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Troll Compendium
Biology: Troll Traits

Physical Features

Size. Trolls average seven feet in height and two hundred pounds in weight, save for two tribes, the
Drakkari and the Zandalari, who tend to be somewhat larger than their kindred. As with other races, there
are also scattered trolls who far exceed the normal size range. For further discussion of these outliers,
consult the below section on these so-called "monstrous" trolls.

Health. All trolls possess astonishing physical resilience: they can heal grievous physical injuries and
regenerate lost limbs. This accelerated rate of healing makes trolls formidable adversaries on the field of
battle.

Specific Issues

Cannibalism. Most trolls seem to practice cannibalism. Several specific troll tribes have been confirmed as
cannibalistic, including the Mossflayer and Vilebranch tribes. Furthermore, all the currently known tribes of
ice trolls practice cannibalism. Sand trolls, forest trolls, and jungle trolls are also frequently cannibalistic,
though not always. Even the mysterious dark trolls are believed to be cannibals for the most part. Yet there
are several notable exceptions. For example, the Zandalar and Revantusk tribes do not consume troll flesh.
The Darkspear tribe, too, was cannibalistic until it joined the Horde, at which point the Darkspears officially
gave up cannibalism.

Voodoo. Not all trolls practice voodoo, but it is certainly at least as widespread as cannibalism. Little is
known about the emergence of voodoo among the trolls, for most tribes that possess such knowledge
are unwilling to share it with outsiders. However, with the recent advent of Zandalari trolls to Yojamba Isle,
several notable researchers have come to speculate that voodoo many have originated with the Zandalari.

Dire Trolls. A small number of trolls are strikingly larger and more heavily muscled than the rest of their
brethren. There is no racial distinction between them and the rest of the troll race. A variety of reasons
might be behind this unusual size and musculature. For example, dire trolls might have been altered
alchemically or magically. They might also simply have been born larger than average. Regardless of the
day-to-day prejudices that these trolls must contend with from other races, dire trolls are not regarded as
monstrous by other trolls.

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 History: Early Troll Civilization
Below you can read the history of the trolls, beginning from 16,000 years ago and continuing up to the
Second War. From their beginnings as lords of Kalimdor to the devestation of the Sundering and the rise
and fall of the Gurubashi and Amani Empires, the trolls share a blood-stained history.

The Rise of the Troll Civilization

The earliest known trolls belonged to the Zandalar tribe, from which all other trolls are descended. On the
whole, the Zandalari valued knowledge above all else, but a significant portion of the tribe hungered for
conquest instead. These disaffected trolls eventually departed to form tribes of their own. As time went on,
what remained of the Zandalar tribe came to be regarded as an overarching priest caste for all trolls. The
Zandalari worked tirelessly to record and preserve troll history and traditions, and these wise trolls acted to
further the goals of troll society as a whole. Greatly respected by all other trolls, the Zandalari nevertheless
remained apart from the day-to-day politics of their people.

About 16,000 years ago, trolls lorded over much of ancient Kalimdor, which was the only continent on
Azeroth at the time. Out of the tribes that had split off from the Zandalari, two troll empires had emerged:
the Gurubashi empire of the southeastern jungles and the Amani empire of the middle forestlands.

Several smaller troll tribes were also driven out of civilized lands and into the far north, where they settled
in the region that would later be known as Northrend. These tribes founded a small nation known as
Zul'Drak, but this kingdom never achieved the size or prosperity of the southern empires.

The Gurubashi and Amani empires had little love for one another, but their conflict rarely escalated into
war. At the time, their greatest common enemy was a third empire: the civilization of Azj’Aqir. The aqir
were intelligent insectoids who ruled the lands of the far west. These clever insectoids were greatly
expansionistic and incredibly evil. The aqir were obsessed with eradicating all non-insect life from the
fields of Kalimdor.

The trolls fought the aqir for thousands of years, but never succeeded in winning a true victory. Eventually,
due to the trolls' persistence, the aqiri kingdom split in half. Its citizens fled to separate colonies in the far
northern and southern regions of the continent. Two aqiri city-states emerged: Azjol-Nerub in the northern
wastes, and Ahn’Qiraj in the southern desert. Although the trolls suspected that there were other aqiri
colonies beneath Kalimdor, their existence was never verified.

With the insectoids driven into exile, the two troll empires returned to business as usual. Neither civilization
expanded much farther than its original boundaries.

Newer Foes: The Kaldorei

The night elves developed along the shores of the Well of Eternity, and so they were strengthened by its
energies. Despite the trolls’ attempts to keep this new race from claiming further territories, the night elves
built up a mighty empire that expanded rapidly across Kalimdor. Wielding fierce magics never before
imagined by the trolls, the night elves soon threatened the two greatest empires in the world.

The night elves systematically dismantled the troll’s defenses and supply chains. Unable to counter the
elves’ destructive magics, the trolls buckled under the onslaught. The territories of the Gurubashi and
Amani empires fragmented within only a few years, and the night elves' shockingly quick victory incurred
the trolls' eternal hatred.
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Eventually the night elves were burned by the arcane fires they had sought to control: the elves' reckless
use of magic lured the Burning Legion to the world of Azeroth. The demons crushed much of the night
elves’ civilization. There are no records to indicate that the Legion attacked either troll civilization, but it is
likely that battles took place across the breadth of the continent.

At the end of this terrible conflict, known today as the War of the Ancients, the Well of Eternity imploded.
The resulting shockwave shattered ancient Kalimdor into several landmasses and drove the center of the
continent far beneath the sea. Large tracts of land that once belonged to the Amani and Gurubashi
empires still exist in the present-day lands of Quel’Thalas and Stranglethorn, respectively.

A Savage God

The long centuries following the Great Sundering were difficult ones for the troll race. The dauntless trolls
rebuilt their ravaged cities and set about reclaiming some of their former power. Even so, famine and terror
became commonplace within the broken kingdoms. The jungle trolls, driven to desperate ends, sought
aid from ancient mystical forces. Both troll empires shared a central belief in a great pantheon of primitive
gods, but the Gurubashi empire alone would fall under the sway of the darkest one.

Hakkar the Soulflayer answered the jungle trolls’ plea. Hakkar gave the trolls his secrets of blood and
helped them extend their civilization across most of Stranglethorn Vale and certain islands in the South
Seas. He brought the jungle trolls great power, but in return the bloodthirsty god required that souls be
sacrificed to him.

His demands quickly escalated, and he grew impatient with his loyal priests, the Hakkari. He told them to
find a way to summon him physically into the world, so that he might directly drain the blood of his victims.
So vast was his hunger that he dreamed of devouring the lives of all mortal creatures. Most of the Hakkari
had already begun to guess at his insatiable appetite, and they were horrified at the prospect of the
damage he might wreak and the power he might gain if given the ability to feed unchecked. Nonetheless,
the Atal'ai, a small extremist faction of the Hakkari, decided to do as Hakkar wished.

Civil War among the Jungle Trolls

Before the Atal'ai could complete the summoning, the other jungle trolls, including the Hakkari, rose up in
open revolt against the cruel god. Even the Zandalar tribe was drawn into the conflict, for they saw that
Hakkar presented a deadly threat to the entire world. The magics that were unleashed laid waste to
Zul'Gurub, but just as the battle seemed most hopeless, the trolls succeeded in destroying Hakkar’s avatar.
Driven from the jungles, the Atal'ai were hunted nearly to extinction. Only a small group of Atal'ai escaped
into the Swamp of Sorrows, where they secretly built a great temple to their god: the Temple of
Atal'Hakkar.

Having helped fight the fanatical Atal'ai, the Hakkari hoped their role in carrying out sacrifices for Hakkar
would go unpunished. They soon discovered otherwise. Once the more immediate threat of the Atal'ai
had been eliminated, the jungle trolls turned on the Hakkari as well. Many former priests were tortured and
executed in grisly public spectacles. Others were torn apart in mob violence. The luckiest Hakkari were
simply stripped of all their possessions and forcibly ejected from Zul'Gurub. They were warned not to
return on pain of death.

