Summary
A story is nothing without its characters. For as fun as epic events and dramatic plots can be, a story is defined by its characters.The War Withinis aWorld Of Warcraft expansionthat is primarily character-motivated. While there’s plenty of adventure to be had, some of the best moments are when characters just sit around and talk.
The War Within expansion was filled with tons of interesting characters. Some are wicked, and some are wholesome, but they’re all wonderful. These are the best NPCs of World Of Warcraft: The War Within.
Class
Unknown
Not all characters are mighty warriors or brilliant spellcasters. Some are just individuals who are doing the best they can in a difficult situation, and that itself is heroic. Nobody better embodies this in The War Within than a simple Kobold named Skitter.
Skitter is first encountered in the Ringing Depths. The Kobolds have been taken over by a dark force, and Skitter is the only one left who can free his people. He is terrified, but he enlists the players to save his fellow Kobolds—just because it is the right thing to do. Skitter himself sums himself up the best: “No fear dark if you have light inside.”
Speaker
All Earthen havea Directive, a meaning or duty to their lives that they must fulfill. Some are miners, some are protectors, and some are Machine Speakers. These Earthen are in charge of expanding and maintaining caverns and mines deep under the earth.
Speaker Brinthe is the first Machine Speaker encountered by the player. Exiled from her home for questioning leadership, Brinthe is dedicated to her people and is constantly working to return home. Brinthe, like all Earthen, is a bit cold when the players first meet her. But she quickly becomes a loyal ally and is the primary source forthe lore of Khaz Algar. Speaker Brinthe is a guiding figure for both the Earthen and the players.
Priest
Name a character with a better redemption arc than Moira Thaurissan, Queen of the Dark Iron. In her earliest appearances, Moira was the shrill and smug pretender to the throne of Ironforge. But the years have matured her, and Moira is now set to take her biggest role in the story so far.
Moira is the daughter of Magni and the mother of Dagran, as well as Queen Regent of the Dark Iron clan in her own right. She has journeyed to Khaz Algar to help in any way she can. She is an expert diplomat and basically carried the Isle of Dorn and Ringing Deeps storylines through diplomacy. Moira remains as strong-willed as ever, but this dark queen has gone from a wayward widow to a hero of the Alliance in her own right.
Weaver/Presumed Rogue
One of the best additions to The War Within was the expansion of Nerubian culture. The Nerubians aren’t just faceless characters to kill here- they are characters with their own culture, wants, desires, and interests. And one of the most vibrant of these characters is the Widow Arak’nai.
The Widow Arak’nai was officially the Royal Weaver to the Queen. Unofficially, she was the spymaster, manipulating events with just a little effort. Arak’nai is the primary NPC for the Nerubian faction, and players will work closely with her to liberate her people. Step into her parlor, little morsel. She doesn’t bite.
Nerubian queen/Ascended
Nerubian queen
While Warcraft has always had wonderful villains, it is rare to hear their story from their own point of view. But in The War Within, players get just that- Queen Ansurek, the final raid boss and opening villain for the expansion, was given her own perspective to share.
The heir to the beloved Queen Neferess, Ansurek usurped her own mother and sided with the vile Xal’atath. While she did this to increase her own power, Ansurek seems to legitimately believe this partnership is best for her people. As misguided and tyrannical as she is, her motivations make her understandable- and memorable. She’ll stop at nothing to achieve her goals- and the players will stop at nothing to stop her.
Mountain King/Warrior
Helping a Dwarf cope with his divorce from a planet wasn’t on the list of expansion features. But that is essentially Magni’s arc in The War Within. As the Speaker of Azeroth, Magni Bronzebeard has dedicated much of the past few years serving Azeroth. But what happened when the burden became too much?
At some point, Magni says, he stopped speaking to Azeroth. He became filled with resentment and anger towards the World Soul he once loved. His story in The War Within revolves around Magni essentially leaving a relationship that has turned unhealthy for both of them. Magni allows himself to move on, and with that comes the chance for growth.
Dagran is truly a character that has grown with World of Warcraft. He was first introduced in the Cataclysm expansion- as a baby! Baby Dagran has sat in the halls of Ironforge for so long. He’s basically everyone’s adopted son. But the years have passed, and it is time for Dagran to go on his own adventure.
Dagran is a gentle scholar who is more interested in a book than a fight. Some wonder if he is strong enough to lead the Dark Iron Clan, but for the time being, Dagran is more concerned about learning something new. He, alongside Speaker Brinthe, provides much of the lore for the expansion. While characters that just infodump can be tedious, Dagran’s infectious energy makes learning fun.
Ranger
Alleria has been through a lot- being trapped fighting the Legion for centuries, watching her sister go mad with power, being infused with the Void, and being banished from her home. It’s…a lot. And it has taken its toll on the Elven Ranger. Alleria has isolated herself from her family and friends in an attempt to protect them.
But Alleria’s arc in The War Within revolves around learning shecan’trun from her problems and that sheshouldn’trun from her family. Alleria doesn’t need to hide from her family to protect them- they want to be a part of her life, even if that puts them in danger. Alleria’s arc plays with one of the expansion’s themes, which is mental health and reaching out for help. Throughout the expansion, Alleria learns that one of the bravest things she can do is open up to others.
Paladin
Faerin Lothar is probably one of the best additions to World of Warcraft in years. One of the Arathi Lamplighters who lives in Hallowfall, Faerin is unyielding in her desire to help others. She is as brave as she is strong, and as strong as she is kind.
Faerin snuck onto the Hallowfall expedition as a child and lost an arm and eye in an attack. Now grown, she uses a shield over her shoulder to defend those who cannot defend themselves. She is fierce but also warm and friendly. She is just at home playing a board game as she is fighting darkness. Faerin helps inspire multiple characters over the expansion, and her relationship with Anduin is a high point. While there are many characters who use the Light, Faerin truly embodies it.
If any character has been through the ringer over the years, it is the poor King of Stormwind. Anduin has been struggling with…everything since the death of his father in Legion, and the mind control he endured in Shadowlands seemed to break the boy-king entirely. He was absent from the Dragonflight expansion and returned to save the world unwillingly in The War Within.
But the emotional arc he goes through in The War Within is truly something. Through his adventures under the ground, Anduin manages to face his grief and trauma. While the pain hasn’t faded, it has been fought, which is half the battle. Anduin’s story is that of a man learning to ask for help with his mental health and receiving it from his friends. Anduin’s story reminds players that sometimes the most important thing for somebody is just being there.
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft remains one of the premier MMORPGs, and has done since its launch in 2004. The world of Azeroth is riven by conflict between the Alliance and the Horde, and you must choose your side. With nine expansions of content, there’s always plenty to do.
