Tempest Keep: the fall of Kael'thas

Tempest Keep is the naaru fortress that Kael'thas Sunstrider stole in Netherstorm, and The Eye, the raid at its heart, is where the prince of the blood elves falls in The Burning Crusade. But Kael'thas' fall does not end there: he survives, changes form and returns for one last attack in Magisters' Terrace.

This post tells the story of the fortress, Kael's road to betrayal and what happens to him after his defeat. If you want the summary of the whole expansion, read The Burning Crusade in order first.

What is Tempest Keep?

Tempest Keep was not built by the elves. It was created by the naaru, beings of Light who are sworn enemies of the Burning Legion. The fortress can travel through the Twisting Nether, the space that links the worlds. The wiki compares it to a Dark Portal that carries itself.

It has three wings, which are satellites of the main fortress. There was also a fourth piece: the Exodar, which is now the draenei capital on Azeroth.

How did it reach Outland? Before the invasion, Khadgar and Velen asked for help against the Legion, each on his own. The Army of the Light could not send soldiers. So three naaru volunteered: A'dal, M'uru and O'ros. They arrived together with the fortress.

To understand who these beings are, read The Naaru: entities of Light.

How Kael'thas took Tempest Keep

Kael'thas reached Outland in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. He fled Dalaran with the blood elves and found Illidan, who promised a way out of his people's hunger for magic. The origin of this story is in The Frozen Throne #2: Kael and the blood elves and The Frozen Throne #3: the conquest of Outland.

When WoW begins, Kael is already the master of Netherstorm. He left Grand Magister Rommath to retake Quel'Thalas and named Lor'themar Theron regent.

In Netherstorm, Kael did three things that define the zone:

1. He destroyed Kirin'Var Village, a village built for the mages of the Kirin Tor. Today only ghosts live there.
2. He attacked Tempest Keep and defeated its defenders, among them the naaru M'uru.
3. He sent M'uru to Silvermoon. There, the blood elves fed on the naaru's energy through a portal.

The elves also used the fortress's technology to tame the chaotic magic of Netherstorm. Pieces of Tempest Keep became the manaforges, machines that pull magic from the Twisting Nether and fill mana cells. Those cells went to Quel'Thalas.

And the Exodar? Velen's draenei seized that part of the fortress and fled to Azeroth. During the battle, the blood elves sabotaged the ship, and it crashed.

Why did Kael'thas betray Illidan?

Kael did not become a servant of the Legion all at once. It was a string of defeats and grudges.

First, Illidan refused to send his demon hunters to help Kael in an attack on Shattrath. Then, before that battle, Voren'thal the Seer abandoned Kael with his magisters. That group became the Scryers, who now live in Shattrath alongside the Aldor. The desertion deepened the prince's sense of failure.

That is when Kil'jaeden appeared. The demon offered more effective ways to use fel energy, in exchange for Kael abandoning Illidan. Kael refused at first. But his doubts grew, and he finally gave himself to the demon lord.

The Scryers discovered the alliance with the Legion through deserters from the Sunfury, Kael's army. The blood elves who saw it all up close took the news to Quel'Thalas. Lor'themar reluctantly concluded that Kael was lost and had to be defeated. The Horde declared war on him.

The Eye: Kael'thas' raid

The Eye is the inner sanctum of Tempest Keep and Kael'thas' personal stronghold. It is a 25-player raid, released in patch 2.0.3, in January 2007.

There are four bosses:

| Boss | Where | Who it is | |---|---|---| | Al'ar | The Phoenix Hall | The "Phoenix God", Kael's pet phoenix. It is reborn from its own ashes. | | Void Reaver | The Crucible | A mechanical fel reaver built by the Legion. Kael set it to guard the palace. | | High Astromancer Solarian | The Solarium | An astromancer of Kael's blood elves. | | Kael'thas Sunstrider | The Tempest Bridge | The prince himself, the "Sun King". |

Void Reaver is so simple that it earned the nickname "Loot Reaver". Al'ar is the first boss you see, but many raids skipped the phoenix and killed Void Reaver first.

The fight against Kael'thas has five phases and became famous for its length. First come the four advisors, one at a time: Thaladred the Darkener, Lord Sanguinar, Grand Astromancer Capernian and Master Engineer Telonicus. Then Kael summons animated weapons, such as Devastation, Staff of Disintegration, Infinity Blades and Phaseshift Bulwark. Whoever kills one can loot the weapon and use it as a temporary legendary. Next, the advisors come back to life. Only then does the prince join the fight, with his phoenixes.

