Djaradin

Djaradin
A Zaqali Flamemancer in Hearthstone.
Classification	Elemental half-giant
Faction/Affiliation	Qalashi tribe, Zaqali tribe, Primalists, Independent
Character classes	Hunter, Shaman (Farseer, Pyromancer, Geomancer), Warrior (Berserker)
Racial capital	Scalecracker Keep (Qalashi) Zaqali Caldera (Zaqali)
Racial leader(s)	Qalashi:  Warlord Sargha Zaqali: Djaradin Elders Warlord Kagni
Racial mount	See below
Area(s)	Dragon Isles
Sources: World of Warcraft: Dragonflight

The djaradin are a race of elemental half-giants native to the Waking Shores of the Dragon Isles. They are ancient rivals to the dragons, powerful beings with mastery over earth and fire, dedicated wholly to hunting them to extinction. During the course of the War of the Scaleborn, the djaradin notably allied with the Primalists so they could end the reign of the Dragon Aspects. The djaradin went to slumber following the Great Sundering and have since reawakened with the return of the isles, resuming their age-old conflict against the dragonflights.

History

Ancient times

Djaradin legends say that their people were once the first earth giants to walk the surface of Azeroth. Shaping earth and mountains, they formed the Waking Shores with their fists. Before the creation of the Dragon Aspects and the formation of the five great dragonflights, the ancient djaradin, who had yet to be imbued with fire magic, hunted primal dragons and left many cave paintings around the Waking Shores. When the flights started building their new kingdom in the Dragon Isles, they tried approaching the djaradin, only to be met with deadly force. When the terrain of the Waking Shores was reshaped by the black dragonflight, the djaradin, who inhabited many of the magma-filled caves in that land, started taking particular delight in hunting black dragons down.

Legends further speak of how four ancient djaradin elders enacted an unknown ritual, the process of which remains a mystery, but when they emerged from burrowing deep within the earth, they wielded powers of fire and magma. They shared this blessing with the rest of their kind, creating the djaradin as they are known today.

• Cave paintings depicting early djaradin history
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  The ancient djaradin hunting primal dragons.
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  The ancient djaradin celebrating a successful hunt.
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  The five great dragonflights and Tyrhold.
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  An ancient djaradin fighting a dragon.
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  The djaradin elders discovering how to imbue themselves with fire.
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  Djaradin using their new fire magic.

During the early battles between the djaradin and the dragonflights, legends say that the four djaradin elders' mastery over earth and fire initially caught the dragons off guard, leading to many casualties. However, Neltharion emerged from the Obsidian Citadel with his armies to stop their advance. Despite being outnumbered, the elders outmatched the dragons. Battling with honor, the elders eventually fell to Neltharion's dishonorable tactics and trickery, according to the legend. Nonetheless, they secured a permanent foothold for the djaradin on the surface, which remains to this day. Some believed the elders did not die that day but retreated deep into the earth to slumber and regain their strength. However, it seems like it was Neltharion, when he banished the elders, that forced them to fall into this slumber.

Djaradin tell that in ancient times their tribes were disorganized, with rival warlords fighting for dominance. However, a Qalashi tribe warlord redirected her tribe's focus from internal battles to hunting powerful dragons. While other tribes weakened by preying on the weak, the Qalashi grew stronger. Eventually, the Qalashi warlord easily conquered the weaker tribes, uniting their strongest members under her leadership. Forged in battle, the Qalashi launched a legendary rampage against the dragons, achieving the greatest slaughter of dragons, for a single day, in djaradin history. However, despite all her accomplishments, the Qalashi warlord never matched the raw power of the four elders. Over time, the warlord lost ground to the dragons, forcing her people back into their mountain footholds.

Some time after the construction of Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible, Neltharion's secret laboratory in Zaralek Cavern, the black dragonflight managed to capture Rashok, one of the djaradin elders. At first the black dragon Aspect only meant to remove the djaradin threat from the field. But Neltharion would later use the elder as a source of living flame with which he would experiment in his laboratory. The Zaqali tribe believe that he was abducted while he slumbered in his shrine.

