Deathknights and the law.

[Grakor456]

Again, the guard dialogue are simply game mechanics to make warlocks actually playable.

Sometimes lore bends to game mechanics, and sometimes we have to bend to that as well. I wouldn't so carelessly discard something on the grounds of "it's pure game mechanics so it doesn't matter," particularly when this isn't a case of pure game mechanics.

Who can cite me a non-d20 and non-fanon source that says that warlockry is banned in Stormwind?

[rentreality]

Well, if it's not illegal, it's certainly right up there:
http://www.wowhead.com/quest=335

Lord Wishock is causing quite a stir amongst the House of Nobles. He was made aware of our little "establishment" down here and is lobbying for a full investigation.

Given that Zardeth of the Black Claw is willing to assassinate a Stormwind noble to keep the Slaughtered Lamb on the hush...

[Amerason]

On a note concerning both Warlocks and Death Knights... I don't think it is a big deal at all considering the fact that they are weapons of war as was previously stated...

I mean for example as to why Argent Crusade had Warlocks etc. I mean it's the same logic the Scarlet Crusade employs using Shadow and Warlocks as well, fight fire with fire. They are useful tools for killing stuff after all.

[Terant]

Fel invariably corrupts and makes users become more and more centered around gaining power. Death doesn't. Granted, people still shouldn't be raising ghouls in the middle of the city.

[Grakor456]

Well, if it's not illegal, it's certainly right up there:
http://www.wowhead.com/quest=335

Lord Wishock is causing quite a stir amongst the House of Nobles. He was made aware of our little "establishment" down here and is lobbying for a full investigation.

Given that Zardeth of the Black Claw is willing to assassinate a Stormwind noble to keep the Slaughtered Lamb on the hush...

Slaughtered Lamb is not representative of all Stormwind warlocks, is it? There was one fighting for the city in the Argent Tournament, if I'm not mistaken. The quest also isn't really that conclusive, as there are plenty of scenarios where the SL guys would want the nobles to not know about them. (SW could be sanctioning them and not want the commoners/nobles to find out. They *could* be illegal and not want SW to find out. We don't know either way.)

Also, my Alliance lore is rusty, but I was under the impression SI:7 already knew about the warlocks down there.

Fel invariably corrupts and makes users become more and more centered around gaining power. Death doesn't. Granted, people still shouldn't be raising ghouls in the middle of the city.

I wouldn't start that argument, considering a constant in WoW lore is that all arcane is corruptive. Also, necromancy is arguably more evil than demonology, given the lore implications about how it can screw up one's after-life.

[Terant]

Is the form of Necromancy that DK's use actually arcane though? I mean, it seems to be just random ambiguous magic-y rune stuff.

[Hawk]

To be honest, I imagine that a place like Stormwind views Fel-using Warlocks and Undead Scourge exactly the same. Both something that has caused the world nothing but dread, and should be eradicated.

The difference is that Death Knights have actually made a pledge to fight the Lich King, and it even took Tirion Fordring to convince the Alliance and Horde leaders to permit them in their cities.

Warlocks have yet to go through such a process of acceptance. The only reason they're accepted in Orgrimmar for example is 'cause Thrall's letting them off the hook as long as they prove they serve The Horde. If a random Scourge DK waltzed into Stormwind, he'd be killed without question.

EDIT: That said and all, they certainly wouldn't let a DK use his/her magic within their city. In fact, I'd be bold to say that they're banned from entering the entire Cathedral District, but that's just me.

EDIT2: In the Alliance DK questline, when you go to Varian Wrynn, even HE says that he would've killed you without question.

[Grakor456]

It's arcane, as necromancers are subject to corruption and it's the same magic. The real question isn't if it's arcane, but whether DKs are subject to corruption since they're casting their magic through runes, and that's a bit more open to interpretation.

[Terant]

Since they're casting magic through runes and since they're dead. I thought I'd heard something about Forsaken mages not really being susceptible to Arcane corruption either, but I'm not sure.

Still, I suppose that's pretty much irrelevant.

My question has always been why the guards in Stormwind/Orgrimmar just "Booooo!" and throw apples and bananas at you when they think you're a Scourge DK. It's kind of counterproductive when your job is to defend the city. Still, I suppose it's necessary for the quests.

[Arrillion]

Wel obviously, your average human wouldn't know whether Death Knight become corrupted or not. Actually I don't think anyone but the Death Knights themselves could answer that question. Your generic commoner sees a Death Knight as an abomination, and only tolerates them because their King says so. Varian says so because the Ebon Blade might be a usefull tool. But commoners don't make such assertions, because they aren't tacticians.