Arthas Menethil
The man who took a billion lives
Life and death of a prince
- Prince Arthas Menethil was born to King Terenas Menethil II and Queen Lianne Menethil, four years before the start of the First War.
- He learned the ways of the Light under the tutelage of Uther the Lightbringer.
- Arthas was inducted into the Knights of the Silver Hand at the young age of 19.
- Having grown into a strong, confident young man, Arthas was headstrong and somewhat arrogant, though none could dispute his bravery and tenacity. Arthas came to be considered one of the finest swordsmen in Lordaeron, and was famed for counterattacking and defeating the forest troll warbands of Zul'Aman when they began raiding the settlements along the border of Quel'Thalas.
- Years later a vile threat arose in the form of the Plague of Undeath. Jaina and Captain Falric were sent to help Arthas, now 24 years old, investigate the strange disease. They fought against the undead at an infested granary, then encountered the necromancer Kel'Thuzad in the town of Brill and pursued him to Andorhal.
- When he arrived at Stratholme, Arthas found that the grain had already been distributed. He knew the people of Stratholme would soon become undead, and ordered Uther and his knights to purge the entire city. As Arthas began to slay the citizens of Stratholme, he was met by Mal'Ganis himself, who was working to claim their souls. Arthas sought to destroy them before Mal'Ganis could reach them, and eventually demanded a final showdown with the dreadlord. Mal'Ganis slipped away, however, vowing to meet him in Northrend.
- In the frozen continent he met with Muradin Bronzebeard who was looking for the runed blade Frostmourne.
- They went deep into the iced caverns were they finally found the legendary sword.
- Muradin saw that the blade was cursed and tried to convince Arthas to leave it behind, but the now crazed prince replied "I'll give anything or pay any price, if only this blade will help me save my people".
- After claiming the cursed Frostmourne for himself, Arthas left the caverns and slayed all his men with it. Muradin was left for dead deep inside Dragonblight.
- He found Mal'Ganis and killed him in Icecrown, there he ascended the frozen throne to be proclaimed as the first Lich King.
- Arthas returned to Lordaeron months later, and the kingdom rejoiced at the return of its champion. Flanked by Falric and Marwyn, Arthas entered the imperial chamber and knelt before the throne. After telling his father that he no longer needed to bear the weight of his crown, Arthas walked up to Terenas and ran Frostmourne through his heart. The king's bloodied, broken crown remains lost to this day. As he drew Frostmourne, Arthas remembered the words of his old friend Varian describing his own father and king Llane being stabbed in the heart.
“Nothing shall prevent me from having my revenge, old friend. Not even you. Now, I call out to the spirits of this place. I will give anything, or pay any price, if only you will help me save my people.”
-- Arthas, just prior to claiming Frostmourne