Sylvanas Windrunner

For the EU realm of the same name, see Server:Sylvanas Europe.

“

If you could see yourselves as I see you. Toy soldiers in tin plate, beasts who howl for honor, standing as one. Savour it... nothing lasts! - Sylvanas Windrunner

”

Sylvanas Windrunner
Title(s)	Warchief of the Horde The Banshee Queen, The Dark Lady Mistress Sylvanas, Queen of the Forsaken
Gender	Female
Race(s)	Unique undead (Forsaken Undead elf) (formerly Banshee, High elf)
Race	Unknown
Character class	Necromancer
Reaction	Alliance Horde
Affiliation	Cult of Forgotten Shadow Windrunner Alliance of Lordaeron(formerly) Elven Ranger Corps(formerly) Farstriders(formerly) Undead Scourge(formerly) Dreadlord Insurgents(formerly) The Horde(formerly) Forsaken(formerly) Undercity)(formerly)
Position	Leader of the Cult of Forgotten Shadow Warchief(formerly) Leader of the Forsaken(formerly) Ranger-General of Silvermoon(formerly) Member of the Undead Scourge(formerly) Ruler of the Tirisfal(formerly)
Location	Shadowlands Royal Quarter, Undercity(formerly)
Status	Active
Relative(s)	Alleria, Vereesa, Lirath (siblings), Rhonin (brother-in-law), Zendarin (cousin), Arator, Giramar and Galdarin (nephews),
Student(s)	Nathanos Blightcaller
Comp(s)	High Warlord Cromush, Agatha (in Silverpine Forest); Thrall, Vol'jin (During Battle for the Undercity); Varimathras (formerly); Kel'Thuzad, Arthas Menethil (Before she was free); Lor'themar Theron
Alignment	Chaotic Evil
Found in	Twisting Nether

Sylvanas Windrunner (the Banshee Queen, the Dark Lady, Queen of the Forsaken; nicknamed "Lady Moon" by Alleria) is the former Ranger-General of Silvermoon. She currently serves as leader of the Forsaken faction of undead and Warchief of the Horde after the Battle on the Broken Shore. She is the middle sister of Alleria and Vereesa Windrunner.

When Arthas Menethil and the Scourge came to Quel'Thalas for the Sunwell, Sylvanas attempted to defend her homeland. After fighting and losing at every turn to his forces, Arthas killed her. In revenge for her stubbornness, he severed her soul from her body, forcing her to serve him and aid him in the destruction of her beloved city.

During the time when the Lich King was losing grasp on his undead minions, Sylvanas gained her free will and plotted against him in Lordaeron with the help of the Nathrezim. After her assassination attempt failed, she turned her attention to claiming Lordaeron for herself. She bent the dreadlord, Varimathras, to her will and, with the help of the human remnants led by lord Garithos, killed Balnazzar and Detheroc. With the death of the dreadlords and Garithos, together with the disbanding of the human remnants, Sylvanas was able to claim Lordaeron and made her home under the former Capital City, naming it "The Undercity."

Biography

Ranger-General of Silvermoon

Sylvanas Windrunner

Comparison of Sylvanas Windrunner as a Banshee queen and Ranger General

Sylvanas is a member of the prominent Windrunner family of the high elves. Her siblings are Alleria, Vereesa, and at least two brothers (one named Lirath ^{(BtDP 68)} and the other possibly named Sylvos). Her family lived at Windrunner Spire in the tranquil forests of Quel'Thalas. Sylvanas joined the rangers and eventually became their leader, rising to the rank of Ranger-General of Silvermoon, military leader of all high elven forces.

The Second War

During the Second War, the high elves initially sent only token support to the Alliance, though Sylvanas' older sister, Alleria, took her squad of rangers as well. Soon after, the forests of Quel'Thalas mysteriously began to burn. Sylvanas and her rangers set out to discover the cause when she came across both her sisters being chased by a band of forest trolls, which they quickly dispatched. Alleria alerted Sylvanas of the coming orcish Horde, and that it was the orcs who were burning Quel'Thalas with dragon fire. Sylvanas and her rangers raced to meet the Horde to trap them against the Alliance forces under the command of the paladin, Turalyon. The battle took many turns, but ultimately the Horde abandoned Quel'Thalas. Sylvanas stayed behind to hunt down any remaining orcs. Shortly after, the Horde was defeated, the Dark Portal was destroyed, and the Second War had ended.

Invasion of the Undead Scourge

After the high elves withdrew from the Alliance, Sylvanas and her Rangers were the primary guard against any would-be attackers on Silvermoon. Despite the odd forest troll, murloc, or gnoll every now and then, Sylvanas saw little action, and a peaceful tranquillity descended upon the forests. She remained ever vigilant, knowing that this peace— however refreshing —was tenuous at best.

Her fears were soon realized when Arthas, the betrayer of Lordaeron, arrived unexpectedly on the doorstep of Quel'Thalas with a horde of undead at his back. He attacked outlying villages and Sylvanas and her Ranger Corps moved against him. His superior numbers and tireless warriors always kept her in a state of retreat.

Arthas continued relentlessly towards the Elfgate, killing every elf who got in his way. Finally, despite Sylvanas' best efforts, he breached the Outer Elfgate. Sylvanas ordered the corps to immediately fall back to the Inner Gate, which was only passable with the use of the Key of the Three Moons, assembled from the Mooncrystals hidden within the forest. Sylvanas destroyed the bridge leading to the Inner Gate to stay his advance. Despite her valiant efforts, Arthas managed to recover the Key of the Three Moons and destroyed the Inner Elfgate. Nothing stood in his way to Silvermoon.

