Ashbringer

• Ashbringer
• Binds when picked up
• Unique
• Sword
• Two-Hand
• Speed 3.00
• 201 - 247 Damage
  + 30 - 50 Holy Damage
• (88.0 damage per second)
• Requires Level 60
• Chance on hit: Blasts a target for 700 Fire damage.
• "Blade of the Scarlet Highlord"

The Ashbringer, before its corruption

Ashbringer, Blade of the Scarlet Highlord, is the sword of former Highlord Alexandros Mograine of the Scarlet Crusade. The blade was named after Mograine (The Ashbringer) and his uncanny ability to smite the undead to nothing but a flurry of ash. Mograine was betrayed and murdered by his son, Renault, using the sword. Mograine was resurrected as a death knight by archlich Kel'Thuzad, and he still possesses Ashbringer, although it has been defiled by his murder and transformed into [Corrupted Ashbringer].

Ashbringer is one of the most hyped and lore-rich items thus far in the World of Warcraft, but is not yet known to be obtainable by players. The known item statistics are certain to change if it is introduced. While the sword's story has been slowly revealed since World of Warcraft's inception, it will have a pronounced role in Wrath of the Lich King.

Ashbringer will be featured in an eponymous issue of the World of Warcraft comic book to be released on September 10th, 2008.

Mograine kept the crystal a secret until the first whispers of the Scourge reached Lordaeron. He revealed it to the other leaders of the Silver Hand, suggesting that they search for the crystal's polar opposite - a manifestation of the Light itself - to be used against the impending undead holocaust. Mograine's peers, appalled at the sight of this dark crystal, attempted to destroy it with a holy spell. Unexpectedly, the crystal absorbed the spell and became its antithesis, the very crystal of pure light that Mograine suggested moments before. It was decided that from this crystal a weapon would be forged that would smite the undead with such power that only a cloud of ash would remain in its wake—The Ashbringer.

Rumors and speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Role in Wrath of the Lich King

Knowing that Mograine's spirit was freed from his body, it is unknown if Morgraine will appear again in "new" Naxxramas, or if Corrupted Ashbringer will drop again.

Some believe that Ashbringer is the Light's answer to Frostmourne, and that the two may eventually contend with one another: Frostmourne in the hands of Arthas, Ashbringer in the hands of Tirion Fordring or the player.

Identity of Mograine's second son

The identity of Mograine's son remained a mystery throughout the Burning Crusade. Although Fairbanks' comments imply that he was a member of the Alliance Expedition during the Second War, with the introduction of Wrath of the Lich King, it was revealed his son is Highlord Darion Mograine.

Until the introduction of Wrath of the Lich King, the most popular candidate for Mograine's son among players was David Wayne, due to the fact that he is a weaponsmith (and could thus forge a new Ashbringer) and makes reference to leaving the Alliance Expedition because he believes he is meant to be part of "something larger." He also has red hair like the two known Mograines.

The crystal

The dark crystal from which the Ashbringer would be crafted, before and after its purification

The crystal from which the original Ashbringer was created is likely related to the naaru, and may in fact be a naaru.

The naaru life cycle is one of reincarnation. When a naaru's physical form is damaged, it becomes "darkened." The naaru will persist in this state until they slowly regenerate their powers from the Light over many years, after which they will be "reborn" into their "Light" form again. The crystal shown by Highlord Mograine in Old Hillsbrad demonstrates similar properties: a holy spell was cast on the dark crystal and it became a crystal of light. Furthermore, the crystal was described as a living embodiment, suggesting that it is alive, or at least sentient -- possibly a darkened naaru. If the crystal is not a darkened naaru, then it is almost certainly closely associated with them, perhaps one of the Ata'mal Crystals.

Mograine also states that the crystal is from Draenor. The naaru had not yet arrived on Draenor via Tempest Keep before the Second War, leaving only a few naaru as the possible source of the crystal—K'ure, who resides in Oshu'gun, or D'ore, who was injured in Oshu'gun's crash upon Draenor centuries before, currently interred in Auchindoun. D'ore himself tells the player:

D'ore:"Without the void, the Light cannot exist."

Which are suspiciously similar to words used by Mograine:

Commander Mograine: "Can good exist without evil? Can there be light without dark?"

File:Muru spark.JPG

M'uru's spark above the Sunwell

After Kil'jaeden's defeat at Sunwell Plateau, Velen and Lady Liadrin arrive at the Sunwell. Velen uses the remaining "spark" of M'uru to reignite the Sunwell. Liadrin's experience upon being filled with the Sunwell's energies is not unlike that of Mograine's when touching the Ashbringer crystal:

Lady Liadrin: "Blessed ancestors! I feel it ! So much love ... so much grace ... there are ... no words ... impossible to describe!"

Commander Mograine: "I... It... It is beautiful. What I felt when I touched it... The Light coursed through me and I through it... It healed my spirit."

Their similar experiences, along with the new knowledge that a naaru's essence can be consolidated, suggests that the spark of another naaru may have been the crystal from which Ashbringer was forged.

It should be noted that M'uru's spark appears identical (although larger) to the dark Ashbringer crystal, although this may be coincidental.

Old questline

Ashbringer may have been originally intended to be in the game much earlier. Parts of the quest line can be pieced together.

Nat Pagle learned of the location of Ashbringer and wrote about it in his book, [Nat Pagle's Guide to Extreme Anglin'], of which players only have the last page. Shen'dralar zealots in Dire Maul say that Prince Tortheldrin knows the location of Ashbringer and is willing to tell the player if one were to bring him the  [Head of Nefarian]. Also in Dire Maul is the full (albeit unreadable) copy of Nat's book, [A Thoroughly Read Copy of "Nat Pagle's Extreme' Anglin."], which can be found in dusty tomes. The Prince, being a historian and bibliophile, likely read Pagle's book, learned of the Ashbringer's location, and discarded the book in Dire Maul where the player finds it.

The zealots' words suggest that Ashbringer was likely to be the legendary item associated with Blackwing Lair but was changed to [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker], which requires [Elementium Ore] from Blackwing Lair. This is supported by the fact that Ashbringer's original item ID was changed to host Thunderfury.

Additionally, at one time, [Timolain's Phylactery] could be looted from Large Vile Slimes in The Weeping Cavern of Western Plaguelands. Lengthy discussion on the official forums has led to the premature yet popular conclusion that Timolain is the name of the mage referred to by Bardu Sharpeye and Alexia Ironknife, and therefore is the crafter of the Ashbringer.

The implementation of Ashbringer was likely delayed so that the story could be fleshed out with the addition of Naxxramas, and appears to have been further delayed to be included in Wrath of the Lich King.

Trivia

An "Ashbringer" meme has developed on the official forums. Posts that raise questions about Ashbringer, particularly where one may obtain it, often solicit a response of "the Ashbringer..." in reference to the Old Hillsbrad event. Indeed, this response is used alongside "It's a trap!" and "Fool! You've activated my trap card!" whenever players feel a post is not worthy of a real response.

See also

• [Corrupted Ashbringer]
• Alexandros Mograine
• Darion Mograine
• Renault Mograine
• Ashbringer Quotes
• Old Hillsbrad Event: The Origin of Ashbringer
• Scarlet Monastery Event: Retribution of the Ashbringer

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB