A guide to in-game memorials
Blizzard’s tributes to real people who have passed away.
All information from wowhead.com – contributor Kemaria
Eastern Kingdoms Memorials
Rousch ~ Rousch is in tribute to Anthony Ray Stark (1961-2005). Anthony was a mortgage broker who enjoyed getting together with friends to play WoW, some of whom were Blizzard employees. He passed away while scuba diving, a hobby he loved, after something went wrong with his heart. His friends arranged this memorial for him – Rousch was his main character and pays continual respect at the site by alternately kneeling, standing, and saluting the monument. He can be found near near Dun Garok
Zone: Hillsbrad Foothills – South-east corner of the zone, near Dun Garok
Decorated Headstone ~ is in tribute to a Blizzard employee who passed away while the game was still in development. The headstone reads “In loving memory of Jesse Morales and is found in the graveyard of Southshore
Zone: Hillsbrad Foothills – The headstone is found in the graveyard of Southshore, and is recognizable by the flowers placed in front of it.
Captain Armando Ossex ~ is in tribute to a player named Armando, who was a member of Cavalieri dell’Alba, an Italian guild on the EU-Dragonblight server. Back in vanilla, he played a fury warrior named Ossex. He loved PvP and especially Alterac Valley, and obtained the Grand Marshall rank. After he passed away, his friends and guild members asked Blizzard to let him be a part of the game. Captain Armando Ossex was added in patch 1.11.1, and is Captain of the Stormpike Guard. He can be found walking back and forth inside the cave.
Zone: Hillsbrad Foothills -Cave entrance coordinates: 44.5, 45.6 – Armando patrols throughout the cave that leads to the Alliance entrance to Alterac Valley.
Buin “Phloppy” Freehand ~is in tribute to Phloppy, a legendary player whose main was a dwarf warrior on the US-Maelstrom server. He suffered from liver failure, and passed away in 2010 at age 38. He had selflessly rejected the possibility of a liver transplant – with his medical condition, he didn’t want to use up a liver that could save someone else’s life.
Phloppy was larger than life – a shooting star. He was a born leader who led by example, who always had a plan, and whose excitement and optimism were infectious. He loved pvp: world pvp and especially Alterac Valley, which became known among his friends as Phloppy Valley. Here and in everything else he did, his charisma and motivation inspired everyone, even those who had never met him before.
There was no class he could not play. He dual-boxed as well, and loved to roll characters on new servers to see how fast he could level up.
He was involved in several guilds: The Shadow Watch, The Company, Amok, and Soulbound. After he passed away, a Blizzard employee who was a guild member arranged for Phloppy’s in-game tribute. Phloppy had boundless passion and energy for helping people in game and in real life. He can be seen walking up and down from a cart to a building at the end of a path, delivering supplies to refugees. Nearby npcs comment that Buin has sold his belongings to buy food for Cataclysm refugees: a fitting mirror of Phloppy’s selfless generosity.
Zone: Dun Morogh – Phloppy is located south-east of Ironforge, and walks up and down from a cart to a building at the end of the path
Shay Pressler ~is named after a Blizzard senior database developer who passed away in 2009 from brain cancer. He was born in Nevada in 1975, and attended UC Irvine, where he obtained a B.S. in physics and an MBA.
He was an avid WoW player who was best known as a Dwarf priest named Lotion on US-Dunemaul, where he was an officer in the guild Trouble. He also played a Draenei shaman named Fishlips, who was in the guild Blacklist, also on US-Dunemaul, as well as in the guilds Damnation and indifference on US-Ner’zhul. Trouble transferred as a guild from Tichondrius to Dunemaul in 2005, and at that time, it was the best pvp guild on the server. While it was mostly a pvp guild, they also raided as well, and Shay enjoyed both the pve and pvp aspects of the game.
Shay Pressler is a guild vendor, and is located in the Stormwind Visitor’s Center close to the Stormwind entrance. Next to him is a young npc, Adam Pressler, named after Shay’s real life son, who was born just before his cancer diagnosis.
Zone: Stormwind City – Shay is located in the Stormwind Visitor’s Center, which is the first building on your left once you pass the city gates.
Farrah Facet ~is a reference to the actress Farrah Fawcett, who was most famous for her role in Charlie’s Angels. She passed away in 2009 from cancer, and this NPC was added two years later in patch 4.3.0. Farrah Facet is located in Stormwind City’s Trade district, and stands outside the Denman Family Jewelers shop by the canal, where she sells Cataclysm-era jewelcrafting recipes.
Archmage Nakada ~is in tribute to Ron Nakada, a senior software engineer at Blizzard. Less than a year after his wedding to his wife, Linda, on November 24, 2012, Ron was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that had metastasized to his liver, lungs, and lymph nodes, and he passed away on April 2, 2014.
Ron attended the University of California, San Diego, where he obtained a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering and a minor in music. He joined Blizzard in 2006 and became the single guiding force behind WoW’s entire spell system. Everything that happens with spells and how they interact in the game is because of the work he did. He was also behind the calendar system as well: when you use the calendar and sign up for events, you are able to do so because of Ron. Such was his prodigious talent, knowledge, and intellect for what he did that when he had to take a sabbatical because of his health, Blizzard had to hire two people to do his job. His manager wrote on reddit: “Our spells and abilities are the core of our game, and there was only one person with the level of knowledge and drive on our team to make the tremendous impact he did. It seemed fitting to honor him by having him teach spells.”
And that is exactly what Archmage Nakada does. He bears the title “Master of Spells,” and was added in patch 6.0.1. He can be found on the grass near the tall tower at the heart of the Mage Quarter in Stormwind City. There, he is joined by NPCs named for his real life family: his wife and his four stepchildren, Jeremy, Elizabeth, Naomi, and Daniel. There are two other children present as well, named Jenna and Sammy, but posters on reddit who know the family personally say there are no family members with these names, so their significance is not yet known.
If you talk to Archmage Nakada, he asks if you would like to volunteer in today’s lecture. When you click the “Volunteer” option, you get transformed into a random creature while the children giggle at you. You receive A Nakada Special buff when you are transformed, which lasts five minutes, and because of the Test Subject debuff, you must wait thirty minutes before you can assist in another lesson.
Ron is remembered for his devotion to his family, his sense of humor, and his work ethic. He loved Disneyland and Maui, his two favorite places on earth. He also loved sports, especially baseball and hockey, and his favorite teams were the Anaheim Angels and San Diego Padres. He was a fan of Star Wars, so it was no coincidence that the celebration of his life event after his passing was held on May 4. He was talented in music, too, and first met Linda in high school marching band at the state championships.
As well as receiving this tribute in WoW, Ron has also been memorialized in Wasteland 2 (a game by InXile Entertainment, where his friend John Alvarado works.
Ron is located in Stormwind’s Mage Quarter, and stands outside on the grass near the tall tower.
Angela Leifeld ~ is named for the sister of Sherman Ohms, an associate technical artist at Blizzard. She was born in Kansas, and lived in Illinois, where she was a fifth grade school teacher, a Cub Scout den leader, and a mother of four.After a family vacation to the Southwest in June of 2010, Angela’s hand felt funny, so she had it checked out. After a variety of tests and medical visits, she was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. There is no cure for ALS, and after a nine month battle with the disease, Angela passed away on May 14, 2011 at the age of 41.