Bitter and desperate, the surviving Hakkari reached a terrible decision. They tracked down their former
enemies, the Atal'ai, and offered to help them summon Hakkar into the world. Pleased by the suffering
that the Hakkari had clearly undergone, the Atal'ai were convinced of the Hakkari's change of heart, and
accordingly welcomed them into the temple. The Atal'ai and Hakkari continued to do their god's work

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there, preparing for his arrival into the physical world. The green Dragon Aspect, Ysera the Dreamer, soon
learned of the evil priests' plans and smashed the temple beneath the marshes. To this day, the temple's
ruins are guarded by mighty green dragons.

The remnants of the Gurubashi empire went their separate ways, claiming territories in the vast jungles of
Stranglethorn Vale. These scattered tribes began fighting one another, and at length the Darkspear tribe,
which was smaller than most of the other tribes, was driven off the continent altogether and took to the
ocean. Hoping to avoid further conflict, they settled on a remote desert island.

A fragile peace settled over the broken empire. Nevertheless, trolls spoke of a prophecy that Hakkar
would one day be reborn into the world, and on that day, he would consume it whole.

Defeat of the Amani Empire

The War of the Ancients and the Sundering both came about because the night elves had abused arcane
magic. Still, the highest caste of night elves, the Highborne, refused to relinquish arcane magic. As a result,
they were exiled from Kalimdor, and they sailed across the sea and landed in Lordaeron. These exiles
renamed themselves the high elves.

As they pressed further inland, the high elves developed a blood feud with the forest trolls, who controlled
most of the northern reaches of Lordaeron. Finally the weary elves reached a forested region that
reminded them of their distant homeland in Kalimdor. Driving out the resident trolls, the high elves
established the kingdom of Quel’Thalas.

Elven magi crafted monolithic Runestones along the borders of Quel’Thalas. These massive stones
powered a magical shield intended to mask the elves' magic from extra-dimensional threats and protect
the land from invasion. The Runestones also frightened away the superstitious trolls for a time.

The hard-won peace of Quel'Thalas endured for roughly four thousand years, at which point the forest
trolls gathered together and staged a vicious campaign to destroy the elven intruders forever. The high
elves were hopelessly outnumbered. King Anasterian Sunstrider of Quel'Thalas desperately sought allies to
aid him in the war, and so it came to pass that the king struck a partnership with the human nation of
Arathor.

The elves taught a small number of humans how to wield magic. With these new magi and the armies of
Arathor, the high elves succeeded in destroying the trolls’ power base. The Amani empire would never
fully recover from its defeat.

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 History: The Trolls and the Horde
Below you can read the story of how the trolls came to join the Horde and of their history within it.
Beginning with the Second War, continuing through the enslavement of the orcs and the renaissance of
the Horde under Thrall, and up to the death of Sen'jin and the settling in Durotar, the trolls have played a
vital role in the history of the Horde.

Forest Trolls and the First Horde

Early in the Second War, the isolationist elves took little interest in the war's progress and provided only
token support to the Alliance of Lordaeron. Then Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer offered the forest trolls
a place in the Horde. If the trolls accepted, Doomhammer promised that the Horde would vanquish the
high elves and assist the forest trolls in reestablishing the Amani empire.

The forest trolls' leader, Zul'jin, declined the tempting offer at first. As a famous hero of the Amani tribe, he
had accomplished an amazing feat by uniting all forest trolls under his rule. Still, the forest trolls were
primarily interested in fighting the high elves, and Zul'jin was skeptical about the Horde's plans. A short
while later, human soldiers captured a war party led by Zul'jin. When the Horde rescued the trolls, Zul'jin
changed his mind and agreed to an alliance with the Horde. A few tribes of forest trolls joined their new
allies on the battlefield. Shortly thereafter, the Horde burned down the borderlands of Quel’Thalas and
slaughtered many high elf civilians. Furious at this wanton destruction of life, the elves subsequently
committed all their resources to the war.

By the time the Horde was driven back, however, the orcs and their allies had already achieved their true
goal: to steal and desecrate many of the Runestones that powered the elves’ defensive shield. The warlock
Gul’dan then used the pilfered stones to power his devious Altars of Storms.

Nevertheless, the Alliance ultimately won the Second War, and after a number of additional battles, most
of the vanquished orcs on Azeroth were rounded up and placed in internment camps. In the war's
disastrous aftermath, many forest trolls were furious at the Horde's failure to carry out its promise and
deserted their former orc allies without a moment's hesitation. Today only one tribe of forest trolls--the
Revantusk tribe--is loosely affiliated with the Horde, much as the Wildhammer clan of dwarves is
associated with, and yet not a member of, the Alliance.

Although the Second War ended some years ago, the Dragonmaw and Blackrock orc clans and their allies-
-among them two tribes of forest trolls--have not given up trying to defeat humanity. Referred to as the
Dark Horde by outsiders, this group is led by the orc Rend Blackhand, who has named himself warchief. A
force of approximately five thousand strong, the Dark Horde regards itself as the true Horde, and believes
that Thrall and his followers are foolish weaklings. Rend's forces reside in Blackrock Spire, and they have
allied themselves with the black dragonflight.

Rebuilding the Horde

Before the Third War broke out, the courageous orc Thrall escaped his enslavement and began assembling
a new Horde. This Horde would make no pacts with demons, nor would Thrall and his orcs seek further
conflict with humans. Instead, at the urging of a prophet, Thrall led the revitalized Horde over the sea to
Kalimdor.

The voyage grew perilous when a violent storm appeared and inflicted heavy damage on the orc fleet.
Fearing that the ships would not reach Kalimdor intact, Thrall ordered the Horde to seek shelter in the cove
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of a nearby island. The elderly leader of the Darkspear trolls, Sen'jin, greeted the orc newcomers and
warned them that a group of humans had established an outpost on the island.

Unfortunately the humans were not the only threat on the island. A group of murlocs captured Sen'jin,
Thrall, and several other orcs and trolls. Thrall fought his way out of his prison cell and freed a number of
other captives, but by the time he reached Sen'jin's cell, the wise old troll was missing. The murlocs had
taken him away in order to sacrifice him to a mysterious sea witch.

Despite Thrall's best efforts, a murloc sorcerer succeeded in carrying out the sacrifice. Mortally wounded,
Sen'jin revealed that he had seen a vision in which Thrall would lead the Darkspears from the island.

The sea witch was furious at the slaughter of her minions and the defilement of her sanctuary. She
summoned powerful waves to batter the island. Regardless, Thrall and his forces managed to defeat
further murloc attackers, repair the damaged fleet, and retrieve a number of troll survivors.

In Sen’jin's honor, Thrall offered the Darkspears a place in the Horde and sanctuary in the kingdom he
planned to establish in Kalimdor. Vol’jin, the son of Sen’jin, took control of the Darkspear tribe and
accepted Thrall's offer. After the orcs departed, a large group of Darkspears also sailed for Kalimdor. Vol'jin
and the rest of the tribe weathered the sea witch's anger, gathered all the supplies they could take with
them, and joined their brethren roughly a year later in the new orc nation, Durotar. They made a home for
themselves on the Echo Isles, just off the southeastern coast.

Further Turmoil for the Darkspear Tribe

The Darkspears were not to know peace for long. After the Third War, Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore
led a large fleet of battleships against Thrall's forces on Durotar. Proudmoore could not be convinced that
this new Horde was any different from the corrupted Horde of the First War. Under heavy attack, the trolls
were forced to evacuate to the mainland of Durotar, but the Horde managed to defeat the misguided
admiral.

Much relieved, the Darkspear trolls began returning to the Echo Isles, only to be betrayed by one of their
own. A witch doctor named Zalazane used dark magic to rob several other trolls of their free will, forcing
them to obey him. As his influence spread, his army grew while the number of free Darkspears dwindled.
Fearing that all of his people would fall to Zalazane's insidious sorcery, Vol'jin ordered the tribe to abandon
the Echo Isles.

Thus, the free Darkspear trolls left the islands and created the fishing village of Sen’jin on the Durotar coast,
just northwest of the Echo Isles. Some Darkspears have remained in the village, and others have ventured
farther afield. Vol'jin himself dwells in Orgrimmar, the capital city of Durotar. Orcs make up the majority of
the city's inhabitants, but there is a strong troll presence in the Valley of Spirits.

