This article is an NPC stub. You can help expand it by editing it

Ara'lon

From Warcraft Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
NeutralAra'lon
Image of Ara'lon
Title <The Wild Hunt>
Gender Male
Race Sylvar (Humanoid)
Level 55-60
Class Hunter
Resource Mana
Reaction Alliance Horde
Affiliation(s) Wild Hunt, Night Fae Covenant
Location Tirna Noch, Ardenweald
Status Deceased

Ara'lon was a sylvar member of the Wild Hunt. He joined the Hunt after the death of his grove, Tirna Noch. He appears as a recurring quest giver in the Ardenweald storyline and the Night Fae Campaign.

Biography

Sacrifice of Tirna Noch

Ara'lon was responsible for looking after the wildseeds of Tirna Noch, one of which contained the soul of the Wild God Ursoc. During an encounter with the Winter Queen, Ara'lon swore an oath to protect the wildseeds in his care, no matter what trial he faced.

When the anima drought fell upon Ardenweald, it became increasingly difficult for Ara'lon to find new anima. One day when returning from foraging, he came across members of the Wild Hunt sacrificing the wildseeds in Tirna Noch to preserve the little anima remaining. Ara'lon immediately attacked them, declaring that anyone who threatened his grove was his enemy. He stayed his hand when the Winter Queen herself appeared with other members of the Wild Hunt. Confused, Ara'lon told his queen that he had kept faith that she would save them from the drought, and he didn't understand why she would send scavengers to his grove. In response, the queen showed the sylvar a vision of a future in which all of Ardenweald had perished in the drought, and members of the Hunt explained that they had to sacrifice some groves to allow others—and the forest as a whole—to survive.

Ara'lon was faced with the choice of honoring his original oath or sacrificing Ursoc's wildseed to preserve the forest. He sorrowfully chose the latter, telling Ursoc that he would serve the wilds one last time and asking for the Wild God's forgiveness, before draining the anima from his seed, killing it. Afterward, Ara'lon joined the Winter Queen's Wild Hunt, swearing the protect the souls that could yet be saved.[1]

  • Ara'lon swearing his oath to the Winter Queen.

    Ara'lon swearing his oath to the Winter Queen.

  • Ara'lon tending to Ursoc's wildseed.

    Ara'lon tending to Ursoc's wildseed.

  • Ara'lon lashing out against the Wild Hunt.

    Ara'lon lashing out against the Wild Hunt.

  • The Winter Queen and Wild Hunt confronting Ara'lon.

    The Winter Queen and Wild Hunt confronting Ara'lon.

  • "You will not be forgotten."

    "You will not be forgotten."

  • The sacrifice of Ursoc's seed.

    The sacrifice of Ursoc's seed.

  • Ara'lon joining the Wild Hunt.

    Ara'lon joining the Wild Hunt.

  • "For Ardenweald."

    "For Ardenweald."

The Wild Hunt

Ara'lon in World of Warcraft.

Ara'lon joined a hunting party led by Hunt-Captain Korayn in Glitterfall Basin. A Maw Walker, sent by Lady Moonberry to aid Korayn, found Ara'lon and Lumera as the only survivors of the party, the remainder killed by Drust. Ara'lon is able to confirm Korayn's suspicion that the enemy has far greater numbers than the Wild Hunt can combat.[2][3] While Korayn pursued her hunters' killer, her former ally Lorkron the Hunter, Ara'lon sends the Maw Walker back to Tirna Vaal with a Spirit Cradle for a wildseed the adventurer had connected with in that grove, which would allow the wildseed to be transported to safety.[4] Later, as the wildseed is escorted to Hibernal Hollow, Ara'lon leads the Wild Hunt in defense of Soryn's Meadow to prevent the Drust and their Blighted minions from overrunning the hollow. Ara'lon teams with the Maw Walker to beat back the invaders to clear the road and ensure the wildseed's arrival at Hibernal Hollow.[5][6]

To secure enough anima to help the wildseed grow, Ara'lon directs the Maw Walker to his former grove of Tirna Noch. Ara'lon detects a massive amount of anima coming from the heart of the grove; though the anima of the grove had been reclaimed due to the drought, the heart had been empowered by the Drust with anima stolen from other groves. Ara'lon, the Maw Walker, and a sylvar huntress named Niya battle their way into the grove and confront the Drust champion Vroth, who guards the Heart of Tirna Noch.[7][8] Although the amount of anima within the heart could possibly restore Tirna Noch and other groves, Ara'lon accepts that his grove was sacrificed for the good of Ardenweald, and that the anima in the heart was needed elsewhere.[9]

The wildseed from Tirna Vaal is revealed to contain the spirit of the green dragon Aspect Ysera. When the wildseed is brought to the Winter Queen at the Grove of Awakening, she asks why she should expend anima to save what she calls her "sister's pet". Ara'lon beseeches her to remember that while some must indeed be sacrificed, some must also be saved; otherwise "all that will remain will be empty shells and sorrow". The Winter Queen relents, and Ysera is reborn.[10]

The Fate of Ara'lon

Lord Herne, Lady Moonberry, and a Maw Walker, with Ara'lon in his final moments.