Sir Nicholas Gabaree ~ is in tribute to Nicholas Wayne Gabaree, who passed away in a motorcycle accident on October 11, 2012 at the age of 24. He had attended Copperas Cove High School in Texas before completing automotive training at the Universal Technical Institute and Volkswagen Academy. At the time of his passing, he was a master mechanic at Momentum Volkswagen in Houston.
Nicholas enjoyed raiding, and played a paladin named Divide in the Alliance guild No Options on US-Lightbringer, where he had previously been a member of other guilds such as The Coalition, Sanctuary, and Age of Wisdom. His friends, some of whom were Blizzard employees, remember him for his sense of humor, carefree spirit, and zest for life.
Sir Nicholas Gabaree can be found in the Stormwind City Cemetery, and was added in patch 5.4.1. To find him, follow the path past the cathedral into the cemetery. Nicholas’ memorial is on your left, right before you reach the large colonaded tomb/monument with the Lordaeron crest and the path that leads to Tiffin Ellerian Wrynn’s memorial. His headstone is one of the smaller ones, and when you mouse over it, the gear symbol will appear. When you click on the headstone, a very translucent image of a Human paladin appears. He will say things like “Do you know any good jokes, [race]?” and “Have you seen my comrades?” when you interact with him. When he disappears, he bids you farewell before yelling “POOF!” and vanishing in a cloud of smoke.
Nicholas Divide / Nicholas Divide is a follower who can be recruited at Alliance garrison inns, and his name and class most likely indicate another nod to Nick Gabaree and his paladin.
Brother Sarno / Richard Sarno / T’kron ~ Brother Sarno is in tribute to Richard D. Sarno, who passed away at the age of 58 from cancer on May 30, 2003. Richard lived in Chicago, Illinois, and was a veteran who worked as a computer programmer for a trucking parts company. He loved computers and gaming, was always positive and full of jokes, and he always knew where to get good food.
Above all, though, he was passionate about helping people. He was a Blizzard beta tester and posted on the old Blizzard help forums, where he went by the name of T’kron. He was designated as the Top Beta Tester of the Blizzard StarCraft Brood War Beta, and his tremendous knowledge and presence online earned him the second ever MVP designation for the Blizzard Technical Support forums. He was also a founding admin for the website TheHelper.net, a website which in its early days offered unofficial tech support via its forums for Starcraft and Diablo issues. In addition to helping people online, he sat in the Blizzard booth for at least one E3 convention, which is where many who knew him online got to meet him in person as well.
His iconic status went even beyond the gaming community. Once, T’kron called Dell’s technical support team about an issue that happened when playing Diablo on a specific Dell model, and the Dell rep was floored when he realized he was talking to none other than T’kron. Dell had been monitoring the Blizzard help forums in the hopes of finding a solution to that problem, and they were well aware of T’kron’s tremendous knowledge and ability to solve any issue that came his way.
His NPC stands in the Cathedral of Light, and cheerily greets visitors who pass by: a fitting tribute, for not only does Brother Sarno resemble Richard Sarno in appearance, but the NPC’s continual friendliness exemplifies the enthusiasm and patience he always had for helping and educating other gamers
Zone: Stormwind City
Coordinates: 51.6, 48.6
Location: Brother Sarno stands inside the Cathedral of Light and is located on the left side as you enter the main area.
Stanley / Stan Lee (Alliance NPC) ~Stanley (Alliance side) and Stanley (Horde side) are both in tribute to the legendary Stan Lee of Marvel Comics, who passed away at the age of 95 on November 12th, 2018.
Both NPCs were added in patch 8.1.5.29701 and are rare elites who appear in Stormwind City and Orgrimmar. Upon arrival, they yell Stan Lee’s catchphrase, “Excelsior!”, and then walk around for a few minutes before fading away. The Alliance Stanley appears inside the Royal Library room inside Stormwind Keep. He walks out of the room, waves to Alliance leadership in the throne room, and proceeds down the flights of stairs before disappearing by the fountain.
From what I have observed, it seems that both Stanleys appear instantly the moment you reach their spawn points for the first time, but once they disappear, I’m not sure when or if they will reappear for you if you use the same toon again. Whenever I visited either Stanley, the NPCs would appear instantly as long as I took new toons to the area, but if I returned later using any of those same toons, he didn’t reappear. I asked a friend who had not yet seen this NPC to come visit him while I watched and while he could see Stanley, I could not. We were on the same server so we stayed ungrouped at first , but even after we grouped up, I still couldn’t see him. So if you plan to visit Stanley, be aware that this is likely a one time opportunity per character.
Zone: Stormwind City
Location: The Alliance Stanley appears inside Stormwind Keep in the Royal Library
The Unknown Soldier ~is a level 20 rare spawn who was added in patch 4.0.3, and when present, he kneels before the tomb. According to Wowhead user JoeJitsu, who witnessed a spawn, when The Unknown Soldier appears, he pulls himself up out of the ground before kneeling at the site.“The Unknown Soldier” is most likely a reference to the custom many countries have of creating memorials for unknown soldiers, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. This tomb and its nearby crypts were created to memorialize the remains of unknown soldiers from four conflicts during the twentieth century: World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. It is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by elite Tomb Guard Sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. The Unknown Soldier in Duskwood is not able to maintain so complete a vigil, however, as he can be killed by players for gear and experience, but the tomb’s brown-robed Dark Portal guardians keep a perpetual watch over the area.
Zone: Duskwood- A stone archway behind a ruined tower in Beggar’s Haunt leads the way to The Unknown Soldier’s tomb.
Captain P. Harris ~ was added in patch 4.0.3, and is likely a reference to Captain Phil Harris from the Discovery channel show, The Deadliest Catch -a show portraying real life events aboard fishing vessels during the Alaskan king crab season in the Bering Sea. Phil Harris was captain of the Cornelia Marie. In 2010, he passed away at the age of 53 from complications following a stroke.
Captain P. Harris roams around on a wrecked ship off the coast of Tol Barad Peninsula, and is the objective of a daily quest offered for both factions
Zone: Tol Barad Peninsula – Captain P. Harris is found on a half-submerged shipwreck off the northern coast of Tol Barad Peninsula.
Topher Rushcog / Christopher Rush ~ Topher Rushcog is in tribute to the legendary artist Christopher Rush, one of the original illustrators for Magic: The Gathering. He passed away from a heart attack at the age of 50 on February 10, 2016.
One of his daughters wrote that “Magic was his life, and what he gave his heart and soul to.” Gamers grew up with his artwork, and his enthusiasm for the game resonated with them. They were also touched by how kind Christopher was at conventions and fan gatherings. He loved his fans and always made time for them, putting people at ease with his smile and humble personality.
As well as drawing the most iconic cards in the game, he was involved in other aspects of its design as well, such as the color symbols of mana. He was part of other Wizards of the Coast projects, too, and left Wizards of the Coast in 1999, after which he worked from the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas as a freelance artist.
Topher Rushcog is a level 60 gnome who can be found in the Eastern Plaguelands, along the perimeter wall inside Light’s Hope Chapel, surrounded by black lotus flowers which randomly change in size. Above his head rotate five gems whose colors are a reference to the game colors of Magic: The Gathering.
Topher Rushcog will wave at you if you wave at him. When you click on him, he says things like:
My plants are coming in nicely this year. The key is clippings from a much more primordial strain of lotus, the alpha if you will. Quite a prized possession, that.
