| Black Dragonflight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Major leader(s) | Deathwing, Nefarian, Onyxia |
| Character classes | Scalebane, Wyrmkin |
| Racial capital | Blackrock Mountain |
| Homeworld | Azeroth |
| Language(s) | Draconic, Common |
| Average height | Varies by species and age |
A Black Drake
- Leader: Deathwing the Destroyer/Neltharion the Earth-Warder
- Domain: Earth, Protection
- Breath: Fire, Magma[1][2]
- Locations:
Though the Black Dragonflight was nearly annihilated in ages past, a few of the evil creatures have made their homes in the dry, desolate wastes of The Barrens. With their lord, Deathwing, either missing or dead, the black dragons seek to appease only themselves. The creatures are immensely powerful and cruel and revel in mortal suffering. The black dragons are the enemies of every other Dragonflight, especially the great red dragons of Lordaeron.[3]
Age groups and dragonspawn
Culture
Black Dragonkin in the Burning Steppes
Black Dragons were once earth-warders, caring for stone and mountain and using their formidable abilities to cause the rise and fall of terrain. They were to watch as the world of Azeroth changed and to maintain the boundaries and lines of delineation between the races so that none would fall to war over land. They maintained this purpose for a time, living in relative harmony with the other races and shaping the land to better use. In those peaceful times, their leader was known as Neltharion, and his wisdom and power were renowned. Then came the madness that destroyed Neltharion's mind. But as the Black Dragons followed their leader into madness, so did their powers. They are no more the guardians of earth, but instead revel in fire and magma. Destruction is their art and death their goal. All other dragons of Azeroth fight against Deathwing's flight at every opportunity.[4]
In modern times black dragons are some of the most evil, sadistic creatures known on the face of Azeroth. Black dragons are vicious, selfish beings, not caring even for the lives of their flightmates and children, often killing other blacks to rise in prominence among the flight. Before Deathwing's disappearance the black dragons sought to emulate their dark master. A wyrm's goal in life was to become the foul black aspect's right hand or even replace him entirely, caring little for any other blacks that got in the way of this goal. Nowadays with their leader missing the black flight is in a civil war, each individual desiring to become the new leader of their dark kind.[4] Most black dragons follow the instructions of another only if they expect a benefit or they're confident that the other dragon could eat them.[5]
History
Black Dragon in Warcraft III
Charge of the Dragonflights
Satisfied that the small world had been ordered and that their work was done, the Titans prepared to leave Azeroth. But before they departed, they charged the greatest species of the world with the task of watching over Kalimdor. In that age, there were many dragonflights. Yet there were five flights that held dominion over their brethren. It was these five flights that the Titans chose to shepherd the budding world. The greatest members of the Pantheon imbued a portion of their power upon each of the flights' leaders.
Khaz'goroth, the Titan shaper and forger of the world, bestowed some of his vast power upon the mighty black wyrm, Neltharion. The great-hearted Neltharion, known afterwards as the Earth-Warder, was given dominion over the earth and the deep places of the world. He embodied the strength of the world and served as Alexstrasza's greatest supporter.[6]
War of the Ancients
Black Dragons were once, like their aspect Neltharion, the defenders of Azeroth, living deep in the caverns of the earth. They shaped the lands, raised mountains, and created valleys. For countless millennia the black dragons and the other flights lived in peace and harmony and worked together to safeguard Azeroth from all forms of violence and destruction.
Then they fell prey to the whispering of the Old Gods, Neltharion most of all. The other Aspects attributed Neltharion's oddness to his displeasure with the actions of the bold Highborne Kaldorei. The Highborne had opened a portal for the Burning Legion and the demons began to invade Azeroth. Neltharion, having lost all sanity, created a device called the Dragon Soul (later known as the Demon Soul), taking a portion of each dragon's power, but he and the black flight did not contribute their own power, unknown to the other flights. He claimed the device was to fight the legion but in reality he planed on using it to take control of all of Azeroth, and make the Black Flight rulers of the world. The Blacks' betrayal was made known when Neltharion turned the device on the night elves and their allies, and eventually the other dragons, going as far as virtually erasing the blue dragonflight from existence. The mortal defenders managed to ultimately defeat the legion, but the world was inevitably sundered.
