Link: https://wow.gamepedia.com/Bolvar_Fordragon
According to his Wowpedia profile, his titles as Jailor of the Damned and Lich King are now listed as "Former". It was obvious since Legion he was probably gonna take over leading the Ebon Blade in the future. That was the setup. Now freed from his role as Lich King, he'll obviously play an active role in the Shadowlands expansion. The question is what comes afterward.
Almost everyone clearly knows he was alive-ish all this time and now Taelia has met her father in Oribos. That'll be a long, LONG conversation when they get back to Azeroth LOL. Bolvar's power level is probably somewhere between Darion and Arthas now. He can raise new DKs and presumably rez fallen DKs too. Both were things Darion and technically Player DKs were capable of.
One obvious difference between him and Arthas is he raised DKs with their free will intact. Yeah he raised them for a specific purpose--to help defend Azeroth from threats--but they retained their free will and self-awareness. I'm pretty sure he also raises folks who would either woudn't mind being Undead if it means they can make a difference or folks who know about the Knights of the Ebon Blade. Or both. He gives them the power of current-gen DKs and tell them "Welcome to the Ebon Blade! Go introduce yourself to the Alliance/Horde! By the way we've been around for a while but some people still don't know the difference between us mindless Undead. OK THANX BAI GL!"
I don't know if it's explained at some point but Bolvar's DK-making ability is at least on par with Arthas'. DKs are basically Plate-wearing Necromancers after all. Lorewise, the Player DK can raise new DKs and raises the Four Horsemen as the Deathlord. Since Bolvar is now all-in with the Ebon Blade, it does raise a few questions. My biggest one concerning the Ebon Blade is where's the Four Horsemen from Legion at? Because they should at least appear during Shadowlands either in the Shadowlands or on Azeroth helping to defend against the Undead Invasion.
My next question after that is will the Ebon Blade have influence in the Alliance and the Horde? Sure they're a neutral faction collectively but outside faction work, everyone's Alliance or Horde. I imagine a scenario where after the Undead Invasion is dealt with, the Alliance and the Horde request the Ebon Blade have knights stationed in their lands to assist with future threats involving the Shadowlands or Undead. For the Forsaken, this frees them up to focus on Horde-related matters.
A third question is will Bolvar give DKs the power and freedom to offer Knighthood or Undeath to people at their discretion. I could see this being used in one of three scenarios:
- Punisment and Penance: Basically, "Death is too good for you. You will atone for your sins in Undeath!"
- Heroic Charge: Basically, "Rise and Fight once more, Hero. Azeroth still has need of your valor!"
- Voluntary Transformation: Basically, living volunteers would become DKs when they die or are killed. "Welcome back to the Mortal World...Brother/Sister."
I think it will be real interesting to see the Knights of the Ebon Blade taking on a more prominent role during and after Shadowlands even if it's a small one. More so knowing Bolvar will be leading them moving forward. I could see the Ebon Blade wanting to keep tabs on people outside their ranks who practice Necromancy. It sounds like they wouldn't want too many people outside their ranks to able to raise an undead army so...yeah. Their new purpose post Shadowlands could be maintaining the balance of Life and Death doesn't favor Death too heavily again. Should be interesting.