The undead would be much less of a hassle if only they were more mortal.
My favorite Hearthstone card? It’s got to be lightning bolt!
His daughter wrote: “Each reference saying is related to a card he did. One of the quotes matches the flavor text of Eron the Reckless, which was a self-portrait of him in the 90s. He looked a lot more like the gnome in the end of his life.”
Zone: Eastern Plaguelands
Coordinates: 74.8, 54.4
Location: Look to your right as you enter the gate of Light’s Hope Chapel, and you’ll see Topher against the wall.
Bradford T. Karon / Brad Lawson ~ Bradford T. Karon is in tribute to Brad Lawson. Brad was a mechanical engineer who had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma during the summer of 2014. He passed away in December of 2015 around the age of 34.
Brad had survived cancer once before. At 24, he had been diagnosed with carcinoma of the parotid gland, which would have been fatal had the surgery not been successful. Several years later, he was living in Minneapolis, MN, when he began to get periodically sick. Although doctors had never found anything wrong with him, he continued to get worse, and on July 3rd, 2014, he ended up in the emergency room when he began having trouble breathing. A CT scan showed that a large tumor was in his chest. After five days in the cardiac intensive care unit, his condition was stabilized enough for the tumor to be diagnosed and for treatment to begin.
Despite the onset of cancer, Brad and his fiance, Alyssa, were able to be married in the hospital’s sanctuary that same month. In November of 2014, his family started a GoFundMe page called Help Brad Beat Cancer. Even with insurance coverage, it was still expensive. The gofundme page charted the ups and downs of his progress until December 2015, when they learned that the new and more aggressive chemo treatment was not working. Brad came home on hospice care, and was able to celebrate Christmas with his family. That same month, he passed away.
Brad loved playing WoW, and had friends who worked for Blizzard. He had been the guildmaster of the Horde guild Robot Kitten Happy Train on US-Tichondrius ever since the guild was formed in 2005. It is appropriate that Brad’s NPC is located in Tarren Mill, because he and his guildies had loved to PvP in Hillsbrad Foothills.
Bradford T. Karon bears the title “Master Tailor.” Brad played an Undead arcane mage named Tkaron, and tailoring was one of his professions. When you click on Bradford T. Karon, he says:
Burn it down, burn it all down, ha ha ha!
and also:
No matter how bad things get, remember that there’s always an open car on the happy train. Toot toot!
When you visit, be sure to do a /train emote with him, and he’ll make the train gesture along with you. As a final homage to Brad and his guild, prowling around the room are five felines, each named Happy and numbered I-V.
According to a Facebook comment after his NPC was first screenshotted from the Legion alpha on January 13, 2016, Brad had been able to see his NPC before he passed away.
Zone: Hillsbrad Foothills
Coordinates: 58.4, 47.6
Location: Brad is located on the second floor in the building behind the questgiver Melisara. His building is opposite the flightmaster area.
Kalimdor Memorials
Crildor ~ is in tribute to Mitchell, who was a moderator named Crildor at alphagamers.net, a Dutch Warcraft / gaming fansite that no longer seems to be available at that domain. He was born in 1982, and died in a car crash on December 10th in 2003. Mitchell (whose name is also spelled as Mitchel elsewhere) had been eagerly looking forward to playing World of Warcraft, but passed away before it was released.
Crildor was added in patch 1.11.1, and wanders throughout the Temple Gardens in Darnassus. A contemplative npc, he occasionally sits down by the water’s edge before continuing on his way.
Zone: Teldrassil
– In Darnassus, walking around the Temple Gardens area.
Stanley / Stan Lee (Horde NPC) ~ Stanley (Alliance side) and Stanley (Horde side) are both in tribute to the legendary Stan Lee of Marvel Comics, who passed away at the age of 95 on November 12th, 2018.
Both NPCs were added in patch 8.1.5.29701 and are rare elites who appear in Stormwind City and Orgrimmar. Upon arrival, they yell Stan Lee’s catchphrase, “Excelsior!”, and then walk around for a few minutes before fading away. The Horde version of Stanley appears inside the building with the Darkspear trolls, which is on the left side of the Valley of Strength auction house (if you stand facing the auction house). Stanley exits the building, goes into Grommash Hold to wave at Horde leadership, and then proceeds to Pathfinder’s Den where he disappears in front of the portal to Azsuna.
From what I have observed, it seems that both Stanleys appear instantly the moment you reach their spawn points for the first time, but once they disappear, I’m not sure when or if they will reappear for you if you use the same toon again. Whenever I visited either Stanley, the NPCs would appear instantly as long as I took new toons to the area, but if I returned later using any of those same toons, he didn’t reappear. I asked a friend who had not yet seen this NPC to come visit him while I watched and while he could see Stanley, I could not. We were on the same server so we stayed ungrouped at first , but even after we grouped up, I still couldn’t see him. So if you plan to visit Stanley, be aware that this is likely a one time opportunity per character.
Zone: Orgrimmar
Location: The Horde Stanley appears in the building to the left of the Valley of Strength auction house.
Liedel the Just ~ was added to the game in tribute to Justin Liedel. He was born in Michigan in 1983, and graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree in written communication.
After his graduation, Justin moved to Austin, Texas, where he worked for Blizzard in the customer service department as an in-game support lead, and is listed in the Wrath of the Lich King credits. He passed away on May 1, 2009 from a fatal car accident. He was 25 years old, and it was just a few days away from his first wedding anniversary.
Justin was a talented writer and musician as well, and made a difference in the lives of all who knew him. A quote from his obituary reads:
The essence of Justin’s spirit and view of life is eloquently expressed in a passage from Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince: “On ne voit bien qu’avec le coeur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.” (“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”)
Liedel the Just was added to the game in patch 3.2.0
Zone: The Exodar -up a flight of stairs in the Vault of Lights.
Shrine of the Fallen Warrior ~ is in tribute to Michel Martin Koiter (1984-2004). Michel was born in Argentina, and attended the art academy of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Despite a healthy, active lifestyle, he died suddenly of heart failure at age 19 of unknown causes. The spirit healer is named Koiter, and the orc at this shrine is a copy of his beta character, Twincruiser. Michel and his twin brother, René, were artists who worked for Blizzard, and collaborated together under the name Twincruiser.
René wrote this poem about his brother and the monument in WoW:
Where once a hero set foot on his native soil a monument has risen
Where now part of his essence resides a mystical boon will be given
Upon the monument the runic initials MK have been engraved
To honor all the journeys and battles the fallen one has braved
A hero’s enduring spirit transcends many worlds beyond our own
Only those with steadfast dedication find a bond with this unknown
Travel the continents and scour the lands for the shrine standing tall
For in the presence of the monolith the warrior will be with you all
.
Michel was made a posthumous member of the Blizzard art group, Sons of the Storm, and the group’s website features a memorial page about his story and legacy.
Zone: Northern Barrens – The shrine is located near Crossroads on the top of a hill, and is recognizable by the spirit healer who stands on the site.
Ahab Wheathoof ~is in tribute to Ezra Phoenix Chatterton. Ezra was born in 1996 and died in 2008 after a 20 month fight with brain cancer. Ezra played WoW with his father, Micah, and among his characters, he had a Tauren hunter named Ephoenix. This was truly a father-son activity – they would research the game together and consult one another before making gear choices and other decisions for their characters. When Ezra was asked once why he liked to play WoW, he said it was because he liked interacting with people he didn’t know. No matter how bad things were in the real world for him with his illness, Ezra liked that he could be strong and successful in the game.
