The mage is a bit like the scholar mentioned in the barrage, with a strong desire for knowledge about everything in the world.
If it comes further to their professional fields, the enthusiasm makes even Sarlayan breathtaking.
Cutting-edge scholars like Kel'Thuzad, who are dedicated to the pursuit of order, usually do not have any clear concepts of good and evil. As long as it is helpful to their pursuit of truth, anything can be brought to the bargaining table for negotiation.
Kel'Thuzad spent many years in the arcane path. After becoming an archmage with his powerful talent, he gradually realized that this path was not suitable for him and that he could not reach the end of the arcane path.
During the Second Orc War, Kel'Thuzad initially came into contact with the more advanced concept of death spells through his research on the orc death knights.
It was only then that he finally found the path that suited him best.
However, in Azeroth, a world dominated by the living, death spells are kept secret even in Dalaran, which prides itself on being academically open. It has even been demonized to a certain extent, and is listed as a forbidden research project along with fel energy.
However, to put it this way, the so-called taboos in Dalaran are nothing but nonsense to the Archmage, who is at the top of the mage hierarchy.
Almost every archmage Kel'Thuzad knew was secretly studying forbidden spells.
Some are evil, some are void, but death spells are the only ones that few people get involved in due to the instinctive rejection of the living.
Even if they did, from Kel'Thuzad's perspective, their achievements were very poor.
Through his authority as a Kirin Tor councilor, Kel'Thuzad searched through the records in the Dalaran library and discovered a secret left behind three thousand years ago.
Documents record the first lich in human history. He was a hero during the Troll War and one of the founders of the Council of Tirisfal.
This person's name is Meri Dongfeng.
It's a pity that even Dalaran did not preserve the ritual of Merry's transformation into a lich.
The research reached a deadlock, and Kel'Thuzad was very agitated for a time.
In the original history, it was in this anxious state of being unable to continue pursuing the truth that Kel'Thuzad was recruited by the Lich King.
Needless to say, Kel'Thuzad went to Northrend to join the Lich King without hesitation.
However, when he actually came into contact with the Lich Queen, Kel'Thuzad suddenly hesitated.
Because he found that the Lich King did not have a deep understanding of death spells. In essence, it was still the way the orcs used to create death knights.
In fact, this is normal. After all, Ner'zhul's death spell was learned from the Skull of Gul'dan, and it is exactly the same as Gul'dan's method.
Unfortunately, Kel'Thuzad, who had boarded the pirate ship, had no room to turn back and had no choice but to continue this path until dark.
Sarlayan, who intervened, came at the right time. He used the lich transformation ritual preserved in Quel'Thalas to get Kel'Thuzad to agree to his undead spy plan.
Afterwards, he used the Shadow Realm, the destination of all the dead, as a bait, deliberately whetting Kel'Thuzad's appetite to ensure that he would not betray him halfway.
What? The Lich King can also communicate with the Shadow Realm?
Ner'zhul knew nothing about the Shadow Realm. Under the deliberate guidance of the Dread Lord, this guy thought that his will was still free, but in fact, he had already become the pawn of Warden Zovar without realizing it.
Frostmourne, this magic sword said to be forged by the Dread Lord himself, was actually produced in the Shadow Realm and forged by the War Master controlled by the Warden.
In order to prevent Kel'Thuzad from believing the pie painted by Ner'zhul, Sharlayan told him some information about the Shadow Realm in advance, broadening Kel'Thuzad's horizons.
After obtaining a large amount of information about the Shadow Realm, when you look back, you will find that the so-called Lich King is nothing more than a pawn in the hands of others.
As for who was behind the Scourge, Kel'Thuzad didn't care at all. The Warden, the Deceiver or Sharlayan made no difference to him. All he cared about was the truth he pursued.
After officially breaking away from Daala, Kel'Thuzad, who had been busy with government affairs, was finally liberated and went on a global trip at the drop of a hat.
During this trip, Kel'Thuzad gained a lot of knowledge and truly realized Sharlayan's strong connections throughout Azeroth.
