San'layn

The San'layn (sometimes spelled in lowercase) are a sectMagus InstallationExploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 22 of vampiric darkfallen elves in service to the Scourge.Underdev/Icecrown Citadel: The Frozen Throne They are known for their guile and dark magic, particularly the manipulation of blood and shadow magic. They used to be among Kael'thas Sunstrider's greatest followers,Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 192 until they were raised into undeath by Arthas following Illidan Stormrage's failed assault on the Frozen Throne.Prince Taldaram#Adventure GuideReturn To Caladis Brightspear During Battle for Azeroth, a number of San'layn led by Blood Prince Dreven were given a chance to join the Horde by Warchief Sylvanas if they could work with them, but Dreven was killed during his mission.Ending the San'layn Threat
==History==
===The Frozen Throne===
In the aftermath of the Third War, the blood elves were cut off from their source of magic, the Sunwell. Desperate for aid, their prince Kael'thas Sunstrider pledged allegiance to Illidan Stormrage who taught them how to siphon magic, and how to wield fel.Fury of the Sunwell - archived page The blood elves, or Sunfury, seeking to avenge their fallen brethren, participated in Illidan's attempt to destroy the Lich King.The Return to Northrend (WC3 Undead) Arthas intervened, and the two armies clashed, but the undead ultimately defeated Illidan's forces at the foot of Icecrown.A Symphony of Frost and Flame (WC3 Undead) The surviving blood elves returned to Outland along with Kael'thas.
A few remained lost and scattered in the frozen wastes of Northrend, but Arthas sought out one by one those who had challenged the Lich King. He shattered their forces and raised the most powerful ones into the Lich King's service as vampyr Darkfallen, organizing them into the San'layn. Among those survivors was Lana'thel, wielder of the draconic blade Quel'Delar, who was no match for the power of Frostmourne. She was chosen by the Lich King to serve him in undeath as the queen of the San'layn.Underdev/Quel'Delar: The Sister Blade
===Wrath of the Lich King===
The San'layn oversaw the Scourge's operations throughout Azeroth, holding an important position amongst the Scourge offensive,Elder Ko'nani with its members, most of the times, performing important tasks on the behalf of the Lich King.Out of Body ExperienceChamber of Secrets They were often found in strongholds of other Scourge-affiliated races alongside with its local leadership, or in command of Scourge bases or operations across Northrend, acting as agents, leaders, or ambassadors.Utgarde - archived page
During the Scourge's second invasion, the San'layn Prince Tenris Mirkblood had infiltrated Karazhan by orders from the Lich King, in a mission to learn about the strengths of their enemies. The operation was thwarted by experienced heroes sent by the Argent Dawn.Chamber of Secrets
They took part in the assault upon the Scarlet Enclave, were responsible for the resurrection of Archmage Arugal, the creation of the massive flesh titan Thrym, challenged heroes in battle at Valhalas, and acted as ambassadors to the vrykul of the Howling Fjord and as agents of the Scourge forces attempting to conquer Azjol-Nerub. The San'layn maintained an especially strong presence in the Borean Tundra, leading the assaults from Temple City of En'kilah and the necropolis Naxxanar floating above the fortress.
The alliance between King Ymiron and the Scourge meant that the Lich King sent an ambassador, the San'layn Prince Keleseth, to reside at Utgarde Keep. He oversaw Scourge operations in Howling Fjord, working with Ingvar the Plunderer to organize raids. Adventurers eventually killed him.
The San'layn faced heavy resistance from the Alliance and the Horde. With most of their blood princes slain by the end of the Northrend campaign, the Ashen Verdict and a group of heroes raided the Crimson Hall within Icecrown Citadel, their headquarters. The blood-princes Valanar, Keleseth, and Taldaram were raised into undeath by the Lich King to avenge themselves, but were killed again, along with their blood-queen.
===Legion===
Blood-Queen Lana'thel's daughter, Blood-Princess Thal'ena, had been imprisoned in the Violet Hold by the Kirin Tor in the aftermath of the war against the Lich King. She was freed by Lord Malgath in an attempt to strike Dalaran from within, but was killed by a group of heroes.
