Name: Wrathion (The Black Prince) Door: door pass — dominantCanon: World of Warcraft Canon Point: Battle for Azeroth expansion (8.2) Age: Technically? Wrathion is chronologically five years old. Having hatched during the chaos of the Cataclysm, he is nothing more than a young dragon whelp. However, due to the combination of the Titan cleansing and the experiments conducted on him by the Red Dragonflight, Wrathion is mentally far more mature. When he shifts into his mortal form, he appears to be a young man. This form seems to align with his mental age, suggesting he is somewhere in his late teens or early 20s. And as Wrathion likes to point out when his age is questioned, he is five in dragon years, which are suggested to run a lot differently than those of mortals due to their extremely long lifespans.
Appearance: official art; fanart used with permission by ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico) yshaarjHistory: Wrathion, Black Dragonflight (ie, his family), Story of Wrathion (youtube)Personality: "[The Red Dragonflight] wanted to hold me, to keep watch over me – a prisoner in all but name. But I will NOT be held accountable for the sins of my father. My destiny will be my own."
When the legendary rogue hero first breaks into Ravenholdt Manner, hoping to steal away the egg they are after, they instead meet an extraordinary individual. One who is abundantly honest about how unique and one-of-a-kind he is. Intelligent and charismatic, Wrathion introduces himself as a black dragon free of the taint that had driven his family to madness, but also a dragon free of the yokes intended for him by the other dragonflights. This introduction gives us the biggest clue into what kind of person Wrathion is: as calculating as black dragons can be. But also determined to be his own person and to forge his own fate.
Most of the black dragons of Azeroth are cruel, cold, and driven by a corruption that has seeped into their very blood, starting with the fall of the father of the Black Dragonflight, Deathwing, the Aspect of Death. This madness has made black dragons enemies of nearly all the other races of Azeroth for ages and ages. Yet when a hero first meets Wrathion, his lack of corruption is one of the first things he brings up. It's an important distinction, telling those that come across him that he is not necessarily an enemy. What's more, it tells the hero that this young dragon wants to be someone different. From the moment he hatched, and even before, Wrathion wanted no part of his family's plans or plots. Within days of emerging from his egg, he even began ordering the complete destruction of his family, something he pursues without remorse. Because, as he sees it, the Black Dragonflight is a blight upon Azeroth. He doesn't want to see the world end due to his father and his madness. This is the first example given of how much Wrathion desires to be separate from his family. But the desire for distinction does not stop there. While much of the Black Dragonflight sought to destroy Azeroth, there is nothing that Wrathion wants more than to see it protected. Upon seeing the wonders of Pandaria, Wrathion becomes enchanted and finally decides on what his fate will be: to restore the reputation of his flight and most importantly, ensure the protection of the world he loves. Indeed, the original purpose of the Black Dragonflight was to protect Azeroth and see to the proper shaping of the world. His family turned away from that purpose, corrupted by the whispers of evil, old gods. But in Pandaria, Wrathion decides to take it upon himself to draw whatever knowledge and power he can to him, so he might prepare Azeroth for whatever danger might come.
Of course, being a black dragon, Wrathion still has many of the traits that set black dragons apart from the other dragonflights. He may be free of his family's corruption, but he is still brutal when he needs to be, manipulative, and calculating. His allegiances, as he puts it, are entirely to himself. When angered, he can become violent. And as he tells the Celestial of Strength, also know as Xuen, he believes true strength is the ability to defeat one's foes. In his desire to seek whatever power it takes to protect Azeroth, he uses any means at his disposal. He has no qualms using the skills of assassins and rogues to accomplish familicide so that Azeroth might be free of the dangerous Black Dragonflight. Nor does he take issue with breaking the legs of possible spies, just to send a message of warning. Convincing champions of great skill to flock to his side by offering them powerful weapons, Wrathion is often seen manipulating the very powers of the enemies his champions had vanquished. To others (such as the noble prince of Stormwind, Anduin Wrynn), this seems dangerous and reckless. But to Wrathion, it's all necessary measures. He'll gather whomever is valuable or worthy to him, and should one of his champions die, he'll move on to the next. He even resorts to releasing the war criminal and former warchief of the Horde, Garrosh Hellscream, from captivity so he might manipulate Garrosh into a dangerous and powerful tool for shaping Azeroth's future. In the process, he casts a spell to send Anduin Wrynn, the only person he considers as "friend", into unconsciousness so he might escape without obstacles. As he puts it to the Celestial of Wisdom, the Jade Serpent, doing what is "right," no matter the cost, is the true nature of wisdom.
