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Before the Second War
Not much is known about Uther Lightbringer's youth, but it is known that he came to the Light at a young age, and that by the time of the First War, he was both a knight and an apprentice cleric to Alonsus Faol, the Archbishop of the Church of Light.Warcraft II
After the fall of Stormwind, Alonsus Faol realized that more than his priests would be needed if the Alliance was going to defeat the invading Horde. While faith in the Holy Light was powerful, the Orcs were able to easily physically overpower any cleric. He decided to create the Knights of the Silver Hand, an order of knights who combined their physical capabilities with faith in the Holy Light.Five were selected to join this new order: Saidan Dathrohan, Tirion Fordring, Turalyon, Gavinrad the Dire, and Uther. They became the first Paladins, and Uther was chosen to be their leader. The Paladins were sorely needed, as the Horde had created new warriors of their own: the first Death Knights.
Alonsus Faol gave each of his Paladins a holy tome representing core traits of the Silver Hand. These ancient relics were meant to help the Paladins become living embodiments of the virtues their tomes represented. Uther's tome was the Libram of Justice.
In the final battle against the Horde, Uther's faith was so strong, he was able to empower the Alliance soldiers with a prayer to the Light. Anduin Lothar, the leader of the Alliance forces, fell to Ogrim Doomhammer, but his second in command, Turalyon, took up Lothar's sword and was able to defeat the Orcish leader. It was then when Turalyon named Uther "Lightbringer".
After the Second War
Uther was tasked with training the young prince of Lorderon, Arthas Menethil, in the ways of the Paladin. He became a mentor and a father figure to the young prince and grew a great affection for the boy. When Arthas finally took the Paladin's vows, he showed how much he trusted Uther by confiding to him that he didn't feel worthy. Uther reassured him that no one is ever worthy of the Light - that it is in fact by the Light's grace that they are able to become Paladins.When Tirion Fordring was accused of treason for protecting the Orc Eitrigg from capture, Uther was chosen to preside over his trial. Tirion tried to explain that the Orc had saved his life, and that his honor meant that he could not allow a blood debt like that to go unpaid. Uther struggled to understand this perspective - to him all Orcs were the horrible monsters who had invaded his world and caused so much destruction to his people - but he tried to show Tirion mercy in his own way. All Tirion had to do was forsake his vow to Eitrigg, and all would be forgiven. Tirion refused, and Uther sentenced him to be excommunicated from the Light and banished. However, he still showed some mercy, as he did not exile Tirion's wife or son with him.
Warcraft III
During the Third War, Arthas was sent to investigate reports of a plague. He was joined by Jaina Proudmoore, and together they discovered the horrors of the Scourge. At the town of Hearthglen, Arthas tried to hold off against the approaching undead army while sending Jaina to find and fetch help from Uther.Uther and the Silver Hand arrived just in time, and Uther expresses surprise that Arthas managed to hold out for so long. For Uther, this was an expression of concern and even pride, but for Arthas, a young man desperate to prove himself worthy of the crown he was destined to inherit, it felt like a humiliation. Arthas had discovered that the plague was being used to turn his people into the undead army, and became determined to stop it at any cost.
The Culling of Stratholme
Arthas and Jaina rode on ahead to Stratholme, where Arthas made the discovery that infected grain had already been distributed to the people. When Uther and the Silver Hand arrived, Arthas gave them the news and instructed Uther to purge the city. Uther, horrified even by the suggestion, refused. Arthas announced that Uther and the Silver Hand was guilty of treason and sent them away. Jaina, upset and shocked, left as well, while Arthas stayed and purged the city. Arthas continued on his quest to crush the Scourge, which eventually took him to Northrend.
Rise of the Lich King
Uther, convinced that Arthas had gone mad, returned to Lorderon where he reported the prince's actions to his father, King Terenas Menethil II. Terenas sent men to Northrend to bring Arthas back, but Arthas, blaming the summons on Uther, set fire to their ships and told them it was the work of mercenaries.By this point, Arthas was determined to find Frostmourne. He was successful, but the blade corrupted him. Now the Lich King, Arthas returned to Lorderon, where celebration turned to horror as he murdered his own father.