War of the Scaleborn

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Scalecracker Keep in the Waking Shores.

During the War of the Scaleborn, capitalizing on the dragons' war in the Forbidden Reach, the djaradin tribes pushed east into the Waking Shores, seeking to capture Scalecracker Peaks. The Qalashi, in particular, killed black and red dragons with reckless abandon, stole ballistae from the front lines, and actively tried to compromise the Obsidian Citadel's walls. The dragon queen, Alexstrasza, commanded a force of elder drakes to deal with the djaradin incursion.

A djaradin tale set around this time claims that, after her defeat at Scalecracker Keep, the legendary Qalashi warlord who united the tribes sought the elders' strength deep within the earth. During her journey, she encountered Iridikron, the Incarnate of Earth. Iridikron offered the desperate warlord an alliance so they could end the reign of the Dragon Aspects. The warlord agreed, stating that she would do anything to defeat the Aspects, and so the alliance between the Primalists and djaradin, named the Magma Pact, was formed. While some djaradin objected, most agreed that it was necessary for them to survive.

In truth, it was Igira the Cruel, one of the djaradin elders, mysteriously awake, that led an allied force into the Scalecracker Peaks, taking advantage of Alexstrasza's and Neltharion's absence in the Waking Shores. After fifteen moons, she suffered a crushing defeat at the talons of the red and black dragonflights, who then chased the djaradin from their ancestral lands. Iridikron would later meet with Igira, who had much influence among the djaradin tribes, and offer her an alliance against the Aspects, to which Igira begrudgingly agreed.

The djaradin helped the Primalists capture dragons, which were sent to Harrowsdeep, Iridikron's lair, in order to stop the black dragonflight from simply utilizing their mastery over earth magic to crush the place. They then took part in the last battle of the war when the Aspects invaded Harrowsdeep, battling against the mighty dragon leaders and their troops. Igira even faced the dragon queen herself in single combat for a while before being forced to retreat. In the end, the Primalists and the djaradin lost the battle, with Neltharion's capture of Iridikron signaling the end of the war.

Eventually the Zaqali tribe of djaradin arrived in Zaralek Cavern, where they discovered the djaradin elders: Igira, Vakan, and Gholna slumbering, while Rashok was missing and imprisoned inside Aberrus. Igira presumably having joined, or rejoined, the other two elders after her defeat in the Scaleborn War. The Zaqali were, however, unable to rouse the elders, and would settle around the Zaqali Caldera, praying for them to awaken one day.

Battle of Traitor's Rest

Archeological findings by the Azerothian Archives in the Azure Span and Zaralek Cavern tell that while the War of the Ancients was unfolding in Kalimdor, djaradin took part in the Battle of Traitor's Rest between Neltharion's troops and all the cultures of the Dragon Isles during this period. According to these findings, the tuskarr, who were anticipating an attack by Neltharion, reached out to the djaradin after diplomatic talks with the centaur fell through. The djaradin in Zaralek traded powerful dragonslaying implements for fish from the sea with the tuskarr. During the battle, Gharrin, a djaradin of an unknown clan, led the djaradin troops that had allied with the tuskarr and the other races, and he offered to "bait" Doomshadow, the two-headed monster that Neltharion sent to harangue them. However, as Doomshadow made its attack, it was revealed that Gharrin was a turncoat and in league with Neltharion. He and his men fought against the tuskarr and their allies, though in the end, they lost the battle. Gharrin was killed during the battle by Umtila, the tuskarr leader.

When the Great Sundering happened, the primal elements that once shaped the landscape of the Dragon Isles went dormant, and the dragons themselves departed in order to take care of the newly fractured world, closing off the isles to the outside in the process. This event caused the djaradin to also go into a deep slumber underground that would last for millennia.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

The djaradin defending the Obsidian Citadel.

When the Dragon Isles were reopened, the djaradin woke up from their slumber as well. They quickly set their aim on capturing the Obsidian Citadel and chose Neltharus as the point of entry for their attack. They were surprised when they found it deserted and quickly laid claim to its secrets for themselves, as well as claiming the rest of the citadel above. The djaradin also claimed a nearby keep which had become the home of the Obsidian Outcasts after the dragons left the isles, forcing the group of black dragonkin to flee.

