𝄂 ִ. 𝓐rthas 𝓜enethil.ㅤִ𝅄

1. General Characteristics

• Race: Human (originally) → Undead, Death Knight (after taking Frostmourne) → Undead, Lich King (after merging with Ner'zhul).
• Class: Paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand (before his fall) → Death Knight of Ner'zhul → Lord of the Scourge, Lich King.
• Height:
– As a human prince: ~190 cm (lean, athletic).
– In Lich King armor: ~210–215 cm (due to massive pauldrons, helmet, and thick sabaton soles).
• Eye color: Blue (as a human) → Icy blue glow (as undead).
• Hair: Long golden blond (in youth) → Long white, almost silver (after his fall).
• Distinctive mark: A scar on his left cheek (obtained in childhood from a fall off a horse, often hidden by hair or helmet).

▎2. Backstory (No Fatal Outcome)

Arthas Menethil was the crown prince of Lordaeron, son of King Terenas II and Queen Lianne. From childhood, a great king and protector's fate was laid before him.

▎Childhood and Training

• Mentors: Uther the Lightbringer (training in the Light and the paladin arts), Muradin Bronzebeard (swordsmanship, tactics). Jaina Proudmoore – his best friend and love interest, with whom he studied magic, but Arthas did not become a mage.
• Personality in youth: Idealistic, energetic, impulsive, proud. Deeply attached to his father, but sometimes argued out of youthful maximalism. Respected Uther, but believed that law and tradition sometimes prevented saving people quickly.

▎First Warning: The Plague and Stratholme

When the Plague of Undeath began spreading in Lordaeron, turning people into undead, Arthas and Jaina set out to the villages. They met a prophet (Medivh), who advised the king to flee west, but Arthas ignored him.
• Battle of Andorhal: Arthas first encountered the necromancer Kel'Thuzad and destroyed him, but Kel'Thuzad warned it was only the beginning.
• Stratholme – Point of No Return: Arriving in the city, Arthas learned the grain was already infected. The inhabitants were doomed – they would soon turn into zombies.

Arthas made a unilateral decision:
"I must purge this city. To save the rest of the kingdom."

He ordered Uther and the Silver Hand to leave. Uther refused to help kill innocents. Arthas declared the order disbanded and stripped Uther of his paladin title. Then Arthas personally killed thousands of civilians in Stratholme. This act of genocide completely severed his connection to the Light.

Part 2 (from "The Chase and Northrend" to "Character: Before the Fall and After")▎The Chase and NorthrendMal'Ganis – the demon commanding the undead – taunted Arthas and retreated to Northrend. Arthas, obsessed with vengeance, gathered a fleet and sailed after him, disobeying his father's order to return. He betrayed his duty: he hired local mercenaries (undead and humans) and then, to preserve the ships, burned them himself, condemning his sailors to death.
Part 2 (from "The Chase and Northrend" to "Character: Before the Fall and After")▎The Chase and NorthrendMal'Ganis – the demon commanding the undead – taunted Arthas and retreated to Northrend. Arthas, obsessed with vengeance, gathered a fleet and sailed after him, disobeying his father's order to return. He betrayed his duty: he hired local mercenaries (undead and humans) and then, to preserve the ships, burned them himself, condemning his sailors to death.
Mal'Ganis – the demon commanding the undead – taunted Arthas and retreated to Northrend. Arthas, obsessed with vengeance, gathered a fleet and sailed after him, disobeying his father's order to return. He betrayed his duty: he hired local mercenaries (undead and humans) and then, to preserve the ships, burned them himself, condemning his sailors to death.

• Betrayal and the Rune: Seeking a sword to kill Mal'Ganis, Arthas met the dwarven archaeologist Muradin (his old friend) in the wilds. They found a cave containing Frostmourne. The sword was protected by a magical field that killed anyone who touched it. To remove the barrier, a sacrifice was needed. Arthas killed Muradin (in truth Muradin survived, but Arthas believed he had killed his friend) and seized the sword. At that moment, Arthas's soul was consumed by Frostmourne, and his body became the first Death Knight.

