When it came to the Barov family, Taelan Fordring had plenty to say. Their fortunes had been full of twists and turns, a story of unfair treatment, stubborn resistance, clever plotting, and foolish choices.
The most famous members of the family were the three beauties of Scholomance: Illucia Barov, Jandice Barov, and the lecturer and soul expert Maricia! Of course, many people got the mother and daughter mixed up. In fact, Illucia Barov was the mother, and she was Alex Barov's wife!
The Barov family's fate had been sealed back during the Second War. They lacked the strength to defend themselves, yet controlled nearly a third of the land around Lordaeron. That alone was Original Sin! And they were up against Terenas Menethil, a seasoned and calculating politician.
Why were they all called calculating nobles? Let's take a look at the management of Scholomance Limited. The company was founded on the Barov family's desire to take revenge on House Menethil and find a new path forward, along with their longing for immortality. Kel'Thuzad's goal was to spread the plague. The company consisted of three factions:
The first was the Barov family. They provided the money and the means of production. Its members included Alex Barov, Illucia Barov, Jandice Barov, and a number of experimental subjects who barely counted as human.
The second was Kel'Thuzad's Cult of the Damned. Its members included the Herald, the Butcher, other Scholomance students, and a number of nobles whose heads had been turned by the promise of immortality. That's right, Lordaeron's nobles were involved in the Cult of the Damned's activities, including the Black Widow Faerlina in Naxxramas and the necromancer Noth!
The third was Gandling's faction. Its members included Lecturer Maricia and Ras Frostwhisper—Ras Frostwhisper in human form, of course.
Just look at how the assets were divided. The Barovs supplied the money and the premises, making them the capital investors. Kel'Thuzad was the honorary chairman, contributing people and technology, while Gandling was the CTO, responsible for day-to-day management. You could see that Old Barov was quite the investment genius! He thought he had the whole thing under control, with three votes in his family's hands. During the dungeon run, Darkmaster Gandling only came out to restore order in the classroom after Alex Barov and his entire family had been killed. We can say that Gandling must have been close to the Barovs, and that he and Ras Frostwhisper may have received financial support from them. Although the Barovs ended up losing everything, and immortality turned out to be a lie, Kel'Thuzad did technically keep his promise. After all, once you've died, you can't die again!
Kel'Thuzad was the most ruthless swindler of all. Others just cheated people out of their money and took the profits. He wanted the profits too, but he was after the principal from the very start!
Something about this arrangement seemed off. What about the Barovs' two sons? Everyone knew that the family had two sons left, and the one who came to welcome them today was Weldon Barov, who would later join the Alliance. Neither son joined Scholomance. Later, one would side with the Alliance and the other with the Horde!
People had heard of climbing the ranks, making a fortune, and trading in one's wife, but never of climbing the ranks, making a fortune, and losing one's sons! Yet neither of the Barov boys had a place in the management of this grand company. That was the wisdom of the great noble families: never put all your eggs in one basket! The brothers stayed out of it, later joining the Alliance and the Horde respectively, while Jandice Barov became the sacrificial lamb!
There was no such thing as luck here, nor could you say that Jandice had been chosen because of her magical talent. Old Barov wasn't a fool. He simply lacked the knowledge to understand how terrifying the thing he was facing really was! To sum it up in one sentence: you just don't understand!
Jandice Barov was the eldest daughter, already thirteen years old—practically a young woman in this world. She was already a magic apprentice in Dalaran. Her later studies in Necromancy, along with her particular talent for illusions, showed that she truly had magical gifts. The card effect she had in Hearthstone was to summon two 5-cost illusions. Taelan was lucky enough to get the golden legendary!
The Barov family gave them a warm welcome as Tirion Fordring and Daelin entered the lavishly decorated Barov Manor with their families and children.
As Taelan Fordring looked at the splendid hall, he couldn't help thinking that this was how nobles lived. Even in Archmage Krasus's reception room, he had never seen such extravagance. To be fair, beautiful houses and expensive furniture weren't worth all that much. The truly precious things might be a painting on the wall or an inconspicuous little ornament. Those were what reflected the family's heritage and taste! Alex Barov personally led the group to the reception room and showed them to their seats.
While the adults exchanged pleasantries, Solarian, Taelan Fordring's private tutor, who had remained silent until then, suddenly leaned close and whispered in his ear, "Someone we know was here just recently."
When Taelan Fordring heard the words "someone we know," he immediately understood. This was a world of swords and magic. Every spellcaster had a unique magical signature. Mages had always looked down on Warriors, Rogues, and even Paladins who relied on their physical bodies. Though they too wielded great power, in the real world, mages knew Occultism and far more besides. Killing them was easy!
Hearing Solarian mention someone familiar, he immediately focused and activated Energy Perception. At once, he sensed a powerful trace of residual magic, left behind by a powerful spellcaster who had just departed. Taelan Fordring immediately thought of someone. The beautiful Illucia Barov was right there, so it obviously wasn't her, and Jandice Barov was still a magic apprentice. Since Solarian had called the person an acquaintance, Taelan Fordring immediately thought of Dalaran's Archmage Kel'Thuzad!
Kel'Thuzad still belonged to Dalaran, so Solarian must have met him. When Taelan had seen him, he hadn't yet awakened Energy Perception, so he wouldn't have remembered Kel'Thuzad's magical signature. And during the Third War, Kel'Thuzad would join forces with the Barovs to establish Scholomance! They couldn't have only just met then. Kel'Thuzad must have known about the Barov family's predicament and their hatred of House Menethil. Had he already crossed paths with the Barovs this early?
Thinking it over, it wasn't strange. Magic was a profession that could make you a lot of money, but it also cost a lot. Casting spells wasn't like Taelan Fordring's use of the Holy Light, which he could produce within himself and wield however he wanted. Powerful spells required not only incantations but also spell components or magical equipment! Without financial support, how could anyone afford to practice magic? Archmages were bound to have their own businesses and patrons!
The desperate Barovs and Kel'Thuzad must have chosen each other. What reassured Taelan Fordring was that three legendary heroes were at his side. Even the great Lich Kel'Thuzad, empowered by the Sunwell, wouldn't necessarily have the upper hand! Kel'Thuzad hadn't yet gone to Northrend, so he probably wouldn't do anything to them.
As Taelan Fordring concentrated on his thoughts and focused his Energy Perception, a hand reached out from beside him and tugged at him. He knew it was Jaina, because she had appeared in his field of perception too. Jaina had connected with the Elemental Plane, and the elementals' power had begun strengthening her body. In other words, she had awakened! She was now a low-level magic apprentice.
He glanced at Jaina, and she immediately said, "Sir Alex Barov is asking when you'll be going to Dalaran to study!"
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