While Loken was busy subjugating the other guardians, he constantly suspected that Ra, the high keeper from southern Kalimdor, would emerge to investigate the chaos unfolding in Ulduar. But to Loken's surprise, Ra remained silent. No movement, no intervention, not even a message. Ra's silence during these world-shifting events made Loken uneasy.
Driven by a growing sense of urgency, Loken dispatched a contingent of Titan-forged troops to the remote fortress of Uldum to investigate Ra's activity. The agents scoured deserts, ruins, and underground chambers, but they found no trace of the high keeper. Instead, they encountered the mogu, tol'vir, and anubisath who guarded the region. From them, the agents learned that Ra had mysteriously vanished-without a trace, without orders, and without explanation.
These encounters had unforeseen consequences. On their journey south, Loken's forces unknowingly spread the Curse of Flesh to many of Ra's loyal servants. The once-pure tol'vir began to show signs of corruption. Their physical forms changed, their magical strength weakened, and their loyalty began to waver.
Unbeknownst to Loken and the other Titan-forged, Ra had experienced a revelation-a truth so horrifying that he chose isolation. When the power and memories of the Pantheon were implanted into the guardians, Ra, like his brethren, was thrown into confusion. But over time, he concluded that the event was no mere anomaly. The torrent of power was the final remnants of the Pantheon's shattered souls.
Ra struggled to accept the reality that the Pantheon had fallen. He extracted the remaining essence of Aman'Thul from within himself and carefully stored it in a mountain vault, near the place that would later be known as the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. There, he hoped to preserve what little remained of the Titan creator he revered.
After completing this task, Ra retreated into hidden catacombs deep beneath the desert. He reflected on what had transpired, refusing to engage with the outside world. In his absence, the Titan-forged who had once served him began to develop new cultures, entirely distinct from their northern kin. The tol'vir settled around Uldum, making the fortress their home and spiritual center. To the west, the anubisath continued their sacred duty guarding the prison of C'Thun. To the east, the mogu maintained the domes and Titan machines buried underground.
For centuries after Loken's betrayal, the Titan-forged exiled from Ulduar spread across northern Kalimdor. The slow-moving giants scattered into mountains and seas, vanishing from sight. The earthen dug tunnels deep into the world, battling a race of savage, malformed creatures known as troggs. Many vrykul remained above ground, forming small clans. Most wandered as nomads across the harsh northern landscape, while others built dwellings in the forested tundra.
A fragile peace briefly formed among these Titan-forged groups, but it didn't last. Over time, dark forces began to claim the lands once protected by the guardians. Among these forces were two of Loken's own creations: the brutal fire giants Volkhan and Ignis.
Volkhan and Ignis saw the Storm Peaks surrounding Ulduar as ripe for conquest. But to claim the territory, they needed an army. They turned to the Winterskorn clan-a group of vrykul known for their ferocity and aggression.
Though many vrykul were warlike by nature, most avoided direct confrontation with one another. Winterskorn were the exception. They had developed a culture of violence and aggression, driven by the belief that one day they would ascend to the Halls of Valor. They thrived on conflict, both within their own ranks and against nearby Titan-forged groups.
Volkhan and Ignis seized control of the Winterskorn by force, stoking the flames of their battle lust. The giants reinforced the vrykul's metallic skin with enchanted armor and forged powerful weapons designed to shatter the iron and stone hides of other Titan-forged.
After the war with the Old Gods, the guardians used the Forge of Wills to create new Titan-forged to reshape the world. But their initial designs were too complex and ambitious. Instead of perfect servants, they created savage, stone-skinned humanoids known as troggs. The guardians quickly refined their designs, and the next generation became known as the earthen.
The troggs proved to be an indestructible nuisance. Ironaya built a small underground chamber known as Uldaman, serving as a stasis vault for the troggs. Some escaped confinement and wandered the newly ordered world. Others even managed to enter the earth realm of Deepholm in the Elemental Plane.
But just as the Winterskorn army began their grand conquest, anomalies began to appear. The vrykul's metallic skin grew brittle and weak. They showed early signs of the Curse of Flesh. Despite this setback, Volkhan and Ignis refused to retreat. They knew the Winterskorn alone were no longer enough to secure victory. So they created molten golems and iron constructs of their own design.
