Aponi Brightmane
- Not to be confused with Aponi Tallmoon.
 Aponi Brightmane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title |
Sunwalker Chieftain, Paladin Trainer |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Tauren (Humanoid) |
| Class | Holy paladin (formerly warrior) |
| Resource | Mana |
| Affiliation(s) | Sunwalkers, Thunder Bluff, Dragonscale Expedition |
| Former affiliation(s) | Order of the Silver Hand |
| Occupation | Leader of the Sunwalkers[1] |
| Former occupation(s) | Champion and a leader of the Silver Hand |
| Location | Various |
| Status | Alive |
“It's always darkest before the dawn. The dawn will come... The sun will rise. The balance will shift back to where it should be.”
- — Chieftain Aponi Brightmane
Aponi Brightmane is a tauren paladin and the chieftain of the Sunwalkers. The order was founded by Aponi after theological discussions with Tahu Sagewind about the importance of balancing out the night elven focus on moon-worship through reverence of Light as part of their worship of the Earth Mother. During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, Aponi pledged her order's support to the reformed Order of the Silver Hand in their war against the Burning Legion. At the time of the Fourth War, she and the Sunwalkers left the ranks of the Silver Hand and have been supporting the Horde once more since that time.
Background
Wrath of the Lich King
Initially a warrior of the tauren tribes, Aponi Brightmane was sent to Icecrown during the war against the Lich King. There, she sustained a grave injury that rendered her unfit for combat and was sent back home to Thunder Bluff, much to her disappointment as she truly wanted to help her people and the Horde during the war. In the Elder Rise of Thunder Bluff, she and her friend Tahu Sagewind started to ponder upon the nature of the Earth Mother and how tauren have been druids since the start of time. However, all they knew about druidism was from the teachings of the night elves, which are creatures of the night. The other eye of the Earth Mother, An'she - the sun - was however completely forgotten. The pair concluded that the night elves, through their ties to tauren druids, passed on their cultural prejudice against the sun to their tauren students. As Tahu realized this he pondered what could happen should tauren start to harness the power of the sun granted by the second eye of the Earth Mother. It was this small realization that set in motion the genesis of the tauren priests and paladin order. After she fought on the Icecrown Glacier, Brightmane remained hopeful that An'she would shine across the sky, and victory would be won by the mortal races, no matter what perils remained. In time, Tahu ended up abandoning his druidic path and became the first tauren priest, while Aponi abandoned her warrior ways and became the first tauren paladin, in an order now known as the Sunwalkers.[2]
Cataclysm
During the Elemental Unrest, Aponi defended Hunter Rise from the elemental attacks.
After the Cataclysm, the order was officially created and Aponi became a paladin trainer, instructing young tauren sunwalkers. Once she had finished teaching them what she knew, she redirected them to Sunwalker Atohmo, an honored member of their order, who wished to meet them and talk about a matter of importance to the Horde in Orgrimmar.[3][4] She did the same for the blood elf paladins under her tutelage, sending them to meet Master Pyreanor, a senior Blood Knight and advisor to Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, who had taken an interest in their training.[5][6]
Legion
Following the disastrous Battle for Broken Shore, Aponi Brightmane convened with the leaders of Azeroth's other paladin orders in Dalaran, such as Maxwell Tyrosus. She later led the Sunwalkers to the Sanctum of Light, beneath Light's Hope Chapel, in order to pay their respects to the fallen Highlord Tirion Fordring of the Argent Crusade. In the aftermath, Aponi stepped forward and pledged her order's support to the new Highlord of the Silver Hand. Subsequently, many sunwalkers joined the reformed Silver Hand, and some could be found training new paladins in the Armory of the Silver Hand.[7]
After the discovery of the Light's Heart that crashed towards the coast of Suramar, and listening to the message of High Exarch Turalyon who tasked the defenders of Azeroth to save their world by bringing the heart of the naaru Xe'ra to the Prophet Velen, Aponi was summoned at the request of Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker during the meeting of the Silver Hand's war council.[8]
Following the Battle for the Exodar, and the discoveries on Balnazzar's Codex of Command, Aponi tried in vain to decipher the code and eventually proposed to call on her friend Delas Moonfang in Dalaran.[9][10] Once they learned the Legion's plan to open a portal directly to the demon world Niskara, the Knights of the Silver Hand were mobilized by Aponi, Arator the Redeemer, and Delas Moonfang to launch an attack on the Felblaze Ingress in Azsuna,[11] but they were captured and imprisoned on Niskara. They were later freed by the Highlord of the Silver Hand and the High Priest of the Conclave,[12] who learned from Aponi's libram how their assault was a failure when Balnazzar appeared through the portal and defeated them.[13] They also learned from a Mysterious Stranger that Balnazzar and his armies were about to attack the Netherlight Temple hidden deep within the Twisting Nether.[14] After the Silver Hand agreed to help the Conclave, Aponi thanked the Highlord for saving her life and became of champion of the order.[15]
During the battle at Netherlight Temple, she fought against the hordes of demons summoned by Balnazzar, until Lothraxion and the Army of the Light came and helped them to eliminate the dreadlord for good.[16]
Battle for Azeroth
Following the split of the Silver Hand at the beginning of the Fourth War,[17] Aponi Brightmane ceased to be a champion and leader of the reformed paladin order.
