World of Warcraft – Medivh is Alive

The first Warcraft novel was titled Warcraft: The Last Guardian—written by D&D/fantasy famed author Jeff Grubb. The novel was based on the events of the first Blizzard RTS game Warcraft: Orcs and Humans (1994). The novel was released on December 2002. To date there are over twelve novels and more are coming on 2008. On August 28, 2007 – barely a 8 weeks from now – Blizzard and Simon & Schuster Pocket Star Books will release World of Warcraft: Tides of Darkness by Aaron Rosenberg. And World of Warcraft: Beyond the Dark Portal on April 2008.

For now this article will focus on Medivh. To fans Medivh is dead since the First War. However, the first Warcraft novel already revealed Medivh would be alive again in the future. And he indeed is. Let’s recap what happened in Warcraft: The Last Guardian. Be warned there will be some spoilers.

Khadgar saw a vision of the past where Medivh fought his mother Aegwynn, defeating her. Sargeras within Medivh attempted to kill her, but Medivh seems to have regained some control over his own body and instead exiled Aegwynn to a place where she wouldn’t cause further trouble to his plans of conquering the Eastern Kingdoms.

After this vision, Khadgar grew concerned. Sargeras had revealed himself to Aegwynn in this vision. She did not kill him 800 years ago as she thought. It had been masterminded by Sargeras all along. Now Sargeras resides within Medivh’s body.

Khadgar and Garona found a secret doorway leading to the basement of the Tower of Karazhan. As they progressed down the stairway, Khadgar noticed it was a perfect match of the tower above .. a mirror tower beneath the original. As they reached the mirror copy of Medivh’s room at the very bottom of the mirror tower, Sargeras manifested himself through Medivh’s body and battled Khadgar and Garona.

Lothar arrived few minutes after Khadgar and Garona had engaged Medivh in combat.

Medivh was beheaded by Sir Lothar at the underground mirror-tower of Karazhan.

Khadgar buried the corpses of Moroes (the butler), the cook and Medivh. However, a faint image of Medivh was watching over Khadgar. Khadgar had sensed it since the first day he arrived to Karazhan after the Kirin Tor sent him to become an apprentice to Medivh.

That presence was all along Medivh … but this Medivh came from the future. Medivh talked to Khadgar:

This storyline of Medivh’s return after death has been foreseen ever since Warcraft: The Last Guardian (2002). Blizzard Entertainment released Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos on July 3, 2002. In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Medivh made its return as the Prophet. No one knew he was Medivh until he revealed himself to Thrall and Jaina at Stonetalon Mountains. To Cairne Bloodhoof (Tauren) he was known as the Oracle.

Fans thought this Medivh was a ghost from beyond who returned to amend his past sins. And still consider Medivh dead. However, to lore fans who do read the Warcraft Novels, we know Medivh is not dead.

World of Warcraft: Cycle of Hatred serves as a prelude to the MMORPG storyline. The novel was written by Keith R.A. DeCandido—author of Star Trek, Serenity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Resident Evil fame. This novel tells the story of Thrall and Jaina’s fragile peace pact a year before the events of World of Warcraft (MMORPG). Aegwynn is still alive and joins Jaina Proudmoore to destroy an old evil she defeated 800 years ago. A demon named Zmodlor. Aegwynn confesses to Jaina, she resurrected her son Medivh. Medivh sought Thrall, Jaina and Malfurion to convince them to unite forces against the invasion. Making a stand together could prevent the Burning Legion from consuming all life in Azeroth.

Medivh is alive.

Now without the taint of Sargeras.

REFERENCES

• You can read the story of Aegwynn’s defeat by Medivh/Sargeras in Warcraft: The Last Guardian, and again in more detail at World of Warcraft: Cycle of Hatred (page 66-76).

• Medivh’s resurrection by Aegwynn in World of Warcraft: Cycle of Hatred (page 66-76)

• Aegwynn’s Tale: Fall of Azeroth from Warcraft: Orc and Humans Game Manual

• Medivh’s birth explained in Warcraft: Orc and Humans Game Manual

• Medivh’s death explained in Warcraft: The Last Guardian novel and in Warcraft: Orcs and Humans ( Read the Human Campaign mission 8).

• Warcraft: The Last Guardian Excerpt (Chapter 5: Sands in an Hourglass)

• Our interview with Keith R.A. DeCandido