Shai Cherry served for four years as a professor of Jewish Thought at Vanderbilt University. He received a B.A. in philosophy, politics, and economics from Claremont McKenna College, and a Ph.D. in Jewish thought from Brandeis University. He is currently completing his studies for rabbinic ordination at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. He is the author of Torah Through Time: Understanding Bible Commentary from the Rabbinic Period to Modern Times.
Cherry has written on the response of Jewish theologians and scientists to Darwinian evolutionary thought.
Cherry has written on the response of Jewish theologians and scientists to Darwinian evolutionary thought.
The Ritter Park Tennis Center is a public facility located in Huntington, West Virginia with eleven outdoor and four indoor courts. In 1996, an air-supported structure was constructed over the four upper courts. The "bubble" is heated and taken down in May and put up again in September of each year.
The Ritter Park Tennis Center is host to many tournaments including: Huntington Area Qualifier, Ohio Valley Boys 16 & Under Championships, Ohio Valley Boys 12 & Under Indoor Championships, Dick Griffith Open and WV Open Indoor Championships. The facility also offers a wide range of instructional programs for the beginner to advanced player.
The Ritter Park Tennis Center is host to many tournaments including: Huntington Area Qualifier, Ohio Valley Boys 16 & Under Championships, Ohio Valley Boys 12 & Under Indoor Championships, Dick Griffith Open and WV Open Indoor Championships. The facility also offers a wide range of instructional programs for the beginner to advanced player.
In the fictional Warcraft Universe, Lady Vashj is a leader in the Naga ranks, and one of Illidan's close confidants.
Lore
Lady Vashj took control of the Naga and bid them to hibernate and at a better time they would strike again and reclaim their homeland from the Night Elves.
Thousands of years later Vashj and the other Naga awoke from their hibernation to serve Illidan Stormrage. Commanding one of several large tribes of Naga who would invade the surface world, she followed her master from Kalimdor to the Broken Islands which housed the Tomb of Sargeras, where she assisted in the battles against the Night Elven forces under the Warden Maiev Shadowsong. She later accompanied Illidan to the ruins of Dalaran, where he planned to cast a spell using the Eye of Sargeras to melt Icecrown Glacier, the citadel of the Lich King, in Northrend. However, the spell was disrupted when the ever-persistent Maiev and the Night Elves commanded by Illidan's brother, Malfurion Stormrage, intervened. When Illidan and his brother forged a truce in order to search for Tyrande Whisperwind, who had been separated from the rest of the Night Elf army during an Undead attack, Vashj and her Naga were quick to offer their aid.
When Illidan departed for Outland soon after Tyrande was rescued, Vashj and her Naga stayed behind, intrigued by the Blood Elves, whom she saw as potential allies. She sought out Kael and met him during a losing battle against the Undead near Dalaran. Though still part of the Alliance, the Blood Elves were viewed with suspicion by their Human and Dwarven comrades and with hatred by their racist regional commander, Grand Marshal Garithos. Knowing of their abuse and sympathizing with their ever-consuming racial addiction to magic, Vashj offered her aid to the desperate Blood Elves, who readily accepted; together they defeated the Scourge forces in the region. However, Kael and his Blood Elves were later accused of treason by Garithos and thrown in the dungeons of Dalaran to await execution.
Vashj slipped into the prison alone and freed Kael from his cell. Together, they managed to liberate the rest of Kael's forces and stage a daring escape from the prisons. They managed to escape through a portal to Outland where they freed Illidan, whom they had found being held captive by Night Elf Watchers under Maiev. Vashj formally introduced Illidan to their new allies, the Blood Elves, who pledged their loyalty to their new master in exchange for new sources of magic for them to satiate their addiction.
During the campaigns against the forces of the Pit Lord Magtheridon, Vashj and her Naga were indispensable. Her armies were essential in closing the dimensional gates from which Magtheridon drew demons into his fold and, at the Black Citadel, she commanded half of the two-pronged assault that broke the Pit Lord's power once and for all. At the battle of Icecrown Glacier, however, Lady Vashj led the Naga against the Undead forces of Arthas Menethil, but they were eventually defeated. Broken and scattered, Vashj rallied the remnants of her forces and retreated back to Outland with Illidan and Kael'Thas.