Around the same time, the Dragonscale Expedition arrived in the isles, a force of djaradin from Scalecracker Keep attacked and destroyed Dragonheart Outpost. This alerted the Red dragonflight and their allies, who then mounted a swift counterattack on Scalecracker Keep, slaying many djaradin in the process, including the leader of the attack, Meatgrinder Sotok.

Warlord Sargha inside of Neltharus.

Soon, the djaradin in the Obsidian Citadel came under assault by Wrathion, who sought to reclaim the legacy of the Black dragonflight, and his Blacktalon forces. The djaradin defending the outer perimeter were cut down by the Blacktalons, but they still held the upper hand. With their greater numbers, breaching the walls of the citadel was going to be an almost impossible task for Wrathion's forces. That is, until Sabellian and his Obsidian Brood joined the fray and turned the tide against the djaradin. With the main force distracted by Sabellian's followers, Wrathion and his allies secured the high towers, ensuring the djaradin's defeat. Thus, the djaradin lost control of the upper courtyard of the citadel to the black dragons, though they would remain in the vaults below, fighting for control of the citadel with the two black dragon factions. Later, the djaradin in the nearby Dragonbane Keep were besieged by the Obsidian Outcasts and their allies, seeking to retake their home.

Inside Neltharus, the djaradin were invaded by a group of adventurers who were tasked with recovering any information about the history of the Black dragonflight they could find before the djaradin plundered it all. There, the adventurers slew many djaradin, including Chargath, Bane of Scales, a veteran dragon hunter planning the next offensive against the dragons, and Forgemaster Gorek, one of the djaradin's most distinguished craftsmen, who was harnessing the igneous power of the massive forge in the black dragon barracks to construct deadly weaponry. They also defeated the leader of the Qalashi djaradin herself, Warlord Sargha, who had been in search of anything that would increase the power of her clan and help take down their draconic enemies.

A group of Qalashi djaradin was present in the Vault of the Incarnates having allied with the Primalists, led by Raszageth, the Incarnate of Storms, who were seeking to free the other imprisoned Incarnates inside. While the djaradin were distrustful of the Primalists, calling them "dragon worshippers," they required their aid in their mission of finding the slumbering djaradin elders.

Djaradin aggression in the Waking Shores wasn't limited only to the dragons; the tuskarr village of Uktulut Backwater also came under attack by them. First by a group of djaradin led by Flameshaper Lorak and then later by Zhurtan the Riverboiler.

Embers of Neltharion

The Zaqali Elders, Vakan and Gholna, awakened from their slumber.

When Fyrakk, who had previously been freed from the Vault of the Incarnates alongside Iridikron and Vyranoth, broke into the Zaralek Cavern seeking to absorb the shadowflame found in the Zaqali Caldera, the Primalists reached out to the Zaqali tribe, rekindling their ancient alliance, and helped them to awaken the Elders from their slumber. By the time Ebyssian, Sabellian, and their allies made it to the Caldera, the Primalists had already managed to awaken two of the four Elders, Vakan and Gholna, while Elder Igira was still slumbering and Elder Rashok was nowhere to be found. While the dragons tried to stop the awakening of the last elder, once Fyrakk finished absorbing the shadowflame in the caldera, he emerged from his wellspring and awakened Elder Igira.

Rashok, the Elder, free from his restraints.

Soon after, Igira sent her finest crafters above ground under the aegis of Fyrakk's Primalists. In Suffusion Camps in the Azure Span and Ohn'ahran Plains, the djaradin and Primalists gathered raw materials and infused them with elemental power and shadowflame, while causing chaos and destruction to the land and people living nearby. The camps would come under assault by the dragons and their allies, though the purpose of the materials created in these camps would remain a mystery to them for a while. Meanwhile, the Zaqali djaradin in Zaralek had to deal with attacks by adventurers sent to their territory for various quests. In one such incursion, the Elders Vakan and Gholna were vanquished by a small gathered army of adventurers.

