Why is illidan betrayer

Selfish, mercurial, brilliant, resentful and tormented by himself, Illidan Stormrage helped make Azeroth everything it is today.

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There he and his naga gathered new allies in the form of the blood elves led by Kael'thas Sunstrider and the Broken draenei led by Akama , and with their aid he overthrew Outland's tyrannical ruler Magtheridon to claim the broken realm for his own. Illidan later traveled with his allies to the Lich King's stronghold of Icecrown for one last attempt to complete Kil'jaeden's mission, but he was eventually thwarted and nearly killed by the Lich King's champion, the death knight Arthas Menethil.

Returning to Outland, Illidan dropped all pretense of serving Kil'jaeden and mustered his army—the Illidari—to begin his true war against the Burning Legion. Through the manipulations of Kil'jaeden, the Alliance and Horde invaded Outland and began dismantling Illidan's forces in the belief that he was no better than the demons he claimed to fight.

Despite succeeding in destroying the demon stronghold of Nathreza , the Betrayer was ultimately cornered and struck down within his own sanctum by Akama, a group of Azerothian adventurers , and his vengeful former jailer, Maiev.

Maiev subsequently brought Illidan's corpse to the Vault of the Wardens so that his spirit could suffer the rest of his eternal sentence. There it remained for years until the Legion invaded once more. A struggle for Illidan's soul ensued between the Legion and the forces of Azeroth, including the remaining Illidari, culminating in Illidan's resurrection atop the Nighthold.

The Betrayer subsequently joined forces with Azeroth's defenders as they battled the Legion across the Broken Shore and within the Tomb of Sargeras. During a battle with Kil'jaeden in the Twisting Nether , Illidan used an artifact known as the Sargerite Keystone to open a rift that brought the worlds of Azeroth and Argus together. Illidan accompanied Azeroth's champions as they traveled to Argus to battle the Legion alongside the Army of the Light , whose leader—the prime naaru Xe'ra —believed that Illidan was the Chosen One , [16] a hero of the Light prophesied to end the age of demons.

While the rest of Azeroth's heroes returned home to their world, Illidan chose to remain behind, becoming Sargeras' jailor. Illidan was introduced as a supporting character in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos , though he played a far more significant role as one of the protagonists, later as one of the two main antagonists alongside Kil'jaeden in the game's sequel, The Frozen Throne.

He made his first appearance in World of Warcraft as a major antagonist with the first expansion, The Burning Crusade , serving as the final boss of the Black Temple raid in patch 2. Illidan returned as an anti-hero in World of Warcraft: Legion alongside his Illidari. He became a primary force towards defeating the Legion, siding with the heroes of Azeroth. Illidan and his twin brother, Malfurion , were born at Lorlathil in Val'sharah [18] and grew up in Suramar as friends with Tyrande Whisperwind.

Illidan practiced Highborne magic. In his youth, he attempted to master the druidic forces, as his brother had, but the sorcery called to him in a way that the magic of the land did not. Unlike his brother, Illidan was born with amber eyes, at the time a sign of a great destiny — however, this actually indicated inherent druidic potential. Though not a Highborne himself, he became the personal caster of the military leader, Kur'talos Ravencrest. When Archimonde 's invasion of Azeroth had begun and Azshara's treachery became known, Malfurion convinced Illidan to leave his queen.

Illidan followed his brother. But as Cenarius and the dragons entered the battle, Malfurion came to understand that their adversaries were too powerful to fall in combat. To end the invasion, he plotted the destruction of the Well of Eternity. The idea appalled Illidan. The Well was the source of his magic — and likely of the elves' immortality — and its loss was a price far too dear for him to pay.

In addition, the night elf found that he increasingly admired the powers of the Burning Legion, seeing a magical purity that underlay their chaotic behavior. Where the night elves struggled to maintain their ground, the Burning Legion's numbers did not seem to permanently diminish.

After the death of Latosius , Illidan became the leader of the Moon Guard. However, Illidan did not use the Moon Guard to their fullest potential. Instead of having them cast spells, he ordered them to transfer their power into him, thus empowering his own spells instead; but in doing so, this opened them to attack from the demons with no means to defend themselves.

Illidan had strong feelings for Tyrande Whisperwind , a novice priestess in the Sisters of Elune. Illidan so desired to impress Tyrande that he often acted without thinking, particularly in magic; he never realized that these displays weren't quite what the priestess was looking for in a mate.

But while Illidan struggled to win her heart, none of them realized that the battle was over soon after it had begun; Tyrande had chosen Malfurion almost from the beginning. Xavius knew of this and used his power to darken Illidan's thoughts, convincing him that if Malfurion were to die, Illidan would no longer have a rival for Tyrande's love.

Finally, the sight of Tyrande in the arms of his brother shattered his final ties to the defenders. It was likely somewhere in this point of time that Illidan defeated a doomguard commander named Azzinoth and took up the demon's personal weapons as his own; these would become known as the Warglaives of Azzinoth. Illidan from "The Sundering". Illidan, with a new plan spurred into his mind, journeyed to Zin-Azshari. There he feigned allegiance to Azshara and Mannoroth.

Illidan's plan was to obtain the Demon Soul , an artifact of great power created by Deathwing also known as Neltharion the Earth-Warder , which had the ability to close the portal which was allowing the demons to enter Kalimdor. However, to put this plan in action, Illidan had to gain more power. Illidan was eventually brought before Sargeras himself, who quickly discovered the night elf's plan to obtain the Demon Soul for the Legion. Sargeras was pleased with this plan and gave Illidan a "gift" in return for his allegiance.

Illidan's eyes were burned out by Sargeras himself, despite still being beyond the portal, and orbs of mystic fire set in their place that allowed Illidan to see all forms of magic, and fel tattoos covered his body. When Illidan's eyes were burned out, he also received a vision of the true strength of the Legion and their crusade across infinite universes, and he came to realize that defeating them on Azeroth would mean nothing. He resolved then to find a way to defeat them for good.

When the Demon Soul came into the hands of the Legion, they went about using it as a focus to strengthen their portal above the Well of Eternity for Sargeras. Illidan reunited with the Kaldorei Resistance , which now greatly mistrusted him after seeming to betray them and hand over the key to victory to the demons. But working alongside Malfurion, the brothers worked together to close the portal with the Demon Soul's power. The destruction of the portal caused the Well of Eternity itself to grow unstable, and right before the defenders fled Zin-Azshari Illidan took several vials and filled them with water from the Well of Eternity.

The Great Sundering that resulted from the Well's instability split the main supercontinent of Kalimdor into various smaller continents. After the Great Sundering, Illidan scaled the peaks of Mount Hyjal , where he found a small, tranquil lake. There he poured the contents of three of the vials into the waters. The chaotic energies quickly manifested, tainting the lake and twisting it into a new Well of Eternity.

Illidan's joy was short-lived however, when his brother, Malfurion, Tyrande and the rest of the kaldorei leadership discovered him - and all were horrified at what he'd done. Unable to accept that his brother had committed such treachery, Malfurion tried again to explain to Illidan the folly of his ways. The magic, he insisted, was chaotic by nature, and it could only bring about destruction so long as it existed. Illidan refused to listen, so enraptured by the magic's power that his brother seemed to him an unknowing fool.

Illidan claimed that magic would be needed should the Burning Legion ever return. The lack of remorse shook Malfurion to his core and he raged at his brother, understanding now that Illidan was lost forever to the magic's sway. He ordered him imprisoned deep below Hyjal in a jail kept far from sight and mind.

Malfurion would later note that sometimes he went to visit Illidan in his prison in the hopes of turning him from his fatal path. Illidan languished for 10, years in a lightless prison. Califax , a keeper of the grove , and a contingent of night elves including Maiev Shadowsong kept constant guard over the Betrayer. Release came at the unexpected hands of Tyrande, who slaughtered the night elf guards in the hopes of using Illidan against the Legion, which had returned to Azeroth at the hands of the Scourge.

With his love for Tyrande undampened through the millennia of confinement, Illidan agreed to help. He swore to throw back the Legion and to depart from the night elves forever. Upon being released, Illidan stormed Hyjal's war-torn forest. Malfurion opposed Tyrande's decision, thinking the release of Illidan a catastrophic mistake. While in Felwood, he encountered Arthas , champion of the Lich King , and they engaged in combat.

The fighters were equally matched, and the combatants reached an impasse. Illidan stopped the duel and demanded to know why Arthas had tracked him. Arthas responded openly, telling Illidan about the Skull of Gul'dan , the demonic artifact that had corrupted Felwood. He explained that if the artifact were destroyed, the corruption of the forests would halt. To ensure that Illidan would take the bait, Arthas spared no detail of the Skull's power, adding that his master knew of Illidan's thirst for power.

