Grommash "Grom" Hellscream is a key character in the fictional Warcraft universe. He was the Chieftain of the Warsong Clan during most of the in-game history of the franchise.
Biography
Grom Hellscream was born on Draenor some time before Warcraft II. He was a fierce and skilled warrior, destined to rise to the leadership of the powerful Warsong clan of orcs. He was among those orcish chieftains who willingly sacrificed their people to servitude in the Burning Legion by drinking the blood of Mannoroth the Destructor.
Warcraft II
Hellscream debuted as the leader of the Orcish Warsong Clan in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, where he was a skilled Orc Grunt. While his clan was spared the defeats of the Second Great War, he was used with effectiveness by Ner'zhul in the aftermath of the second war. His forces combined with that of the Bleeding Hollow Clan led by Killrogg Deadeye were used in strategic hit and run raids designed to retrieve some of Azeroth's most powerful magical artifacts.
However, when he and Kilrogg discovered Ner'Zhul's gateways caused Draenor to explode, the Warsong Clan and the Bleeding Hollow Clan joined forces one last time to fight their way through the Alliance defenders of the Dark Portal. On reaching Azeroth, both clans split up to increase their chances of evading the human forces. Alas, Kilrogg's clan was first to be found and placed in internment camps, while Grom and his Warsong clan hid in the forests.
With the destruction of their only passage home and the successful vanquishing of the Orcish strike forces, Grom and the Warsong clan were forced into hiding in the wilds of Lordaeron. They eked out an existence on the edge of human civilization for nearly 15 years.
During all this time, Grom was forced to fight the demonic curse that had left him weakened and listless. Where other Orcs gave into this malaise, Grom fought it to the end of his days. As the number of free Orcs was diminished by conflict and old age, their situation looked more and more hopeless. The young and weak were unable to thrive in this harsh environment and the day of reckoning looked to be closing in on the Warsong Clan.
Role in the New Horde
One day, Grom was introduced to a young Orc named Thrall. Inspired by Thrall's courage, strength and mercy, he accepted the young outcast and taught Thrall more of the ways of the Orc nations. When the humans searching for Thrall got too close, Thrall left his side with Grom's necklace as a symbol of the trust placed in Thrall by Grom.
The Warsong clan, led by Grom, was reunited with Orgrim Doomhammer and Thrall's lost clan, the Frostwolf Clan. Battling against the Human internment camps surrounding the stronghold of Durnholde, the two clans set about freeing and reinvigorating the Orcish nations.
While the Orcish horde was looking for a land of their own to settle in Lordaeron, they were instructed by the new Warchief Thrall, under the command of the Prophet and Last Guardian Medivh (now free from the taint of Sargeras and known as The Oracle), to journey across the seas to the forgotten continent of Kalimdor.
When Grom began to again feel the twinge of the demonic curse, he proved to be unable to resist it. After disobeying orders from his Warchief to not engage a human army near Stonetalon Peak, he was sent north to Ashenvale Forest for what was presumed to be an easy, out-of-the-way mission: to clear land and gather lumber for the new Horde for the construction of a new settlement. Instead, he angered the resident Night Elves and their demigod, Cenarius, for defiling their sacred forestlands.
His forces under siege by the Night Elves on all sides, Grom was forced to retreat into his fortress to defend himself against Cenarius's attacks. However, a Troll Witch Doctor sensed a nexus of powerful ley-energies nearby, which might be harnessed to defeat Cenarius and his warrior women. After tracking the source, Grom discovered that the ley-energies emanated from the demon Mannoroth's blood, which had been spilled in a defiled spring. Instructing his warriors to drink the dark waters, Grom and the Warsong Orcs gave into his bloodlust and became more powerful than ever. Driven again by the demonic energies, Grom attacked and destroyed the demigod Cenarius's forces; even the demi-god himself was no match for the enraged Orc chieftain's might. Soon afterward, Mannoroth revealed himself to the corrupted Orcs to accept them back into the fold. An incredulous Grom protested with the last iota of his sanity, claiming that he and his clan were free, but the blood pact was binding. If nothing was done soon, the Orcs would once again be damned to demonic enslavement.
