Well, the Ebon Blade may reek of death, but it's not like they're a bunch of crazed, psychopathic lunatics. Darion's Ebon Blade is probably the most lucid and effectual of all the factions out there. They're pretty much the only force, Horde or Alliance, who see the situation clearly and understand what they're up against without regards to politics, the finer points of morality, and personal feelings. They let logic and a cold desire for vengeance dictate their actions, which ironically pits them against the idea of unnecessary bloodbaths. I imagine they view such things as a waste of time and resources, causing a whole bunch of headaches and wasting otherwise valuable resources and men that could have been put to use against the Lich King. And let's not forget how useful the dead are to Arthas.

Had the Ebon Blade gone on an unreserved rampage in Northrend, I think the uniqueness of their faction would be sorely lost. An Orc commander might order a village in the way of his army to be burned, but the Ebon Blade would certainly try to find a way around the village, not only to save time and resources, but to deprive the Lich King of potential soldiers.

The Scarlet Onslaught line in Icecrown wasn't enough for you? The Ebon Blade clearly is going way overboard there because of specific hatred for the faction. There are other instances as well, but turning people into ghouls and literally torturing and destroying one guy's soul is not Lawful Good behavior.

Ebon Blade are the "good guys" by default since they're fighting an unholy god of death. You can't get any more morally grey without crossing over.

Clearly some are more sadistic than others.

From Their Corpses, Rise! - Quest - World of Warcraft
But you also need to take into account that they're fighting the Scarlet Onslaught because they know they're a malicious organization. They're not killing innocents, they're eliminating and demoralizing a threat.

Regarding Saurfang and Bolvar:
That Saurfang is going to be there is pretty clear (apart from the fact that he was datamined) - we saw his soul being sucked into Frostmourne. While it would make sense to have Bolvar as boss as his Alliance counterpart, the question is - when exactly would Arthas have stolen his corpse?

The events at the Wrathgate played out like this (after the first two waves):
1. Arthas comes out and gives his little speech.
2. Saurfang attacks, gets killed and Arthas takes his soul.
3. Bolvar and Arthas exchange words, the RAS launches their surprise attack.
4. Arthas goes down on his knees, gets back up and retreats, visibly shaken. Bolvar is still alive.
5. Bolvar succumbs to the plague, his last view are the approaching dragons.
6. Dragons arrive and incinerate everything. They land afterwards.
7. The player arrives at the scene, Bolvar's corpse is missing.

So... Bolvar's corpse had to be removed between 4. and 7. Now, I have a really hard time thinking of a way how the Scourge could have taken the body in that timeslot since first there was the plague around, and after that, the entire place got incinerated. And after that, two of the most powerful dragons landed and kept watch.

So, again, while it would make sense to have Bolvar there for gameplay reasons (not to mention that we had hints of his being there), the above just doesn't add up for me. If anyone should have his body, it would be the Red Dragonfilght.

Not to nitpick, but isn't a desire for vengeance a personal feeling?

Though, as seen with the Forsaken before, being vengeful seems to be the only true feeling an Undead can still have (let's not mention Love is in the Air)

Had forgotten about Death's Rise, but they do seem to have sent all the psychos there. The draenei female is particularly sick. However, Vadu in Zul'drak or the bunch at Shadow Vault seem little more than cold-hearted calculists. What I meant was a situation in which the Horde (although it's the Horde that's going on a rampage, so they'd approve), Alliance or Argent Crusade were present. Either that or pertaining one of the "famous" Deathknights. Kolthira's sword could run only on innocents' blood, for example, and you'd have to cut down a few wolvar or even Tuskar...you know, for the greater good.

