In the fictional Warcraft universe, Archmage Khadgar was one of the most powerful wizards to have ever lived, and one of the greatest heroes of the Alliance. At an age of 17, Khadgar was sent by the Kirin Tor to apprentice under Medivh in his tower at Karazhan. At first, Khadgar believed Medivh to be nothing more than he appeared to be, a kindly, middle-aged, if slightly eccentric wizard, but it wasn't long before he began to sense something was drastically wrong with his master. Though he never suspected that Medivh was actually being controlled by Sargeras, the Dark Titan, he became suspicious of his master's actions and motives. Eventually, he unravelled Medivh's plot to open a portal between Azeroth and Draenor, after meeting a Horde emissary, the half-Orc assassin Garona. Knowing it was already too late to stop the Dark Portal from opening, Khadgar rushed to King Llane of Azeroth for help. Khadgar, along with Lord Lothar and a group of soldiers returned to Karazhan to find Medivh in psychic link with the Orc warlock Gul'dan. Khadgar managed to defeat Medivh in combat, banishing both his soul, and that of Sargeras who was controlling him.
Khadgar fled from the ruins of Azeroth with Lord Lothar and the rest of the Azerothians to Lordaeron. He spent the Second War fighting with the Alliance, all the while studying Medivh's spells and the nature of the Dark Portal. This knowledge would come in useful when the tide of the War turned and the Alliance managed to push the Horde back to the Portal itself. Using all of his powers, Khadgar destroyed the Dark Portal, effectively severing the link between Azeroth and Draenor. Even as the Alliance celebrated its victory, Khadgar suspected that perhaps the Dark Portal wasn't completely vanquished after all. The powers that Medivh had unleashed in creating it were too potent to be destroyed in one spell. Now an Archmage of considerable influence, Khadgar directed the building of Nethergarde Keep, a fortress which would watch over the Blasted Lands, and the wreckage of the Dark Portal.
Khadgar's fears would be validated only a year after Nethergarde's completion, when the portal opened again, and fresh Orc forces began pouring out. Fearing a second invasion, Khadgar joined the expeditionary force led by Turalyon and marched into the Orc homeworld. Khadgar quickly discovered that the situation in Draenor was even worse than he had feared. The Orcs, under the leadership of the shaman Ner'zhul, were already in the process of opening doorways to new worlds for the Horde to plunder. Unable to stop Ner'zhul from opening his portals, and unable to contain the terrible energies they unleashed, he and the expeditionary force were now sitting on a dying world.
Khadgar and Turalyon, knowing that the destruction of Draenor would cause untold havoc on Azeroth, realized that they had to take drastic action to protect their homeworld. The Archmage used Medivh's spellbook to close the Dark Portal from the other side, thereby shielding Azeroth from the final cataclysm of Draenor's destruction. It is unclear whether or not anyone from the expeditionary force managed to successfully escape Draenor. Archmage Khadgar has since been immortalized in stone, along with the other leaders from the expeditionary force, in the Valley of Heroes in Stormwind.
"Khadgar" means "trust" in Dwarven. In Warcraft: The Last Guardian, Medivh often calls his apprentice "Young Trust".
Also, as stated in the novel, Khadgar is destined to die on Draenor along with a small group of human soldiers unable to hold off the orcs. It is unknown whether this will indeed take place as the vision Khadgar saw in Karazhan might have been false (although all others he saw were true). When he asks the un-tainted Medivh, who is looking at him from the future, if it is true that he dies on Draenor, that Garona kills King Llane, and that Stormwind falls to the Horde, Medivh does not answer.
Khadgar in World of Warcraft
The fate of Khadgar and the other heroes of the expedition to Draenor has been the subject of rumors and speculation since Beyond the Dark Portal. At the E3 convention in 2006, Blizzard developer Jeff Kaplan confirmed that the heroes of the Alliance expedition would be found in Outland in the expansion. According to the rumors, Khadgar would return to the world of Azeroth and warn of the Burning Crusade, and assist in reopening the Dark Portal. It has also been rumored that he will have something to do with questing in Medivh's tower of Karazhan.
The Mystic Council has been set up to find Khadgar, this council thrives on obtaining divine power. They intend to gain this with the help of Khadgar and his knowledge.
However, with the release of The Burning Crusade, Khadgar has been found. He neither returns to Azeroth nor has a hand in the opening of the Dark Portal (which was instead opened by Medivh). Instead, he sits on the ruling council of the city of Shattrath in Terokkar Forest, where he had met the Naaru, a collection of benevolent and majestically wise entities entirely devoted to the Light, much like human Paladins in the Warcraft series. Khadgar can be spoken to, and he states that he learns more in five months from the Naaru than all his years of study at the Kirin Tor.
