Tsar Boris Rurikid, from the video game “Leagacy of Azeroth”. The last living Tsar of the Novorodian Empire, Boris was a reformer who tried to improve the lives of alll peoples within his empire, granting greater autonomy to the Quel’dorei, lifting several racist laws that kept the Worgen in poverty unless they worshipped The Light, and even allowing Trolls to live in the Empire without persecution. Sadly, these reforms were deeply unpopular with the Nobility, and many called for him to step down and allow a new, more traditional Tsar to rule. It would all be rendered moot when Barashov returned from Northrend, however. Tsar Boris would be slain when the Winter Palace was stormed by the Lich Kings armies, and Barashov would personally execute Boris in front of a crowd of jeering Undead. Metzen and Borokov have both confirmed that Boris is an combination of Czar Alexander II, Gorbachov, and Boris Yeltsin.
Grigori Makarov, the Grand Necromancer of the Scourge. Once a humble priest in the small village of Kolonov, one of Novorod’s colonies in Northrend, Makarov would lose his faith after his wife and son were slain by Vrykul raiders. Desperate to find a way to bring them back, he would begin studying forbidden magics, which caught the attention of Gul’dan. Appearing to him as a vision of his son, he helped guide Makarov to his fortress in Icecrown. There he offered to teach Makarov all he knew about necromancy if, in exchange, he would help Gul’dan lure Barashov to his doom. Makarov, his sanity in tatters from both his grief over the death of his family and his trip to Icecrown, accepted. When Barashov arrived Makarov served as his guide, leading him on the same trail to Gul’dan.
Screenshot from the game that would spark the Azeroth Franchise into new life: Battle for Azeroth III. Released July 3rd, 2003, BfA III would introduce fans to the world, the people and set the stage for an adventure that would last well into the 2020s. A sequel to the first two BfA games, released back in the 1990s, it would tell the story of how Barashov would fall into evil, and how the world of Azeroth would rise up to fight against him. Pictured here is a base belonging to the Horde (Orcs, Goblins, Quillboar and Satyrs).