Wizard
Wizards are an alternate name for a mage or a type of spellcaster; being considered a separate specialization in the same way as the conjurers and sorcerers.[1] It is unknown what differentiates the sorcerers and wizards from each other, although the latter seem to have fewer practitioners of dark magics among them. According to Khadgar and Antonidas, getting even two wizards to work together was difficult enough, it was something their own brethren have never found easy, and the thought of managing more than that was almost beyond imagining.[2]
The most experienced may be recognized by the title of "High Wizard",[3] "Lord Wizard",[4] or "Great Wizard",[5] while those delving in the secular arts are often referred to as "dark wizards".[6]
Though most contemporary human and high elven mages bow to the sovereignty of Dalaran and the Kirin Tor, there are a great many who choose to delve into the secrets of magic by themselves. Considered to be non-sanctioned renegades by the Kirin Tor, these hedge wizards strive to expand their knowledge of magic and spellcraft beyond the constraints of what most other wizards believe to be safe or morally acceptable.[7] The Kirin Tor consider such independent magi to be non-sanctioned renegades[8] and have often sought to hinder them.
Background
Note: Since "wizard" and "mage" are interchangeable, the following information will focus on their background as a specialization rather than the history of mages.
The Kirin Tor, also known as the "Wizard Council of Dalaran",[9] is an elite cadre of the most powerful wizards in the known world,[10] and the ruling conclave of magi that leads Dalaran.
Historically, wizards have been male, and there was considerable resistance even in Dalaran to women taking up the profession in spite of the city's tradition of training sorceresses and female archmages. No Kirin Tor sanctioned female wizards appeared to have existed prior to 800 years ago, when Aegwynn became the Guardian of Tirisfal. Even in the recent past, it has been difficult for women to become wizards — Jaina Proudmoore faced considerable obstacles in her ambition to be more than a mere sorceress. Fortunately for her, she was able to convince Antonidas to care more for her magical talent than her gender, and she became a fully qualified wizard in record time.[11]
Just like the Church of the Holy Light considered the Kirin Tor and its magi as heretics for centuries,[12] some paladins of the Silver Hand showed hostility against Rhonin and all the others wizards, seeing them as damned souls, but also as an occasional and necessary evil, which they would do without at any other time.[13]
The Violet Council was an elite council of nine wizards who tried to hold back the Scourge armies during the Siege of Dalaran, in order to protect the magical vaults holding the city's treasures or experiments.[14]
In modern times, Khadgar is perhaps the most accomplished of all living wizards[15] and one of the most powerful magi in Azerothian history.[16]
Known
Named
Unnamed
Renegade wizards
Items
[Bejeweled Wizard's Bracers]
[Blade of Wizardry]
[Blessed Wizard Oil]
[Brilliant Wizard Oil]
[Cape of the Unworthy Wizard]
[Coerced Wizard's Cloak]
[Dalaran Wizard's Robe]
[Darkmist Wizard Hat]
[Dingy Wizard Hat]
[Elder Wizard's Mantle]
[Evil Wizard Hat]
[Exceptional Wizard Oil]- [Expired Wizard Oil]
- [Faded Wizard Hat]
[Gloves of the Fallen Wizard]
[Hood of the Royal Wizard]
[Kamui's Crystalline Staff of Wizardry]
[Lesser Wizard Oil]
[Lesser Wizard's Robe]
[Minor Wizard Oil]- [Mistscape Wizard Hat]
- [Regal Wizard Hat]
[Rune Band of Wizardry]
[Silk Wizard Hat]
[Slippers of Wizardry]
[Staff of the Royal Wizard]- [Superior Wizard Oil]
[Warden's Wizard Hat]- Wizard Hat
[Wizard Oil]- [Wizard Pet Hat]
[Wizards' Reagents]
[Wizard's Belt]
[Wizard's Hand]
[Wizardweave Leggings]
[Wizardweave Robe]
[Wizardweave Turban]
["Wizardry" Cologne]
In the RPG
Wizards are arcane spellcasters who have undertaken intensive study of magic in places such as the Violet Citadel of Dalaran or the Academies of Silvermoon in Quel'Thalas. They do not channel arcane power, but instead use their vast knowledge of otherworldly forces to harness the energies to their will.
Wizards come from any races. A night elf who takes this class is stripped of her racial heritage and effectively and physically transforms into a high elf over time. When it starts it is a painful and irreversible process that only takes a week. Orcs and tauren are unlikely to take this class, since they lack wizards available to train anyone and have a bias against arcane spellcasting to begin with.[24]
Notable
Alphus Wordwill- Ansirem Runeweaver
Forthisal D'Neve- Garrick (apprentice wizard)
Kael'thas Sunstrider- Leanine Starborn
- Memses Lodestaff
Norgannon- Pantak
Pai Stormbringer
Thas'ranan- Theocritus
- Ul'haik Hadanot
- Valenia Silvermoon
- Warden Belamoore
- Zifban (a fictional wizard)
- Crandor (a fake wizard)
Notes
- Every wizard studied the legends of the Burning Legion.[25]
- Some sensitive mortals have the ability to naturally sniff out fel and arcane magic, being able to detect demons, wizards, and possessed people on their own.[26]
- Water elementals are a wizard's best friend as a formidable ally in combat.[27]
- The demonic felhounds, who feed upon magic itself, are fond of draining the energies of hapless wizards and then ripping their bodies to shreds.[28]
- Khadgar was originally described as an "Arch-Wizard",[29] before to later be referred to as an archmage. However, Beyond the Dark Portal refers to him as both, a wizard and an archmage.
- Astalor Bloodsworn and his fellow Magisters were named "wizards" in the original Shamans and Paladins article posted to the original World of Warcraft website.
- The wizard core class was not updated for the World of Warcraft RPG and was eliminated for use in the game.
See also
References
- ^ The Last Guardian, chapter 10: "And take this solace, of all the mages, wizards, conjurers, and sorcerers, you were the one with the most potential."
- ^ Tides of Darkness, chapter 3
- ^ Arellas Fireleaf's plaque description
- ^ Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 9
- ^ Great Wizard Kowalkowski
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, pg. 90
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, pg. 85
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, Creatures of Lordaeron & Northrend, Wizards
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual#A New Generation
- ^ Blood of the Highborne
- ^ Cycle of Hatred, pg. 35
- ^ Road to Damnation
- ^ Day of the Dragon, chapter 2
- ^ The Siege of Dalaran (WC3 Undead)
- ^ Warlords of Draenor Official Site. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. “Perhaps the most accomplished of all living wizards...”
- ^ Tides of War, 253 (ebook). "Khadgar, one of the most powerful magi in Azerothian history."
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, pg. 88
- ^ Last of the Line
- ^
[Brazier of Invocation: User's Manual]
- ^ Cycle of Hatred, pg. 123
- ^ The Last Guardian, chapter 1
- ^ Old Hatreds (WC3 Orc)
- ^ The Cult of the Damned (WC3 Human)
- ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 57
- ^ Day of the Dragon, chapter 10, pg. 83 ("e-book")
- ^ Cycle of Hatred, chapter 15
- ^ The Schools of Arcane Magic - Conjuration
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, pg. 80
- ^ Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal missions#Introduction
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