World of Warcraft Gifts

Queen Sylvanas Windrunner

Sylvanas was a member of the prominent Windrunner family of the High Elves. Her siblings were Alleria, Vereesa, and at least two other brothers. 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.

During the Third War, Arthas led a Scourge army into Sylvanas‘ homeland, Quel’Thalas, in order to use the Sunwell’s powerful magic as a means to raise the fallen necromancer Kel’Thuzad. Sylvanas valiantly fought against the Scourge, but Arthas managed to defeat her in battle. Instead of allowing Sylvanas to die a quick death, however, Arthas ripped the Ranger-General’s soul from her body. He then converted her soul into a banshee and forced Sylvanas to assist the Scourge as they defiled Quel’Thalas and slaughtered many of the kingdom’s inhabitants.

Sylvanas later regained her freedom following Illidan’s assault on the Frozen Throne. Illidan’s attack had widened an existing crack in the throne, this weakened the Lich King’s control over some of the Scourge. Sensing that she was no longer chained to the will of her dark master, Sylvanas reclaimed her body and plotted to avenge her death. She nearly achieved this goal when a group of banshees loyal to Sylvanas led Arthas into an ambush. During the attack Sylvanas paralyzed her nemesis with a poisoned arrow, but Kel’Thuzad intervened and saved Arthas.

Following the assassination attempt, Arthas journeyed to Northrend and merged with the Lich King. Meanwhile, Sylvanas gathered other renegade Undead, now known as the Forsaken, and established the Undercity beneath the ruins of Lordaeron’s capital. With the Forsaken under her command, Sylvanas went to war against the Scourge and eventually joined the Horde. This partnership benefited both parties: the Forsaken’s relatively small forces required assistance in their offensive against the Lich King, and the Horde desired a foothold in the Eastern Kingdoms.

Recently Sylvanas dealt with an uprising by a group of Demons and rebel Forsaken led by the Dreadlord Varimathras and Grand Apothecary Putress. During a joint Horde and Alliance attack on the Wrath Gate in Northrend, Putress unleashed a new plague that killed friend and foe alike, and Varimathras and his loyalists seized the Undercity. Sylvanas defeated her enemies and retook the Undercity soon afterward, a victory that was possible only due to assistance from the Horde.

Under her leadership, the Forsaken have managed to not only fend off the Scourge, but also the Scarlet Crusade. She has mastery of leadership, military strategy, and the bow. She is also adept at Demon magic, having the ability to drain life, create skeletons, and use mind control. Sylvanas is the best archer on Azeroth, she claimed she could hit a flying bird in the eye. She wields Sunstrider’s Longbow, once owned by Dath’Remar Sunstrider, it was passed on to Sylvanas when she became Ranger-General.

Despite setbacks and distractions, Sylvanas remains focused on her end goal, revenge. Now that the Forsaken and the Horde are beginning their assault on the Lich King’s fortress, Sylvanas believes that her destiny is close at hand.