Banshee loyalists

Banshee loyalists
Main leader	Sylvanas Windrunner
Secondary leaders	Nathanos Blightcaller †
Formerly	Dark Ranger Lenara
Race(s)	Forsaken Darkfallen  Goblin  Blood elf
Formerly	Mag'har orc
Affiliation	Independent
Formerly	Mawsworn (allied)
Status	Unknown

The Banshee loyalists are Horde members who sided with Sylvanas Windrunner during the last stages of the Fourth War, fighting against Varok Saurfang's rebels. After the Horde was reunited, they were given a chance to rejoin with the rest of the Horde by renouncing Sylvanas. Ultimately though, a number of them remained loyal to the Banshee Queen and left the Horde for good.

History

Battle at the Gates of Orgrimmar

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

Main article: Battle at the Gates of Orgrimmar

After Saurfang's revolutionaries and the Alliance established themselves in Razor Hill, Sylvanas ordered her forces to collapse the canyon between Razor Hill and Orgrimmar. Knowing that this was only a temporary measure, Sylvanas ordered Overlord Geya'rah and Jastor Gallywix, the only two leaders of the Horde to side with her, to prepare for battle. While Geya'rah remarked that the Mag'har always stood ready to destroy their enemies, Gallywix revealed that the mechs were good to go but remarked that they weren't cheap and that Sylvanas better be ready to pay on delivery. Sylvanas and Nathanos also sought to secure Orgrimmar from internal dissident by arresting Eitrigg and burning the propaganda that dissidents within the city had been spreading.

Seeking to weaken their enemies, Nathanos ordered the loyalists to sabotage the enemy siege weapons, however, Saurfang had anticipated this and ordered his revolutionaries to deal with Sylvanas's spies and protect their siege weapons. At the same time, Nathanos sought to strengthen the loyalists' army by rallying the citizens of Orgrimmar to their cause.

Though the loyalists were prepared to fight Saurfang's revolutionaries and the Alliance, the battle would never come. Instead, Varok Saurfang, recognizing the loyalists as his fellow brothers and sisters in the Horde, challenged Sylvanas to mak'gora. When Sylvanas questioned why she should accept his challenge, Saurfang merely pointed out that she wanted him to suffer, causing Sylvanas to wordlessly agree. While Sylvanas armed herself, Saurfang was granted Dra'gora by Thrall and Shalamayne by Anduin. Sylvanas initially had the upper hand against Saurfang, however, when she began to mock him about hope, Saurfang got his second wind by declaring that Sylvanas couldn't kill hope. As Saurfang turned the tide against Sylvanas he claimed that she had failed to kill hope at Teldrassil, failed in getting the Horde and Alliance to keep killing each other, and further declared that the Horde would endure, as it was strong. Varok then managed to slash Sylvanas across her eye. This turn caused an enraged Sylvanas to declare that the Horde was nothing, that they were all nothing. Sylvanas then killed Saurfang quickly with a blast of unknown magic, and abandoned the Horde altogether.

Aftermath of the battle

In the wake of Sylvanas's betrayal, most of her loyalists bent the knee to the revolutionaries, though they were viewed in a poor light by some members of the Horde. However, people like Gazlowe, First Arcanist Thalyssra, and Baine Bloodhoof would defend them, stating that they were now loyal to the Horde, and if they asked for forgiveness, it should be given, as the Horde needed to be united now more than ever. Those who refused to renounce her were bound in chains, while others were faking their disgust with Sylvanas, and some were exiled. At the same time other loyalists, like Nathanos Blightcaller and Dark Ranger Lenara, would successfully evade the Horde and reunite with Sylvanas. In time, loyalists adventurers joined them, at which point Nathanos departed, and Sylvanas spoke privately with them. Declaring that nothing could stop what was to come, Sylvanas revealed that even though Saurfang's challenge ended the war, it was largely meaningless as countless souls had been fed to the hungering darkness. She mentioned that though she cared nothing for the living, she did pity the Forsaken and abandoned them because they clung to hope. Revealing that she had struck a bargain with Queen Azshara, Sylvanas remarked that the armies of Azeroth would fight her master, who would line the streets with corpses and, in the end, he too would serve Death. Her reflection finished, Sylvanas remarked that nothing lasts and that the loyalists will understand when they see each other next.

