House of Rituals

The House of Rituals is one of the five houses that rule Maldraxxus. Filled with sorcerers, necromancers, and liches, referred to generally as the Ritualists, the House of Rituals is the afterlife for those of a magical bent, who thrived in war, including the lich Kel'Thuzad. The house is constantly innovating and advancing the art of necromancy with new incantations and formulae. As such, their key advantage in battle is their endless army of risen fighters. Maldracite is used both as a conduit for anima and to drawn runes when in the form of a finely ground dust.

The liches have a very selective application process for entry, and prefer applicants with magical aptitude and will not lower their standards due to the drought or civil war. Acolytes to the house must be tested for the privilege to wear the ritualist's mantle by summoning an elder spirit of Maldraxxus at the Prime Arcanum through the Grimoire of Ancient Summoning. The House of Rituals is known to be unforgiving when it comes to betrayal. As such, the House of Eyes states that loyal Ritualists will not speak about the secrets they know.

Every House in Maldraxxus has two Barons, and the barons of the House of Rituals are, at first, Kel'Thuzad and Baroness Ninadar, but both barons betray Sin'dane in pursuit of power. Ninadar falls subservient to Kel'Thuzad, who aims to become the new Margrave; though she is ultimately slain by the Maw Walker. Kel'Thuzad's alliance to the Jailer revealed, he escapes; abandoning the House of Rituals. Margrave Sin'dane sides with the adventurer after she is saved from an attempt at Kel'thuzad consuming her power, appointing Balmedar as the new Baron of Rituals. One of the duties of one of the Barons is to maintain the libraries of the Grimorium.

• Margrave Sin'dane
• Baron Kel'Thuzad
• Baroness Ninadar
• Balmedar
• Mor'Bitan
• Nalthor the Rimebinder

• During the beta, it was known as the House of Liches; the old name still appears in a few places in-game.
• During various abilities of the NPCs in the area and during Liches Get Stitches, various assets were used, such as Ner'zhul's staff and runes first used for Shadowmoon Burial Grounds.