War stories, articles & game guides
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War stories, articles & game guides
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2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“With the riders of the Host of Suffering dead, now is the time to put an end to their true leader: Orbaz Bloodbane. Mograine caught up with me while you were off and told me that he found where Orbaz is hiding. Under Icecrown Citadel itself, there is an immense pit – you will find Orbaz just outside its lip.
Some of the Ebon Blade’s strongest agents have already been dispatched – gather aid and join the fight. It is time for Bloodbane to die.”
-Vereth the Cunning
Vereth the Cunning on the Rise of Suffering has dispatched you to kill Orbaz Bloodbane.
(Suggested players: 5)
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
You will also receive:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Quest Giver: Vereth the Cunning — Rise of Suffering, Icecrown [54, 72]
Objective: Kill Orbaz Bloodbane, the leader of the Host of Suffering.
Quick Facts
Preparation
| Ability | Effect | Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Melee Attacks | Hits very hard (2-5k depending on armor). Fast swing. Can kill cloth wearers in seconds. | Do not let him reach you. Kiting is the primary strategy. |
| Blood Strike | Instant melee strike dealing 60% weapon damage + bonus per disease on target. | Stay at range. |
| Plague Strike | Melee hit applying a Shadow DoT over 12 seconds. ~4k initial damage. | Cleanse if possible. Avoid melee range. |
| Icy Touch | Frost damage that reduces attack/casting speed by 15% for 20 seconds. | Primarily dangerous if he catches you. The snare on casting speed can slow your kiting DPS. |
| Empower Runeblade | Empowers his weapon with shadow lightning, increasing damage temporarily. He pauses to channel this. | Use the channel window to create distance (similar to Rokir’s Zombie Horde channel). |
| Death and Decay | AoE ground effect. | Move out immediately. Standard DnD counter. |
HP: Approximately 400,000 (significantly more than the Riders at ~126k each).
Battle Strategy
The Kiting Method (Solo)
Danger: Do not kite Orbaz outside the ring/arena area. He will go invisible, and if you walk back in, he’ll one-shot you from stealth.
Group Strategy
| Class | Approach |
|---|---|
| Death Knight | Unholy Presence (+15%) stacks with Fate Rune of Fleet Feet (+15%) for 30%+ speed. Kite with Icy Touch, Blood Boil, Death Coil rotation. Switch to Frost Presence if he catches you. ~10-20 minutes. |
| Hunter | Aspect of the Viper for mana sustain. Kite in circles with Arcane Shot, stings, and Immolation Traps. Use Aspect of the Cheetah for speed when safe. Pet with Dash helps. ~20-25 minutes. |
| Mage | Instant-cast kiting (Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Living Bomb). Mirror Image to buy Evocation time for mana. Blink for emergencies. ~15 minutes. |
| Warlock | DoT kiting with Corruption, Curse of Agony. Voidwalker won’t survive long. Fleet Feet rune is critical. ~15-20 minutes. |
| Paladin (Ret) | Kite with Judgement, Exorcism, Divine Storm (requires briefly closing distance). Hammer of Wrath below 20%. Sacred Shield + self-heals for safety. |
| Shaman (Elemental) | Flame Shock + Lava Burst kiting. Instant Ghost Wolf for speed (with talent). Water Shield for mana. ~10 minutes. |
| Druid (Balance) | Moonfire + Travel Form kiting. Slow but safe. One player reported a 38-minute kill in quest blues using only Moonfire. |
| Melee classes without ranged | Very difficult solo. Strongly recommend grouping. Enhancement shamans and rogues have limited options without kiting range. |
Finding a Group
Lore & Secrets
Orbaz Bloodbane, the Traitor Who Never Turned
Orbaz Bloodbane is a human death knight with a long history in WotLK’s story. Players first encounter him during the Death Knight starting experience in Acherus: The Ebon Hold, where he serves alongside Thassarian and Koltira Deathweaver as one of the Lich King’s officers.
During the Battle for Light’s Hope Chapel, when Darion Mograine and the other death knights broke free of the Lich King’s control, Orbaz was the one who fled. While Thassarian, Koltira, and the player joined the Ebon Blade, Orbaz chose to remain loyal to the Scourge, making him a personal traitor to every death knight player who remembers fighting alongside him.
The self-proclaimed “Hand of the Lich King,” Orbaz was placed in charge of Malykriss and the Host of Suffering, the Lich King’s replacement death knight order.
The entire Vereth chain has been building to this moment: dismantling the quarry’s defenses, scouting Malykriss, sabotaging operations, and eliminating the three Rider instructors, all to get to Orbaz.
Mograine’s Personal Vendetta
Explore Icecrown’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Icecrown Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.
Vikstone's War Journal“With the riders of the Host of Suffering dead, now is the time to put an end to their true leader. Orbaz Bloodbane,” Vereth said. “Mograine caught up with me while you were off and told me that he found where Orbaz is hiding. Under Icecrown Citadel itself, there is an immense pit. You will find Orbaz just outside its lip. Some of the Ebon Blade’s strongest agents have already been dispatched. Gather aid and join the fight. It is time for Bloodbane to die.”
Under the Citadel.
The pit goes down and does not appear to arrive anywhere. Whatever light reaches that ledge stops at the rim. The Ebon Blade’s people were already engaged when I came up and they were not winning.
“Ah, the hand of the Ebon Blade has finally come to claim me. I tremble in fear.” He was not afraid and he was not leaving. He had chosen that ledge.
“Hah! That’s all you’ve got? I’m surprised you even made it to the citadel.”
Then the dark lightning came off him in sheets.
“The Lich King has given me power beyond your wildest nightmares. Behold!”
We gave ground. All of us, together, back toward the rim, and I remember thinking that the pit was the only direction left.
“It all ends here.”
Then Mograine arrived.
“Orbaz Bloodbane, self proclaimed hand of the Lich King. Couldn’t wait for me to be out of the way so that you could seize control?”
“There you are, Darion! I was wondering when you’d crawl forth.”
“You’ll never have what it takes to lead anything, Orbaz. Not even a legion of mindless skeletons.”
Orbaz chuckled at that. He knew something and he was pleased about it and he took it with him.
The Highlord did not take over the fight. He stepped into the line with the rest of us and worked, and I have not seen a commander do that since Dalfors held the gap below the Vanguard.
“The Lich King shall extinguish… every… last… one… of you.”
Mograine watched him fall into the pit. “Good riddance.”
“Mograine himself arrived to see the deed done then?” Vereth said. “I imagine there was some ill blood between those two. No surprise that he wanted a piece of the wretch. You’ve done exceedingly well, night elf, and you shall be rewarded appropriately. The Ebon Blade thanks you.”
The Host of Suffering was broken.
Bloodbane went into the pit and the Ebon Blade’s war in the north was finished, which left the Alliance’s own quieter problem, the one Boltwrench had been building toward down in the engine room, starting with a Sneak Preview.