When a group of researchers from the Dragonscale Expedition in the Ruins of Drekazera decided to investigate some nearby Zaqali ruins, the djaradin attacked them for trespassing. The researchers theorized that the ruins were where the Zaqali had used dark rituals to tame the fiery beasts of Zaralek.

When Aberrus was raided by the Sundered Flame, the Zaqali took the opportunity to launch an assault of their own, seeking to free Elder Rashok from his imprisonment. This warband, led by Warlord Kagni, was, however, defeated by allies of the dragons who had come there to stop the Sundered Flame. Soon after, due to the recent chaos, Rashok managed to free himself but was also defeated by the same champions that stopped Warlord Kagni and his warband.

Guardians of the Dream

Igira forging Fyr'alath while Druids of the Flame chant around her.

Seeking to envelop the nascent world tree, Amirdrassil, in flames that would spread around Azeroth when it finally bloomed, Fyrakk's Primalists recruited the Druids of the Flame to their cause and, alongside the Zaqali djaradin led by Igira, formed the Coalition of Flames. The materials gathered from the Suffusion camps by the djaradin and the Primalists turned out to be for the creation of  [Fyr'alath the Dreamrender]. Igira herself forged the axe, and when it was done, Fyrakk used it to tear a gash into reality, creating an entrance to the Emerald Dream, where Amirdrassil currently resided. From there, they launched their invasion, with the Zaqali taking part in the initial onslaught against the Dream Wardens in the Fields of Reverie. The battle ended when more djaradin reinforcements were summoned, led by Igira herself, forcing the guardians of the Dream to retreat. The djaradin then set up Slagfell Hold across the chasm from the Eye of Ysera, the Green dragonflight's seat of power in the Emerald Dream.

Galok Wingslicer asks Merithra to surrender.

Later, Igira's new general, Galok Wingslicer, led the siege on the Eye of Ysera, seeking to take control of it in order to pervert the nature and stunt the growth of Amirdrassil, which was being nourished by the Eye's power. During this siege, the djaradin summoned a fiery orb of shadowflame, the magic of which threatened to overwhelm the Eye, though the green dragons were able to create a magic barrier to temporarily defend against it. Scouting then revealed that the djaradin force waiting to attack from Slagfell Hold had two more leaders, the Anvil and Moltenbinder, and that Igira had supplied the troops with suffused weapons. Not having the resources to attack the djaradin base, the dragons instead prepared a trap in their own territory for Galok and his forces, and dispelled the magic shield holding them off in order to lure them in. The djaradin fell for the trap and attacked the Eye, leading to many casualties among Galok's army, including the Anvil and Moltenbinder. Weakened from the battle, Galok tried to escape but was chased down and finished off by Merithra, ending the siege.

Eventually, Fyrakk broke through the barrier protecting the Wellspring Temple, seeking to use it to connect the Emerald Dream to the Firelands. Igira and the Zaqali followed him into the temple, though while the Primalists and the Druids of the Flame delved deeper, the djaradin stayed in the Wellspring Atrium, becoming the first line of defense against the Dreamwardens and their allies who came to stop the Shadowflame Incarnate and his followers. The djaradin tormented the ancients in the atrium, burning them alive. Not long after, the Dreamwardens started their attack, clashing with the Zaqali. When most of the djaradin troops were defeated, Igira unleashed Gnarlroot upon them, a powerful ancient who had been twisted by the Elder's shadowflame magic. Gnarlroot was vanquished by the raiding army, however, and so Igira's time had finally come. Despite a fierce battle, Igira eventually succumbed to the champions' onslaught, thus came the end of the last Elder. Fyrakk and the rest of the Coalition of Flame would meet their demise as well, ending the conflict.