Totally taken now with the demonic power, Grom turned against everything he knew from Thrall's reinvigoration of the Horde. The Troll warriors and spellcasters under his command were imprisoned and their ranks were filled by demons. He constructed a new citadel on the borderlands of the Barrens and surrounded himself with warlocks and agents of the Burning Legion. Only a joint rescue effort by Thrall, the Tauren under Cairne Bloodhoof, and the Alliance forces under Jaina Proudmoore could save him from the demonic blood that corrupted his thoughts and actions. Amid the commencement of the Burning Legion's invasion, the Alliance and Horde forces were able to hold off attacking Infernals raining from the sky, pacify the chaotic Warsong Clan, and defeat Grom's Doom Guard. Finally, using a Soul Gem crafted by Jaina, Thrall managed to imprison Grom and return him to Jaina's stronghold. There, human and high elven priests working alongside Orcish shamans were able to purge the demonic corruption from Grom under Jaina and Thrall's guidance.
Redemption of the Orcish race
Before being freed from the demonic corruption, Grom told Thrall the horrible truth of the Demonic curse. The Orc Clan Chieftains had willingly taken the bloodlust offered by the Burning Legion. They were not as much cursed as doomed by the willing choices made by their power hungry leaders. Thrall still freed Grom, but was furious with him.
The redemption of Grom Hellscream was close at hand however, as depicted in Warcraft III, in the Orc's Epilogue cutscene. Enraged by the awful secret of the Orc's spiral into bloodlust and hate, Grom led Thrall into a tainted canyon blasted into existence by the falling Infernals to confront the Pit Lord Mannoroth and end the corruption that was once again visited on them. A mighty blow from Thrall was shrugged aside by the massive demon, whose counterattack left the young Warchief stunned and unconscious. Driven by sheer force of will, desperation, and desire to end his suffering, Grom Hellscream made his last charge, screaming bloody murder to the mighty demon. His axe struck Mannoroth directly in the chest and the resulting destruction of the demon lord caused a massive explosion.
In a fitting display of symbolism, the death of Mannoroth resulted too in the death of Hellscream, who sacrificed himself to purge the demon blood from the Orc race. His head held in his friend Thrall's hands, the burning flames of the demonic corruption that whirled in Grom's eyes were finally quenched. Grom turned to Thrall and told him he had freed himself from the corruption that had stalked him. As Grom died quietly in Thrall's arms, the warchief corrected his old friend, telling him that he had freed them all.
World of Warcraft
There is a monument to Grom Hellscream outside the Warsong encampment in Demon Fall Canyon, near the south-eastern corner of the region of Ashenvale, on the continent of Kalimdor. Grommash Hold, the great fortress of the Warchief in Orgrimmar, is named for him.
Outside Grommash Hold, Mannoroth's armor and skull are mounted as a display, with a small plaque commemorating his defeat at the hands of Hellscream.
During October 3-9, Horde players can honor Grom Hellscream during the Harvest Festival Event held outside of Orgrimmar.
The Warsong Clan remain as a Horde faction tied to the Warsong Gulch PvP battleground.
His son Garrosh Hellscream was recently discovered in Outland. He turns out to be the military leader for the Mag'har, a group of orcs that escaped the corruption of other Orcs that remained in Outland.
Prince Malchezaar in Karazhan drops a two handed axe named Gorehowl that bears the note "The axe of Grom Hellscream has sown terror across hundreds of battlefields". How this axe came to be possessed by Malchezaar is unknown, as Shadows & Light, a tabletop RPG book published by White Wolf for use in a Warcraft setting, states that the axe was Grom's.
Further proof of this connection is indicated in the Warcraft 3 animated movie clip where Grom, Thrall and Mannoroth fight, as Gorehowl is an exact replica of the weapon Grom carries. Further to this, in World of Warcraft when Thrall comes in Outland to visit the Mag'har and portays a visual reinactment of the epic battle between himself, Grom and Mannoroth, the axe Grom carries is again, the exact model of Gorehowl.
Biography
Grom Hellscream was born on Draenor some time before Warcraft II. He was a fierce and skilled warrior, destined to rise to the leadership of the powerful Warsong clan of orcs. He was among those orcish chieftains who willingly sacrificed their people to servitude in the Burning Legion by drinking the blood of Mannoroth the Destructor.
Warcraft II
Hellscream debuted as the leader of the Orcish Warsong Clan in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, where he was a skilled Orc Grunt. While his clan was spared the defeats of the Second Great War, he was used with effectiveness by Ner'zhul in the aftermath of the second war. His forces combined with that of the Bleeding Hollow Clan led by Killrogg Deadeye were used in strategic hit and run raids designed to retrieve some of Azeroth's most powerful magical artifacts.
However, when he and Kilrogg discovered Ner'Zhul's gateways caused Draenor to explode, the Warsong Clan and the Bleeding Hollow Clan joined forces one last time to fight their way through the Alliance defenders of the Dark Portal. On reaching Azeroth, both clans split up to increase their chances of evading the human forces. Alas, Kilrogg's clan was first to be found and placed in internment camps, while Grom and his Warsong clan hid in the forests.
With the destruction of their only passage home and the successful vanquishing of the Orcish strike forces, Grom and the Warsong clan were forced into hiding in the wilds of Lordaeron. They eked out an existence on the edge of human civilization for nearly 15 years.
During all this time, Grom was forced to fight the demonic curse that had left him weakened and listless. Where other Orcs gave into this malaise, Grom fought it to the end of his days. As the number of free Orcs was diminished by conflict and old age, their situation looked more and more hopeless. The young and weak were unable to thrive in this harsh environment and the day of reckoning looked to be closing in on the Warsong Clan.
Role in the New Horde
One day, Grom was introduced to a young Orc named Thrall. Inspired by Thrall's courage, strength and mercy, he accepted the young outcast and taught Thrall more of the ways of the Orc nations. When the humans searching for Thrall got too close, Thrall left his side with Grom's necklace as a symbol of the trust placed in Thrall by Grom.
The Warsong clan, led by Grom, was reunited with Orgrim Doomhammer and Thrall's lost clan, the Frostwolf Clan. Battling against the Human internment camps surrounding the stronghold of Durnholde, the two clans set about freeing and reinvigorating the Orcish nations.
While the Orcish horde was looking for a land of their own to settle in Lordaeron, they were instructed by the new Warchief Thrall, under the command of the Prophet and Last Guardian Medivh (now free from the taint of Sargeras and known as The Oracle), to journey across the seas to the forgotten continent of Kalimdor.
When Grom began to again feel the twinge of the demonic curse, he proved to be unable to resist it. After disobeying orders from his Warchief to not engage a human army near Stonetalon Peak, he was sent north to Ashenvale Forest for what was presumed to be an easy, out-of-the-way mission: to clear land and gather lumber for the new Horde for the construction of a new settlement. Instead, he angered the resident Night Elves and their demigod, Cenarius, for defiling their sacred forestlands.
His forces under siege by the Night Elves on all sides, Grom was forced to retreat into his fortress to defend himself against Cenarius's attacks. However, a Troll Witch Doctor sensed a nexus of powerful ley-energies nearby, which might be harnessed to defeat Cenarius and his warrior women. After tracking the source, Grom discovered that the ley-energies emanated from the demon Mannoroth's blood, which had been spilled in a defiled spring. Instructing his warriors to drink the dark waters, Grom and the Warsong Orcs gave into his bloodlust and became more powerful than ever. Driven again by the demonic energies, Grom attacked and destroyed the demigod Cenarius's forces; even the demi-god himself was no match for the enraged Orc chieftain's might. Soon afterward, Mannoroth revealed himself to the corrupted Orcs to accept them back into the fold. An incredulous Grom protested with the last iota of his sanity, claiming that he and his clan were free, but the blood pact was binding. If nothing was done soon, the Orcs would once again be damned to demonic enslavement.
Totally taken now with the demonic power, Grom turned against everything he knew from Thrall's reinvigoration of the Horde. The Troll warriors and spellcasters under his command were imprisoned and their ranks were filled by demons. He constructed a new citadel on the borderlands of the Barrens and surrounded himself with warlocks and agents of the Burning Legion. Only a joint rescue effort by Thrall, the Tauren under Cairne Bloodhoof, and the Alliance forces under Jaina Proudmoore could save him from the demonic blood that corrupted his thoughts and actions. Amid the commencement of the Burning Legion's invasion, the Alliance and Horde forces were able to hold off attacking Infernals raining from the sky, pacify the chaotic Warsong Clan, and defeat Grom's Doom Guard. Finally, using a Soul Gem crafted by Jaina, Thrall managed to imprison Grom and return him to Jaina's stronghold. There, human and high elven priests working alongside Orcish shamans were able to purge the demonic corruption from Grom under Jaina and Thrall's guidance.
Redemption of the Orcish race
Before being freed from the demonic corruption, Grom told Thrall the horrible truth of the Demonic curse. The Orc Clan Chieftains had willingly taken the bloodlust offered by the Burning Legion. They were not as much cursed as doomed by the willing choices made by their power hungry leaders. Thrall still freed Grom, but was furious with him.
The redemption of Grom Hellscream was close at hand however, as depicted in Warcraft III, in the Orc's Epilogue cutscene. Enraged by the awful secret of the Orc's spiral into bloodlust and hate, Grom led Thrall into a tainted canyon blasted into existence by the falling Infernals to confront the Pit Lord Mannoroth and end the corruption that was once again visited on them. A mighty blow from Thrall was shrugged aside by the massive demon, whose counterattack left the young Warchief stunned and unconscious. Driven by sheer force of will, desperation, and desire to end his suffering, Grom Hellscream made his last charge, screaming bloody murder to the mighty demon. His axe struck Mannoroth directly in the chest and the resulting destruction of the demon lord caused a massive explosion.
In a fitting display of symbolism, the death of Mannoroth resulted too in the death of Hellscream, who sacrificed himself to purge the demon blood from the Orc race. His head held in his friend Thrall's hands, the burning flames of the demonic corruption that whirled in Grom's eyes were finally quenched. Grom turned to Thrall and told him he had freed himself from the corruption that had stalked him. As Grom died quietly in Thrall's arms, the warchief corrected his old friend, telling him that he had freed them all.
World of Warcraft
There is a monument to Grom Hellscream outside the Warsong encampment in Demon Fall Canyon, near the south-eastern corner of the region of Ashenvale, on the continent of Kalimdor. Grommash Hold, the great fortress of the Warchief in Orgrimmar, is named for him.
Outside Grommash Hold, Mannoroth's armor and skull are mounted as a display, with a small plaque commemorating his defeat at the hands of Hellscream.
During October 3-9, Horde players can honor Grom Hellscream during the Harvest Festival Event held outside of Orgrimmar.
The Warsong Clan remain as a Horde faction tied to the Warsong Gulch PvP battleground.
His son Garrosh Hellscream was recently discovered in Outland. He turns out to be the military leader for the Mag'har, a group of orcs that escaped the corruption of other Orcs that remained in Outland.
Prince Malchezaar in Karazhan drops a two handed axe named Gorehowl that bears the note "The axe of Grom Hellscream has sown terror across hundreds of battlefields". How this axe came to be possessed by Malchezaar is unknown, as Shadows & Light, a tabletop RPG book published by White Wolf for use in a Warcraft setting, states that the axe was Grom's.
Further proof of this connection is indicated in the Warcraft 3 animated movie clip where Grom, Thrall and Mannoroth fight, as Gorehowl is an exact replica of the weapon Grom carries. Further to this, in World of Warcraft when Thrall comes in Outland to visit the Mag'har and portays a visual reinactment of the epic battle between himself, Grom and Mannoroth, the axe Grom carries is again, the exact model of Gorehowl.
Garona Halforcen is a fictional character in the world of Azeroth in the Warcraft Universe game series by Blizzard Entertainment.
Garona was a half Orc assassin and spy in the service of the Shadow Council, specifically for the powerful warlock known as Gul'dan. Her human appearance, minus her green skin and pointed ears, allowed her to infiltrate the court of King Llane under the guise of spying on the Orcs. She participated in Khadgar and Anduin Lothar's raid on Karazhan to destroy the crazed wizard Medivh, but was incapacitated during the final battle after Medivh revealed that she was a double-agent. Following Medivh's defeat, Lothar brought Garona under guard to Northshire Abbey, with the intent of imprisoning her there under the watch of the Clerics. However, the Orcs raided the Abbey soon afterward to free Garona, then utterly destroyed the Abbey with their magics. Garona hid among the survivors of the order who were brought to Stormwind, and then murdered King Llane in his sleep by — reluctantly — cutting out his heart, as she had been ordered by Gul'dan.
After the First War, Garona was captured by Orgrim Doomhammer and tortured until she revealed the location of the Shadow Council. This led to the Shadow Council being disbanded and Gul'dan having to swear allegiance to Doomhammer. Her fate thereafter is unknown, and few clues have been given thereof.
She appears in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in the eighth Orc mission, when she is imprisoned by the Humans in Northshire Abbey as a traitor and needs to be rescued. She also narrates the story in the game's manual. It remains a possible inconsistency in this game that, despite being half-human, Garona tells the story of the invasion of Azeroth from the viewpoint that humans are a totally new sight to orcs. However, this might be explained if she wrote up the history from other sources, namely older orcs, and she herself was not yet born at the time of the invasion.
