Blasphemy

For the warlock summon, see [Avatar of Destruction].

Blasphemy is an insult that shows contempt, disrespect, or lack of reverence concerning a deity, a sacred object, a religion, or something considered inviolable, such as a form of authority, traditions, or a set of doctrines and teachings. Blaspheme is not necessarily considered a crime, although it can draw animosity on those who utter or embody it. Those accused of blasphemy are called blasphemers, they are often associated or considered as heretics, and therefore, rejected or exiled by their people, the society, the organization, or the religion of which they were affiliated.

Fanatic religious cults, such as the Scarlet Crusade and the Twilight's Hammer, condemn to torture and death those who utter or embody what they deem blasphemous, making them examples for their enemies and their own followers.

Background

War of the Ancients

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

• While he captured demons of the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients, in order to add their powers to the Dragon Soul as commanded by the whispers of the Old Gods, Neltharion used his magic to silence one of his prisoners, a man'ari eredar who threatened, insulted and blasphemed him.

Rise of the Horde

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

• When Velen tried to explain the true purpose of Oshu'gun to the Frostwolves, Durotan and Drek'Thar grew angered by what they perceived as blasphemy, as they considered it the home of their beloved dead and their spirits.
• Durotan considered Hellfire Citadel as blasphemous and a blight upon the land, out of harmony with everything the orcs were, and an offense to the eyes and the spirit.

The Last Guardian

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

• The first time Khadgar heard orcs talking to each other, it was in an unfamiliar language that was both guttural and blasphemous to his ears.
• Medivh's willingness to not intervene against the orcs during the First War, and that he was ready to become their Guardian if they succeeded in their conquest, was considered treason, sacrilege, and even blasphemy.

Second War

This section concerns content related to Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or its expansion Beyond the Dark Portal.

Ruled by the benevolent King Terenas, the nation of Lordaeron stands as the last bastion of hope for humanity. The armies of Lordaeron were the first to heed the call to arms issued by Sir Lothar and the people of Azeroth. As patron of the Alliance, King Terenas has assumed the heavy mantle of leadership to protect all who abide in his domain. The armies of Lordaeron are deeply religious and are driven by the belief that humanity must stand steadfast against the blasphemous onslaught of the Horde.

Created and formed by Gul'dan from the corpses of the fallen Knights of Azeroth, the death knights were once proud defenders of humanity who served the Old Horde in a blasphemous state of eternal undeath. Conjuring dark spells of necromantic horror upon their terrified foes, these death knights sought to unleash their wrath upon any foolish enough to stand in their way.

Third War

This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

• Arthas Menethil blasphemed his father's ashes by dumping them from his funeral urn, after killing Uther the Lightbringer and his paladins, in order to resurrect the lich Kel'Thuzad.
• The jungle troll Zabra Hexx was called a blasphemer and almost killed by the paladin Brigitte Abbendis, as she accused him of defiling a sacred ground after he took up residence in what would later become Scarlet Monastery.
• High Inquisitor Fairbanks was murdered by the Scarlet Crusade for his blasphemy, as he accused Renault Mograine of having murdered his father Alexandros Mograine with the Ashbringer, and Saidan Dathrohan to be his accomplice.

The Sunwell Trilogy

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft manga or comics.

• Lor'themar Theron accused Dar'Khan Drathir of committing blasphemous deeds, as the latter opened the way for the Scourge to enter Quel'Thalas and ravage the land in their march to the sacred Sunwell.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

• The undead embody blasphemy towards the life itself, thus, they are destroyed by the faithful of the Church of Light in a will of mercy, in order to honor their memory as livings and allow their soul to rest in peace.
• Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff of the Argent Dawn denounced the Scarlet Crusade as blasphemers, as their blind zealotry never serves a greater good, on the contrary, they killed many innocent people in the name of the Light.
• After he received a vision of Elune and understood the wrong he did, Zamael Lunthistle was executed for his blasphemy by the members of the Twilight's Hammer when he crafted his  [Prayer to Elune], a golden tablet containing his shame.
• Ipfelkofer Ironkeg mentioned that it was a blasphemy for him to envy the Dark Iron dwarves, as he thinks it's a shame that Coren's Dire Brew couldn't quench more thirsty throats during the Brewfest.

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

• Some draenei believe the ways of the shaman to be a blasphemy against the Holy Light, and considered the ways of the Broken as heretical.
• Vindicator Kuros accused Matis the Cruel of blasphemy when he announced that after his death, another Blood Knight would take his place, and that the suffering of the Light would continue uninterrupted. He was then executed, as he considered themselves the true masters of the Light, forcing the naaru M'uru to obey by imprisoning and enslaving them.
• The Dread Relic was described by Oakun as a blasphemous and dark artifact that summons evil when touched.

Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

• The Fleshwerks was the blasphemous laboratory the Scourge used to construct their abominations.
• Revil Kost described Karazhan as a blasphemous place infested by the fel, forcing him to wear the Cloak of Purity to be protected from its corruption.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

• Lyros Swiftwind wished to prevent the blasphemy of the goblins of Irontree Clearing who seek to steal the Talonbranch Wisps for nefarious use.
• Lycanthoth is the blasphemous and twisted dark ancient of Goldrinn, summoned by the Twilight's Hammer to replace the wolf ancient at Mount Hyjal.
• Cho'gall considered blasphemy the death of his Twilight Hammer's agents in Stormwind City and Orgrimmar, as well as the failures of his plans to destroy both capitals.

Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

• Armsmaster Harlan has dedicated his life to the art of wielding the weapons and indelicate instruments of the Scarlet Crusade, and he is pleased to provide a demonstration for the Crusade's blasphemous enemies.
• Malik the Unscathed accused Imperial Vizier Zor'lok of blasphemy when the latter announced that the Klaxxi must be disbanded by the will of Grand Empress Shek'zeer.
• Imperial Vizier Zor'lok accused of blasphemy the adventurer who are not one of the swarm and who bombarded the mantid armies, amassed at the Heart of Fear, while flying with Xaril the Poisoned Mind.
• For having reduced a stand of beautiful trees to a cruel fortress, the actions of the Zandalari trolls seemed to Vol'jin to be blasphemy in itself, and a small crime, for which there will be retribution.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

• Muradin Bronzebeard considered blasphemous to see a death knight wielding the Blades of the Fallen Prince, forged from the remains of Frostmourne, the cursed blade that damned Lordaeron and its prince.
• Thisalee Crow denounced as blasphemy the plot of the nathrezim Infazzar the Shade to use the corrupted Idol of Aviana in his assault of Dalaran with fel harpies.
• The Avatar of Aviana denounced the Wrath of Azshara as a blasphemy of nature, and as an infusion of stolen arcane power that cannot be allowed to exist.
• Esara Verrinde and the Conjuror of the Tirisgarde confiscated as many fel-inscribed tomes of demonic spells of the Empyrean Society as possible, as they were considered as blasphemous.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

• When Genn Greymane learned that the undead Alonsus Faol was the leader of the Conclave, he was outraged and considered it a blasphemy that such a terrible destiny had befallen on a beloved hero of humanity.
• Turalyon told Alonsus Faol that as an undead he blasphemed what was once a good man and had stolen his form, and if there was anything left of his old friend, he would kill him in mercy.
• Brannon Stormsong explained that even if he trusted Director Deepwarden, he cannot allow such blasphemy, as the latter was the leader of the Old Gods' cultists at Anglepoint Wharf.
• Wayne the Ancestral asked an adventurer to used  [Holy Water] to cleanse Drowned Altars, around the Lost Estate in Stormsong Valley, which he denounced as blasphemous constructions on their lands.
• Vindicator Caeduum called blasphemers the Horde adventurers imbue with the ancient powers of trolls during their fight against the Alliance's Purified forces in Drustvar.
• Anvil-Thane Thurgaden accused High Justice Grimstone of blaspheming their rightful leader, Moira Thaurissan, by insulting her of being soft and weak, and announcing that their rightful leader should be the tyrannical Ragnaros.
• In life, Nazgrim would have found that certain runes emblazoned on his blade were blasphemous.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

• The centaur Tigari Khan accused the Clan Ohn'ir of blasphemy when they used the Ohn'ahra's song to conjure an avatar of the storm.

Known blasphemers

Named

• Buh'gzaki the Blasphemous
• Dro'zem the Blasphemous

Unnamed

• Blaspheming Horror
• Blasphemous Idol

Items

•  [Boots of Blasphemy]
•  [Ensemble: Aldrachi Blasphemer's Flames]
•  [Nathreza Blasphemer's Horns]
•  [Nathreza Blasphemer's Mantle]
•  [Nathreza Blasphemer's Shard]
•  [Remnant's Blasphemous Scourgebelt]

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

• Everburning furnaces are considered a blasphemy by both mages and tinkers. These devices meld magic and steam technology into one handy, portable device. Made by enchanting a phlogiston boiler to run purely on magic, an everburning furnace grants the same power as a boiler, without the need for refueling.
• The night elves view frostsabers as sacred, and treat them with more respect than almost any other creature. In recent years, with the coming of the goblins to Winterspring, frostsaber trainers have begun selling their trained mounts for the first time in history. Traditionalists view this as blasphemous, but many understand that the coin from such sales often goes to a worthy cause, and the frostsaber trainers are highly selective about just who they are willing to sell to.
• The animating force of an abomination is a blasphemous conglomeration of the souls incorporated into the corpses that make up the abomination's unliving flesh.

There are also several spells named blasphemy used by various races and individuals:

• Blasphemy as a priest spell from the death domain that kills, paralyzes, weakens, or dazes nonevil subjects. Powerful Hakkari priests make liberal use of blasphemy.
• Blasphemy used by demons, including the doomguard, Azgalor, Archimonde, and even Sargeras.
• Blasphemy tied with the Double-Edged Staff as a cry out of an elf maid's lamentation for her lost love.

Notes and trivia

• The term "blasphemy" can also be used comically and exaggeratedly, as it was employed by Flynn Fairwind when Taelia Fordragon asked him to ditch his ratty old coat.
• The mind-dominated Anduin Wrynn uses a blasphemy spell on his attackers in the Sanctum of Domination. It stuns targets while manifesting an unstable orb of raw Light, then shatters it, inflicting Holy damage to targets within several yards of each piece of Light that strikes the ground.

See also

• Blasphemous Writing