This combined force first assaulted the gentle earthen, destroying their underground nests. The earthen were unprepared for such overwhelming power. Entire caves were slaughtered to the last inhabitant. A small group of survivors managed to escape and sought help from Tyr, Archaedas, and Ironaya-the three guardians who had so far survived the wrath of Loken and his followers.
Outraged by what they learned from the remaining survivors, Tyr and his companions immediately set out for the earthen's cavern home. They did not come as observers, but as protectors. There, they found ruins and lifeless bodies-undeniable proof of Winterskorn's brutality. Without hesitation, Tyr led the bravest of the earthen in a skirmish against the roaming vrykul and golems. Meanwhile, Archaedas and Ironaya worked tirelessly to build new defenses-stone fortresses and magical corridors designed to withstand future assaults.
Over time, through coordinated bravery and strategy, the earthen and their allies managed to drive back the Winterskorn forces. But the victory didn't last. Volkhan and Ignis, watching their failure from afar, did not surrender. They returned to their blazing workshops, where metal melted and fire magic flowed like blood. There, they forged a new army-larger, more brutal, and more terrifying than before.
Unsatisfied with mere golems and constructs, Volkhan and Ignis devised a complex and cruel magical snare to enslave entire flocks of proto-dragons. These winged creatures would not be used as mounts in the old tradition, but as war beasts controlled by force. The giants outfitted their winged servants with fire weapons and enchanted armor, turning them into airborne machines of terror that spread fear into the hearts of those who dwelled on the earth.
The next brutal assault by the Winterskorn shattered the earthen's defenses. Their shelters collapsed, their tunnels burned, and their caves filled with smoke and blood. The earthen scattered across the cold mountain crevices, but they could not escape the relentless pursuit of their enemies. Vrykul and golems hunted them on land, while proto-dragons attacked from the sky with magic and flame. Even Tyr, Archaedas, and Ironaya were forced to flee the wrath of the Winterskorn, realizing their strength was no longer enough to withstand the wave of destruction.
Knowing he and his allies could not defeat the Winterskorn alone, Tyr sent a magical summons to the five Dragon Aspects. The noble Aspects arrived with burning fury. They were enraged to see so many Titan-forged corpses strewn across the land. Their anger deepened when they learned the proto-dragons had been enslaved and turned into weapons. Without hesitation, the Aspects soared across the skies of Kalimdor and unleashed their primordial power upon the iron armies of the Winterskorn.
Meanwhile, the new valar of Silmalorë, observing the chaos in the continent of Kalimondor, began to prepare. They feared the conflict would spill into Valinor and Middle-earth. Silmalorë himself remained in the mountains of Angband, isolated from the outside world, but not idle. He was attempting to forge rings of power for the elves, dwemer, and Dúnedain-an ambitious project inspired by Melkor's works in Tolkien's world. Though he did not yet fully understand the process, Silmalorë refused to give up. He conducted experiment after experiment, failure after failure, driven by an unshakable resolve to achieve a result that matched his vision.
As they had done in the battle against Galakrond, the Aspects worked together with precision and overwhelming force. Alexstrasza held back the Winterskorn with towering walls of magical fire, burning the enemy's front lines and severing their attack routes. Malygos drained the magical essence that fueled the constructs and golems, rendering them powerless and inert. He also shattered the magical snares binding the proto-dragons, freeing them from slavery and restoring their free will.
Neltharion, wielding the raw power of the earth, raised mountains from the ground to trap and contain the vrykul and their giant overlords. These mountains became natural prisons, impenetrable and absolute. Finally, Ysera and Nozdormu combined their powers to cast a sealing spell-a spell that not only ended the conflict but erased the threat at its root.
Ysera and Nozdormu enveloped the Winterskorn in a nauseating mist, one that seeped into their bodies and minds. The Titan-forged fell into slumber-not one of peace, but of suffering. They were entombed in grave-cities across northern Kalimdor, places where time stood still and consciousness faded. They would not experience the gentle sleep of the Emerald Dream. Instead, they would languish in eternal sleep without dreams, without hope, and without memory for thousands of years.
