Aethas Sunreaver Archmage Aethas Sunreaver was one of the members of the Council of Six — the ruling council of the Kirin Tor — and is the leader of the Sunreavers , a blood elven faction primarily consisting of magi . Though relatively youthful by elven standards , Aethas ' s ambition and magical talent quickly saw to his rapid elevation through the ranks of the Kirin Tor . Aethas was a strong supporter of the Horde , and through his and Archmage Modera ' s efforts to see Quel ' Thalas and the Kirin Tor stand as allies once again , the blood elves and their own allies in the Horde were granted sanctuary within Dalaran . Also , the Horde district of Sunreaver ' s Sanctuary is named after him , referring to his high position within the Kirin Tor . He is the first blood elf known to be part of the Council of Six , as Kael ' thas was a high elf during his tenure in the position . Aethas made a return in Tides of War and Mists of Pandaria , dealing with his people ' s increasingly dangerous ties to Garrosh Hellscream ' s Horde and his own strained relations with the Kirin Tor , culminating in his expulsion from Dalaran and return to Quel ' Thalas . Aethas can be found in Dalaran during the Wrath of the Lich King era , in the Violet Citadel . His image resides in the Horde fortress of Agmar ' s Hammer , while Aethas himself is involved in the quest to restore the legendary elven blade Quel ' Delar . In the Shadow of the Sun . Shortly before the Northrend war , Aethas sends several letters to the Regent Lord of Quel ' Thalas , Lor ' themar Theron , to arrange an audience . Lor ' themar deliberately ignores them at first , though Aethas simply announces his intention to visit Silvermoon City either way . He is greeted by Lor ' themar , Halduron Brightwing , and less enthusiastically - - Grand Magister Rommath . Aethas informs the three of Malygos the Spellweaver ' s intention to wipe out all mortal magic users , and that as such , The Kirin Tor had become the crazed Aspect ' s enemies . He asks for his peoples ' aid in the matter , though Rommath immediately denies him . Referencing the sin ' dorei ' s slated execution in the dungeons of Dalaran , while the Kirin Tor did nothing to intervene , Rommath simply notes that they can all " rot in hell " for all he cares . He assures Aethas that none of his magisters will aid the Kirin Tor , and that as the Grand Magister , Aethas has no authority on the matter . Lor ' themar stops their bickering , and has Aethas shown to his quarters . Following Lor ' themar ' s return from failed negotiations at Quel ' Lithien Lodge , Aethas reveals that several high elven members of the Kirin Tor under Vereesa Windrunner share a similar attitude . Sylvanas Windrunner later travels to Sunfury Spire to enlist the sin ' dorei ' s aid against the Lich King , reasoning that as members of the Horde they are obligated to commit support . Despite Lor ' themar ' s apprehension to commit troops so soon after the battle on Quel ' Danas , Sylvanas is able to twist his arm enough to warrant co - operation , citing that their refusal to battle the Lich King would likely lead to further death in Quel ' Thalas - - and the loss of Horde support . With the sin ' dorei ' s presence in Northrend confirmed either way , Lor ' themar agrees to support Aethas ' endeavor , though makes a point that it will not be on behalf of the Kirin Tor . Lor ' themar instructs Aethas to confer with Rommath , a notion Aethas expresses will probably not end too well . In World of Warcraft . In Wrath of the Lich - King . As a member of the Council of Six , Aethas was able to secure his people a place in the magical ( and traditionally Alliance ) city of Dalaran . Through his efforts , the blood elves ' allies in the Horde were also welcomed , and Dalaran proclaimed itself an independent city . Aethas ' followers took up his name , and the Horde was granted a sanctuary within the city that also bears the name of Sunreaver . Aethas sent blood elven members of the Kirin Tor to the various Horde cities and bases in Northrend , and Aethas himself appeared via projection to advise Overlord Agmar from the Horde fortress of Agmar ' s Hammer . Aethas assisted members of the Horde in their battles against the Blue Dragonflight ; learning of the ley lines connected to the Nexus and Malygos ' plans to destroy them - sending their power back to the Nexus in turn . Aethas presents himself to Alexstrasza the Lifebinder , revealing his position on the Council of Six in the process . After the Argent Crusade procured a foothold in Icecrown , the legendary elven blade Quel ' Delar was unearthed in the frozen ice in its northern region . Though shattered by its twisted former wielder , Blood - Queen Lana ' thel , the blade is ultimately restored . In the outcome of the Horde version of events , Horde heroes are tasked by Grand Magister Rommath to hand the blade to his uneasy ally in Dalaran , Aethas . For a non - blood elf , Aethas expresses curiosity that the blade would bind itself to someone not of Quel ' Thalas , though praises the player nonetheless and informs them that Quel ' Delar is adapting itself to their own unique abilities . For a blood elf , Aethas is elated , giving the sin ' dorei hero similar words of support as Rommath did before him . Aethas held captive in the Violet Citadel . Ultimately , Aethas ' s plight to see his people readmitted into the Kirin Tor was a resounding success . In Mists of Pandaria . Tides of War Aethas is present when Jaina Proudmoore travels to Dalaran to beseech the Kirin Tor ' s aid in the looming battle against Garrosh Hellscream . Though ostensibly neutral , the Six agree to discuss the possibility of lending aid as a " deterrence " to conflict of this scale . Aethas casts the deciding vote , in favour of sending a token force to Theramore . Both Aethas and Rhonin recommend a mage named Thalen Songweaver for the task . During the battle , however , Thalen turns on his Kirin Tor comrades , revealing himself as a spy for Garrosh Hellscream , abandoning his post and assisting the Horde army in breaking through . Theramore is promptly annihilated via mana bomb , in a particularly brutal and lingering fashion . Enraged , Jaina goes on the warpath , and travels to Dalaran once more to demand their aid . However , this time they are unwilling to give it , having lost their leader as a direct result of getting involved in the war . Aethas maintains that he had no part in Thalen ' s treachery , which is a devastating blow to his own cause . Aethas states that he will make any amends he can for the treachery of Songweaver , and points out the presence of traitors in any given race . He tells Jaina that the Kirin Tor breaking their neutrality for vengeance is not the answer , a sentiment the Council of Six agree with . Though agitated by this turn of events , Aethas and the Six still agree to consider all options . When denied their aid , Jaina instead steals certain tomes regarding the Focusing Iris , and leaves to bring about her own retaliation . Later , after Kalecgos succeeds in stopping Jaina from giving the people of Orgrimmar a similar treatment to Theramore , a humbled Jaina returns to Dalaran . Having lost everything she had worked for , she apologizes for having stolen Kirin Tor tomes , and requests to join the organization as a novice . However , her actions in the face of despair have endeared her to the Kirin Tor ' s leaders , who offer to make her the new head of the Kirin Tor instead . Aethas is in support of this , and gives the closing speech to seal the deal . Aethas attends Rhonin ' s funeral along with most of the other members of the Kirin Tor , joining in with the magical gesture of mourning and respect for their fallen leader . Landfall Aethas is called upon by Regent Lord Lor ' Themar Theron to help uncover the secrets of a mogu device found on Pandaria . Though he and Rommath make considerable progress with deducting its modus operandi , Aethas is increasing wary of Lor ' themar taking orders from the regent lord ' s " master , " Warchief Garrosh Hellscream . Likening Garrosh ' s penchant for such dubious methods as a reflection of Prince Kael ' thas Sunstrider ' s own , he believes the sin ' dorei will be forced to walk down the same path under Garrosh ' s leadership as they had under Kael ' s . As such , Aethas believes that the sin ' dorei would do well to break their ties with Hellscream ' s Horde , and gives voice to such beliefs after a released sha briefly