Shadowlands
Once she had finished teaching everything she knew to her blood elf and tauren paladin apprentices, she sent them to meet Avaros Dawnglaive at the Barracks in Orgrimmar to continue their training.[18][19]
Dragonflight
Years later, Aponi was amongst those who joined the Dragonscale Expedition to the Dragon Isles and visited Clan Teerai's Teerakai in the Ohn'ahran Plains. While there, she reflected on the evils she had faced and how the centaur within the plains were not like them. She then stated her belief An'she smiled upon the Maruuk.
The War Within
Following the destruction of Dalaran, Aponi and the Sunwalkers accompanied the Horde forces that traveled to the Isle of Dorn to aid in the war against Xal'atath.[20] She could be found talking with Tahu Sagewind in the Tranquil Strand.
Locations
| Location | Level range | Reaction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Rise, Thunder Bluff[63.2, 79.8] | 1-30 (retail) 55 (WotLK Classic), 80 (Cata Classic) |
Alliance Horde | |
| Krasus' Landing, Dalaran; Sanctum of Light | 10-45 Elite | Alliance Horde | As part of the Paladin Campaign. |
| Netherlight Temple; Niskara | 45 Elite | Alliance Horde | As part of the max-level Paladin Campaign. |
| Teerakai, Ohn'ahran Plains | 70 Elite | Alliance Horde | |
| Tranquil Strand, Isle of Dorn[33.6, 60.4] | 80 | Alliance Horde |
Abilities
Avenging Wrath — Damage and attack speed increased by 50%.
Crusader Strike — Inflicts damage to an enemy and increases the Holy damage it takes.
Denounce — Casts down the enemy with a bolt of Holy Light, causing Holy damage and preventing the target from causing critical effects for 4 sec.
Divine Shield — Protects the caster from all attacks and spells for 9 sec.
Divine Storm — An instant weapon attack that causes Holy damage to[sic] to all enemies and healing to all friends within 8 yards.
Hammer of the Righteous — Hammer the current target, causing a wave of light that hits all targets within 10 yards.
Holy Light — Calls upon Holy magic to heal an ally.
Holy Radiance — Imbues a friendly target with radiant energy, healing that target and all allies within 0 yards for 700.
Seal of Command — All melee attacks have a chance to deal additional Holy damage.
As a follower
Aponi Brightmane is a Holy Paladin Class Hall champion with the following abilities:
Absolution (Ability) — 50% chance on mission success to recover an expired Troop with 1 Vitality.
Divine Shield (Ability) — Protects you from all damage to counter a Hazard. Counters: 
Hazard- Holy (Specialization) — Invokes the power of the Light to protect and to counter some Bosses. Counters:
Boss
Quests
[8-30] Meet With Avaros Dawnglaive 
-
[8-30] Seek Out Avaros Dawnglaive - [20-30] Meet With Avaros Dawnglaive
- [20-30] Meet with Avaros Dawnglaive
[10-45] Cracking the Codex - [10-45] Delas in Dalaran
- [10-45] Translation: Danger!
-
[45] Crossing Legion Lines
- [45] The Mind of the Enemy
- [45] The Mind of the Enemy
- [45] Allies of the Light
- [45] Allies of the Light
- [45] United As One
- [45] Aponi's Trail
- [45] Champion: Aponi Brightmane
- [73] An Injured Colleague
Objective of
- Needs to be spoken with in [10-45] Meeting of the Silver Hand.