Today the Darkspears and their allies frequently strike at Zalazane’s holdings on the Echo Isles, determined
to win back the trolls' first home on Kalimdor. In the meantime, Zalazane has not given up in his efforts to
enslave his entire tribe, and so he continues to send his trolls to the mainland in order to drag further
Darkspears under his sway.

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 Trivia: Are Trolls Related to Night Elves?
Little is known about the night elves' precise origins, for their race was formed so long ago that no hard
evidence has surfaced to prove or invalidate this theory. All that is known for certain is that a tribe of
nocturnal humanoids came to live on the shores of the first Well of Eternity, and the Well's cosmic energies
changed them into the night elves we know today.

Certainly many trolls do believe that the humanoids who developed into the night elf race were trolls. The
theory does have some credibility, for there is at least a superficial physical resemblance between trolls
and night elves. Furthermore, the troll race dominated much of ancient Kalimdor--the only continent on
Azeroth before the Great Sundering--long before the night elves came into power.

Nevertheless, many night elves find this theory preposterous and abhorrent. They are quick to point out
that the first night elves began their rise to power by defeating a number of nearby troll tribes. As a
consequence, the trolls came to fear and respect the might of their new rivals. The troll theory of night elf
ancestry may have been a direct result of this early conflict. The trolls hated the night elves--a sentiment
that persists to this day--and may have wished to marginalize the night elf race and its accomplishments.
Also, attributing the night elf race with a troll heritage likely helped the trolls come to terms with their own
shocking defeat.

Without additional data, there is little point in debating the merits of this controversial theory. No doubt it
will remain a matter of contention for years to come.

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 Troll Categories
Historians and physicians generally classify trolls into four categories: forest trolls, jungle trolls, ice trolls,
and sand trolls. The trolls of the Zandalar tribe are considered unclassifiable because the Zandalari are the
earliest known trolls, from whom all other trolls are descended.

There is some debate as to how many categories are necessary in order to describe the troll race. Several
notable authorities on the topic have chosen to specify a fifth category: namely, the dark trolls.

Forest Trolls

Historical capital: Zul'Aman

Known tribes: Amani, Firetree, Mossflayer, Revantusk, Smolderthorn, Vilebranch, Witherbark

Description: Due to a mutation that took place many millennia ago, the forest trolls' bodies can support
plant life to a limited extent. A thin layer of moss inevitably grows on the skin of forest trolls shortly after
they are born and gives them their characteristic green coloring.

Most forest trolls hold all other races in contempt and will only work with them if doing so might eliminate
either a more hated foe or a greater threat. The forest trolls' hostility explains in part why they are regarded
as evil by most other races. It is also well documented that forest trolls sometimes practice ritual sacrifices.
Although all trolls dislike elves in general due to their contentious past, forest trolls have a special hatred
for high elves, blood elves, and orcs.

History: The forest trolls ruled all of Lordaeron long before the Great Sundering. Their empire took its name
from the strongest tribe of forest trolls: the Amani. In modern times, the word Amani can refer to the forest
trolls' ancient empire (and thus to forest trolls as a whole) or to the Amani tribe in particular. The Amani and
Gurubashi empires battled the relentless aqir until the insectoids' kingdom was split in two, but the trolls
never achieved a true victory.

When the high elves first arrived in Lordaeron, they used their sorcery to drive the forest trolls out of a
region in the north, where the elves subsequently established the enchanted kingdom of Quel'Thalas. The
forest trolls resolved to overthrow the elven invaders and topple the spires of Quel'Thalas.

In pursuit of this vengeance, the forest trolls united under Zul'jin--the most revered forest troll in history--
and allied with the Horde during the Second War. A few of these tribes joined their orcish allies on the
battlefield. However, in the war's disastrous aftermath, most forest trolls were furious at the Horde's failure
to carry out its promise and deserted the orcs without a moment's hesitation. Zul'jin himself disappeared
after the war, but he is still greatly respected by all forest trolls, regardless of their current allegiance.

Only one tribe of forest trolls is loosely affiliated with the Horde today: the Revantusk tribe. Two other
tribes of forest trolls--Firetree and Smolderthorn--are part of the Dark Horde, a renegade group that is
based in Blackrock Spire and led by Rend Blackhand.

Forest Troll Tribes

Amani Tribe

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Where: Lordaeron (primarily in Zul'Aman)

Category: Forest trolls

Leader: Unknown

Background: Established long before the Great Sundering, the Amani empire took its name from the
strongest tribe of forest trolls at the time. In addition, the tribe takes justifiable pride in counting Zul'jin as
one of its members. In spite of his disappearance after the Second War, Zul'jin remains the most famous
and respected forest troll in history.

After the Amani empire was shattered by the Troll Wars, most forest trolls settled in areas that were a
comfortable distance from Quel'Thalas. However, the Amani tribe sneered at such precautions as
cowardice. Beset by the high elves' powerful sorcery, Zul'Aman was greatly reduced in size, but the Amani
tribe remained entrenched at the easternmost edge of the enchanted kingdom.

When Arthas led the Scourge into Quel'Thalas during the Third War, the Amani tribe witnessed the
resulting slaughter with glee. Acting swiftly, the trolls launched a series of attacks on high elf settlements in
the Eversong Forest. To the trolls' surprise, the few high elves who had survived the invasion seemed
greatly weakened and put up a poor fight. The Amani claimed a significant portion of the forest before the
elf Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider arrived in Quel'Thalas.

Gathering all the surviving elves he could find, the prince gave them a new name: the blood elves. These
blood elves began draining magic from nearby creatures, and they seemed to gain new strength. Even
worse, Kael'thas organized them into a fighting force that proved frustratingly effective against the Amani
tribe's efforts, even after Kael'thas and his strongest warriors left Quel'Thalas to fight the Scourge
elsewhere.

In recent days, the blood elves have shown signs of increased magical training and use. The elves' spells
have increased in power, and they have rebuilt portions of Quel'Thalas. Most infuriating of all, the blood
elves have begun retaking Eversong Forest. Nevertheless the Amani tribe remains fiercely dedicated to its
battle against the elves, for the greatly diminished elven populace cannot long prevail alone in fighting
both the trolls to the east and the Scourge to the south.

Firetree Tribe

Where: Blackrock Spire

Category: Forest trolls

Leader: Unknown

Background: The Firetree trolls are one of two tribes of forest trolls that belong to the Dark Horde, a
renegade group of orcs, trolls, and ogres who dwell in Blackrock Spire. Commanded by Rend Blackhand,
the Dark Horde has not given up the battle to claim Azeroth, although Rend's forces are significantly
smaller than Thrall's Horde. A group of warlocks drives the Dark Horde, which has not relinquished the
original Horde's involvement in demonic magic. The Dark Horde is essentially still fighting the Second War,
but Rend and his group know that they stand little chance of success, despite their alliance with the black
dragonflight.

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The Dark Horde's numbers are dwindling, and it has no means of recruiting new members. Realistically
these evil individuals are well aware that their days are numbered. Such knowledge has given them a grim
mindset: they are desperate, bitter, and completely ruthless in battle.

Firetree trolls revere the memory of Zul'jin and consider the Smolderthorn tribe acceptable allies, but
despise all other forest trolls as deserters, particularly the Revantusk tribe, which is loosely affiliated with
Thrall's Horde. Ironically the Revantusks consider the Firetree trolls traitors for failing to leave Blackrock
Spire and aid Thrall and his followers, for the Revantusks believe that Thrall leads the true Horde. In general,
trolls outside the Dark Horde have long since decided that the Firetree and Smolderthorn trolls are insane
for allying themselves with the black dragonflight and continuing to fight an unwinnable war (if, indeed, it
can be called a war).

Mossflayer Tribe

Where: Eastern Plaguelands (primarily in the northeast and southwest)

Category: Forest trolls

Leader: Unknown

Background: The Mossflayer tribe split off from the Amani empire after the Troll Wars and decided to
abandon that section of Lordaeron altogether. Even so, humanity continued to harry the forest trolls. The
Mossflayer tribe had been driven out of much of its ancestral territory in Lordaeron by the time the Second
War broke out.