Lord Herne, leader of the Wild Hunt, dispatches Ara'lon at the head of a hunting party to Blackthorn Grove near the Heart of the Forest, which has been overrun by the Blighted. When they did not return, Lord Herne dispatched a Maw Walker who had sworn to the Night Fae Covenant and joined the Wild Hunt to find him.[11] Using masks to infiltrate the grove, Ara'lon and the Maw Walker discover that of his hunting party, only Gwyeir was still alive, but she was corrupted by the Drust curse.[12][13] The spirit of the Drust Thornspeaker Kivarr dispatched Ara'lon to find a Witch's Satchel to help combat the Drust curse, but never returned; all the Maw Walker was able to find when retrieving the satchel themselves was Ara'lon's broken spear.[14][15] Despite the efforts of the Maw Walker and Kivarr, Gwyeir ultimately succumbed.[16]

When Lord Herne and the Wild Hunt confront Gorak Zhar, the leader of the Drust invasion, at Darkreach, Lady Moonberry discovers that "Gorak Zhar" was in fact an illusion, and that their enemy was in fact Ara'lon, used in a Drust trick to distract from their true objective. Mortally wounded, Ara'lon warns that the real Gorak Zhar was on her way to the Grove of Awakening. Lord Herne swears that they will stop Gorak Zhar "for Queen and grove", which Ara'lon echoes before he dies.[17]

Quests

Objective of

Quotes

On-click
  • Are you in need of the Wild Hunt?
  • I serve the queen.
  • What do you fight for?
Pissed
  • What do you want from me?!
Farewells
  • For Ardenweald.
  • The forest will endure!
  • Do what you must.

Gossip

In Glitterfall Basin
Thank you for coming to find us. Ardenweald could use more like you.

Gossip Who are you?

I am Ara'lon. I fight for the Wild Hunt.
Once, I served in a beautiful grove called Tirna Noch, nurturing spirits through their long winter. But that grove fell, and I found new purpose.
I serve Ardenweald.
At Tirna Noch
We can never quite recover all that was lost. But that does not mean we are helpless.

Notes

  • Ara'lon's generic name in Tirna Noch is Sylvari Hunter. During N [60] Blackthorn Captives, his generic name is Sylvari Ranger.
  • Ara'lon appears as a legendary hunter minion in the Murder at Castle Nathria expansion for Hearthstone. In the story of the expansion, he is one of ten guests who were invited to a dinner party in Castle Nathria by Sire Denathrius, and consequently one of the prime suspects when Denathrius is found murdered. When played, Ara'lon summons wildseeds containing dormant animal spirits, an effect shared with several other hunter cards in the set. His flavor text reads: If I had a nickel for every time a Hunter Legendary minion in Castle Nathria summoned three different companions, I'd have two nickels - which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. This is in reference to Huntsman Altimor from the same set.
  • Ara'lon is voiced by Max Mittelman.[18]
  • His name may be based on Arawn, a Celtic deity.

Speculation

Questionmark-medium.png
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

He may have been the droman of Tirna Noch.

Gallery

  • Ara'lon in Hearthstone, complete with wildseed spirits and a dapper outfit.

    Ara'lon in Hearthstone, complete with wildseed spirits and a dapper outfit.

  • Ara'lon casting Wild Spirits in Hearthstone.

    Ara'lon casting Wild Spirits in Hearthstone.

  • Concept art of Ara'lon's party attire in Hearthstone.

    Concept art of Ara'lon's party attire in Hearthstone.

Videos

Patch changes

References

 
  1. ^ Afterlives: Ardenweald
  2. ^ N [55-60] The Missing Hunters
  3. ^ N [55-60] Big Problem, Little Vorkai
  4. ^ N [55-60] Return to Tirna Vaal
  5. ^ N [55-60] Ride of the Wild Hunt
  6. ^ N [55-60] Passage to Hibernal Hollow
  7. ^ N [55-60] Echoes of Tirna Noch
  8. ^ N [55-60] He's Drust in the Way
  9. ^ N [55-60] Go for the Heart
  10. ^ N [55-60] Awaken the Dreamer
  11. ^ N [60] The Fate of Ara'lon
  12. ^ N [60] Masks of Deception
  13. ^ N [60] Blackthorn Captives
  14. ^ N [60] Witch's Satchel
  15. ^ N [60] The Broken Spear
  16. ^ N [60] Ritual of Purification
  17. ^ N [60] Unmasked
  18. ^ World of Warcraft 2021-02-20. BlizzConline 2021 - World of Warcraft: Voices of the Afterlife (01:30). YouTube. Retrieved on 2021-02-20.

External links

Ara'lon Generic names
Retrieved from "https://warcraft.wiki.gg/index.php?title=Ara%27lon&oldid=5792750"