Sentenced to death in absentina, former Ranger Lord Sylvanas had been charged and convicted of crimes against the Alliance; consulting with demonic powers and assassination of an Alliance hero, Grand Marshal Garithos. During the aftermath of the second war the Grand Marshal used his streched resources to lead a campaign against the Undead armies of the Lich King. On the eve of a great victory for the Alliance - the retaking of Lordaeron - he was betrayed by both the High Elves and Sylvanas's faction of coherant undead. Despite their pact the blasphemous elf slew the Grand Marshal outside the gate of Lordaeron. Grand Marshal Garithos left behind his beloved wife Helana, eight children and two unnamed mistresses.



Up till recently no major Alliance power has seriously attempted to bring Sylvanas to account for her crimes, outside of the feeble attempts of the Scarlet Crusade. The Cadian Inquisition was outraged by the lack of compitence on the part of the Alliance forces and lobbied the Security Council in the House of Nobles to transfer the matter into Cadian hands. In their wisdom they knew with the previous record of thwarting the Blackrock Menace months before, if there any force that could remove the Witch Queen it would be Cadia.