User:Haleth/Varian Wrynn

Varian Wrynn (voiced by Chris Metzen in all of his game appearances with the exception of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, where he is voiced by Jon St. John, and portrayed by Dylan Schombing in the film) was the king of the human kingdom of Stormwind and High King of the Alliance. In his younger years, Varian survived the ravages of the orcish invasion of Azeroth, the First War, ending with the assassination of his father, King Llane Wrynn. Years later, Varian reclaimed Stormwind City and initiated its reconstruction, marrying the beautiful Tiffin Ellerian and raising a son, Anduin, whom he named after the great Alliance hero Anduin Lothar. Long after the dust settled from the Third War, Varian was kidnapped by Defias Brotherhood minions of the black dragon Onyxia, who split Varian into two separate beings: one embodying his strength and resolve, and one bereft of willpower. The dragon hoped to kill Varian's warrior qualities, yet still rule Stormwind by using the weaker king as her puppet. But Varian's stronger half escaped his captors. Robbed of his memories and enslaved by a Horde gladiatorial trainer in Kalimdor, Varian's stronger half fought his way to freedom, earning the nickname “Lo’Gosh,” or “ghost wolf,” while in battle. With the help of his comrades, he was able to recover his true identity and led an army to slay Onyxia.

After reuniting his selves and reclaiming his throne, King Wrynn organized the campaign against the Lich King in Northrend and defended his realm against the terrors of Deathwing's Cataclysm. In recent days, Varian has turned his eye toward his old enemies in the Horde, and many in his council fear that their king actually desires another years-long war between Horde and Alliance. Varian's ongoing struggle—to balance his warrior's instincts with his duties as a king—has only grown more critical in the wake of Theramore's destruction and the battle for the continent of Pandaria. As the events of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria progress, Varian underwent many trials to rally the other factions of the Alliance into a unified coalition that led to a final siege of Orgrimmar where his forces and Horde rebels toppled Warchief Garrosh Hellscream. When Garrosh was arrested, Varian chose to end the war with the Horde rather than prolong it as the price of victory, even if possible, would cause too much bloodshed on both sides. However, he warned the new warchief, Vol'jin, that should the Horde return to its warmongering ways, the Alliance would seek to end them.

After playing a minor role in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, Varian led an assault against Gul'dan, who had returned to Azeroth from a different, newly created timeline, in World of Warcraft: Legion. Along with Tirion Fordring and the rest of his army, Varian was killed in the ensuing battle, and was succeeded as King of Stormwind by his son, Anduin.

Varian also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm..