Why is Arthas torturing Bolvar in ICC?

[nothingsjim]

It just doesn't make sense to me. From the dialogue in ICC, we're suppose to think Arthas is trying to break Bolvar to serve him.

But why is that even necessary?

We have a long list of victims fallen to the Scourge, and was made into a slave of Lich King against their will. We have Sir Zeliek who was clearly not broken, yet cannot resist the Lich King's control, which is the entire point of the Scourge in first place: Freewill doesn't matter, you will serve regardless.

So why is Arthas indulging in some senseless torture that serves no purpose? Or is the "Breaking" a necessary part of Scourge conversion that all of Lich King's minion have to go through? Is Blizzard trying to tell us Bolvar's will is that strong?

[the boar]

Is Blizzard trying to tell us Bolvar's will is that strong?

given he's been in his new job for a couple years now and hasn't turned the scourge on us.. i'm guessing it is that one.

[Deleted]

He has a stronger will than others.
During the Yogg-Saron vision, we can see that he's still able to resist torture.
ICC was only the icing on the cake. Also, didn't he rule Stormwind when Varian was gone?

[Raziella]

For some reason I always thought he was trying to lure us all to our deaths. I mean, technically it worked.

[Skoll Shorties]

It just doesn't make sense to me. From the dialogue in ICC, we're suppose to think Arthas is trying to break Bolvar to serve him.

But why is that even necessary?

We have a long list of victims fallen to the Scourge, and was made into a slave of Lich King against their will. We have Sir Zeliek who was clearly not broken, yet cannot resist the Lich King's control, which is the entire point of the Scourge in first place: Freewill doesn't matter, you will serve regardless.

So why is Arthas indulging in some senseless torture that serves no purpose? Or is the "Breaking" a necessary part of Scourge conversion that all of Lich King's minion have to go through? Is Blizzard trying to tell us Bolvar's will is that strong?

Bolvar wasn't killed. The plague that the rogue-Forsaken had launched at everyone nearly killed everyone. Bolvar didn't die because of the Dragon's flame he was more prevented from the very hinge of death but was very close. Arthas wanted to make an example, a perfect Champion of both the Light and the Dark - it was likely why he kept him alive rather than killing him and raising him as a mindless follower.

But then again there are those who resist him after death like Sylvanas and her Forsaken or Darion and his Death Knights. My take on it is that Bolvar was to be made an example as to those who would defy him - for eventually all must bow before their king soon. Were Arthas given more time with Bolvar, he may have succeeded. But Bolvar had plenty of fate in the Light and resistance against Arthas.

[Arthas242]

Bolvar wasn't killed. The plague that the rogue-Forsaken had launched at everyone nearly killed everyone. Bolvar didn't die because of the Dragon's flame he was more prevented from the very hinge of death but was very close. Arthas wanted to make an example, a perfect Champion of both the Light and the Dark - it was likely why he kept him alive rather than killing him and raising him as a mindless follower.

But then again there are those who resist him after death like Sylvanas and her Forsaken or Darion and his Death Knights. My take on it is that Bolvar was to be made an example as to those who would defy him - for eventually all must bow before their king soon. Were Arthas given more time with Bolvar, he may have succeeded. But Bolvar had plenty of fate in the Light and resistance against Arthas.

SOOOO WE THINK!

who is to say Arthas didn't break him before we got to him? remember bolvar has been acting very strange lately, and someone who was broken playing a long game could be possible

also Bolvar has talked about whispers, and that could be a fragment of ner'zhul/arthas or something else within the helm showing him visions.....

i feel like this is preperations for a return of the lich king somewhere in the future even if not for a long time

[Skoll Shorties]

SOOOO WE THINK!

who is to say Arthas didn't break him before we got to him? remember bolvar has been acting very strange lately, and someone who was broken playing a long game could be possible

also Bolvar has talked about whispers, and that could be a fragment of ner'zhul/arthas or something else within the helm showing him visions.....

i feel like this is preperations for a return of the lich king somewhere in the future even if not for a long time

I think that Arthas might've pushed Bolvar torward the direction he is going in or it is something else. My bets are on involvement with Yogg-saron or the Helm of Domination, guess we'll have to see in the future.

[Shelly]

There's greater power in turning someone, making them forsake the light.

Arthas' prime drive through the whispers of Ner'zhul is the same thing that drove Illidan to hide in outland and Wrathion to free Garrosh. The defeat of the legion.

Arthas' wants the legion destroyed for fear that it can control the LK and that while he escaped their vengeance once he might not be so lucky next time.