Despite Wrathion's questionable methods, his intentions are far less evil than one would expect. Certainly, he is just as calculating and just as intelligent as the more villainous members of his family. He's able to navigate and manipulate highly advanced technology without much help, as he does within the forges of the Thunder King. He can craft deadly weaponry and forge powerful artifacts. But he does it all for what he considers to be a greater good. As mentioned, Wrathion seeks to protect Azeroth from a threat he feels to be greater than anything else that might exist. As he tells Anduin, even as he apologizes for betraying the other prince, he hopes that one day his friend will understand his reasons so they might stand beside each other in battle against a greater foe. For he has seen visions of the Burning Legion descending upon Azeroth. The very world he confesses to love due to its majesty and wonders. In his eyes, it is a jewel to keep safe, and admits as much to both his champions and the Celestials he begs blessings from. To the Celestial of Hope, Chi-Ji, Wrathion admits he has but a smidgen of hope for Azeroth's survival and that he fears what might happen should he fail to mend the divided world. But it's that hope that drives him to gather strength of all kinds under a single banner.
Naturally, not everyone seeks the same purpose as him. And Wrathion, for all his formidable power, doesn't always succeed either. It's during these moments of possible or actual failure that we see Wrathion at his most vulnerable. When faced with just a ghost of his father, the terrible Aspect of Death known as Deathwing, Wrathion nearly breaks down with fear. He begs the vision and madness to stop, requiring the help of his champion to fight. When Wrathion's plan to see Azeroth united under a single, strong front is shattered by the decisions of King Varian Wrynn, he throws enough of a violent, fire-fueled tantrum to destroy a good portion of the very inn where he spent much of his time. He calls the king a fool, wishing he had used more unsavory means to succeed, as his "Auntie Onyxia" once had. As long as it would get things done, he says in his fit of rage. While fighting, he proves to be easily annoyed when his spells miss and even more so when his opponent proceeds to elude him, shouting out taunts such as "Stand still, will you?!" And when conversing or playing games with Anduin Wrynn, Wrathion proves to be easily riled when the other prince makes a move he doesn't like or when Anduin makes a comment about his age.
These moments of weakness, both in anger and fear, remind us of Wrathion's true age. While powerful and matured, granted with abilities and a mentality far more advanced than most dragons his age (much less that of mortals), he is still just a young dragon. He behaves arrogantly and is stubborn, which sometimes leads to occasions where he is knocked down a few pegs. On four separate occasions, he's properly schooled about the true meanings of wisdom, hope, strength, and fortitude. Though how much he learned can be questioned, given how he later complains about the Celestials being "talk talk talk". Wrathion is even lectured by none other than the usually quiet innkeeper, Tong the Fixer, following the Siege of Orgrimmar. Tong points out that Wrathion has missed the biggest lesson of Pandaria. And when he responds, Wrathion spits back that Tong is just a waiter, as if he has no right to speak to him. He then storms out of the inn, as only a fluttering dragon whelp can. This young dragon is two years old and burdened with a heavy task that he's taken upon himself, thus reacts much like a two year old would when he is displeased. These tantrums aside, Wrathion is still determined to see to the protection of Azeroth. And Wrathion is not the type to be daunted, regardless of what obstacles block his path.
There's no better example of how determined he is than when he chooses to break free of both the Black and Red Dragonflights. If there's one thing Wrathion desires more than the protection of Azeroth or restoring the reputation of his flight, it's his freedom. When spies infiltrate his hiding place, he either convinces them to join his cause or has their legs broken and sent back to their masters. When actual red dragons seek to capture or kill him, he fights back, despite being only a whelp. And when Fahrad, the man who stole him away from the Red Dragonflight, raised him, and protected him, turns out to be corrupted and thus desires to control Wrathion, he sees to Fahrad's destruction as well. He then flees to a mysterious continent cloaked in mists, all so he might forge his own fate.
With all this in mind, Wrathion seems like the type to be incapable of making friends. He might be well spoken and charismatic, passionate about the protection of Azeroth, but he's rarely seen with anyone save his guards or his minions. His champions, though he calls them friends, are ultimately disposable unless they complete his tasks. He'll reward and praise them if they succeed, but he's flippant about their lives, often making comments like "Oh, and don't die!" or "Meet me [...] when the deed is done—assuming you're still alive when this is over" before sending them on deadly or dangerous quests. However, if there's one person that Wrathion seems to enjoy speaking with for reasons other than advancing his plans, it's a person that is nearly his exact opposite in temperament.
It's in Pandaria that we see The Black Prince speaking with a very unlikely individual, Prince Anduin Wrynn, the White Pawn and heir to the throne of Stormwind. What makes this friendship of sorts worthy of note is the fact that Anduin's family has been hurt or tricked many times by other members of the Black Dragonflight. There's a history of animosity there and Anduin's father hates black dragons for these reasons. It's probably due to this past that Wrathion is frank with Anduin about most of his intentions. He's honest, blunt, and though he tells Anduin that it would be wise not to trust him, he also says he holds no secrets. He even welcomes Anduin to sit in during much of his planning and discussions with his champions, giving Anduin the chance to add his input. All this is possibly done because he knows Anduin's place as the heir to the greatest human kingdom might be useful to him in the future. Then again, perhaps he finds Anduin's different point of view intriguing or fascinating, and since they both feel strongly about protecting Pandaria, as well as Azeroth, they have that in common. This is further demonstrated in the novel War Crimes, where Wrathion travels out of his way to visit the other prince and spend time with him. When asked by Anduin if they really are friends, Wrathion admits that he does see Anduin Wrynn as his friend, if it's possible for one like him to have one. Many of their conversations during the course of the novel are playful and lighthearted, when they are not challenging each other's way of thinking. With Anduin, we see Wrathion as the young man he appears, joking and teasing Anduin with offers like giving him rides atop his back while he is in his draconic form and taking the other prince on adventures that would "age [Anduin's] father ten years in one night."
All of this is remarkable considering that normally, Wrathion does nothing that isn't beneficial to his plans and he wouldn't seek anyone's company unless they were useful to him. Still the fact remains that both spend several weeks together within the Tavern in the Mists, followed by an indistinct amount of time on the Timeless Isle, and then their frequent visits with each other during the events of War Crimes. Though they ultimately part as almost enemies due to Wrathion's betrayal, he confesses to Anduin that it is his "deep hope" that Anduin might one day understand that his means will be justified in the end and that they might fight the Burning Legion as "brothers". Powers and Abilities: With how tricky Wrathion can be, he is by no means the type to reveal his entire hand. As his storylines progress, it's clear that he is not revealing all the powers available to him, which would be quite a considerable amount since he is shown to be a powerful dragon and thus wields all the abilities available to dragonkin. But being a black dragon means his powers are rather limited to the domain they cover, that being of earth as well as the shaping of it and seeing to its protection. But earthwarding skills go beyond the shaping of earth and the majority of the powers Wrathion has exhibited thus far also focus around the element of fire, like summoning lava and breathing magma or fire. In this sense, Wrathion and other black dragons are not unlike Azeroth's version of earth-slash-fire benders.