Ezra visited the Blizzard headquarters through the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2007. There, he was able to design a character and quest – Ahab Wheathoof and Kyle’s Gone Missing! He recorded Ahab’s voice, and Ahab’s dog, Kyle, is named after Ezra’s dog. He designed a new crossbow, Merciless Gladiator’s Crossbow of the Phoenix, which can be purchased in Area 52 from Kezzik the Striker and is transmoggable. Blizzard also made him the first rider of the phoenix mount, Ashes of Al’ar. After he passed away, the Thunder Bluff elder was renamed in his honor: Elder Ezra Wheathoof.
Ezra’s father wrote:
Ezra died at 9:45 on Monday night. The cancer attacked those portions of the brain that control breathing, and his lungs eventually shut down. He was conscious until the very end, and though he couldn’t speak, he could still communicate with me through hand gestures and nods. Ezra was in pain, gasping for breath, and very scared, but up to a few hours before he died, he was asking for ice cream and choosing the things I read to him. As much as I feared the cancer would take his mind and memory away from him, he held onto those as long as he could.
The ironies are sickening. Ezra’s mind was always his greatest strength, and stayed strong even as his brain was malfunctioning. His spirit and his will to live life well grew so amazing powerful all the way to the point that his life was taken from him. No one I have ever met was as talented at finding the bright side of a horrible situation, adapting his worldview to whatever new hardship befell him, and generally milking every last drop of happiness he could out of life as Ezra, and he’s the one who is taken. The one person in my life who most loved living and was most exceptionally gifted at it, and he’s the one who is taken.
I say these things because I am in pain, because I miss my son so much, and because Ezra’s death is an undeniable tragedy. It is the world’s loss that he doesn’t get to do more, and fulfill his great potential. But I also hope that I can learn from his example. When Ezra couldn’t walk anymore, he turned to World of Warcraft. When he couldn’t see, he turned to music, or our pets, or food, or directing me to play World of Warcraft for him. The trick was that, as his world got smaller, he just looked at it more closely. If I am to take any shred of good from this suffering, I’ll have to learn from him.
I hope to honor my son by learning to love my life as much as he did. It will take a long time to get to that point, especially now that my greatest joy is gone, but Ezra would demand it of me. I ask the WoW community, who have been so generous and kind to us, to please help me honor Ezra by doing the same in your hearts. Ezra’s sickness and painful death was a tragedy, an experience that showed me a glimpse of how easily suffering can invade your life, but his response to it showed me how a strong will can overcome that suffering. As well, the outpouring of love from all WoW players all over the globe showed me how wonderful people can be to someone they’ve never met. Our bodies are fragile, but our hearts are incredibly strong. A tumor the size of a raisin is enough to destroy the brain, but our minds are so much more powerful and immense than the brain.
My son, Ezra Phoenix Chatterton, Ephoenix the Hunter, Squirlanator the Mage, is gone. All we have left in this world are memories of him. Please remember that he was a good person, smart and clever but also very kind, that he loved to play World of Warcraft, that he loved rice pudding and fettuccine alfredo, and that he went through so much pain and still found ways to smile all the way to the end. Please remember too the kindness of Blizzard, and the overwhelming love of the WoW community. Without these gifts, Ezra would still have found a way to be happy and optimistic, just not as easily.
And WoW fans did indeed respond to the loss of this young gamer. As a hunter, Ezra had read BigRedKitty.net, and this prompted BigRedKitty (WoW Insider’s Daniel Howell) to set up an event in Ezra’s memory to raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. The plan was to invade Stormwind City on US-Argent Dawn on November 8, 2008. Those who could would show up with their levels 70s, and those who did not have any toons on the realm would create level 1 Taurens, because Ezra played a Tauren. Bloodmoon Chosen, a Horde guild on the realm, along with any other high levels, would escort the army of baby cows to Goldshire and from thence to Stormwind City via the boat to Booty Bay from Ratchet.
The only hitch with this plan was that so many people participated. 897 level 1 Taurens showed up, as well as 55 level 70s, and 30-40 other Horde players around level 50. There were also around 300 Alliance members playing defense at Stormwind, most of whom were level 70. Many of the baby Taurens, who were in the guild “Run for Ezra”, did make it at least as far as Booty Bay, but over one thousand toons in one spot was just too much for the server to handle, and it crashed multiple times. GMs began asking people to disperse and not to go on to Stormwind, so BigRedKitty ended the event early. A video on Youtube shows some footage from the evening and all the people who showed up to support Ezra and the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Ivan (Tombstone at Lake Dumont) ~ In the northern part of Feralas is Lake Dumont, and in the middle of the lake is an island. This area was added in Cataclysm, and is best reached with the use of flying mounts. A number of npcs are present on the island and perform various activities such as sleeping, dancing, or walking around. A ruined tower is still on fire, and debris from the tower is also ablaze (although no one seems concerned about putting it out). Various cats trot about the tranquil scene. And underneath a tree beside the tower is a lone tombstone. It is decorated with flowers and a sword, and reads “Ivan” when moused over.
All of the npcs on this island are known to be named after a team of Blizzard employees. So who was Ivan? Was he a Blizzard employee who passed away and was memorialized on this island? Unfortunately, there is very little information out there, and we can’t know for sure who he was or whether this is indeed an in-game memorial. It’s certainly likely, given the connections the other npcs have to Blizzard personnel. But unless further information is released, this tribute to Ivan seems meant to be understood only by the game developers who planned it.
Andrestrasz ~ is the name of a level 5 red dragon asleep in a cave just off the coast of Ahn’Qiraj. This dragon was added in patch 5.3.0, and the “-strasz” ending for his name indicates that he is a male. The rest of his name has raised speculation among WoW players that this is an in-game memorial to someone named Andre. Recently, Blizzard game designer Dave Maldonado responded via Twitter to an inquiry about Andrestrasz: “I’d bet $20 it’s a homage to someone’s 5 yr old named Andre but would have to dig into data to find out for sure.” At this time, there is no further information available.To find Andrestrasz, it’s easiest to fly along the coast of south-west Uldum until you enter the zone of Ahn’Qiraj. You’ll know you’ve reached the cave when you see some trees at its entrance. Once inside, you can either jump down to the bottom of the cave (you’ll see Andrestrasz off to the right if you look over the edge) or follow the ramp down. When it forks, go right and the path will lead you to the dragon. Andrestrasz lies in peaceful slumber with green Z’s floating above him, although every now and then he will raise his head and yawn before going back to sleep.
Zone: Ahn’Qiraj: The Fallen Kingdom – Andrestrasz is located in a cave along the coast of Ahn’Qiraj, not inside the raid itself. Trees mark the cave entrance.
Outland Memorials
Caylee Dak ~ is in tribute to Dak James Krause. Dak was born in 1979 in California and died of leukemia on August 22, 2007, a year after he was diagnosed. He was a member of the guild Boulderfist Heroes on the Boulderfist server, and is remembered by his guildmates for his helpfulness, friendliness, and positive attitude despite his situation.