Illidan's original goal in running away to Outland once more and forming his Illidari was as a means of protecting himself from the wrath of Kil'Jaeden. Illidan had failed in his attempt to destroy Arthas and been used as a pawn by both Arthas to free the LK from Legion control and then by the Legion in an attempt to destroy the LK. He hid in his failure and meanwhile the Blood Elves he imported drank deep of fel magics and came under the sway of KJ.

Wrathion's motive was/is the protection of Azeroth from a being that could destroy her in a single swing of a sword.

It all comes back to the Legion which is why the next expansion will be a completely fresh step forward.

Regarding our current LK. Bolvar chose his prison and it's certainly not without cost.

[Camthur]

There seems to be a direct connection between just how willing somebody was to serve Arthas and how much intelligence they retained in undeath. (and how much power the Lich King gave to them) A loyal servant can be allowed some independence and trusted with more duties and power while a mindless drone is just cannon fodder to throw at your enemy.

Arthas probably thought he'd gain an immensely powerful tool if he could turn Bolvar. If his plan had worked, it's quite possible that Bolvar would have been the one to lead the newly converted players back to destroy the world.

[lifebinderx]

Basicly LK has no control on living. Dunno why he bothers with Bolvar. Even he can break his resistance, still can not control him like he did death knigts and scourge

[Airlick]

Because he can, because he wants to turn him and probably because he wants to experiment on him - since he's a unique case of a person surviving the plague and getting burnt by dragon fire at the same time. He probably wanted to see if he even can turn him.

[Wildmoon]

For luls. /10chars

[trololo681]

Part of Arthas inhabited (and still inhabits) the Lich King. (с) Alex Afrasiabi
Arthas in Helm of Domination
comeback is real
Maybe Bovlar was a backup option

[Deleted]

Bolvar kept the scourge at bay while all our forces been concentrating on fighting away grave dangers namely deathwing, panda madness and garrosh, the iron horde, legion invasion. He served Azeroth well in so many ways other than just grabbing the helm and stand there looking pretty. Tbf now that the legion has been pushed away it is a good time for him to finally give up fighting. Hopefully he has done some more preparations to help us fight the LK reloaded before he gets lost. Unlike Arthas even as a LK he is a hero of Azeroth.

[rogoth]

bolvar assaulted the angrathar, the wrathgate in icecrown, during the battle the apoethcary putress launched a huge plague attack against both the horde/alliance vanguard and the scourge forces summoned by the lich king who met the challenge of bolvar, alexstrasza sent her prime consort and some red dragons to cleanse the area, unfortunately it would also leave a lasting mark on those in the area, after the event, and being unable to capture tirion, arthas settled for bolvar as a consolation prize, and in order to get him to submit to his will like so many other beings before him he was tortured atop the frozen throne in an attempt to break his will, but being a paladin and defacto leader he knew better than to give in and resisted everything the lich king could throw at him, the point of the torture and stripping down of willpower is so that when commanded to act they will do so without question, also it was to serve as a visual message that if you tried to challenge his power, the lich king would destroy you both physically and mentally.

[Osmeric]

Villains gotta villain?

[Aucald]

Arthas was trying to break Bolvar's will as he broke Saurfang the Younger's in making him the Deathbringer. Bolvar's will and resistance to torture was higher, though; and he resisted right up to the very end. His entire goal for WotLK was luring and suborning the champions of Azeroth to his side - to create a mass of Death Knight generals for the Scourge and to lead them against the living as an unstoppable force.

[Cronovey]

The Helm of Domination itself is a powerful artifact, it's entirely possible that part of Arthas is in there similar to how Ner'zhul was. He may have been putting together his backup plan to return by mentally exhausting Bolvar in the event of his eventual death at the top of Icecrown Citadel since he obviously knew the combined forces of the Horde and the Alliance were coming for him. In the event of failure, store a piece of your soul in the helm and attempt hostile takeover of Bolvar's exhausted body and mind after your demise. Hell, for all we know the image of his father coming out was just him playing us with his necromantic magic to force someone to put on the helm and not actually related to Frostmourne being shattered.

Blizzard has proven time and again that they love to bring back popular characters and the Lich King (as an entity, if not entirely Arthas) is probably not exempt from this. They'll write circles (sometimes crudely drawn circles that look like squares even) to make the lore do what they want it to in the end.

[trololo681]

Arthas could have killed Bolvar as he killed Saurfang and the heroes of Azeroth, but he does not. Because he has special plans for Bolvar.

[iamthedevil]

He was trying to insult the light by breaking one of their champions. Must be an edgy paladin thing.