Taelan Fordring

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NeutralTaelan Fordring
Image of Taelan Fordring
Title Highlord of the Scarlet Crusade,
Lord of Mardenholde Keep,
Paladin defender of Lordaeron[1]
Gender Male
Race Human (Humanoid)
Class Paladin
Resource Mana
Affiliation(s) Scarlet Crusade
Former affiliation(s) Order of the Silver Hand, Kingdom of Lordaeron, Alliance of Lordaeron
Occupation Lord of Mardenholde Keep, Highlord of the Scarlet Crusade
Former occupation(s) Commander of the Scarlet Monastery, Knight of the Silver Hand
Location Various
Status Deceased[2]
Relative(s) Tirion (father), Karandra (mother)
Mentor(s) Isillien (confessor)

“I have dreams, stranger. In these dreams my father is with me. He stands proudly at my side as I am inducted into the Order. We battle legion of Scourge, side by side. We bring honor to the Alliance, to Lordaeron. I want not to dream anymore. Take me to him.”

— Taelan Fordring[2]

Taelan Fordring was a human paladin found in Hearthglen in the Western Plaguelands. He was the son of Karandra and Tirion Fordring, who he succeeded as lord of Mardenholde Keep after his excommunication. A former member of the Order of the Silver Hand, Taelan became a high-ranking member of the Scarlet Crusade after the Third War, though he remained unaware of the true scale of the atrocities committed by the organization. Years later, his father eventually helped him see the truth with the support of the adventurer, and though Taelan was killed by Grand Inquisitor Isillien for his "betrayal", his death motivated Tirion to reorganize the Silver Hand in Lordaeron, eventually leading to the creation of the Argent Crusade.

History

Of Blood and Honor

WoW-novel-logo-16x62.png This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

 [Of Love and Family], depicting Taelan with his family as they appeared many years ago.

On his 7th birthday,[3] Taelan received a toy hammer from his father. When he was young, he and his parents would often visit Caer Darrow. Once, Artist Renfray painted a family portrait.[4]

He was overjoyed when his father woke from his slumber after his fight with the orc Eitrigg. After Tirion sought out the orc hermit Eitrigg and conversed with him, he was convinced the orc knew honor, but his wife Karandra disagreed.[5] The two then got into a fight when Tirion told their son Taelan that not all orcs were bad, and that the good ones were just harder to find. Karandra, however, was very stuck in the idea that orcs were evil and should all be killed, a very traditional and common view.[6] When Tirion was eventually excommunicated and exiled for attacking Alliance soldiers and refusing to break the promise he made to the orc, Karandra didn't go with him for Taelan's sake.[7]

Before his departure into exile, Tirion left his son a note saying that he was his pride and joy, that he loved him and wished him to become a hero.[8] On the other hand, Karandra told their son that Tirion had died, and took him to a false grave at the Undercroft, where Taelan buried the toy warhammer his father had given him, and the memory of him, forever.[3]

Fifteen years later, Taelan became a paladin and, during this time frame, was noted to have become good friends with Arden.[9] He also had learned about his father's trial.[8]

The Ashbringer

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

Taelan in World of Warcraft: Ashbringer.

During the Scourging of Lordaeron, Taelan offered the rest of the Order of the Silver Hand shelter in Hearthglen and helped fight back the undead, one of the target being Stratholme.[10] Following the death of Alexandros Mograine, Taelan joined the ranks of the Scarlet Crusade. Blind to the atrocities committed by the Crusade, Taelan rose through their ranks under the tutelage of Saidan Dathrohan, secretly possessed by the nathrezim Balnazzar. When Renault Mograine was killed, Taelan was appointed Commander at the Scarlet Monastery in his place.[8]

At some point, he fought the Scourge in Northdale, and it was there that he renounced the Order of the Silver Hand.[11]

World of Warcraft

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

A few years later, Taelan became Highlord of the Scarlet Crusade and returned to Hearthglen.

Eventually, with the help of adventurers sent by his father, Taelan recognized the corruption that had befallen the Scarlet Crusade and defected. While escaping from Hearthglen, however, he was killed by Grand Inquisitor Isillien for his betrayal. Tirion Fordring was waiting nearby for his son and saw him cut down and, overcome with loss and outrage, avenged Taelan's death by killing Isillien. Grieving over his son's body, Tirion resolved to reform the Silver Hand to once more be a force of good in the world.[2]

Legacy

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

After the Lich King's defeat, Highlord Tirion Fordring returned to the Western Plaguelands and established the Argent Crusade's base in Hearthglen. Down the road, the tower where Taelan was slain by Isillien has been christened Taelan's Tower in his memory. In addition, Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer sent adventurers into the Stratholme to reclaim a painting of Taelan and his family from the Scarlet Bastion.[12]

Locations

Locations
Zone Level range Reaction Notes
Mardenholde Keep, Western Plaguelands[42, 15.6] ?? Boss Alliance Horde In Classic, during N [60G] In Dreams turns Friendly; appearance removed in retail.
Southshore, Old Hillsbrad Foothills 15-30 Alliance Horde As part of the Escape from Durnholde Keep.

Abilities

  • Spell holy holysmite.png Crusader Strike — Inflicts 50 damage to an enemy and increases the Holy damage it takes by 20 per Crusader Strike. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
  • Spell holy devotionaura.png Devotion Aura — Gives 40 additional armor to nearby party members for 4 min. Players may only have one aura on them per paladin at any one time.
  • Ability warrior cleave.png Holy Cleave — Inflicts weapon damage plus 30 to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 3 targets.
  • Spell holy holybolt.png Holy Light — Calls upon Holy magic to heal an ally.
  • Ability thunderbolt.png Holy Strike — Consecrates the caster's weapon, inflicting 2 additional damage on its next attack. All damage inflicted is based on Holy magic.
  • Spell holy layonhands.png Lay on Hands — Heals an ally for an amount equal to the caster's maximum health. Drains all of the caster's remaining mana when used.
  • Spell shadow corpseexplode.png Taelan's Suffering Effect — Taelan's Suffering

Quests

World of Warcraft: Classic The subject of this section was removed from World of Warcraft in patch 4.0.3a but is present in Classic.

Quotes

  • I want not to dream anymore. — TCG[13]

Notes and trivia

  • Aside from the quests, Highlord Taelan Fordring could also be killed for loot, although he had no unique drops.
  • Players who travel to Old Hillsbrad Foothills via the Caverns of Time can spot Taelan as a boy in an upstairs room of the inn in Southshore. He is holding the replica of Tirion's hammer which he received from his father on his 7th birthday.
    • Here he has blond hair, whereas in the family portrait he has dark hair.
  • Taelan's age seems to have undergone a retcon, given that he is only five at the time of Of Blood and Honor, yet an epilogue shows him at the age of 20 being inducted into the Knights of the Silver Hand. However, given that less than a decade passes between Of Blood and Honor and World of Warcraft, exactly how Taelan could have aged 15 years in this time is a mystery. This is further compounded by Tirion stating in a quest line that he gave Taelan the toy hammer when he was seven, the circumstances of which indicate that Taelan was aware that his father was still alive.
  • Taelan Fording appears as a legendary minion in the 2021 Core Set of Hearthstone. His effect is drawing the highest cost minion in the player's deck upon death, referencing how his death served to bring Tirion back into service. Taelan's flavor text reads: After growing up with the Scarlet Crusade for most of his life, Taelan finally realized they were maybe not the nicest people. His introduction music is the theme of the Western Plaguelands.

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.

In the Ashbringer comic, it is said that Taelan succeeded Renault Mograine as a commander in the Scarlet Monastery, after his death. But in the ceremony, no title was proclaimed. It is possible that Taelan became a Commander and sometime later, he rose in the ranks, becoming a Highlord and returning to Hearthglen as seen in World of Warcraft.

Gallery

  • A young Taelan.
    A young Taelan.
  • Taelan in World of Warcraft.
    Taelan in World of Warcraft.
  • A young Taelan with his parents in World of Warcraft.
    A young Taelan with his parents in World of Warcraft.
  • Taelan with Tirion's letter.
    Taelan with Tirion's letter.

Patch changes

See also

References

 
  1. ^ Of Blood and Honor, chapter 8
  2. ^ a b c N [60G] In Dreams
  3. ^ a b N [57] Of Forgotten Memories
  4. ^ N [58] Of Love and Family
  5. ^ Of Blood and Honor, chapter 2
  6. ^ Of Blood and Honor, chapter 3
  7. ^ Of Blood and Honor, chapter 6
  8. ^ a b c Dust to Dust
  9. ^ Of Blood and Honor, chapter 8
  10. ^ Death is Contagious
  11. ^ N [58] Of Lost Honor
  12. ^ N [15-30D] Of Love and Family
  13. ^ World of Warcraft Trading Card Game: Heroes of Azeroth. Blizzard Entertainment. 352: In Dreams.

External links

Retail Classic
Preceded by:
Unknown 		Position:
Highlord of the Scarlet Crusade 		Succeeded by:
Scarlet Highlord Daion
Preceded by:
Magistrate Barthilas 		Position:
Lord of Mardenholde Keep 		Succeeded by:
Tirion Fordring
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