heightens his emotions . Like Jaina , Aethas continues to take pride in the Kirin Tor ' s status as a place of learning and cooperation for Horde and Alliance magi alike . Rommath , however , does not share his enthusiasm ; indeed , the grand magister believes that under Jaina ' s leadership , the Kirin Tor is now firmly in the hands of the Alliance , whether Aethas realizes it or not . Later , Fanlyr Silverthorn conjures a Sunreaver portal at Domination Point , allowing members of the Horde to circumvent Jaina ' s wards around Darnassus and steal an artifact named the Divine Bell . Jaina learns of this , however ; and incensed at yet another betrayal on behalf of the Horde , expels the entire organization from Dalaran . Aethas attempts to deter her from this , professing his innocence and Dalaran ' s status as the Sunreavers ' city too , though Jaina imprisons him in the Violet Citadel and begins a purge of those unwilling to surrender . In the midst of the chaos , Rommath leads a strike team into Dalaran to rescue Aethas and the Sunreavers . After fighting his way through the city ( now mostly under the Alliance ' s control ) , Rommath succeeds in freeing Aethas from the citadel . Aethas and Rommath escape from the city , aided by dragonhawks Horde heroes had freed from Krasus ' Landing . Aethas returns to Quel ' Thalas , where he informs Lor ' themar and Halduron of the situation , and is present to witness Lor ' themar ' s vow to take matters into his own hands . The regent lord orders Rommath to add the Sunreavers ' strength to his own , as the rescued elves are funneled back to Silvermoon via portal . The Sunreavers are none too pleased with their expulsion from the Kirin Tor , coming to hold Garrosh ( whose agents in Aethas ' organization , actively supporting the Horde war effort , had led to the purge in the first place ) just as responsible for it as Jaina . Though many Sunreavers made it out of the city , Aethas also makes mention that more still are held captive in the Violet Hold . The Thunder King Aethas accompanies Rommath , Halduron and Lor ' themar to the Isle of Thunder , bringing with him a formidable amount of Sunreaver faces both new and old . Aethas is part of the Sunreaver Onslaught as a commander , advisor , and secondary leader , though he defers to Lor ' themar ' s overall leadership . Prior to the Horde ' s landing on the isle , Aethas was stationed alongside Lor ' themar aboard one of the regent lord ' s destroyers , the Crimson Treader . He is dispensed to the isle itself after the regent lord takes Horde heroes aside for a private audience . Aethas focuses on dealing with the saurok and the mogu , routinely returning to Dawnseeker Promontory as construction of the camp progresses . During the final stages of the assault on Lei Shen ' s stronghold , Aethas accompanies Lor ' themar and Scout Captain Elsia to the Bloodied Crossing . He fights against Shan Bu ' s forces in the courtyard , and faces off against Jaina Proudmoore ' s group when the battle is over . Jaina demands that Aethas is handed over to her , though Lor ' themar rebukes this and orders the release of the Sunreavers from the Violet Hold . Aethas is uncomfortable throughout the meeting , and witnesses Lor ' themar and Jaina ' s truce after Taran Zhu intervenes . Legion . Aethas wanted to rejoin the Kirin Tor , but some members of the Council of Six still remembered the Divine Bell incident . Aethas told the Kirin Tor about his friendship with Lyandra Sunstrider who wanted to recover the runeblade Felo ' melorn . Aethas said that he saw her in Icecrown Citadel as an undead , and he assuming that The Lich King is responsible for that . In return for this information , Aethas hoped that Council would re - accept him and his people to Dalaran . Council voted to re - accept Aethas to Kirin Tor , Aethas is welcomed to Dalaran , but not as a member of the Six . Affiliation . Unlike his Alliance equivalent Vereesa Windrunner who is Silver Covenant faction , his in - game faction is Kirin Tor and not Sunreavers . This is very likely because he is member of the Council of Six , effectively making him one of the rulers of Dalaran , whereas Vereesa is only Rhonin ' s wife and thus not affiliated with Kirin Tor otherwise .