===Battle for Azeroth===
With no home left, several San'layn were employed into the Horde's ranks, although Talanji did not trust them. Sylvanas came into an agreement and gave them a chance; besides having to respect the hierarchy of authority within the Horde, if the Darkfallen could work with them they would get a home with the Horde, if not they would be gone.Meeting of the Minds
They were tasked to clear the rubble in a collapsed tunnel that connects Nazmir to Vol'dun. Blood Prince Dreven and his followers came into conflict with Shandris Feathermoon, eventually killing members of her party. Hunted by the Alliance, the blood prince was cornered traveling via boat. Aboard the Crimson Squall he was training other San'layn and alongside his followers were siphoning power from blood-infused crystals to bolster their unholy abilities, indicating that the San'layn were growing their ranks again. When cornered, Dreven killed and drained the Forsaken troops aboard his ship, intending to blame their deaths on the Alliance. The blood prince and his followers were ultimately slain by Shandris and an Alliance adventurer.
===Shadowlands===
With the breaking of the Helm of Domination, the san'layn Vorath marshaled the Scourge in the Ghostlands and marched them to attack the blood elves settlement of Tranquillien.Briefing In response, the sin'dorei helmed by the Blood Knights defended the village and launched a counteroffensive across the Dead Scar into Deatholme where adventurers managed to kill Vorath with their newly empowered ranseurs.Justice Long Overdue
==Appearance==
San'layn mostly retain the builds of their still-living kin, with slim, athletic, and strong bodies, and have fairly long hair.
However, unlike blood elves, their flesh appears necrotic and, though universally pale, ranges from fleshy pinks and red to gray and light green, and they tend to have either white, blond, red or dark hair. Their eyes have white, yellow, green, blue, or black glows. Some San'layn have clawed fingers and ears more closely resembling those of a bat, and a few have developed wings.
==Culture==
The San'layn are cold, arrogant vampyr who inflict pain for pure entertainment.Blood-Princess Thal'ena#Quotes Bearer of a curse which makes them hunger for blood,Shatter the Orbs! they are often found siphoning from blood globes and crystals.
San'layn, most of the times, dress in red, orange and black garments, like tarnished versions of their living cousins, the blood elves. They have assimilated the Scourge shared culture, and contributed with their own, which can be seen in the decoration of the Crimson Hall, inside the Icecrown Citadel.
Their most common mount is the skeletal horse and they have been shown to keep bats, spiders and blood worms around them.
Skilled in a variety of magic schools, they often make use of vampiric skills, have even demonstrated some shape-shifting abilities and possess great mental influence over human minds, when empowered by the Lich King.Last Rites
==Organization==
During the Northrend campaign, the San'layn possessed two main bases of operations across Northrend: the Temple City of En'kilah and the Crimson Hall. The Temple City of En'kilah served as the command center of the Scourge in the Borean Tundra. The Crimson Hall was the headquarters and home of the San'layn, located inside the Icecrown Citadel, and was the place where the most powerful ones could be found. Blood-Queen Lana'thel held the leading position in the San'layn hierarchy, and the Blood Prince Council were the second in the chain of command of the faction.
Later, during the Horde War Campaign, the San'layn attempted to join the Horde's ranks, only to be slain alongside their leader Blood Prince Dreven by the hands of the Alliance. 
The current status of their leadership and its organization is unknown. 
==Notable==
Name	Role 	Status 	Location
 	Leader of the San'layn, former wielder of Quel'Delar. 	(lore); (WoW)	Icecrown and Icecrown Citadel
 	Daughter of Lana'thel. Imprisoned in the Violet Hold. 	(WoW) 	Violet Hold
 	Leader of a group that sought to join the Horde. 	(lore); (WoW)	Zandalar
 	Agent of the Scourge forces attempting to conquer Azjol-Nerub. Raised in undeath to serve in Icecrown Citadel as a member of the Blood Prince Council. 	(lore); (WoW)	Ahn'kahet and Icecrown Citadel
 	Overlord of Howling Fjord, ruler of the South-Eastern reaches of Northrend and ambassador to the vrykul; also took part in the assault upon the Scarlet Enclave and the ritual to raise Arugal. Raised in undeath to serve in Icecrown Citadel as a member of the Blood Prince Council. Prince Valanar's brother.The Crypt of Remembrance	(lore); (WoW)	Scarlet Enclave, Howling Fjord, Utgarde Keep and Icecrown Citadel
 	Overlord of Borean Tundra and master of Naxxanar; also took part in the assault upon the Scarlet Enclave and the ritual to raise Arugal. Raised in undeath to serve in Icecrown Citadel as a member of the Blood Prince Council. Prince Keleseth's brother. 	(lore); (WoW)	Scarlet Enclave, Borean Tundra and Icecrown Citadel
 	Agent of the Scourge during the second Scourge Invasion. 	 	Karazhan
 	Challenges fighters to battle at Valhalas. 	(lore); (WoW)	Icecrown Citadel and Icecrown Glacier
 	Masterminded the creation of the massive flesh titan, Thrym, and likely other flesh giants. 	(lore); (WoW)	Zul'Drak
 	Took part in the ritual to raise Archmage Arugal. 	Unknown 	Last seen in Silverpine Forest
 	Led the ritual to raise Arugal. 	Unknown 	Last seen in Silverpine Forest
 	Mustered the leaderless Scourge to attack Tranquillien. 	(lore); (WoW)	Ghostlands
 	One of Prince Valanar's lieutenants. 	(lore); (WoW)	Borean Tundra
 	One of Prince Valanar's lieutenants. 	(lore); (WoW)	Borean Tundra
 	One of Prince Valanar's lieutenants. 	(lore); (WoW)	Borean Tundra
==Ranks and types==
* - Follower of Blood Prince Dreven 
* - Follower of Blood Prince Dreven 
* - Dweller of the Crimson Hall
* - Dweller of the Crimson Hall
* - Retainer of Prince Valanar.