Quotes
Gossip
- Thunder Bluff
This is awful! I shouldn't be sitting here, useless, when there's so much to be done! If only my arm hadn't gotten injured up in Northrend... No use dwelling on it, though! Tahu will have me patched up and cured eventually, and we'll still help around here in the meanwhile.
Just because we're not at the front doesn't mean we can't help out somehow.
To paladins
The light of the Sun illuminates the path to wisdom. Where shall we walk today, friend?
To non-paladins
May the Sun's light protect you, <class>.
- Sanctum of Light
Every day I learn more about the Light and its purpose in this world. And yet, I am still so far from the truth.
- Teerakai, Ohn'ahran Plains
I have seen true evil.
I've stared down the Lich King's forces, gone toe to toe with the Burning Legion. I grew up in a world where centaur ravaged my people.
These centaur are not like them. They have not been driven to cruelty by the world around them. They choose honor. An'she smiles upon them.
Dialogue
- Conversation with Tahu Sagewind
- Main article: An Injured Colleague#Dialogue
On-click
- Greetings
- It is always darkest just before the dawn.
- Warm greetings to you.
- Good day.
- Bask in the glory of the day.
- Pissed
- Bless your heart.
- Hmm. You might be shining a little too... brightly.
- The ancestors would not approve of this.
- Farewell
- An'she's worth guide you.
- Peace and patience be with you.
- Ancestors protect you.
- Walk always in the light of the sun.
In Hearthstone
Aponi appears as a hero skin for the paladin class, added during the Perils in Paradise expansion. Her flavor text reads: "Her name is Aponi, but the funny thing is she's actually a tauren."
Notes and trivia
- She is the author of
[Striding with the Sunwalkers]. - While questing, Aponi may appear with the generic name Sunwalker Brave.
- Aponi is one of the three Horde-affiliated paladin leaders, the other being Lady Liadrin, matriarch and supreme leader of the Blood Knight order, and High Prelate Rata, leader fo the Zandalari prelates. Interestingly, during the pre-Cataclysm launch event, Aponi was seen wearing the tier 9 Horde paladin gear, bearing Liadrin's namesake.
- Her first name could be a reference to the repeated player "complaints" about class changes that Blizzard employees have to deal with, even prompting Ghostcrawler to coin the phrase "GHOSTCRAWLER PROMISED ME A PONY."[21]
- But her name is most likely coming from the Native North American Algonquin language, Aponi literally meaning "butterfly".
- In Legion, she seems to wear a version of the Winged Triumph Plate armor set. It could be voluntary that her helm looks kind of like a butterfly.
- She has an invisible Follower recruiting spell with the following description:
Follower: Aponi Brightmane — "Aponi Brightmane, leader of the nascent Sunwalker paladins, united her people around a thirst for truth and understanding. What is the true nature of the Light? Why does it grant us its strength? Aponi intends to answer her burning questions, but she has no problem in casting aside anyone or anything that gets in her way." - Aponi is voiced by Erin Fitzgerald in Legion.[22]
Patch changes
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Now a paladin trainer.
- Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Level raised to 80 from 55, given paladin abilities.
- Patch 3.2.2 (2009-09-22): Added.
References
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide
- ^ [73] An Injured Colleague
- ^ Follow the Sun
- ^ Meet with Sunwalker Atohmo
- ^ Seek Out Master Pyreanor
- ^ Meet with Master Pyreanor
- ^ [10-45] A United Force
- ^ [10-45] Meeting of the Silver Hand
- ^ [10-45] Cracking the Codex
- ^ [10-45] Delas in Dalaran
- ^ [10-45] Translation: Danger!
- ^ [45] Allies of the Light
- ^ [45] Aponi's Trail
- ^ [45] The Mind of the Enemy
- ^ [45] Champion: Aponi Brightmane
- ^ [45] A Light in the Darkness
- ^ Battle for Stromgarde
- ^ [8-30] Meet With Avaros Dawnglaive & [20-30] Meet with Avaros Dawnglaive
- ^ [8-30] Seek Out Avaros Dawnglaive & [20-30] Meet With Avaros Dawnglaive
- ^ [80] The Fleet Arrives
- ^ Ghostcrawler 2009-03-14. promises, promises. MMO-Champion. Retrieved on 2010-02-24.
- ^ Video Games: World of Warcraft: Legion
External links
| Aponi Brightmane | Generic name | Champion |
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