For millennia to come, the Curse of Flesh would continue to twist the bodies and souls of the slumbering Winterskorn vrykul. When they finally awoke, nearly all of them would realize they had degenerated into mortal beings of flesh and blood. They were no longer the mighty Titan-forged, but shadows of their former glory-trapped in fragile bodies, with memories torn apart by time and curse.
After the Winterskorn forces were defeated and the proto-dragon threat extinguished by the Aspects, Keeper Tyr finally turned his attention to a deeper and more dangerous threat: Loken. As long as Ulduar remained sealed and the Titan-forged remained fractured, conflict after conflict continued to erupt. Tyr understood that as long as Loken held power, Azeroth would never truly know peace. He grimly concluded that if he didn't act soon, the world would plunge into endless war and chaos.
But overthrowing Loken was not a task that could be accomplished overnight. Tyr knew that strength alone would not be enough. He and his allies, Archaedas and Ironaya, devised a long-term plan. They concluded that the only way to expose Loken's betrayal in full was to obtain undeniable proof. For that, they resolved to steal the Discs of Norgannon-ancient artifacts that recorded every significant event on Azeroth, including all of Loken's actions since his rise as ruler of Ulduar.
After crafting a complex and high-risk strategy, Tyr went to the gates of Ulduar. There, he challenged Loken directly, urging him to relinquish control for the good of the world. He warned that if Loken refused, the consequences would be dire. Loken, unaware of Tyr's full plan, emerged from the fortress and tried to convince his brother that lighter measures would suffice. A fierce debate followed, just as Tyr had hoped. While Loken was distracted by argument and threat, Archaedas and Ironaya infiltrated the heart of Ulduar and successfully stole the Discs of Norgannon.
Once the artifacts were secured, Tyr and his companions fled to the cliffs and icy ridges of Storm Peak. They knew Loken would not remain idle. So they prepared for a long journey south, hoping to find a refuge safe enough to plan their next move. Before departing, Tyr and his allies gathered as many surviving Titan-forged as they could from around Ulduar. A large group of peaceful vrykul tormented by the Curse of Flesh, surviving Earthen from the massacres, and many loyal mechagnomes joined the journey. Tyr saw them not as burdens, but as victims who must be protected. He vowed to secure sanctuary for them before returning to liberate Ulduar.
The refugees traveled for weeks, crossing mountains and frozen plains, believing they had escaped Loken's shadow. But reality soon shifted.
When Loken learned that the Discs of Norgannon were gone, he panicked. He knew that if Tyr delivered the artifacts to Algalon or the Pantheon, all his secrets would be exposed. His life would be forfeit, and his legacy of power would collapse. In desperation, he turned to the only beings he knew were strong enough to stop Tyr and reclaim the artifacts: two ancient C'Thraxxi monstrosities known as Zakazj and Kith'ix.
Zakazj and Kith'ix had once been the most ruthless and cunning generals of the Black Empire. Long ago, they and many other n'raqi had been sealed by the keepers in underground chambers alongside the Old Gods. With great effort and the lingering shadow magic of Yogg-Saron, Loken unearthed the tombs of the C'Thraxxi and reawakened Zakazj and Kith'ix. He commanded them to hunt down and kill Tyr and all his followers. Sensing the touch of Yogg-Saron still clinging to Loken's mind, the two colossal abominations obeyed without hesitation.
Far to the south, in cool and quiet grasslands, Zakazj and Kith'ix caught up with the fleeing keepers and their followers. The sky turned gray, the wind ceased to blow, and the ground began to tremble. Tyr, sensing their presence before eyes could see, immediately ordered Archaedas and Ironaya to lead the remaining Titan-forged forces further south. He knew this battle could not be avoided, and that he had to hold off the C'Thraxxi for as long as possible so the refugees could escape.
Only a faint shadow of Aggramar's ancient power remained in Tyr's iron form. But the noble spirit of the Titan never faded. He stood between two ancient horrors and the world he sought to protect. He knew he might not return, but he also knew that sacrifice was the only path to redemption for the destruction that had already occurred.
Tyr did not retreat. Even when innocent lives were at stake, even when the ground beneath him began to crack and the sky above filled with shadow, he stood firm. He raised his weapon-not for vengeance, but to defend Azeroth's final hope.
