Tarenar Sunstrike
 Tarenar Sunstrike | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Blood elf (Humanoid) |
| Class | Paladin |
| Resource | Mana |
| Affiliation(s) | Argent Crusade, Silver Hand, Kingdom of Quel'Thalas |
| Location | Various |
| Status | Alive |
| Companion(s) | Gidwin Goldbraids, Fiona |
Tarenar Sunstrike is a blood elf paladin of the Argent Crusade and a member of Fiona's caravan troupe. He is one of the two main protagonists of the Eastern Plaguelands storyline.
History
When Tarenar was a kid, he would play with Gidwin Goldbraids, pretending to fight trolls, or murlocs, or girls, and they called themselves "The Paladin Pals".[1] The two promised they would join the Argent Crusade together.[2] When he was young, he would also sneak off into the Ghostlands and just beat up zombies for hours on end.[3] When he was training to be a paladin, he never paid too much attention to his trainers.[4]
Cataclysm
During the Cataclysm, Tarenar was part of Fiona's caravan and they seemingly went along quite well with each other, traveling with his friend Gidwin, making bets along the way.[5] Tarenar kept his holy talismans inside the caravan, and Fiona noticed he wasn't using them.[6] They passed through Chillwind Camp and the Menders' Stead in the Western Plaguelands and headed to the Eastern Plaguelands,[7] intending to join the Argent Crusade. When they stopped past Thondroril River, he and made a bet with Gidwin about who could kill more undead in five minutes. When an adventurer found Fiona, she asked them to find the missing duo.[8] They found them at Death's Step, where they assisted him in killing Death's Step Miscreations.[3] He knew Fiona would be angry at him, so he decided to give a gift, so he had the adventurer collect plaguehound blood. When she received it, she forgave Tarenar[9] and gifted one of his talismans to the adventurer.[6] With all three friends reunited, they continued toward Light's Hope Chapel. On their way, they teased about how many zombies they killed and talked about their past. They stopped at the Crown Guard Tower,[1] where Tarenar suggested looking for a new traveling companion headed to the chapel.[10] The caravan set off east, with Tarenar and Gidwin continuing their banter, this time about Gidwin's height, kissing Fiona, and listening to Argus Highbeacon, who needed to stop at the Light's Shield Tower.[11]
As soon as they arrived, the two paladins ran off to Light's Hope Chapel, and Tarenar started talking with a blood elf Sentry, much to Gidwin's annoyance.[12] When the adventurer caught up to them, Gidwin confessed that he didn't think Tarenar was ready to join the Crusade since he was a showboat and never took his lessons seriously. Despite this, the two entered the Chapel, and Lord Maxwell Tyrosus gave them a test[2] of combat with Lord Raymond George and his wardens. When they triumphed, Maxwell welcomed them into the Crusade.[13] He immediately gave them their first assignment - to fight the Scourge within Browman Mill and the Noxious Glade.[14] Their next task was to attack the undead at Northdale, but Tarenar suggested to be more cautious and regroup with Fiona at the Eastwall Tower to rest and plan their attack there.[15] While at the tower, he spoke with Gamella Cracklefizz who told him about Ix'lar the Underlord nearby, so Tarenar was eager to defeat the crypt lord, before heading to Northdale. After Tarenar and the adventurer killed the undead spider, they returned to the tower only to find Gidwin gone, with Fiona explaining he was impatient and headed north all alone.[16] Fiona wouldn't talk to Tarenar and blamed Gidwin for getting him in trouble, so he wanted to mend his friendship with her and sent the adventurer to find Gidwin. When the adventurer returned, they gave Tarenar Gidwin's prayer book that was left behind in Northdale.[17]
Tarenar blamed himself and feared for his friend, and resolved to rescue him at all costs and headed west toward the Northpass Tower. On the way, Argus and Fiona tried to calm Tarenar.[18] He briefly spoke with Kirkian Dawnshield, and not caring about judgment and caution,[19] he headed into the Plaguewood to find out what he could about his missing friend, while the adventurer went to the other side to fight the nearby undead and to be on alert for any information.[4] Deep in the Plaguewood, he was about to kill his way into Stratholme when the adventurer caught up to him, with the name of who held Gidwin captive, Baroness Anastari.[19] To find her exact location, they fought Omasum Blighthoof and Karthis Darkrune.[20] This proved useful as they found The Baroness' Missive which pointed to the specific spot.[21] Tarenar and the adventurer rushed to the slaughterhouse. They entered it just in time before Anastari could perform her ritual. Tarenar wasn't alone, he came with Fiona, Argus, and other travelers, and they all charged at the banshee, killing her.[22] With Gidwin saved, the two paladins and Fiona returned to Light's Hope Chapel, where they thanked the adventurer.[23]
Tarenar also helped defend Sethria's Roost on Mount Hyjal against the minions of Ragnaros.[24]
Warlords of Draenor
During the war in Draenor, Tarenar accompanied Fiona and Gidwin to Draenor with the Alliance forward party. He and Gidwin left to go fishing, but were attacked by the native botani; luckily, the local draenei Rangari arrived to aid them, and Tarenar carried Gidwin back to the caravan to recuperate.[25] As a response, he asked the Alliance adventurer to kill several botani.[26]
Legion
During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, Tarenar and Gidwin joined the reborn Knights of the Silver Hand at the Sanctum of Light beneath Light's Hope Chapel.
He later traveled to Deliverance Point on the Broken Shore.
After the Burning Legion's defeat, Tarenar and Gidwin traveled the world and conducted a drinking tour of Horde capital cities, including Suramar City and Silvermoon City. They had to sneak out from the latter.[25]
Dragonflight
A few years later, Tarenar and Gidwin accompanied Fiona once more and could be found at the Expedition Basecamp in the Waking Shores.
Locations
| Location | Level range | Reaction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Plaguelands | 15-30 | Alliance Horde | As a quest giver during the Eastern Plaguelands storyline. |
| Sethria's Roost, Mount Hyjal | 35 | Alliance Horde | |
| Fiona's Caravan, Shadowmoon Valley | 25-30 | Alliance Horde | |
| Sanctum of Light | 10-45 | Alliance Horde | |
| Deliverance Point, Broken Shore | 45 | Alliance Horde | |
| Expedition Basecamp, Waking Shores | 10-70 | Alliance Horde |
Abilities
- Eastern Plaguelands & Hyjal
Blessing of Might — Places a Blessing on the friendly target, increasing attack power by 10% and ranged attack power by 10%, and restoring 1% mana every 5 seconds for 5 min.
Divine Storm — An instant weapon attack that causes Holy damage to up to 4 enemies within 0 yards.
Hammer of Wrath — Hurls a hammer that strikes an enemy for Holy damage.
Retribution Aura — Causes Holy damage to any creature that strikes the caster.
Quests
[15-30] Tarenar Sunstrike 
- [15-30] What I Do Best
- [15-30] A Gift For Fiona
- [15-30] Traveling Companions
- [15-30] Argent Call: Northdale
- [15-30] Impatience
- [15-30] Ix'lar the Underlord
- [15-30] Nobody to Blame but Myself
- [15-30] Beat it Out of Them
- [15-30] Blind Fury
- [15-30] Guardians of Stratholme
- [15-30] The Baroness' Missive
- [15-30] Gidwin's Fate Revealed
[10-40] Botani Beatdown
Quotes
Gossip
- Shadowmoon Valley
Gidwin and I were out fishing when those things showed up and attacked us.
We would be dead for sure if wasn't for these draenei.
I would have killed them myself but somebody needed to carry Gidwin back to camp... foolish little dwarf.
- Dragonscale Basecamp
Gidwin and I have been travelling the world since the Legion's defeat. I was particularly fond of our drinking tour of Horde capitol cities. Did you know there are some lovely new places to get a drink in Suramar?
And though our time was cut short by the war, we had a wonderful time in Silvermoon. I think Gidwin rather likes the finery there. Of course, sneaking out of the city was an entirely different adventure.
I'll always enjoy getting into and out of trouble with him.
Notes and trivia
- He appears to be somewhat young (especially by elven standards), as he notes that he would often sneak into the Ghostlands to do battle with the undead in his youth[3] - the Ghostlands only claiming that name a few short years ago.
- Another timeline question would be regarding their original paladin faction. Before they came to the Plaguelands, Tarenar and Gidwin trained together to become paladins (as Gidwin knows Tarenar never took his lessons seriously).[2] They likely did so under the Knights of the Silver Hand or the Argent Dawn, as the Blood Knights would likely not allow a dwarf to train with them.
- Up until his appearance in Dragonflight, he was never tagged with the Argent Crusade reputation faction, despite joining them in the Eastern Plaguelands storyline.
- During Warlords of Draenor, he was tagged with the Alliance faction in Shadowmoon Valley, which was likely done due to in-game perspective rather than a lore one.
- Tarenar was initially planned to be a follower. He has an invisible Follower recruiting spell with the following description:
Follower: Tarenar Sunstrike — Artificer Romuul's hammer is as mighty as his knowledge of crystalworking. (the text is copied from Romuul's own recruiting spell) - Tarenar's relationship and friendly rivalry with his dwarven companion Gidwin Goldbraids may be a reference to Legolas and Gimli of the Lord of the Rings fame. Their racial descent and casual banter about who has killed the most undead seems to be a nod to this.
Relatives
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This section includes speculation on characters that might be related, usually because they may share a last name. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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He may be related to Larissa Sunstrike and Tyrnokos Sunstrike.
Patch changes
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Added.
See also
References
- ^ a b [15-30] Onward, to Light's Hope Chapel
- ^ a b c [15-30] A Boyhood Dream
- ^ a b c [15-30] What I Do Best
- ^ a b [15-30] Beat it Out of Them
- ^ [15-30] Gidwin Goldbraids
- ^ a b [15-30] Tarenar's Talisman
- ^ [15-30] Into the Woods
- ^ [15-30] Tarenar Sunstrike
- ^ [15-30] A Gift For Fiona
- ^ [15-30] Traveling Companions
- ^ [15-30] The Trek Continues
- ^ [15-30] Boys Will Be Boys
- ^ [15-30] Argent Call: The Trial of the Crypt
- ^ [15-30] Argent Call: The Noxious Glade
- ^ [15-30] Argent Call: Northdale
- ^ [15-30] Ix'lar the Underlord
- ^ [15-30] Impatience
- ^ [15-30] Nobody to Blame but Myself
- ^ a b [15-30] Blind Fury
- ^ [15-30] Guardians of Stratholme
- ^ [15-30] The Baroness' Missive
- ^ [15-30] Gidwin's Fate Revealed
- ^ [15-30] Journey's End
- ^ [32-35 Daily] The Protectors of Hyjal
- ^ a b #Quotes
- ^ [10-40] Botani Beatdown