Nerubian

Nerubians are an ancient race of highly intelligent arachnoidsUltimate Visual Guide and insectoids.Saga of the Valarjar Native to Northrend, these spider-men once ruled over the kingdom of Azjol-Nerub that stretched like a great web beneath the desolate glaciers of "the roof of the world". However, the Lich King crushed their dark empire and sent them skittering into the arctic wastelands. Though there were few pockets of nerubian warriors left, they still sought to gain vengeance upon Ner'zhul and reclaim their subterranean kingdom.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual
==History==
===Early history===
The trolls fought them for many thousands of years but never succeeded in winning a true victory over the Aqir. Eventually, due to the trolls' persistence, the aqiri kingdom split in half as its citizens fled to separate colonies in the far northern and southern regions of the continent. Not long after the troll empires divided the insectoid kingdom of the aqir, the aqir that traveled north discovered and overthrew the tol'vir society in the northern wastes of Northrend. These aqir would eventually become the race we know as the nerubian today, having adapted the tol'vir's architecture for their own purposes. Similarly, the aqir that traveled south ransacked and overthrew a titan research station near Uldum, renaming themselves the qiraji and calling their new home in the southern desert Ahn'Qiraj.http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25626575587&pageNo=1&sid=1#0[broken link] At some point after becoming nerubians, their society broke away and opposed the Old Gods that their people once served as aqir, specifically Yogg-Saron.Zek'voz, "Stage Two: Deception": "... summoning projections of Yogg-saron and replicating servants from Azjol-Nerub. The split happened early enough in nerubian history, that by the time of Arthas Menethil's ascension to the Lich King, Anub'arak commented that he had believed them to be only legend.
The vrykul king Magnar Icebreaker earned his surname from his battles against the nerubians in Northrend. While hunting nests of the insectoids, Magnar discovered that cracks in glacier walls could be turned into tunnels that allowed him to dig deep into enemy strongholds and launch surprise assaults on them from within. Years later, remnants of the nerubian armies once again began emerging from their caves, seeking to seize Ulduar and the titan machinery within it. Magnar, now a king wielding the :Scale of the Earth-Warder, led his people against the insectoids, pushing them back to the entrance of Azjol-Nerub itself and defeating them so thoroughly that they ceased all aggression for millennia.Saga of the Valarjar
===War of the Spider===
Thousands of years later, when the Lich King extended his influence over Northrend, the shadowy empire stood against his power. The ancient subterranean kingdom of Azjol-Nerub sent their elite warrior-guard to attack Icecrown and end the Lich King's mad bid for dominance. Much to his frustration, Ner'zhul found that the evil nerubians were immune not only to the undead plague but to his telepathic domination as well.
The nerubian spiderlords commanded vast forces and had an underground network that stretched nearly half the breadth of Northrend. Their hit-and-run tactics on the Lich King's strongholds stymied his efforts to root them out time after time. Ultimately, Ner'zhul's war against the nerubians was won by attrition. With the aid of the sinister dreadlords and innumerable undead warriors, the Lich King invaded Azjol-Nerub and brought its subterranean temples crashing down upon the spider lords' heads.
Though the nerubians were immune to his plague, Ner'zhul's growing necromantic powers allowed him to raise the spider-warriors' corpses and bend them to his will.When the time came the Lich King was delighted to raise Anub'arak, the last king of the nerubian, himself into a powerful undead minion. The former ruler was now a slave, and though he chafed at his leash, he could not free himself from it. As an undead crypt lord, Anub'arak crushed anything that posed a resistance to the Lich King's will and slaughtered many of his people. Anub'arak led the undead as they conquered the nerubian ziggurats and repurposed them for the Lich King's designs. For this, the living nerubians began to refer to him as the traitor king and lay the destruction of their kingdom at his feet.Anub'arak Hero Week
As a testament to their tenacity and fearlessness, Ner'zhul adopted the nerubians' distinctive architectural style for his own fortresses and structures. Though there are few pockets of nerubian warriors left, they still seek to gain vengeance upon Ner'zhul and reclaim their subterranean kingdom.War of the Spider (History of Warcraft)
During the war, a nerubian by the name of Vorus'arak led his brood under ground. A great tunneler, the Swarm Lord and his people dug, forced to eat their young for food. They eventually found an island, the Skittering Hollow, where they survived and thrived. This group became the Voru'kar.Vorus'arak's Carapace (quest)
===Wrath of the Lich King===
According to Kilix the Unraveler and Archmage Lan'dalock, the nerubians fought the Scourge, and dug deeper underground as they lost ground to the undead, until they inadvertently exposed a tendril of the "Old God's will", which led N'raqi to manifest. Kilix the Unraveler then explained that they lost the war because they could not fight on two fronts against such powerful enemies, which cost them the war against the undead, and ultimately, their home.The Faceless OnesProof of Demise: Herald Volazj
During the war against the Lich King, the nerubian kingdom was invaded by the adventurers who confronted Anub'arak. When he was finally killed in his ruined palace, they brought his broken husk to the living nerubians as proof of his death. However, Anub'arak didn't stay dead for long. He was later brought back by the Lich King to serve again, this time attacking the Argent Tournament, where the Traitor King was defeated once and for all.
The Kirin Tor also acquired the crown of the nerubian king and put it aside for the nerubians whenever they decided to coronate a new one.Proof of Demise: Anub'arak
===Cataclysm===
At the time of the Cataclysm, it was revealed that the nerubians have an enormous secret stash of their own eggs hidden safely, so that after the wipeout of the Scourge from Azjol-Nerub, they can finally begin repopulating their people under the leadership of Seer Ixit.Don't Forget the Eggs!
===Battle for Azeroth===
During the Fourth War, the Skittering Hollow, home to the Voru'kar, was visited by Alliance and Horde forces seeking :Azerite. It is possible for them to fight members of the brood, as well as Vorus'arak. His carapace, revealed to have never been shed since the War of the Spider, is returned to Northrend to Kilix the Unraveler, claiming that the history of the nerubians is important to them before rewarding the adventurer with Azerite.
Nerubians were summoned to aid Zek'voz after he escaped his imprisonment. These nerubians were created by Zek'voz using corrupted titan discs, as such, they were the only instance of nerubians still loyal to the Old Gods. These nerubians were slain alongside the errant aqir.
===Exploring Azeroth===
Following the war against the Jailer, the brothers Bronzebeard reported that though most of the nerubian kingdom is full-on ruins, they heard that some of its buildings still stand, while the art within disintegrating because the Scourge don't care to maintain it.
According to Magni Bronzebeard, the Azjol-anak living nerubians he met there were few in number, but they've all been of a good sort.
==Groups==
Among the uncorrupted nerubians count the Azjol-anak, Nerubian Guardians, Kaheti and the Voru'kar.
Among the Scourge-corrupted nerubians count the Ahn'kahar, Anub'ar, Hath'ar, Nerub'ar, and Nerubis.
==Culture==
Kel'Thuzad claims that they were fiercely intelligent, and their will dedicated to wiping out any who were not like themselves.Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, pg. 216 Much like the aqir.
Legends tell of the nerubians' using the jormungar as creatures of labor, forcing them to carve massive tunnels through Northrend's subterranean ice and lay the groundwork for the nerubians' ancient civilization.
Nerubians once controlled the arachnathid and used them as guardians of Azjol-Nerub before the Scourge came.The Forgotten Ones
Nerubians also enslaved the remaining tol'vir in Northrend, turning them into the obsidian destroyers, who were later claimed by the Scourge during the War of the Spider. Although many of the few remaining tol'vir slaves died in the front lines during Third War, it's possible that more obsidian destroyers still exist deep within the remnants of Azjol-Nerub.Ask CDev#Ask CDev Answers - Round 1
The sacrificial pits of Azjol-Nerub were used long ago to sacrifice enemy forces in exchange for success in battle.