Although Illidan did not trust Arthas, he nevertheless sought the Skull and its power out. A great Demon Gate defended the Skull as Illidan and his forces had to fight mightily to gain access to the artifact. Driven by necessity and influenced by the belief that with the increased power, he could, at last, redeem himself in the eyes of Tyrande, he shattered the demonic seal and used the Skull's powers for his own.

Strength he found, but peril greater than power came to him at once. The battle for control of the Skull came with a heavy price and the artifact's powers changed him.

Transformed into a demon, Illidan wrapped himself in shadow and utterly destroyed Tichondrius and his forces. But with victory came devastation. Tyrande and Malfurion sensed the demonic power lurking within Illidan and turned away with disgust and despair. Malfurion chastised his brother, convinced that Illidan had traded his soul for more power. Enraged, Malfurion banished his brother from the forests. Feeling his sacrifice and effort were unappreciated, Illidan muttered "So be it Kil'jaeden meets with Illidan, a few months after the Legion's defeat at Mount Hyjal and Archimonde 's death.

After the Legion's defeat, Illidan was visited by Kil'jaeden , who, while noting Illidan's sketchy track record with the Legion, offered him one final chance to serve them. He told him to seek out the Frozen Throne , and destroy it. Ner'zhul had grown far too powerful for Kil'jaeden to control and betrayed him, and Illidan was to remove him from the equation; in exchange for more power and magic than he could dream of. By harnessing Gul'dan's enchanted skull, Illidan came to possess the warlock's memories, and a plan came to mind, but he would need allies to help him.

He decided to enlist the aid of old friends. Illidan had heard only rumors of the Highborne's fate. Illidan cast a powerful spell and called the naga to the surface, calling in some old Highborne debts. They did not come because of their shared history, nor did they respect his demonic power. They came because the Old Gods willed it. They noticed Illidan and his hunger for power. They sent the naga to aid Illidan in his campaign against the Lich King so that it could spark a new war.

If the former night elf became troublesome, the Old Gods could simply command the naga to cut out his fel-corrupted heart. Thus, Vashj came to lead those who would be known as " Illidan's Naga ". But Illidan still had the troublesome warden, Maiev Shadowsong , to deal with, as she had persistently chased him all over Kalimdor.

Illidan then allied with a group of satyrs , known as Illidan's Servitors , [35] and corrupted some furbolgs. Maiev killed the furbolgs and defeated his forces, but when she came to the port, Illidan hijacked a boat and set sail, while a cadre of naga stayed behind to scuttle the ships and ruin all hopes of following him. With the naga swimming in his wake, Illidan came ashore on the Broken Isles — the ruined remains of Suramar ironically, the same city where Illidan grew up which Gul'dan and his warlocks had raised twenty years before, and the home of the Tomb of Sargeras.

Illidan after receiving the Orb of Kil'jaeden. But Illidan's servants had not been successful in destroying the boats. Maiev and the Watchers arrived on the Broken Isles shortly after Illidan, and the two forces battled across the watery terrain. Illidan reached the tomb, and Maiev was quick to follow. With Gul'dan's knowledge, Illidan quickly traversed the Tomb and came to the chamber which contained the Eye of Sargeras.

Maiev came upon him as he and Vashj were activating the powerful artifact, and, as vengeance for her imprisoning him for 10, years, Illidan used the Eye to bring the Tomb down around her, and then quickly escaped through the underwater passages used by the naga.

Though he killed Naisha and all the other Watchers within the Tomb, Maiev escaped with her magical abilities. On the surface, Illidan and Maiev battled for supremacy as the Warden sent out a runner to gather reinforcements from Ashenvale.

Malfurion and Tyrande arrived on the Broken Isles with reinforcements as Maiev's base was being overrun. When they struck back , Illidan's forces crumbled, but he and his retainers fled before they were seriously harmed. Tyrande pursued them out of the base, and Illidan ensnared her to protect himself, and then warned her not to interfere.

He fled across the sea once again. During this battle, Tyrande finally revealed why she had spurned Illidan: too drunk with his rising magical and political power, he had forgotten his own inner strength. Malfurion, despite his increases in power, held on to that strength within him. Armed with this knowledge, Illidan finally came to grips with his feelings. Illidan landed on the shore of Lordaeron , and quickly made his way through the Silverpine Forest to get to Dalaran , where Illidan began to use the Eye of Sargeras to break apart the polar ice cap and destroy Icecrown and the Frozen Throne.