Unfortunately, a good portion of his combative abilities are not shown or unclear, largely due to the fact that Wrathion is rarely seen in battle. What is clear is that, aside from his elemental skills, he is adept at shaping and molding weaponry and magical artifacts using his own "draconic essence". This is much of what he does for his legendary quest-lines. Each time he creates or alters a legendary item, he is seen breathing fire (while still in his mortal form, something he also does when he's very displeased) over the object and morphing it as if it were a large, molten ball of rock. (Sometimes, he does this by means of blowing a fiery kiss.) Other times, when using excessive amounts of focus and magic, he is seen sprouting a pair of large, black, and scaly wings. Not unlike the wings of his father. (Both examples of these abilities can be seen here.)
Little is known of his actual fighting abilities because heroes only ever have one chance to fight him and it's hardly more than a test of skill. Meant to measure a hero's talents before they are given a special blessing. Still, we are given a glimpse of what he can do. The magic abilities he uses in this particular fight are as follows: ☠ Blindside: a spell he places upon himself to give his champions a "fighting chance". Standing behind him while he's blindfolded gives champions a 250% increased damage bonus.
☠ Crumbling Arc: drawing on his earthwarding abilities, Wrathion uses the very ground in large semi-circle in front of him. he draws the earth and rock upward in clouds of crumbling debris before slamming them down on or against his enemy. This tends to be a very destructive ability as it not only affects the land in front of him, it is also very dangerous for foes caught in its wake. To use technical terms, it causes at least 200k damage to those who do not move out of his path.
☠ Reign of Fire: once again using his earth-based abilities, Wrathion calls down plumes of fire and rock from the sky that fall like rain all around him.
☠ Blood of the Deathborn: when casting this, Wrathion creates a massive, bubbling pool of magma that continuously burns victims caught within.
☠ Neltharion's Tears: named for his father before his madness, this ability summons massive magma bubbles that follow his enemies around, doing damage periodically whenever they come in contact.
☠ Inferno: possibly his most devastating spell of all, Wrathion creates copies of himself, each exploding in a burst of flame and magma. the more of these copies he creates, the more likely he is to hit one of his foes, and Wrathion tends to summon as many of them as possible.
With these abilities in mind, it goes without saying that Wrathion is able to withstand extreme heat. Being able to handle and manipulate magma and lava, he is comfortable with scalding temperatures, and was even born in the sweltering heat of the Badlands where the earth is all but scorched by the sun.
Outside of spells, Wrathion is adept at using many types of weapons. During the Legendary Rogue quest-line of Cataclysm, Wrathion is seen wielding and fighting with a dagger. Off screen, he uses it to dispatch an adult red dragon, hinting at his aptitude while only being a few weeks hatched from his egg. Fitting for one living with a notorious clan of thieves and assassins and working with none other than the Grand Master of that group. Whether or not Wrathion received training with these rogues is unknown, but not unlikely. Which might mean he has the ability to Stealth, blending into the shadows. However, once in Pandaria, Wrathion wields two-handed weaponry such as the heavy polearm mentioned earlier. He swings it in wide arcs, suggesting a bit of warrior training on top of whatever he might've learned at Ravenholdt.
Wrathion also employs various forms of blood magic. Sometimes he uses his own blood to create images not unlike holograms in order to provide a backdrop for his stories. Other times, he makes use of his blood again, imbuing gems with this essence so he might see through his champions eyes. On one occasion, he devours the heart of a dangerous foe in order to understand the defeated enemy's power and secrets. By doing so, he is able to take in knowledge known to few. He also uses spells of sorts, possibly linked to blood magic, if not distinctly draconic powers, to incapacitate enemies or render someone unconscious.
Finally, being dragonkin, Wrathion is able to shapeshift between two forms: his mortal and his dragon form. When he does this, smoke rolls off his body in plumes until he "poofs" into the desired body. More often than not, he'll remain in his mortal guise, though for quick transportation (and escaping dangerous situations), he'll sometimes switch to his small, whelp form.
Inventory: ➔ the polearm he created at the Thunder Forges
➔ a Jihui set
➔ his daggers Samples: tdm, dear-player |
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locketto2019-01-13 12:22 pm
