Ner'zhul

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Ner'zhul

Gender	Male
Race	Lich King of The Scourge; formerly Orc
Character class	Lich King; formerly Orc Shaman
Affiliation	Undead Scourge; formerly The Horde
Occupation	Lich King, Leader of the Scourge; former Warchief of the Orcish Horde and Chieftain of the Shadowmoon Clan

The Elder Shaman Ner'zhul (later known as the Lich King) is a fictional character in the Warcraft Universe - a fictional universe in which a series of games and books are set.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Biography (as Ner'zhul the Orc Shaman)

Ner'zhul was introduced in Warcraft II: The Tides of Darkness. Initially, he was to be the first Orc to make a pact with the Demon Kil'jaeden but backed out at the last minute. Gul'dan, his second in command, fulfilled Kil'jaeden's pact, and was responsible for bringing the demonic Bloodlust upon the Orcs. This Bloodlust was instilled in the Orcs when their Chieftains drank the blood of the Pit Lord Mannoroth, in exchange for their services in conquering Azeroth and the Human kingdom.

Kil'jaeden taught Ner'Zhul the art of Warlock magic, which replaced the Orc's elemental Shamanism. Ner'Zhul in turn trained other Orcs in the ways of Warlock magic. His most prominent apprentice is Gul'dan. While The Horde invaded Azeroth, Ner'zhul remained in Draenor as chieftain of the Shadowmoon Clan, with the aid of his enforcer, the Ogre-Mage Dentarg. Later, Ner'zhul wanted to break his pact with the Demons and keep his people from killing each other. The reason for this is that he wanted an army of his own for the purpose of conquering new worlds. Ner'zhul also opened many portals to other worlds from the Orcish homeworld of Draenor; eventually causing Draenor to shatter and fall apart due to the instability of energy created by the rifts.

For his insolence Ner'zhul watched in horror as Kil'jaeden and his minions destroyed his body and tortured him by keeping his soul intact, frozen in a block of ice. Ner'zhul begged Kil'jaeden to grant him death but the demon would only agree if Ner'Zhul agreed to another pact which again doomed his entire race to enslavement. The block of ice was sent to crash on the continent of Northrend, becoming buried deep in the ground. Ner'zhul was to become the Lich King - he was to engineer the Undead Scourge using his telepathic powers to do what he previously failed to do - as his punishment by the Burning Legion.

[edit] The Lich King, Leader of the Scourge

As the Lich King, Ner'zhul recruited Acolytes, including the wealthy Dalaran mage Kel'Thuzad, to assist him in creating the Plague. The Plague later spread across the Human lands of Lordaeron and its neighbors.

The events that happened in Warcraft III led to Prince Arthas Menethil going to Northrend to find a solution to the progressing Undead legion in his homelands. Muradin Bronzebeard of the Dwarves told Arthas about a legendary runeblade, Frostmourne. Arthas decided to pursue Frostmourne as a weapon against Mal'Ganis, the Dreadlord who Arthas had pursued to Northrend. The sword turned out to be cursed, but Arthas was desperate for revenge against Mal'Ganis and took Frostmourne, thereby letting the Lich King have full control over him.

In Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, Ner'zhul the Lich King was under attack by Illidan Stormrage who tried to melt Northrend in order to destroy Ner'zhul. Illidan was under the orders of Kil'jaeden who wanted Ner'zhul dead for not fulfilling the Legion's objectives - Ner'zhul created the Undead Scourge for himself as it turns out.

Arthas came to his master's aid and defeated Illidan. Due to the intense weakness of the Lich King's soul after the attack, Ner'zhul needed a new 'host' to live in. Arthas and Ner'zhul merged souls and became one entity - known as the Lich King.