After The Sundering
The ensuing civil war between the black dragonflight and the other flights decimated the species, with all flights losing members, some more than others. The dragonflights hunted the blacks to the brink of extinction.[7] Deathwing's remaining consorts were slain, by his own recklessness, in the first few days of the war.[8] Ultimately the blacks were nearly wiped out,[9] though the other flights never truly recovered from those dark times and were never again seen in the same numbers as before. The Age of the Dragons had passed.
After having wiped out nearly every member of the flight, the black dragons were not ready to leave the last few blues in peace. The survivors of the blue dragonflight fled to Northrend, then Deathwing attacked the blue dragons, slaughtering them by the dozens. The survivors fought back but were no match for Deathwing's ferocity. In the process their homes were destroyed and the land so damaged it could never recover. That area became the Dragonblight.[10] Over what is now Crystalsong Forest another battle between the blacks and blues was waged, and many blue dragons died. Their magic released into the air and settled as glittering light on the ground and the rocks and the trees. Finally an elder blue dragon, beset by many blacks, unleashed a powerful spell to strip the life from his attackers and turn them to stone. The loose magic altered and amplified the spell, spreading it across the entire region and changing soil and stone and wood and flesh into living crystal.[11]
One particular brood of Ysera's were closely allied with the night elves of the Azuremyst Isles, whom were ruled by Prince Toreth. Ysera kindly allowed the night elves to ride her children into battle and they were known as the Dragon Riders of Loreth'Aran. Ysera's benevolence raised the ire of Deathwing and he launched an attack against Wyrmscar Island where the dragonriders slept. The blacks, including Razormaw, a lieutenant of Deathwing, mercilessly slaughtered the Kaldorei. The greens rose up to protect their allies but were unsuccessful. Not one was spared, though many blacks, including Razormaw, also perished in the battle. The skeletons and spirits of the murdered greens still liter the small island. Razormaw's hatred for the greens was so great that his restless spirit remained soaring high overhead, forever haunting the island.
In the early years following the sundering, is said that Deathwing's black flight attempted to subjugate the bronze dragons. The assault was unsuccessful, primarily because the bronze dragons did not stay and fight as expected. His command of time offering insight into the blacks' plans, Nozdormu alerted his flight of the danger. The bronze dragonflight scattered to the four corners of the globe, where they continued to monitor events.[12]
The Second War and Draenor
During the Second War Deathwing finally saw his opportunity to decimate Alexstrasza and her flight. Deathwing was unable to use the Demon Soul himself, the other aspects had seen to that,[13] but it could placed in the hands of a being that would use it against his enemies.[14] Deathwing sent visions of the artifact to the chieftain of the Dragonmaw Clan, a shaman named Zuluhed the Whacked, who claimed the disc it for the Horde. The device was given to his lieutenant, the warlock Nekros Skullcrusher, whose magic the disk eagerly reciprocated, and was used to enslave Alexstrasza and most of her flight, turning them into the Horde's hounds of war.[15]
Eventually the Horde was defeated, the portal destroyed, and most of the orcs thrown in the internment camps. The alliance lands saw peace for the first time in a generation, a peace that did not last long. Soon the portal reopened and the old clans left behind on Draenor were reunited with the free orcs on Azeroth. Seeking to gain allies, the shaman Ner'zhul sent his forces to Deathwing and the crazed dragons roosting at Blackrock Spire. The Horde annihilated the Alliance forces besieging the mountain and found a new ally in the black wyrms. Deathwing now fought alongside the Horde.