Biology

Djaradin are half-giants who are said to have originated from earth giants. In ancient times, the djaradin elders enacted an unknown ritual that imbued their race with the essence of fire, allowing them to wield fire magic alongside the earth magic they already possessed. This ritual also seemingly made them immune, or at least heavily resistant, to heat, as djaradin have proven multiple times. For example, there are instances of djaradin being submerged in lava for several days without harm, while others have described the fires of molten rock attacks from a molten giant as "tickling". Their skin is covered in markings that dance with living flames. These markings are a testament to a djaradin's accomplishments and power, and thus lower-ranking djaradin, such as Qalashi Trainees, for example, do not possess them. Some Zaqali djaradin, such as Shrinekeeper Qanosh, have been seen with flame markings that glow a purple hue, possibly due to their use of shadowflame.

Djaradin have extremely long lifespans, with some having been around since before the War of the Scaleborn. It is unknown if they can die of natural causes, and older djaradin show little sign of aging. Other than graying hair and wrinkles, elder djaradin are as powerful or even more powerful than those younger than them. Djaradin are strong enough to grapple dragons and pull them from flight. There seems to be no difference between a djaradin man and woman when it comes to their physical strength. Their skin color is described as being an "inky deep-blue". Djaradin hair comes in a variety of colors including black, red, auburn, brown, and white.

Culture

“Another weak outsider wishes to hear tales of the mighty djaradin, masters of magma, slayers of dragons, conquerors of this land?
I am not surprised. Everything must be earned. Prove yourself worthy of my time.”

— Tarjin the Blind

A djaradin banner.

Djaradin society is built on strength. The strongest serve as examples for others to fight all the harder. They are generally a hostile race, apparently to the point of even drinking the blood of their enemies, but not all djaradin are interested in attacking everyone they see; some might just watch people go around, deeming them too weak to be worthy prey. There is even a case of a djaradin joining a fighting tournament simply because they enjoy the sport of fighting.

Djaradin have been shown to respect individuals who prove their strength and determination, even outside their race. Long ago, when the djaradin tribes had not yet united under the Qalashi banner, legends tell of an outsider ship landing on the shores of the Dragon Isles. A warband of half-giants, led by their king, carved their way through the land. The disorganized djaradin tribes initially fell to the half-giants, but eventually, the half-giants were defeated. In the end, their king stood alone on the battlefield against armies from all the djaradin tribes. For eight days and nights, he fought relentlessly, refusing to fall. This earned him a place among the djaradin, and he joined the Qalashi tribe as a dragonhunter, slaying countless dragons over the years. Ultimately, he fell in battle with a powerful dragon a hundred times his size, arriving as an outsider but dying as a djaradin.

Another similar tale speaks of Hraxian, a powerful black dragon who took part in the final stand between the draconic army led by Neltharion and the djaradin elders. In a bid to buy time for Neltharion's plan, when it seemed like the dragons were not going to last, Hraxian roared a challenge of single combat to the djaradin—a challenge they readily accepted. The djaradin have a need to prove themselves the strongest—a weakness Hraxian exploited. One by one, the djaradin faced Hraxian, and one by one, they fell. Each battle drained Hraxian's blood and his life until there was none left. Hraxian died on his feet, with his eyes open, staring them down. As the djaradin waited for the next challenge roar that never came, Neltharion banished the Elders, and the djaradin fled. However, a few djaradin advanced. They collected the weapons of the fallen and planted them in the ground around Hraxian. Then they left, leaving his body untouched. It is the only time the djaradin were seen behaving in such a way toward a dragon.

The djaradin aren't known for being diplomatic, but they have occasionally shown a willingness to ally with other factions in order to defeat a common enemy. For example, they allied with the Primalists and the Druids of the Flame recently against the Aspects and the dragonflights. There has also been at least one known case in their history where they entered into a trading agreement with another race, as seen during the War of the Ancients when an Iskaara tuskarr ventured to the djaradin of Zaralek and initiated a trade agreement. Fish from the seas were exchanged for powerful dragonslaying implements. The fish were very well received by the djaradin. When the Iskaara trader stopped returning with more fish, a series of riots broke out, and many structures were destroyed as a result. It seems the popularity of lava pool fishing rose during this time, as many djaradin decided to slake their desire for fish themselves.

Cave paintings left behind by the ancient djaradin can be found inside various caves in the Waking Shores, where they describe part of their history and way of life. They make sculptures out of igneous rocks. The djaradin use stone tablets to record information such as complaints, recipes, personal journals, boastings, prayers, etc., using an ancient script. The djaradin tell many tales and legends about their history.

