World of Warcraft
Dath’Remar was the visionary who founded the kingdom. Kael’thas, the prince who tried to save it but lost his way. Standing between them is a titan of history. A king who ruled for nearly 3,000 years. A king who forged the Alliance, taught humans magic, and died standing against death itself.
His name was Anasterian Sunstrider. He was the last High King of Quel’Thalas. His story is the story of how the High Elves rose to power, and how their arrogance led to their doom.
The King of Three Millennia
For most High Elves, Anasterian was the only king they had ever known. He sat on the Sunstrider throne for thousands of years. Under his reign, Quel’Thalas flourished further into a golden paradise. The forests were eternal spring, the magic was boundless. He was a father figure to an entire race. He kinda reminds me of ‘‘Thranduil’’ from Lotr.
Living for three millennia brings a dangerous flaw, arrogance. Anasterian believed he and his kingdom were untouchable. His belief was the Ban’dinoriel (the magical barrier) could stop anything.
The Troll Wars & The Debt to Humans
Anasterian’s most historically significant move happened 2,800 years before the story of World of Warcraft began. The Amani Trolls were crushing the High Elves. Desperate, Anasterian looked south to the primitive human tribes of Arathor.
He made a deal with the human king, Thoradin. “Help us fight the trolls, and we will teach you magic.” This decision changed Azeroth forever. Anasterian sent 100 High Elf magi to teach humans the arcane. This led to the creation of Dalaran and the first human mages. Without Anasterian, Jaina, Khadgar, or Medivh would never exist.
However, Anasterian swore a blood oath to Thoradin’s bloodline, “If your descendants ever need aid, the High Elves will answer.”
The Reluctant Ally, Second War
When the Orcish Horde invaded in the Second War (Warcraft II), Anasterian didn’t want to join the Alliance. He was an isolationist. But Anduin Lothar, the last descendant of King Thoradin, reminded him of the ancient oath. Reluctantly, Anasterian sent a token force, consisting of mostly Rangers led by Alleria Windrunner to help.
When the Orcs burned the borders of Eversong Woods with the help of enslaved red dragons, Anasterian woke up. He threw the full might of Quel’Thalas into the war, helping to defeat the Horde. Immediately after the war, claiming the humans were incompetent, he withdrew from the Alliance and locked the gates of his kingdom. This isolation left them alone when the true threat arrived.
The Fall of the King, Scourge Invasion
In the Third War (Warcraft III), Arthas Menethil marched on Silvermoon to resurrect Kel’Thuzad. The High Elves fell by the thousands. Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner was defeated and turned into a banshee. The gates were breached. Arthas marched all the way to the Sunwell. There, standing alone on the bridge to the isle, was King Anasterian.
He was over 3,000 years old. His body was frail, but his spirit was burning. He wielded Felo’melorn (Flamestrike) for the last time, and engaged the Death Knight in single combat. This duel is legendary. Despite his old age, Anasterian was a master of fire and steel. He used a powerful spell to sever the forelegs of Invincible (Arthas’ undead steed), forcing the Death Knight to fight on foot. He even managed to injure Arthas physically, something almost no one else had achieved.
Frostmourne was a weapon of mournful power. In a final, desperate clash, Frostmourne struck Felo’melorn, shattering the ancient runeblade into pieces. Defenseless, Anasterian fell. Arthas drove his blade through the King’s heart, severing his soul from his body and ending a reign of three millennia in a single moment.
Personal Thoughts on Anasterian Sunstrider
His death marked the beginning of the end for High Elves. His son, Kael’thas, returned from Dalaran to find a ruin. He gathered the shards of his father’s broken sword and reforged it. High Elves, like the sword, would be “broken, but reforged stronger.” Becoming the famous Blood Elves we know today.
I remember my brother’s first ever character was a blood elf warlock named ‘‘Thranduill’’ with double L. He was playing on Deathwing-EU if my memory serves right. I was like 8 years old at the time, seeing him level in Stranglethorn Vale, and fell in love with the game instantly, eventually making my own account 2 years later.
Anasterian Sunstrider represents the pride of the elves, a pride that elevated a civilization, but also blinded them until it was too late. He was a beloved and a flawed king. His death was legendary, just as he was to his people.