Death

Sylvanas gathered her forces to warn Silvermoon, but Arthas blocked her passage at every turn, murdering every runner she tried to get through. Sylvanas continued the resistance, but eventually was targeted. Arthas' army overran her base of operations and the death knight singled her out in the heat of battle. The two dueled, and Sylvanas was cut down.

The invasion of Quel'Thalas

Sylvanas confronts Arthas

Sylvanas battling the invaders

The shadow of death

The Banshee Queen

Banshee Ritual

The official story given by the high elves of Silvermoon had the Ranger-General perishing valiantly in battle against the undead Scourge in the defense of Quel'Thalas, with her body burned to ashes in the fire that had devastated half the capital.

The true story was quite different. Sylvanas was not killed, but captured. Barely clinging to life, she was brought before Arthas. She struggled, saying she deserved a clean death, but Arthas, having had to fight her every step of the way, responded by telling her after what she had put him through, the last thing he would give her was that peace. He desecrated her spirit, corrupting her body and soul, and brought her back as a whirlwind of torment and hatred. Thus, she became the first of the high elven banshees. Sylvanas, now undead, was a complete and total slave to the Lich King. She aided him in assaulting Silvermoon in order to secure the legendary Sunwell for the Scourge. Her mangled body was sealed in an iron coffin by Arthas as a way to further torture the ranger.

Sylvanas became one of Arthas' primary generals. She remained behind in Lordaeron with Kel'Thuzad under the watchful eye of the dreadlords, who had been stationed in Lordaeron to protect it in the name of the Burning Legion. At some point during this time, Sylvanas succeeded in using her abilities as a banshee to repossess her corpse, becoming a corporeal undead creature. She learned of Archimonde's defeat at the Battle of Mount Hyjal from Kel'Thuzad, keeping the information from the dreadlords. Varimathras, Detheroc, and Balnazzar, the three prime dreadlords overseeing Lordaeron, were convening under Sylvanas' watchful eye when Arthas stormed into the stronghold, fresh from his journey to Kalimdor. He informed them of the Legion's failure and his intentions to take control of the Scourge. The dreadlords fled, outraged but unwilling to risk their lives by battling the new King of Lordaeron.

Arthas approached his servants and ordered that Lordaeron be purged of all life as a tribute to Ner'zhul. Kel'Thuzad informed him that human refugees had begun to flee from the outer villages. Should they escape into the mountain passes, they would be impossible to track. Arthas stationed himself and his two generals at the three possible escape routes. Each leading detachments of undead troops, they took great pains to ensure that few, if any, made it past their blockade to safety. Despite the efforts of the paladin, Dagren the Orcslayer, and his companions, Sylvanas led her banshees in the destruction of all the remaining villages in her area, slaughtering any human trying to escape. Finally, she, Arthas, and Kel'Thuzad arrived at the central headquarters of the paladins and killed them all in a vicious battle, annihilating the last of the civilian presence in Lordaeron.

The Dark Lady

Around this time, the weakened Ner'zhul began to lose control of the minds of Sylvanas and a number of banshees. She kept this discovery from Arthas and Kel'Thuzad while continuing to serve. The dreadlords contacted Sylvanas and explained that they knew the cause and arranged a secret meeting with her. They told her that Ner'zhul's— and by extension Arthas' —powers were diminishing. The nathrezim intended to use this opportunity to seize control of Lordaeron. Sylvanas tentatively agreed to assist, but under the condition that her aid would be provided on her own terms.

The dreadlords planned on killing Arthas within the capital, but Sylvanas created a contingency plan in the case of his escape. She arranged for her banshees to feign allegiance and escort him to a place in the woods where she would be waiting for him. After Arthas survived the dreadlords' ambush and escaped the capital, Sylvanas' loyal sisters saw him to the arranged place and then killed his bodyguards.

Hiding in the shadows, she struck Arthas with a venomous, paralyzing arrow she had crafted. Arthas, furious at her betrayal, demanded that she finish him. She refused, intending to make him suffer as he had made her suffer in undeath. She was about to begin her grisly work when Kel'Thuzad intervened, killing her banshees and chasing her off. In her physical body, she realized that the natural world would never respond to her wishes again. Angered, she turned to the arts that were becoming more and more natural to her: necromancy. She altered her elven ranger teachings into a new form. Thus the dark rangers were born.

Mistress of the Forsaken

Sylvanas and the Forsaken

Arthas left for Northrend, having been summoned by the Lich King, and Kel'Thuzad went into hiding. Sylvanas and her sisters were freed, but she was still troubled. Though free from Ner'zhul, she and the other free-willed loyalists remained monstrous abominations in appearance.

Varimathras invited the banshee to join him and his brothers in their new order. Sylvanas was not so quick to relinquish what freedom she had just gained. She told him that her assistance was enough and demanded to be left alone. He ominously warned that those who were not part of this new land would be cast aside, and that she had best not vex the new rulers of the Plaguelands. Sylvanas was adamant. As Varimathras departed, she sensed an attack was imminent. With only her banshees and some lesser undead to serve her, she was certain that she would soon fall. She needed to acquire an army.

Scouting the outer wilderness, Sylvanas found a plethora of creatures who would serve her well, and with her banshees at her disposal, they would have little choice in the matter. She sent out her banshees to possess Mug'thol, the leader of the local ogres; the Bandit Lord, Blackthorn; the gnoll ruler, Snarlmane; and the Murloc Puddle Lord. Those she did not possess were killed. With so many new allies, Varimathras fell before her. He begged for his life, saying that he could serve her well. He knew his brothers' tactics and where their bases were located. Sylvanas knew trusting such an insidious creature was a risk, but felt she could control him enough for her purposes. With Varimathras' assistance, they moved against Detheroc's forces.