Death
Arthas
left the city, and Terenas was cremated, his remains placed in a
magical urn that was sent to the town of Andorhal. Uther volunteered to
guard the urn. Arthas, meanwhile, was after the urn himself, as he
needed it to resurrect Kel'Thuzad. He killed Gavinrad the Dire, who was
guarding Kel'Thuzad's corpse. Then he faced two other Paladins, Ballador
the Bright and Sage Truthbearer, before finally coming face to face
with his old mentor.
Uther asked Arthas why he was after the urn
of his father's ashes as well. Hadn't he done enough? Arthas revealed
that he didn't even know what the urn contained. In the emotional and
difficult battle that followed, Uther expressed a hope that a special
place in hell waited for Arthas. Arthas told Uther that they might never
know, as he intended to live forever, before killing him.
World of Warcraft
Uther's body was recovered by the Alliance and placed in a tomb a little south of Andorhal, where it can still be visited in-game in the Western Plaguelands to this day. The tomb has a plaque on it that reads,
Here lies Uther the Lightbringer
First Paladin - Founder of the Order of the Silver Hand
Uther
lived and died to defend the kingdom of Lordaeron. Though he was
betrayed by his most beloved student, we believe that his spirit lives
on. He continues to watch over us, even as the shadows close in around
our ruined land. His light is the light of all humanity - and so long as
we honor his example, it shall never fade.
- Anonymous
Burning Crusade
During the Burning Crusade, two very short questlines became available relating to Uther's Tomb.Tomb of the Lightbringer
In Chillwind Camp, Alliance players could meet Anchorite Truuen, a Draenei who, like the others of his race, had recently arrived on Azeroth and joined the Alliance. The Draenei had been studying Azeroth's various heroes, and he felt that Uther Lightbringer stood out above the rest. He would ask you to retrieve one of Uther's holy relics, a Mark of the Lightbringer, and bring it to him. Once you had retrieved the mark, he would ask you to return it to Uther's tomb.The ghost of Uther Lightbringer would appear and thank the player.
"Thank you for coming here in remembrance of me. Your efforts in
recovering that symbol, while unnecessary, are certainly touching to an
old man's heart.
Please, rise my friend. Keep the Blessing as a
symbol of the strength of the Light and how heroes long gone might once
again rise in each of us to inspire."
When the player returned to tell Anchorite Truuen what happened, the
Draenei would express surprise and wonder, and thank the player for
their selfless act.
These quests are no longer available, but you can still visit the Wowhead pages for them here and here.
Defiling Uther's Tomb
At
The Bulwark, Horde players could meet Mehlar Dawnblade, a Blood Elf
who, like others of his race, had recently joined the Horde. The Blood
Elves were once High Elves, and they were part of the Alliance. After
Arthas invaded their homeland, Quel'Thalas, and killed their king, the
Blood Elves changed their name in remembrance of those who had died.
Mehlar Dawnblade revealed that he was once a pupil of Uther
Lightbringer, and that he blamed him for what Arthas became. If Uther
hadn't mishandled Arthas's training. Quel'Thalaas would never have been
destroyed.
As with the Alliance quest, the player was asked to
retrieve a Mark of the Lightbringer. Mehlar Dawnblade would add a bit of
fel magic to the mark to corrupt it, and then asked the player to use
it to defile Uther's tomb.
Wrath of the Lich King
Uther's spirit appears again during the Wrath of the Lich King.
Trapped in Frostmourne
In Wrath of the Lich King, it was discovered that Uther's soul, like so many other souls, was actually trapped in the blade of Frostmourne. During the quest Frostmorne, Uther's spirit will appear and speak to Lady Jaina Proudmoore (Alliance) or Lady Sylvanas Windrunner (Horde) to urge them to kill the Lich King, and explain that to be defeated the Lich King would have to be destroyed at the place where he was created - the Frozen Throne. Jaina would have lingering feelings for Arthas and struggle to want to kill the Lich King if Arthas could still be saved. Uther would tell her that Arthas is all but gone, a dwindling presence in the Lich King's mind.
Uther would also warn that someone would have to take Arthas's place, as there must always be a Lich King. This sacrifice would ultimately be made by Bolvar Fordragon. We now know that Uther was right. When Sylvanas takes the Helm of Domination from Bolvar Fordragon and destroys it in the lead up to Shadowlands, it destroys the fabric of reality and opens a rift between the world of the living and the world of the dead.