Swiped from the Sentinels forums for posterity.
Welcome to an installment of The Trogg’s Guide to Roleplaying, this time focusing on the Forsaken.
Do you embrace death, or at least laugh in it’s face, instead of fearing it? Do you have trouble keeping yourself together, expecially your limbs? Are you stereotypically into goth and heavy metal? The Forsaken may be the race for you! But before you rush head long into becoming a member of the living dead, you may want to review the history of the Forsaken and get an understanding of who they are exactly.
History: How Did the Forsaken Come to Be?
When the Lich King became bound to the Frozen Throne, the demon Kil’jaeden tossed the Frozen Throne into Azeroth. Landing in the northern continent Northrend, the Lich King used his telepathic powers to enslave the native creatures. With these enslaved creatures, the Lich King was able to wage war with the native Nerubians, a ten year war called the War of the Spider. After winning, the Lich King animated the dead Nerubians and made a large army called the Scourge.
After the destruction of the World Tree, Kil’jaeden offered Illidan Stormrage a tempting proposition: Kill the Lich King and be offered powers from the demon. With his allies, Illidan began gathering the components needed to perform a spell targeting the Frozen Throne. Although he was unable to complete the spell, the Frozen Throne was fractures causing the Lich King to lose some of his control over the Scourge. A large band of undead gained their own will back and left the Scourge with the former High Elf Sylvanas Windrunner.
Sylvanas attacked the weakened Lordeadan, effectively defeating any remaining humans in the area. She was also able to defeat the dreadlords and forced Varimathras into her control in exchange for his life. Using the underground sewer system built by Arthas but abandoned, Sylvanas took over the remains of Lordean, called Undercity, and used it as her main base.
What you need to know
Bleeding Hearts: What Makes the Forsaken Tick
The Forsaken are obviously a band of outcasts. They are mistrusted because of their former nature as members of the Scourge (outside of their apparent lack of emotions), with some people even thinking they are still members of the Scourge! They are hated by many with the Alliance to the South and the Scourge close by their borders.
The Horde allowed the Forsaken to join their ranks primarily out of empathy. Thrall opened himself up to the Forsaken, thinking of their control by the Lich King the same as the control of the Orcs by the demons. Cairn even remained empathetic, taking in the pleas of the Forsaken that they wish to find a cure for their “disease.” Only the Trolls were really against them joining, but they agree to the judgement of Thrall. This doesn’t mean that the rest of the Horde fully trust their undead allies.
Taking advantage of these sympathies, the Forsaken put on the act they wish to cure themselves. In truth, Sylvanas seems to be motivated on hate and revenge. The Forsaken, for the most part, keeps to themselves unless visiting other’s areas (such as the Barrens or Thunderbluff) for knowledge of various regents.
With no real direct power to make a larger army herself, Sylvanas takes in other freed undead with open arms. Most specifically, she enjoys the ranks of Mages and Warlocks.
What you need to know
Alchemy: The Royal Apothecary Society
The Royal Apothecary Society seems to be the proverbial heart and blood of the Forsaken, and perhaps the reason why Sylvanas favors mages and warlocks. While the purpose of the Royal Apothecary Society is believed by the rest of the Horde to be attempting to find a cure for their disease, they are really trying to find a plague that will destroy all other living creatures. They are also trying to find a plague that will only infect the Scourge and not themselves.
The Royal Apothecary Society remains heavily to themselves (and the Forsaken), revealing little to their “allies.” They are a paranoid bunch, often mistrusting of non-Forsaken members of the Horde. Even then, they may not trust non-Apothecary members. Sylvanas watches closely over the Royal Apothecary Society.
The Royal Apothecary Society is divided into that of Research, Testing and Implantation. Most members of testing are captured humans, although sometimes dwarves and animals are used also. It seems that humans are best used for experimentations. For the sake of the Forsaken, only Humans, High elves, Dwarves and Gnomes are affected by the status of the undead.
What you need to know
Attitudes: Me versus You
The Forsaken will commonly have these types of attitudes:
“Our former selves. They offer nothing to us now that we have gotten rid of our weak emotions.”
“More vermin to be exterminated. Their engineering skills can save them little from our alchemical prowess.”
“Damned abominations of the earth unfit to remain a member of it for too long.”
“An affront to the Forsaken in all respects: they seek to deny us the herbs in their forests, they loathe our unlife. The fact that they are at war with the Orcs provides an excellent reason to eradicate them.”
Unknown
“I don’t know if I should thank the Orcs or laugh at them. They make it easier for us to work our ‘magics,’ but even they will fall in the end.”
“What fools to let us into their chambers. Their beds will be cold when we are finished.”
“Our biggest threat to safety. They trusts us less than Thrall and all the Trolls suspect our motives. It is important to maintain friendly faces to keep their eyes from us.”
Unknown
Suggestions: So you want to be a part of the Forsaken
Knowing all this can help you become a better, and more true, member of the Forsaken. If you wish to roleplay a Forsaken member, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Below are some ways you can flesh out your characters even more. Feel free to use them, build on them, or ignore them: