How to Roleplay as a Forsaken

An abbreviated history of the Forsaken

In the prelude to the Third War, the Plague was propagated by the Scourge across the mighty human kingdom of Lordaeron, turning Lordaeron's citizens into mindless undead controlled by the Lich King. Lordaeron fell to the Scourge, but, in the aftermath of the Third War, as the Lich King's power was threatened and had to be refocused away from Lordaeron, a small group of undead, led by Sylvanas Windrunner, were able to break away from the Lich King's control, forming an independent faction that Sylvanas named the Forsaken.

Retaking part of the lands they had inhabited in life, the Forsaken forged a hasty pact with the Horde in order to protect themselves from the Scourge and the Alliance. Since, they have turned their attention toward undermining the Lich King in Northrend and devising a new Plague which will destroy him.

Their place in the Horde

The Forsaken are virtual pariahs in the Horde, having sworn fealty to Thrall out of need for protection, and being accepted only because they are similarly needed by the Horde. The only close allies they have within the Horde are the Blood Elves, who pursue a similarly morally ambiguous course, do not share the reverent attitude toward nature or the Light displayed by other Horde races, and who also saw their homelands decimated by the Scourge. However, the Forsaken are respected among the Horde for their cunning, their tenacity, and their skill in alchemy.

Forsaken culture

Forsaken iconography is heavily themed around death. Skulls are commonly displayed on Forsaken structures such as their catapults. Forsaken often feel a strong sense of reverence or nostalgia toward their former lives as Lordaeronian citizens, and it is not uncommon to see the L-sigil of Lordaeron displayed at their gates, particularly in the lands formerly controlled by the kingdom.

There is very little original Forsaken architecture displayed in Kalimdor of the Eastern Kingdoms, where they usually inhabit structures inherited from humans or the Scourge (as in Undercity). In Northrend, however, there are several towns designed by Forsaken architects displaying a stark gothic flare, with dark, spindly eaves, sharply-sloped roofs, and so forth.

The native Forsaken language, called Gutterspeak, is essentially a degenerated form of Common, and has much the same verbal cadence. Forsaken are unable to speak Common in-game for gameplay reasons (i.e.- Almost anytime the Horde and Alliance can communicate with one another, the communication consists almost entirely of insults and obscenities) and the lore justification for this is that, in the process of dying and being risen, Forsaken have forgotten their former tongue, or they disdain to speak it as it now belongs to the Alliance.

Idiomatic Forsaken expressions include, "Power to the Forsaken," "May darkness guide you," and "May the Dark Lady (Sylvanas Windrunner) watch over you."

Relationships between the Forsaken and other groups

The Blood Elves and the Forsaken share a close bond around their mutual history of tragedy caused by the Scourge. Both apply an ends-justify-the-means attitude to their fight against the Scourge, and are potentially willing to sell their Horde allies out in order to defeat the Lich King. Neither the Blood Elves nor the Forsaken share taboos against usage of fel magic. Forsaken are at home in Blood Elven lands, as are Blood Elves in Forsaken lands.

The Scarlet Crusade despises the Forsaken almost as much as the Forsaken despise the Scourge. The Crusade has set up camp close to the Forsaken heartlands and, believing that one undead is as bad as another, struck out with all their resources to destroy them. The Forsaken believe that the Scarlet Crusade are insane, hypocritical, and sanctimonious.

Notable Forsaken individuals

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner is the most well-known Forsaken. Once ranger-general of Silvermoon, capital of the High Elves, she was murdered and revived as a slave in an act of revenge by Arthas. Her intelligence and patience are unparalleled, as is her dedication to the destruction of the Scourge. It is her dedication that has freed the majority of the Forsaken, and has forged the fruitful pact between the Forsaken and the Horde.

Grand Apothecary Putress is a radical Forsaken alchemist who, in a crazed attempt to expediate the dominion of the Forsaken over Azeroth, attempted a coup of the Forsaken while launching attacks with a plagued cocktail which he hoped would spread undeath to the Forsaken's enemies and allies alike. Putress died in this atempt.

Varimathras the demon is Sylvanas's grand vizier. Culled from the defeated remnants of the Burning Legion in Azeroth, he served under her for years before being unmasked as traitorous during Putress's attempted coup. Varimathras died alongside Putress.

Master Apothecary Faranell serves as administrator of Sylvanas's Royal Apothecary Society, the organization whose primary mission is to create a new Plague with which to destroy the Scourge.

Typical Forsaken attitudes

The Forsaken are a notably jaded race, harboring little romanticism or reverence for anything. Most grand forces, such as the spirits of nature or the Holy Light, are, to them, tools to be used.

Attitudes among the Forsaken toward their former lives vary. Some remember their living days wistfully, hoping that some day the curse of undeath will be reversed. Others are unable to remember their old lives at all, and yet others disdain their former lives, accepting their undead existence as more meaningful. Some may retain their old names, while others make up new names or take names from headstones or other sources.

Many Forsaken are highly jingoistic. They owe the freedom of their minds to Sylvanas, and are ultimately loyal to her.