* - Dweller of the Crimson Hall
* - Dweller of the Crimson Hall
* - Retainer of Prince Valanar.
* - Dweller of the Crimson Hall
* - Dweller of the Crimson Hall
* - Dweller of the Crimson Hall
* - Follower of Blood Prince Dreven 
* - Common Warlock minion 
* - Blood-Queen Lana'thel's minion 
==Notes and trivia==
*Sir Finley Mrrgglton speculates that the vrykul vampyr of Stormheim may have suffered the same curse the blood elves did.What the Bonespeakers Buried
*San'layn (priest talent) is a level 75 Shadow Priest talent which increases the damage of Vampiric Touch and the healing of Vampiric Embrace.
*In Heroes of the Storm, Sylvanas has a color variant of her "Dark Lady" skin called "San'layn Dark Lady Sylvanas".
*During early WotLK beta, they used undead blood elf models, with some wearing the Malefic Raiment.:File:Prince Keleseth2.jpg
*Chris Metzen said at BlizzCon 2007 that the vrykul were also vampiric, something that is not visited in-game.
*The San'layn hold a few similarities with the nathrezim, who previously served the Lich King, both being inspired from vampires and overseeing the Scourge's efforts. The similarities may be intentional in-universe, as the Lich King could have wanted to fill the gap previously occupied by the dreadlords in his armies.
*The San'layn are jokingly referred by female void elves as another type of "emo elves" who drink blood.Jokes#Void elf female
*The San'layn, specifically their Princes, are inspired from vampires from folklore and fiction. They drink blood, have bat-like ears, wear cloaks with high collars, possess fangs, and display similar mannerisms, characteristics and accent. The Art of Wrath of the Lich King includes a concept art titled "High Elf Nosferatu", which appears to be inspired by Count Orlok from the classic German silent film Nosferatu.
==Speculation==
*Elder Ko'nani of the Kalu'ak states that "the Dark One rides forth again with his San'layn..." showing that they are a major, or at least leading, part of the Scourge offensive. Depending on how the sentence is read, it may mean the San'layn were part of a previous attack of some kind.
==Gallery==
;World of Warcraft
File:Lana'thel.jpg|Blood-Queen Lana'thel, the leader of the San'layn.
File:Tenris Mirkblood.jpg|A San'layn Blood Prince.
File-Crimson Hall 02.jpg|Darkfallen Blood Knight and Darkfallen Archmage.
File:Mirkblood's room.jpg|Prince Tenris Mirkblood's room in Karazhan.
File:Blood Prince Emblem.png|Blood Prince Emblem.
File:San'layn painting.png|A painting possibly meant to depict a San'layn
;Other games
File:Luthion the Vile-DK.jpg|Luthion the Vile in the Death Knight manga.
File:Prince Keleseth HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Prince Valanar HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Sanguine Reveler - Hearthstone.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Sleeping Acolyte.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Tenacious San'layn HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Blood Lord Varoth.jpg|Blood Lord Vorath in the Trading Card Game.
File:Sylvanas HotS Dark Lady San'layn.jpg|San'layn Dark Lady Sylvanas in Heroes of the Storm.
==Videos==
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==See also==
*San'layn Ritualist Gloves
*Wand of the San'layn
*Wraps of the San'layn
==References==
 
Category:Undead
Category:Blood elves
Category:Darkfallen
Category:Vampires
Category:Sunfury
Category:Scourge
Category:Wrath of the Lich King
es:San'layn
fr:San'layn