guardians of Tirisfal, with one of the most important being Aegwynn. Aegwynn was the only woman guardian and the most powerful of all the Guardians of Tirisfal. We will hear more about Aegwynn later, at this time Magna Scavell was the second and current Guardian of Tirisfal.
Satiel caused problems not only for trolls and villagers but for Sargeras himself. The scythe had consumed Satiel with Sargeras’ visions of power so much that Sataiel lusted after power Sargeras felt was rightly his. This lust for power by Satiel should have been expected as Sargeras instilled himself in the scythe to control its user, but either way it needed to be dealt with.
Through a dream Sargeras told the current Guardian of Tirisfal, Magna Scavell, that a dangerous demon lurked in deadwind pass awaiting the return of the burning legion. Guardian Scavell hunted down Sataiel and after an epic battle Scavell slayed Satiel with her own scythe. Scavell took Ulthalesh the Deadwind Harvester and proceeded to hide the scythe where no one would find it. Spoiler alert: eventually someone found it.
Eventually after 800 years of the guardianship Scavell sought out five apprentices of which one would become the new Guardian of Tirisfal. Four apprentices were Male and the fifth was female, Aegwynn. Even with her peers chastising her, Aegwynn showed the greatest aptitude of all the apprentices. Eventually Scavell transferred his powers to Aegwynn through the transference ritual that the first Guardian of Tirisfal ,Alodi, pioneered. Scavell survived the transference ceremony to Aegwynn but he eventually died a year later.
About 600 years before the first war Aegwyn became increasingly paranoid and hostile to her fellow members in the Council of Tirisfal. This resulted from the dark influence Sargeras was exerting over Aegwynn. Similar to the influence Sargeras had on Scavells visions, which caused Scavell to kill Satiel in this very area. This time it was Aegwynn’s own doing.
Aegwynnn had, as she believed, killed Sargeras, when she slayed him and trapped his physical avater near the Maelstrom at what would become the tomb of Sargeras. After this Aegwynn felt arrogant and cocky, that she alone defeated Sargeras, not with the help of the council as it occured.Unbeknownst to Aegwynn, Sargeras had infected her soul and would lie dormant in her body, which created Aegwynnns feelings of paranoia.
This possibly happened when Aegwynn was tired after slaying Sargeras’ avatar. While disposing of his avatar in his tomb I believe this is when Sargeras’ soul seeped into Aegwynn’s. Although we do not know the exact cause of this detail Sargeras has displayed the ability to easily slip in and out of controlling people’s thoughts without detection.
Seeking sanctuary Aegwynn used her staff Aluneth to construct a monstrous tower on top the nexus of potent ley lines created by the explosion Satiel caused. This tower would eventually become known as Karazhan, Kara and eventually Medivh’s tower.
Karazhan acted as both a refuge from the Council of Tirisfal in addition to a conduit for the ley lines in the region which allowed Aegwynn to siphon the arcane power as she immersed herself in her work. Aegwynn took solace in Karazhan and used it as a place to get work done away from the eyes of the Council of Tirisfal. The council had no idea where Aegwynn’s refuge was but when old guards of the council died new members wanted to take a much harder stance against Aegwynn and her questionable actions.
Upon Aegwynn’s last visit to Dalaran the council confronted her and demanded she give up her powers and step down as the Guardian of Tirisfal. The council would try to force Aegwynn’s hand by creating a new order of magi, The Trigarde, with the intentions of taking valuable relics and artifacts and hunting down Guardian Aegwynn.
Aegwynn knew they wanted to replace her as guardian without her assistance in finding her replacement. Not being a guardian is one, but not having a choice in her replacement? Aegwynn would not stand to see her replacement manipulated by the council like she was.To defy the council’s wish Aegwynn would search for a suitor to have a child, eventually becoming pregnant with the child of Stormwinds court wizard. The wizard thought Aegwynn wanted to be pregnant with a child for love. Aegwynn had ulterior motives of making her yet unborn child the next Guardian of Tirisfal.
The wizard who got Aegwynn pregnant with a child? Nielas Aran. Yes, this is the same Nielas Aran who adventurers eventually encounter in the guardians library as the second to last boss encounter of karazhan. This room is where the son of Aegwynn and Aran kept his library after he eventually took up residence in Karazhan as the fourth Guardian of Tirisfal.
Feeling guilty about not actually being in love with Aran yet still becoming pregnant Aegwynn locked her powers and knowledge of the council inside of her yet unborn child, Medivh, so these powers could manifest upon maturity. Unbeknownst to Aegwynn the dormant soul of Sargeras which had been resting within her was also transferred to Medivh at this time in addition to her knowledge and powers.While she did not want the council to manipulate her successor she was setting it up so Sargeras would be able to do this manipulation.
Eventually the Trigarde found Karazhan and being unable to stay in her sanctuary Aegwynn was forced to escape to the shattered remnants of Suramar. The same location where Aegwynn believes she killed Sargeras and then placed his body in the tomb of Sargeras. At this point Aegwynn kind of just goes to Suramar and hangs out or something, We have not heard from her in a while in the lore. We do know that when Aegwynn leaves she leaves the task of raising baby Medivh to her lover Aran.
Next we will follow Medivh as he takes the reign as guardian of tirisfal and learn more about the lore behind karazhan and its bosses in preparation of enjoying the content in TBC classic. Let me know your favorite moments of Karazhan lore or just share your experience of raiding Karazhan in the comments below.