But he was interrupted by Maiev and Malfurion, and the spell failed. Malfurion had felt Illidan's spell tearing the land apart and concluded that he was a danger to the world and had to be stopped. Illidan, who was entangled by his brother, called Malfurion a fool as he was destroying the Lich King , their common enemy. Malfurion was furious at him for causing the loss of Tyrande, who had been, according to Maiev, killed.

Illidan was heartbroken that the woman he loved was dead, but Prince Kael'thas , the night elves' newest ally, thought that perhaps it was premature to presume her dead. Kael'thas explained that Tyrande had not been "torn apart" by the undead, as Maiev had told Malfurion, but had instead fallen into a river and been swept away by the currents. Malfurion immediately arrested the Warden and promptly went in search of Tyrande.

Illidan begged to be allowed to help his brother track down the beloved priestess. Illidan and his personal guard of naga found Tyrande under heavy attack from a massive undead force.

Illidan and his naga battled their way through the undead until they reached her. Tyrande was taken aback by Illidan's service to her, and when he delivered her safely to Malfurion, she was astonished. Malfurion told Illidan he was free to go on the condition that he never threaten the night elves again.

Illidan, wishing for an end to the conflict with his brother, agreed. After Malfurion let him go, Illidan created a portal to Outland by using a small rift left behind from the portal Kel'Thuzad had used to summon Archimonde into Azeroth.

Now that he had failed to destroy Ner'zhul, he knew that Kil'jaeden's wrath would not spare him, so Illidan wanted to find a world where he could remain unmolested. He felt that Outland, the ruined remains of Draenor, was just such a place. Illidan was chased down on the shattered world until he was captured by Maiev and the Watchers, and imprisoned once again.

But he was saved by Kael'thas Sunstrider and Vashj. Illidan promised Kael a way sate his people's magical addiction and in return, Kael pledged his people's allegiance to him. Illidan accepted the allegiance of the blood elves , and made Kael his second-in-command. The Sin'dorei, coupled with the naga, would be very invaluable to his plans. Illidan continued his original plan - to rid Outland of demonic influence so that he could stay out of Kil'jaeden's grasp.

To do this, they laid siege to the Black Temple of Magtheridon , the Pit Lord who had taken control of the world. But first, Illidan systematically shut down his dimensional gates to stem the flow of reinforcements. Eventually, they succeeded. When they came to the Black Temple , Illidan was approached by Akama of the Broken , who pledged the allegiance of his race. Akama's broken felt indebted to Illidan and his army for aiding them in their fight against the fel orcs of Magtheridon, who had laid siege to their village with the intent of slaughtering them all.

They laid siege to the Black Temple and destroyed Magtheridon's defenses, and then defeated the Pit Lord in battle himself. Magtheridon noted wryly that Illidan had great power, and asked if the Legion had sent him as a test. Illidan laughed, saying that he was not a test, but a replacement, and imprisoned Magtheridon beneath Hellfire Citadel and kept sealed in place by the fel orc jailor Keli'dan the Breaker.

As Illidan rallied the forces of Outland under a new banner, a storm of fire and smoke descended upon the Black Temple, and Kil'jaeden appeared in all his unholy glory. The Burning Crusade Illidan kept the skull in his possession to train new demon hunters. As a baby, he was found amongst the bloody bodies of his murdered parents by Aedelas Blackmoore , commander of the internment camps which held orcs after the end of the Second War.

Blackmoore gave him the name Thrall, which was another word for "slave" in the human tongue. Once the greatest and most powerful of the Titans, Sargeras had been tasked with defending creation from the forces of chaos.

Type of Villain Sargeras is the creator and leader of the Burning Legion and is one of the main antagonists of the Warcraft franchise. He's a former member of the Pantheon and a mighty bronze titan until he was corrupted beyond redemption and became the Titans' worst enemy.

Unlike Azeroth, Draenor did not have a titan world-soul , which led to the distinct differences between the native elementals. Not even Draenor's elemental energies were safe from the Sporemounds. Why is illidan called the betrayer? Asked by: Ollie Dare. Why did Sargeras turn evil? Who killed Gul Dan? Who killed Sargeras? How did Illidan get blind? Is Maiev shadowsong dead? What happened to Illidan's eyes? What does Kaldorei mean? Is Illidan a hero or villain? How do I get Genji Illidan skin?

How old is Illidan?