She was also originally included and was used in the promotional artwork for Warcraft III, but did not appear in the final game.
At the end of the war, Garona and those like her were all that remained of the Draenei. Having travelled well in all of Draenor, Garona was well-versed in the culture of both the Draenei and orcs, making her an invaluable asset to the Shadow Council, and she was inducted into the warlock-controlled Stormreaver Clan. She quickly became the Chief Interpreter of the Shadow Council, and Gul'dan's personal spy and assassin. As explained in the Book "The last Guardian" humans saw in her the ugly sides of an orc, while the orcs saw in her human weakness and therefore she was always an outcast. She had to rely upon her wits to keep her alive in the harsh world. Upon arriving in Azeroth, Garona's experience lent a great deal to her insight with their newest foe - the humans.
She was part of a war party which attacked Medivh, and the Magus killed all of them, except her. Garona was sent back to Gul'dan with a message for him, and the warlock returned her to Medivh, to act as a spy on the orc's behalf.
She acted as an emissary of the Horde to him, and assisted the mage in understanding the orcs. It was in Karazhan that she met Khadgar, Medivh's apprentice sent to spy on him from Dalaran. Khadgar was, at first, furious at her presence, but the Magus demanded Khadgar's respect. Over time, a begrudging trust was forged between the two. Garona and Khadgar continually rebuked the other's race, and defended their own from assault. They learned from each other, and soon began to suspect that Medivh was keeping secrets from both of them.
Together, they eventually discovered that Medivh was, in fact, the man who had brought the orcs into Azeroth, and uncovered his plans of murder and deceit, and that he was truly corrupted by Sargeras, the fallen Titan.
They fled to Stormwind, where Garona met Llane and Lothar, who accepted her despite her orcish heritage. They then gathered a small war party and raided Karazhan. After searching about the tower, they found Medivh, who unleashed all the powers of Tirisfal and Sargeras combined against them. When Garona tried to attack him, he sent a numbing psionic blast into her mind. In the ensuing battle, she disappeared as Medivh was killed.
In the months that followed, Garona became a trusted confidante to King Llane. She reported to him the inner workings of the Horde and how he could use it to his advantage. But, she was still ultimately working for the Stormreaver, and was sent on a mission to kill Llane. With a heavy heart, she carved out his heart. But Gul'dan was in a coma after Medivh's death.
Immediately, Doomhammer used the situation to his advantage, killing Blackhand. His spies found Garona, and tortured her, almost to death, until she finally revealed the secret location of Shadow Council. The Council was destroyed, and the Warlocks slain.
Garona's fate hereafter is uncertain.
Garona was a half Orc assassin and spy in the service of the Shadow Council, specifically for the powerful warlock known as Gul'dan. Her human appearance, minus her green skin and pointed ears, allowed her to infiltrate the court of King Llane under the guise of spying on the Orcs. She participated in Khadgar and Anduin Lothar's raid on Karazhan to destroy the crazed wizard Medivh, but was incapacitated during the final battle after Medivh revealed that she was a double-agent. Following Medivh's defeat, Lothar brought Garona under guard to Northshire Abbey, with the intent of imprisoning her there under the watch of the Clerics. However, the Orcs raided the Abbey soon afterward to free Garona, then utterly destroyed the Abbey with their magics. Garona hid among the survivors of the order who were brought to Stormwind, and then murdered King Llane in his sleep by — reluctantly — cutting out his heart, as she had been ordered by Gul'dan.
After the First War, Garona was captured by Orgrim Doomhammer and tortured until she revealed the location of the Shadow Council. This led to the Shadow Council being disbanded and Gul'dan having to swear allegiance to Doomhammer. Her fate thereafter is unknown, and few clues have been given thereof.
She appears in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in the eighth Orc mission, when she is imprisoned by the Humans in Northshire Abbey as a traitor and needs to be rescued. She also narrates the story in the game's manual. It remains a possible inconsistency in this game that, despite being half-human, Garona tells the story of the invasion of Azeroth from the viewpoint that humans are a totally new sight to orcs. However, this might be explained if she wrote up the history from other sources, namely older orcs, and she herself was not yet born at the time of the invasion.
She was also originally included and was used in the promotional artwork for Warcraft III, but did not appear in the final game.
At the end of the war, Garona and those like her were all that remained of the Draenei. Having travelled well in all of Draenor, Garona was well-versed in the culture of both the Draenei and orcs, making her an invaluable asset to the Shadow Council, and she was inducted into the warlock-controlled Stormreaver Clan. She quickly became the Chief Interpreter of the Shadow Council, and Gul'dan's personal spy and assassin. As explained in the Book "The last Guardian" humans saw in her the ugly sides of an orc, while the orcs saw in her human weakness and therefore she was always an outcast. She had to rely upon her wits to keep her alive in the harsh world. Upon arriving in Azeroth, Garona's experience lent a great deal to her insight with their newest foe - the humans.
She was part of a war party which attacked Medivh, and the Magus killed all of them, except her. Garona was sent back to Gul'dan with a message for him, and the warlock returned her to Medivh, to act as a spy on the orc's behalf.
She acted as an emissary of the Horde to him, and assisted the mage in understanding the orcs. It was in Karazhan that she met Khadgar, Medivh's apprentice sent to spy on him from Dalaran. Khadgar was, at first, furious at her presence, but the Magus demanded Khadgar's respect. Over time, a begrudging trust was forged between the two. Garona and Khadgar continually rebuked the other's race, and defended their own from assault. They learned from each other, and soon began to suspect that Medivh was keeping secrets from both of them.
Together, they eventually discovered that Medivh was, in fact, the man who had brought the orcs into Azeroth, and uncovered his plans of murder and deceit, and that he was truly corrupted by Sargeras, the fallen Titan.
They fled to Stormwind, where Garona met Llane and Lothar, who accepted her despite her orcish heritage. They then gathered a small war party and raided Karazhan. After searching about the tower, they found Medivh, who unleashed all the powers of Tirisfal and Sargeras combined against them. When Garona tried to attack him, he sent a numbing psionic blast into her mind. In the ensuing battle, she disappeared as Medivh was killed.
In the months that followed, Garona became a trusted confidante to King Llane. She reported to him the inner workings of the Horde and how he could use it to his advantage. But, she was still ultimately working for the Stormreaver, and was sent on a mission to kill Llane. With a heavy heart, she carved out his heart. But Gul'dan was in a coma after Medivh's death.
Immediately, Doomhammer used the situation to his advantage, killing Blackhand. His spies found Garona, and tortured her, almost to death, until she finally revealed the secret location of Shadow Council. The Council was destroyed, and the Warlocks slain.
Garona's fate hereafter is uncertain.
Elune is the Goddess of the Moon to the Night Elves in the Warcraft universe — a fictional universe in which a series of games and books are set.
Background
The Kaldorei, or Night Elves, venerated Elune the Moon goddess even before discovering the Well of Eternity ten thousand years ago. They revered her fellow Ancients as well, but reserved their true adoration for Elune whom they believed slept in the Well of Eternity during the daylight.
She has protected the world throughout the ages, guiding her children and calming violence. She is a pacifist in the sense that she uses her magic to disarm her enemies in a war, and not by using force.
Her influence was formidable until the coming of the Burning Legion. The Legion's arcane and demonic magics corrupted her children and allowed demons to nearly destroy the world she had nurtured. After the First Coming of the Burning Legion, she helped to heal the land, working with the Night Elves in seclusion to protect the forests. Her work was destroyed again with the coming of the Horde and the Second Coming of the Burning Legion, and no one knows if she will attempt to help the tainted world of Azeroth a second time.
Role as a deity
The Night Elves revered Elune unconditionally, and other races are beginning to recognize her as the one power that could bring peace to the world. Races such as the Furbolg and even the Tauren respect her power even if they follow their own paths of faith (such as the Tauren's reverence for the Earthmother).
It is to be noted that Elune is one of the only true deities in the Warcraft universe to this point. Her relationship to the Titans, the immortal crafters of the worlds of the Great Dark Beyond, including Azeroth, is not known at this time.
Reference
* World of Warcraft - The Role Playing Game 2005
fr:Elune
Background
The Kaldorei, or Night Elves, venerated Elune the Moon goddess even before discovering the Well of Eternity ten thousand years ago. They revered her fellow Ancients as well, but reserved their true adoration for Elune whom they believed slept in the Well of Eternity during the daylight.
She has protected the world throughout the ages, guiding her children and calming violence. She is a pacifist in the sense that she uses her magic to disarm her enemies in a war, and not by using force.
Her influence was formidable until the coming of the Burning Legion. The Legion's arcane and demonic magics corrupted her children and allowed demons to nearly destroy the world she had nurtured. After the First Coming of the Burning Legion, she helped to heal the land, working with the Night Elves in seclusion to protect the forests. Her work was destroyed again with the coming of the Horde and the Second Coming of the Burning Legion, and no one knows if she will attempt to help the tainted world of Azeroth a second time.
Role as a deity
The Night Elves revered Elune unconditionally, and other races are beginning to recognize her as the one power that could bring peace to the world. Races such as the Furbolg and even the Tauren respect her power even if they follow their own paths of faith (such as the Tauren's reverence for the Earthmother).
It is to be noted that Elune is one of the only true deities in the Warcraft universe to this point. Her relationship to the Titans, the immortal crafters of the worlds of the Great Dark Beyond, including Azeroth, is not known at this time.
Reference
* World of Warcraft - The Role Playing Game 2005
fr:Elune
Durotan is a fictional character from the Warcraft computer game series.
Biography
Durotan was the son of Garad, chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan. Before reaching the age of "adulthood" amongst the orcish people, he met a young Blackrock orc named Orgrim during a Kosh'harg festival - a biannual event where the orcish clans gathered in the shadow of the sacred mountain Oshu'gun. The two became lifelong friends, despite their being from different clans.
When they were challenging one another to friendly tests of skill in the shadows of Terokkar Forest, they were surprised by an ogre and would have been killed if not for the intervention of a draenei raiding party led by a guard captain named Restalaan. Taking the two young orcs to his city of Telmor, carefully hidden via a very powerful crystal (one of the shards of the ata'mal crystal that was used to aid the draenei escape from Argus millennia earlier), Restalaan informed them that the Prophet, Velen the Divine, was visiting the city and had invited the young orcs to dine with him. They spoke at great lengths with the Prophet that night, learning much about the draenei (Durotan himself admitted that he had learned more than most of his people had in the last century), and in turn Velen learned more about the people they had shared this world with.
Some years later, Durotan's father Garad was killed by a gronn, and Durotan became chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan. It was around this time that the orcish clans - guided by the elder shaman Ner'zhul of the Shadowmoon Clan - began battling the draenei, convinced (supposedly) by their ancestors that the draenei were plotting against them. This turned out to be an elaborate ruse created by the demonlord Kil'jaeden, formerly Velen's best friend and now his sworn nemesis, to destroy the renegades once and for all. Over time, Kil'jaeden began teaching warlock magics and necromancy to the orcs, beginning with his most eager pupil - Ner'zhul's power-hungry apprentice, Gul'dan. At first, Durotan accepted the use of warlock magics in his clan, but over time - aided by his mate, Draka - made his anger and disgust open enough to attract Gul'dan's attention. When the orcish clans were assembled to drink the blood of the Pit Lord Mannoroth, Durotan refused to partake, and forbade his clan from doing likewise. He had received the details of the exact nature of Gul'dan's treachery from Ner'zhul, once a willing servant of Kil'jaeden and now opposed as much as Durotan - but unable to do anything about it. Quite some time later, after the opening of the Dark Portal, Durotan and the Frostwolf Clan were exiled from the Horde, and made their home in the Alterac Mountains.
Durotan accepted his exile without complaint - until the day that his son was born. It was then that he realized that he had to act on the information...and ally with his lifelong comrade, Orgrim Doomhammer - now Warchief of the Horde and chieftain of the Blackrock Clan, and another who had refused to drink the Blood of Mannoroth. Travelling to Doomhammer's camp with their child in tow, Durotan and Draka explained everything they knew. Doomhammer, who knew that his friend spoke truth, had one of his warriors escort him to a place where they would be safe, until both Durotan and Doomhammer could confront Gul'dan. However, the warrior entrusted to lead Durotan to safety was one of Gul'dan's spies, and summoned assassins to kill the Frostwolf chieftain instead. Draka was the first to fall, but Durotan managed to account for at least one of the assassins before he was felled. Attempting to reach out to his son, Durotan was dismembered and left to die...but his son survived, raised by humans, and given the name Thrall - and would later find his destiny and free his people from the demonic corruption, a cause that Durotan had given his life for.
After the Battle of Mount Hyjal, Thrall and the orcs settled on the eastern coast of Kalimdor. Thrall named the new land Durotar, in honor of his slain father.
Durotan's body was apparently recovered and buried in the Frostwolf lands in Alterac Valley. His grave marker, known as the Rock of Durotan, can be found near the Horde's entrance to the Valley. The inscription on it reads:
Here lies Durotan - first Chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan,
and father of our honored Warchief, Thrall.
He was the bravest of our kind - betrayed by those who would see our people enslaved.
Durotan gave his life that our freedom might be gained.
We honor him - and the legacy he passed on to us through his son.
Drek'Thar, Far Seer of the Frostwolves
Biography
Durotan was the son of Garad, chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan. Before reaching the age of "adulthood" amongst the orcish people, he met a young Blackrock orc named Orgrim during a Kosh'harg festival - a biannual event where the orcish clans gathered in the shadow of the sacred mountain Oshu'gun. The two became lifelong friends, despite their being from different clans.
When they were challenging one another to friendly tests of skill in the shadows of Terokkar Forest, they were surprised by an ogre and would have been killed if not for the intervention of a draenei raiding party led by a guard captain named Restalaan. Taking the two young orcs to his city of Telmor, carefully hidden via a very powerful crystal (one of the shards of the ata'mal crystal that was used to aid the draenei escape from Argus millennia earlier), Restalaan informed them that the Prophet, Velen the Divine, was visiting the city and had invited the young orcs to dine with him. They spoke at great lengths with the Prophet that night, learning much about the draenei (Durotan himself admitted that he had learned more than most of his people had in the last century), and in turn Velen learned more about the people they had shared this world with.
Some years later, Durotan's father Garad was killed by a gronn, and Durotan became chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan. It was around this time that the orcish clans - guided by the elder shaman Ner'zhul of the Shadowmoon Clan - began battling the draenei, convinced (supposedly) by their ancestors that the draenei were plotting against them. This turned out to be an elaborate ruse created by the demonlord Kil'jaeden, formerly Velen's best friend and now his sworn nemesis, to destroy the renegades once and for all. Over time, Kil'jaeden began teaching warlock magics and necromancy to the orcs, beginning with his most eager pupil - Ner'zhul's power-hungry apprentice, Gul'dan. At first, Durotan accepted the use of warlock magics in his clan, but over time - aided by his mate, Draka - made his anger and disgust open enough to attract Gul'dan's attention. When the orcish clans were assembled to drink the blood of the Pit Lord Mannoroth, Durotan refused to partake, and forbade his clan from doing likewise. He had received the details of the exact nature of Gul'dan's treachery from Ner'zhul, once a willing servant of Kil'jaeden and now opposed as much as Durotan - but unable to do anything about it. Quite some time later, after the opening of the Dark Portal, Durotan and the Frostwolf Clan were exiled from the Horde, and made their home in the Alterac Mountains.
Durotan accepted his exile without complaint - until the day that his son was born. It was then that he realized that he had to act on the information...and ally with his lifelong comrade, Orgrim Doomhammer - now Warchief of the Horde and chieftain of the Blackrock Clan, and another who had refused to drink the Blood of Mannoroth. Travelling to Doomhammer's camp with their child in tow, Durotan and Draka explained everything they knew. Doomhammer, who knew that his friend spoke truth, had one of his warriors escort him to a place where they would be safe, until both Durotan and Doomhammer could confront Gul'dan. However, the warrior entrusted to lead Durotan to safety was one of Gul'dan's spies, and summoned assassins to kill the Frostwolf chieftain instead. Draka was the first to fall, but Durotan managed to account for at least one of the assassins before he was felled. Attempting to reach out to his son, Durotan was dismembered and left to die...but his son survived, raised by humans, and given the name Thrall - and would later find his destiny and free his people from the demonic corruption, a cause that Durotan had given his life for.
After the Battle of Mount Hyjal, Thrall and the orcs settled on the eastern coast of Kalimdor. Thrall named the new land Durotar, in honor of his slain father.
Durotan's body was apparently recovered and buried in the Frostwolf lands in Alterac Valley. His grave marker, known as the Rock of Durotan, can be found near the Horde's entrance to the Valley. The inscription on it reads:
Here lies Durotan - first Chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan,
and father of our honored Warchief, Thrall.
He was the bravest of our kind - betrayed by those who would see our people enslaved.
Durotan gave his life that our freedom might be gained.
We honor him - and the legacy he passed on to us through his son.
Drek'Thar, Far Seer of the Frostwolves