Is there any "good guy" Warlocks?

This is basically the premise of the Shadow Council. Powerful demons affiliated with the Burning Legion are in charge and they bestow power upon promising mortals who sacrifice souls as pacts.

(See Shadow Lord Fel’dan in this example: https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Shadow_Lord_Fel%27dan)

Gayagenda (can’t believe you made me type that) above also names some proper examples and raises a good point. However, much lore from Vanilla and TBC has since been retconned and is best viewed with a little scepticism.

Overall, I believe that only powerful demons have knowledge or power to bestow. Mannoroth’s blood empowered the orcs because Kil’jaeden wanted his army. Varimathras plot to take over the Undercity and do whatever Legion magic he was up involved recruiting Grand Apothecary Putress as his underling.

In extremer cases, we see mortal races empowered so by their demonic masters that it alters their form.

  • Fel Orcs get a red skin in TBC, but in WoD we see orcs twisted so that bone-like spikes grow from their flesh, horns can grow from their head and their hands are sometimes turned into blackened claws due to the fel energies.
  • Draenei aka Eredar get either a red skin or dark skin, their horns twist and fel energies can be seen piercing their skin and blackening their hands. Some Eredar are shown to have wings.
  • Blood Elves can be seen growing horns, demonic tattoos and teensy little wings. We also see some fel-gobbling Wretched.
  • Highborne/Kaldorei/Nightborne/Naga Generally they gain hands glowing with fel energies. There is a risk they may grow even more smug.

Usually, a character bestowed a great deal of demonic energy causes their skin to crack, alter their eyes (red/green/Voidish), sometimes grow horns, hooves and wings. Another side effect of being ‘gifted’ to the brim is an increase in size. This being especially true for the orcs and Eredar. I didn’t include demon hunters because if you took the time reading through this forum there’s a good chance you know what they are.

In unique examples, creatures are twisted altogether. We see Gul’dan transform into a massive, hulking brute during the fight atop of the Nightwell. Teron’gor becomes a bloated abomination (basically a big mouth) after gorging on souls in Auchindon. Xavius was given an entirely new body by Sargeras himself, giving rise to the first Satyr.

I personally think this is done to signify their level of corruption and to make them stand out to the player. Or maybe just for the cool factor.

I will also touch upon another ‘blessing’ demonic powers can bestow. Reanimation and undeath. We are given a spare few examples:

  • Kael’thas Sunstrides is resurrected by the Shivarra Delrissa. We don’t know how exactly, but it’s probably got something to do with that big stone sticking out of his chest. Merely a setback, surely.
  • Madrigosa aka Felmyst, a blue dragon whose bones are reanimated after the blood from the Pit Lord Brutallus seeps from his corpse into the ground beneath her.
  • Soulstones, an ability granted to the player. We see in the most recent warlock quests that this can tether a soul and reanimate someone. We aren’t really told how it works and generally I see it much like how Whitemane had the ability to resurrect the Scarlet Crusaders back in the day. It just works.
  • The Risen, former Scarlet Crusaders in Stratholme (and likely in Tyr’s Hand) who were killed and reanimated by the dreadlord Balnazzar. This is probably just necromancy, but since this is pre-Shadowlands lore and it involves a demon raising the dead it is something to keep in mind.

Overall, I believe we simply aren’t given enough details on how reanimation by fel works specifically. It may just be a leftover from the era where Blizzard hadn’t decided what direction to take. It could be done, but give it some proper thought and let it remain a rarity.

In conclusion:
Yes, there are demons who may consider generously adopting a mortal for their own needs. Especially since the Burning Legion suffered a heavy blow at the conclusion of the Legion expansion and there may be a struggle for power. I think this needs to be a potentially powerful demon and the mortal needs to be useful (up to a point, anyhow).

Unlike in DnD where I believe pacts are generally a two-way trade, the Warcraft demons are ultimately just as self-serving as many warlocks and your warlock will end up a servant themselves. No wise demon would grant a mortal any power that can be used against them.

Lesser demons will likely just try to eat your face and are best kept on a leash. Though they could try to deceive your warlock, which may well make for some fun RP!

As I was writing this, there have been some replies to this thread and what is brought up may overlap with the above points.

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Just a quick drive-by again since the vast majority of my thoughts have already been articulated by yourself and others, but Delrissa is capable of using holy magic so that probably played a part in it.

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With this i think its mainly that in the older lore, the Nathrezim are the original inventors of Necromancy. The orcs learned it from them, and the scourge also got it from them.

Its obviously changed since however.

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Yea, I see the point that Warcraft demons are self serving. Then the nonsense questline happened, and while it is a bit nonsense, demons, who may try to be “better” are canon now, I guess you could get better deal with those as warlock, searching for knowledge and power.

An important detail that’s overlooked is that the few Eredar that do a face turn still recognize that what they’ve done is inexcusable and unforgivable, so, even if it’s demons acting against their own past, they still recognize the fact that said past exists.

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That I do not deny as that was pretty much the only good thing on that entire questline.

We must, however, draw the line between the Man’ari and many other demons. Man’ari have, at one point, been mortal. A lot of demons are beings formed of pure chaos and malice.
I also think we should doubt these man’ari who wants to make it up to the Draenei. I think they’re egotistical, manipulative creatures who lost the war, and now wants a transfer to the winning side.

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While this is a nice concept, I don’t think they would be used to give us customisations if that would be the case. They are pretty much genuine and I think we will see more of them in Draenei heritage.

That’s great meta knowledge, but I don’t think a single sane character with a better memory than a goldfish would make this assumption.

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I don’t disagree, I am talking OOCly here. All my active characters wouldn’t even imagine trusting a demon. Somewhat different would be if I would start this one, which I am not against but currently have not time, nor I haven’t found any place for her. But trying to convince the others “pls trust me” and actually being genuine seems fun XD

As it should be for Man’ari who don’t want to shack up with Burning Legion guilds.

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Me, i’m that guy.

This makes sense. Would make the most sense.

But then again, the new Blizzard is a lot about second chances, healing, and looking past mistakes of old, so I doubt this is their intention.

(How they handwave and forgive a genocidal factions is always consistent however)

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“You underestimate my power.” - Velen

Man forgot he had a son until he was half-liquified at his hooves, so he’s still very much in the memory of a goldfish club

He’s basically a strong contender for the title of Azeroth’s worst prophet along with Zul.

While true, he is also the guiding star that Draenei society generally follow. They’re evidently a dead prophet away from resorting to Deus Vult type brutality and conquest, as per that episode on “What If?” related to Draenor.

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