Caylee is named after his character and wears Dak’s gear with his pet, Dusky, by her side. Caylee ends the quest, Alicia’s Poem, which includes a poem originally written by Mary Frye in 1932 and adapted by Alicia, a friend and guild member. She is also in the game as Alicia in Stormwind Keep (you can find her here), and is the starting point for the quest.
The poem reads:
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
across Northrend’s bright and shining snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
on Westfall’s fields of golden grain.
I am in the morning hush,
of Stranglethorn’s jungle, green and lush.
I am in the drums loud and grand,
the thunderous hooves across Nagrand.
I am the stars warmly gleaming,
over Darnassus softly dreaming.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
Zone: Shattrath City – Caylee is located in Aldor Rise.
Jar of Ashes ~Very little factual information is known about the meaning behind the Jar of ashes. It’s probably not a reference to a deceased individual – the text which accompanies the Jar of Ashes doesn’t indicate any kind of tribute. Still, it’s included in this guide for those who want to visit it anyway. There is speculation that this may be a reference to former Community Manager Tseric, who left Blizzard in 2007 although it is uncertain as to whether he quit or was fired.
Hellfire Peninsula – Fly south in Hellfire Peninsula until you reach the border of the zone, with the Expedition Armory to the east. Go over to where a broken length of wall ends at the edge of the zone – behind it, you’ll see a floating piece of rock immediately adjacent to a shelf on the cliff edge. This marks the location of a skeleton and the jar of ashes.
Nova Shrine ~ The Nova Shrine is not a memorial to a player, but to a game: StarCraft: Ghost. This was put on “indefinite hold” in 2006 as the success of World of Warcraft and the development of StarCraft II left Ghost relegated to Blizzard’s back burner. The game’s main character was Nova, who used skills such as stealth, so it is fitting that in the early months of The Burning Crusade, a Blood Elf female named Nova Terra could be seen stealthed outside the shrine, although she was subsequently removed. Ghostly, ambient sounds play by the shrine.
Northrend Memorials
Kanai Griffith ~ Kevin Kanai Griffith (KKG) was a senior artist at Blizzard who passed away in October of 2014 from a rare type of cancer known as Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma (ASPS). He was born in 1982, and attended the Art Institutes of California – Orange County. In 2005, he began working for Blizzard, where he contributed art to World of Warcraft and Diablo III.
Kevin was one of a kind. A lifelong gamer, he was passionate about his art, and was one of the founders of the Blizzard sketch group, which promotes creative outlets through drawing.
Gamers for Good was formed by his friends and colleagues, and is an organization which provides charitable assistance by gamers for gamers and the community. 283 artists from all over the gaming industry contributed to a book called Gamer for Life, which contains fan art from Kevin’s top ten favorite games. After Kevin’s passing, GFG continued production on the book as a tribute to him, with proceeds going to Game Changer, an organization that donates medical funding and games to kids with cancer, and CureASPS.org, which is the main group researching Kevin’s cancer. Unfortunately, the book is not obtainable now, as it was a gift to donors during the fundraising campaign, which ended on March 18, 2015 after raising $67,760.
Kanai Griffith was added in patch 6.2.0, and has the title Art Teacher. He is located in the Borean Tundra on the mountain ridge bordering Coldarra and is teaching an art class. Two other NPCs are with him, Fara and Xega, and a horse and wagon are nearby with extra canvases. Kanai Griffith will ask if anyone is up for a sketch group, a reference to the Blizzard sketch group he helped to found.
Zone: On the island of Coldarra in Borean Tundra – On the mountains rimming Coldarra, near the Transitus Shield.
Crusader Bridenbrad ~is in tribute to Brad Bridenbecker, an avid WoW player and the city manager of La Habra, California beginning in 2002. He grew up in Orange County and had a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. He was diagnosed with cancer at age 31 and passed away in 2007 at age 35 after a four year battle with the disease, and is survived by his wife and two daughters. Brad is remembered by his friends and coworkers for his capable, calm leadership (he was nicknamed “Boy Wonder” because of his age and abilities), and how well he personified his favorite poem, True Gentleman.
His brother, Robert Bridenbecker, is a Blizzard employee, and asked Blizzard if there was anything they could do in his honor. Chris Metzen gave Robert the choice of having Brad be a part of the Lich King main story line or giving him a quest series, and Robert opted for the latter. Crusader Bridenbrad’s quest chain starts with A Tale of Valor, and is symbolic of his battle with cancer.
Zone: Icecrown – Crusader Bridenbrad is located near the Argent Tournament. As you approach the Argent Tournament, you’ll see a snowy opening between the mountains, which leads you to the Silent Vigil, the area where Crusader Bridenbrad is located.
Steen Horngrass ~ is in tribute to Jeremy M. Steen. He was born in Pennsylvania, and served for four years in the U.S. Air Force as a computer programmer before working as a web developer and designer for companies such as Northrop Grumman, Sungard, and Pavone.
On March 14, 2009, he was traveling through Virginia and had pulled over on I-295 so he and two other occupants of the car could get out and retrieve a piece of fallen luggage. At that moment, however, a driver ran off the highway and struck him. While the others involved in the accident did not receive any life threatening injuries, Jeremy was pronounced dead on the scene. He was 30 years old and had two children.
Jeremy had a joy for life and was known for his sense of humor as well as his loyalty to his friends. He played WoW, and also loved playing video games with his son. He was talented in sports as well, including dodgeball, volleyball, and indoor soccer, and also enjoyed participating in poker games with his friends on Monday nights.
A friend who worked for Blizzard arranged for this tribute to him: Steen Horngrass was added in patch 3.2.0, which was released in August of 2009. He is a stable master and stands at the Sunreaver Pavilion with his pet warp stalker, Froggle, at his side. This leads to the inference that Jeremy played a Tauren Hunter named Horngrass and had a pet warp stalker named Froggle, but no information has yet been found to confirm this speculation.
Zone: Icecrown – Steen Horngrass is found at the Argent Tournament Grounds, and stands immediately to the right of the stairs at the Sunreaver Pavilion.
Tabea ~is in tribute to Tabea Elgueta, who was born in Chile, and grew up in California. In 2008, she was murdered at her home in Tustin at the age of 24. Tabea had many friends at Blizzard, some of whom had known her for a long time and saw her grow up. Her brother and best friend, Beni, also worked for Blizzard for several years.
Tabea was an activist for animal rights who loved dogs and adopted her first one when she was ten. She volunteered in animal shelters, and dreamed of opening one in Chile. Apollo is named for her dog, a black and white husky whom she rescued. She attended Irvine Valley College, and loved the beach, archery, and running. She sang and was passionate about music, especially Bob Marley, and played in drum circles. She is remembered by all as a generous, kindhearted person whose smile was as warm and bright as the sun.
Zone: Dalaran – Tabea is located near the Violet Citadel, the tallest building in Dalaran. If you face the steps, you’ll find her in the green area to your left, walking back and forth between the buildings with her dog, Apollo.
Jean Pierre Poulain ~ is in tribute to Jean Pierre Poulain, who worked at the Blizzard headquarters in Velizy, France. He passed away in his office from a heart attack in 2010, although he had not previously been diagnosed with any heart issues. He was part of the in-game support team for World of Warcraft, and is listed in the Blizzard Entertainment Europe Wrath of the Lich King manual as a member of the EU operations team. (His name appears there as Jean-Pierre Poulain, although the dash is omitted in his npc’s name.)
Jean Pierre Poulain is a level 80 Human who can be found in Dalaran at Krasus’ Landing. Players who have not yet started the Argent Tournament questline can speak to him to obtain a ride to this questing area.
Zone: Dalaran – Jean Pierre Poulain is located on Krasus’ Landing, and is seated on a hippogryph next to the Cold Weather Flying Trainer.
Synipus ~ is in tribute to Nathan C. Nelson, aka “EgoRager.” Nate was born in 1978 and passed away from cancer in 2008, just four days before his 30th birthday. He was a computer program supervisor in Columbus, Ohio, and enjoyed collaborating with game developers and beta testing games. He graduated from DeVry University and also served in the Army National Guard.
Nate was a member of TeamEgo, an organization that has been around since the beginning of online gaming. TeamEgo has a subsidiary RPG group called Mortis Consortium, and Nate was in the Horde guild of the same name on the Illidan server. His WoW toons included Berg, an Orc Hunter, and Domi. WoW was just one of many games he played with TeamEgo and Mortis Consortium – he had previously used the name Synipus in EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies.
Synipus is a level 74 Alliance questgiver located in the Grizzly Hills at the Blue Sky Logging Grounds, and offers the daily quest, Shredder Repair. He is a gnome because Nate enjoyed playing small characters in games, especially gnomes. Horde players going to pay their respects should take care around him – unlike other memorial npcs who cannot be attacked, Synipus is flagged for pvp.
Zone: Grizzly Hills – Synipus is located in the south-eastern part of the Blue Sky Logging Grounds.
Pandaria Memorials
Elloric ~ is in tribute to Michael, who played a Night Elf Hunter on US-Proudmoore. Michael passed away at the age of 29 from a sudden asthma attack on New Year’s Day, 2013. He was the husband and partner of Ghemit, a WoW tweeter and blogger. Michael began to play WoW with Ghemit during The Burning Crusade, and was a guild member of La Familia De Stonewall. He loved the Alliance, raiding, and playing a hunter. He would always joke and make people laugh, and was the life of every raid. Michael was proud to be a medical assistant, and was always there to help others. A man of great strength of character, he was a true and loyal friend who touched the lives of all who knew him.
A few days after his passing, friends and guildies organized an in-game memorial to honor Michael and show their support for Ghemit. This beautiful tribute was recorded by WoWMartiean, and can be viewed here.
Elloric is named after Michael’s hunter, and wears his gear. He reads a map because Michael used to get lost in game and would constantly refer to his map.
Zone: Vale of Eternal Blossoms – Elloric is located inside the second floor entrance to the Seat of Knowledge, and stands immediately to your left after you enter.
Owen’s Wishing Well ~ This wishing well is in tribute to Brian “Owen” Wicks, who passed away in 2012 at age 16 from osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Owen began to play WoW with family members when he was 8 years old. His main was on US-Gorgonnash, an Undead Death Knight named Decaulion. He loved the game, and it provided an escape during his 2-year battle with cancer. His family would bring his laptop and internet booster to the hospital with them whenever he had chemo or surgeries, and WoW served as a welcome distraction from his illness.
In February of 2012, Owen visited the Blizzard HQ through the Make-A-Wish foundation. There, he worked with game designers to create Owen’s Wishing Well. Everything you see in this area – all the critters and items – were picked out by Owen. A coin lies on the edge of the well, and if you throw it in, you gain a “Made-a-Wish” lucky buff. Owen’s family was able to show him his wishing well on the beta version of Mists of Pandaria. A week and a half later, he passed away.
Zone: The Jade Forest – The wishing well is located in Tideview Thicket. It can be difficult to see through the trees as you approach (especially if you can’t fly in the zone yet), so look for the tall stone monolith / hill at the edge of the cliff without a tree on top – the well is beneath it.
Booms ~ is in tribute to an Undead priest of the same name from the PvP server US-Stonemaul. Booms lived in Florida, where he was a DJ who played breaks music as DJ Booms. He passed away in 2011 from heart complications. He was in the guild Final Ascension, and enjoyed doing world pvp and battlegrounds, achieving the rank of General in the old pvp system.
Back in vanilla, Booms became known for exacting a toll from players trying to use the boat at Menethil Harbor. He had two game accounts, and his other account had an Alliance Night Elf alt named Boomsbot, who would receive the money. If players would not pay his toll, he would mind control them overboard once the ship had sailed and they were out in the fatiguing area of the waters. At this time in the game, the mind control spell lasted for up to a minute, and there were no diminishing returns, both of which factors which enabled him to be very successful with this strategy. Booms usually had a group of friends with him, all of whom were topnotch PvPers, and many battles occurred as the Alliance would gather at the harbor to attack them whenever the boat returned. Eventually, the Alliance would take back their boat, but the skirmishes provided fun, chaos, and good memories for those who fought alongside Booms. This, along with his inimitable presence on the Stonemaul forums, earned him lasting renown on his realm as well as the nickname “Pay Tribute.”
This tribute to his character was added in patch 5.1.0. Booms is a level 90 elite located in on a ship along the coast of Unga Ingoo island, one of the islands south of Krasarang Wilds. He stands at the ship’s wheel, and says, “Time to pay the toll!” whenever he attacks. Appropriately, one of his abilities is mind control, which he uses only if there is more than one attacker, or if a player has a hunter pet or minion out.
Zone: Krasarang Wilds – On a ship at the western side of Unga Ingoo island, the southernmost island in Krasarang Wilds.
Lon’li Guju ~ was put into the game as a tribute to Lonesome George, a giant tortoise from Pinta Island in the Galapagos Archipelago. The Pinta Island tortoise species was decimated in the 1800s, slaughtered for their meat by whalers and other visitors to the island. They were thought to be extinct by the early 1900s.
But in 1971, a lone tortoise was discovered on Pinta Island, and was brought to the Tortoise Center on Santa Cruz Island for safekeeping. The media dubbed him Lonesome George after TV comedian George Gobel. Lonesome George lived on Santa Cruz until June 24, 2012, when he was found dead of natural causes at approximately 100 years old. With his death came the extinction of his species.
George was a powerful and poignant symbol for the conservation of endangered species. These words are written outside his habitat:
Whatever happens to this single animal let him always remind us that the fate of all living things on Earth is in human hands.
Guju responds to emotes such as /wave, /hug, /love, and /kiss, and will follow you around for a few minutes before dying and respawning back along his patrol area.
Zone: Kun-Lai Summit – Lon’li Guju flies back and forth along the shoreline just north-west of Zouchin Village.
Draenor Memorials
Robin ~ is in tribute to the late actor and entertainer Robin Williams, a gaming enthusiast who built his own PCs. He named his daughter Zelda after the Legend of Zelda, and his son Cody is believed to be named after the character from Final Fight. He played many different games, including Warcraft III, Call of Duty, Half-Life, and Portal, and also had several Warhammer armies.
Another game Williams loved was WoW. Rumors have long been circulating that he played a priest named Jett on the Mannoroth server in the guild Iconoclast, and was something of a troll in trade. This has not been directly confirmed, however, and former Iconoclast guild members have indicated that the Mannoroth rumor came about from a short-lived edit on Williams’ Wikipedia page. At this point, unless more information is revealed about his WoW toons, we can’t know for sure what class he played or what realm he was on.
