Knights of Death. It sounds formidable and overwhelming, doesn’t it? This will be the new hero class you can play in the new World of Warcraft expansion, Wrath of the Lich King. There’s been a lot of talk about the Death Knights and what they can do, from the spells they can cast to the armor they’re supposed to wear. However, if you really want to know more about this Hero class, it’s best to look back and see how the Death Knights came to be. Knowing the Death Knight knowledge will definitely give you insight into the Death Knight character and the role he plays in the scheme of things, especially in the new expansion. The Death Knight Lore begins with The Shadow of Justice, a tale of things that will explain how the Death Knights came to be.
According to this tradition, the Death Knights were born from the actions of Orgrim Doomhammer, the powerful warchief of the Horde. When he rose to power, his first decree was to kill all orc shamans or witches belonging to the powerful Shadow Council. The Shadow Council’s master, Gul’Dan, was in a coma when Orgrim Doomhammer began his slaughter. When Orgrim Doomhammer was about to kill Gul’Dan, Gul’Dan pleaded for his life. Instead, Gul’Dan promised to serve Orgrim Doomhammer for all eternity. Apart from that, he also promised Orgrim Doomhammer an army of such immense power and might that they would become the most feared on earth. Ogrim Doomhammer, with visions of victory in his mind, agreed with this.
The Shadow of Justice lore continues with Gul’Dan trying to create a new type of warrior. Using the souls of the slain Warlocks of the Shadow Council, Gul’Dan attempted to transfer the spirits to the bodies of the dead Stormwind Knights. After much experimentation, Guld’Dan finally managed to put Teron Sanguino’s soul into the body of a Stormwind Knight. Teron Gorefiend holds the terrible title of First Knight of the Night. Gul’Dan did not stop with Teron Gorefiend. He also transferred the rest of the dead Shadow Council spirits to the bodies of the Knights of Stormwind. The army of the Death Knights was born and led the fight against Azeroth during the Second War. However, most of the Death Knights were killed by the Alliance. But some managed to live, including Teron Gorefiend. Shadow of Justice lore tells us that he, along with other Death Knights, joined forces with Ner’Zhul. But again, most died when Ner’Zhul’s spell to open portals to other worlds failed. Teron Gorefiend and a few others still managed to survive to continue the legend of the Dark Knight.
Hopefully the brief summary of how Dark Knights came about will enlighten you on the new characters, and having a good guide will greatly improve your game. Get ready to play with them in the new WOTLK expansion!