There are also items in World of Warcraft that bear Khadgar's name. Khadgar's Whisker is a herb found in middle-level areas such as Stranglethorn Vale, and Khadgar's Essays on Dimensional Convergence is a quest item drop.
cs:Khadgar
fr:Khadgar
Khadgar fled from the ruins of Azeroth with Lord Lothar and the rest of the Azerothians to Lordaeron. He spent the Second War fighting with the Alliance, all the while studying Medivh's spells and the nature of the Dark Portal. This knowledge would come in useful when the tide of the War turned and the Alliance managed to push the Horde back to the Portal itself. Using all of his powers, Khadgar destroyed the Dark Portal, effectively severing the link between Azeroth and Draenor. Even as the Alliance celebrated its victory, Khadgar suspected that perhaps the Dark Portal wasn't completely vanquished after all. The powers that Medivh had unleashed in creating it were too potent to be destroyed in one spell. Now an Archmage of considerable influence, Khadgar directed the building of Nethergarde Keep, a fortress which would watch over the Blasted Lands, and the wreckage of the Dark Portal.
Khadgar's fears would be validated only a year after Nethergarde's completion, when the portal opened again, and fresh Orc forces began pouring out. Fearing a second invasion, Khadgar joined the expeditionary force led by Turalyon and marched into the Orc homeworld. Khadgar quickly discovered that the situation in Draenor was even worse than he had feared. The Orcs, under the leadership of the shaman Ner'zhul, were already in the process of opening doorways to new worlds for the Horde to plunder. Unable to stop Ner'zhul from opening his portals, and unable to contain the terrible energies they unleashed, he and the expeditionary force were now sitting on a dying world.
Khadgar and Turalyon, knowing that the destruction of Draenor would cause untold havoc on Azeroth, realized that they had to take drastic action to protect their homeworld. The Archmage used Medivh's spellbook to close the Dark Portal from the other side, thereby shielding Azeroth from the final cataclysm of Draenor's destruction. It is unclear whether or not anyone from the expeditionary force managed to successfully escape Draenor. Archmage Khadgar has since been immortalized in stone, along with the other leaders from the expeditionary force, in the Valley of Heroes in Stormwind.
"Khadgar" means "trust" in Dwarven. In Warcraft: The Last Guardian, Medivh often calls his apprentice "Young Trust".
Also, as stated in the novel, Khadgar is destined to die on Draenor along with a small group of human soldiers unable to hold off the orcs. It is unknown whether this will indeed take place as the vision Khadgar saw in Karazhan might have been false (although all others he saw were true). When he asks the un-tainted Medivh, who is looking at him from the future, if it is true that he dies on Draenor, that Garona kills King Llane, and that Stormwind falls to the Horde, Medivh does not answer.
Khadgar in World of Warcraft
The fate of Khadgar and the other heroes of the expedition to Draenor has been the subject of rumors and speculation since Beyond the Dark Portal. At the E3 convention in 2006, Blizzard developer Jeff Kaplan confirmed that the heroes of the Alliance expedition would be found in Outland in the expansion. According to the rumors, Khadgar would return to the world of Azeroth and warn of the Burning Crusade, and assist in reopening the Dark Portal. It has also been rumored that he will have something to do with questing in Medivh's tower of Karazhan.
The Mystic Council has been set up to find Khadgar, this council thrives on obtaining divine power. They intend to gain this with the help of Khadgar and his knowledge.
However, with the release of The Burning Crusade, Khadgar has been found. He neither returns to Azeroth nor has a hand in the opening of the Dark Portal (which was instead opened by Medivh). Instead, he sits on the ruling council of the city of Shattrath in Terokkar Forest, where he had met the Naaru, a collection of benevolent and majestically wise entities entirely devoted to the Light, much like human Paladins in the Warcraft series. Khadgar can be spoken to, and he states that he learns more in five months from the Naaru than all his years of study at the Kirin Tor.
There are also items in World of Warcraft that bear Khadgar's name. Khadgar's Whisker is a herb found in middle-level areas such as Stranglethorn Vale, and Khadgar's Essays on Dimensional Convergence is a quest item drop.
cs:Khadgar
fr:Khadgar
Lady Jaina Proudmoore is a fictional character in the Warcraft universe.
Lore
Jaina is the daughter of Admiral Proudmoore, who was introduced as the leader of Kul Tiras, one of the Human factions in Warcraft II. A protégé of Archmage Antonidas during her studies at Dalaran, she is the most powerful living sorceress in the Warcraft universe. She is also the former lover of both Kael'thas Sunstrider and Arthas Menethil, the one-time Prince of Lordaeron.
Warcraft III
Jaina's first appearance is in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, where she joins with Arthas to investigate the first signs of the Undead Plague. She leaves him and returns to Dalaran when the prince's thirst for vengeance against Mal'ganis becomes too great. After Arthas returns from Northrend, she rallys the Alliance forces of Lordaeron and flees from the Undead Scourge, traveling west to the continent of Kalimdor per the prophet Medivh's instructions.
There she makes pacts with Thrall, the visionary leader of the Horde, and Tyrande Whisperwind, the High Priestess of the Night Elves. Together the fragile alliance successfully defends the World Tree and defeated the Burning Legion's Second Invasion, led by Archimonde, at the Battle of Mount Hyjal.
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne includes a "bonus" Orc campaign, in which it is revealed that Jaina later retreated to Theramore Isle, off the coast of southeastern Kalimdor. There she has founded an Alliance stronghold, the only bastion of Human power on the western continent. However, with the founding of the Orcs' new homeland, Durotar, tensions rise when Jaina's father, Admiral Proudmoore, arrives with forces from Kul Tiras.
As Rexxar the Beastmaster, the player discovers that Admiral Proudmoore's forces have begun to attack Horde settlements despite Jaina's wish for peace. Retaliation follows, and when the Kul Tiras forces are pushed all the way back to the Theramore Isles, Jaina appeals to Thrall and Rexxar to spare the citizens of Theramore. Though Jaina's father is slain in the ensuing battle, the Orcs and their allies leave her and the island in peace once their own security is assured.
Cycle of Hatred
Jaina next appears in the novel World of Warcraft: Cycle of Hatred, which once again picks up on the storyline involving her city and the Horde. Theramore and Durotar remained at relative peace for three years, though the two former archenemies were still wary of each other. Eventually, a series of minor shipping incidents led to extreme tension between the two powers, enough so that the Goblins, who controlled the region's only neutral port, complained.
Despite the tension, Thrall requested Jaina's aid in relocating a herd of Thunder Lizards displaced by a mysterious logging operation at Thunder Ridge. Jaina intended to relocate the Lizards to a largely unpopulated region on the far side of Mulgore, but was astonished to discover that the area was magically warded to protect its single inhabitant: Aegwynn.
The former Guardian brushed off Jaina's admiration, but filled in the gaps of what had been happening amidst the tensions between Theramore and Durotar: a minor demon, Zmodlor had revived the Burning Blade and was playing the two powers against each other.
Jaina and Aegwynn hastily returned to Theramore, where they discovered that Jaina's own chamberlain had been corrupted by the Burning Blade. After dealing with the turncoat, they took on Zmodlor himself. Unfortunately, the demon was backed by a small cabal of Warlocks (either Eredar or Satyr, the text is unclear).
After they dealt with the traitors in Jaina's ranks, and Thrall's in his, both leaders proposed a more official treaty.
World of Warcraft
In World of Warcraft, Jaina resides at the top of her tower in Theramore Isle. Alliance players can be greeted by her in person after completing the quest "The Missing Diplomat" and Horde players can fight against her. She is not considered one of the main Racial Leaders, and as such will not give the same honor awards that the likes of Thrall and Sylvanas Windrunner would. Nonetheless, as the most powerful sorceress alive, she is an incredibly tough opponent and only a skilled level 70 raid party would ever hold a chance of taking Jaina down.
Jaina also appears in an instance that allows players to relive the Battle of Mount Hyjal, where as in Warcraft III she is part of the first lines of defense against Archimonde's forces.
The relationship between Jaina and Thrall
After Jaina's and Thrall's forces were forced to work together after the meeting with Medivh, the two leaders soon became good friends. As to why they became so close nobody knows. Although according to Thrall, Jaina reminds him of Taretha Foxton, a human girl who befriended Thrall during his childhood. Their relationship is strong nonetheless, having endured Jaina losing her father and Thrall a lot of his warriors. They still consider each other as allies. A few fans speculate that Thrall and Jaina must have had (or have or will have) a romantic relationship. The only clue is the translation of a Gnomeregan binary punchcard, which states:
"Thrall and Jaina, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G"
Lore
Jaina is the daughter of Admiral Proudmoore, who was introduced as the leader of Kul Tiras, one of the Human factions in Warcraft II. A protégé of Archmage Antonidas during her studies at Dalaran, she is the most powerful living sorceress in the Warcraft universe. She is also the former lover of both Kael'thas Sunstrider and Arthas Menethil, the one-time Prince of Lordaeron.
Warcraft III
Jaina's first appearance is in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, where she joins with Arthas to investigate the first signs of the Undead Plague. She leaves him and returns to Dalaran when the prince's thirst for vengeance against Mal'ganis becomes too great. After Arthas returns from Northrend, she rallys the Alliance forces of Lordaeron and flees from the Undead Scourge, traveling west to the continent of Kalimdor per the prophet Medivh's instructions.
There she makes pacts with Thrall, the visionary leader of the Horde, and Tyrande Whisperwind, the High Priestess of the Night Elves. Together the fragile alliance successfully defends the World Tree and defeated the Burning Legion's Second Invasion, led by Archimonde, at the Battle of Mount Hyjal.
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne includes a "bonus" Orc campaign, in which it is revealed that Jaina later retreated to Theramore Isle, off the coast of southeastern Kalimdor. There she has founded an Alliance stronghold, the only bastion of Human power on the western continent. However, with the founding of the Orcs' new homeland, Durotar, tensions rise when Jaina's father, Admiral Proudmoore, arrives with forces from Kul Tiras.
As Rexxar the Beastmaster, the player discovers that Admiral Proudmoore's forces have begun to attack Horde settlements despite Jaina's wish for peace. Retaliation follows, and when the Kul Tiras forces are pushed all the way back to the Theramore Isles, Jaina appeals to Thrall and Rexxar to spare the citizens of Theramore. Though Jaina's father is slain in the ensuing battle, the Orcs and their allies leave her and the island in peace once their own security is assured.
Cycle of Hatred
Jaina next appears in the novel World of Warcraft: Cycle of Hatred, which once again picks up on the storyline involving her city and the Horde. Theramore and Durotar remained at relative peace for three years, though the two former archenemies were still wary of each other. Eventually, a series of minor shipping incidents led to extreme tension between the two powers, enough so that the Goblins, who controlled the region's only neutral port, complained.
Despite the tension, Thrall requested Jaina's aid in relocating a herd of Thunder Lizards displaced by a mysterious logging operation at Thunder Ridge. Jaina intended to relocate the Lizards to a largely unpopulated region on the far side of Mulgore, but was astonished to discover that the area was magically warded to protect its single inhabitant: Aegwynn.
The former Guardian brushed off Jaina's admiration, but filled in the gaps of what had been happening amidst the tensions between Theramore and Durotar: a minor demon, Zmodlor had revived the Burning Blade and was playing the two powers against each other.
Jaina and Aegwynn hastily returned to Theramore, where they discovered that Jaina's own chamberlain had been corrupted by the Burning Blade. After dealing with the turncoat, they took on Zmodlor himself. Unfortunately, the demon was backed by a small cabal of Warlocks (either Eredar or Satyr, the text is unclear).
After they dealt with the traitors in Jaina's ranks, and Thrall's in his, both leaders proposed a more official treaty.
World of Warcraft
In World of Warcraft, Jaina resides at the top of her tower in Theramore Isle. Alliance players can be greeted by her in person after completing the quest "The Missing Diplomat" and Horde players can fight against her. She is not considered one of the main Racial Leaders, and as such will not give the same honor awards that the likes of Thrall and Sylvanas Windrunner would. Nonetheless, as the most powerful sorceress alive, she is an incredibly tough opponent and only a skilled level 70 raid party would ever hold a chance of taking Jaina down.
Jaina also appears in an instance that allows players to relive the Battle of Mount Hyjal, where as in Warcraft III she is part of the first lines of defense against Archimonde's forces.
The relationship between Jaina and Thrall
After Jaina's and Thrall's forces were forced to work together after the meeting with Medivh, the two leaders soon became good friends. As to why they became so close nobody knows. Although according to Thrall, Jaina reminds him of Taretha Foxton, a human girl who befriended Thrall during his childhood. Their relationship is strong nonetheless, having endured Jaina losing her father and Thrall a lot of his warriors. They still consider each other as allies. A few fans speculate that Thrall and Jaina must have had (or have or will have) a romantic relationship. The only clue is the translation of a Gnomeregan binary punchcard, which states:
"Thrall and Jaina, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G"
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.