Was the Jailer the Original Arbiter?

The answer to the question of whether the Jailer was the original Arbiter is yes, as the first being to hold the title of Arbiter was indeed the Eternal One Zovaal, who later became known as the Jailer after defying the will of the First Ones and betraying his duty as Arbiter. The Jailer, originally Zovaal, was stripped of his power and banished to the Maw to become its Jailer, marking a significant turn in his role and responsibilities within the cosmos.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Was the Jailer controlling Arthas? No, the Jailer was not controlling Arthas, as Arthas, as the Lich King, was under the command of the Helm of Domination, which had a “true master” implied to be the Jailer, indicating a complex hierarchy of control.
2. Who created the Arbiter? The Arbiter that the attendants of Oribos serve is a construct created by the anima the other Eternal Ones took from Zovaal, along with the Sigil for his “Covenant”, highlighting the Arbiter’s artificial nature.
3. What did the Jailer give Sylvanas? The Jailer gave Sylvanas her entire soul back, a unique occurrence since Frostmourne typically takes the entire soul of its victims, and Sylvanas was reanimated without a soul by Arthas.

Character Backgrounds

4. Who turned Sylvanas into a banshee? Sylvanas was killed by Prince Arthas Menethil and raised as an incorporeal banshee in his service as punishment for hindering his invasion, marking a pivotal moment in her character development.
5. Is the Arbiter dead? Though believed dead, different contexts provide varying answers, including the Arbiter being rescued by the Flood intelligence Gravemind in one scenario, and destroyed by Zovaal in another, consuming her essence to regain his power.
6. Is the Jailer Illidan? No, the Jailer and Illidan are distinct characters, with Illidan being a raid boss in The Burning Crusade and slain by Maiev Shadowsong, indicating separate storylines and roles.

Storyline and Events

7. Why did Sylvanas betray the Jailer? Sylvanas betrayed the Jailer due to her sympathy for Anduin Wrynn, the High King of the Alliance, whom she had kidnapped, leading to a change in her allegiance and actions.
8. What turned Arthas evil? Arthas was corrupted by the cursed blade Frostmourne in a bid to save his people, leading to his downfall and transformation into the Lich King.
9. Who killed the Jailer first? The Jailer was defeated by the heroes, with Echo claiming the world first Mythic Jailer and the world first clear of Mythic Sepulcher of the First Ones, marking a significant achievement in the Shadowlands storyline.

Character Relationships and Roles

10. Who was the original Arbiter? The first being to hold the title of Arbiter was the Eternal One Zovaal, later known as the Jailer, who was tasked with judging mortal souls and sending them to the appropriate afterlife.
11. Who created the Jailer? The Jailer, originally Zovaal, was created by the First Ones alongside other prominent figures like the Winter Queen and the Archon, to serve as the Arbiter.
12. Is Sylvanas a Night Elf? Initially, Sylvanas‘ character model was that of a light-skinned Night Elf, but this was changed for her major role in Wrath of the Lich King, reflecting adjustments in her character design.

Consequences and Outcomes

13. What happens to the Jailer at the end of Shadowlands? The Jailer, Zovaal, met his end at the hands of the heroes, concluding the Shadowlands story with his defeat and implying a significant shift in the cosmos.
14. What happened to Lady Sylvanas after Shadowlands? After Shadowlands, Sylvanas‘ storyline continues, but initially, she was killed by Arthas and raised as a banshee, setting the stage for her future actions and developments.
15. Why isn’t the Arbiter in Halo 4? The Arbiter is not in Halo 4 because, at the end of Halo 3, he headed off to find his homeworld, explaining his absence in the subsequent game, reflecting the character’s journey and the game’s narrative choices.