Djaradin eat a lot of dragon meat, usually roasted over a pit of lava and served with some roasted vegetables. Some djaradin dishes include: Charred Hornswog Steaks, Qalashi Goulash, Riverbeast meat soup, and Zaqali Hotpot.

The djaradin use dragon parts for a myriad of purposes. Dragon bones, skin, teeth, fangs, or skulls can be seen in almost every item the djaradin craft. Warhorns made with dragon horns, large dragonbone dice carried by many djaradin, and bone needles capable of piercing corehound hides without breaking or melting, are just a few of the numerous dragon-part objects that can be observed around a djaradin settlement. Besides dragons, they also use lava and its byproducts for various purposes, from simple items like pumice hand chalk to their obsidian tools and even their buildings, which are also made out of obsidian. Furthermore, they practice lava blowing. Once the djaradin discovered oil, there was nothing they wouldn't use it for. Fires, weapons, and recreation were all impacted by this discovery. The djaradin gather Inferno Pod seeds when they are just flowering and use them to get their forges to near-molten temperatures. They also make woven lavareed baskets that are heat resistant and similar in design to a tuskarr woven crab trap.

Clothing and equipment

Djaradin wear clothes made of stitched dragon skin and dragon wings. Their armor is made out of carved obsidian and engraved with djaradin markings. Some of their armor is encrusted with igneous rocks. They use dragon bones, skulls, and teeth, often-times from young dragons, as ornaments. They also use rocks with minor decorations in them as adornments. Dragon skulls are also used to make celebratory trophy masks. Some djaradin carry what seem to be giant dragon-shaped obsidian pillars on their backs, while djaradin spellcasters have been observed carrying massive lava-filled cauldrons or lava totems.

Djaradin weapons are made out of obsidian. Smiths pull the weapons out of lava pools, which then harden as they cool. The weapons are then carved but retain some of the shape they had when they were pulled. Some djaradin weapons are equipped with burning cores that not even a great water elemental could extinguish. Blades are often engraved with runes where one can read phrases such as "from the heart of the volcano to the heart of a dragon." Some weapons have handles that are enchanted to ward off heat. As with everything when it comes to djaradin creations, bones or other materials scavenged from dragons are utilized in the making of these weapons, usually as handles or decoration. Many djaradin carry shanks made out of dragon teeth.

Hunting and warfare

Dragon hunting.

Dragon hunting is at the heart of djaradin culture. They believe that what one fights is what they become. If a djaradin hunts weak prey, they become weak, and so they are dedicated to seeking out strong opponents, finding this strength in dragons. They usually hunt in groups, though djaradin have also been known to stalk dragons by themselves. Djaradin who are physically unfit to join dragon-hunting parties instead spend their time in camp as laborers. The djaradin employ colossal spears and bolts in their age-old pursuit of dragons, wielding weaponry that has seen minimal evolution despite their enduring prominence. The spears the dragon hunters use have serrations along the edges of the blade, which twist backward into cruel barbs. Once it pierces dragon flesh, it cannot be removed.

Even in small numbers, djaradin prove to be formidable opponents when allowed to engage in battle on their own terms. It is far better to bring the fight to them, leaving as little time to react as possible. The djaradin employ war parties to raid enemy settlements, which generally include a magmammoth. The djaradin have no regard for the bodies of their enemies. They break the bones of the dead and take their personal keepsakes as souvenirs. They also have no care for nature and are willing to destroy it if it will hurt their foes.

Beasts

A djaradin vanguard.

