Exarch Maladaar
- For the character from an alternate universe, see Exarch Maladaar (alternate universe).
- For the character's appearance and fight strategies in the Auchenai Crypts instance, see Exarch Maladaar (tactics).
 Exarch Maladaar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title | <Speaker for the Dead> |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Draenei (Undead / Humanoid) |
| Resource | Mana |
| Affiliation(s) | Auchenai, Exodar |
| Former affiliation(s) | Council of Exarchs, Sha'tari |
| Occupation | Exarch of the Auchenai |
| Location | Various |
| Status | Active (spirit) |
| Mentor(s) | Greatfather Aldrimus |
Exarch Maladaar is the leader of the Auchenai and was once a member of the Council of Exarchs.
Biography
On Draenor
Maladaar was once a member of the Sha'tari, the researchers of the naaru.[1] Around 195 years BDP, as the draenei worked to build Shattrath City, Maladaar discovered that D'ore's remains were attracting the souls of draenei who died in the Genedar's crash and allowed the draenei to commune with them. Since nothing like this had ever happened before in the history of eredar society, Velen immediately directed Maladaar and a group of Sha'tari to move the naaru's remains to a secluded place. They found a location on the outskirts of Terokkar Forest, where they built an immense mausoleum named Auchindoun ("a Home for the Honored Dead" in Draenei) and moved D'ore's remains within. From this moment, Maladaar was named as the fifth exarch on the Council of Exarchs and would lead an order called the Auchenai, responsible for communing with the draenei dead and protecting their souls from harm.[2]
When the Burning Legion manipulated the orcs into attacking the draenei, Maladaar and the exarchs initially thought the orcs were victims of the world's natural disasters and elemental upheaval and merely sought to defend their holdings.[3] Upon discovering the Burning Legion had been manipulating the orcs, he and his fellow leaders knew they could no longer defend their holdings and ordered their forces to withdraw to Shattrath City and the Temple of Karabor.[4]
Knowing that Shattrath was doomed to fall, Maladaar, along with his fellow exarchs, argued against Velen's decision to be among the defenders of the city. Convinced that the best hope for their race's survival was under the Prophet's leadership, the exarchs persuaded Velen to leave Shattrath. Thus Velen would flee with the civilians while the bulk of their military might would remain within the city, in order to sacrifice themselves to ensure the survival of the draenei race and trick the orcs into thinking that they had slaughtered all of them.[5]
After the fall of Shattrath, many Vindicators, priests, and Rangari fled to Auchindoun in hopes of defending it from the Horde. Maladaar organized the military defenses, and they fiercely defended Auchindoun from Teron'gor and the Shadow Council. They also received aid from Auchindoun's departed spirits, and together slaughtered many of the Shadow Council's agents. As Maladaar and his forces closed in, Teron'gor sought out the warlocks who pooled their powers together and reached beyond the veil of reality. They sought to bring a powerful demon into the world, but in their wild desperation found something else instead: Murmur. This otherworldly elemental creature was pulled to Draenor from a distant corner of the universe, and the shockwave on its arrival ripped the earth asunder. Many draenei were killed and Auchindoun was blasted apart. Waves of destructive energy rolled out and leveled the surrounding forest.[6]
Nonetheless, Maladaar and a handful of his draenei used their magics to shield themselves from the blast. But though they survived, they no longer had the numbers to resist the Shadow Council. Teron'gor and his warlocks overwhelmed the draenei and bound them in chains, and contained Murmur deep within Auchindoun as well.[7]
The Burning Crusade
By the time of the invasion of Outland, Maladaar was eventually driven mad by the loss of everyone and everything he had ever loved. His lunatic dedication to the preservation of their memory drove him to a mastery of the dark arts.[8] Once he turned to necromancy, he created Shirrak the Dead Watcher to guard over the fallen draenei spirits who wander the Auchenai Crypts.[9]
After his death by the adventurers of the Alliance and Horde, the naaru D'ore appeared and redeemed his spirit. Maladaar's spirit eventually appeared to Greatfather Aldrimus and thanked him for having him killed.[10]
