The Actions of Lady Katrana Prestor
The black dragons are among the cleverest and most devious beings in World of Warcraft. Almost every significant event involving humans has them playing a role, and they are all too eager to disguise themselves as supporters of the nobility to steer the fortunes of Stormwind.
At a time when King Varian was still lost and young Anduin was the acting king as a child, he was supported by advisors. One of these advisors was Lady Katrana Prestor. During a rather inconsequential quest in the Burning Steppes, the player was tasked with finding a marshal of the Alliance. He had been abducted into the Blackrock Depths instance. In a very complicated quest, Marshal Reginald Windsor had to be rescued and escorted. That was already a feat given the confusing instance and Windsor’s few hit points.
If the escort succeeded, he promised to reveal one of the greatest secrets of the corruption of Stormwind. Back in the capital of the humans, we escort him to the throne room, where he confronts Lady Katrana Prestor and outs her as the dragon lady Onyxia. A battle ensues, for all of the king’s elite guards were also black dragons in human form. Onyxia herself managed to flee to her lair, where she later awaited as a raid boss.
It is only at this point that the player truly realizes that almost all quest lines in the human area have been influenced one way or another by Lady Katrana Prestor. She was responsible for the founding of the Defias Brotherhood. Because after the reconstruction of Stormwind, she did not pay the stone masons, which led to the uprising that ultimately birthed the Defias.
Those who were traveling in the human areas at that time noticed that all villages had requested reinforcements from Stormwind. In Westfall, they wanted help against the Defias, in Redridge protection from the orcs, and in Duskwood reinforcements against the worgen and undead.
But the crown – under the direction of Lady Katrana Prestor – denied support every time. In Westfall, it was said that the troops were already needed in Redridge and Duskwood. In Duskwood, they said the troops had been sent to bolster Westfall and Redridge. And in Redridge, it was reported that the Stormwind army was already taking care of Westfall and Duskwood.
All of these actions helped to keep the human race weak and small under the control of the black dragons. A fact that many WoW players in Classic or even to this day have never understood.
In the meantime, Onyxia is only present as a raid boss in her instance – the quest lines about her uncovering and her machinations have completely vanished. Only the creation of the Defias Brotherhood still has some effects.
On the last page, you will learn things about the Lich King that you did not know.