Vashj and her Naga currently live in Outland. Though many live in the Black Citadel, they are also based in a permanent settlement of their own somewhere in the wastelands of the shattered world, mainly in Zangarmarsh. In battle, she makes great use of her energy bow — she is considered to be the one of the greatest archers among the races of Azeroth, with Sylvanas Windrunner and Shandris Feathermoon being her only potential rivals. However, she is also a very powerful sorceress.
Appearances
Vashj made her first appearance in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. She appears as a villain in the night-elf campaign Terror of the Tides, a playable hero in the Alliance campaign Curse of the Blood Elves and once again as an enemy in the Scourge campaign Legacy of the Damned. She, along with Kael'thas Sunstrider (also introduced in The Frozen Throne), later appeared in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.
Her role in The Burning Crusade is as the Matron and final boss of Coilfang Reservoir's Serpentshrine Cavern. She and Kael'thas (who now resides in Tempest Keep) must both be defeated before players may enter the Battle of Mount Hyjal instance. Vashj also drops the helm for the Tier 5 armor set. She was first defeated by Nihilum on 29 March 2007.[http://www.bosskillers.com/cgi-bin/bbguild/index.cgi?actionbosspage&bossid91]
Lore
Lady Vashj took control of the Naga and bid them to hibernate and at a better time they would strike again and reclaim their homeland from the Night Elves.
Thousands of years later Vashj and the other Naga awoke from their hibernation to serve Illidan Stormrage. Commanding one of several large tribes of Naga who would invade the surface world, she followed her master from Kalimdor to the Broken Islands which housed the Tomb of Sargeras, where she assisted in the battles against the Night Elven forces under the Warden Maiev Shadowsong. She later accompanied Illidan to the ruins of Dalaran, where he planned to cast a spell using the Eye of Sargeras to melt Icecrown Glacier, the citadel of the Lich King, in Northrend. However, the spell was disrupted when the ever-persistent Maiev and the Night Elves commanded by Illidan's brother, Malfurion Stormrage, intervened. When Illidan and his brother forged a truce in order to search for Tyrande Whisperwind, who had been separated from the rest of the Night Elf army during an Undead attack, Vashj and her Naga were quick to offer their aid.
When Illidan departed for Outland soon after Tyrande was rescued, Vashj and her Naga stayed behind, intrigued by the Blood Elves, whom she saw as potential allies. She sought out Kael and met him during a losing battle against the Undead near Dalaran. Though still part of the Alliance, the Blood Elves were viewed with suspicion by their Human and Dwarven comrades and with hatred by their racist regional commander, Grand Marshal Garithos. Knowing of their abuse and sympathizing with their ever-consuming racial addiction to magic, Vashj offered her aid to the desperate Blood Elves, who readily accepted; together they defeated the Scourge forces in the region. However, Kael and his Blood Elves were later accused of treason by Garithos and thrown in the dungeons of Dalaran to await execution.
Vashj slipped into the prison alone and freed Kael from his cell. Together, they managed to liberate the rest of Kael's forces and stage a daring escape from the prisons. They managed to escape through a portal to Outland where they freed Illidan, whom they had found being held captive by Night Elf Watchers under Maiev. Vashj formally introduced Illidan to their new allies, the Blood Elves, who pledged their loyalty to their new master in exchange for new sources of magic for them to satiate their addiction.
During the campaigns against the forces of the Pit Lord Magtheridon, Vashj and her Naga were indispensable. Her armies were essential in closing the dimensional gates from which Magtheridon drew demons into his fold and, at the Black Citadel, she commanded half of the two-pronged assault that broke the Pit Lord's power once and for all. At the battle of Icecrown Glacier, however, Lady Vashj led the Naga against the Undead forces of Arthas Menethil, but they were eventually defeated. Broken and scattered, Vashj rallied the remnants of her forces and retreated back to Outland with Illidan and Kael'Thas.
Vashj and her Naga currently live in Outland. Though many live in the Black Citadel, they are also based in a permanent settlement of their own somewhere in the wastelands of the shattered world, mainly in Zangarmarsh. In battle, she makes great use of her energy bow — she is considered to be the one of the greatest archers among the races of Azeroth, with Sylvanas Windrunner and Shandris Feathermoon being her only potential rivals. However, she is also a very powerful sorceress.
Appearances
Vashj made her first appearance in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. She appears as a villain in the night-elf campaign Terror of the Tides, a playable hero in the Alliance campaign Curse of the Blood Elves and once again as an enemy in the Scourge campaign Legacy of the Damned. She, along with Kael'thas Sunstrider (also introduced in The Frozen Throne), later appeared in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.
Her role in The Burning Crusade is as the Matron and final boss of Coilfang Reservoir's Serpentshrine Cavern. She and Kael'thas (who now resides in Tempest Keep) must both be defeated before players may enter the Battle of Mount Hyjal instance. Vashj also drops the helm for the Tier 5 armor set. She was first defeated by Nihilum on 29 March 2007.[http://www.bosskillers.com/cgi-bin/bbguild/index.cgi?actionbosspage&bossid91]
Uther the Lightbringer was the leader of the Knights of the Silver Hand in the fictional Warcraft universe.
Background
During the First Great War against the Horde, Uther was an apprentice cleric of Archbishop Alonsus Faol, Abbot of Northshire Abbey. Faol felt that the war effort put in by pure clerics during the First War was not going to be sufficient enough for the battles ahead. He then decided to combine the skills of knight and cleric, the Paladin, of which Uther was the first. Uther was a young prodigy in the uses of the Holy Light and put his life on the line many times for the Alliance. He was already skilled in melee combat and possessed great military knowledge, so he was the perfect candidate for this new combat cleric.
Warcraft II
Uther the Lightbringer appears for the first time in a mission in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, where he is supposed to be brought to safety by an escort patrol through dangerous Orc territory. Using his natural leadership ability, he rallied the greatest of the knights of Azeroth and Lordaeron to join him and Faol, and formed the Knights of the Silver Hand.
Warcraft III
In his later life (before and during the start of the Third War) he trained Prince Arthas Menethil as a paladin despite the prince's prominent attitude. He loved Arthas like a son and felt he would make a great King in the future. He saw great potential in him as a paladin as well, and hoped that he would take up the mantle of leader of the Silver Hand once he died.
When the plague struck, Uther and his knights tried their best to track down the source, but had no success. Arthas was able to kill the Cult of the Damned's leader, Kel'Thuzad, halting the undead advancement for a short time. The plague began to strike again, and Arthas became almost insane in his crusade to eradicate any plagued civilians. Uther refused orders to purge the plagued city of Stratholme. For this, Arthas disbanded the Silver Hand and relieved Uther of command, but King Terenas ignored it and tried to keep the order together. Arthas went on to Northerend and fell to the shadow. He became a Death Knight in the service of the Lich King. He would later return home to slay his father the king.
Arthas betrayed Uther and the rest of the Alliance, who refused to recognize his right of succession. Uther guarded the remains of King Terenas in a special urn, which Arthas needed. Many paladins died in the ensuing battle with the undead while Uther and Arthas squared off in final combat. After an intense battle, Arthas slew Uther and took the urn of the king. Uther the Lightbringer, one of humanity's greatest heroes, died. The few paladins that survived either joined the Scarlet Crusade, left for the Theramore Isles, or went south to enter the service of Stormwind, the last great kingdom of humanity.
"I dearly hope there's a special place in hell for you, Arthas!"
"We might never know. I intend to live forever."
Related Trivia
His tomb can be seen in World of Warcraft, in the graveyard of Sorrow Hill in the Western Plaguelands - the only light in a land of darkness.
A recently added quest for Horde characters in World of Warcraft has you defiling Uther's grave for one of his former Elven paladin students.