===Architecture===
As attested by many traps and contraptions in Azjol-Nerub dungeons, they were once good engineers.
The nerubian architectural is described as distinctive, elegant, and angular.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 75 Their architectural style may have been inspired by Maldraxxus and its Deathly influence.Judgehype - Interview de Steve Danuser sur l'histoire de Shadowlands The Lich King later adopted the style for his Scourge after the War of the Spider and so ziggurats, the big Necropolises Naxxramas and Acherus refer to their building style. Of course, most of the architecture can be seen in Azjol-Nerub itself. Another good example of their style is the statue in the Pit of Fiends.
===Language===
Their language, simply known as Nerubian, is described by Chieftain Wintergale as an ancient and harsh language.Words of Power (Horde)
==Types==
* Nerubian 
** Crypt fiend 
** Nerubian warrior
** Nerubian webspinner
** Nerubian seer 
** Nerubian spiderling 
** Nerubian queen 
** Nerubian Lord (campaign only)
* Nerubian flyer 
* Nerubian spider 
* Nerubian spiderlord 
** Crypt lord 
* Nerubian vizier 
*Hadronox
*Carrion beetles
==Notable==
Name	Role(s) 	Affiliation(s) 	Status	Location
 	The Traitor King; last ruler of Azjol-Nerub before the War of the Spider.	Scourge 	 	Brood Pit, Azjol-Nerub; Icy Depths, Trial of the Crusader
 	Spider Lord in service of the Scourge in Naxxramas. 	Scourge 	 	Arachnid Quarter, Naxxramas
 	Leader of the nerubians around Suncrown Village. 	Scourge 	 	Suncrown Village, Ghostlands
 	Venerated leader and tutor turned into a servant of the Lich King. 	Scourge 	 	Hall of the Conquered Kings, Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom
 	Leader of the Azjol-anak forces in the Pit of Narjun. 	Azjol-anak, Nerubian Empire	 	Pit of Narjun, Dragonblight
 	Leader of the nerubians beneath the Geyser Fields. 	Scourge 	 	Geyser Fields, Borean Tundra
 	Nerubian queen slain by Arthas Menethil and Anub'arak. 	Nerubian empire 	 	Azjol-Nerub
 	Leader of the Azjol-anak seeking to become the new leader of his people. 	Azjol-anak, Nerubian Empire	 	Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom
 	Leader of the Scourge forces in Icemist Village. 	Scourge 	 	Icemist Village, Dragonblight
 	Crypt lord holding court at the Pit of Fiends. 	Scourge 	 	Pit of Fiends, Icecrown
==In the RPG==
===History===
thumb|left|Nerubians in their halls.
thumb|A crypt lord attacks Baelgun in Lands of Mystery.
thumb|A nerubian fighting murlocs.
At the ancient continent Kalimdor's center was a mysterious lake of incandescent energies, the Well of Eternity. It was the true heart of the world's magic and natural power. From this magical ether the silithid were born. As the fallen Old God C'Thun recognized their appearance, he attempted to sunder the world that it once held in its unmerciful grasp. The Old God created avatars from the silithid in its own image. These avatars were to be known as the qiraji.
16,000 years before the Orcish invasion of Azeroth the aqir ruled the lands far west of Kalimdor. These clever insectoids were greatly expansionistic and incredibly evil. The aqir were obsessed with eradicating all non- life from the fields of Kalimdor. So the two big troll empires of Gurubashi and Amani found their common enemy in the third empire — the nationDark Factions, pg. 43 of Azj'Aqir.