Detheroc had acquired control of a human paladin, Garithos, and his men, using them for protection. Sylvanas had his scouts possessed and then infiltrated his base while their guard was down. As they slept, she swept through the twin bases and slaughtered any before her, and not even the raising of the alarm could stop her. She disabled the humans and ravaged Detheroc's forces, eventually coming to the dreadlord himself, killing him swiftly. With the dreadlord dead, Garithos was freed from his mental control. Though she saw him as arrogant and foolish, she felt he could be of use. She lied and promised to relinquish control of the Capital to him if he helped her kill Balnazzar.

Garithos attacked from the rear entrance to the city as Sylvanas and Varimathras came from the front. As they moved into the city, Sylvanas found caches of items left by the Lordaeron royals and used them to further the assault. Despite the dreadlord's demonic allies, Balnazzar's forces were destroyed. As a final test of loyalty, Sylvanas demanded that Varimathras kill Balnazzar. Varimathras froze, saying that it was forbidden for one nathrezim to kill another. When she refused to rescind the order, Varimathras obeyed. Varimathras was not so reluctant when Sylvanas ordered him to do the same to Garithos.

With their enemies dead, Sylvanas made a proclamation to Varimathras. They would rule the Plaguelands as the Forsaken and would stake out their own destiny, where none would get in their way.

Reports claim Sylvanas moves to and from Northrend; it is unknown if she is scouting for a possible attack on the Lich King or if she has darker plans. There are rumors she may also be setting up a Forsaken city. In any case, she remains an enigmatic figure, her motivations unknown even to her most trusted advisers.

Sylvanas in Ghostlands.

The Sunwell

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Sylvanas traveled to Quel'Thalas, encountering the traitor Dar'Khan. She confronted him in the ruins of Silvermoon, aiding Kalecgos in stopping the traitor from claiming the Sunwell's energies. Though she was initially unsuccessful, she distracted Dar'Khan long enough for Anveena to regain her power and vaporize him. Sylvanas agreed to keep Anveena's identity a secret in the interest of preventing Arthas from gaining the Sunwell's power.

In World of Warcraft

For quests offered by Sylvanas, see Sylvanas Windrunner (quests).

This section concerns content exclusive to World of Warcraft.

Sylvanas in Orgrimmar, shortly before the Scourge attack.

She rules over the Forsaken from Undercity. Her goal is to one day take vengeance upon Arthas and find lasting freedom for her cursed people. She sends promising warriors to train under her champion, Nathanos Blightcaller.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner is a level ?? faction leader located in the Royal Quarter in the Undercity.

Hallow's End

The Dark Lady during Hallow's End.

Sylvanas also appears in the Hallow's End celebration, talking about the Forsaken's freedom. There she still uses her first high elf model (Which never left the Beta version of Wrath of the Lich King,) and her old statistic.

In The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content exclusive to The Burning Crusade.

In death, Sylvanas still considers herself one of the foremost protectors of Quel'Thalas, and repeatedly offers assistance in the form of supplies and troops to the blood elves. This may be due in some part to the fact that the Dark Lady still grieves over her failure to protect Quel'Thalas from the Scourge invasion during the Third War, when she fell in battle. Though the blood elves initially declined most of Sylvanas' offers, fearing a trick, the beleaguered elves eventually allowed Sylvanas to station Forsaken soldiers in their lands, most prominently in the village of Tranquillien. Sylvanas played a large part in convincing Thrall to accept the blood elves into the Horde.

In Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content exclusive to Wrath of the Lich King.

Sylvanas Windrunner's appearance was updated for patch 3.0.2. Her prior model was a female night elf. Her model is now almost unique; Alexstrasza's humanoid model is very similar.

One of the new Forsaken camps in Northrend is New Agamand. It is here the plague the Royal Apothecary Society developed to combat the Scourge was tested, as indicated from this section of the Howling Fjord background on the official site:

On the eastern shore, the Forsaken have arrived, carrying a plague of their own to unleash upon the Lich King. Queen Sylvanas has been methodically and patiently overseeing the formulation of this contagion for several years, and the time has come at last to test its effectiveness against the Scourge.

Battle for the Undercity

Main article: Battle for the Undercity

Sylvanas in the Battle For The Undercity.

As the combined Horde and Alliance forces began their assault upon Angrathar the Wrathgate, an uprising broke out within the Undercity. Varimathras and hordes of his demonic brethren overran the city, slaying all those who would not submit to their dark rule. Sylvanas claims she nearly died in the coup, but managed to escape with a number of loyalists to Orgrimmar. Determined not to allow the dreadlords a foothold in Horde territory, Thrall and Sylvanas planned an immediate counter-attack. In the midst of their planning, Jaina Proudmoore arrived with terrible news: in the wake of Bolvar Fordragon's death, Varian Wrynn had ordered an assault on the Undercity to bring Putress to justice and liberate Lordaeron for the Alliance.

Sylvanas returned to the Undercity at the head of a Horde army, determined to retake her city. Along with Thrall and Vol'jin, she led the assault, a cry for her people upon her lips. In the Throne Room, Sylvanas fought and finally slew Varimathras, retaking her throne. How much power remains in her hands is currently unknown, as Thrall has sent Kor'kron elites to the Undercity to watch the Forsaken.

