Shattering the Frozen Throne
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 30th 2007 at 12:30PM
Blizzard has posted the third (and supposedly final) chapter of the Rise of the Lich King story, called "Shattering the Frozen Throne." It covers Arthas' betrayal of his father, and his subsequent journey (through Illidan) to Northrend to the Frozen Throne of the Lich King.Call me a lore noob (I've been called worse), but for some reason I never connected Arthas' charge into Silvermoon with everything going down in the Ghostlands. I've played through the Blood Elf starter area a few times now, and while it's obvious the Scourge is there, I never actually realized it was Arthas who brought them through there. Interesting.
And of course the story ends with Arthas "sealing his union" with the Lich King. We're still not sure (and maybe Blizzard isn't either) what exactly happened there-- did the Lich King completely possess Arthas, or did Arthas consume the Lich King? Are they still separate, and is there a chance we might still break Arthas free of the Lich King's influence? Blizzard has bolded, enlarged, and highlighted the "Now, we are one" quote, so it seems that a redemption for Arthas is unlikely, but Metzen hinted that we might be able to do exactly that at BlizzCon.
At any rate, it seems we won't know the end of the story until we actually step up to the Frozen Throne ourselves.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Archimande Apr 22nd 2008 11:44AM
it's kinda like, nerzhul is in arthas' body, and arthas controls the body and his mind, but tyhe lich king, ner'zhul is like a voice in the back of his head telling him how to lead the scourge, he also says the same things as arthas because hes to stupid to say anything for hiself, i mean he cant even think of "the one true king" in which you can hear two voices talking, and when nerzhul does talk he fprsaw arthas shatttering the frozen throne so he was sreally just saying, "i had a dream that i got pwned by a bunch of lvl 90s in the future in your body so i guess i kinda have to posses, now, release me from this prison!"
jake.snake1999 Aug 31st 2009 9:51PM
wow rokx how ever made wow you rok wow rulz!!!!!!
jake.snake1999 Aug 31st 2009 10:01PM
you have to atchle kill the lich king and you get a orenge item i seen it on youtube
hjungle Aug 30th 2007 12:36PM
There is no Arthus, only Zuul. I mean, the Lich King.
IKoNN Aug 30th 2007 12:38PM
I could have sworn someone from Blizzard said that neither 1 completely possessed the other. When Arthas put on the Lich King's armor they merged and created 1 whole new being. They are 1 not multiple people at all.
Coherent Aug 30th 2007 12:49PM
Blizzard definitely said (at Blizzcon) that Arthas is simply the avatar of the Lich King, and that if a stronger avatar can be found, the Lich King will abandon Arthas like the little bitch he is.
This could mean a whole lot of things, like a possible mechanic for redeeming Arthas, or a possible mechanic for dramatically weakening Arthas when it comes time to kill him.
As in: The raid causes the Lich King to choose a death knight from your ranks as a new avatar, the Lich King abandons Arthas, the raid kills or redeems Arthas; then somehow they force the Lich King to abandon his new Avatar and flee.
Addie Aug 30th 2007 1:06PM
"At any rate, it seems we won't know the end of the story until we actually step up to the Frozen Throne ourselves."
Or rather until Nihilum does it the week after expansion hits. :P
Theadrick Aug 30th 2007 1:10PM
That giant area of corruption that runs from the Ghostlands to Silvermoon City is the path taken by Arthas' army as he marched towards the Sunwell...
LORE NOOB!!! =)
Greta Aug 30th 2007 1:27PM
I was actually in the process of replaying WC3 when I finally realized what the dead scar actually was. So it's not just you :)
Ryan Aug 30th 2007 2:55PM
The Lich King was using Ner'zul as a corporeal vessel. It looked to me as if what was happening at the end of TFT was the Lich King took over Arthas, deeming him as more powerful vessel.
Ben Aug 30th 2007 3:17PM
The Lich King is what Ner`zul became under the torturous manipulations of the Legion. Don't forget that he betrayed them, failing to follow through with their agenda to its ultimate end (i.e. unwilling to entirely doom his people). Ner`zul, the pre-arthas Lich King, has no love for the legion, and once he had fulfilled his purpose, they had little love for him.
In the current Lich King we have an unknown fusion of two beings that have the following in common:
-An all-consuming hatred for the Legion
-An almost psychotic desire to save "their people"
-Will. Raw, hateful will. Where other heroes whine (10,000 years of boohoo!), swoon, or quit, Arthas and Ner`zul (at their respective points in history) kept going... regardless of who stood in their way. Butcher a town, your own army, your childhood mentor? No problem. Slaughter your followers to control the portals of outland? No sweat.
Stage the undead invasion knowing from the outset that the Legion WOULD fail, thus creating the opportunity to become one of the most powerful beings on Azeroth? Betray the Legion at every opportunity, amass power, to what end?
The Lich King has been sitting up there for years, doing... we don't know what. The only thing we know for sure about his motives is he would LOVE the chance to split Kiljaedon open on Frostmourne.
Wildhammer Aug 30th 2007 5:06PM
Well, Mike, as far as the lore part goes. I can help ya there. You see, before Arthas became corrupted, he killed Kel'thuzad when he was a Human Necromancer spreading the plauge. Then, later on when he became a Death Knight, Tichondrius made him retreive Kel'thuzad's ashes.
However, the more powerful a being, the more magical energy it takes to bring them back to life. So, naturally someone as incredibly powerful as Kel'thuzad would take a shitload of energy to ressurect. The only thing powerful enough to do so was the Sunwell. So Arthas went and PIZOWNT the High Elves, ressurected Kel'thuzad, and called it a day. The end. =D
Laukidh Aug 30th 2007 5:44PM
"And of course the story ends with Arthas "sealing his union" with the Lich King. We're still not sure (and maybe Blizzard isn't either) what exactly happened there"
I imagine it involved a pretty sweet bass line...
Bowm, chicka. Repeat as necessary.
vespa Aug 31st 2007 4:15AM
from what i heard from all the vids etc. from blizzcon they are "one being" but it was also emphasised that Arthas isn't dead, nor is he undead, he's a human turned death knight who merged with ner'zhul
maybe we will kill him? maybe we will just sever their connection, but maybe that in turn will kill him?
i'd expect some sort of repentful emote upon his defeat, tho maybe it will be down to the player to reach to "Arthas" and persuade him to part ways with the Lich King (by persuade i mean, beat him senseless :P)
speculation of course, but Arthas strikes me as a bit of a "Darth Vader" type antagonist :)
Dylan Oct 13th 2007 9:42PM
I wounder if u kill arthas and put on his gear will the lich king posses u or will u cammand the scourg ???????
Agamand Jan 3rd 2008 1:38PM
You would command the scourge but heavens forbid, lets pray Dylan never becomes Lich King!