Now, the nerubians are a depleted and embittered people. Most live in Northrend and shun all contact with outsiders — indeed, they attack intruders on sight, viewing all creatures not of their kind with suspicion. Understandably, they possess a vitriolic hatred of undead, especially crypt fiends and crypt lords. They realize that they are too weak to overthrow the Lich King, and must content themselves with their pathetic guerrilla war.Dark Factions, pg. 44
Now, the nerubians exist only as scattered families in northern Kalimdor and in a few settlements throughout Ashenvale. In their quiet and passionless manner, nerubians despise the Scourge and will take any opportunity to do it harm.Manual of Monsters, pg. 69
===Culture===
Azjol-Nerub contained huge libraries of literature, philosophy, and arcane lore. Occasionally, the kingdom would kidnap humans and elves for experimentation.Manual of Monsters, pg. 69
Nerubians are cruel and xenophobic.Lands of Mystery, pg. 146 Like their silithid relatives are hostile to all races.
Nerubian culture may place great store in longevity; Nerubians encountered at the Sundered Monolith told Brann their ages, and they seemed impressed by his.
===Society===
Different types of nerubian are referred to as castes with a life-long occupation and responsibility in society. Seers, for example, are relatively high-level nerubians who act as priests and mages. Spider lords are the rulers of the society in the same mold as the aristocracy of humanoid races.
The spider is the most common motif of the nerubians, and they have appeared to have evolved at least partially into an arachnid race (eight limbs) from an insectoid race (six limbs). Despite the nerubian cultural association with spiders (who reproduce through any male and any female), they reproduce as social insects do, through queens.
Undead nerubians are usually under control of the Scourge and are known as crypt fiends (in the case of most nerubians) and crypt lords (undead spiderlords). Too few crypt fiends appear in Azeroth, so nobody knows yet what nerubian females look like or are called.
Nerubians tend toward evil; they have always been ruthless and aggressive, and since the fall of the Spider Kingdom these traits are more pronounced. Still, nerubians are intelligent, and not all fall into dark ways. They may join a group of adventurers in the hopes of striking against the Lich King, or of gaining the power to do so. Other nerubians, often young ones, leave their homes because they want no part of their people's hopeless conflict and desire to become more than embittered survivors — perhaps they want to attain, at an individual level at least, the heights their people once possessed. The remote possibility exists that a handful of nerubians are not evil and could get along with other races better than their brethren.
===Languages===
Many nerubians are fluent in Common as well as their own tongue (a clicking rasping language).Lands of Mystery, pg. 144
They speak Draconic, Dwarven, Low Common, Thalassian and Zandali.
===Faith===
In ancient Azjol-Nerub, there were five or six schools of religious thought, and theological debates were common. Eventually, however, nerubians have come to a conclusion that worshiping creatures from beyond the world is insane, and, in the words of the seer Ul'Tomon, "makes as much sense as a fly caught in a web worshiping the spider who is about to devour him". To modern nerubians, even the concept of "worship" itself is alien.Lands of Mystery, pg. 143
===Castes===
* Nerubian queen
* Nerubian spiderling
* Nerubian spiderlord
** Nerubian king (only a single one)
* Nerubian worker
** Nerubian seer
** Nerubian warrior
** Nerubian webspinner
===Notable===
* Ul'Tomon
* Azhuul'Mehab
* Hazu'Asnab
* Majis'Tomon
* Mael Shelub
==Notes==
*According to the Old Wizard's Almenac only the most powerful Nerubian leaders have the capacity for magic.The Old Wizard's Almanac 
**Despite this, it seems to not be the case, with Ahn'kahar Spell Flingers, Hath'ar Necromagus and other general Nerubians possess magic, with Nerub'enkan, Anub'shiah, High Priest Talet-Kha and Tuten'kash all possessing magic.
* In the Bestiary entry for nerubian viziers, it is said that with the death of their former leaders, the nerubian viziers have risen to power. They serve an "unseen emperor", one who is destined to lead the ancient spider-people to a final victory over the Scourge.Wrath of the Lich King Bestiary This has never been expanded upon.