The Frozen Halls

Sylvanas meets with the spirit of Uther in the Halls of Reflection

Sylvanas led Horde forces to the Frozen Halls inside Icecrown Citadel to confront the Lich King, intending to gain her vengeance for the destruction of Quel'Thalas and her damnation into undeath. Upon reaching his private chambers in the Halls of Reflection and standing so close to Frostmourne, Sylvanas felt the pain of her death renewed. She attempted to commune with the spirits within the sword, hoping that "salvation lies within". At that point, the spirit of Uther the Lightbringer appeared, warning her that the Lich King was on his way and of the foolishness of attempting to defeat him there. He revealed that even if Arthas were to be destroyed, someone must take his place as master of the Scourge, lest the undead wash across the world like locusts. To defeat the Lich King, Uther said, he must be destroyed at the place he was created: The Frozen Throne.

The Lich King arrived and reclaimed his blade, banishing the soul of Uther within it. He summoned Falric and Marwyn, his two top lieutenants, to kill the intruders. While her escorts (the players) battled the pair and the ghosts they summoned, Sylvanas and Dark Ranger Loralen gave chase as the Lich King fled to his inner sanctum. Upon defeating the death knights and their ghostly allies, the party found Loralen dead in the hallway and the sounds of battle coming from the chamber before them. Sylvanas and the Lich King were engaged in combat. Realizing he was too powerful to confront, as Uther had warned, Sylvanas and her escorts fled, breaking through the ice walls and packs of undead minions the Lich King summoned to slow their progress. As they reached the outside and came upon a dead end, they resolved themselves to dying in battle. However, the gunship Orgrim's Hammer arrived on scene to rescue them. As they fled the Halls of Reflection, Sylvanas realized the Lich King's powers had increased tenfold; to defeat him, a mighty army was needed, one greater than even the Horde could muster.

Fall of the Lich King

With the death of the Lich King, an adventurer bearing [Shadowmourne] found a [Sealed Chest] containing various items, among them a vial of blood. The adventurer brought the vial to Sylvanas, waiting in Light's Hammer.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: So, it is done.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: I had not dared to trust my senses - too many times has the Lich King made me to be a fool.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Finally, he has been made to pay for the atrocities he imposed upon my people.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: May Azeroth never fail to remember the terrible price we paid for our weakness... for our pride.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: But what now, hero? What of those freed from his grasp, but still shackled to their mortal coils?

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Leave me.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: I have much to ponder.

In Cataclysm

This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

Sylvanas was ordered to move south into Gilneas, because the Horde wanted a port in northern Lordaeron.

She had been resorting to increasingly unscrupulous tactics ever since the Wrathgate. Despite orders from the new Warchief, Garrosh Hellscream, to cease production of the Forsaken Blight that was used by Putress, she continued to use it against her enemies, including in the invasion of Gilneas and against the town of Southshore in Hillsbrad. She also conscripted the val'kyr, the ascended vrykul women who once served the Lich King, using them to raise dead enemies as Forsaken as a solution to the undead not being able to procreate.

During the Invasion of Gilneas, the tide turned against Sylvanas, and she used her dark powers to stun everyone in the immediate area. Aiming a poisoned arrow at Genn Greymane, she fired, intending to fell the worgen leader. His son, Liam, jumped in front of the bowshot, saving his father from certain doom. As Sylvanas fled, Liam died with the knowledge that the city had been freed from Forsaken control.

While fighting the Gilneas Liberation Front in Silverpine Forest, Sylvanas arranged for the resurrection of Lord Godfrey. After Godfrey captured Lorna Crowley and delivered her to Sylvanas, she headed towards the shattered Greymane Wall to give Darius Crowley a choice: surrender the Gilneas Liberation Front or Lorna would become one of the Forsaken. Darius decides to surrender and Sylvanas allows him to leave with his daughter and his men. Shortly afterward, Sylvanas is killed by Godfrey, who quickly fled to Shadowfang Keep. High Warlord Cromush orders the val'kyr, Agatha, Arthura, and Daschla, to raise her. The three sacrificed themselves to give Sylvanas life once more. This convinced Sylvanas beyond a shadow of a doubt that the val'kyr were the future of the Forsaken.

During the Battle for Andorhal Sylvanas disguised herself as Lindsay Ravensun. After the Alliance was defeated, she confronted Koltira about his truce with Thassarian, scolds him for his weakness. A portal to the Undercity was opened and Koltira was pulled through by a hooked chain, Sylvanas intending to purge him of his compassion for Thassarian and make him more of a servant of the Horde - more specifically, a servant of Sylvanas and the Forsaken.

Some have wondered if something has changed within Sylvanas due to her extreme behavior in the recent battles against the Alliance. A forsaken apothecary even leaves the forsaken and joins the Argent Crusade at Plaguewood Tower. He says that "I used to admire her, but something's changed within her. She's not herself anymore". Whether something has happened to her is unknown, but many members of the Horde and Alliance have noticed her acting differently.

Mists of Pandaria: Siege of Orgrimmar

This section concerns content exclusive to Mists of Pandaria.

In the second section of the Siege of Orgrimmar on Heroic raid difficulty (as the Horde) you see a small conversation between Sylvanas and Lor'themar. The summary of the conversation is Sylvanas makes a "joke" that she desires to raise the blood elves as Forsaken so they may fight again, to which Lor'themar responds by threatening the Banshee Queen to not touch his fallen warriors. Also, after the cinematic following Garrosh's defeat in the SoO raid (as Horde), you can speak to the Banshee Queen who explains she has no loyalty for the new Troll Warchief, Vol'jin, but respects him for what he has accomplished and is eager to see what will come of his leadership. Lastly, as Alliance, you may speak to Varian, who exclaims that halting Sylvanas's forces will be a large goal of Alliance efforts in retaking Gilneas.

War Crimes

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft novels or short stories.