In retrospective, though, Blizzard made them a very calculist group, one that knows exactly what they need to do to defeat the Lich King or the Scarlett Onslaught, and that accounts for some lack of bloody vengeance. They're thorough in their methods. Perhaps, even if we only see it in the beginning of the Death Knights' game, their presence causes a lot of discomfort among factions throughout the whole WotLK. The Alliance has that "Thassarian's suicide mission" quest, after all. But Tirion scolding or even beating Darion around after the latter, for example, lured a Scourge commander into an ice troll (or tuskarr, or gorloc) village in order to corner him, I think that would add "weight" to the expansions' mood.

Back to 3.3: Should we take Alextrasza's words about the "fate of the young Paladin" on a different light? She could simply be saying Varian shouldn't know Bolvar had been taken to Icecrown yet. He'd be even angrier and do something stupid. Or she could be implying Bolvar would resist the Lich King's control and have a greater role in Icecrown, on our side.

I was thinking that, since he wasn't the one to slay him, Arthas couldn't have taken Bolvar's soul, but I'm not sure about that, and even if it was true, it's something Blizzard would find a way to circle around.

A fusion or gestalt of Bolvar and Saurfang seems reasonable, but then the datamined name wouldn't make sense.

Well, anything could happen, but what we do know is that Bolvar probably died at the Wrathgate. And we know from Alexstraza that some unknown fate has befallen him; a fate which they are unwilling to tell us about. Alexstrasza does say in the quest text that bolvar has "fallen" and that from the ashes of the fallen will come a new force that will save the world.

That could be interpreted that the reds have Bolvar and are preparing him to be a force for good but I think that may be reading too much into it.

Hmm, Alextrasza said "From the ashes..." and in 3.3 we will have a fraction called "Ashen Verdict". Perhaps Bolvar's spirit will return and encourage the founding of this ne fraction ?

I'm thinking that it is more and more likely as we get this new information revealed to us that Bolvar isn't actually dead, or turned.

There are two possible ways that this could have happened.
One - Bolvar was captured at the Wrathgate, Arthas tried to break him and turn him (and possibly was succeeding to a point), but Bolvar eventually resists and escapes. Any time Arthas would have been distracted with other business would be good for this, but the Trial of the Crusader seems like the best choice - Arthas has to leave the Citadel to attempt to waylay the Argent Crusade, giving Bolvar a chance to escape.
Two - Bolvar was never actually captured, but used the chaos at the Wrathgate to go incognito. Perhaps he realized that through the defeat at the Wrathgate (due to either the strength of Arthas or the inability of the Alliance and Horde to work together properly) it would be better to go it alone to try and make a difference in some other way. This would require little effort to set up, as simply leaving his shield behind not only makes it so the Alliance thinks he is dead, but Arthas would have little reason to suspect he survived either (he got plagued, then supposedly incinerated by ruby flames). It could make the perfect cover-up for some plot Bolvar has in store.

As to what (if anything) he has been up to on his own...well, you got me on that one. Surely a powerful warrior and tactician would come up with something useful to do to undermine Arthas.

I think it would be a strong play by Blizzard to have Bolvar reveal himself at a key moment in Icecrown Citadel and fight alongside you.

Alexstrasza could just mean the Ashen Verdict itself, but the allegiance between Argent and Ebon already existed, naming it doesn't seem like that big a step. If you watch the Icecrown preview video, they even keep their old flags, unlike what happened in Quel'danas.

Still, the name "Ashen Verdict" does suggest an involvement of the red flight or at least something to do with the end to the Wrathgate tragedy.

Bolvar's spirit acting as a "Naaru" of a sort, inspiring the troops, is a possibility, but why and how would Arthas release it? Even if he couldn't break the old chap's will, he'd have a grand time torturing it for eternity.

Edit:

@Redlimit: when we're talking about heroes and villains, there's no death when there's no corpse, but still, we saw Bolvar's body decaying and shriveling due to the plague. Saurfang's armor, too, was left on the battlefield. As to why the Scourge would leave those behind, especially when they'd have to strip Saurfang of his armor, no clue, probably a gameplay reason for us to have something to take to papa Saur'. If we were to find Bolvar alive through other means rather some ressurrection, Blizzard would be setting itself for a "Lorekill!!" wave in the forums. The Wrathgate was supposed to be tragic. Stripping the tragedy in half (and the most important half, Bolvar) is a very bad idea.

It'd be interesting if the Ebon Blade made off with the body and... well, the events versus the Scarlet Onslaught demonstrate that they're able to raise new undead, right? It'd be interesting is Bolvar were to become the first Death Knight of the Ebon Blade to be created after the battle for Light's Hope Chapel, and the first Death Knight who never served the Lich King.

Are we sure that the Ebon Blade's raising capabilities extend beyond raising mindless zombies? I don't remember what happens in that quest Kaejin linked. (There are so many quests in Northrend...) I can imagine that raising a ghoul requires much less effort and power than tearing a full-fledged soul--sentience, consciousness, and all--back from the dead, considering concoctions and tinctures alone can raise zombies like the plague. Ha ha, puns.

To Arthas, raising a banshee or Lich might not seem like much, since he does it all the time, but the Ebon Blade has its limits. I don't think they can do anything beyond making a few ghouls and such, but I could be wrong.

It's an interesting possibility, but I think's it's implausible, as well. Adding unknown powers to someone is a little too cartoonish when more interesting possibilities - such as the simple "Varian faces Bolvar" - exist.

This Bolvar thing is starting to get annoying. Not that I don't trust Blizzard with the Icecrown lore (they seem to be doing a good job), but I can't seem to find any other scenario being better and less cheesy than a Wrynn/Fordragon faceoff.

My bad, perhaps, but thinking of the possibility of seeing Bolvar's spirit carpet-bombing the Frozen Throne in the middle of the fight is just scary.

He'd be (un)dead considering that the body Arthas was trying to turn was called 'Immolated Champion' which can only be him. You don't get immolated to the point of your body being fully blackened and then live. He likely will be a Death Knight but what terms we meet him under won't be known till likely the next build (which should be soon).

While there is heavy implication that the characters involved in the Yogg-Saron vision are Bolvar and Saurfang, at the same time it isn't explicitly stated as such, so there is always the possibility it wasn't him.

Even it it was Bolvar - considering Bolvar's strength (single-handedly fighting off Onyxia and her guards back in the Vanilla days, etc) he could certainly live through a lot. Not to say that he wouldn't be vastly scarred or injured, but alive nonetheless is a possibility.

Live through being tortured, and escape (or go into hiding) while Arthas is away busting up the floor at the Argent Tournament Grounds? Its plausible. I think portraying one of the mightiest paladins the Alliance has in a vastly scarred and darkened state (but still alive and of his own will) - something the Alliance dosen't really deal with, could have more effect than a simple showdown between Varian and DK Bolvar ever could. Think of all of the Alliance heroes - they are mostly pristine and untouched in stature. We don't ever see them in any other state than "in perfect fighting condition". I think giving the Alliance a battle-scarred and 'darker' hero is exactly what Blizzard is hinting at in Cataclysm. I know that Varian is supposed to come across this way, but he really doesn't. Basically he just showed up at the start of WotLK, reassumed the throne and that was that. To look at him you wouldn't ever guess he spent years under Horde control after the death of his family forced into fighting in brutal arenas - he looks like he has just stepped out of the shower and donned his newly polished armor. He dosen't give off the "dark" vibe at all, in his looks or in his actions. Bolvar would be a good candidate to do this type of character properly.

I could agree with how interesting a scarred Bolvar would be, but, by that logic, Saurfang would have to have survived, as well. You see him walking to Arthas' side, in Saron's brain - I'm assuming it's them, and honestly can't see other possibility.

Fordragon should be dead. You see his body turning into a husk right before the dragons come in and deep-breathe on the scene. He also doesn't use any paladin ability (I'd forgotten the fact he was one) before collapsing.

