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High Overlord Varok Saurfang[3] was a legendary Horde warrior who is a veteran of the First, Second, and Third Wars. He was also a part of the Blackrock Clan, and was put second-in charge during the wars. He served as Supreme Commander of the combined war effort against Ahn'Qiraj in Kalimdor[4] and led the Kor'kron against the Scourge in Northrend. Saurfang was the leader of the Orcs of Durotar until he's killed by Sylvanas Windrunner during a Mak'gora in the front gates of Orgrimmar . This marks the end of the now known as Fourth War .

Background[]

Varok Saurfang has served with the Horde as part of the Blackrock Clan ever since he drank the blood of Mannoroth alongside Grom Hellscream. Varok led forces in the sacking of Shattrath, Stormwind, and everything between, never losing in battle until the Horde was routed at the end of the Second War.

When Orgrim Doomhammer seized control of the Horde in the First War, he chose Varok Saurfang as his second-in-command after witnessing Varok's efficient and brutal tactics on the field. After the demonic bloodlust had been lifted from the orcs due to Grom Hellscream's sacrifice, Varok helped dozens of veterans come to grips with their previous atrocities, ultimately saving the lives of many great Horde soldiers.[5]

Varok went on to become a famed veteran of the First, Second, and Third Wars.

Although the Blood Curse drove him to murder many innocents, Varok refuses to use that as an excuse: like many others, he made the decision to drink freely. Drinking the blood and his actions under the blood curse haunt him, and to this day he deeply regrets both events. Although orcs are said to be fond of pork, the sound of swine being killed when they are ready for slaughter remind him of the death screams of the draenei children, and older veterans like Varok are often troubled by the memory. It disturbed Varok so deeply that he has refused to eat pork ever since. He will not shy away from war, or hesitate to defend his people and the Horde. However, he refuses to start a war, and if it is within his power, he will prevent a warmongering spirit from doing so. Whether through actions or by words, he will stop them anyway he can... no matter what.

His brother Broxigar traveled back in time to the War of the Ancients and died in glorious battle against the Burning Legion. Varok's mate apparently died around the time the Dark Portal opened and was cremated in Nagrand.[6] Their son Dranosh lived in Nagrand until Wrath of the Lich King.

In World of Warcraft[]

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Saurfang was initially stationed in Orgrimmar's Valley of Strength, where he enforced the rule of Warchief Thrall. He was the one who announced the death of Nefarian when his head was turned in.

The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj[]

During the Second War of the Shifting Sands, Saurfang travelled to the front lines in Silithus. He acted as the Supreme Commander of the Might of Kalimdor in the war against the silithid and their qiraji masters. The Might of Kalimdor was a success against C'Thun.

Wrath of the Lich King[]

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Saurfang is stationed in Warsong Hold as advisor to Garrosh Hellscream. He commands the Kor'kron Guard in Northrend and remains wary of the resurfacing bloodlust of the orcs, due to its employment in Hellscream's savage but successful tactics.

During the battle for Angrathar the Wrathgate, the main entrance to Icecrown, Dranosh Saurfang fell to the Lich King shortly before the treachery of Grand Apothecary Putress. Players bring Dranosh's shattered armor back to his father at the behest of Alexstrasza.

After the The Battle For The Undercity, Varok reminds Thrall, who is lamenting the broken peace between the Alliance and the Horde, of his duty to lead their people.

Icecrown Citadel[]

High Overlord Saurfang commands the gunship Orgrim's Hammer during the Gunship Battle in Icecrown Citadel.[7]

Once the undead form of his son (now called the Deathbringer) is defeated, Varok claims his body. He promises to give his son a proper burial in Nagrand, next to the pyres of his mother and ancestors.

In Cataclysm[]

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In Cataclysm, Varok Saurfang, tired of Garrosh, remains in Warsong Hold as part of the Horde's Northrend skeleton crew and as the leader of the Warsong Offensive and the Horde Expedition.[8]

In Mists of Pandaria[]

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When Thrall and Varok arrived in Orgrimmar, they were stopped by General Nazgrim. The two of them went to the lair below the city where they fought against the mantid, during the fight, Varok was badly injured, but he survived the siege.

In Warlords of Draenor[]

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High Overlord Varok Saurfang makes an appearance in Warlords of Dreanor.

Upon the completion of the Horde Garrison (Frostwall), the High Overlord visits on occasion in order to direct the Commander of Horde Forces on Draenor, to various dungeons in order to vanquish potential threats and obtain plunder in the form of resources for the garrison.

In Legion[]

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High Overlord Varok Saurfang can be found during the Legion Invasions defending the Northern Barrens.

After the invasion of the Broken Shore, Saurfang is elected leader of the orcs of Durotar and can be found in Grommash Hold.

In A Good War[]

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Saurfang continues to serve under Sylvanas, and one of his most important roles is the security of Orgrimmar. When Sylvanas meets with him to discuss strategy about also securing the future of the Horde by attacking the Alliance, he is hesitant at first, but becomes convinced by her logic. To that end, Sylvanas leaves him in charge of devising a plan that will allow the Horde to attack Teldrassil in order to drive a wedge between the Alliance nations.

Saurfang stations agents throughout Ashenvale, ready to strike at the night elven outposts when he gives the word. As they wait, he uncovers a ring of spies within Orgrimmar working for the Alliance. Rather than hunt them down, he decides to feed them false information instead, leading them to believe that not only is he disgusted and enraged with Sylvanas and Nathanos Blightcaller, but that the Warchief has ordered his troops to Silithus to safeguard the azerite.

The Alliance takes the bait, sending their fleet, and Saurfang leads the Horde to a victorious march through Ashenvale, only held up by the appearance of Malfurion Stormrage. In a final bid for victory, Sylvanas sends both he and Nathanos with a contingent of troops through Felwood in order to strike at Darkshore from the north. The tactic proves successful, and the Horde emerge the victors.

Sylvanas, in the final hours of the fighting, stands one-on-one against Malfurion. Saurfang comes upon them and, acting without thinking, strikes down Malfurion with a blow from behind. Sylvanas leaves him to behead the archdruid, but Saurfang hesitates, for he struck without honor. It is then that Tyrande Whisperwind arrives, incapacitating him to rescue her love.

Saurfang returns to Sylvanas without Malfurion's head, and in response to the archdruid's escape, she burns down Teldrassil rather than capture it. This leads Saurfang to denounce her actions as dishonorable.

In Battle for Azeroth[]

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The events of A Good War within Ashenvale and beyond play out in the War of the Thorns. After, Saurfang is seen atop the walls surrounding the ruins of Lordaeron, questioning his duty to his Warchief and considering giving himself over to the Alliance. Only the conversation he has with a troll stops him, reminding him of his duty to the Horde itself and not Sylvanas, per se. In the moment the Alliance open fire, he rushes back into the city to help defend it.

It is here that Anduin Wrynn retaliates for the attack on Teldrassil by assaulting the Undercity, and Saurfang is once again at the front lines. However, his faith in the Horde is further broken when Sylvanas uses her blight on Alliance and Horde soldiers, raising both into undeath. Saurfang remains dutiful in his fight against the Alliance, eventually captured to be thrown into The Stockade.

Even when the Horde infiltrate the prison, Saurfang refuses to escape with them, choosing to remain behind.

Becoming disgusted with Sylvanas' increasingly cruel and brutal reign, Saurfang turned to heroes both within the Horde and the Alliance to end her rule, culminating in a challenge of mak'gora at the gates of Orgrimmar, in which he was slain by Sylvanas' dark magic.[9]

Trivia[]

Abilities[]

  • Ability warrior charge  [Charge]ω ϖ—Charges an enemy, knocking it back, and inflicting normal damage plus 150.
  • Ability warrior cleave  [Cleave]ω ϖ—Inflicts weapon damage plus 50 to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 10 targets.
  • Ability warrior savageblow  [Mortal Strike]ω ϖ—Inflicts 500% weapon damage and leaves the target wounded, reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 50% for 5 seconds.
  • Trade engineering  [Saurfang's Rage]ω ϖ—Saurfang's rage comes in the form of a mighty round-house kick, followed by a sweeping strike that deals 8,000 to 12,000 damage.
  • Spell nature bloodlust  [Saurfang's Rage]ω ϖ—Increases melee, ranged, and spell casting speed by 35% for all party members. Lasts 20 seconds.
  • Ability devour  [Terrifying Roar]ω ϖ—Causes nearby enemies to flee in fear for 5 seconds.
  • Ability whirlwind  [Whirlwind]ω ϖ—Attacks nearby enemies in a whirlwind of steel that lasts 15 seconds and inflicts normal damage plus 100.

Quotes[]

  • "I am he who watches they. I am the fist of retribution. That which does quell the recalcitrant. Dare you defy the Warchief? Dare you face my merciless judgement?"
  • "I am Saurfang. Brother of Broxigar. You know me to be the Supreme Commander of the Might of Kalimdor. An orc - a true orc warrior - wishes for one thing: To die in the glory of battle against a hated enemy. Some of you have fought in battles. Peace has been with us for many years. Many years we sat idle but many years we battled. In those years - where strife the land and Legion and Scourge sacked our homes, killed our families - these insects dwelled beneath us. Beneath our homes - waiting. Waiting to crush the life from our little ones. To slay all in their path. This they do for their god. And for our gods? We defend. We stand. We show that as one. United. We destroy. Their god will fall. To die today, on this field of battle, is to die an orcish death. To die today is to die for our little ones. Our old ones. Our… loved ones. Would any of you deny yourselves such a death? Such an honor?"
- addressing the Might of Kalimdor during the Second War of the Shifting Sands

Dialogue with Garrosh in Warsong Hold[]

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Saurfang scolds Garrosh Hellscream's impatience and lust for killing, reminding him of their race's history during a strategy conference in Warsong Hold:

High Overlord Saurfang says: We are surrounded ... Our enemies press in from all sides, young Hellscream. The Scourge descends like locusts from the north. The Alliance holds the only secure shipping lane in this region and even that is at risk of being lost to those dreaded mists. Our only viable port for resupply is held by the Forsaken on the other side of this blasted continent! Anything our zeppelins cannot haul must be brought in by ship and travel the length of Northrend to reach us.
Garrosh Hellscream grunts.
Garrosh Hellscream says: Shipping lanes ... supplies ... You bore me to death! We need nothing more than the warrior spirit of the Horde, Saurfang! Now that we are firmly entrenched in this frozen wasteland, nothing shall stop us!
High Overlord Saurfang says: Siege engines, ammunition, heavy armor ... How do you propose to shatter the walls of Icecrown without those?
Garrosh Hellscream says: Propose? I will show you what I propose!
Garrosh crushes the figures and flag indicating Valiance Keep on the map.
Garrosh Hellscream says: There... Now we now have a shipping lane. And just for good measure...
Garrosh crushes the figures and flag indicating Valgarde and Westguard Keep.
High Overlord Saurfang says: So the prodigal son has spoken! Your father's blood runs strong in you, Hellscream. Impatient as always... Impatient and reckless. You rush headlong into all-out war without a thought of the consequences.
Garrosh Hellscream says: Do not speak to me of consequences, old one.
High Overlord Saurfang says: I drank of the same blood your father did, Garrosh. Mannoroth's cursed venom pumped through my veins as well. I drove my weapons into the bodies and minds of my enemies. And while Grom died a glorious death - freeing us all from the blood curse - he could not wipe away the terrible memory of our past. His act could not erase the horrors we committed.
High Overlord Saurfang says: The winter after the curse was lifted, hundreds of veteran orcs like me were lost to despair. Our minds were finally free, yes... Free to relive all of the unthinkable acts that we had performed under the Legion's influence.
High Overlord Saurfang nods.
High Overlord Saurfang says: I think it was the sounds of the draenei children that unnerved most of them... You never forget... Have you ever been to Jaggedswine Farm? When the swine are of age for the slaughter... It's that sound. The sound of the swine being killed... It resonates the loudest. Those are hard times for us older veterans.
Garrosh Hellscream says: But surely you cannot think that those children were born into innocence? They would have grown up and taken arms against us!
High Overlord Saurfang shakes his head.
High Overlord Saurfang says: I am not speaking solely of the children of our enemies...
High Overlord Saurfang says: I won't let you take us down that dark path again, young Hellscream. I'll kill you myself before that day comes...
Garrosh Hellscream says: How have you managed to survive for so long, Saurfang? Not fallen victim to your own memories?
High Overlord Saurfang says: I don't eat pork...
High Overlord Saurfang spits.