After retrieving the artifacts he desired, Ner'zhul pulled the horde back to Draenor. Deathwing traveled to the orc homeworld, taking along a few remaining members of his flight, and they settled on a mountain isle in the devouring sea. The Alliance launched an expedition into Draenor to eliminate the orcish threat once and for all. Although the Alliance managed to seal the portal, Ner'zhul had already learned enough to open numerous portals, which began to tear Draenor apart. As the planet went through its death throes, Deathwing quickly escaped back to Azeroth through the Dark Portal, abandoning his progeny, his flight and eggs, on the doomed world. Many of his eggs were exposed to the twisting nether and the dragons that emerged from them were no longer truly members of the black flight. These ethereal dragons would come to be known as the Nether Dragons. Sometime during the black flight's occupation of Draenor, they also entered a costly war with the Gronn. A number of black dragons still remain in the Blade's Edge Mountains today.
The Battle of Grim Batol
The blacks were nearly extinct and their master, Deathwing, sought a way he could rebuild his flight. He devised a plan to do this by stealing the eggs of his greatest foe, Alexstrasza, who was still enslaved by the Dragonmaw. Not wanting to possibly damage the eggs by directly assaulting Grim Batol, he sought a way to fool the orcs into bringing the eggs out into the open where he could more easily steal them. He fooled Nekros into believing the Alliance planned on invading the mountain fortress and the warlock ordered to have Alexstrasza, Tyranastrasz, and her eggs moved out of the mountain and towards Dun Algaz where the bulk of the Dragonmaw Clan was stationed preparing for war. Deathwing assaulted the caravan and began to steal the eggs, but then his plan went awry and the Demon Soul was destroyed in the battle now known as The Battle of Grim Batol. With their powers returned to them, Alexstrasza and the other aspects, who had shown up in order to save the Dragonqueen, chased Deathwing off, and he hasn't been seen since. The eggs were quickly recovered afterwards.[16]
Current activities
The remaining black dragons are now in a state of civil war, fighting over who will rule the flight. Recently the siblings,Nefarian and Onyxia, have managed to take control over a large portion of the flight, and the two plot on how to scour Azeroth of the mortal races and other dragonflights.
Dragons' End
- Onyxia's brood resides in Dustwallow Marsh, however the broodmother herself is often gone. Onyxia has disguised herself as a noble of Stormwind (much like her father once did within Lordaeron), influencing the child king Anduin Wrynn, and interfering with the armies of Stormwind from being used for their intended purposes, including protecting the alliance lands from the orcish armies of her brother Nefarian. Her true identity has been discovered by Marshal Reginald Windsor, whom unfortunately for the Alliance, has been captured by the Dark Iron dwarves of Shadowforge in Blackrock Depths.
- Nefarian also wears a human guise, Victor Nefarius, and has taken control of Blackrock Spire and the Dark Horde barricaded inside under Rend Blackhand. They constantly fight the Dark Iron dwarves of Shadowforge and their fiery master, Ragnaros, that reside in the depths of the volcano. Nefarian and his brood are at work creating a Chromatic Dragonflight with the powers of all the flights to release on the fire elementals and eventually the races of Azeroth.[17]In order to do so they have began striking out againt the other flights, kidnapping whelps, such as the Blue whelps of Mazthoril, to be used in their experiments. Black dragon servants of Nefarian can be found as far north as the Badlands and all the way south to the Redridge Mountains, but the most powerful of which are located inside the spire. Blackwing Lair, Nefarian's laboratory and seat of power, is filled with the mightiest servants of Deathwing's protégé, including elite orcs, mad goblins, various dragonkin, and members of the new chromatic dragonflight.