Like all other forest trolls, the Mossflayers allied themselves with the Horde during the Second War under
the leadership of Zul'jin, a famous troll hero from the Amani tribe. When the Horde was soundly defeated,
Zul'jin disappeared, and the forest trolls abandoned their orcish allies. Disgusted with the Horde's defeat,
the Mossflayer trolls decided they would have nothing further to do with such incompetent and reckless
allies.

Instead, the trolls focused on trying to keep humanity from overrunning all of Lordaeron. When the plague
of undeath began spreading across the land, the Mossflayer tribe was quick to take advantage of the
blossoming chaos. Because the plague was designed to convert only the human race into undeath, human
defenses soon faltered, and the Mossflayers managed to retake parts of their ancient territory.

The plague has since had taken its toll on the landscape. The verdant lands in which the Mossflayer tribe
settled now form the northeast corner of the Eastern Plaguelands. The plants and animals, while not
undead, are diseased and decaying. Yet despite these nightmarish conditions, the trolls have refused to
relinquish the lands they had just recovered.

A large hunting party of Mossflayer trolls left their settlement some time ago in search of live game to take
back to their people. The hunt took them far from home, for many animals had been affected by the
plague. At last the trolls came upon several animals that seemed healthy. Slaying the beasts, the trolls
rewarded themselves by feasting on a portion of the hunt.

Unfortunately for the hunting party, a powerful lich had deliberately altered the beasts. Any living creature
that consumed the animals' flesh would be converted into undeath. Afterwards, the lich was able to
impose his will upon the undead trolls. Following the lich's commands, most of the undead trolls formed a
base of operations in the southwest of the Eastern Plaguelands.

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One of the undead trolls was given a horrifying mission by his new master: to return home and infect the
rest of his people. Hameya managed to hold onto his willpower long enough to scribble a brief account of
what had occurred. His desperate note offered a reward for anyone who killed him before he reached his
home.

Recent reports on the Mossflayer tribe paint a grim picture of subsequent events. A large number of fresh
graves have been dug near the village, and several undead trolls have been spotted, hiding themselves
among their unsuspecting brethren. It would seem that no one was able to stop Hameya in time, and he
succeeded in accomplishing the lich's dread mission. Unless the Mossflayers come to their senses and
flee the Eastern Plaguelands, the tribe will certainly be transformed in its entirety.

Revantusk Tribe

Where: Hinterlands (primarily in Revantusk Village)

Category: Forest trolls

Leader: Primal Torntusk

Background: Never one of the larger tribes in the Amani empire, the Revantusk tribe was nearly wiped out
by the Troll Wars. Reluctantly the trolls yielded to practicality and moved a safe distance away from the
elven invaders. Like other forest trolls, the Revantusks swore that one day they would have their revenge.

The Second War gave the forest trolls that opportunity. Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer asked the trolls to
ally themselves with the Horde. In return, Doomhammer promised that the Horde would vanquish the
high elves and assist the forest trolls in reestablishing the Amani empire.

As leader of all the forest trolls at the time, Zul'jin eventually accepted Doomhammer's offer. A few tribes
of forest trolls joined their new allies on the battlefield. Shortly thereafter, the Horde burned down the
borderlands of Quel’Thalas and slaughtered many high elf civilians. Furious at this wanton destruction of
life, the elves subsequently committed all their resources to the war, which the Alliance ultimately won.

Several additional battles later, most of the vanquished orcs on Azeroth were rounded up and placed in
internment camps. In the war's disastrous aftermath, the Horde was shattered, and many forest trolls
deserted their former orc allies without a moment's hesitation. The Revantusks had little choice other than
to flee as well, for their numbers were far too few to liberate the captive orcs, particularly when the orcs
themselves seemed uninterested in freedom. Because they continued to feel some loyalty toward the
Horde, the Revantusks were the target of many attacks from other forest trolls. Eventually the Revantusk
tribe relocated to the coast of the Hinterlands, where they hoped to avoid further notice.

Then the courageous orc Thrall began reassembling a new Horde. He resolved that his people would
return to their shamanistic traditions and establish a nation of their own. Word of the revitalized Horde and
its noble goals soon reached the Revantusk trolls, who were still dwelling in Lordaeron. The news stirred
the trolls' interest, and the tribe immediately dispatched its speediest runners to make contact with the
orcs.

Thrall was wary of the trolls at first, but he came to see that the Revantusk trolls were unique among forest
trolls in a fundamental way. The Revantusk tribe had never had much in the way of the fighters or
resources, and so it had instead decided to specialize in the trickier art of negotiation. By the time they
spoke with Thrall, the Revantusks had acquired a reputation for trustworthiness that was well deserved.

= 11 =
The trolls were impressed by Thrall and his dream. Even so, they remembered the recklessness and
corruption of the first Horde. Thus, the Revantusks declined to rejoin the Horde, but they did agree to a
pact of friendship and mutual assistance.

Today the Revantusk tribe continues to live in a village along the southeast coast of the Hinterlands. Due to
the tribe's small size and the Revantusks' pact with Thrall, all other forest trolls regard the Revantusk trolls as
weaklings and enemies. Similarly the honorable Revantusks regard other forest trolls as traitors to the
Horde. There is also a long-standing enmity between the Revantusk tribe and the Wildhammer clan of
dwarves, who dwell in the Hinterlands and are considered enemies of the Horde.

Smolderthorn Tribe

Where: Blackrock Spire

Category: Forest trolls

Leader: Warmaster Voone

Background: The Smolderthorn trolls are one of two tribes of forest trolls that belong to the Dark Horde, a
renegade group of orcs, trolls, and ogres who dwell in Blackrock Spire. Commanded by Rend Blackhand,
the Dark Horde has not given up the battle to claim Azeroth, although Rend's forces are significantly
smaller than Thrall's Horde. A group of warlocks drives the Dark Horde, which has not relinquished the
original Horde's involvement in demonic magic. The Dark Horde is essentially still fighting the Second War,
but Rend and his group know that they stand little chance of success, despite their alliance with the black
dragonflight.

The Dark Horde's numbers are dwindling, and it has no means of recruiting new members. Realistically
these evil individuals are well aware that their days are numbered. Such knowledge has given them a grim
mindset: they are desperate, bitter, and completely ruthless in battle.

Smolderthorn trolls revere the memory of Zul'jin and consider the Firetree tribe acceptable allies, but
despise all other forest trolls as deserters, particularly the Revantusk tribe, which is loosely affiliated with
Thrall's Horde. Ironically the Revantusks consider the Smolderthorn trolls traitors for failing to leave
Blackrock Spire and aid Thrall and his followers, for the Revantusks believe that Thrall leads the true Horde.
In general, trolls outside the Dark Horde have long since decided that the Smolderthorn and Firetree trolls
are insane for allying themselves with the black dragonflight and continuing to fight an unwinnable war (if,
indeed, it can be called a war).

Vilebranch Tribe

Where: Hinterlands (primarily in the east)

Category: Forest trolls

Leader: Vile Priestess Hexx

Background: The Vilebranch tribe split off from the Amani empire after the Troll Wars and returned to their
ancestral lands, in the area that is now called the Hinterlands. Like all other forest trolls, the Vilebranch
allied themselves with the Horde during the Second War under the leadership of Zul'jin, a famous troll

= 12 =
hero from the Amani tribe. When the Horde was soundly defeated, Zul'jin disappeared, and the forest
trolls abandoned their orcish allies.

Furious at the orcs' failure to live up to Doomhammer's promise, the Vilebranch trolls returned home and
eventually discovered that the Revantusk tribe had moved into the area. The Vilebranch decided that the
small Revantusk tribe would be an easy source of victims for ritual sacrifices.

In this assumption, the Vilebranch were mistaken. The Revantusks fought back with strength and cunning,
and the Horde began sending reinforcements to aid the Revantusk tribe. Nonetheless, thanks to their
unusually large numbers, the Vilebranch trolls remain confident to this day that they will defeat the
Revantusks once and for all.