A recently added quest for Alliance characters in World of Warcraft has players escorting a Non-Player character to the tomb to return "The Mark of the Lightbringer" and pay homage. At the end of the quest, Uther himself appears, in a ghostly form.
Some players of the video game World of Warcraft coined the term "W.W.U.D.?" meaning, "What Would Uther Do?" in his honor.
A rather popular custom game in Warcraft III is Uther Party, a game where players play many minigames, like Mario Party, which is what it is named after.
He was perhaps named after Uther Pendragon.
Inscribed at the base of the tomb:
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
cs:Uther Lightbringer
fr:Uther Lightbringer
it:Uther Lightbringer
pl:Uther the Lightbringer
Background
During the First Great War against the Horde, Uther was an apprentice cleric of Archbishop Alonsus Faol, Abbot of Northshire Abbey. Faol felt that the war effort put in by pure clerics during the First War was not going to be sufficient enough for the battles ahead. He then decided to combine the skills of knight and cleric, the Paladin, of which Uther was the first. Uther was a young prodigy in the uses of the Holy Light and put his life on the line many times for the Alliance. He was already skilled in melee combat and possessed great military knowledge, so he was the perfect candidate for this new combat cleric.
Warcraft II
Uther the Lightbringer appears for the first time in a mission in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, where he is supposed to be brought to safety by an escort patrol through dangerous Orc territory. Using his natural leadership ability, he rallied the greatest of the knights of Azeroth and Lordaeron to join him and Faol, and formed the Knights of the Silver Hand.
Warcraft III
In his later life (before and during the start of the Third War) he trained Prince Arthas Menethil as a paladin despite the prince's prominent attitude. He loved Arthas like a son and felt he would make a great King in the future. He saw great potential in him as a paladin as well, and hoped that he would take up the mantle of leader of the Silver Hand once he died.
When the plague struck, Uther and his knights tried their best to track down the source, but had no success. Arthas was able to kill the Cult of the Damned's leader, Kel'Thuzad, halting the undead advancement for a short time. The plague began to strike again, and Arthas became almost insane in his crusade to eradicate any plagued civilians. Uther refused orders to purge the plagued city of Stratholme. For this, Arthas disbanded the Silver Hand and relieved Uther of command, but King Terenas ignored it and tried to keep the order together. Arthas went on to Northerend and fell to the shadow. He became a Death Knight in the service of the Lich King. He would later return home to slay his father the king.
Arthas betrayed Uther and the rest of the Alliance, who refused to recognize his right of succession. Uther guarded the remains of King Terenas in a special urn, which Arthas needed. Many paladins died in the ensuing battle with the undead while Uther and Arthas squared off in final combat. After an intense battle, Arthas slew Uther and took the urn of the king. Uther the Lightbringer, one of humanity's greatest heroes, died. The few paladins that survived either joined the Scarlet Crusade, left for the Theramore Isles, or went south to enter the service of Stormwind, the last great kingdom of humanity.
"I dearly hope there's a special place in hell for you, Arthas!"
"We might never know. I intend to live forever."
Related Trivia
His tomb can be seen in World of Warcraft, in the graveyard of Sorrow Hill in the Western Plaguelands - the only light in a land of darkness.
A recently added quest for Horde characters in World of Warcraft has you defiling Uther's grave for one of his former Elven paladin students.
A recently added quest for Alliance characters in World of Warcraft has players escorting a Non-Player character to the tomb to return "The Mark of the Lightbringer" and pay homage. At the end of the quest, Uther himself appears, in a ghostly form.
Some players of the video game World of Warcraft coined the term "W.W.U.D.?" meaning, "What Would Uther Do?" in his honor.
A rather popular custom game in Warcraft III is Uther Party, a game where players play many minigames, like Mario Party, which is what it is named after.
He was perhaps named after Uther Pendragon.
Inscribed at the base of the tomb:
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
cs:Uther Lightbringer
fr:Uther Lightbringer
it:Uther Lightbringer
pl:Uther the Lightbringer