Alexstrasza

Alexstrasza the Life-Binder, Aspect of the red dragonflight, is the guardian of all life in the world of Azeroth. She was one of five great dragons chosen by the titans to be empowered with a portion of the Pantheon's power and rule over her flight while they watched over Azeroth and its inhabitants. The titans also appointed her queen of all dragons.

Today, Alexstrasza resides at the top of the Wyrmrest Temple in the Dragonblight, a place considered holy ground for the dragonflights. No longer content to simply watch over the mortal races, the Dragonqueen has now taken action in bringing the dragonflights together to battle the now-hostile blue dragonflight and its Aspect, Malygos, as well as the looming threat of the Lich King.

Biography
Once the titans felt satisfied with their creation upon Azeroth, they left to roam the cosmos in search of new worlds on which they would shape order from chaos, creating new life throughout a myriad of worlds. Before their departure from Azeroth however, the Titans empowered five dragons to become stewards of that world. Their purpose: to guard Azeroth as the Dragon Aspects, protecting the Titans' creation.

Eonar, the titan patron of all life, gave a portion of her power to the Red leviathan Alexstrasza. Ever after, Alexstrasza would be known as the Life-Binder, working to safeguard all living creatures of Azeroth. Due to her supreme wisdom and limitless compassion for all living things, Alexstrasza was crowned the Dragonqueen and given dominion over her kind.

Although one of the most powerful of the dragons, she is not the eldest, her once-consort Tyranastrasz being her elder by several hundreds if not thousands of years before the Titans gifted her. It is also revealed that Alexstrasza, along with her fellow Aspects are progeny of Galakrond the massive dragon.

War of the Ancients


Alexstrasza was one of the three dragon aspects that fought the demons of the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients. It was also in that war that the black dragon Neltharion deceived his fellow Aspects, using the Dragon Soul (also now known as the Demon Soul) to steal a portion of their power. After the War of the Ancients ended, when Illidan, brother of Malfurion Stormrage, emptied three vials of water from the Well of Eternity over the river of Mount Hyjal, Alexstrasza, along with Ysera and Nozdormu, decided to use the Well as a tool to heal the war-ravaged land by placing a magical acorn from G'Hanir, the Mother Tree, into the new Well of Hyjal. The tree that grew from this acorn was proclaimed the original World Tree of Azeroth, and is named Nordrassil.

For some time after, she and her fellow red dragons were at peace, but over time they began to argue about how best to shelter and protect the world. The rise to power of humans and other races left many believing that these new people were dangerous and should be destroyed, while others of Alexstrasza’s ilk felt they should be educated to teach them right from wrong.

The Second War
Ten thousand years later during the Second War, Nekros Skullcrusher, an orc of the Dragonmaw clan, was given the Dragon Soul by his Warchief Zuluhed. Using the awesome power of this ancient artifact, Nekros and the Dragonmaw Orcs teleported to the Red dragonflight's lair and captured Alexstrasza and her consorts, including her eldest consort Tyranastrasz. The offspring of these dragons were then used by the orcs as powerful war mounts. Alexstrasza had no choice but to succumb to this terrible slavery, lest her unborn clutches be slain at the hand of her cruel captor. As the aspect of life, this caused Alexstrasza pain as it could no one else, and she cried for the deaths of her children and the deaths they caused.

Battle of Grim Batol
After the Second War ended, Alexstrasza became more valuable to the Horde than ever, as a consummation of Horde military power. Thus she was to be protected at all costs. However, Deathwing, ancient traitor to Alexstrasza and her most hated enemy, who had partly arranged for her continued subjugation during the Second War, arranged an elaborate plot to draw her into the open and steal her children in the hopes of generating his own progeny. His plan, however, unwittingly facilitated her escape.

As the orcs began moving their captive dragons away from the fortress of Grim Batol in an attempt to safeguard their slaves from the reach of the Alliance, the caravan was attacked by Deathwing. During the battle that followed, Tyranastrasz was slain by the Black Wyrm, but the ancient Dragonqueen was set free and the first thing she did was to swallow her evil captor Nekros whole, and to reclaim her children from the grip of the Horde. With the help of her former mate Korialstrasz, Alexstrasza then rejoined the remaining Aspects Nozdormu, Malygos, and Ysera. The human mage, Rhonin, destroyed the Demon Soul, releasing their powers and enabling them to drive Deathwing into hiding. Though Neltharion ultimately escaped the wrath of the other Aspects, the ravaged orc caravan still remains in the Wetlands swamps. Her fire-breathing children returned to their posts as protectors of all life, and worked to rebuild their devastated race.

Afterwards
While her consorts and children continued to have their impact on Azeroth, Alexstrasza's whereabouts were, until recently, unknown to most. The Dragonqueen traveled to Wyrmrest Temple in Northrend, where she called upon the members of the Wyrmrest Accord to play their part against the blue dragons in the Nexus War.

