Anasterian Sunstrider
From WoWWiki
 King Anasterian Sunstrider
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| Gender | Male
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| Race | High elf |
| Character class | Unknown, Presumely Warrior or Mage |
| Affiliation | |
| Occupation | King of Quel'Thalas |
| Location | Unknown
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| Status | Killed by Arthas |
| Relative(s) | Dath'Remar Sunstrider (ancestor), Kael'thas Sunstrider (son) |
Anasterian Sunstrider was the last high elven king of Quel'Thalas. His reign, which lasted at least three thousand years, was marked by several conflicts that threatened the continued existence of Quel'Thalas - ending with its destruction at the hands of the evil Prince Arthas Menethil.
Reigning during the Troll Wars against the resurgent Amani Empire, Anasterian saw that his people were hard-pressed to keep the forest trolls at bay and were perilously close to defeat. In desperation, Anasterian turned to his southern neighbors, the humans of Arathor. In exchange for aid against the Amani, the elves offered to teach the humans magic. With their combined forces, Quel'Thalas and Arathor shattered the Amani Empire, a defeat from which they have never been able to fully recover.[1] After the Troll Wars, Anasterian pledged the eternal support of the elves to the Arathi, the bloodline of King Thoradin, in gratitude for their salvation.
During the Second War, he reluctantly joined the Alliance of Lordaeron, honor-bound to fulfill the pledge to the Arathi, of whom Lord Anduin Lothar was the last. Anasterian was forced to contribute more of Quel'Thalas's armies when the outer forests were attacked by the Horde. Following the war and the destruction of Quel'Thalas's borderlands, he withdrew his nation from the Alliance, citing poor leadership on the humans' part that led to the burning of Quel'Thalas's forests.
Still reigning over Quel'Thalas at the time of the Third War, despite his advanced age, Anasterian battled alongside the Convocation of Silvermoon when the corrupted Prince Arthas invaded Quel'Thalas with the undead armies of the Scourge, but even his unyielding will and extraordinary powers proved insufficient against the merciless death knight. He fell in battle against the dark prince vainly attempting to defend the Sunwell Isle from the Scourge.
Anasterian was the father of Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, who survived the fall of Quel'Thalas and indeed the entire Third War. His skull, which was taken to Outland by the blood elves under his son's leadership, is believed to be a required component for the dragons in their effort to restore powers of the Sunwell.LoC 115
Quotes
- "Outrageous! They dare to invade our home? They dare! We shall teach them to trespass here! Gather our warriors. Summon our rangers. We will attack the trolls and drive them from our forest so sternly they shall never dare encroach again." — in response to the Horde-aided troll invasion of Quel'Thalas
- Blood elves occasionally shout "For Anasterian!" when they /charge into battle.
| Preceded by: Earliest known: Dath'Remar Sunstrider | Position: King of Quel'Thalas | Succeeded by: Kael'thas Sunstrider (Lord of the Blood Elves); Lor'themar Theron (Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas) |
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