- A large number of black dragons on Outland have made the Blade's Edge Mountains their home. How they came to be there is uncertain, but they are believed to be the remains of Deathwing's brood stranded on Draenor after the Second War. Many of the dragons met their end at the hands of Gruul the Dragonkiller and his sons, and can be seen impaled on the rocky spires at Dragons' End. The dragon Sabellian seeks revenge against Gruul and his sons for the death of his children. The Blacks here are revered by a mortal organization known as the Wyrmcult. They are led by the Drakonid Maxnar the Ashmaw, operating from Blackwing Coven in Raven's Wood.
- Overlord Mor'ghor, servant of Illidan Stormrage on Netherwing Ledge, has recently been approached by a emissary from the black flight, Lady Sinestra. Sinestra claims their master (Deathwing) is alive and well and is interested in recovering the Nether Dragons Mor'ghor has been grooming for Illidan, as they are the black aspect's progeny. Mor'ghor, once an unwitting servant of Deathwing, quickly agrees.
Appearance and guises
Most Black Dragons appear with their horns and wings in a shade of orange to brown, but a few females appear with purplish wings and horns. Deathwing himself appears black, plated with adamantium, with fiery veins running across his body.
The preferred humanoid forms of the Black Dragonflight when in disguise amongst mortals are humans with black hair and dark eyes. Though Black Dragons can easily take other forms, humans have been especially useful. The powerful and semi-industrial human kingdoms could more easily accomplish the goals of Deathwing and his ilk than the nomadic tauren, the magically-minded high elves, or the mountain-dwelling dwarves. Humans are also far less sensitive to the presence of dragons than other races. Night elves, for instance, can identify a dragon with relative ease. Known Black Dragons that have taken human form are listed in their dragon state and respective human names: A few known exceptions are Lady Sinestra who, when acting as an ambassador to the Dragonmaw clan, uses a Blood Elf guise instead of a human one, and Blackwing Spellbinders in Blackwing Lair who also take elven form.
- Deathwing as Lord Daval Prestor
- Nefarian as Lord Victor Nefarius
- Onyxia as Lady Katrana Prestor
- Sabellian as Baron Sablemane
- Kalaran the Deceiver as Kalaran Windblade
Known members
Black Dragon names are sometimes modifications of words usually used to describe an undesirable character trait. Other times, they can be based on words synonymous with the color black, darkness, or fire.
| Name | Role | Type | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Deathwing | Leader of the Black Dragonflight. Blessed by the Titans as Aspect of earth, and called the Earth-warder. Known as Neltharion until he went mad and turned on the other flights. | Aspect | Alive |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Blackscale | Patrols outside the Blackwing Coven in Raven's Wood in the Blade's Edge Mountains. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Furywing | Perches at the Crystal Spine in the Blade's Edge Mountains, usually patrolling high overhead, landing only to defend her clutch of eggs. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Hemathion | Patrols the Vortex Pinnacle in the Blade's Edge Mountains on foot. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Insidion | Perches at the Crystal Spine in the Blade's Edge Mountains, usually patrolling high overhead, landing only to defend his clutch of eggs. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Nefarian | Son of Deathwing. Rules the Black Dragonflight on Azeroth from Blackwing Lair. Controls the Dark Horde via puppet Warchief Rend Blackhand in the guise of Lord Victor Nefarius. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Nihil | Banished to the Nether, now seeks escape and dominion of Draenor. Released at Singing Ridge in Blade's Edge Mountains, then rebanished by a  [Temporal Phase Modulator].