*At BlizzCon 2007, the nerubians and the Old Gods were described as B.F.F.http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/04/blizzcon-day-2-wow-lore-and-quests-panel-liveblog/
**This is ironically the exact opposite of almost every depiction the Nerubians have been shown with their former masters, having even actively fought against them: making the Nerubians the only Aqir-descended race to oppose their creators unlike the Mantid and Qiraji. The only instance of nerubian-Old God alliance is shown, as previously mentioned, in the Zek'voz fight, where the nerubians have been synthesized and have no actual connection to the rest of the nerubians on Azeroth otherwise.
*The Azjol-anak originally had a much smaller presence than shown in current incarnations of the nerubian dungeons when first released. Originally, the only members of the group shown were Azjol-anak Battleguards and Kilix the Unraveler. This was expanded with patch 4.3.0, which added additional quests and members of the faction; including their leader, Seer Ixit.
**Despite this, the concept of there being more nerubians was something established before it was added into the game. "There are still pockets of nerubians down there literally fighting for their lives, and we have any number of plans about how they play into things. What are they about? Are they principled, or even worse in some ways than the Scourge itself?" -Chris Metzenhttp://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?pager.offset=1&cId=3163178
==Gallery==
Race-icon-nerubian.png|Nerubian icon (as seen in archaeology).
Race-icon-nerubianbig.png|Nerubian icon (as seen in archaeology).
Anubarak Coliseum.jpg|Anub'arak
Crypt Horror.jpg|Crypt fiend
Anub'Rekhan.jpg|Crypt lord
Anub'ar Blightbeast.jpg|Nerubian flyer
Hath'ar Skimmer.jpg|Nerubian spider
Nerubian Spiderlord.png|Nerubian spiderlord
Krik'thir the Gatewatcher.jpg|Nerubian vizier
Carrion Beetle.png|Carrion beetle
;Warcraft III
Nerubian2.jpg|A nerubian in Warcraft III.
The Return to Northrend - Nerubian community.jpg|A nerubian community.
The Forgotten Ones - Scourge prisoners.jpg|Living nerubian resistance fighters holding crypt fiends prisoners.
BTNNerubianSpiderLord.png|Nerubian Spider Lord portrait.
NerubianWC3.gif|Nerubian Warrior
BTNNerubian.png|Nerubian warrior portrait.
BTNNerubianWarrior.png|Nerubian warrior portrait in Reforged.
BTNNerubian-Reforged.png|Nerubian spiderling portrait in Reforged.
BTNNerubianSeer.png|Nerubian seer portrait in Reforged.
Cryptlord.gif|Crypt Lord
BTNHeroCryptLord.png|Crypt Lord portrait.
Anub'arak face.jpg|A crypt lord's face.
BTNHeroCryptLord-Reforged.png|Crypt Lord portrait in Reforged.
CryptfiendWC3.gif|Crypt fiend
BTNCryptFiend.png|Crypt Fiend portrait.
BTNCryptFiend-Reforged.png|Crypt Fiend portrait in Reforged.
Scarab.gif|Undead Carrion beetle
BTNCarrionScarabsLv1.png|Carrion Beetle portrait in Reforged.
Nerubian Ziggurat W3.jpg|Nerubian Ziggurat
Nerubian Tower.gif|Nerubian Tower
BTNFrostTower.png|Nerubian Tower portrait.
BTNFrostTower-Reforged.png|Nerubian Tower portrait in Reforged.
Warcraft III Reforged - Loading Screen Crypt Fiend.jpg|Crypt Fiend on a loading screen in Reforged.
Warcraft III Reforged - Undead Wallpaper.jpg|Crypt Fiend on the Undead wallpaper in Reforged.
Reforged credits art 2.png|Crypt lord in Reforged.
