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jadedmusingsI'm working on writing something about Blizzard's constant "fridging" of female characters in World of Warcraft, so I'm making a list. Some of these women are never seen on screen, but considering they are wives/mothers/daughters to important male NPCs in WoW's story, I felt they deserved acknowledgement. Plus, usually while the mothers (i.e. Liane Menethil) have no real part of the story, their husbands get to hang around and do important things or be important sources of development for their sons. Some mothers of important characters have never even been given names. Yes, men die in WoW, but often they die doing courageous things like self sacrifice (case in point: Rhonin in Tides of War) or die in battle protecting loved ones/homeland, not die passively while other things happen to them (such as childbirth).
I'll be adding to the list when I have time, and feel free to add more if you know of the names.
Liane Menethil - Arthas Menethil's mother. Fate is uknown, but Chris Metzen said she likely died before Third War during Blizzcon 2011 (according to Wowpedia). No discernable impact on Arthas's story.
Tiffin Wryn - Varian Wrynn's wife, Anduin Wrynn's mother. Killed by a stray rock thrown during Stonemason's Guild riot in Stormwind. Angst fertilizer for Varian and used to explain his overprotection of Andun Wrynn.
Elena Mograine - Darion and Renault Mograine's mother. Death due to complications from childbirth (Darion). Gives her husband Alexandros Mograine a tombstone to talk to in the first Ashbringer comic.
Leza Sunwalker - Dezco's Sunwalker's wife. Dies during childbirth in Krasarang Wilds questline. Twin sons survive. Dezco still compelled to go on with his healthy sons to find Vale of Eternal Blossoms (Leza's vision). Every time you encounter him after Krasarang, he's carrying his sons around and seems relatively fine for someone who just lost his wife, and doesn't really mention her again. (She's the proverbial straw that broke this camel's back and pushed me toward making this list.)
Kael'thas Sunstrider's mother is never named. Neither is Varian Wrynn's mother, though oddly enough we have a name for his grandmother.
Fandral Staghelm lost his unnamed mate during childbirth. She gave birth to a son, Valstann. Valstann dies during War of the Shifting Sands (surprisingly enough), but not before marrying Leyara and producing a daughter (Fandral's granddaughter, born after Valstann's death), Istaria. Valstann's death drives Fandral insane, and then Istaria is killed during a Horde attack on Ashenvale. Fandral, completely mad now, allies with Deathwing and Ragnaros and compels a dstraught Leyara to join the Druids of the Flame to seek vengeance against Malfurion Stormrage. Leyara is killed on the Molten Front by Malfurion Stormrage and Hammul Runetotem (oh, and the player).
Sylvanas Windrunner - I put this here because here is an example of an incredible woman and brilliant military strategist who pretty much single-handedly kept the orcish Horde from invading Quel'Thalas only to be brought down by Arthas Menethil when the Scourge marched on Quel'Thalas. Sylvanas, of course, was not only killed, but received the crueler torment of being made undead and a prisoner in her own body compelled to slaughter her own people by Arthas. While she later became a Horde leader of the Forsaken and played a major hand in the war against the Lich King and reclaiming Lordaeron for the Forsaken, some might argue her character development since then has been rather disappointing.
I'll be adding to the list when I have time, and feel free to add more if you know of the names.
Liane Menethil - Arthas Menethil's mother. Fate is uknown, but Chris Metzen said she likely died before Third War during Blizzcon 2011 (according to Wowpedia). No discernable impact on Arthas's story.
Tiffin Wryn - Varian Wrynn's wife, Anduin Wrynn's mother. Killed by a stray rock thrown during Stonemason's Guild riot in Stormwind. Angst fertilizer for Varian and used to explain his overprotection of Andun Wrynn.
Elena Mograine - Darion and Renault Mograine's mother. Death due to complications from childbirth (Darion). Gives her husband Alexandros Mograine a tombstone to talk to in the first Ashbringer comic.
Leza Sunwalker - Dezco's Sunwalker's wife. Dies during childbirth in Krasarang Wilds questline. Twin sons survive. Dezco still compelled to go on with his healthy sons to find Vale of Eternal Blossoms (Leza's vision). Every time you encounter him after Krasarang, he's carrying his sons around and seems relatively fine for someone who just lost his wife, and doesn't really mention her again. (She's the proverbial straw that broke this camel's back and pushed me toward making this list.)
Kael'thas Sunstrider's mother is never named. Neither is Varian Wrynn's mother, though oddly enough we have a name for his grandmother.
Fandral Staghelm lost his unnamed mate during childbirth. She gave birth to a son, Valstann. Valstann dies during War of the Shifting Sands (surprisingly enough), but not before marrying Leyara and producing a daughter (Fandral's granddaughter, born after Valstann's death), Istaria. Valstann's death drives Fandral insane, and then Istaria is killed during a Horde attack on Ashenvale. Fandral, completely mad now, allies with Deathwing and Ragnaros and compels a dstraught Leyara to join the Druids of the Flame to seek vengeance against Malfurion Stormrage. Leyara is killed on the Molten Front by Malfurion Stormrage and Hammul Runetotem (oh, and the player).
Sylvanas Windrunner - I put this here because here is an example of an incredible woman and brilliant military strategist who pretty much single-handedly kept the orcish Horde from invading Quel'Thalas only to be brought down by Arthas Menethil when the Scourge marched on Quel'Thalas. Sylvanas, of course, was not only killed, but received the crueler torment of being made undead and a prisoner in her own body compelled to slaughter her own people by Arthas. While she later became a Horde leader of the Forsaken and played a major hand in the war against the Lich King and reclaiming Lordaeron for the Forsaken, some might argue her character development since then has been rather disappointing.