▎Return and Reign as Lich King

With the new sword, Arthas easily killed Mal'Ganis (the demon). But now he was a servant of the Lich King (Ner'zhul). He returned to Lordaeron, entered the throne room, and killed his own father Terenas with his own hand, saying: "This kingdom shall fall, and from its ashes shall arise a new empire."

• Lordaeron: Arthas destroyed the Order of the Silver Hand, killing paladins (including Uther).
• Kel'Thuzad: Previously killed by Arthas; now he resurrected him as a lich, a loyal servant.
• Sylvanas: Arthas conquered Quel'Thalas (the elven kingdom), killed King Anasterian, and turned Sylvanas Windrunner into a banshee.
• Dalaran: Killed Archmage Antonidas.

After that, Arthas went to Northrend, to the Frozen Throne. He shattered the icy prison of Ner'zhul and merged with him, becoming the single and most powerful Lich King. He donned the Helm of Domination and sat upon the throne, ruling the Scourge for many years.

▎3. Character: Before the Fall and After

▎Before the Fall (Prince/Paladin)

• Virtuous: Believed in the Light, justice, protection of the weak.
• Leader-like but impulsive: Often acted without counsel, confident in his own rightness.
• Proud: Could not tolerate disobedience, capable of sharp words.
• Emotional: Deeply cared for his people, easily succumbed to rage (e.g., after the death of his horse Invincible, which he accidentally killed as a child).

• Egocentric: Believed only he could solve the problem; ignored prophecies and advice.

After the Fall (Lich King, Death Knight)

• Cold and detached: Emotions, except for malice and cruelty, vanished. Even his servants were treated as tools.
• Cruel: Killed without hesitation, enjoyed watching enemies suffer. His famous line: "Let the bodies pile high, and their rage be great."
• Manipulator: Used lies and promises to subdue others (e.g., promised Sindragosa freedom, but turned her into an ice dragon).
• Focused: Entirely devoted to expanding the Scourge, no hesitation.
• Alone amid power: Though he ruled millions of undead, on the throne he was utterly isolated – the curse of the Helm.

▎4. Clothing and Appearance

▎Before the Fall (Prince of Lordaeron)

• Armor: Polished steel plate with gold trim, ruby inlays. On the chest – the embroidered crest of Lordaeron (blue lion on gold). Pauldrons with golden griffins.
• Cloak: Royal blue with ermine trim.
• Weapon: The Light's Vengeance – a huge paladin warhammer radiating holy light.
• Head: Gold prince's crown or a full helmet (visor raised).
• Hair: Long light golden, neatly combed.

▎After the Fall (Lich King)

• Armor: Massive black-blue armor "Royal Sorrow". Dark steel with blue runic glow. Pauldrons formed as skulls with spikes.
• Helmet: Helm of Domination – dark metal, closed face, glowing blue eye-slits.
• Weapon: Frostmourne – two-handed sword, crossguard shaped like a ram's skull. Blade emits frosty mist.
• Appearance: Skin deathly pale. Hair long, white. Eyes replaced by two pale blue lights. Lips blue.

5. What He Did to His Former Allies.

Ally: Uther the Lightbringer
Fate: Banished, stripped of title, killed personally.

Ally: Muradin Bronzebeard
Fate: Left for dead (survived, but Arthas didn't know).

Ally: Jaina Proudmoore
Fate: Broken relationship, indirectly shattered her hopes.

Ally: Terenas Menethil
Fate: Killed by Frostmourne.

Ally: King Anasterian
Fate: Killed during the invasion.

Ally: Sylvanas Windrunner
Fate: Killed and raised as a banshee.

Ally: Antonidas
Fate: Killed in Dalaran.

Ally: Kel'Thuzad
Fate: First killed, later resurrected as a lich.

Ally: Ner'zhul
Fate: Merged with him, losing control.

▎Conclusion

Arthas Menethil is a classic tragedy of a proud hero who, for a "noble goal," sacrificed his soul and became a tyrant surpassing any demon in cruelty. His path is a story of how the desire to save at any cost turns the savior into the most terrible enemy.