After the Siege of Orgrimmar, Sylvanas and other Horde leaders were summoned to the Temple of the White Tiger to witness the judgement of Garrosh Hellscream. Sylvanas was initially displeased at the idea of a trial rather than an execution, and opposed the appointment of Baine Bloodhoof as Hellscream's defender. When Baine's defense of Hellscream proved better than the Banshee Queen would like, she accused him of being an "Alliance sympathizer", prompting the tauren chieftain to somewhat aggressively, albeit calmly, deny her claim while grabbing her upper arms.

Vereesa Windrunner, noticing her sister's mutual hatred for Garrosh, anonymously summoned her to Windrunner Spire to plot the assassination of the tyrannical former Warchief. Concocting a new, untraceable poison with her Forsaken subjects, she and Vereesa planned to lace Hellscream's last meal with it. In the meantime, Vereesa entertained the idea of joining her sister in leadership of the Forsaken despite the fact that it would require her to abandon her children. Sylvanas realized that the Forsaken would not accept a living creature into their leadership and decided she would murder Vereesa so that her "Little Moon" could be reborn at her side as an undead.

At the last moment, Vereesa relented and informed Anduin Wrynn of the poison in Hellscream's food. Despite Garrosh's hateful words and remorseless attitude, the prince saved the imprisoned orc's life. After learning of the plan's failure, the Banshee Queen rampaged through the wilderness, angrily killing any wildlife unfortunate enough to get in her way and proclaiming that she would never attempt to love again.

In Warlords of Draenor

This section concerns content exclusive to Warlords of Draenor.

When the Dark Lady asked for volunteers to make the trek into Draenor, Dark Ranger Velonara answered without hesitation. Any opportunity to please the Dark Lady was worth the risk. Sylvanas also sent the mage, Vivianne, to assist the commander on Draenor and to retrieve samples of the Infested for study. Benjamin Gibb also performed reconnaissance for the Dark Lady in Admiral Taylor's garrison.

In Legion

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During the battle of the Broken Shore, Sylvanas and her Dark Rangers joined the other Horde forces in allying with the Alliance to fight off the invasion of the Burning Legion. She and the Horde protected the flank while the Alliance confronted Gul'dan. During the ensuing battle, Warchief Vol'jin was mortally wounded. He asked Sylvanas not to allow the Horde to perish there, and she made the tough decision to abandon the Alliance forces, calling for a retreat.

Back in Orgrimmar, Vol'jin, on his deathbed, asked to see Sylvanas. He told her that he had never trusted her, but that the spirits had given him clarity. With his dying breath he told her that she would succeed him as Warchief of the Horde. She accepted his will and rallied the Horde forces at Orgrimmar, who swore an oath of allegience to her. Now Warchief, she rules over the Horde from the Undercity.

The Forsaken's ruthless leader is a formidable champion of her people. But with the Burning Legion's invasion, the stakes for the Dark Lady have never been higher. Should Sylvanas perish, her demise will be the beginning of her eternal damnation. All that stand between her and this doom are her Val'kyr, yet few of these spirit guardians remain. As her fate edges closer to the abyss, Sylvanas must decide how far she'll go to protect her people… and whether they're more precious to her than her soul.

In Before the Storm

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In the lull between the Legion's downfall and the eruption of hostilities between the factions, two very important things happened: some of her Forsaken kinsmen expressing a yearning for contact with their living relatives, and the discovery of azerite in Silithus.

The former came about during her absence from the Undercity while performing her role as Warchief. Her people began to voice both their questions as to why their Dark Queen rarely visited them and their desire to attempt reconciliation with their loved ones. To this end, a council was formed in the absence of Sylvanas, not with the intention of overthrowing her, but to keep the peace and bring together like-minded people.

Alonsus Faol and Calia Menethil served as emissaries to Anduin Wrynn, reaching out in the hopes that he would bless such an attempt. It took much convincing, with Turalyon almost coming to blows with his long-lost friend, Alonsus, before seeing him for what he truly was: namely, a Forsaken capable of both free will and honor. Even Genn Greymane warmed to the idea, but remained deeply suspicious of Sylvanas.

Sylvanas, meantime, viewed the council and their desires as undermining her rule, no matter their intentions. She also held no trust for Anduin. Though she allowed the meeting to take place between the Forsaken and their human relatives in Arathi Highlands, she had a more devious plan in the works. This plan was unleashed after Calia inadvertently revealed herself and the Forsaken began to defect to the Alliance. Rather than strike down any under Anduin's protection, she set her rangers loose on her own people, killing all that tried to cross the field to the Alliance side. Then, riding into battle herself, she killed Calia Menethil. When Anduin retrieved her body, Sylvanas had the chance to strike him down, yet chose to stay her hand for fear of starting a faction war.

In Battle for Azeroth

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After these events, news came to Sylvanas about the discovery of azerite in Silithus. Recognizing its power, she grew concerned as to the safety of the Horde should the Alliance get their hands on it as well. Recognizing Teldrassil as the main shipping route for the Alliance in Kalimdor, she resolved to end a potential war before it could begin. Thus, she conferred with Varok Saurfang and Nathanos Blightcaller, weaving together a feint that would make the Alliance think she was taking the bulk of her forces to Silithus to safeguard the azerite. Varok himself was instrumental in the formation of this plan.

The Alliance took the bait and sent their fleet toward Silithus while Saurfang and his troops assembled and then marched into Ashenvale. The night elves were caught completely unawares, the incursion exacerbated by a simultaneous strike from hidden Horde agents on all their outposts. Though even Malfurion Stormrage intervened, the Horde managed to push through Ashenvale and into Darkshore, partly by means of Saurfang and a small contingent pushing their way from the north through a hidden trail from Felwood. Sylvanas faced off against Malfurion herself, their battle interrupted by Saurfang who, in the heat of the moment, attacked Malfurion from behind.

Sylvanas decided to depart the field and travel to their troops stationed at Lor'danel, leaving Saurfang to finish Malfurion off. Little did she know, but Saurfang hesitated, feeling his actions were without honor, and in the moment, Tyrande Whisperwind arrived to spirit the archdruid away. When Saurfang returned without Malfurion's head, Sylvanas felt as if their entire point of the mission had failed, for now the night elves had hope. In her mind, in order to strike a lasting and devastating blow that would drive the Alliance apart, she ordered her troops to set fire to Teldrassil, despite the number of innocents trapped within

Sylvanas knew the response from the Alliance would be swift and likely targeted at the Undercity. Prior to their inevitable arrival, she formulated a trap, planning to destroy those Alliance leaders and soldiers who arrived with blight and raise them in undeath. Sure enough, her city was attacked, and when she let loose the blight on both the Alliance and Horde on the battlefield, it seemed her victory was imminent. At the last second, Jaina Proudmoore arrived via a flying ship, dissipating the blight and destroying the Undercity's front gates.

Wily as ever, Sylvanas even had a plan for this, should her initial attempts fail. She waited in the throne room where Terenas Menethil II himself had been slain, seemingly unconcerned as Anduin, Genn, Jaina, and her own sister, Alleria Windrunner, pushed through her troops and even capturing Saurfang. Once they were within her clutches, she had Nathanos unleash a massive wave of blight throughout the city, using her banshee ability to escape and board a zeppelin. Her victory was thwarted yet again by Jaina, who teleported everyone to safety aboard her own ship.

Afterwards, sylvanas sends a champion of the horde to release an ally from the stormwind stockades accompanied by: Rokhan, and Thalyssra

Tactics during boss fight

This section concerns content that is potentially inaccurate. Reason: Needs date when last verified to work.

Battling the Dark Lady in the Royal Quarter can prove disastrous if certain steps are not taken by raid members.

• Enter the Undercity through the sewer entrance^{[15.2, 29.4]}
  , an obvious and well-used tactic since the start of World of Warcraft.
• Upon entering Sylvanas’ chamber^{[57, 90]}
  , raid members must hug the right wall as much as possible, as the Undercity’s battle masters, as well as the Wintergrasp battle mage, will be pulled if the raid goes left; battling them can waste valuable time, giving Horde players time to mount a defense.
• Her Black Arrow and Summon Skeleton abilities are also something to watch for. Though the summoned skeletons are weak, a large number can prove distracting.
• The raid should also keep her at her altar as much as possible; while Sylvanas will not reset unless you attempt to pull her from her chamber, this will prevent raid members from pulling the aforementioned battle masters and give a clear view of oncoming Horde players.
• Sylvanas is often considered to be the hardest city boss, but upon disabling her vanish ability, she is standard tank and spank with little in terms of additional abilities.

Abilities

• Black Arrow (Sylvanas)
• Fade (Sylvanas)
• Multi-Shot (Sylvanas)
• Shoot (Sylvanas)
• Summon Skeleton (Sylvanas)

Quotes

Sylvanas Windrunner by Wei Wang

The Frozen Throne

• Balnazzar: The lich, Kel'Thuzad, is far too loyal to betray his master. But you, on the other hand...
  Sylvanas: Hate him. I have my own reasons for seeking vengeance. Arthas murdered my people and turned me into this...monstrosity.
• Sylvanas: You walked right into this one, Arthas. It's time to even the scales.
• Arthas: Finish me, then.
  Sylvanas: A quick death...like the one you gave me? No. You're going to suffer as I did. Thanks to my arrow, you can't even run. Give my regards to hell, you son of a bitch.
• (After promising to let the human forces reclaim their land in exchange for joining her against Balnazzar)
  Varimathras: Come now, you have no intention of giving them their lands back.
  Sylvanas: Of course not. The humans are simply a means to an end.
  Varimathras: You sound more like one of us with every passing day, my lady.
  Sylvanas: Watch it, dreadlord.
• (After conquering the capital city and the killing of Balnazzar and Garithos, Sylvanas says to Varimathras)
  Sylvanas: We will find our own path in this world, dreadlord, and slaughter anyone who stands in our way!

World of Warcraft

Aggro

• Let none survive! (Also Said in WCIII: Frozen Throne)
• May my aim be true.(Also Said in WCIII: Frozen Throne)

Greetings

• We are the Forsaken. We will slaughter anyone who stands in our way.
• What are we if not slaves to this torment? (Also Said in WCIII: Frozen Throne)
• What joy is there in this curse? (Also Said in WCIII: Frozen Throne)
• I have no time for games. (Also Said in WCIII: Frozen Throne)

Hallow's End

Children of the Night, heed your Queen's call!

I join you in celebration of this most revered of nights - the night we Forsaken broke the Scourge's yoke of oppression!

It is this night that our enemies fear us the most. It is THIS night that we show our enemies what it means to stand against the Forsaken!

We burn the effigy of the Wickerman as a symbol of our struggle against those who would oppose us. We wear the ashes of the burnt Wickerman as a symbol of our never ending fight against those who would enslave us.

Now is the time to shake the world to its foundations! NOW is the time to remind those who would enslave us that we shall never yield!

NOW is the time of the Forsaken! Power to the Forsaken - NOW AND FOREVER!!!

The Battle For The Undercity

• Beg for your miserable life!
• ON YOUR KNEES!
• The Banshee Queen has plans for you!
• The Horde will be victorious!
• The penalty for treason is death!
• You dare befoul my sanctum! Pay with your blood!
• You disgust me.
• You will be reunited with your master soon - in the afterlife.

Silverpine Forest

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Where is that Ogre headed buffoon?

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Ah, speak of the devil ...

Portals from Orgrimmar arrive with Hellscream, Hellscream's elite, and High Warlord Cromush.

Hellscream jumps from the portal down to Sylvanas.

Garrosh Hellscream says: This better be important, Sylvanas. You know how I detest this place and its foul stench. Why have you called for me?

Garrosh Hellscream says: And more importantly, what are those Scourge fiends doing here?

Garrosh makes a gesture at the Val'kyr.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Warchief, so glad you could make it.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: With the death of the Lich King, many of the more intelligent Scourge became...unemployed. Those 'fiends,' as you so delicately put it, are called val'kyr. They are under my command now...

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: ...and they are part of the reason that I asked to see you.

Garrosh Hellscream says: Get on with it Sylvanas.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Very well, Warchief. I have solved the plight of the Forsaken!

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: As a race, we Forsaken are unable to procreate.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: With the aid of the val'kyr, we are now able to take the corpses of the fallen and create new Forsaken.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Agatha, show the Warchief!

The Val'kyr Agatha proceeds to resurrect fallen corpses as Forsaken.

High Warlord Cromush says: ABERRATION!

Garrosh Hellscream says: What you have done here, Sylvanas... it goes against the laws of nature. Disgusting is the only word I have to describe it.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Warchief, without these new Forsaken my people would die out ... Our hold upon Gilneas and northern Lordaeron would crumble.

Garrosh Hellscream says: Have you given any thought to what this means, Sylvanas.

Garrosh Hellscream says: What difference is there between you and the Lich King now?

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Isn't it obvious, Warchief? I serve the Horde.

Sylvanas mockingly salutes Garrosh.

Garrosh Hellscream says: Watch your clever mouth, bitch.

Garrosh Hellscream says: Cromush, you stay behind and make sure the Banshee Queen is well "guarded." I will be expecting a full report when next we meet.

High Warlord Cromush says: As you command, Warchief!

Garrosh Hellscream says: Remember, Sylvanas, eventually we all have to stand before our maker and face judgment. Your day may come sooner than others...

Sound files

/script PlaySoundFile("Sound\\Creature\\SylvanasWindrunner\\SylvanasWindrunnerAggro01.wav") 
/script PlaySoundFile("Sound\\Creature\\SylvanasWindrunner\\SylvanasWindrunnerAggro02.wav") 
/script PlaySoundFile("Sound\\Creature\\SylvanasWindrunner\\SylvanasWindrunnerGreeting01.wav") 
/script PlaySoundFile("Sound\\Creature\\SylvanasWindrunner\\SylvanasWindrunnerGreeting02.wav") 
/script PlaySoundFile("Sound\\Creature\\SylvanasWindrunner\\SylvanasWindrunnerGreeting03.wav") 
/script PlaySoundFile("Sound\\Creature\\SylvanasWindrunner\\SylvanasWindrunnerGreeting04.wav")

Notes

From Lament of the Highborne

• She was voiced by Piera Coppola. After Patch 3.2.0, Sylvanas appeared to have gotten a new voice actor, however, her quotes remain the same. She is currently voiced by Patty Mattson, best known for her voice of Catwoman in the game "Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe".
• Sylvanas is the only female Horde leader.
• Silva (or silua; it is pronounced 'sil-wa') is the Latin word for forest, and Silvanus (or Siluanus; 'sil-wa-nus') is a god of uncultivated land in Roman mythology. Both the word and the name are often invoked in regards to elves and elven characters.
• Sylvanas' mount appears to be a Red Skeletal Warhorse, as seen in the Battle for the Undercity. However, in The Battle for Gilneas City, she uses a Purple Skeletal Warhorse. In one of the quests for the War of the Thorns, however, her mount seems to be a Vicious Skeletal Warhorse.
• Sylvanas has three official wallpapers.
• Sylvanas is featured in DC Unlimited's World of Warcraft: Series 6 action figure set.
• Sylvanas sings the Lament of the Highborne in the Burning Crusade.

Trivia

• Many similarities can be observed between Sylvanas Windrunner and Arcturus Mengsk of StarCraft franchise. These include:
• Both Sylvanas Windrunner and Arcturus Mengsk are Rebellion Leaders of the Horde and Terran Dominion.

Items

• Sylvanas reputedly used Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, an artifact available in World of Warcraft: Legion.
• An epic ring, [Band of the Ranger-General], drops from Kael'thas Sunstrider in the Eye of Tempest Keep. The description of the ring clearly states it was formerly worn by Sylvanas.
• In Dalaran, a rare fishing drop from the fountain is [Sylvanas Windrunner's Gold Coin]​​​​​​​​, which was, as it says, once owned by Sylvanas (likely in life).

Sylvanas' form

Sylvanas model comparison

• Though Sylvanas was a high elf, her original model in World of Warcraft was a tall night elf; this is because it was the closest model available to a high elf before .
• During the Wrath of the Lich King beta she was given a uniquely-textured blood elf model; by patch 3.0.2 she was given a unique undead high elf model more reminiscent of how she appeared in The Frozen Throne. Interestingly, the outfit she wears in the Sunwell Trilogy is more similar to those of Sentinel archers than the high elf rangers in the same book.
• In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Sylvanas's living model was simply retextured from Shandris Feathermoon, while her undead model was the standard Banshee. In Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, her undead model was shared with the Dark Ranger hero unit, as Sylvanas was their "representative" character.
• Though Arthas turned her into an incorporeal banshee, Sylvanas was later able to regain her corpse. Ghostlands and the Manual of Monsters both depict her in her original body, with the abilities of both a dark ranger and a banshee.
• In Warcraft III, Arthas defeated Sylvanas in Eversong Woods and turned her into a banshee on the spot. Both Ghostlands and the Lament of the Highborne video later depicted Arthas placing Sylvanas' body on an altar and performing the ritual that pulled her spirit from her body, while the Arthas novel returned to the Warcraft III version of the scene.

