Lore ·
Who Is Jaina Proudmoore? Her Story Before WoW Forever
Jaina Proudmoore is a human mage, the daughter of Kul Tiras admiral Daelin Proudmoore, who studied under Archmage Antonidas, led refugees from Lordaeron to Kalimdor and founded the port city of Theramore. In World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), set in the first year of World of Warcraft, she rules Theramore, off the coast of Dustwallow Marsh.
Quick answer: Jaina trained in Dalaran, loved and then lost Prince Arthas, and left Lordaeron after the Scourge struck. She crossed the sea with survivors, fought at Mount Hyjal beside Thrall and the night elves, then built Theramore. In the original game she is its ruler and an ally of Stormwind.
Key facts
- Family: daughter of Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore and Katherine Proudmoore (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia)
- Teacher: Archmage Antonidas of the Kirin Tor in Dalaran (Warcraft Wiki, Wikipedia)
- Third War role: left Lordaeron and led refugees west across the sea to Kalimdor (Warcraft Wiki, Wikipedia)
- Founded: Theramore, on a rocky island east of Dustwallow Marsh (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia)
- Allegiance: Theramore is part of the Alliance (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia)
- Role in Forever's era: ruler of Theramore, working with Stormwind (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia)
- Ally of: Thrall, from their alliance against Hellscream's chaos orcs on Kalimdor (Warcraft Wiki)
Who was Jaina before the Third War?
According to Wowpedia, Jaina was the middle child of Daelin and Katherine Proudmoore, born three years before the First War. Her magical talent was discovered after the Second War and she was sent to study in Dalaran. Wikipedia says she became the apprentice of Archmage Antonidas, the leader of the Kirin Tor, after persistent pleading.
She met Arthas Menethil as a child in Lordaeron. Wowpedia says Arthas began a relationship with her and then ended it so she could focus on her studies in Dalaran. Warcraft Wiki says he ended their first relationship after Hallow's End and that the two began rekindling it while investigating the plague in the Third War. Wikipedia calls her his old friend and love interest. Read Who Is Arthas Menethil? for his side of it.
What did Jaina do in the Third War?
Warcraft Wiki and Wikipedia agree on the outline. Jaina investigated the plague of undeath with Arthas, then left Lordaeron as the Scourge spread. Wowpedia says a prophet, later revealed to be Medivh, urged her to lead survivors west, while Warcraft Wiki says Antonidas encouraged her to take the survivors she could find. She sailed for Kalimdor with refugees of many races, and her group initially clashed with the Horde, according to Wowpedia.
She then joined the orc and night elf forces at Mount Hyjal, where the Burning Legion was defeated; Warcraft Wiki's Durotar page dates the battle to year 21 after the Dark Portal. Wowpedia says she first fought the Horde on Kalimdor and then, reluctantly, allied with Thrall after Medivh intervened. For the wider war, read the Warcraft lore recap.
What is Theramore and why does it matter?
After Mount Hyjal, Jaina's expedition of Lordaeron survivors built Theramore on an island off the coast of Dustwallow Marsh. Warcraft Wiki describes it as an Alliance city-state built to protect the remnants of the Alliance, and Wowpedia lists it as part of the Alliance.
Both wikis say Jaina's father Daelin sailed to Kalimdor and came to Theramore. Warcraft Wiki's Theramore page says Daelin was slain in the battle with Rexxar's party, and its Daelin page says Rexxar killed him. Wowpedia says Jaina ordered her troops to stand down when they assaulted Theramore, and that Kul Tiras blamed her afterward. Warcraft Wiki's Daelin page adds that she aided Rexxar in destroying her father's ships. The sources do not give a year for Daelin's attack. For the Alliance side of Kalimdor, read the Alliance leveling zones guide.
Where is Jaina in WoW Forever's era?
Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia describe the same picture for the first year of World of Warcraft. Jaina rules Theramore from her tower and is allied with Stormwind. The story they give includes these points:
- She pushed for a summit between Thrall and King Varian Wrynn.
- Varian then disappeared at sea.
- She helped capture Hendel, an ally of the Defias Brotherhood.
- She learned that the Defias who took Varian were allied with Onyxia, and passed this to Bolvar Fordragon.
That story ties Jaina to the Defias Brotherhood, Stormwind's history and the Deadmines. Lore Forever has not seen Forever's quest text confirm that these exact events appear in the game, so treat them as the original game's story.
Blizzard's overview of Forever, as summarized by Icy Veins, calls the Alliance a union of peoples working toward "a peaceful and just world." Jaina's wish to broker peace between Thrall and Varian fits that description. The free Lore Forever add-on adds readable zone and quest background while you play, and the optional Willo voice companion lets you ask lore questions by voice. Both are fan-made.
What is not confirmed yet
- Blizzard has not published a list of Jaina's Forever quests, so this article describes her story, not new content.
- The sources give no calendar year for the founding of Theramore or for Daelin's attack. Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia share ancestry, so the first-year story above rests on one source family.
- Later events, including the fall of Theramore and her later titles, are outside WoW Forever's story and are not covered here.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jaina Proudmoore?
Jaina Proudmoore is a human archmage, daughter of Kul Tiras admiral Daelin Proudmoore, who led refugees to Kalimdor after the Third War began and founded Theramore.
Where is Jaina in WoW Forever?
In the first year of World of Warcraft, which is WoW Forever's setting, Jaina rules Theramore, on an island off Dustwallow Marsh, according to Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia.
Was Jaina in a relationship with Arthas?
Yes. Wowpedia says Arthas Menethil began a relationship with her and then ended it. Warcraft Wiki says they began rekindling it during the Third War, and Wikipedia calls him her old friend and love interest.
Are Jaina and Thrall allies?
Yes. Warcraft Wiki says Jaina reluctantly allied her forces with Thrall's on Kalimdor, and its Theramore page says the two agreed to respect each other's territory after Mount Hyjal. Read Who Is Thrall?.
What happened to Jaina's father?
Daelin Proudmoore died in the fighting at Theramore, killed by Rexxar according to Warcraft Wiki. Kul Tiras blamed Jaina afterward, per Wowpedia.
Is Jaina Horde or Alliance?
Jaina is Alliance. Theramore is an Alliance city-state, though she keeps peace with the Horde and works to avoid war with Thrall.
Sources
Reviewed October 24, 2026. This article covers history before and during Forever's setting and does not treat later events as Forever canon. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.