Written Lore of Arthas Menethil

Arthas was the son of King Terenas Menethil, ruler of Lordaeron. As a youth, he trained in the art of combat and joined the Silver Hand, a group of paladins. He became known for his exploits in battle. He also briefly dallied with a young mage named Jaina Proudmoore, but it didn't work out because long-distance things never end well (Yes they do my girlfriend is long distance). They decided to remain friends, which is as big a sign of impending doom as one can get.

Arthas and his trainer, Uther Lightbringer, were sent to the orc internment camps near Lordaeron to quell uprisings. Arthas defeated the orcs with the use of a magical fire weapon, but soon discovered that a plague of undeath was sweeping the northern villages of Lordaeron. The now-evil wizard Kel'Thuzad had transported the plague, originally the brainchild of the Lich King Ner'Zhul, to the towns of Brill and Stratholme through some infected grain. Arthas and Jaina went on a totally platonic mission to stop the plague, which Arthas accomplished by killing Kel'Thuzad. Arthas then headed north to Stratholme to kill the demon Mal'Ganis.

When Arthas and Uther got to Stratholme, they discovered that the grain had already been distributed and the townspeople would soon become undead. Arthas ordered his troops to kill all the villagers. Horrified, Uther and Jaina refused and left with some of the Silver Hand forces. Arthas and his pals killed off the villagers and eventually ran into Mal'Ganis, who kind of just waved and said he'd see them later in Northrend. Gee, like that doesn't sound like a trap at all. Arthas and his followers blindly headed off to Northrend, where they met Arthas's old friend Muradin Bronzebeard. Arthas and Muradin searched the area for Mal'Ganis, but they were soon ordered to come back to Lordaeron by Terenas and Uther. Arthas said "Screw that!" and burned his boats so his men would have no way to get home but to kill Mal'Ganis.

Muradin had mentioned a mystical runeblade, Frostmourne, that would grant its wielder unlimited power. Arthas and Muradin figured that would be a nice thing to use against Mal'Ganis. Arthas discovered the sword in a fortress and, ignoring all Muradin's warnings about evil and corruption and bla bla bla, proclaimed he would "pay any price" to get the sword. Arthas wrenched Frostmourne out of the ice, killing Muradin in the process. Sword in hand, Arthas handily slaughtered Mal'Ganis's minions before confronting the demon. Mal'Ganis told him that the Lich King was speaking to him through the sword. Unfortunately for Mal'Ganis, the sword told Arthas to kill him. After defeating Mal'Ganis, Arthas fled into the wastelands of the north alone.

Months later, Arthas came back to Lordaeron and was hailed as a hero. But as he knelt at the throne of his father, Arthas drew Frostmourne and killed Terenas. He had lost his soul and been corrupted by Frostmourne. Arthas deicded to reanimate the body of Kel'Thuzad to serve the Lich King once more, killing Uther along the way. In the process, he invaded the city of Quel'Thalas and killed its ranger-general, Sylvanas Windrunner. (If that name's familiar, it should be.) He then raised Sylvanas from the dead as a form of revenge, which seems pretty petty for a guy with unlimited power. Kel'Thuzad was also raised from the dead, and he and Arthas went to Dalaran to talk with Archimonde, the general of the Burning Legion's forces. After a lot of fighting, Arthas, Kel'Thuzad, and the Scourge successfully summoned Archimonde into Azeroth. Archimonde then proclaimed that the Lich King was of no further use to the Legion. Looks like someone picked the wrong side!

Arthas and Kel'Thuzad laid low for a few months. Then Arthas traveled to Felwood to fight the still-demon-hunter-not-yet-actual-demon Illidan. The two fought to a standstill, and Arthas suggested that Illidan consume an ancient warlock's skull to give himself the power to fight the demon Tichondrius. Illidan, never one of the world's greatest thinkers, agreed. Then Arthas went ... somewhere else for a few months. Maybe he was taking a bike tour through Europe, I don't know. Anyway, Illidan killed Tichondrius, and several months later Arthas went back to Lordaeron and took it over from Tichondrius's followers. There, with Kel'Thuzad and Sylvanas at his side, he finally ruled his kingdom.

However, Ner'Zhul, the Lich King, was ailing. His powers were weak enough that Sylvanas slipped out of his control. Sylvanas set up a trap for Arthas and shot him with a paralysing arrow so she could torture him and whatnot. Kel'Thuzad stepped in and saved Arthas, who was then called to Northrend by the Lich King. Unfortunately for Arthas, Northrend was currently being invaded by Illidan and Kael'Thas, who were under orders to kill the Lich King for the Burning Legion. (Yes, the Scourge and the Burning Legion and the Illidari and the Alliance and the Horde all hate each other. Try to keep up.)

Arthas fought through a bunch of mobs to try to get to the Frozen Throne, where the Lich King sat. It was kind of like the General Rajaxx event in AQ20, except the mobs didn't bug out every other try and the loot presumably didn't suck. He was joined by a new ally, the spider lord Anub'arak, and together they defeated naga, blood elves, dwarves, and even some sort of ancient evil called the Forgotten One. They activated the obelisks and opened the door to the Frozen Throne, only to run into Illidan, who was lurking around the glacier's base. Illidan and Arthas then fought each other one on one for NO RAISIN (ten points if you get the reference.) Seriously, I don't know why they didn't just let their armies fight it out while they sat in the back and sipped on daquiris. Arthas sliced Illidan's chest open with Frostmourne, and left him "dead" in the snow. Of course, this is Warcraft Dead, meaning "alive." Arthas ascended to the Frozen Throne and found a suit of armor sitting there. The voice of Ner'Zhul told him to return Frostmourne to the Frozen Throne. Arthas struck the Throne with his sword, shattering it. Ner'Zhul's spirit was released from its prison, and when Arthas put Ner'Zhul's crown on his head, the two beings fused into one entity. Arthas was the true Lich King.