Media

Images

Official images

Older in-game model

in-game model

"Sylvanas, Lady of Undercity" TCG card

Sylvanas Windrunner concept

Sylvanas from the cover of Ghostlands

Ranger Sylvanas

In Warcraft III

Dark Ranger Sylvanas

In Warcraft III

Sylvanas early in the TCG

The Sylvanas Windrunner action figure

Sylvanas fighting Genn Greymane during The Battle for Gilneas City.

Sylvanas (High Elf) in Blizzard all Stars

Sylvanas in Blizzard all Stars Left: High elf Right: Forsaken

Early "Sylvanas" sketch by Chris Metzen

Sylvanas using her banshee form in the Battle for Azeroth cinematic

Fanart

Sylvanas by Ryarenpaw

Fanart; "Sylvanas Locked in Thought"

Fanart by Jiao Qiao

Fanart by Yao Ren

Fanart by Hujianing

Sylvannas Windrunner as a High Elven General Ranger

Sylvanas Windrunner by Arcane-Villain. Recolour in PhotoShop.

Sylvanas Windrunner dead & living - comparison

Sylvanas Windrunner

ranger general by Vaanel

Ranger General by Vaneel

High Elf Sylvanas Windrunner by Vaanel

This is sylvanas wow model

Sylvanas as ranger general of silvermoon

Sylvanas as banshee queen by Dragonvon

Sylvanas Windrunner Alive

Sylvanas in all different appearances. Fan art by Assey Westfall

Sylvanas with Forsaken

The Dark Lady

Weeping Salvanas

Sylvanas

Lunar Sylvanas

Videos

The Story of Sylvanas Windrunner Edge of Night - Part 2 of 2 Lore

Aug 19, 2018 circa by Nobbel87 (aka Nobbel)

The Story of Sylvanas Windrunner Edge of Night - Part 1 of 2 Lore

Aug 12, 2018 circa by Nobbel87 (aka Nobbel)

The Story of Sylvanas Windrunner - Full Version Lore

Nov 10, 2014 circa by Nobbel87 (aka Nobbel)

Statue

Bring the Banshee Queen Home Today!

Patch changes

This section concerns content that is out-of-date.

• Patch 7.0.3 (19-Jul-2016): Model updated.
  
• Patch 6.0.3 (28-October-2014): Updated for level 100.
  
• Patch 5.0.4 (28-August-2012): Updated for level 90.
  
• Patch 4.0.3 (15-Nov-2010): Updated for level 85.
  
• / Patch 3.0.2 (14-Oct-2008):
  • Updated with a new model.
  • Updated for level 80.
    
• / Patch 2.0.1 (05-Dec-2006): Updated for level 70.
  
• Patch 1.7.0 (13-Sep-2005): Racial "Leaders" have been strengthened, and are now worth slightly less honor.
  

See also

•  Echo of Sylvanas
• Sylvanas Windrunner: Edge of Night

External links

This section concerns content that is out-of-date. Reason: More versions with Legion.

Note: This is a generic section stub. You can help expand it by clicking  Edit to the right of the section title.

In-game

Undercity
Royal Quarter				Hallow's End
Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB				Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB
Forge of Souls		Pit of Saron		Halls of Reflection		Icecrown Citadel
Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB
Silverpine Forest					Western Plaguelands	Gilneas City
Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB

Store

Blizzard Gear (US) World of Warcraft Sylvanas Statue $350.00 USD

Official lore

WoW Official Game Site (US) The Characters of Warcraft > Sylvanas Windrunner

WoW Official Game Site (EU) The Characters of Warcraft > Sylvanas Windrunner

Lore

WoW Official Game Site (US) Sylvanas Windrunner:Edge of Night by Dave Kosak, added September 27, 2011

WoW Official Game Site (EU) Sylvanas Windrunner:Edge of Night by Dave Kosak, added September 28, 2011

WoW Insider Ask a Faction Leader: Sylvanas Windrunner by Michael Sacco Feb 16th 2010 at 8:00PM

WoW Insider Know Your Lore: Sylvanas Windrunner, part 1 by Anne Stickney Dec 18th 2010 at 6:00PM

WoW Insider Know Your Lore: Interbellum Part 4 - The Queen of the Dead by Matthew Rossi Apr 6th 2011 at 9:00AM

News

Official WoW Site (US) New Store Item: Bring the Banshee Queen Home Today! by Blizzard Entertainment, November 2nd, 2017

WoW Insider Faction leader short stories continue with Sylvanas Windrunner by Mathew McCurley Sep 27th 2011 at 4:00PM

WoW Official Game Site (US) New Lore: Sylvanas Windrunner Story Available! by Blizzard Entertainment, Sep 27, 2011 12:56 PM PDT

Other

Geek Pinoy Forsaken Queen Sylvanas Windrunner Action Figure Review

Preceded by: Unknown

Position: Ranger-general of Silvermoon

Succeeded by: Halduron Brightwing

Preceded by: Balnazzar

Position: Ruler of Lordaeron

Succeeded by: Varimathras (usurper)

Preceded by: Varimathras (usurper)

Position: Ruler of Lordaeron

Succeeded by: Incumbent, Calia Menethil ("true heir")

Preceded by: Vol'jin

Position: Warchief of the Horde

Succeeded by: Incumbent