After Williams passed away in August of 2014, a petition was started to get a memorial character for him in WoW. Blizzard was quick to confirm that this would happen, and Wowhead has three NPCs in its database for Williams. One is in the game as Robin, a reference to the Genie from Aladdin, but the location(s) of the other two (Robin and Robin) are not yet known.
To find the Genie tribute, go to the island in the South Sea just south of Grommashar in Draenor’s Nagrand. (The island is very close to the Talador zone, too, and Wowhead shows maps placing Robin in Talador as well as Nagrand.) From the sea, there is a ramp up the hill on the east side of the island. You’ll see a giant egg split in two, with a lawn chair in one half and a control box and lantern in the other, a reference to Mork’s space ship. The toys and stuffed animals scattered on the island may be a reference to Robin’s movie Toys. Near the egg ship is a collection of items underneath a tree – one of these is the lamp, called the Ever-Burning Lamp. Click on it, and Robin appears as the Genie, proclaiming “PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS!” With a wave and a bow, he quickly shrinks down in size until he fits in the lamp as he finishes the now-famous quote: “Itty bitty living space.” Then, he disappears.
Zone: Nagrand (Draenor) – An island in the South Sea near Grommashar. (Please see the tabs above for how to reach the island from Nagrand and Talador.)
Kimilyn ~ is in tribute to a player whose main was an Undead priest of the same name in the guild Forged in Flame on US-Kul Tiras. She passed away in August of 2014 from brain cancer at the age of 26.
Kimilyn was a pvp enthusiast, and dominated the charts whether she was heals or dps. She was from New Zealand, which earned her the nickname “Kiwi Kimi” among her guildmates, and the time difference meant she was part of the guild’s late night crew. She loved Arathi Basin and Warsong Gulch in particular, and she could often be found participating in world pvp at Halaa between battleground queues. She was filled with a joy for life, respect for others, and complete unselfishness. She was happy and carefree, and wasn’t the type to worry or complain.
Kimilyn is one of the Horde captains that can be summoned in Ashran to aid the Horde. Like the other Horde captains who spawn in Warspear, she appears right in front of the Keep, between the two wooden posts, and rides off to join the fray.* Kimilyn wears the same gear as Kimilyn’s priest, and her title is Kimilyn’s guild. Upon appearance, her battle cry is, “Forged in flame, my power knows no bounds, my allies fear nothing!” Appropriately, when she dies, she says, “My body has fallen, but my spirit rises. I will always be with you.”
Forged in Flame held a memorial event in August of 2014 , and they also set up a continuous vigil at Halaa for a month in her honor. Kimi would definitely approve.
Zone: Ashran – Kimilyn’s Warspear spawnpoint is between two wooden posts in front of Warspear Keep.
Barney Farley ~ is named after actor and comedian Chris Farley and his character Barney on Saturday Night Live’s Chippendales Audition sketch. The moves Chris exhibited in that sketch went on to inspire the ogre and moonkin dance. Chris passed away in 1997 from a drug overdose when he was thirty-three.
Barney Farley was added in patch 6.0.1, and can be found dancing in the Ring of Blood behind the tower of Tarr the Terrible, a grand master pet tamer. There are some walls blocking access to the back of the tower, so those who cannot fly will have to find a spot to jump onto the wall to go around to the back of the tower
Zone: Nagrand (Draenor) – Barney Farley is located behind Tarr the Terrible’s tower within the Ring of Blood.
Austin Duink ~ is in tribute to Austin Duink, who passed away at the age of twenty-four on Christmas Day in 2013. He lived in Orange County, Florida, and was at home in the early evening when a gunman broke into his apartment and fatally shot him. Another occupant was shot and wounded, while two others were able to get away safely. The gunman committed suicide at the scene.
Austin graduated from J. W. Mitchell High School in 2007, and attended St Petersburg College, where he was majoring in information technology. He was the kind of person who was always giving back to his community – a former Boy Scout, he volunteered at the Salvation Army and at Metropolitan Ministries, a local charity which helps the homeless. He loved nature and animals, and enjoyed camping as well as volunteering at his local animal shelter. He made it a priority to spend time with his girlfriend, friends, and family, and his smart sense of humor always kept everyone around him laughing.
He was passionate about gaming: he had played WoW from the very beginning, and had also been one of its beta testers. Before WoW, he had also played the other Warcraft and StarCraft games. He played a variety of classes and toons on the Draenor, Kil’jaeden, and Arygos servers, and the first character he raised to max level was Windmill, a night elf rogue on Draenor. In Mists of Pandaria, he enjoyed playing a Human windwalker monk named Windymill on Arygos. He tended to use the name Windmill or variants thereof for his characters, and originally got the name from the Gorillaz song “Feel Good Inc.”
Austin enjoyed harmless trolling, and his antics in game matched his sense of humor. He would step into the fire to tease his healer buddy (being a DK ensured his survival), and he enjoyed participating in world pvp. Whatever he did, he made it a fun and unforgettable experience for his friends.
Fallenxx, a longtime friend of Austin’s who had started playing WoW because of him, notified Blizzard about his tragic passing. Austin Duink was added to the game in patch 6.1.0, and appropriately bears the title “Windmill of Draenor.” He can be found sitting by a campfire on the cliffs above Snarlpaw Ledge. Austin had been greatly looking forward to Warlords of Draenor because his favorite expansion thus far had been The Burning Crusade.
Nagrand was his favorite zone in the game, so this is a very fitting location for his tribute NPC to sit and enjoy the view.Zone: Nagrand (Draenor) – He is on a cliff edge above Snarlpaw Ledge.
Skoller ~ is in tribute to a Blizzard employee named Scott Koller, aka Skoller, who passed away from chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) on March 17, 2015 at the age of 31. Scott worked in the customer service department for Blizzard, and is listed in the Warlords of Draenor credits as one of the Customer Support Seniors (the other ranks after the Seniors are Champion, Specialist Game Master, and Game Master). He was also part of the customer support teams for Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, and StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, as well as the Cataclysm and Wrath of the Lich King expansions.
Scott was a quiet gentleman who was known for his quirky sense of humor and love of the absurd. He loved video games, comics, and anime, and his cubicle at work held a massive array of action figures. His natural leadership, professionalism, and wisdom inspired his team. A mentor to many of his co-workers at Blizzard, he was the one people went to when they needed help or advice. He is remembered for his selflessness and willingness to help and encourage those around him.
Skoller was added in patch 6.2.0, and is friendly to both Horde and Alliance players. He sits on the side of a wagon at the Saberstalkers’ camp right before you enter the Fang’rila area, and occasionally tosses nuts at the squirrels which congregate around him. When you interact with him, he says (after pelting you in the face with nuts before he realizes you are not a squirrel):
Oh, hello friend. Even in the heart of a war-torn jungle, it’s important to take care of the little ones.
Hey… c’mere. Since you took the time to say hello… Would you like a gift?
Players have the option to accept the gift by clicking the dialogue option that says, “Yes, I would! You, sir, are a gentleman and a …. Skoller,” and will receive Skoller’s Bag of Squirrel Treats. This gives you a toy that lets you feed the “wee squirrels” every thirty minutes.
Zone: Tanaan Jungle – Skoller is found in the Saberstalkers’ camp as you follow the road towards Fang’rila.
Scribe Chi-Yuan / Cao Zhiyuan ~ Scribe Chi-Yuan is in tribute to Cao Zhiyuan, a WoW player who passed away from bone cancer on November 27, 2014. He was only 22 at the time, and had fought with the disease for years.
Scribe Chi-Yuan is based on his toon, and is an inscription trainer who can be found in the upper level of Andromath’s Rise in Stormshield. She was added in 6.0.1.18594, which was released on July 22, 2014 during the closed beta for Warlords of Draenor. It is difficult to obtain a clear story from the English translations of the Chinese news websites, but it seems Zhiyuan’s illness became known to Dai Jinhe (Alex Tai), the general manager of Blizzard’s office in China, and his avatar was added to the game just a few months before he passed away.
Zone: Ashran
Coordinates: 62.6, 34.0
Location: Scribe Chi-Yuan is located at the top of Andromath’s Rise in Stormshield.
Broken Isles Memorials
Kimilyn (Val’sharah) ~ Kimilyn is in tribute to a player whose main was an Undead priest of the same name in the guild Forged in Flame on US-Kul Tiras. She passed away in August of 2014 from brain cancer at the age of 26. As in Ashran, this NPC is one of a number of NPCs named for WoW players, which can randomly appear in the contested zone of Val’sharah and participate in the fighting.
Kimilyn was a pvp enthusiast, and dominated the charts whether she was heals or dps. She was from New Zealand, which earned her the nickname “Kiwi Kimi” among her guildmates, and the time difference meant she was part of the guild’s late night crew. She loved Arathi Basin and Warsong Gulch in particular, and she could often be found participating in world pvp at Halaa between battleground queues. She was filled with a joy for life, respect for others, and complete unselfishness. She was happy and carefree, and wasn’t the type to worry or complain.
Kimilyn was a private individual as well, though, and most people in her guild didn’t know that she had cancer until she passed away. She wanted to keep quiet about it so she could make the most of the time she had left, by having fun with her friends without her illness getting in the way or making people act differently around her.
Her friend, Break, wrote:
She had a wisdom beyond her years. and a peace about her that touched everyone around her.
Even while fully aware life was closing in on her, she never stopped smiling and laughing enjoying her time in WoW, with her friends.
Kimilyn was as tough as they get. She had the heart of a gladiator and the nerve of an assassin.
She stared squarely in the face of fear and never backed down from anything or anyone.
She spoke with her actions, and she led by example. She had a huge heart that knew no limits.
She was fiercely loyal and genuinely cared about people and she always stood for the truth, no matter the circumstance. You always knew where you stood with Kimi, she made no bones about telling you either.
She looked out for those she cared about, for her friends, for her guild
Kimilyn was one of the good ones and she will always be missed.
This is where she wanted to be. in Azeroth
Healing BG’s, and guarding her people.
Along with her NPC in Val’sharah, there is a Warlords of Draenor tribute as well. Kimilyn is one of the Horde captains that can be summoned in Ashran to aid the Horde.
Zone: Val’sharah
Coordinates: 42.6, 48.6
Peggy Burridge ~Peggy Burridge is in tribute to Margaret Mary “Peggy” Burridge, who was born on January 3, 1937 and passed away on March 22, 2016. Peggy’s obituary provides name and location clues which indicate that she was the mother in law of Ken Drake, who at the time was a Senior Developer of Data Protection at Blizzard. Contributions to the American Cancer Society were suggested by the family in lieu of flowers, which indicates the cause of Peggy’s passing. Her obituary states:
A Virginia Beach resident for over 55 years, Peggy was a Navy wife, devoted mother and grandmother, girl scout leader, talented artist, world traveler, and sailing enthusiast, who loved playing games with friends and family. ‘Mrs B’ also enjoyed being known as the good witch.
Peggy can be found on the second floor of Acherus: The Ebon Hold, in the first alcove to your left as you leave the stairs area. You do not need to be max level to see her, but you do have to be at a level high enough to access the class hall version. Brand new Death Knights will see a different NPC instead, a vendor named Gangrenus, standing in her alcove.
If you interact with her, she has a generic greeting as well as one which mentions Peggy’s real life grand children:
Have I told you about my grandchildren, Alexis, Kelsey, and Cara? Such bright girls!
I haven’t seen them since before… <Peggy pauses, then smiles peacefully>
Well, I miss them and hope they are doing well.
Zone: Broken Shore – Acherus: The Ebon Hold
Coordinates: 46.8, 29.0 (approximate)
Location: The Heart of Acherus is located where the runeforges are, on the second floor of Acherus: The Ebon Hold.
Shadowlands Memorials
Reckful / Byron Bernstein ~Reckful is in tribute to Byron Bernstein, a WoW player and streaming personality best known for playing a rogue named Reckful on the US-Tichondrius server. He was the first player to reach a 3000 rating, and had nearly one million followers on Twitch.
Byron was open about his struggles with mental health issues, and unfortunately took his own life at the age of 31 on July 2, 2020. After his death, thousands of players attended memorials held in his honor across many servers.
Reckful is a rogue trainer who can be found inside the Cathedral of Light, in an alcove to your right if you stand near the front of the nave of the cathedral. If you click on her, she says “I don’t train Assassination Rogues,” and gives the player the opportunity to either train or tell her “It was good seeing you again.” If you /love her, she blows you a kiss while ghostly wings momentarily flash from her shoulders, and she loves you back.
While not a memorial NPC, Byron Burnside was added on May 15, 2018 in the Battle for Azeroth expansion as a reference to Byron’s name. He sells trade goods and can be found in the Bridgeport area of Tiragarde Sound on Kul Tiras.
Zone: Stormwind City
Coordinates: 51.4, 44.6
Location: Reckful can be found inside the Cathedral of Light.
Items
Merciless Gladiator’s Crossbow of the Phoenix
This item was designed by ten year old Ezra Phoenix Chatterton, who visited the Blizzard headquarters through the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2007. He had brain cancer, and passed away in 2008.
Merciless Gladiator’s Crossbow of the Phoenix can be purchased in Area 52 from Kezzik the Striker, who is standing inside one of the domed buildings at coordinates 33, 64. This weapon is transmoggable, and costs 750 for either faction.
Greatsword of Kofinna Kottr – is a reference to Duchess Kolfinna Kottr, the name used by Kitty Sexton, a computer programmer who lived in California. In 2009, she passed away at the age of 28 from the H1N1 influenza virus.
Kitty was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization which recreates the lifestyles, arts, and skills of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. A real life role playing group, SCA members dress in Middle Ages-era clothing, attend events such as tournaments and royal courts, and learn various historical arts and skills. Each member is from a kingdom based on where they live, and California is part of the kingdom known as Caid. Just as in WoW role playing, SCA members develop histories about their characters, and as Duchess Kolfinna Kottr from the Viking Age, Kitty held various ranks and offices within Caid.
After she passed away, her friends were able to get this tribute to her in the game. This weapon (spelled Kofinna although her name was Kolfinna) is one of the quest rewards for Critical Condition, and is appropriate since Kolfinna Kottr was a Shield Maiden and Knight of Caid.
As this is a two-handed sword, players should take note that this particular quest reward is offered only to classes and specs that can use two-handed swords. Horde players should also take note that this item is offered to Alliance questers only.
Visiting the Memorials: Maps (maps from wowhead)
None the Wiser Guild 