In World of Warcraft


Alexstrasza first appears in Wrath of the Lich King. Malygos has declared war on all mortal spellcasters, especially the Kirin Tor of Dalaran. The red dragonflight is allying with the mortals against Malygos' crusade, partly because of a promise made by Alexstrasza to Rhonin after being freed from the Dragonmaw clan, that neither she nor her flight would harm the races of the rescuers. Alexstrasza is the head of the Wyrmrest Accord, the united effort of the dragonflights against Malygos' crusade.

Alexstrasza appears normally on the top tier of the Wyrmrest Temple in Dragonblight in a form resembling a unnaturaly tall (nearly twice as tall as blood elf player characters) female high elf or blood elf with pink skin, amber eyes and horns. Alexstrasza also appears in her draconic form at Angrathar the Wrathgate after the completion of /  (where she will replay the cutscene depicting the battle there at the players' request) and in the Eye of Eternity raid in the Nexus, where she and her children will aid players in slaying the Spell-Weaver.

Ulduar
During the battle against Yogg-Saron in Ulduar, Alexstrasza appears in her elf form, along with the other Aspects, during a flashback of the creation of the Dragon Soul, ten thousand years earlier.

Quests
She is involved in the following quests: Azure Dragonshrine quest chain:
 * 1) or

Angrathar the Wrathgate quest chain:
 * 1) or
 * 2) or
 * 3) or
 * 1) or
 * 2) or

Saving Crusader Bridenbrad quest chain:

She finishes the quest from a Naxxramas item drop:

Achievement
Upon completing the meta Achievement What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been, players will receive a letter from Alexstrasza congratulating players. This letter also contains the Reins of the Violet Proto-Drake.

Cataclysm


In Twilight Highlands Alexstraza confronts Deathwing. After several minutes of battle, Deathwing and Alexstrasza fall from the top of the mountain towards the ground, clutched tight in each others' claws, determined to destroy each other. Calen and an Adventurer fly in persuit. Alexstrasza, exhausted and gravely injured, is reduced to mortal form and lays on the ground halfway down the mountain. Deathwing continues to fall beyond the crest ouf the mountain, out of sight. Calen (who likewise takes elven form), the Adventurer and the Adventurer's drake race to the dragon queen's side. She is weak, and her voice wavers as she finds the strength to speak. Like a phantom, Deathwing rises up, his gigantic form casting a shadow over the land. Few things could have forced Alexstrasza to move in her weakened state -- but the words "he lives" were one of them. She makes herself sit up, unable to believe it is true. Deathwing sets the ground at his feet aflame, glowering over the group. Calen runs back to put himself between his queen and Deathwing. The Adventurer throws Alexstrasza's body over their mount's back and take her to safety. Calen takes his true form again, and the Adventurer's drake launches them in the air, flying away with all haste despite Alexstrasza's protests. Calen, while gigantic by mortal standards, is completely dwarfed by the Black Aspect. Realizing he can't stand a chance against Deathwing, he shoots a fireball or two at him, darting back and forth to distract him and keep him from pursuing the Adventurer and the Dragon Queen.

In Patch 4.2.0, Alexstrasza, who has made a full recovery, is present in Nordrasil to cleanse the World Tree. However, the fearsome Druids of the Flame interrupt the ceremony and knock Thrall out, much to Aggra's horror. Although Alexstrasza, Nozdormu, Kalecgos and Ysera conclude Thrall is lost in the elements, Aggra - determined as always - believes Thrall may be saved, and wants adventurers to assist her in her rescue mission.

Powers and abilities
Among Alexstrasza's abilities, she can regrow forests and heal the land. She can animate the dead and resurrect.

In Blackwing Lair, Vaelastrasz calls upon the power of Alexstrasza to aid the raid group in defeating his corrupted form. The raid is then given a buff called Essence of the Red, which essentially grants infinite mana, rage, runic power, and energy for 3 minutes.

Her breath causes flowers to grow, seen at Angrathar the Wrathgate and in.

Personality
For someone of her power, the Dragonqueen is surprisingly compassionate. While Ysera has always favored the dreaming races and the students of Cenarius, Alexstrasza and her flight are known for avoiding killing if at all possible (as they are the defenders of life). Alexstrasza loves all living creatures and protects them, and only those who menace the dragonflights or the world face her wrath. Alexstrasza is supremely confident in her strength and righteousness. She does not seek out combat, but destroys only to punish or renew. In battle, she observes her foes carefully before striking at those she believes are the most deserving of her wrath. Enemies who flee when their leaders are defeated are generally allowed to escape, having learned a lesson they will not soon forget.