|
Dragon | Alive |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Obsidia | Perches at the Vortex Pinnacle in the Blade's Edge Mountains, usually patrolling high overhead, landing only to defend her clutch of eggs. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Onyxia | Daughter of Deathwing. Broodmother of the Black Flight on Azeroth. Lair hidden in the Wyrmbog in Dustwallow Marsh, but she's often in Stormwind in the guise of Katrana Prestor. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Razormaw | Lieutenant of Deathwing. Led an attack against the Dragon Riders of Loreth'Aran on Wyrmscar Island. Perished in battle but his spirit still flies overhead, haunting the isle. | Dragon | Undead-Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Rivendark | Perches at the Vortex Pinnacle in the Blade's Edge Mountains, usually patrolling high overhead, landing only to defend his clutch of eggs. | Dragon | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Sabellian | Seeks out revenge against Gruul and his seven sons for the slaughter of his children. Plotting in his human guise just outside the Blade's Edge Arena in Blade's Edge Mountains. | Dragon | Alive |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Sinestra | Emissary of the Black Dragonflight who visits Overlord Mor'ghor in her blood elven guise. Seeks to reclaim the Netherwing Dragonflight for her master. | Dragon | Alive |
 Teribus
|
Cursed skeletal dragon flying high over the Bone Wastes in Terokkar Forest. | Dragon | Undead-Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Vhel'kur | Spawn of Deathwing who made his home on what is now Netherwing Ledge in Shadowmoon Valley. Defeated by Teron Gorefiend. Spirit flies overhead in an endless circle. | Dragon | Undead-Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Blacklash | Former lieutenant of Deathwing. Imprisoned with his twin Hematus in Lethlor Ravine in the Badlands. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Brimgore | Drake of the Black Dragonflight sometimes found patrolling the area of the Dragonmurk in Dustwallow Marsh. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Ebonroc | One of three powerful drakes who guard Nefarian's inner sanctum. Found just past the laboratories inside Blackwing Lair. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Emberstrife | An ancient drake of the Black Dragonflight. Duty is to train the dragonspawn who would become Onyxia's elite guards. Located in his lair in the Wyrmbog in Dustwallow Marsh | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Firemaw | One of three powerful drakes who guard Nefarian's inner sanctum. Patrols the laboratories inside Blackwing Lair. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Flamegor | One of three powerful drakes who guard Nefarian's inner sanctum. Found just past the laboratories inside Blackwing Lair. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Hematos | Drake of the Black Dragonflight that occasionally patrols the area of the Draco'dar in the Burning Steppes. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Hematus | Former lieutenant of Deathwing. Imprisoned with his twin Blacklash in Lethlor Ravine in the Badlands. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Kalaran | Drake in the service of Nefarian. Uses a human guise to lure adventurers into assisting him battle the Dark Iron Dwarves of the Searing Gorge. | Drake | Alive |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Searinox | Drake of the Black Dragonflight who made his home near Strahnbrad. Was killed by Prince Arthas for the dwarven hunter Feranor Steeltoe. | Drake | Deceased |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Smolderwing | Drake in the service of Onyxia. Responds to the challenge outside Onyxia's Lair to the Black Dragonflight by the Stonemaul Ogre Brogg. | Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Teremus | Drake of the Black Dragonflight known as the Devourer. Patrols the Blasted Lands. Carries a  [Flawless Draenethyst Sphere].