Dragonflight
Although dead, Maladaar still continued to serve as the Exarch of the Auchenai as a ghost.[11] Following the end of the war against the Primalists, he thanked the adventurer for killing him in the Auchenai Crypts and bringing him rest. When the Auchenai received word of the Tishamaat celebration, they began moving souls from Auchindoun into vigilants so they could attend the holiday at the Exodar, while Maladaar calmed the broken souls so they could be bound to the vigilants.[12] He later attended the Tishamaat in the Exodar. Unlike the other spirits, who were transferred into vigilants, Maladaar was able to attend as a ghost.[13]
Locations
| Location | Level range | Reaction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crypt of Remembrance, Auchenai Crypts | 17-32 Boss | Alliance Horde | As the final boss. |
| Auchenai Crypts, Terokkar Forest[35.76, 65.40] | 67 Elite | Alliance Horde | As the Spirit of Exarch Maladaar upon completion of  [67D] Everything Will Be Alright;appearance removed during Cataclysm. |
| Ring of Observance, Terrokar Forest; Trader's Tier, Exodar | 50-80 | Alliance | As a quest giver during the draenei heritage questline. |
Quests
[50-80] An Old Wound 
- [50-80] Lingering Scars
- [50-80] To See Clearly
Quotes
On-click
- Greeting
- I can hear the souls of the dead.
- The dead speak to those who listen.
- We must preserve the sanctity of the fallen.
- I would forfeit my own soul to protect my people.
- Farewell
- There is no turning back now.
- Never hesitate to do what is right.
- Tradition binds my people.
- Remember.
Dialogue
- Main article: Exarch Maladaar (tactics)#Quotes
- Main article: An Old Wound#Notes
- Main article: Lingering Scars#Notes
- Main article: To See Clearly#Notes
- Main article: Everything Will Be Alright (BC Classic)#Notes
Gossip
- Exodar
We brought these spirits to the Tishamaat so that the sacrament may help relieve them of their burdens and allow them to truly rest.
But I did not expect that they might help ease the burdens of others as well.
I believe this will truly make a difference for them--both the living and the dead. Thank you for helping make this a possibility.
Notes and trivia
- His image was seen in the Lower City of Shattrath City, projected by the ethereals.
- Maladaar is the only member of the Council of Exarchs who does not appear as an echo in Eredath.
- Exarch Maladaar appears on the Hearthstone card Soul Mirror, a legendary Priest spell in the Ashes of Outland expansion. Its flavor text: It’s a doppelgang-war!
- He later appears as a legendary death knight minion in The Great Dark Beyond expansion as captain of The Spirit's Passage. His flavor text reads: The Auchenai order was founded to preserve the memory of Draenei that have passed. But why stop at remembrance when they can live once more?
- In Dragonflight, Maladaar is voiced by Neil Kaplan, who had previously voiced the alternate Maladaar in Warlords of Draenor. While Kaplan recorded new dialogue for the heritage armor questline, Maladaar's on-click voice lines are just reused from the alternate version's.
- His appearance in Dragonflight is also similar to that of his appearance in Warlords of Draenor; as his previous look had him with a round bald head. This look for Dragonflight is slightly different than his Warlords appearance; as it uses a cloak from Shadowlands.
Gallery
In the Auchenai Crypts.
Spirit of Exarch Maladaar.
Soul Mirror in Hearthstone.
Patch changes
- Patch 10.2.7 (2024-05-07): Added in Terokkar Forest for draenei heritage questline.
Patch 4.3.0 (2011-11-29): Terrokar Forest appearance removed. - Patch 2.0.3 (2007-01-09): Added.
References
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 53
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 54
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 75
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 84 - 85
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 92
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 93
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 96
- ^ Exarch Maladaar (tactics)#Adventure Guide
- ^ Shirrak the Dead Watcher#Adventure Guide
- ^ [67D] Everything Will Be Alright
- ^ [50-80] An Old Wound
- ^ [50-80] Lingering Scars
- ^ [50-80] A Burden Shared
- ^
[20-40] Ogre Diplomacy
External links
| Boss | Spirit |
|---|---|
- Heritage
| Preceded by: Reanimated Exarch (first) |
Position: Exarch of the crypts |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |