Posted by Amatera on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 - 32 Comments
Tags: 3.3, abominations, apothecaries, baine bloodhoof, cairne bloodhoof, expansion, forsaken, garrosh, kor'kron, pit of saron, ptr, thrall, undercity, varian wrynn, warchief, wrathegate
The jury’s still out on whether or not Garrosh Hellscream is truly a dangerous man. Sure, he’s pushy, belligerent, hot-headed, and more than a little racist, but he seems to honestly believe that what he’s doing is best for the Orcish people. And yet, we know somewhere in there, that he seeks to defy the more… unsavory aspects of his father’s legacy, who was equally lustful for power, but failed to control himself by drinking Mannoroth’s blood and esnlaving the Orcs.
Likewise, we must consider that Garrosh has spent nearly his entire life in Nagrand. He’s not as familiar with the struggles on Azeroth as his compatriots are; not as beholden to the same love of certain humans or ideals of peace as Thrall is. And let’s not forget that he’s got a virtual equal in the Humans’ King Varian Wrynn. In Garrosh’s eyes, he is a man who cannot be controlled and will take the opportunity to destroy the Horde when it presents itself.
If Garrosh is to slated to become Warchief, he has to do what he thinks is right to protect his people, even if his methods seem wrong.
We haven’t reached the expansion just yet, or even the world events that will lead up to them, but signs of the changing times are already starting to show themselves on the PTR. While everyone else is distracted by the shiny, new 5-man dungeon (Pit of Saron), I decided to do a little bit of poking around, and discovered a rather interesting development in the good old Undercity.
Bye-bye Abominations!
As you might recall, after the events of the Wrathgate, Thrall sent his elite soldiers, the Kor’Kron Guard, to keep watch over the remaining apothecaries in the Forsaken capital. The difference on the test realm is that now, they’re all over the place. Gone are the abominations that used to protect the city, replaced by Orcish knights patrolling the city. It’s possible that this is just an expansion of Thrall’s policy to keep the apothecaries in check, but it also fits in with things we’ve heard about the future.
Namely, Garrosh becoming Warchief and changing the way things work. Only letting Orcs and Tauren into the center of Orgrimmar, because he believes that they’re the only ones actually capable of defending it. Hey, what about the Trolls, Garrosh? Sure, the double-dealing of a certain faction of Undead and the inherently shifty Blood Elves need to be scrutinized, but what did the poor Trolls ever do to lose your trust?
But, I digress. If the betrayal at Wrathgate made Garrosh lose faith in his already tenuous allies, the installation of Orcish guards in foreign cities may be a sign of the new Horde to come. And if this is truly the younger Hellscream’s policy, then we may see him take the throne sooner than we thought.
Another interesting tidbit that could possibly corroborate this idea: pre-BlizzCon claims cited that Cairne Bloodhoof, leader of the Tauren, would be framed for treason against the Horde and be killed by Garrosh. We don’t yet know if that’s actually how things will play out, but the tag for Cairne’s son, Baine, has been changed in MMO-Champion’s database. He is now listed as the High Chieftan, leader of the Tauren.
Food for thought, people. Food. For. Thought.
Related Posts: Don’t Rule Out Garrosh Hellscream Just Yet, In-game Distractions Are Aplenty, It Be Pirate Day In Azeroth an’ Outland!, PTR 3.3: Festergut Raid Encounter [Video], Weekend With The Horde,
By Conchuir on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
wow. i don’t play horde, but it certainly sounds like things will be getting interesting for them soon! look forward to seeing how it all plays out
By Decado on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I sense civil war in the Undercity’s future
By Togarox on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I dont get it though. Being a tauren myself, why would the tuaren stick with the horde if garrosh killed their leader? I know for a fact that if he does, I will no longer be going to Org for the auction house.
By Amatera on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
@Togarox
The simple answer is that we don’t know yet. Those details have not come to light.
The more complex answer is that, if Cairne is framed for doing something or other, his own people may come to distrust him.
By Zreena on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I’m excited and REALLY pissed off all at the same time. Garrosh is not leader material. He’s too hot headed and rash. Someone like that in the real world would lead his people to their demise in an attempt to be a good warchief.