Dialogue during the Gunship Battle[]

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Saurfang commands Orgrim's Hammer in a battle against The Skybreaker:

High Overlord Saurfang yells: Rise up, sons and daughters of the Horde! Today we battle a hated enemy of the Horde! LOK'TAR OGAR!
High Overlord Saurfang yells: Kor'kron! Take us out!
High Overlord Saurfang yells: What is that? Something approaching in the distance!
High Overlord Saurfang yells: ALLIANCE GUNSHIP! All hands on deck!
High Overlord Saurfang yells: You answer to Saurfang now!
Muradin Bronzebeard yells: Move your jalopy or we'll blow it out of the sky, orc! The Horde's got no business here!
High Overlord Saurfang yells: You will know our business soon! KOR'KRON! ANNIHILATE THEM!

Dialogue during the Deathbringer Saurfang Battle[]

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Saurfang confronts his son, Deathbringer Saurfang, now turned into a Death Knight.

Intro
High Overlord Saurfang yells: Kor'kron, move out! Champions, watch your backs. The Scourge have been...
Deathbringer Saurfang yells: Join me, father. Join me and we will crush this world in the name of the Scourge -- for the glory of the Lich King!
High Overlord Saurfang says: My boy died at the Wrath Gate. I am here only to collect his body.
Deathbringer Saurfang yells: Stubborn and old. What chance do you have? I am stronger, and more powerful than you ever were.
High Overlord Saurfang says: We named him Dranosh. It means "Heart of Draenor" in orcish. I would not let the warlocks take him. My boy would be safe, hidden away by the elders of Garadar.
High Overlord Saurfang says: I made a promise to his mother before she died; that I would cross the Dark Portal alone - whether I lived or died, my son would be safe. Untainted...
High Overlord Saurfang says: Today, I fulfill that promise.
High Overlord Saurfang charges!
Deathbringer Saurfang yells: Pathetic old orc. Come then heroes. Come and face the might of the Scourge!
Outro
High Overlord Saurfang coughs.
High Overlord Saurfang weeps over the corpse of his son.
High Overlord Saurfang says: You will have a proper ceremony in Nagrand next to the pyres of your mother and ancestors.
High Overlord Saurfang says: Honor, young heroes... no matter how dire the battle... Never forsake it!

Notes[]

  • Sometime after the Ahn'Qiraj gate events, Saurfang became a pop icon to Horde players, who affectionately create "facts" about him in the style of other pop culture icons such as Vin Diesel and Chuck Norris.
  • At one point, he was able to be mind-controlled by Alliance players. Due to a bug, they could then use his Execute skill with a full rage bar, leading to some of the most magnificent crit videos ever seen in WoW.

Media[]

Images[]

Videos[]

Patch changes[]

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  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Hotfix (2009-12-16): "Saurfang will no longer gain stacks of Battlefury from totems. Additionally, the duration of Battlefury has also been reduced."

References[]

  1. ^ World of Warcraft: Stormrage, p. 5
  2. ^ Deathbringer Saurfang - Quotes High Overlord Saurfang says: I made a promise to his mother before she died: that I would cross the Dark Portal alone
  3. ^ The Battle For The Undercity - Notes, Thrall says: It's good to have you back, Varok, old friend. I'm sorry about your boy.
  4. ^ http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/08/28/know-your-lore-high-overlord-saurfang/
  5. ^ http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25626575587&sid=1
  6. ^ Deathbringer Saurfang - Quotes, High Overlord Saurfang says: I made a promise to his mother before she died: that I would cross the Dark Portal alone
  7. ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/3p3/icecrown-raid.xml
  8. ^ The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
  9. ^ https://www.wowhead.com/news=295284/war-campaign-cinematic-finale-saurfang-and-sylvanas-spoilers

See also[]

Sources[]

A portion or version of this article copied from Wowpedia icon stamp Wowpedia. See list of authors.

External links[]

Icon-time This section concerns content that is out-of-date.
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Warsong Hold, Borean Tundra Icecrown Citadel, Icecrown
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Siege of Orgrimmar Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Frostwall
Other
Lore


Preceded by:
Garrosh Hellscream
Position:
Leader of the Orcs (Or Thrall or Eitrigg
Succeeded by:
Incumbent
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