Did Kael'thas die in Tempest Keep?

No. This is the part that confuses TBC players the most.

In the lore, Kael is defeated in The Eye, but the arrival of Priestess Delrissa saves him from death. Fel energy changes his body: his skin turns pale, a crystal is lodged in his chest and one of his Verdant Spheres, the orbs that circle around him, is missing. It stays with whoever defeated him.

Kael then crosses the Dark Portal back and attacks Silvermoon to recover M'uru. Lady Liadrin sees the attack, renounces House Sunstrider and joins the Sha'tar. The Scryers and the Aldor unite in the Shattered Sun Offensive to stop him.

Kael's last refuge is Magisters' Terrace, on the Isle of Quel'Danas. There he kidnaps Anveena Teague and greets the players with the line that became a meme: "Don't look so smug! I know what you're thinking, but Tempest Keep was merely a set back".

This time there is no way back. The Shattered Sun Offensive kills him and takes his head. Unlike his end in Tempest Keep, Kael dies raving and wishing a violent death on his killers.

Kil'jaeden, the Sunwell and M'uru are left for the last raid of TBC, told in Quel'Thalas, the blood elves and the Sunwell.

What the fall of Kael'thas changes in the story

With Kael dead, Lor'themar becomes the sole leader of the blood elves. Kael is remembered as a traitor who sold out his people for power.

There is an irony here. The mana Kael stole helped restore the Sunwell. Once purified, it returned to the elves as a mix of arcane magic and Light.

Illidan, who lost Kael and Lady Vashj, was left alone in the Black Temple. His story in Warcraft III is in History of Warcraft #5: Illidan Stormrage.

Where to see it in WotLK

On the server, all of Outland is in the game, and Tempest Keep is still the way it was in TBC.

• Netherstorm: it was the level 67–70 zone. The manaforges B'naar, Coruu, Duro and Ara are full of Sunfury elves and demons. Ultris was destroyed and infested by void creatures. The quest Intercepting the Mana Cells shows the mana theft in practice, and Maintaining the Sunwell Portal shows the link to Quel'Thalas.
• Kirin'Var Village: on the southernmost island of Netherstorm, still full of ghosts.
• The level 70 wings: The Mechanar, The Botanica and The Arcatraz. Heroic mode requires the Warpforged Key.
• How to get in: the fortress floats, so you need a flying mount (or the druid's flight form).
• The Eye: the attunement was removed in 2007, but the quests are still in the game. A'dal, in Shattrath, gives The Tempest Key after The Cipher of Damnation chain, with the Trial of the Naaru quests (Mercy, Strength, Tenacity and Magtheridon). Inside the raid there are Kael'thas and the Verdant Sphere, The Vials of Eternity and Ruse of the Ashtongue.
• Ashes of Al'ar: the phoenix mount has a chance to drop from Kael'thas. Many players come back at 80 just for it.
• Magisters' Terrace: the Isle of Quel'Danas dungeon, with Selin Fireheart, Vexallus, Priestess Delrissa and Kael'thas.
• Icecrown Citadel: Prince Valanar repeats Kael's joke: "Naxxanar was merely a setback!". Naxxanar is the necropolis he loses in the Borean Tundra story.

Still leveling through Outland? See what to do when you hit the 58–62 wall.

Read more: The Burning Crusade in order, The Frozen Throne #2: Kael and the blood elves and Velen and the flight of the draenei.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Tempest Keep?

In Netherstorm, one of the zones of Outland. The fortress floats, so you need a flying mount to reach the entrance.

Does Kael'thas die in Tempest Keep?

No. He is defeated in The Eye, but he survives. Kael only dies for good in Magisters' Terrace, at the hands of the Shattered Sun Offensive.

Why did Kael'thas ally with Kil'jaeden?

After losing Illidan's help and seeing Voren'thal desert, Kael felt defeated. Kil'jaeden offered stronger ways to use fel energy if he abandoned Illidan, and Kael accepted.

What is the boss order in The Eye?

Al'ar, Void Reaver, High Astromancer Solarian and Kael'thas. Many raids kill Void Reaver first, because it is the easiest fight.

Do you need an attunement for The Eye in WotLK?

No. The attunement was removed in 2007. A'dal's quests are still in the game, but the door opens for anyone.