From the night elves who occupy most of Kalimdor, to the tauren who live in Mulgore to recuperate, to the Tol'vir in Uldum at the southernmost tip of the continent.
Kel'Thuzad could hear rumors about Sharlayan's adventuring party wherever he went, which further strengthened his idea of ​​maintaining a long-term cooperation with Sharlayan.
Being able to leave his influence all over the world like a social butterfly shows the hidden energy that Sarlayan holds in his hands.
Kel'Thuzad boldly guessed that if Sharlayan and Quel'Thalas had a falling out one day, with the power he secretly controlled, he might be able to form a new country.
Further speculation is that if Sharlayan has that idea, he may even hope to usurp the throne of Quel'Thalas.
Of course, Kel'Thuzad, who was once a member of the Kirin Tor, was very aware of the friendship between Sarlayan and Kael'thas, and also learned about Thalayan's character from a side perspective through this trip.
As long as Kael'thas is alive, Sharlayan will never seek to usurp the throne, but...
Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?
As the barrage said half-jokingly, the death rate of kings in Azeroth has always been high. No one can guarantee whether Kael'thas will be lucky enough to get rid of this curse in countless crises in the future.
.
Walking on the snowy plains of Dragonblight, Kel'Thuzad's mind was constantly working as he moved his legs mechanically.
After actually receiving the Lich King's persuasion, he thought back a lot and considered a lot.
Thanks to Sharlayan's early vaccination, Kel'Thuzad only received disappointment in his communication with the Lich King.
Ner'zhul's understanding of the nature of the power of death is relatively shallow, and he is completely unworthy of his title of Lich King.
Lich King, as the name suggests, means the Lich King.
After some communication and testing, Kel'Thuzad looked down upon Ner'zhul, who claimed to be the Lich King.
From a pure power perspective, the Lich King's spiritual power is indeed very powerful, far superior to Kel'Thuzad, but that's all.
For a scholar-mage like Kel'Thuzad, combat prowess is by no means the main factor in measuring personal worth.
Feeling this, Kel'Thuzad determined his plan to infiltrate the Scourge and serve as a spy. He deliberately moved his lips when talking to the Lich King, conveying hints to some people who were monitoring him in the dark.
On the surface, Kel'Thuzad was very excited and took the initiative to express his desire to follow the Lich King to learn more advanced death spells, satisfying the miserable vanity of Ner'zhul, who had failed in his life.
Kel'Thuzad, who had been transformed into a lich, could not feel the severe cold of the snowfield. He changed his original plan to go to the Grizzly Hills and turned north, planning to use the Crystalsong Forest to reach Icecrown Glacier.
Kel'Thuzad believed that Sharlayan would appear before he left the confines of Crystalsong Forest.
However, in order to avoid arousing unnecessary suspicion from Ner'zhul, Sarlayan would not blatantly interview Kel'Thuzad who was in the inspection period. At most, he would say hello secretly.
After exchanging information with Malygos, Sharlayan did not bring with him Onyxia, who was still having a quarrel with Talygosa, nor Tinagosa, who was coquettishly courting her grandfather.
With the help of Spellweaver Malygos, he teleported directly to the outside of New Shandalar in Crystalsong Forest.
If it weren't for the influence of the city's barrier, Malygos could even accurately send him to any coordinate in the city.
Today, Thalayan has become a Marquis and holds a pivotal position in the noble circle of Quel'Thalas.
In order to avoid attracting unnecessary attention when entering the city, Sarlayan did not plan to enter New Shandalar to say hello to the local lords, but instead stayed silently on the only road from Crystalsong Forest to Icecrown Glacier.
After several years of development, the scale of New Shandara City is still expanding, and the people who immigrated from the mainland have gradually adapted to the life of this new city in the North.
The day after Sarlayan arrived in Crystalsong Forest, a traveler wearing a gray hood appeared in his sight.
Icecrown Glacier is a shabby place. The severe cold climate makes it unsuitable for most mortal races to survive, and the high elves are no exception.
Therefore, few people passed by in the direction leading to the Icecap Glacier. Through the familiar magic power fluctuations, Sarlayan quickly recognized the true identity of this hidden traveler.