As Tyr wrestled with the two C'Thraxxi, bursts of mysterious energy and shadow tore through the once-peaceful grasslands. The land that had been serene transformed into a cosmic battlefield, where the final will of the Keeper was tested against ancient abominations long buried. The fierce battle raged for six days and six nights-a time later remembered by the vrykul as the "Nights Without Light." Throughout it, Tyr never surrendered. His body, forged by the hand of Aggramar, remained standing even as it was struck by powers born from the depths of madness. So too did his enemies, Zakazj and Kith'ix, continue their assault with shadow magic and dark sorcery long lost to the world.
As exhaustion set in and wounds began to erode Tyr's iron form, he made his final decision. He focused all his remaining strength-not just physical power, but will, memory, and the spirit inherited from the Titans-into a single blinding burst of energy. This was no mere spell; it was the manifestation of sacrifice, of the resolve to protect the innocent. His life-force surged outward, shaking the world and setting the sky ablaze.
To the south, Archaedas and Ironaya witnessed the blaze of light splitting the horizon. They knew Tyr had made a choice that could not be undone.
After the volatile energy subsided and the sky grew calm again, the two forged Titans returned to the site of the battle. There, within a massive crater still crackling with mysterious magic, they found the lifeless bodies of Tyr and Zakazj. Tyr's form, though shattered, still radiated a quiet aura of justice. Zakazj, the creature who once led the dark legions of the Black Empire, now lay as ash beneath the Keeper's hand.
Though faced with hopeless odds, Tyr had nearly slain both C'Thraxxi. Kith'ix, the sole survivor, barely escaped Tyr's final retaliation. The wounded C'Thrax fled west in a blind frenzy, leaving behind a trail of destruction and whispers of madness. It would not be seen again for thousands of years, but its shadow continued to haunt the land it had touched.
To honor her fallen comrade, Ironaya named the marsh surrounding the crater "Tyr's Fall," which in the vrykul tongue became "Tirisfal"-"The Waters That Weep for the Keeper." There, they buried Tyr and his foc, the weapon that had ignited hope in the midst of darkness. Tyr's great silver hand was placed atop his tomb-not as a symbol of strength, but as a testament to sacrifice and an undying will.
Though all the refugees would carry forward the tale of Tyr's noble sacrifice, the vrykul in particular felt compelled to do more. So moved were they by the Keeper's actions that they chose to settle at the site of the battle and guard Tyr's tomb until the end of their days. They formed a circle of guardians called "Skjold Tyr"-The Shield of Tyr-who swore to protect the Keeper's resting place and spread his teachings to future generations.
Archaedas and Ironaya honored the vrykul's wish to remain in Tirisfal. The Keeper and the giant continued their journey south, bringing with them the earthen warriors and mechagnomes. They eventually halted at Uldaman, the easternmost Titan-forging vault in Kalimdor. There, they expanded the site, carving new chambers to house the Discs of Norgannon and swearing to protect Azeroth's history with their lives if necessary.
As time passed, some of the earthen began to show signs of the Curse of Flesh. Their skin softened, their forms changed, and their memories began to distort. Many of the Titan-forged feared the effects would worsen. They requested to be placed in hibernation until a cure could be found. Archaedas, who vowed to awaken them when the world was ready, sealed his followers within the vast underground chambers of Uldaman, beneath layers of stone and protective magic.
Yet the mechagnomes remained awake. Though they knew the curse would one day reach them too, they heroically swore to guard Uldaman and maintain its wondrous machines. They became stewards of time and technology, the only living witnesses to the promise made by the Keepers.
Centuries later, humans began to settle the region of Tirisfal. They knew nothing of the land's origins, but they felt two opposing energies radiating from the earth: the spiritual essence of Tyr, full of sacrifice and hope, and the dark aura of Zakazj, steeped in hatred and destruction. Some humans absorbed Tyr's energy and became protectors, healers, and wise leaders. Others, touched by Zakazj's shadow, became followers of darkness, worshippers of the hidden power beneath the ground.
Tirisfal became a land divided between light and shadow, between sacrifice and ambition. And at its heart, Tyr's silver hand still stood-a reminder that even in death, the Keeper continued to guard the world.