Shadows Rising

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Horde agents discovered two loyalists on a ridge in the Northern Barrens, and after alerting a patrol in the area, they were able to track and capture them. However, the spies had swallowed some foul concoction and died before they could be questioned. Though their purpose could not be discovered, the Horde Council celebrated their passing as it meant Sylvanas no longer had eyes in Durotar.

While working in the shadows, as both the Horde and Alliance race to uncover their next move, Sylvanas tasked Nathanos Blightcaller and Sira Moonwarden with a terrifying gambit: to kill the troll loa of death himself, Bwonsamdi. To that end, they allied with the Widow's Bite, a group of Zandalari rebels led by a witch known as Apari. In order to weaken the protections around Bwonsamdi's shrines, Nathanos was forced to hand over something precious and irreplaceable to the witch. Thus, after a moment, he handed his officer's badge given to him by Sylvanas when they were among the living, and warned Apari that if she failed to destroy the loa's shrines as promised, then the consequences would be severe.

With this accord, the Widow's Bite and the Banshee loyalists fought side by side and finally clashed with the Zandalari Empire in Nazmir, where they were discovered attempting to sacrifice children in order to weaken one of Bwonsamdi's shrines. Thanks to the courage of Zekhan, the children were saved, and due to their smaller amount of numbers, the loyalists and their new allies fell back. In light of their alliance, Sira revealed that Lelyias was a skilled healer who could help her with her leg injuries, however, Apari refused. This vexed Sira who noted that the Widow's Bite were loyal to Apari, that they would fall apart without her leaving the loyalists with no reinforcements, and more importantly, to Sira, was they needed the witch to survive until the loa Bwonsamdi was killed.

After successfully weakening several of his shrines, Nathanos and Apari gave the order for their forces to strike at the loa's Necropolis for the final assault on Bwonsamdi. Prior to the battle against the loa Tayo, a Widow's Bite member, outraged, and being disgusted with Apari's actions in harming children had decided to defect to the Horde, ultimately aiding them by revealing the traps Nathanos had set up. With the traps disabled, the Horde clashed against them with greater numbers. During the conflict, Apari was killed and, proving Sira's fears true, the Widow's Bite collapsed leaving the Banshee loyalists to stand on their own against the Horde. While many of the dark rangers on the battlefield would be slain, Sira was captured and taken prisoner, and Nathanos narrowly escaped the battlefield knowing that he had failed his mission.

Shadowlands

This section concerns content related to Shadowlands.

At some point, Sylvanas personally journeyed to Icecrown Citadel where she fought against the Lich King Bolvar Fordragon and his Scourge. After winning the battle, she took the Helm of Domination from him and shattered it, thereby piercing the veil between Azeroth and the Shadowlands. She was soon approached by Nathanos, who informed her of the failure to kill Bwonsamdi. While acknowledging that it was a blow to her plans, Sylvanas was confident that it was a setback that they could overcome. After learning that Blightcaller was going back to the Marris Stead to await further orders, Sylvanas told him to not remain idly, and that she expected him to return to her with a means to prevent Bwonsamdi's meddling with their plans.

In time, the Argent Crusade discovered Nathanos at his home, and they alerted the Alliance and Horde causing Genn Greymane and Lor'themar Theron to send champions to deal with him. In the subsequent confrontation, Nathanos met his end at his own home, with Tyrande Whisperwind dealing the final blow.

Sylvanas herself was eventually confronted within the Sanctum of Domination, where she was able to successfully ensure that the Jailer was able to claim the Arbiter's sigil. However, Zovaal then revealed that his goal wasn't to break the system of Death and give everyone free will, as Sylvanas thought, but to forge a new reality where all would be forced to serve him. Realizing that she herself was included in that statement, Sylvanas declared "I will never 'serve'" and fired a black arrow at the Jailer in defiance. The Jailer easily deflected it before reuniting Sylvanas with her soul fragment that was once stolen by Frostmourne and leaving her to be captured by the Maw Walker and her allies, who subsequently placed the Banshee Queen in the custody of the Knights of the Ebon Blade.