|
Drake | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Singe | Whelp companion to the Blackrock Warlord Gath'Ilzogg. Located beside his master in Stonewatch Keep in the Redridge Mountains. | Whelp | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Snarlflare | Whelp of the Black Dragonflight occasionally found roaming outside Alther's Mill in the Redridge Mountains. | Whelp | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Cyrus Therepentous | Dragonspawn sound in Slither Rock in the Burning Steppes. Sends adventurers to Blackrock Depths to slay Bael'Gar and retrieve his fiery essence. | Dragonspawn | Alive |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Drakkisath | General of Nefarian's dragonspawn armies. Rules from Blackrock Spire. Guards the Orb granting access to Nefarian's sanctum, and his blood is needed to access Onyxia's Lair. | Dragonspawn | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Hamarahk | The Blacklord. A winged dragonspawn of the Black Dragonflight | Dragonspawn | Unknown |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Razorgore | Known as the Untamed. Powerful rogue dragonspawn under the control of Grethok the Controller in Nefarian's sanctum of Blackwing Lair. | Dragonspawn | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Solakar Flamewreath | Dragonspawn located inside Blackrock Spire. Guards The Rookery where the eggs of the black flight are kept. | Dragonspawn | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Wyrmthalak | Subordinate of General Drakkisath. Overlord and Taskmaster of Hordemar in Lower Blackrock Spire inside Blackrock Mountain. | Dragonspawn | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Lashlayer | Drakonid in the service of Nefarian. Guards the Halls of Strife, blocking the way into Nefarian's inner sanctum. | Drakonid | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Maxnar | Known as the Ashmaw. Patriarch of the Blackwing Wyrmcult in the Blackwing Coven in Raven's Wood in the Blade's Edge Mountains. | Drakonid | Killable |
| File:IconSmall Black.gif Valthalak | Powerful drakonid located in Upper Blackrock Spire. His amulet was split in half and must be rejoined to summon him. | Drakonid | Killable |
Notes
One of the realms in World of Warcraft is named after the Black Dragonflight. Server:Black Dragonflight
References
- ^ Borgstrom, R. Sean; Joseph Carriker, Bob Fitch, Graveyard Greg, Jason Langlois, Chris Metzen, Ree Soesbee, William Timmins, David Wendt. in Mike Johnstone: Manual of Monsters: 30. ISBN 978-1588460707.
- ^ Cassada, Jackie; Brandon Crowley, Richard Farrese, Bob Fitch, Bruce Graw, Luke Johnson, Adam Loyd, Andrew Rowe, Andrew E. Scott. in Scott Holden: Monster Guide: 40. ISBN 978-1588469366.
- ^ "Manual, 86", Warcraft III. Blizzard Entertainment.
- ^ a b Borgstrom, R. Sean; Joseph Carriker, Bob Fitch, Graveyard Greg, Jason Langlois, Chris Metzen, Ree Soesbee, William Timmins, David Wendt. in Mike Johnstone: Manual of Monsters: 29. ISBN 978-1588460707.
- ^ Baxter, Rob; Scott Berenie, Richard Farrese, Bob Fitch, Bruce Graw, Luke Johnson, Adam Loyd, Jeffrey Moller, Andrew Rowe, David Schwartz, Amber E. Scott. in Ellen P. Kiley: Dark Factions: 147. ISBN 978-1588464460.
- ^ "Charge of the Dragonflights" (HTML). Official World of Warcraft Community Site, History, Chapter 1. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Manual, 142", Warcraft III. Blizzard Entertainment.
- ^ Knaak, Richard A.. Day of the Dragon, 345. ISBN 0671041515.
- ^ Knaak, Richard A.. Day of the Dragon, 341. ISBN 0671041515.
- ^ Bernie, Scott; Bruce Graw, Luke Johnson, Mur Lafferty, Aaron Rosenberg, Andrew Rowe. in Ellen P. Kiley: Lands of Mystery: 96. ISBN 978-1-5884-6784-3.
- ^ Bernie, Scott; Bruce Graw, Luke Johnson, Mur Lafferty, Aaron Rosenberg, Andrew Rowe. in Ellen P. Kiley: Lands of Mystery: 97. ISBN 978-1-5884-6784-3.
- ^ Borgstrom, R. Sean; Joseph Carriker, Bob Fitch, Graveyard Greg, Jason Langlois, Chris Metzen, Ree Soesbee, William Timmins, David Wendt. in Mike Johnstone: Manual of Monsters: 33. ISBN 978-1588460707.
- ^ Knaak, Richard A.. The Sundering, 346-7. ISBN 0743471210.
- ^ Knaak, Richard A.. Day of the Dragon, 359-60. ISBN 0671041515.
- ^ Knaak, Richard A.. Day of the Dragon, 53. ISBN 0671041515.
- ^ Knaak, Richard A.. "19-21", Day of the Dragon, 321-68. ISBN 0671041515.
- ^ "Blackwing Lair" (HTML). Official World of Warcraft Community Site. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
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