Terenas II

Biodata

History

War and imperial ambitions

Terenas ruled Lordaeron, the strongest northern human kingdom. During the Orc War, he considered joining the southern Alliance but refused to accept a place in it as an ordinary member state. As the Horde threatened the north, he ordered an attack at all costs and later clashed with the Alliance over the division of the defeated Horde's forces 70 88 90.

After the war, Terenas sought to recreate the unified human dominion of the Arathor Empire. He saw weakened Gilneas and Stromgarde, along with the treasonous Alterac, as opportunities for expansion. When Lord Dar'val Prysto claimed Alterac's throne, Terenas backed him and planned to annex the kingdom through Prysto's marriage to his daughter, Calia. Prysto was an avatar of Deathwing, a fact Terenas did not know when he arranged the match 91 106 191.

Northern Alliance and Lordaeron's fall

Seeking arms without relying on the southern Alliance, Terenas secured a long-term deal with the Heklar Consortium despite its exorbitant prices. Lordaeron then led the newly established Northern Kingdoms Alliance, intended to check southern expansion. Terenas sought the Titan Hu Feng's neutrality through gifts, unaware that Hu Feng had orchestrated the southern Alliance 103 104.

Prysto's actions drew Lordaeron into war with Alterac. Terenas, believing Prysto had used Lordaeron to secure a throne for himself, remained determined to defeat him even as Lordaeron suffered and the Northern Alliance began to fracture 146.

Terenas took pride in Arthas's training as a Paladin under Uther and welcomed his closeness with Jaina Proudmoore, seeing a potential marriage as a way to strengthen Lordaeron's navy. When Arthas later returned to Lordaeron to public acclaim, Terenas awaited him in the throne room. Under Frostmourne's influence, Arthas stabbed and killed his father there 98 154.

Personality

• Proud and ambitious — Terenas wanted Lordaeron to lead a renewed human empire and resisted any arrangement that diminished its standing 70 91.
• Politically calculating — He pursued annexation through Prysto's claim and a marriage alliance, then built a northern coalition to counter the south 91 104.
• Devoted to Arthas — He was pleased by his son's progress as a Paladin and greeted his return with affection and pride 98 154.

Relationships

• Arthas Menethil — Son and intended successor; Arthas killed him with Frostmourne 98 154.
• Calia Menethil — Daughter; Terenas arranged her engagement to Prysto as part of his plan for Alterac. After his death, she became Lordaeron's last surviving royal and led its restoration 106 191.
• Lord Dar'val Prysto — Alterac claimant whom Terenas supported, unaware that he was an avatar of Deathwing 91 191.
• Heklar — Arms dealer whose consortium secured an expensive, long-term contract with Lordaeron 103 104.
• Hu Feng — Titan whose neutrality Terenas sought while organizing the Northern Kingdoms Alliance 104.