Magni Bronzebeard

Magni Bronzebeard is the King of Ironforge, head of the Bronzebeard clan and the eldest of three famous dwarf brothers. In Classic he sits on the High Seat of Ironforge and starts or ends several Alliance quests, including the chain to rescue his daughter Moira from Blackrock Depths. He later forges a sword that becomes the Ashbringer, and after Cataclysm he is reborn as the speaker for the world-soul of Azeroth.

Biography

Magni is the oldest son of the Bronzebeard line and was raised to be king under the mountain. His brothers took other paths: Muradin became a famous warrior, and Brann an explorer. Magni's wife Eimear was killed by Frostmane trolls when their daughter Moira was young, and Magni raised Moira as a warrior. The two grew apart.

During the Second War, Magni led the defense of Ironforge against the orcs and pledged the dwarves to the Alliance. After the war, with ancient ruins turning up under Khaz Modan, he shifted much of his people's work from mining to archaeology and helped found the Explorers' League, which Brann later led.

In the Third War, Muradin went with Prince Arthas Menethil to Northrend and was believed killed. When Alexandros Mograine and his advisor Fairbanks brought Magni a crystal of pure Light and asked for a weapon, Magni forged it himself to avenge his brother. That blade was the Ashbringer.

In World of Warcraft

King Magni Bronzebeard stands on the High Seat in the middle of Ironforge, flanked by guards. With 999,300 health he is the toughest of the Alliance leaders, which makes him the hardest target for Horde raids on Alliance cities.

Quests

The Moira chain

The best-known Magni story in Classic is the hunt for his daughter. Moira has vanished while in the care of Kharan Mighthammer, and Magni's search of the Burning Steppes points to the Dark Iron capital. In The Fate of the Kingdom he tells players she is under Emperor Dagran Thaurissan's spell and must not be harmed. When players kill the emperor in Blackrock Depths, Princess Moira Bronzebeard is not grateful. She weeps over Thaurissan's body, calls him her husband, and warns that the child she carries will one day rule Ironforge. The quest text leaves players to wonder whether she is still under his spell.

The Horde has its own version. Thrall sends Horde players to rescue the same princess, and they return to him with her answer in The Princess Saved?, earning [Thrall's Resolve].

In the wider world

Magni's name appears all over the dwarf quests of Classic, from the starting area in Dun Morogh to the Dark Iron war in the Wetlands and Loch Modan. Players are even sent into Alterac Valley "for the glory of Bronzebeard" with The Sovereign Imperative, which begins in Ironforge.

Later history

• Cataclysm (2010). As earthquakes shake Khaz Modan, Magni performs an ancient ritual in Old Ironforge to understand what the earth is saying. It turns him to diamond. Moira returns and claims the throne, and Ironforge ends up ruled by the Council of Three Hammers: Moira for the Dark Irons, Muradin for the Bronzebeards and Falstad Wildhammer for the Wildhammers.
• Legion (2016). Magni wakes from his diamond form as the chosen speaker of Azeroth, the world-soul. He reconciles with Moira and gives up any claim to the throne.
• Battle for Azeroth (2018). He leads players to the Chamber of Heart to heal the wound that Sargeras's sword left in Silithus.

Trivia

• Magni and Cairne Bloodhoof share the highest health of any Classic faction leader, 999,300, compared with 799,500 for Bolvar Fordragon and Thrall.
• The Ashbringer that Magni forged is the same blade Alexandros Mograine carries, corrupted, as one of the Four Horsemen in Naxxramas.

Sources

• Magni Bronzebeard - Warcraft Wiki
• The Fate of the Kingdom - Warcraft Wiki
• The Princess's Surprise - Warcraft Wiki