Gunther Arcanus – the “true Lich”
If you played a Forsaken in Classic, you probably encountered the NPC Gunther Arcanus during your time in Tirisfal. This Forsaken lives on a small island in Tirisfal and was – at the time of Classic – a quest giver involved in several missions.
What makes him so special? Gunther Arcanus was a mage of the Kirin Tor in his lifetime. After he died and was resurrected by the Scourge, he was the only undead who could free himself from the Scourge’s grip. Even before Sylvanas and the other Forsaken managed to rise against the Lich King, Gunther Arcanus had regained his free will.
Because Gunther long thought that he was the only undead with self-will, he lived a reclusive life on an island – until the player discovered him. Then the Forsaken tried to persuade Gunther to join the dark lady. Furthermore, the Forsaken speak of Gunther with reverence and even refer to him as a lich – although he is not actually one.
However, Gunther Arcanus was not only a gifted mage but also a powerful necromancer. Upon completing his quest line, he announced that he would teach the Forsaken the teachings of necromancy – perhaps an early hint at the long-planned necromancer class.
After the redesign of the areas during the Cataclysm expansion, Gunther is no longer involved in quest lines. His island, where he still stands today, has been renamed “Gunther’s Retreat” – which gives hope that he may still play a role someday – a significant role.