The djaradin have enslaved many elemental beasts, which are used for various purposes:

• Magmammoths - Fire mammoths that live near lava, commonly used as ground mounts, beasts of war, and beasts of burden.
• Molten phoenixes - Phoenixes found in the Dragon Isles, used as hunting pets.
• Blazing Dreadsqualls - Dread ravens transformed by Qalashi Flamemasters and used by the Qalashi as flying mounts.
• Lava worms - Qalashi djaradin have been observed summoning lava worms in battle.
• Core hounds - One-headed core hounds found in Zaralek Cavern are used by the Zaqali as hunting beasts.
• Shalewings - Flying elemental beasts found in Zaralek, used by the Zaqali for similar purposes to molten phoenixes.
• Rock cobras - Elemental cobras, used by the Zaqali in Slagfell Hold.
• Magma serpents - Zaqali djaradin have been seen summoning magma serpents during combat.

Magic

A djaradin wielding fire and earth magic.

The djaradin are masters of earth and fire elemental magic. Their stonebinders could have broken the very foundations of the Obsidian Citadel if they hadn't been stopped by Wrathion's allies. Their mastery over fire magic is so advanced that they can even light ice on fire. The Qalashi were able to burrow an entire army underground and into Neltharus. They are also known to bind fire elementals through the use of enchanted rings. The Grand Flame was able to bind a large lava elemental to her will using rocks from a molten giant and hoped, with practice, to bind the molten giant itself eventually. Earth elementals have also been seen bound by the djaradin. Aside from earth and fire, the Zaqali tribe is also known to practice shadowflame magic.

The djaradin use rune magic. Their casters use dragonbone totems that are carved with such magic runes. The Zaqali use flame totems that brim with molten lava, glowing through cracks in the carved stone. They also use flamesight totems, which are powered by Flamesight Runes, allowing their scouts to use [Far Sight]. Qalashi casters are also known to use roughly hewn lava rocks, smoldering with latent fire, to concentrate the power of their spells.

Faith

The djaradin revere their legendary elders to the point of calling to them to "take them" when they die. Igira, in particular, is held in high esteem, with many djaradin calling for her specifically to "see them." Votive stones with carved faces, used as offerings to some unknown djaradin deity, have been found by archaeologists. The Zaqali djaradin honor the strength of the earth and the ferocity of fire. The Zaqali Caldera is a place of violence, yet they revere it. They are ritualistic dragonkillers, and their accoutrements are meant for ceremony as much as for warfare. Thus, some Zaqali carry obsidian prayer beads and volcanic herb sachets with them. They are also known to cremate their dead and carry their ashes in urns. When these urns are disturbed or damaged, the soul of the deceased has been known to appear.

Tribes

The djaradin are divided into tribes, sometimes also referred to as clans. Each tribe is led by a warlord, though the four legendary djaradin elders, are influental and revered by all the tribes. While many djaradin tribes existed in the past, only two are currently known to be active in modern times.

• Qalashi tribe - The Qalashi are a djaradin tribe located in the Waking Shores, formerly led by Warlord Sargha, and are the fiercest of dragon hunters. According to tales, in ancient times, a legendary Qalashi warlord conquered the weaker djaradin tribes and united their strongest members under the Qalashi banner. Settlements: Scalecracker Keep, Dragonbane Keep, Flayscale Camp.
• Zaqali tribe - The Zaqali are a djaradin tribe located in Zaralek Cavern. Led by the Zaqali Elders, and presumably Warlord Kagni before the elders' awakening, they are far more magically talented than the Qalashi and are also renowned smiths. Settlements: Zaqali Caldera, Igira's Watch, Elders' Gift, Slagfell Hold.

Notable

Name	Role(s)	Affiliation(s)	Status
Warlord Sargha	Leader of the Qalashi tribe.	Qalashi tribe	Killable
Chargath, Bane of Scales	A veteran dragon hunter whose title was given eons ago as a mark of legend.	Qalashi tribe	Killable
Forgemaster Gorek	One of the djaradin's most distinguished craftsmen.	Qalashi tribe	Killable
Tarjin the Blind	Djaradin storyteller, and master of earth and fire magic.	Qalashi tribe, Independent	Alive
Igira	One of the Zaqali Elders, she aided Fyrakk in assaulting Amirdrassil.	Zaqali tribe, Primalists	Killable
Rashok, the Elder	One of the Zaqali Elders, imprisoned by Neltharion inside Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible.	Zaqali tribe	Killable
Gholna	One of the Zaqali Elders, master of lava.	Zaqali tribe, Primalists	Killable
Vakan	One of the Zaqali Elders, master of shadowflame.	Zaqali tribe, Primalists	Killable
Warlord Kagni	Warlord who led a Zaqali warband into launching an all-out assault against the Shadowed Crucible in search of their missing Elder.	Zaqali tribe	Killable
Galok Wingslicer	Djaradin general that led the siege on the Eye of Ysera.	Zaqali tribe, Primalists	Killable

