As soon as a new expansion of World of Warcraft launches, everything that came before is quickly forgotten. This is a shame, says MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus, who wants to remind you of some strong NPCs from the past.
Warcraft has produced a number of strong women who have made a name for themselves. The major characters of the fantasy universe are known to everyone. The icy Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras, Jaina Proudmoore, for example, has been with us since the strategy games. We have even provided you with a detailed portrait of Jaina with her entire history.
Even those NPCs who have made a transition to antagonist and back are known even outside of WoW. The journey of Sylvanas Windrunner is something many fans and players are likely to have followed.
But when characters in WoW don’t play a recurring, major role, they often quickly fall into obscurity. Unjustly so, as many of them have a great story that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Vanessa VanCleef, the daughter of the greatest villain of Azeroth
At least for Alliance players, the name VanCleef should ring a bell. Edwin has been the final boss in the Deadmines since Classic, one of the most famous instances of WoW and traditionally the first dungeon for Alliance members.
After his official demise, his daughter Vanessa took over the mines – along with a complete rework and even a heroic mode of the instance. Unlike her father, she fights more with poisons and less in close combat.
Kearnen is murdered before she can deliver her message. Only her corpse is found and then her mission is finished – but only rogue players notice this. In her afterlife in Shadowlands, you can then report to her that her death was not in vain:
For a character so unknown and seemingly “unimportant,” Kearnen has many appearances in WoW and keeps coming back. Her death, which was probably just as unnoticed, feels unfair, but is probably the fate of a secret agent. Nevertheless, it is something that should not be forgotten.
Which characters from WoW do you think should not be forgotten?
However, there is more behind the new boss of the Deadmines. Vanessa had to watch her father be beheaded and fled. The farm couple Saldean took in the little “Hope” and raised her, not knowing whose daughter she is.
Vanessa continuously worked to become the new leader of the Defias – which she succeeded in. At least until she was defeated again by rogue players in Legion after her faked death.
Here she makes her last appearance for now, as champion of the Uncrowned, an association of rogues that secretly steers the fate of the world. But apart from rogues, unfortunately no one really notices this…
Stirring up the war between Alliance and Horde: Lady Katrana Prestor
That the Horde and Alliance still hate each other after such a long time is largely thanks to Lady Prestor. The supposed noblewoman served as an advisor in Stormwind in the absence of the king.
Katrana Prestor is the alias for Onyxia, the broodmother of the black dragonflight. She is the daughter of Deathwing, who reshaped the entire world during Cataclysm. However, as administrator, she already caused intrigue in Stormwind.
She orchestrated that the stone masons (yes, the ones from VanCleef) did not receive payment, resulting in the queen dying and the entire kingdom being destabilized. Consequently, Varian Wrynn, the king of Stormwind, was kidnapped – by the way, one of the most epic questlines of WoW.
This led to further tensions and ultimately to a prolonged war between the Horde and Alliance, as Varian could no longer meet with the Horde leader Thrall for negotiations. Onyxia’s motive: she saw the humans as a huge threat to the dragons.
The dragon mother herself remained active only in the background until she was unmasked. After that, she became the first raid boss in WoW ever, for whom a lengthy preparation quest was required.
Onyxia had another appearance in Cataclysm when she was resurrected as an undead dragon mother and made her last appearance as a skeleton in Legion. Diminished to a crafting material for a sad cloak, she fell into oblivion.
Taretha Foxton – The reason why the Horde even exists
One of the perhaps most important characters in the Warcraft story has only a single, tiny appearance in WoW. Taretha Foxton is a human woman who can be found in the Caverns of Time while Thrall is being freed.
In the game itself, you learn little about her. But Taretha was instrumental in helping Thrall escape the captivity of the evil Lord Blackmoore. Without her, the orc would likely have died, and the Horde would never have come into being in its current form.
Taretha was a mistress of Lord Blackmoore, who, as the daughter of two of his servants, was essentially his property. She was abused from a young age and worse. Her friendship with Thrall helped both her and the orc to endure.
After Blackmoore could uncover all this, he tried to blackmail Thrall with Taretha. However, Taretha was willing to sacrifice herself and was executed for her friendship with the orc after a short and unhappy life, before she really became an adult.
All the information about her background can only be found in the books about Warcraft and are at best hinted at in the game. However, I always get a lump in my throat when I see Taretha in the Caverns of Time. Unfortunately, only a few can understand why.
Yrel, the fanatical Light believer
The Draenei from Draenor are likely the woman on this list that most people remember. Yrel played a major role during Warlords of Draenor as a young slave who is freed right at the start.
Throughout the expansion, she evolves into a determined fighter and ultimately becomes a defender of the Light, who goes into battle against the warmongers of the Iron Horde.
She helped, among other things, to finally defeat Archimonde, one of the main antagonists in WoW. From the former priestess and then slave, she becomes an Exarch who soon leads the entire Draenei people – at least in the alternate Draenor.
Here she plays a role for the Horde again, as the Draenei under Yrel become fanatical. They fight alongside some orcs against anyone who does not believe in the Light. This leads to a battle against the remaining Mag’har on Draenor, who then flee and join the Horde on Azeroth.
As Yrel, along with her followers of the Light, is in an alternate timeline, she currently plays no role anymore. It’s a shame considering how important she used to be. But maybe that will change. The announcement of the next addon is coming up and maybe old acquaintances will return there.
Amber Kearnen, the secret savior of the Alliance
The conclusion of the list is a woman whom most have heard little about for good reason. Amber Kearnen was an agent of SI:7, the intelligence service of Stormwind.
As Alliance players, you meet her more often in various areas to complete quests for her or with her. She appears as a tough woman and first-class marksman, who has personally grown very dear to me.
What makes her so special: Her development could be followed since Classic. She got better and better and played important roles time and again. Someone with whom you, as a hero, grow together. She appeared in Classic, Cataclysm, Mists of Pandaria, Warlords of Draenor, Legion, and even the current Shadowlands.
Her tragic, preliminary end comes in Legion. There she has important information regarding the Dreadlords, who undermine Stormwind. Only through her can Stormwind and thereby presumably the Alliance be saved from the Legion’s attack.
Kearnen is murdered before she can deliver her message. Only her corpse is found and then her mission is finished – but only rogue players notice this. In her afterlife in Shadowlands, you can then report to her that her death was not in vain:
For a character so unknown and seemingly “unimportant,” Kearnen has many appearances in WoW and keeps coming back. Her death, which was probably just as unnoticed, feels unfair, but is probably the fate of a secret agent. Nevertheless, it is something that should not be forgotten.
Which characters from WoW do you think should not be forgotten?