Witherbark Tribe

Where: Hinterlands (primarily in the south) and the Arathi Highlands (primarily in the southeast)

Category: Forest trolls

Leader: Unknown

Background: The Witherbark tribe split off from the Amani empire after the Troll Wars and returned to their
ancestral lands, in the areas that are now called the Hinterlands and the Arathi Highlands. Like all other
forest trolls, the Witherbarks allied themselves with the Horde during the Second War under the leadership
of Zul'jin, a famous troll hero from the Amani tribe. When the Horde was soundly defeated, Zul'jin
disappeared, and the forest trolls abandoned their orcish allies.

The Witherbarks living in the Hinterlands have since happened across the Revantusks and launched many
attacks against the small tribe, but the dwarves of Aerie Peak have also become a noticeable threat. In the
meantime, the Witherbarks living in Arathi Highlands have grudgingly allied themselves with the Boulderfist
ogres in order to wipe out a far more hated enemy: the Horde forces who have constructed the
settlement of Hammerfall.

Jungle Trolls

Historical capital: Zul'Gurub

Known tribes: Bloodscalp, Darkspear, Gurubashi, Shatterspear, Skullsplitter

Description: The jungle trolls' bodies are covered in short, soft fur that causes the trolls to appear purple or
gray. Jungle trolls are also unusually lithe relative to other trolls.

History: Much as the forest trolls came to dominate Lordaeron, the jungle trolls established a firm hold
over the southeastern jungles of ancient Kalimdor. The jungle trolls' empire took its name from their
strongest tribe: the Gurubashi. In modern times, the word Gurubashi can refer to the jungle trolls' ancient
empire (and thus to jungle trolls as a whole) or to the Gurubashi tribe in particular. The Gurubashi and
Amani empires battled the relentless aqir until the insectoids' kingdom was split in two, but the trolls never
achieved a true victory.

After the Great Sundering, famine and violence spread until the jungle trolls begged their gods for aid. One
god answered: Hakkar the Soulflayer. He gave the jungle trolls great power, but in return he demanded
= 13 =
that they sacrifice trolls in his name. As his hunger for blood grew, he ordered his priests, the Hakkari, to
bring him physically into the world of Azeroth so that he could feed directly on his victims.

Most of the Hakkari were horrified at the idea, but the Atal'ai, a small extremist faction of the Hakkari,
agreed to do as Hakkar wished. Before the Atal'ai could complete the summoning, the Hakkari and other
jungle trolls rose up in open revolt. Even the Zandalar tribe joined the fight against Hakkar, whose avatar on
Azeroth was ultimately destroyed. The Atal'ai were driven from the jungles and hunted nearly to extinction.
Still, a small group of them escaped into the Swamp of Sorrows and built a great temple to their god: the
Temple of Atal'Hakkar.

The Hakkari, too, were slain or exiled for the evil deeds they had done in Hakkar's name. Bitter and
desperate, they joined the Atal'ai in the swamps and resolved to bring the bloodthirsty god into Azeroth.
The green Dragon Aspect, Ysera the Dreamer, soon learned what the Atal'ai and Hakkari were working
toward, and she smashed the temple beneath the marshes. To this day, the temple's ruins are guarded by
mighty green dragons. Nevertheless, trolls spoke of a prophecy that Hakkar would one day be reborn into
the world.

The remnants of the Gurubashi empire went their separate ways, claiming territories in the vast jungles of
Stranglethorn Vale. These scattered tribes began fighting one another, and at length the Darkspear tribe left
the continent altogether and settled on a remote desert island, where they remained until they joined the
Horde and fought in the Third War. Today the Darkspears live along the southeast coast of Durotar.

Jungle Troll Tribes

The Atal'ai

Where: Swamp of Sorrows (in the Temple of Atal'Hakkar) and Zul'Gurub

Category: Jungle trolls

Leader: Jammal'an the Prophet

Background: After the Sundering, the trolls of the Gurubashi empire were driven to desperate ends, and so
they enlisted the aid of the god Hakkar, also known as the Soulflayer. Hakkar brought the trolls great
power, but in return the bloodthirsty god required that souls be sacrificed to him.

His demands quickly escalated, and he grew impatient with his loyal priests, the Hakkari. He told them to
find a way to summon him physically into the world, so that he might directly drain the blood of his victims.
Most of the Hakkari were horrified at the idea, but the Atal'ai, a small extremist faction of the Hakkari,
decided to do as Hakkar wished.

Before the Atal'ai could complete the summoning, the other jungle trolls, including the Hakkari, rose up in
open revolt against the cruel god. Even the Zandalar tribe was drawn into the conflict, which finally ended
with the destruction of Hakkar’s avatar. Driven from the jungles, the Atal'ai were hunted nearly to
extinction. Only a small group of Atal'ai escaped into the Swamp of Sorrows, where they secretly built a
great temple to their god: the Temple of Atal'Hakkar.

The Atal'ai knew that they needed greater numbers to achieve their goal. Fortunately their unwavering
loyalty to Hakkar had pleased him greatly, and he taught them further dark magics, including necromancy.
With a number of swift and secret missions, the fanatical trolls retrieved the corpses of the Atal'ai who had

= 14 =
fallen in battle or been killed during their flight to the swamplands. Using what Hakkar had taught them, the
Atal'ai raised their slain brethren into undeath and put them to work.

The Hakkari, too, were killed or exiled for the evil deeds they had done in Hakkar's name, despite the fact
that they had fought the Atal'ai. In great bitterness and despair, the surviving Hakkari tracked the Atal'ai to
the Swamp of Sorrows and pledged to help the Atal'ai summon Hakkar into Azeroth. Pleased by the
Hakkari's obvious suffering, the Atal'ai welcomed their former brethren into the temple. Even so, Hakkar
had not forgotten that the Hakkari had betrayed him in opposing his first entry into Azeroth, and so the
hungry god would always regard the faithful Atal'ai with greater favor. Both groups bent all their efforts
toward bringing about Hakkar's entry into the physical world.

The green Dragon Aspect, Ysera the Dreamer, soon learned of the evil priests' plans and smashed the
temple beneath the marshes. To this day, the temple's ruins are guarded by mighty green dragons. What
much of Azeroth does not know, however, is that the dragons are actually guarding the wrong location. In
recent years the exiled Atal'ai have discovered that Hakkar's physical form can only be summoned within
the ancient capital of the Gurubashi empire, Zul'Gurub.

Jammal'an the Prophet, leader of the Atal'ai, told his people that if they succeeded in bringing Hakkar
physically into Azeroth, then Hakkar would grant the Atal'ai immortality. The Atal'ai and Hakkari lost no time
in dispatching a number of their most skilled priests to Zul'Gurub, where their efforts met with success at
last. Numerous spies have confirmed the presence of the dreaded Soulflayer in the heart of the ruins.

According to several reports, Hakkar has enthralled five high priests of the trolls' primal gods. Unable to
oppose his will, the priests are channeling the power of their gods into Hakkar. Only their deaths can sever
the connections that are vastly increasing Hakkar's might while draining the other gods of power.

Word of Hakkar's presence reached the Zandalar tribe in the South Seas, and they were horrified to
discover the enslavement of their kindred, the Zandalari high priests. King Rastakhan has therefore sent
emissaries from the island of Zandalar to the Eastern Kingdoms, where the trolls recruit champions from
Azeroth's many races in the hope that Hakkar will once again be defeated.

Bloodscalp Tribe

Where: Stranglethorn Vale (primarily in the northwest)

Category: Jungle trolls

Leader: Gan'zulah

Background: The Bloodscalps split off from the Gurubashi empire after the defeat of Hakkar the Soulflayer.
The various tribes claimed territories in the vast jungles of Stranglethorn Vale but quickly began fighting
one another.

The Bloodscalp tribe has since settled in the northwest of Stranglethorn. To this day the Bloodscalps fight
off all interlopers, including the nearby Skullsplitter tribe, in order to hold onto the land they have taken.
Bloodscalps have nothing but contempt for the Darkspear tribe, which is the only tribe of jungle trolls to
have joined the Horde.

Darkspear Tribe

= 15 =
Where: Durotar primarily, but also in many other places throughout the world

Category: Jungle trolls

Leader: Vol'jin

Background: The Darkspear tribe split off from the Gurubashi empire after the defeat of Hakkar the
Soulflayer. The various tribes claimed territories in the vast jungles of Stranglethorn Vale but quickly began
fighting one another. At length the Darkspear tribe, which was smaller than most of the other tribes, was
driven off the continent altogether and settled on a remote desert island.

Before the Third War broke out, the courageous orc Thrall escaped his enslavement and reassembled his
people into a new Horde. Rather than try to make a home in the Eastern Kingdoms, he decided to lead the
revitalized Horde over the sea to Kalimdor. Along the way, a violent storm drove the ships to seek shelter
in the cove of a nearby island. The elderly leader of the Darkspear trolls, Sen'jin, greeted the orc
newcomers.

Soon a group of murlocs captured Sen'jin, Thrall, and several other orcs and trolls. Thrall fought his way out
of his prison cell and freed a number of other captives, but despite his best efforts, a murloc sorcerer
succeeded in sacrificing Sen'jin to a mysterious sea witch. Mortally wounded, Sen'jin revealed that he had
seen a vision in which Thrall would lead the Darkspears from the island.

The sea witch was furious at the slaughter of her minions and the defilement of her sanctuary. She
summoned powerful waves to batter the island. Regardless, Thrall and his forces managed to defeat
further murloc attackers, repair the damaged fleet, and retrieve a number of troll survivors.

In Sen’jin's honor, Thrall offered the Darkspears a place in the Horde and sanctuary in the kingdom he
planned to establish in Kalimdor. Vol’jin, the son of Sen’jin, took control of the Darkspear tribe and
accepted Thrall's offer. After the orcs departed, a large group of Darkspears also sailed for Kalimdor. Vol'jin
and the rest of the tribe weathered the sea witch's anger, gathered all the supplies they could take with
them, and joined their brethren roughly a year later in the new orc nation, Durotar. They made a home for
themselves on the Echo Isles, just off the southeastern coast.

The Darkspears were not to know peace for long. After the Third War, Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore
led a large fleet of battleships against Thrall's forces on Durotar. Under heavy attack, the trolls were forced
to evacuate to the mainland of Durotar, but the Horde managed to defeat the misguided admiral.

Much relieved, the Darkspear trolls began returning to the Echo Isles, only to be betrayed by one of their
own. A witch doctor named Zalazane used dark magic to rob several other trolls of their free will, forcing
them to obey him. As his influence spread, his army grew while the number of free Darkspears dwindled.
Fearing that all of his people would fall to Zalazane's insidious sorcery, Vol'jin ordered the tribe to abandon
the Echo Isles.

Thus, the free Darkspear trolls left the islands and created the fishing village of Sen’jin on the Durotar coast,
just northwest of the Echo Isles. Today the Darkspears and their allies frequently strike at Zalazane’s
holdings on the Echo Isles, determined to win back the trolls' first home on Kalimdor. Meanwhile, Zalazane
has not given up in his efforts to enslave his entire tribe, and so he continues to send his trolls to the
mainland in order to drag further Darkspears under his sway.

= 16 =
As the only tribe of trolls in the Horde, the Darkspears are considered enemies by all other trolls except the
Revantusk. The Darkspears return the sentiment and bear a special hatred for other jungle trolls, for the
Darkspears have not forgotten being driven out of Stranglethorn Vale.

Gurubashi Tribe

Where: Stranglethorn (primarily in Zul'Gurub)

Category: Jungle trolls

Leader: Bloodlord Mandokir

Background: Established long before the Great Sundering, the Gurubashi empire took its name from the
strongest tribe of jungle trolls at the time. The jungle trolls ruled the southern jungles of ancient Kalimdor
until the Burning Legion's first invasion, which wrought havoc and devastation throughout the continent
and culminated in the Great Sundering.

The long centuries following the Sundering were difficult ones for the troll race. The jungle trolls, driven to
desperate ends, enlisted the aid of the god Hakkar, also known as the Soulflayer. Hakkar brought the trolls
great power, but in return the bloodthirsty god required that souls be sacrificed to him.

His demands quickly escalated, and he grew impatient with his loyal priests, the Hakkari. He told them to
find a way to summon him physically into the world, so that he might directly drain the blood of his victims.
Most of the Hakkari were horrified at the idea, but the Atal'ai, a small extremist faction of the Hakkari,
decided to do as Hakkar wished.

Before the Atal'ai could complete the summoning, the other jungle trolls, including the Hakkari, rose up in
open revolt against the cruel god. Even the Zandalar tribe was drawn into the conflict, which finally ended
with the destruction of Hakkar’s avatar. Driven from the jungles, the Atal'ai were hunted nearly to
extinction. Yet a small group of Atal'ai escaped into the Swamp of Sorrows, where they secretly built a
great temple to their god: the Temple of Atal'Hakkar. The Hakkari, too, were killed or exiled for the evil
deeds they had done in Hakkar's name, despite the fact that they had fought the Atal'ai. In great bitterness
and despair, the surviving Hakkari tracked the Atal'ai to the Swamp of Sorrows and pledged to help the
Atal'ai summon Hakkar into Azeroth. Pleased by the Hakkari's obvious suffering, the Atal'ai welcomed their
former brethren into the temple.

In recent years the exiled Atal'ai have discovered that Hakkar's physical form can only be summoned
within the ancient capital of the Gurubashi empire, Zul'Gurub. Jammal'an the Prophet, leader of the Atal'ai,
told his people that if they succeeded in bringing Hakkar physically into Azeroth, then Hakkar would grant
the Atal'ai immortality. The Atal'ai and Hakkari lost no time in dispatching a number of their most skilled
priests to Zul'Gurub, where their efforts met with success at last. Numerous spies have confirmed the
presence of the dreaded Soulflayer in the heart of the ruins. Word of his reappearance reached the
Gurubashi tribe, which had lost much of its power and prestige since Hakkar's avatar on Azeroth was
destroyed. The Gurubashi eagerly returned to the capital to prove themselves to Hakkar and perhaps
recapture their former glory.

According to several reports, Hakkar has enthralled five high priests of the trolls' primal gods. Unable to
oppose his will, the priests are channeling the power of their gods into Hakkar. Only their deaths can sever
the connections that are vastly increasing Hakkar's might while draining the other gods of power.

= 17 =
Word of Hakkar's presence reached the Zandalar tribe in the South Seas, and they were horrified to
discover the enslavement of their kindred, the Zandalari high priests. King Rastakhan has therefore sent
emissaries from the island of Zandalar to the Eastern Kingdoms, where the trolls recruit champions from
Azeroth's many races in the hope that Hakkar will once again be defeated.

The Gurubashi tribe is convinced that the Soulflayer will restore the Gurubashi empire in return for the
tribe's loyal service. These misguided trolls therefore guard Hakkar and his minions with reckless fervor.

The Hakkari

Where: Swamp of Sorrows (in the Temple of Atal'Hakkar) and Zul'Gurub

Category: Jungle trolls

Leader: Jin'do the Hexxer

Background: The long centuries following the Great Sundering were difficult ones for the troll race. The
jungle trolls, driven to desperate ends, enlisted the aid of the god Hakkar, also known as the Soulflayer.
Hakkar brought the trolls great power, but in return the bloodthirsty god required that souls be sacrificed
to him.

His demands quickly escalated, and he grew impatient with his loyal priests, the Hakkari. He told them to
find a way to summon him physically into the world, so that he might directly drain the blood of his victims.
Most of the Hakkari were horrified at the idea, but the Atal'ai, a small extremist faction of the Hakkari,
decided to do as Hakkar wished.

Before the Atal'ai could complete the summoning, the other jungle trolls, including the Hakkari, rose up in
open revolt against the cruel god. Even the Zandalar tribe was drawn into the conflict, which finally ended
with the destruction of Hakkar’s avatar. Driven from the jungles, the Atal'ai were hunted nearly to
extinction. Yet a small group of Atal'ai escaped into the Swamp of Sorrows, where they secretly built a
great temple to their god: the Temple of Atal'Hakkar.