She prefers peace and solitude, although she will defend her lands with all her power against any who threaten them without due cause. She often uses her shapechange power to appear as a creature of nature, in order to see what encroaching mortals will do before revealing her presence. Alexstrasza is devoted to all forests, and to a lesser extent all other types of green and fertile growing things. She considers all natural woodlands her home, and she need fear no beast within such lands. Although many of Azeroth’s natural creatures revere the Great Red Leviathan, she is not a goddess and does not pretend to be otherwise. Alexstrasza is rarely venerated by any particular group, although some elven communities pay her homage. Druids of the wild in particular appreciate her serene presence, considering her second in importance only to Ysera.

Memorable quotes
Alexstrasza: "Life... hope... and what they bring with them..." Deathwing: "Then you're as good as dead already!"
 * "It is good that Neltharion has Malygos to turn to. He has been quiet with me of late."
 * "Neltharion... this is not you! You always sought to make the world one of peace, of harmony..."
 * "I... will... kill... you... someday..." (after being captured)
 * Deathwing: "I have faced the ravages of time, the curse of nightmares, and the mists of sorcery, thanks to the others! What weapons do you bring?"
 * "Nekrosss... You had them ssslay my children! My children!" (seconds before eating Nekros)
 * "You will go through all I have gone through, Dark One."
 * "Life is my Aspect, Dark One, and I, like all mothers, know both the pain and wonders that entails! For the past several years, I have watched my children be raised as instruments of war, slaughtered if they proved insufficient or too willful! I have lived knowing that so many died that I could do nothing for!"
 * "I shall let you experience firsthand all that I have suffered..."
 * yell
 * yell

Cataclysm
Say Say Say Say Deathwing walks over towards Alexstrasza and shapeshifts to his human form, and a conversastion between the 2 ensues. Say Say Say Say Say To prove his point, Deathwing makes three tentacles grow out from his spinal cord, which causes Alexstrasza to widen her eyes in shock. Say Say Deathwing returns to his regular form and flies away, but Alexstrasza goes after him. Say ''Sometime after players knock a certain number of Twilight Drakes out, a cutscene is shown with Alexstrasza and Deathwing pawing and snapping their jaws at each other. Alexstrasza slams into the ground.'' Say Both the player and Caelestrasz rush over towards Alexstrasza as Deathwing crashes towards a pool of water. Say Say Say ''Suddenly, Deathwing flies up over the cliff and lands on the ground with massive force, causing a pyramid of fire to form around him. Calen spots him as Alexstrasza turns her head.'' Say Say To everyone's horror, Caelen readies himself for a violent brawl. Say The player's red wyrm runs up to the player, grabs Alexstrasza, puts her on his back as the player hops on Say Say ''As the player's dragon takes off with the player and Alexstrasza on his back, Caelestrasz charges towards Deathwing at a high speed as he flies up. Neither of Calestrasz's moves work, as Deathwing doesn't flinch.'' Say

Trivia

 * Prior to the opening of Ulduar, Alexstrasza had the most health in the game, with 139,450,000 HP in her dragon form. From its opening until Cataclysm, Flame Leviathan in 25-man Ulduar had the highest, with either three (192 million) or four (269 million) towers. After Cataclysm, Deathwing now has the most HP in the game, with 858,000,000.
 * Alexstrasza has a unique model based on the Blood Elf / High Elf model. It bears a strong resemblance to Sylvanas Windrunner's new WotLK model.
 * One of the realms in World of Warcraft is named after Alexstrasza.
 * As of Patch 3.2 Alexstrasza uses the  and   emotes of blood elf females.
 * Aside from her wisdom and beauty, Alexstrasza can be recognized by the gems on her wrists, the 2nd digit of her left paw, and her huge horns. She also has an opal chan on her chin, which makes fans think of her as the most beautiful wyrm.

Thrall's encounter with Alexstrasza
Thrall may have once encountered Alexstrasza in a place called "Alexstrasza's Cave", but the story of that event has never been told. ''Alexstrasza is easily the most powerful individual on Azeroth. She's a huge red dragon who could just as easily crush an army as cunningly manipulate its leaders to her own ends. She has a brilliant intellect and delights in toying with the lesser creatures who cross her path. The encounter with Alexstrasza would have been related in the cancelled Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans''. There is no mention of any draconic encounters in other narrations of Thrall's life, so it looks like this (along with many other events from that game) never happened. In addition, such a manipulative, sadistic personality is not consistent with the benevolent nature depicted from Day of the Dragon onwards.

Consorts
Tyranastrasz was Alexstrasza's prime consort during the War of the Ancients. Tyran was described as her eldest of three consorts captured by the Dragonmaw clan of orcs. Since Korialstrasz is her current prime consort and youngest of all consorts, he would be her fourth consort known. It is not mentioned who the second and third consorts were by name but it is stated that one perished trying to escape over the sea and the other had died of injuries inflicted by Deathwing.