From Archmage to Lich, The Story of Kel'Thuzad - Classic Anniversary Phase 6 Prelude

Posted 2025/10/05 at 6:16 PM by Ease

Kel'ThuzadNecromancer in Warcraft 3resurrectionKel'Thuzad in his Naxxramas lair - but he wasn't always the lich we now know him as...Road to Damnation
Excerpt from "Road To Damnation" by Evelyn Fredericksen
Antonidas tapped his staff to the floor, silencing him, and turned to the other magi. “He has turned the buildings into laboratories for a series of foul experiments. See for yourself, colleagues. Behold the fruit of his labors.” He opened the chest and tilted it so that all could see.

The decaying remains of several rats. Two were still scrabbling clumsily at the sides of the chest in a vain attempt to escape.

Turning back to the captive rats, Kel’Thuzad saw that they had collapsed and stopped moving. Another set of failures, apparently. No matter. Someday, he would create a stable undead specimen. His hard work would be vindicated. It was only a matter of time.
Human Kel'Thuzad in Old Hillsbrad from TBC, and a simulacrum of him from The War Within.Anub'arak
Excerpt from "Road To Damnation" by Evelyn Fredericksen
What had he gotten himself involved in?

One by one, his scattered thoughts fell into place. The necromancer was no simple academic, interested in studying a widely condemned field of magic. Nor did he plan to stop at fortifying his home against attack. He was mass-producing a fluid that converted people into zombies. Naxxramas also had an enormous stockpile of supplies, weapons, armor, training grounds….

These weren’t defensive measures. They were preparations for war.
"Let this be your first lesson. I have no love for you or your people. On the contrary, I intend to scour humanity from this planet, and make no mistake: I have the power to do it."
Excerpt from "Road To Damnation" by Evelyn Fredericksen
As my lieutenant, you will gain knowledge and magic to surpass your most ambitious dreams. But in return, living or dead, you will serve me for the rest of your days. If you betray me, I shall make you into one of my mindless ones, and you will serve me still.

Serving this spectral being--this Lich King, as Kel’Thuzad was beginning to think of him--would assuredly bring Kel’Thuzad great power… and damn him for all eternity. But that knowledge came far too late. Besides, damnation had little meaning without the prospect of true death.

“I am yours. I swear it,” he said hoarsely.

Comment by KradggerWhat's with the last image? Wasn't Icecrown Glacier hollow with the Frozen Throne on top of the internal spire prior to Arthas breaking the ice surrounding it with Frostmourne? As far as I know it has only been exposed like that between the ending of The Frozen Throne and right before Wrath of the Lich King when most of it became encased inside Icecrown Citadel.Comment by Vivienc'mon.. nobody plays wow for lore. people want only bis itemsComment by Nextc'mon.. nobody plays wow for lore. people want only bis items