The Hakkari, too, were killed or exiled for the evil deeds they had done in Hakkar's name, despite the fact
that they had fought the Atal'ai. In great bitterness and despair, the surviving Hakkari tracked the Atal'ai to
the Swamp of Sorrows and pledged to help the Atal'ai summon Hakkar into Azeroth. Pleased by the
Hakkari's obvious suffering, the Atal'ai welcomed their former brethren into the temple. Even so, Hakkar
had not forgotten that the Hakkari had betrayed him in opposing his first entry into Azeroth, and so the
hungry god would always regard the faithful Atal'ai with greater favor. Both groups bent all their efforts
toward bringing about Hakkar's entry into the physical world.

The green Dragon Aspect, Ysera the Dreamer, soon learned of the evil priests' plans and smashed the
temple beneath the marshes. To this day, the temple's ruins are guarded by mighty green dragons. What
much of Azeroth does not know, however, is that the dragons are actually guarding the wrong location. In
recent years the exiled Atal'ai have discovered that Hakkar's physical form can only be summoned within
the ancient capital of the Gurubashi empire, Zul'Gurub.

Jammal'an the Prophet, leader of the Atal'ai, told his people that if they succeeded in bringing Hakkar
physically into Azeroth, then Hakkar would grant the Atal'ai immortality. The Atal'ai and Hakkari lost no time
in dispatching a number of their most skilled priests to Zul'Gurub, where their efforts met with success at
last. Numerous spies have confirmed the presence of the dreaded Soulflayer in the heart of the ruins.

= 18 =
According to several reports, Hakkar has enthralled five high priests of the trolls' primal gods. Unable to
oppose his will, the priests are channeling the power of their gods into Hakkar. Only their deaths can sever
the connections that are vastly increasing Hakkar's might while draining the other gods of power.

Word of Hakkar's presence reached the Zandalar tribe in the South Seas, who were even more horrified to
discover the enslavement of their kindred, the Zandalari high priests. King Rastakhan has therefore sent
emissaries from the island of Zandalar to the Eastern Kingdoms, where the trolls recruit champions from
Azeroth's many races in the hope that Hakkar will once again be defeated.

Shatterspear Tribe

Where: Darkshore (one village in the northeast)

Category: Jungle trolls

Leader: Unknown

Background: The Shatterspear tribe split off from the Gurubashi empire after the defeat of Hakkar the
Soulflayer. The various tribes claimed territories in the vast jungles of Stranglethorn Vale but quickly began
fighting one another.

The Shatterspear tribe has since settled at the northeast edge of Darkshore, a continent away from
Stranglethorn. Highly reclusive and apparently uninterested in claiming further territory, the Shatterspear
trolls live in a small village that is almost entirely surrounded by jagged hills. Visiting the secluded village is a
difficult endeavor, and a number of adventurers have fallen to their deaths in attempting to scale the steep
hills around the Shatterspears' home.

The trolls' purpose in living here is unknown at this point in time. Certainly it is a strange location for any
troll to choose to live: surrounded by mountains and, beyond that, the trolls' ancient enemies: night elves.

Skullsplitter Tribe

Where: Stranglethorn Vale (primarily in the center)

Category: Jungle trolls

Leader: Ana'thek the Cruel

Background: The Skullsplitter tribe split off from the Gurubashi empire after the defeat of Hakkar the
Soulflayer. The various tribes claimed territories in the vast jungles of Stranglethorn Vale but quickly began
fighting one another.

The Skullsplitter tribe has since settled in the center of Stranglethorn. To this day the Skullsplitters fight off
all interlopers, including the nearby Bloodscalp tribe, in order to hold onto the land they have taken.
Skullsplitters have nothing but contempt for the Darkspear tribe, which is the only tribe of jungle trolls to
have joined the Horde.

Ice Trolls

= 19 =
Also known as: Frost Trolls

Historical capital: Gundrak

Known tribes: Drakkari, Frostmane, Winterax

Description: The skin of ice trolls can range from white to blue in color. A few green-skinned ice trolls have
also been observed, but they are very rare, for such cases are matters of pigmentation alone (not plant
growth, as with the forest trolls). Ice trolls typically have thick manes of hair.

Ice trolls are particularly savage and cruel, even by troll standards, but these unpleasant traits are not the
product of the trolls' snowy territories. Rather, several troll tribes were driven into the far north long ago as
a direct result of their behavior, and over time they developed into ice trolls.

History: Like other trolls, ice trolls are descended from the Zandalar tribe, but broke off to form several
small tribes of their own. These new tribes proved too bloodthirsty for other races to tolerate. Driven out of
civilized lands, the trolls were forced to settle in the far north of ancient Kalimdor, in the region that later
become the continent of Northrend. Long before the Great Sundering, these ice trolls founded a small
nation known as Zul'Drak, which never achieved the size or prosperity of the two southern empires.

For the most part, ice trolls have had little to do with the so-called civilized world; many of them still dwell
in Northrend. Only recently have ice trolls been sighted in significant numbers in the Eastern Kingdoms,
where the Frostmane tribe is launching increasingly frequent and aggressive attacks.

Ice Troll Tribes

Drakkari Tribe

Where: Northrend (primarily in Zul'Drak)

Category: Ice trolls

Leader: Unknown

Background: The Drakkari tribe is one of a few small tribes that were driven out of civilized lands long ago
for their extremely violent and cruel behavior. These barbarous trolls settled far in the north of ancient
Kalimdor, adapted to their snowy environment, and formed the nation of Zul'Drak. After the Sundering, the
Drakkari tribe continued to live in what had become the bitterly cold continent of Northrend. To this day,
the ruins of the Drakkari civilization are scattered throughout the eastern side of Northrend.

Like Zandalari trolls, the Drakkari average eight feet in height: significantly larger than all other documented
trolls. There the resemblance ends. Unlike the peaceful Zandalar tribe, Drakkari trolls are a ruthless and
savage people who delight in battle and have no interest in the pursuit of knowledge. Hunting is also a
popular pastime for Drakkari trolls because raw meat is the primary staple of their diet.

Regardless of its combat skills, the Drakkari tribe respects the might of the Lich King and does its best to
avoid the growing forces of the Scourge. Even so, the Lich King has raised a number of ice trolls into
undeath and forced them to serve him. The Scourge has also recently taken possession of Drak'Tharon
Keep, an ancient Drakkari citadel. War between the Scourge and the Drakkari may be inevitable, and the
outcome would surely be disastrous for the trolls.
= 20 =
 Frostmane Tribe

Where: Dun Morogh

Category: Ice trolls

Leader: Great Father Arctikus

Background: The Frostmane tribe was once part of the nation of Zul'Drak. After the Sundering, the Drakkari
tribe continued to live in what had become the bitterly cold continent of Northrend. The Frostmane and
Winterax tribes, however, later settled in the Eastern Kingdoms. Due to the ice trolls' unrelenting hostility
toward outsiders, historians have yet to learn how these two tribes were separated from the Drakkari and
came to live so far from the ancient site of Zul'Drak.

Like the Winterax trolls, Frostmanes do not share the unusually large size of their Drakkari brethren. Even
so, the Frostmane trolls have been launching increasingly frequent and aggressive attacks against the
dwarves living in Dun Morogh. The dwarves currently consider the Frostmane tribe little more than a
nuisance, and have not made a concerted effort to vanquish them.

Winterax Tribe

Where: Unknown

Category: Ice trolls

Leader: Korrak the Bloodrager

Background: The Winterax tribe was once part of the nation of Zul'Drak. After the Sundering, the Drakkari
tribe continued to live in what had become the bitterly cold continent of Northrend. The Winterax and
Frostmane tribes, however, later settled in the Eastern Kingdoms. Due to the ice trolls' unrelenting hostility
toward outsiders, historians have yet to learn how these two tribes were separated from the Drakkari and
came to live so far from the ancient site of Zul'Drak.

Like the Frostmane trolls, Winterax do not share the unusually large size of their Drakkari brethren. Even so,
up until recently the Winterax trolls aggressively defended their territory in Alterac Valley from a number of
foes--most notably the dwarves of the Stormpike Guard and the orcs who once belonged to the Frostwolf
clan.