;Trading Card Game
Anub'arak Glowei.jpg|Anub'arak, The Traitor King
Anub'Rekhan TCG.jpg|Anub'Rekhan
Kilix TCG.jpg|Kilix the Unraveler
Azjol-anak Acidslinger TCG.jpg|Azjol-anak Acidslinger
Azjol-anak Acidspewer TCG.jpg|Azjol-anak Acidspewer
Azjol-anak Battleguard TCG.jpg|Azjol-anak Battleguard
Azjol-anak Broodguard TCG.jpg|Azjol-anak Broodguard
Azjol-anak Champion TCG.jpg|Azjol-anak Champion
Azjol-anak Webspinner TCG.jpg|Azjol-anak Webspinner
Azjol-anak Webweaver TCG.jpg|Azjol-anak Webweaver
Crypt Fiend TCG.jpg|Crypt Fiend
Cunning Crypt Fiend TCG.jpg|Cunning Crypt Fiend
Underking Talonox TCG.jpg|Underking Talonox
Anubarak Azjol Nerub tcg.jpg|Death to the Traitor King
;Hearthstone
Anub'arak HS.jpg|
Anub'Rekhan HS.png|
Elder Nadox HS.jpg|
Hardronox HS.jpg|
Crypt Keeper HS.jpg|
Crypt Lord HS.jpg|
EVIL Genius HS.jpg|
Fatespinner.jpg|
Nerubian Flyer HS.jpg|
Nerubian Prophet HS.jpg|
Nerubian Swarmguard HS.jpg|
Nerubian Vizier HS.jpg|
Spellweaver HS.jpg|
Underking HS.jpg|
Venomancer.jpg|
Chitinous Plating HS.jpg|
Gnash HS.jpg|
Unending Swarm HS.jpg|
Hearthstone - trailer nerubian.jpg|In trailer artwork of Curse of Naxxramas.
;Heroes of the Storm
Anub'arak HotS.jpg|Anub'arak, the Traitor King.
Anub'arak HotS Underking.jpg|Underking Anub'arak
Anub'arak HotS Art 2.jpg|Anub'arak hero artwork.
Zagara HotS Crypt Queen.jpg|Crypt Queen 
Zagara HotS Crypt Queen concept art.jpg|Concept art of Crypt Queen Zagara.
Zagara HotS Crypt Queen concept art minions.jpg|Concept art of Crypt Queen Zagara's minions.
;Art
Nerubian artbook concept 2.jpg|Wrath of the Lich King concept art.
CryptFiendSots.jpg|Crypt Fiend concept art by Samwise Didier.
cryptlord.jpg|Cryptlord concept art by Samwise Didier.
Nerubian artbook concept 1.jpg|Nerubian spider concept art.
Chris Robinson Nerub concept.jpg|Nerubian concept arts by Chris Robinson.
Blackfang.jpg|Nerubian concept art by Trent Kaniuga.
Nerubian Elder by Raneman.jpg|Nerubian elder concept art by Glenn Rane.
Nerubian Caster art.jpg|Nerubian caster concept art by Glenn Rane.
Nerubian flyer by Raneman.jpg|Nerubian flyer concept art by Glenn Rane.
Nerubian Assassin by Glenn Rane.jpg|Nerubian assassin concept art by Glenn Rane.
WWI Nerubian.jpg|Nerubian concept art with more human features.
Nvizier.jpg|Nerubian vizier art from The Wrath of the Lich King Bestiary.
Nerubian - Trent.jpg|Nerubian concept art by Trent Kaniuga.
Nerubian - Trent 2.jpg|Nerubian concept art by Trent Kaniuga.
Nerubian beast.png|Un-implemented model for an "undead nerubian beast"
Nerubian Bridge.jpg|Nerubian bridge concept art.
Nerubian Wall.jpg|Nerubian wall concept art.
Nerubian Obelisk Concept.jpg|Nerubian obelisk concept art.
Nerubian Web.jpg|Nerubian web concept art.
NerubianStructure1.jpg|Nerubian building concept art. A hint of qiraji style can be seen.
NerubianStructure2.jpg|Nerubian building concept art.
Nerubian Environment Concept by Drawgoon.jpg|Nerubian environment concept art
Nerubian Environment Concept2 by Drawgoon.jpg
==See also==
*Origin of the races: The evolution of the aqir
*Silithid
*Aqir
*Qiraji
*Mantid
==References==
Category:Arthropods
 
es:Nerubiano