Why kill Cairne? What was the point? They are getting rid of 2 major figures in WoW / lore, two whom I’m very fond of.
And yes, why not let trolls in? I’ve always seen tauren/orcs/trolls as the center factions of the horde, I mean, all 3 share barrens as a 10-20 leveling zone.
But, at the same time, all the changes is exciting. We’re witnessing (warcrat) history in the making here!
By Zreena on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
warcraft*
By Raethos on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I reckon Garrosh frames Cairne because the Tauren are the one race that would stand against his attack on the alliance. I always thought that if the Horde degenerated into bloodlust, the Tauren would remain reasonable, and apparently Garrosh agrees.
By Littleraven on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
im so juiced for cataclysm…the story is moving forward is huge ways it seems…like they said, this really is putting the “war” back in warcraft…i dont see garrosh staying warchief for very long….i have a feeling that he is going to be killed at some point by some kind of uprising within the horde….that would be pretty sweet
By Carlos aka Kershocker on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I’m Alliance, but
Thrall > Garrosh
Enough Said.
By Dr.Awesome on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
it would be helarious if some1 on every server on the horde made a characters named some how like Cairne and they made a guild named “plez don’t kill meh”
By Octaviax on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Garrosh had no part in what’s going down in UC
It’s all Thrall.
He’s pissed about what happened, and wants to see to it that it will never happen again.
How do i know this isn’t Garrosh’s doing?
1) This is happening in 3.3; Thrall is STILL Warchief
2) They’re Kor’kron; personal guards of the Warchief–> Thrall
By Azurienatei on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I think that its highly possible. In fact in the live game, we’ve got some quests that seem to be foretelling the upcoming Cataclysm. Like, ‘its beginning’ and all that. I’m looking forward to the changes. In fact, during the time between Brewfest and Hallow’s End, I’m going to be using my main to explore Azaroth before the change (and get those achievements)
By Dan on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
So can I join a separate faction with my Forsaken Ally’s please? Let the Sin’dorei and the trolls join forces and put this scrum of an orc into his place.
Seriously? The Tauren are OK with their leader being killed, and his son taking over? This screams of the instability of Rome and when it started it’s downward spiral into nothingness.
By Amatera on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
@Octaviax
I think it really depends more on where the loyalties of the Kor’Kron lie. Many of them were also part of the Warsong Offensive in Northrend, which was spear-headed by Garrosh.
Of course, everything I’m saying is as much conjecture as anyone else’s opinion, but in general, I wouldn’t rule out things that seem “unfair” or “wrong” in the storyline. Those kinks in the plot tend to add the sort of tension and drama that makes it exciting.
I always go back to one of Kurt Vonnegut’s rules for writing: “Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.”
Bad things need to keep happening in Azeorth, for the fight to make them right again to have any meaning.
By Amatera on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
@Dan
I don’t know if the Tauren will be completely OK with their leader being killed, but I think that really depends on how it’s carried out. Would it be a public execution, or a carefully-planned assassination/accident designed to bring them closer to the Horde?
And even amongst the Tauren, there are certain factions that aren’t exactly pleased with the way things are run. Just because they’re the “nice” faction doesn’t absolve them from having mixed feelings about their leadership.
From what I know of Baine, he doesn’t seem like a bad guy, or someone who would want to overthrow his father. But he *would* be next in line for leadership and there’s a good chance that he’d be easier to manipulate.
Sure, this all sounds Machiavellian, but most power struggles are.
By Cuppincakes on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
No sir, I don’t like it.
One reason to keep the trolls out might be because of their foray into druidism. That would in fact bring them closer to the tauren, who are deeply tied with the Cernarion Circle, who has ties with the Alliance, which Garrosh hates. The trolls are very small in number, and he may just be prejudiced against them since you can’t walk two steps in Azeroth without killing a troll. The trolls in Northrend aren’t any more friendly either. If he does find away to do away with Cairne, it would certainly serve him well to make sure the tauren remain in the horde; more importantly, allied to him personally rather dutifully following their chieftain’s orders. If Cairne withdrew from the Horde, I’m sure his people would follow. If he were dead and disgraced, they’d probably stay despite any misgivings about Garrosh.
By grandobsidian on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Are some people forgetting that garrosh is keeping the Tauren in Org, maybe just the ones he likes but Tauren none the less.Garrosh just seems to be a muscle head and want the two best warrior races defending him and doesn’t respect the ways of the arcane, light, nature etc.
Even as a member of the Alliance I hate to see Cairne killed, though a friend of mine pointed out that he’s old as the earth he worships. If Garrosh goes after him I’d love to jump in and protect Cairne. Maybe this treason has to more with the coming worship of the light that leads to Tauren Palladins and Preists which probably makes Garrosh think of the Alliance. He probably can barely stand the Blood elves.
By Mr.Vincent on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
The fact that Metzen clearly favors The Horde makes me a happy panda.
=)
By 4Khazmodan on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I wonder why High Overlord Varok Sourfang will not be the new warchief? He is much older and wiser than the brash Garrosh Hellscream. Also, Garrosh respects Saurfang and one would expect Varok to take up the posistion of warchief as I think the majority of the horde would prefer HIM to Garrosh any day.
By Logan on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I feel i revalation coming on!!!!! Honestly, my beliefs is there’s going to be an epic questline to overthrow Garrosh!
By Amatera on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
@4Khazmodan
I can’t remember where I read it, but I think it was said or implied that Saurfang does not seek the responsibility or power of the Warchief.
By Alayea on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
My reaction:
Not quite sure what to make of it, but I’m feeling rather wary of what Blizzard has in store for us.
By Zreena on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I would love to have Saurfang as a warchief =D I’d reroll orc for the occassion.
By Urziel on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Saurfang promised the son of Hellscream that he would personally kill him if he took the Horde down his father’s path. I for one hope he does try to pull a Grom Hellscream, so that I can be there to help Saurfang take him down.
By Kindousark on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Oh man, a long quest line to take down Garrosh would be just AWESOME, and with the help of THE Saurfang…that would be just fantastic! Imagine, a raid of hordies, inside Orgrimmar, to take down the Warchief! Insane!
By Beka on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 8:18 am
The story possibilities are making me practically quiver with excitement.
Though I will be very sad to lose Thrall. Can has Thrall not dying please? He’s pretty much my all-time favourite figure in lore. Him and Maiev.
By Ieniemienie on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I might not play Horde (much) but to see Cairne Bloodhoof dead would be a big loss. What would Baine bring and change.
Cairnes possible death tied in with the advent of Tauren paladins and brief puzzles me unless Baine has something to do with it and if Cairne is framed for treason what would that mean for Baine if he “allows” paladins and priests.
Well enough guessing we will find out in due course.
If I would play Tauren I would have to think about carrying on doing so depending how Baine takes shape in his “new” role.
By Kyndranigar on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Saurfang has already Cleaved the timeline to create the Infinite Dragonflight just so the Horde have something to fight. He doesn’t need to be Warchief, it’d be beneath him.
By Amatera on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
@Beka
There has been no indication that Thrall will die. All evidence so far points to him leaving the position of Warchief for a great cause, perhaps even becoming the next Guardian of Tirisfal.
By cocopuff on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
‘”he’s got a virtual equal in the Humans’ King Varian Wrynn. In Garrosh’s eyes, he is a man who cannot be controlled and will take the opportunity to destroy the Horde when it presents itself”. nuff said that kind paranoia is exacly why i am hoping that garish does become the leader of the horde you know neither one will hold anything back my kind of guys they will destroy each other BTW grom hellscream was trinketed into drinking mammoths blood
By Ieniemienie on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Banning Trolls, Forsaken and Sin’dorei from the centre of Orgrimmar is one hell of a way to sow discord amongst your allies for sure at the time they are needed most.
Lest Garrosh thinks he can manage without them, yeah right …
By Mark on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 2:35 am
I’m just happy to see those stupid abominations gone. I always avoided undercity because I couldn’t stand their constant gurgling and puking sounds.