The second chapter of Rise of the Lich King, "The Claiming of Frostmourne," is now available. Learn how Prince Arthas Menethil, son of King Terenas, heir to the throne, and a paladin of the Silver Hand, was corrupted by the runeblade Frostmourne and turned into the Lich King?s most formidable death knight.
Chapter 2: The Claiming of Frostmourne
The archmage Antonidas suspected that the undead plague was magical in origin, and so he sent the sorceress Jaina Proudmoore to the northlands to investigate. With her went Prince Arthas Menethil, only son of King Terenas. Jaina and Arthas tracked down and killed the Lich King´s servant, Kel´Thuzad, but the necromancer´s death failed to halt the rise of the Scourge. As the battle against the undead wore on, the prince´s faith and patience began to wane.
Joined by the legendary paladin Uther the Lightbringer, Arthas and Jaina nevertheless arrived at the gates of Stratholme too late to stop the distribution of plague-ridden grain. Arthas realized that the innocent villagers would inevitably join the growing ranks of undead. He ordered Uther to purge the town and slaughter the civilians before they could become minions of the Scourge. When Uther refused, Arthas accused the veteran knight of treason and disbanded the Order of the Silver Hand. Uther and most of his remaining cavalry left the village in disgust, and Jaina, horrified by Arthas´ decision, abandoned the prince as well.
Despite the loss of his supporting forces, Arthas carried out his plan, putting the city´s innocents to the blade and burning every remaining structure to the ground. Something in Arthas snapped that day, and as he walked away from Stratholme, he left much of his humanity in the flaming ruins
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