Cleric

Clerics (or clerists, also known as monks)Northshire Abbey (WC1 Human) are men and women of faith that can be found all over Azeroth and beyond.
They share the same functions as the priests and chaplains in their religious institutions. Therefore, they are present in many societies and organizations, where they preach their faith, take care of the churches, listen to the confessions of the faithful, and act as protectors and healers for their allies on the battlefields.
The most experienced clerics may be recognized by the title of "High Cleric" or "High Clerist", while those delving in the secular arts are referred to as "dark clerics".
==Clerics of Northshire==
Perhaps the most famous clerics are the Clerics of Northshire that existed during the First War. Their spiritual leadership keeps both the communities and the troops of their people focused upon their mission. Their ability to channel the spirit of their religion through their bodies makes them truly wondrous, and stories of their ability to heal the sick and injured, as well as being able to affect the perceptions of others, are miraculous in nature.Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Azeroth Army of the First War, Cleric
The transgressions against humanity by the orcs forced them to devise ways to defend themselves, but their true path remained the healing of men's souls.Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Azeroth Army of the First War, Cleric As they suffered great losses during the war, the Knights of the Silver Hand were created to defend the people as well as heal them.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Alliance Ground Units, Paladin
Following the victory of the Alliance of Lordaeron during the Second War, Archbishop Alonsus Faol of the Church of the Holy Light restored the clerical order as the "Brotherhood of Northshire".
Cleric spells included healing, far seeing, invisibility, and holy lance, while some of them were warrior priests.Of Blood and Honor, pg. 15
==Dark clerics==
Following the Third War, the Cult of Forgotten Shadows was founded by Forsaken priests known as "Dark clerics", who found and used the teachings of Natalie Seline to create a cult which preaches about the necessity of balance between the Shadow and the Light. Since the capture and refurbishing of the Undercity, the dark clerics spread their faith through the undead lands of Lordaeron, and began to accept other races into the cult.
The cult preaches balance, mandating that their shadow priests and dark clerics must never forget the dangers of falling too deep into the dark energies they manipulate, for it is often too hard to find one's way back to the Shadow from the deep reaches of the darkness.World of Warcraft: The Magazine Issue 4, pg. 84
==Notable clerics==
Name	Role 	Location 	Status
 	Former leader of the Northshire Abbey	Unknown 	
 	High Clerist of Stormwind 	Unknown 	
 	High Clerist of Hearthglen 	Hearthglen, Western Plaguelands 	
 	Follower of the Alliance Commander 	Lunarfall, Shadowmoon Valley 	
 	Priest of the Order of Embers 	Arom's Stand, Drustvar 	
 	Priest of the Forgotten Shadows 	Deathknell, Tirisfal Glades 	
 	Priest of the Forgotten Shadows 	Brill, Tirisfal Glades 	
 	Priest of the Conclave 	Netherlight Temple 	
 	Priest of the Forgotten Shadows 	Stair of Destiny, Hellfire Peninsula	
 	Commander of the Kor'kron 	Lion's Landing, Krasarang Wilds 	
 	Cleric of the Argent Dawn 	Unknown 	
===Unnamed===
==In the RPG==
The leader of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics during the war was Archbishop Alonsus Faol, and his apprentice was a devout lad named Uther.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 152 Dire wolves inhabit the forest near northern Duskwood, although the clerics and paladins of the Holy Light attempt to keep their numbers down.Lands of Conflict, pg. 50
The Forsaken have dark clerics who like most Forsaken have turned their abilities towards the Forgotten Shadow. They act as pillars of society, like most priests, offering atonement and comfort for those seeking help. Dark clerics are likely equivalent to the dark priests, which are like archbishops ruling over wide territories of the cult of the Forgotten Shadow.Horde Player's Guide, pg. 161
==Items==
*Bracers of the Battle Cleric
*Cleric's Linen Shoes
*Contract: Cleric Maluuf
==Notes and trivia==
*A tithe must be made to the Church of the Holy Light for their services in order that new clerics may be trained, and other sites made sacred.Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Azeroth Army of the First War, Church
*As a cleric of the Sisterhood of Elune during the War of the Ancients, Tyrande Whisperwind often obtained information that even Lord Ravencrest's strategists never picked up.The Demon Soul, chapter 9
*During the Scourgewar, Tirion Fordring was disguised as a Cleric of the Argent Crusade to arrive in Northrend without being spotted by the Scourge.Guided by Honor
*In Outland, Sky Commander Adaris of the Sha'tari Skyguard refers to the arakkoa talonpriests as "clerics".Secrets of the Talonpriests
*During Warcraft II, it was originally said that Uther had started his life as a cleric of Northshire instead of as a knight of Lordaeron. This was back when Alonsus Faol himself was said to be the Abbot of Northshire Abbey, of which Uther was the apprentice.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Legends of the Land, Sire Uther Lightbringer
==Gallery==
File:Humancleric-chesspiece.jpg|Human Cleric
File:Human cleric chesspiece comic.jpg|The Human Cleric chess piece in World of Warcraft: The Comic.
File:Gilnean Cleric.jpg|Gilnean Cleric
File:Lightforged Cleric.jpg|Lightforged Cleric
File:Argent Dawn Cleric.jpg|Argent Dawn Cleric
File:Scarlet Cleric (Scarlet Monastery).jpg|Scarlet Cleric
File:Nethergarde Cleric.jpg|Nethergarde Cleric
File:Auchenai Cleric.jpg|Auchenai Cleric
File:Shattered Sun Cleric.jpg|Shattered Sun Cleric
File:Torcalin Cleric.jpg|Torcalin Cleric
;RTS series
File:WC1Cleric.gif|Cleric unit sprite in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans.
File:WC1Invisibility.gif|Cleric's invisibility portrait.
;Trading Card Game
File:Dark Cleric Jocasta TCG.jpg|Dark Cleric Jocasta 
File:Northshire Cleric TCG.jpg|Northshire Cleric 
;Hearthstone
File:Marnie Moonlight TCG.jpg|, reused TCG art for Marnie Moonlight.
File:Liadrin Official.jpg|, reused art for Lady Liadrin.
File:Cleric of An'she HS.jpg| 
File:Fallen Sun Cleric HS.jpg| 
File:Cleric of Scales HS.jpg| 
==See also==
*Priest
*Shadow priest
*Chaplain
*Confessor
*Dark Cleric Salem's Chest
==References==
Category:Religions
Category:Priests
 
Category:Lore
Category:NPC occupations