While he dreamed, Arthas banished his humanity and suppressed Ner'zhul's spirit, allowing him to become the dominant personality of the Lich King.
As the Lich King, Arthas instigated another Scourge invasion of Azeroth, provoking a counteroffensive in Northrend by the Horde, Alliance, Argent Crusade, and Knights of the Ebon Blade. In doing so, he lured powerful heroes to Northrend and placed many challenges before them, seeking to weed out the weak and make the strong question their own morality. He planned to raise the world's greatest fighters as his new champions, and use them to spearhead attacks on their homelands, in a reflection of his own journey.

His plan nearly succeeded when a group of adventurers led by Tirion Fordring finally ascended to the Frozen Throne and did battle with him after Horde, Alliance and Ashen Verdict forces assaulted Icecrown Citadel. The Lich King froze Tirion in a block of ice, and in the middle of the battle, he suddenly killed the adventurers in one single mighty blow. Ultimately, the Lich King's plans were foiled when, just as he was about to raise them all into undeath, Tirion freed himself and destroyed Frostmourne with the Ashbringer, releasing all of the souls inside, including Arthas's soul. The Lich King was severely weakened, and Terenas resurrected the adventurers who defeated him alongside Tirion. As he lay dying, comforted by the spirit of his father, Arthas asked if it was over, to which Terenas replied "At long last. No king rules forever, my son." Arthas said that he saw only darkness before him, with his eyes rolling back and his hand falling lifelessly to the ground.

There is no official information on the location of Arthases body is burried, but a new, large tomb inside the new Stormwind graveyard is believed to be Arthas' tomb, since it has the Lordaeron crest on it, and most major characters from Lordaeron have set resting places and/or monuments already.

The Personality of Arthas

Arthas was a man of action - brave, impulsive and straightforward. He was an inspiring leader, leading his men by example. In conversations with other characters, he appeared witty and easy-going, yet able to hold true to his decisions and make others accept them. Arthas also has a strong sense of loyalty to his men and his kingdom. On the other hand, Arthas was vindictive, occasionally lost control (as described in the letter below), and never took well to losing. He always sought the approval of others (such as his father) and often felt underappreciated. He could not stand the thought of others betraying his trust, going as far as making Jaina promise never to deny him anything. His intentions were good, but the Lich King exploited those faults and desires as soon as he took up Frostmourne. Though he took up the blade in an effort to defend his people, this was all for naught, as he became the destroyer of that which he sought to protect. After the death of his father, Arthas claims he no longer feels remorse, shame, or pity, which is explained by him losing his soul to Frostmourne. Here was born a new Arthas, a ruthless and cynical person with a grim sense of humor. As a death knight, Arthas was not above mocking his enemies and gloating over their defeats. Despite this, somewhere deep inside him a portion of him still existed that fought against the darkness. The Lich King later destroyed this small remnant of who he was, and only at the end, when Frostmourne was broken and the lich king was defeated, his soul was finally released.

Arthas was friends with Jarim Balnir, despite their differences in station. Arthas met Varian when the Prince of Stormwind came to Lordaeron in the company of Lothar and Khadgar, and the pair would occasionally spar together. Arthas also became good friends with his mentors, Uther and Muradin. Jaina and Arthas were close friends for many years and eventually became lovers. Though Arthas abruptly ended their relationship when he decided he wasn't ready to marry yet, he was determined to remain friends with the sorceress. As a death knight, Arthas seemed to enjoy conversations with his new allies, Kel'Thuzad and Anub'arak. He was not above expressing gratitude to Kel'Thuzad, and one of his final phrases before departing to Northrend was "You have been a loyal friend", something rarely heard from a dark lord addressing his minion. After his death his old friends, Muradin, Uther, and Jaina forgive him. Jaina is still in love with him, surprised that he kept her locket all these years, yet too grief-stricken to keep it when it is presented to her. Muradin gives Arthas a touching eulogy, defining him as his brother, and ruing the day he had ever mentioned the sword to the prince. Uther says that he will choose to forever remember him as the hero who always defended his people, no matter the cost.

Arthas cared deeply for his people and sought their approval in return. He rarely let his title stand in the way and often treated commoners as near-equals. It was Arthas' empathy that would ultimately lead to his downfall, as he was driven to the edge by the sight of his people falling before the Scourge. Once Arthas was convinced the only way to save his homeland was to destroy Mal'Ganis, he became determined to accomplish that at any cost. After learning Frostmourne had stolen his soul, one of the first things Arthas reflects on is whether he truly saved his people by taking it up. With his mind twisted by Frostmourne's curse, Arthas comes to look upon the undead soldiers of the Scourge with affection, viewing them as his new subjects. He is described as feeling a form of sadness as he releases some badly damaged minions from his grip during the battles of Quel'Thalas, and he was outraged when Anasterian damaged his steed, Invincible.

Even as the Lich King, Arthas seems proud of his ability to "stir the hearts" of his "people."