After being given the chance to make amends for her sins, Sylvanas joined the fight against the Jailer, where she personally aided in freeing Anduin from his control. Following Zovaal's death, Sylvanas submitted to the judgment of Tyrande Whisperwind, who sentenced her to scour the Maw and liberate every soul within its dark depths. However, before entering the Maw to begin her penance, Sylvanas shared some final words with adventures who remained loyal to her throughout the Fourth War, she acknowledged their commitment, even when she felt that her own actions did not merit such dedication. Admitting that she wasn't sure what fate awaited her, she revealed that if she ever felt the need for trusted allies, they knew that she could call upon them. With her final words shared, Sylvanas entered the Maw to begin her penance.

It is unknown what effect, if any, these events could have on the Banshee loyalists. However, as the Forsaken returned to Tirisfal Glades and started rebuilding Brill, Dark Ranger Lenara was among them. It is unknown if Lenara discarded the Banshee loyalists or if the Banshee loyalists as a whole rejoined the Horde.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

After the Forsaken defeated the Scarlet Crusade on Fenris Isle, Dori'thur carried a message from Sylvanas, who was still within the Maw, to her Horde adventurer loyalists. In this message, the Dark Lady admitted regret for her past actions and realized her days of leadership were over and considered the newly-formed Desolate Council to be the Forsaken's rightful leaders and future. Before she left, she reminded the adventurer to be in allegiance to the Horde, considering all of them "more than arrows in her quiver" and hoping to one day walk among them again. She then explained that there were many souls yet to be freed, including one that was most dear to her.

Members

Active

Named

• Sylvanas Windrunner
• Nathanos Blightcaller ^†
• Dark Warden Sira Moonwarden
• Visrynn
• Lelyias
• Deliria Dawes

Unnamed

• Banshee Loyalists — Those who stayed loyal even after Sylvanas' departure, now bound in chains by Orgrimmar Grunts.
• Dark Rangers — Unlike others, a number of Dark Rangers have remained fiercely loyal to Sylvanas.

During the War Campaign's ending

Named

• Deathguard Razza ^†
• Trade Prince Gallywix

Unnamed

• Loyalist Assassins
• Loyalist Saboteurs
• Suspicious Technicians

Former

• Overlord Geya'rah — After the Mak'gora outside of Orgrimmar, Geya'rah and her Mag'har bent the knee to the revolutionaries. Geya'rah and her Mag'har would then lookout for Sylvanas' loyalists, with the Overlord personally reminding her people that a great leader must have more than strength, that they must be true to their people, and live and die for them, while declaring that Sylvanas had only fought for herself.
• Former Banshee Loyalists — Some of them are actually still loyal, and are merely pretending to be disgusted with Sylvanas.
• Some Horde adventurers — After the secret meeting at the Windrunner Spire, Sylvanas explains the loyal adventurers that they will understand when they next see her, but despite their choices the Banshee Queen did not mean to save anyone from what was to come.
• Dark Ranger Lenara — She seemingly abandoned Sylvanas' cause and returned to the Forsaken and the Horde after the war against the Jailer.

Ships

• The Banshee's Wail

Notes

• While Nathanos and Sira were aware of the Maw, it is unknown if the rest of the loyalists know as well.
• Sylvanas appears to have a high opinion of the loyalist champion, as before her judgment in Oribos she shows appreciation for their loyalty and dedication, and remarks that if she ever had need of allies she could call on them.

Speculation

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.

• Due to Jastor Gallywix leaving the Bilgewater Cartel, he might have followed Sylvanas instead.
• Magister Hathorel may also be a member.
• Due to his desire for Malfurion Stormrage's head, Lorash Sunbeam may have joined Sylvanas over remaining with the Horde in light of the armistice with the Alliance.
• The loyalist champion's status as being part of Sylvanas' cause is constantly in question. During  [60] Most Loyal, the champion is told to wait for further orders, but later Blizzard lore suggests that they abandoned Sylvanas' cause having been loyal to the Warchief and not to her specifically. No other character except Sylvanas mentions the champion's loyalty, and it's suggested the Horde and Alliance aren't aware of it, and Sylvanas herself affirms their abandonment of her during  [60] The Battle of Ardenweald. In spite of this, however, Sylvanas remarks on the champion's continued and unwavering loyalty to her specifically as being admirable before her judgment in Oribos, and the two appear to maintain a friendly relationship.

References

pl:Lojaliści Banshee