Fearbreaker
- For the in-game item, see [Fearbreaker].
Fearbreaker is an ancestral hammer of the Bronzebeard clan.[1] The Light seems to flow through its wielder from the weapon, and despite it coming from a vastly different culture, Baine felt a kinship through its power towards An'she and Mu'sha when Anduin first gave it to him.[2] The mace was given to then-Prince Anduin Wrynn of Stormwind by King Magni Bronzebeard of Ironforge during the prince's visit to that city shortly before the Cataclysm. Anduin eventually gave the weapon as a gift to Baine Bloodhoof to assist him in reclaiming Thunder Bluff from Magatha Grimtotem, but Baine returned the hammer before the fall of Theramore as he did not feel worthy to wield it. Fearbreaker remained in Anduin's possession for several years, finding its place in the War Room, until Magni reclaimed it to combat the return of the Old God N'Zoth.[3] During the destruction of Dalaran by Xal'atath, Magni lost grip of Fearbreaker which fell in the depts of Khaz Algar. His daughter Moira Thaurissan later tracked it down, only for Magni to officially pass it on to her when she attempted to return it, noting it belonged with her.
Description
Gleaming as bright as the day it was made although it was quite old. The head was silver, wrapped in intersecting bands of gold that had runes etched into it. Small gems dotted it here and there. It was altogether a thing of beauty and power.[2]
History
The Shattering
Fearbreaker was a family heirloom of the Bronzebeard clan and had been passed down in Magni's family for many hundreds of years. It has been used in both Azeroth and in Outland.
During Prince Anduin Wrynn's visit to the dwarven capital of Ironforge, King Magni Bronzebeard gave Fearbreaker to him and explained a little of its history. As Magni related it to Anduin, "it's known the taste o' blood and in certain hands has been known to also stanch blood", which implies that the weapon is imbued with healing powers. Indeed, when Anduin (and later Baine) took up the weapon, the Light seemed to flow through them from the weapon, showing that the weapon "liked" them.
When Moira Thaurissan held the city hostage with her Dark Iron forces, Anduin hid the weapon, believing Moira would not appreciate that he had been given a family heirloom. When he later escaped by hearthstone to Theramore Isle, he took the weapon with him, and while meeting Baine, was inspired to give it to the tauren to assist him in reclaiming Thunder Bluff from Magatha Grimtotem, after checking that the mace would accept him as it had Anduin. Baine subsequently wielded the hammer during the battle for Thunder Bluff and personally struck Magatha with it, forcing her to yield.[2]
Baine's weapon
Baine wielded the mace when he was attacking quilboar and rescuing Garrosh Hellscream. It shone brightly like the Light.[4]
Some time after Deathwing was killed, the Horde led an attack on Northwatch Hold and from there planned on destroy Theramore Isle. Baine sent Perith Stormhoof to warn Jaina Proudmoore in advance, and also had Perith deliver Fearbreaker with the request that Anduin take it back, as Baine did not feel he was worthy enough of holding the weapon.
When Jaina returned to the ruined Theramore for the last time, she found the mace, undamaged. She took it with her when she left,[5] and would later give it back to Anduin.
War Crimes
During the trial of Garrosh Hellscream, Anduin was seen with the mace at the Violet Rise in the Isle of Thunder, where the Wrynns stayed for the duration of the trial.[6]
When Garrosh Hellscream escaped, a King Anduin Wrynn from an alternate timeline appeared in the Temple of the White Tiger, clutching Fearbreaker in his hands. The Prince Anduin took the glowing mace when the king was overwhelmed and began fighting a hunter Vol'jin from another timeline. Enraged, Vol'jin threw his glaive at the prince but he quickly drew the mace, knocking the tossed weapon aside. After the king died, the prince took the weapon and continued fighting and defending himself.[7] What happened with the alternate weapon is unclear, but it is likely that it was returned to King Anduin's timeline.
Before the Storm
The recently appointed King Anduin had the mace by his side during the ceremony at Lion's Rest in Stormwind City after the Argus Campaign.[8] When not in use, Anduin's manservant—Wyll Benton—would mount Fearbreaker on a hook on Anduin's bedroom wall so that the king could easily access it just in case.[9]
Battle for Azeroth
At the end of the Fourth War, Speaker Magni asked Anduin if he could get his weapon back, as its power would be needed in the days to come upon the return of the Old God N'Zoth. Anduin guided the dwarf to the weapon in the war room and confessed relief that Magni was taking the weapon back, reiterating how he and Baine didn't feel worthy of it. Although Magni stated he wouldn't have bestowed it to Anduin in the first place if he wasn't, Anduin believed it belonged in the hands of a mountain king.[10]
The War Within
During Xal'atath's assault on Dalaran, Magni lost grip of Fearbreaker which fell towards the depths of Khaz Algar.[11] His daughter Moira Thaurissan later tracked Fearbreaker to the Ringing Deeps, in the presence of a genesaur. She sought the aid of the earthen Berrund and the adventurer, and while Moira was busy fighting the genesaur, Berrund took Fearbreaker for himself and ran off. Alongside the adventurer, she gave chase, fearing it would end badly for Berrund if she left him with the hammer, and eventually caught up to reclaim Fearbreaker.[12] At the request of Berrund, Moira used Fearbreaker to help evacuate the earthen in the Rumbling Wastes, who were currently under assault from the skardyn. Upon evacuating the Rumbling Wastes, Moira returned to Gundargaz and brought back the hammer to her father, who declined the offer, noting it looked like it belonged with her. In one last request, he asked that she passes it on when it's time.[13]
Objective of
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.
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In War Crimes, it was not clearly stated if the Fearbreaker seen in King Anduin's hands was from his alternate timeline or from the main timeline. If the latter, the weapon shouldn't have been in the temple as weapons were forbidden during the trial, and the combatants were given weapons by the pandaren when the chaos erupted. When King Anduin died and returned to his own timeline, the weapon did not vanish with him but was instead taken up by Prince Anduin. However, it's possible that it vanished back to its own timeline at a later point.
Gallery
Patch changes
- Patch 8.3.0 (2020-01-14): Added.
References
- ^ [Fearbreaker]
- ^ a b c The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
- ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 13
- ^ As Our Fathers Before Us
- ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War
- ^ War Crimes, chapter 27
- ^ War Crimes, chapter 35
- ^ Before the Storm, chapter 1
- ^ Before the Storm, chapter 5
- ^ [50] Return of the Warrior King
- ^ [73-75] A Hint of Fear
- ^ [73-75] These Strong Hands
- ^ [73-75] The Bronzebeard Legacy