Then one day Korrak and his people simply disappeared, along with most of their belongings and supplies.
The mystified orcs and dwarves concluded that the trolls had at last given up their home, which, after all,
had devolved into little more than a bloody battlefield, and left in search of greener pastures.

Sand Trolls

Historical capital: Zul'Farrak

Known tribe: Sandfury

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Description: The sand trolls' skin is coarse and cracked, and its color tends to be brown or gold. Sand trolls
also have thinner manes of hair than their brethren. Sand trolls mostly keep to themselves and attack all
outsiders.

History: The chaos of the Great Sundering isolated one of the tribes that had been living in the fringes of
the Gurubashi empire. The relentless desert sun of Tanaris beat down on the trolls, who gradually adapted
to their harsh new environment.

The sand trolls have never formed an empire. In fact, they have gradually been forced to surrender much
of their lands in Tanaris, though they are defending their current territory with great tenacity.

Sand Troll Tribes

Sandfury Tribe

Where: Tanaris (primarily in Zul'Farrak)

Category: Sand trolls

Leader: Chief Ukorz Sandscalp

Background: Several millennia before the War of the Ancients, the Sandfury tribe was part of the Gurubashi
empire. The Great Sundering shattered the jungle trolls' territory and left the Sandfury tribe stranded in the
middle of what swiftly became the desert of Tanaris.

Eventually the trolls adapted to their harsh new environment, and today they bear only a rough
resemblance to the jungle trolls from whom they are descended. Since the Sundering, the sand trolls have
been forced to yield much of Tanaris to outsiders, and so the trolls fiercely defend what remains of their
lands.

Nevertheless, new battles break out daily between the sand trolls and a wide assortment of interlopers.
Much of the motivation behind this constant strife is that the two halves of a powerful sword known as
Sul'thraze the Lasher are rumored to be somewhere inside Zul'Farrak. In addition, the sand trolls worship a
massive hydra they call Gahz'rilla. Illustrations and descriptions of the beast have fired the imagination of
adventurers for generations.

Other Trolls

Dark Trolls

Historical capital: None

Known tribe: None

Description: According to scattered reports, dark trolls have gray to black skin and lead a mostly
subterranean existence. Alleged sightings of dark trolls usually involve hulking and brutish creatures who
attack with little tactical planning or coordinated effort. Thus, it has been theorized that dark trolls are much
less intelligent than other trolls.

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Background: There is no evidence that the dark trolls have ever formed a civilization or nation. Indeed,
their estimated numbers are so few that their existence as a distinct category of troll is considered highly
questionable. In consequence, it seems likely that if the dark trolls do exist, they are derived from a single
troll tribe.

Zanzil the Outcast and His Followers

Where: Stranglethorn Vale (primarily in the southeast)

Category: Various, with a majority of jungle trolls

Leader: Zanzil the Outcast

Description: Zanzil and the witch doctors who follow him have unscrupulously poisoned creatures of
many different races, causing the affected individuals to die and rise from the grave as Zanzil's undead
minions. Trolls from several different tribes are only one small part of Zanzil's private undead army.

History: Zanzil was exiled from the Skullsplitter tribe for using his necromantic poisons on several of his
unsuspecting fellow trolls, but his exile has not been the punishment that his kindred had hoped. Indeed,
since that time, several witch doctors have joined Zanzil. With their assistance, he has built up an undead
army that is loyal to him alone.

Zandalar Tribe

Where: South Seas (primarily the island of Zandalar) and a few in Stranglethorn Vale

Category: Not applicable

Leader: King Rastakhan

History: The earliest known trolls belonged to the Zandalar tribe, from which all other trolls are descended.
On the whole, the Zandalari valued knowledge above all else, but a significant portion of the tribe
hungered for conquest instead. These disaffected trolls eventually departed to form tribes of their own. As
time went on, what remained of the Zandalar tribe came to be regarded as an overarching priest caste for
all trolls. The Zandalari preserved troll history, and they worked to further the goals of troll society as a
whole.

Greatly respected by all other trolls, the Zandalari nevertheless remained apart from the day-to-day
politics of their people. The Zandalari average eight feet in height: significantly larger than all other
documented trolls except the savage Drakkari. Despite the Zandalar trolls' greater size and knowledge,
however, they have no sovereignty over other tribes, nor do the Zandalari seek such authority.

After the Great Sundering, these wise trolls saw no need to leave what had become the island of Zandalar.
Rebuilding their damaged settlements, the trolls continued their studies until the Gurubashi empire began
showing a dramatic increase in power and territory. The jungle trolls attributed their victories to the
influence of the god Hakkar.

At first the Zandalar tribe was glad for its jungle brethren. When the Gurubashi empire's territory kept
expanding, the Zandalari's pleased surprise turned to disquiet. They consulted myths and delved into
ancient historical accounts. What the Zandalari learned horrified them.
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Hakkar was also known as the Soulflayer, a name he had richly earned. He filled his adherents with
murderous rage and reveled in their dark emotions. The carnage that invariably followed Hakkar suited him
perfectly, for having consumed blood, he had developed a taste for it. Worse, he became more powerful
as he consumed the blood shed in his name, and his tie to the world that was feeding him grew stronger.

Every Zandalari who could fight immediately set out for Stranglethorn Vale and brought the terrible tidings
to the jungle trolls. The Gurubashi empire was already in a state of civil unrest due to the numerous
sacrifices that Hakkar was demanding. With the Zandalar tribe's news, the jungle trolls banded together
with the Zandalar tribe and rose up in open revolt against the bloodthirsty Soulflayer.

Eventually the avatar of Hakkar was destroyed, and Hakkar's priests, the Atal'ai and Hakkari, were hunted
nearly to extinction. Yet survivors from both groups managed to escape into the Swamp of Sorrows,
where they built the Temple of Atal'Hakkar. Working together, the Atal'ai and Hakkari prepared to summon
Hakkar himself into Azeroth, so that he could feed on all living things.

The green Dragon Aspect, Ysera the Dreamer, soon learned of the evil priests' plans and smashed the
temple beneath the marshes. To this day, the temple's ruins are guarded by mighty green dragons. What
much of Azeroth does not know is that the dragons are actually guarding the wrong location. In recent
years the exiled Atal'ai have discovered that Hakkar's physical form can only be summoned within the
ancient capital of the Gurubashi empire, Zul'Gurub. The Atal'ai and Hakkari lost no time in dispatching a
number of their most skilled priests to Zul'Gurub, where their efforts met with success at last. Numerous
spies have confirmed the presence of the dreaded Soulflayer in the heart of the ruins.

Hakkar has also enthralled five high priests of the trolls' primal gods. Unable to oppose his will, the priests
are channeling the power of their gods into Hakkar. Only their deaths can sever the connections that are
vastly increasing Hakkar's might while draining the other gods of power.

Word of Hakkar's presence reached the Zandalar tribe in the South Seas, who were even more horrified to
discover the enslavement of their kindred, the Zandalari high priests. King Rastakhan has therefore sent
emissaries to Yojamba Isle, off the northwest coast of Stranglethorn Vale. There the trolls recruit
champions from Azeroth's many races in the hope that Hakkar can be defeated.

Once part of ancient Kalimdor, Zandalar is the birthplace of troll civilization, and, as such, strictly neutral
territory for trolls. When the first Well of Eternity imploded, a hole was punched through Kalimdor. Deep
fissures appeared in the continent, and the Zandalari hastily cast strong protective spells to protective their
home from destruction. Even so, they could not shield the rest of the continent from widespread
upheaval. The ground immediately beyond the Zandalari's shield was drawn underwater when Kalimdor
broke into separate landmasses. When at last the Sundering was over, the Zandalari saw that their home
had become an island.

Zuldazar, the capital city of Zandalar, is built in a series of giant ziggurats that look like a towering mountain
from a distance. Different troll tribes distrust one another and have often fought one another, but every six
years, envoys from all the troll tribes arrive in Zuldazar in order to share information and discuss matters
that may affect the entire troll race.

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