Of all the characters who were offed in the Broken Shore, Fordring’s death probably hurt me the most. Also I’m not generally appalled by necromantic shenanigans (can’t a guy just raise a family in peace?) but my reaction to learning of the KotEB’s attack on Light’s Hope was;
“You marauders are without decorum! This man, more than any, has earned his rest, Light damnit!”
Now this might sound odd coming from me - who typically prefers this sort of vibe;
But I’m a sucker for a good noble hero story. I love Batman more for his rogue’s gallery (my favorite is Scarecrow). But I love Superman because he’s the hero’s hero.
“Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us into something better. And on my soul, I swear that until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice are the reality we all share, I’ll never stop fighting. Ever!”
I’m not made of stone. Thats inspiring af and I wish I had that sort of optimism and energy. A proper noble hero story if well told should make you want to be a better person.
And for me at least the tale of Tirion Fordring hits that mark. He’s the only Paladin in game who really sacrificed for his beliefs.
Sure Turaylon decided to go join the Citrus Crusade but tbh playing co-op Doom with my hot goth wife in space really doesn’t sound like a sacrifice. Yeah being estranged from their son must’ve hurt but he’s a half elf so it’s not like it’s some Interstellar scenario where they came back to find him on his death bed, having missed their son’s whole life. He’s fine. Still pretty young by elf standards actually. At most missed his early 20s. That’s sad but not tragic.
Fordring on the otherhand sacrificed just as much as any Demon Hunter, and not for power or vengeance. No, he gave it all away for truth and justice;
If you don’t know Tirion Fordring spent most of his life serving others. He fought for Lordaeron since he was old enough to enlist. Was knighted for bravery. Found faith in the Light and later became one of the first Paladins blessed by Alonsos Faol himself.
He continued to dutifully serve throughout the Second War as a genuine Hammer of Justice. By the end of it all he was already getting toward middle age. For his tireless defense of the realm he was granted governorship of Hearthglen where he lived a respectable and comfortable life as a noble statesman.
A happy ending earned by a life well lived in service to his fellow man. Or it would’ve been, had he not encountered an Orc one day in Lordaeron.
I speak of course of Etrigg. They battle ferociously. Their duel leads them to an old tower that collapses from the force of their melee. Fordring is knocked out by a chunk of it and rendered helpless.
He awakes in his bed days later and quickly pieces together that the Orc probably saved his life. He can’t know for sure of course, he was knocked tf out. Maybe the Orc died too and a passing peasant pulled him out and strapped him to his horse.
Either way Tirion is nothing but a class act, and knows he owes somebody a debt of gratitude, so he goes to find whoever he has to thank. Which of course is Etrigg. There the two old foes talk, and Fordring learns of the Orc’s complicated history.
This is an important heroic quality. A lesser man might’ve scoffed at the idea something he has every reason to believe is a monster acted honorably. But not Tirion. He has the thought;
“What if The Other isn’t actually all that otherworldly afterall?”
And rather than waving it away he goes to find out, even though there is the distinct possibility this Orc could best him for good. But that’s not the case. He sees Etrigg for what he is; an honorable man. An old soldier like Tirion who just wants to live in peace.
Tirion swears he’ll keep his existence quiet and returns to tell everyone that Orc isn’t a threat anymore. Which isn’t a lie, Etrigg will finish a fight but he’s thoroughly disinterested in picking one.
But other Paladins decide to double check and find Etrigg. Tirion actually gets in a fight with humans to save this Orc. He’s not going to let them kill him. How could he? Etrigg’s only crime is looking different.
So he’s arrested and tried for treason. Everyone begs him to lie. To tell the court what it wants to hear.
But no. Tirion won’t do that. This is a great example of true Lawful Good. He’s bound not to the laws of man but a higher moral code. This is important. Because never in the history of mankind has the word legal and good been completely synymous. They only ever are circumstantially and incidentally.
So of course Tirion tells the truth. And he is stripped of his titles, excommunicated from the Light and banished from his own homeland.
No good deed, am I right?
Well that’s a lot to deal with. Tirion would be forgiven for slipping into a depression and just taking some me time as he now figures out what to do in exile.
But this is duck mothering Tirion Fordring we’re talking about. The man will not give up in the face of injustice. So he doubles back and busts into Stratholme to spring his Orc buddy out of jail. He’s not letting this guy get executed for the crime of being the wrong race.
He succeeds but Etrigg is gravely wounded. He’s been excommunicated so he doubt it’ll work, but there’s nothing else to do so he tries to heal him with the Light.
It works. Because of course it does. Tirion has done nothing but walk in the Light. Authority never gets to decide what’s good. Merely what’s legal. And Tirion may be a fugitive from the law but certainly not from justice. He’s been it’s most tireless agent.
Of course they are then surrounded by Orcs led by this new upstart Warchief named Thrall.
Perhaps good deeds go unrewarded. But a good deed is not motivated by a reward. And while you may end up suffering for one, every once in awhile, a selfless act of kindness inspires more in turn.
His kindness taught the Orcs a lesson his human compatriots failed to accept. I guess these other guys aren’t so different, and can be worthy of trust and friendship.
So from there he goes full Obi Wan. Watching his son from afar. His wife tells everybody he’s dead and they even make a fake grave for him. He’s essentially a ghost, shadowing his homeland, living the life of a hermit.
Then things get worse.
And pretty much continue on a downward spiral. He does go back to running Hearthglen and it seems like a bittersweet ending but then a big demon shoots a death star laser at him and throws him into lava.
Yeah that uh. Seems a little needlessly mean. And should’ve warned us ahead of time this story team was more interested in shocking than storytelling. Ah maybe it’s better they offed him before they made him do a genocide because a passing street magician guessed his weight or w/e.
But still Tirion Fordring stands out as one of the better written characters in WoW and the best Paladin and Human character imho.
What sets him apart from say Anduin is that he’s not some bright eyed kid who believes in a better world. No he’s an old soldier who’s seen how cruel the world is. He’s merciful in defiance of a merciless world. His adherence to justice catches him L after L after L but he never relents. He never stops fighting for a better world. He’s never too tired to stare down reckless hatred or sadistic madness. He’s always right and always good but it costs him, eventually, everything. But that’s what a true hero will do. Indeed what they must do; walk the path of Light, no matter the cost, for it will help lead others out of the hungering dark.
I really don’t have a broader point here I just adore this character so much and felt like writing a love letter. Yes I don’t have anything better to do. But if you made it this far, thanks for reading.