The only possibility of him surviving that is if the dragons' breath somehow saved him in the nick of time.

It's hard to draw conclusions with the holes in this story. Like Munorion said above, there's a short time span for the Scourge to retrieve Saurfang's and Bolvar's bodies. And, according to the "immolated" label given to Bolvar, he'd be in a sorry state to be alive. But then so would Saurfang. They should both be Immolated.

A final thought: what if Bolvar is just dead, Arthas finishing him when he realizes he can't break the paladin? If the only DK we're fighting is Saurfang and Bolvar's corpse will just be thrown at Varian's feet when he faces Arthas? That could be the Alliance's encounter with him. Far less interesting, on a first look...

Why would there even be a chance of it being someone else? It would just make no sense at all to just have him turning 2 random people and having us see it in the vision. The only 2 it could possibly be are Saurfang and Bolvar.

It's improbable that it's anyone else. It's not impossible -- Blizzard could put an angry Deathbringer Hogger after the airship battle for all we know, and they'd weave some manner of lore to make it make sense. (Who knew that that the gnolls were perfectly cut out for being unkillable death machines?)

Just because we've been asserting that it's Bolvar and Saurfang in the Yogg Vision and just because we're speculating that Arthas' greatest DK is Bolvar+Saurfang does not in any way make it so.

So, to be direct: There is a chance that it could be someone else because Blizzard has all the cards, and we only have what they choose to show. Occam's Razor works in problem-solving, but it doesn't always work in story: Just because it would be simplest for it to be Bolvar and Saurfang doesn't mean that it is.

For my piece, I think you're right (I don't want Deathbringer Hogger either) but I am loath to close off possibilities.

I think the name Ashen Verdict derives from the whole "Arthas is beyond redemption" thing from Tirion's Gambit. It would also come from the fact that it's been clear from Trial of the Crusader (and Grander Crusader) that what Tirion plans is a small tactical strike to assassinate Arthas, instead of a massive "Mount Doom"-style battle, he wants a series of tactical strikes. Morally, the assassination is justified because Arthas's verdict has been passed - there's no other way he can pay for his crimes.

Also, I'm skeptical that we'll have a storyline where a great hero of the Alliance survives capture and aids the raid, while the Horde's hero becomes a boss. Firstly, if I'm Horde and Bolvar walks up to me and is like "I'm here to help" right after we had an airship war where I fought Muradin, his reception is more along the lines of "LAVA BURST to the face!" than "happy to have you, Mr. Alliance Hero Guy!". Secondly, it doesn't give Alliance the same resonance to kill Saurfang the Younger as it does the Horde.

I think Bolvar aiding us during the potential Deathbringer Saurfang fight would be interesting. The two seemed to share a relatively stable bond of friendship and rivalry at the Wrathgate. Who knows exactly how long they'd both been stationed there, it's easy to imagine they would get along pretty well at strategy meetings where the only enemy they're concerned about is the Scourge.

Anyway, us + DK Bolvar (it's really unlikely that he's alive, even if he's not evil) who never gave in to Arthas Vs. Deathbringer Saurfang. The mechanic works for both Horde and Alliance. The Horde would want to end Saurfang Jr's desecration and Bolvar would undeniably want that as well. The Alliance would want past Saurfang Jr, and Bolvar would want to help his allies. Dialog and scripted acting would play out a little different for each faction, but the meat and potatoes stays the same.

Patch notes for 3.3 have been updated, and the PTRs are down for maintenance. We should have a new build up soon, and then it is time for digging again.

It should be interesting even if we find nothing new in the data files, because the first wing of the 5man instances of ICC will be open, it should answer a lot of questions regarding exactly just what we are doing in there.

Ash is grey. The main color of the Argent Dawn/Crusade is white, while the Ebon Blade uses black. white+black=grey.
Also, Ashbringer anyone? Undead being reduced to ash?