Early concepts

Not all of the early ideas about the djaradin made it through the concept phase, or at least haven't been confirmed by the game or other lore sources yet. The djaradin were conceptualized as a hybrid of vrykul and fire giants. They were to possess an innate ability to harness fire magic, enabling them to reshape their surroundings at will, instead of their fire magic having come from the ritual the djaradin elders undertook. Within their society, there were to be two primary castes, the Warlords and the Flameshapers. They would capture and subjugate proto-dragons, utilizing them as formidable weapons. They would also believe the consumption of dragon hearts bestows upon them the magical essence inherent in a dragon and would exhibit shamanistic elements. They would decorate their clothes and hair with proto-dragon feathers. As they became more powerful, they would fill out their tattoos and shift toward blue. Their limbs would be covered with obsidian spikes instead of them using obsidian armor. A thinner female djaradin concept can be seen in one of the concept art. Based on the human silhouette used in some of the concept art, djaradin would be about 4 times as tall as a human. Djaradin would use magma pools to meditate and strengthen their connection to the Firelands. Dragon eyes would be used as a source of illumination and displayed as trophies.

Notes

• The  [Rock of Aegis] item dropped by many djaradin mobs is likely a reference to the song Rock of Ages by Def Leppard.
• Male djaradin model number is 12626, while female djaradin model number is 12628.
• The djaradin were described as being a "beast to tackle rigging and skinning wise". Due to their bulky size and many outfits, they ended up having a beefier poly count than normal. Also the rig needing two separate facial rigs. One for the male and one for the female body types.
• Jewelcrafters can craft an intimidating statue of a decapitated dragon called a  [Djaradin's "Pinata"].

Gallery

• World of Warcraft
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  A djaradin male with no flame markings.
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  A djaradin female with no flame markings.
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  Lightly armored male djaradin.
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  Lightly armored female djaradin.
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  Heavy armored male djaradin.
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  Heavy armored female djaradin.
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  Djaradin male with purple flame markings.
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  A djaradin female with purple flame markings.
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  Djaradin male caster.
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  Djaradin female caster carrying a lava cauldron.
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  Djaradin warrior carrying an obsidian dragon totem.
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  A djaradin wearing a dragonskull mask.
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  Zaqali Elder Vakan.
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  Zaqali Elder Gholna.

• Concept art
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  Djaradin concept art.
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  Djaradin flame tattoos concept art.
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  Djaradin casters concept art.
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  Djaradin concept art callout.
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  Djaradin casting concept art callout.
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  Djaradin weapons concept art.
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  Djaradin materials concept art.
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  Djaradin longhouse concept art.
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  Djaradin structure upper level interior concept art.
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  Djaradin structure lower level interior concept art.

• Djaradin structures
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  Djaradin longhouse.
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  Djaradin longhouse interior.
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  Djaradin house.
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  Djaradin house interior.
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  Djaradin fortifications.
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  Djaradin tower.
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  Djaradin platform.
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  Djaradin building interior.
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  Igira's Shrine.
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  Rashok's Shrine.
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  Vakan's and Gholna's shrines.

• Djaradin objects
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  Djaradin forge.
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  Djaradin ballista.
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  Djaradin knick-knacks.
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  Djaradin food.
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  Djaradin grilling.
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  Djaradin cooking cauldron.
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  Djaradin leatherworking.
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  Djaradin leatherworking table.
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  Djaradin banners and tablets.
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  Djaradin torches.
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  Djaradin lava pit.
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  Djaradin jars.
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  More djaradin jars.
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  Djaradin jars covered in metal.
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  Djaradin lava totem.
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  Djaradin barricade.