Dark Riders

The Dark RidersSven's Revenge (also called the Black Riders)Jitters' Completed Journal were once a group of traveling merchants who crossed the sorcerer Medivh, who cursed them to an eternity of hunting artifacts for him.Following the Curse (druid) They were led by Ariden and are a major cause of danger in Duskwood and Deadwind Pass. They are infamous for being a merciless group of relic hunters.Tome of the Ancients They are the focus of the graphic novel Dark Riders.
==Background==
The Dark Riders were charlatan merchants who tried to sell fraudulent magical artifacts to Medivh. Medivh, being possessed by Sargeras, cursed the merchants to forever pay for their dishonesty by collecting true magical artifacts from all over the kingdom for Medivh, and bringing them back to Karazhan. It is not known exactly what curse Medivh placed on them, or if they are undead or not, but the Dark Riders have haunted the kingdom of Stormwind, and especially Duskwood, ever since.Dark Riders
No physical description is provided, but the Riders are described as speaking in a shrieking voice "both harsh and shrill". One of them used a small gem to communicate with someone referred to as the "Lord" from whom the Riders took directions. In their quest, some of the artifacts the Dark Riders obtained over the years were the vampiric sword Apocalypse and the scythe Ulthalesh, the Deadwind Harvester.Legion: Death Knight Artifact RevealLegion: Warlock Artifact Reveal
The Riders first appear at the Yorgen Farmstead, apparently drawn by the time/space warping caused by the Scythe of Elune which Jitters had previously unearthed and lost again inside Roland's Doom. They murdered Sven Yorgen's wife and children after determining that they did not know where the Scythe was located. Jitters remained hidden while witnessing these events, and later recorded them.
The Dark Riders are mentioned as being allies of the necromancer Morbent Fel,Proving Your Worth (Classic) though no details are given as to the nature of this alliance.
At some point after the war against the Lich King, the Dark Riders learned about the holy artifact Light's Wrath, used by kindhearted priests and paladins to heal the sick and protect the innocent in the Eastern Kingdoms. When Ariden and his riders managed to find the staff and tried to touch it, a wave of pure holy energy erupted from the weapon and sent them slinking back to Karazhan. It was one of the few artifacts they would ever willingly abandon, and perhaps the only one.Word of the Conclave
===Dark Riders===
A group of the Night Watch led by their commander Althea Ebonlocke alongside Revil Kost, Brink, Mardigan, and Karlain attacked the riders in Karazhan and received some of their stolen items. When Revil Kost used an artifact called the Cloak of Purity, he was able to see a Dark Rider's face. It was the face of a terrified man.
===Legion===
At the time of the third invasion of the Burning Legion, Ariden, leader of the Dark Riders, stole the Scythe of Elune when Belysra Starbreeze and Valorn Stillbough brought it back to Duskwood, in order to give it to a druid adventurer. The druid, as well as a warlock and a death knight seeking artifacts of their own Ulthalesh, the Deadwind Harvester and Apocalypse, met with Revil Kost at Manor Mistmantle and pursued Ariden to the Riders' base in the catacombs beneath Karazhan. Together with Revil, Ariden was slain and the adventurers retrieved the Scythe of Elune, Ulthalesh, the Deadwind Harvester, and Apocalypse. Revil promised to return the remainder of the Riders' stolen items to their rightful owners. Revil, however, feared that the riders will regroup once again.The Dark Riders (quest)
==Members==
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==In the RPG==
Some rumors say that the dark riders may have originated from, or at one time taken up residence in, Raven Hill as well. Dark riders are huge beings that suddenly appear with hellhounds at their feet to run down frantic travelers. Some nights they skirt the perimeter of Darkshire, howling loudly.Lands of Conflict, pg. 47
==Trivia==
*Attumen the Huntsman is similar to the Dark Riders in that he served Medivh as well, resembles a death knight, and is mounted on a horse.
*They mount Deadwind Steeds, which look like deathchargers.
==Inspiration==
They seem to be almost identical to the Nazgûl from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy of books. Both are dark minions referred to as "Black Riders" or "Dark Riders", speak harshly and shrilly, have the power to communicate with an immaterial being designated "the Lord" (the Warcraft Black Riders' usage of a "bauble" to communicate with their master is also likely a reference to the Palantír stones used in Lord of the Rings), and seek a specific ancient cursed "tool" of great power (Scythe of Elune and One Ring respectively) with which they have an intrinsic bond and had been previously discovered in a cave by a supposedly insignificant male character who knew nothing of the artifact's true properties (Jitters, Bilbo Baggins).
==References==
Category:Death knight organizations
Category:Lore
Category:Lands of Conflict
Category:Deadwind Pass
es:Jinetes oscuros