Gilnean military

Gilnean military
Main leader	Queen Tess Greymane
Secondary leaders	Lord Genn Greymane  Lord Darius Crowley  Commander Lorna Crowley
Formerly	Prince Liam Greymane †  Lord Vincent Godfrey †  Torq Ironblast
Race(s)	Human  Worgen
Formerly	Dwarf
Capital	Gilneas City
Base of operations	Greywatch, Greyfang Enclave, Warden Towers
Formerly	Gilneas Liberation Front Base Camp
Theater of operations	Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Broken Isles, Kul Tiras
Formerly	Alternate Draenor
Language(s)	Common
Sub-group(s)	Gilnean military divisions
Affiliation	Kingdom of Gilneas, Alliance
Formerly	Alliance of Lordaeron
Status	Active

“We protected Gilneas from the Scourge. We protected Gilneas during the Northgate rebellion. We will protect Gilneas from whatever this new threat may be.”

— Prince Liam Greymane

The Gilnean military, also referred to as the Gilnean Army, is the armed forces of the human kingdom of Gilneas, serving under Queen Tess Greymane. The military of Gilneas defended the borders of the peninsula kingdom for centuries, having been strong enough to even be considered a formidable entity in Lordaeron, as well as one of humanity's strongest nations, despite being much smaller than its closest neighbor. Following the Cataclysm and the formal establishment of diplomatic ties with the kingdom of Stormwind, Gilneas added the ferocity of the worgen to the considerable might of their allies. Since then, the Gilnean Army constitutes one of the contributions to the military of the Grand Alliance and was deployed on multiple battlefields across Azeroth and beyond.

Among their divisions, Gilneas City Guards are the law enforcement and protectors of Gilneas City, keeping the peace within the capital's walls. The Gilnean Royal Guard is a force of elite soldiers dedicated to the service and protection of the monarch and the Greymane family. The Gilneas Brigade is a military force sent by the kingdom to support their allies of the Alliance on the battlefields.

History

Early history

2,700 years BDP, following their victory in the Troll Wars, the humans of Arathor expanded their empire in size and power, and founded new city-states in the wilderness - including Gilneas. Eventually, the military of Gilneas became one of the most powerful in Arathor, equaled only by Alterac. Both kingdoms often combined their forces and led grand expeditions to secure the borders of Arathor, and such expeditions made contact with the dwarves and gnomes of Khaz Modan. 1,200 years BDP, the empire splintered into independent kingdoms, and unable to compete with Kul Tiras's burgeoning navy, Gilneas focused on bolstering its land-based armies and mercantile capabilities.

75 years prior to the First War, King Barathen Wrynn of Stormwind sent envoys to beseech Lordaeron, Gilneas, and the other human kingdoms for aid during the Gnoll War. But they would not send assistance, seeing no advantage in helping the smaller, rural nation, as Stormwind was self-sufficient and trade with the other kingdoms was rare.

Under the rule of King Archibald Greymane, Gilneas entered into its industrial age, thriving and evolving into a formidable middle-power capable of rivaling even Kul Tiras or Stromgarde.

Second War and aftermath

Gilneas' banner during the Second War.

Following the First War and destruction of Stormwind City, the Council of Seven Nations was formed by Sir Anduin Lothar and King Terenas Menethil II with the intent of convincing the other kingdoms to band together to repel the invading Orcish Horde. During their first meeting, King Genn Greymane rebuffed Anduin Lothar's calls for unity, stating that Gilneas' armies could fend off any foe. Even when gnome and dwarf refugees arrived after the orcs conquested Khaz Modan, King Greymane and King Aiden Perenolde stubbornly resisted calls for creating an alliance, as they feared that by unifying they would lose some of their regional power. Divisions widened between the kings, and the arguments grew so heated that Gilneas and Alterac threatened to abandon the council entirely. Nevertheless, this diplomatic incident was avoided when Turalyon, who presented himself with Prince Varian Wrynn at his side, and delivered an impassioned and charismatic speech of union to the assembly, which got through to even the most doubtful present. The council later voted unanimously to form the Alliance of Lordaeron, comprising all of humanity's kingdoms.

By the start of the Second War, Gilneas had become recognized as a significant entity in the political landscape of Lordaeron. Emboldened by this fact, King Greymane, was not a strong supporter of the Alliance, believing that his own armies would be more than enough to deal with any threat. However, wanting to ensure trade relations with the other kingdoms, Genn sent a token force to assist the Alliance. At the same time, the king argued that he should assume the role of Supreme Commander of the Alliance, since Gilneas was the most southern of the kingdoms and that meant it would be first overrun if the Horde wasn't repelled. During the war, Greymane held back his armies until the enemy finally attacked his own borders, and was then said to have partaken in combat versus the orcs. Some Gilnean soldiers joined Anduin Lothar's armies and fought against the Horde in Hillsbrad and the Hinterlands, though in lesser numbers than those sent by Lordaeron and Stromgarde.

When Alterac was occupied by Alliance troops for its treachery, King Greymane made a last bid during the Alterac crisis, trying to put Isiden Perenolde on the throne of Alterac to gain a direct stake in the kingdom's welfare and favored status through the realm's many mountain passes. Both the Kirin Tor and King Terenas knew that King Greymane sought to intervene not only to raise his own prestige, but to perhaps further his dreams of expansion, as a base in Alterac would give Gilneas access to resources the southern kingdom did not have, and the excuse to send its mighty ships across the Great Sea. During the negotiations, Admiral Daelin Proudmoore was afraid that Gilnean influence in the region would threaten Kul Tiras' naval sovereignty. However, the political attempt eventually failed.

Years later, in a discussion with Lord Vincent Godfrey, King Greymane questioned the wisdom of listening to the advice of Darius Crowley and Godfrey in joining the Alliance of Lordaeron, stating that it had gotten them nothing but dead Gilneans. Greymane then stated his plans to withdraw from the Alliance and wall off Gilneas from the rest of the world behind the Greymane Wall. Since Gilneas was self-sufficient, it was clear that Greymane had no interest in aiding the other nations.

Third War and the Wall

The Gilnean military was eventually attacked by the worgen summoned to aid them.

At the time of the Scourging of Lordaeron, King Greymane barricaded the majority of Gilneas while the Gilneas' military remained stationed at the Greymane Wall. King Genn Greymane hadn't sent any Gilnean soldiers to fight the Scourge, as he saw the fall of Lordaeron as confirmation that he had made the right choice in isolating his kingdom from the world. However, as an act of defiance against the king and his decisions, Lord Crowley sent a small group of soldiers known as the Gilneas Brigade to join Lady Jaina Proudmoore and the Human Expedition in Kalimdor. The Gilneas Brigade later became well-known for its valiance during the conflict against the Burning Legion.

When the Scourge swept through Silverpine Forest, the undead relentlessly assaulted the Greymane Wall and threatened to devour all Gilneas. Their number was small at first, but it increased over time and they did not flag. King Greymane's armies held the wall for days against a massive sea of undead hordes, but for every undead that fell, another took its place. Fearing it would break, King Genn Greymane opened the gate and Gilnean soldiers poured from Gilneas into Silverpine Forest. The Scourge, however, defeated the soldiers and raised them into undeath. Though the Scourge could not initially penetrate the wall, the Gilnean military was unable to repel the Scourge on their own, and it was only a matter of time before the undead would completely overrun their forces.

In a desperate attempt to hold the seemingly-unstoppable Scourge at bay, Greymane ordered his court archmage, Arugal, to unleash a "secret weapon" against the Scourge: the worgen who had been contained for millennia in the Emerald Dream. At first, everything went according to plan, unfortunately, after the Scourge were driven off, the worgen turned on the Gilnean soldiers stationed beyond the Greymane Wall, infecting them with their Curse, and began attacking other humans living in Silverpine Forest. Consequently, King Greymane ordered the return of his troops as well as the permanent closure of the Greymane Wall's doors, however, as some retreating soldiers were infected, they began secretly to spread the worgen curse. Over the years, reports of strange attacks and disappearances rose, fear took root in the hearts of Greymane's people, while the curse continued to spread in the kingdom through the Wolf Cult, gradually eating away at Gilneas' humanity.

Northgate Rebellion

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

Main article: Northgate Rebellion

Following the end of the Third War, tensions began to rise within the kingdom of Gilneas as a result of King Genn Greymane's controversial isolationist policies. During the Northgate Rebellion, the Gilnean military supported King Genn and his loyalists, and fought against the Northgate rebels led by Lord Darius Crowley. As part of his bid to secure the capital, Crowley succeeded in getting cannons smuggled and hidden within Gilneas City, under the loyalists' noses. The final conflict occurred when Crowley's army marched upon the capital, setting it ablaze with artillery fire. Much street fighting likely followed, but the rebels were ultimately unable to overcome Greymane resistance. Having broken upon the city's defenses, the Northgate Rebellion was defeated, with the majority of its leaders, including Crowley, captured and imprisoned within Stoneward Prison for high treason. Gilneas then returned once more to the unchallenged rule of King Greymane.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Main article: Invasion of Gilneas

The City Guard fighting off the worgen.

Several days prior to the attack on Gilneas City by the Wolf Cult of Alpha Prime, King Genn Greymane ordered his son, Prince Liam, to increase the presence of the military across Gilneas, concerned with the growing number of attacks across the kingdom, of which included the Starlight Slasher murders. When questioned on whether these troops should be moved from the Greymane Wall, King Genn refused to allow it, stating the neighboring Forsaken would use any opportunity to exploit a weakness on the wall. Not wanting to potentially alarm the civilians of Gilneas with the sudden upsurge of military forces, Liam was instructed to simply state that the Northgate rebels were acting up again.

Prior to the destruction of the Greymane Wall, the worgen attacked Gilneas City en masse, swarming it under the leadership of Alpha Prime. During the conflict, the Royal Guard and the Gilneas City guards were rallied under the leadership of King Greymane and Prince Liam in the Military District and Merchant Square. Many of the guards were wounded or slain, eventually turning into worgen themselves. After the fall of Merchant Square, King Genn ordered the release of Lord Darius Crowley and the Northgate rebels from Stoneward Prison, who left behind them the grudges and rivalries of the civil war, and agreed to let Greymane's forces make use of their hidden artillery stashes across the capital.

Following the Cataclysm, caused by the re-emergence of Deathwing, the earthquakes destroyed the Greymane Wall and allowed the Forsaken a way into the kingdom, as well as having destroyed the reefs that protected the kingdom. During the initial breach, the Gilnean military had managed to hold off the Forsaken's advance, despite the presence of Garrosh Hellscream, who desired the area as a port for the Horde in northern Eastern Kingdoms. They fought with muskets, burning oil, and flaming arrows, as well as having several of the recently cured worgen, by way of alchemy, on the walls aiding them.

Following the death of Alpha Prime in the Blackwald, King Greymane decided to stop concealing his infection and let his people know that he too was afflicted by the curse. Now united, rebels and loyalists, humans and sane worgen, accepted him as their leader and rallied when he called for a counterattack against Sylvanas Windrunner and her armies. During the battle for Gilneas City, the Gilnean Militias led by Prince Liam fought their way through the capital, and soon united with Lord Crowley's worgen forces around Stoneward Prison, where they destroyed the flesh beast Gorerot.

After they learned that the Forsaken were going to use the New Plague on the capital, King Genn ordered a general evacuation towards Keel Harbor. While a large amount of soldiers and volunteers remained to form the Gilneas Liberation Front under the leadership of Darius Crowley, Admiral Nightwind and his fleet of night elven ships took the survivors to safety at Rut'theran Village in Darnassus.

Wolfheart

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

Main article: Ashenvale war

King Varian Wrynn leading the Gilnean worgen in battle during the Ashenvale war.

When King Genn Greymane and the representatives from Gilneas met with the delegates from the Alliance, it was decided to make a show of power so that the Alliance would recognize Gilneas as a formidable ally, rather than a drain on the Alliance. As a result, the Gilnean military marched in formation with Genn Greymane at their head, carrying the banner of Gilneas and playing the Gilnean anthem. They had, despite Gilneas' beleaguered state, made a point of matching the amount of forces sent by the Stormwind army during this encounter. They capstoned this display by having the Gilneans in procession transform into worgen as Greymane spoke about the benefits of bringing Gilneas into the Alliance's fold.

Malfurion Stormrage later proposed a hunting challenge to settle the conflict between King Genn Greymane and King Varian Wrynn about who was the better hunter. Among those who accompanied King Genn were his personal staff and guards. From King Varian's point of view, aside from the Old Wolf, the guards would be the ones that he would have to watch out for most. Although the Gilnean monarch was their first priority, in what was considered a safe land the soldiers would also probably have some leeway in pursuing the prey, and competing against them suited Varian just fine.

Soldiers under Eadrik later joined Jarod Shadowsong to discover the culprit behind the Highborne assassinations, though he died saving Jarod's life from Neva, who in turn avenged Eadrik.

When Garrosh Hellscream led the Horde into Ashenvale, with several magnataur under their control, the Gilnean forces attacked the magnataur to aid King Varian Wrynn during the Ashenvale war. The combined Alliance force crashed against the Horde lines and halted their advance, and the worgen soldiers proved themselves as fearsome warriors in battle, tearing through the Horde's soldiers with primal ferocity and sending their enemies fleeing in terror. After the kingdom of Gilneas was inducted into the Alliance, the Gilneans vowed to fight for their faction and to die for it if need be.

Aftermath

Main article: Gilneas Liberation Front

Now that Gilneas had rejoined the Alliance, Lord Darius Crowley and the Gilneas Liberation Front renewed the war against the Forsaken and advanced as far as northern Silverpine Forest. They eventually recruited the Refugee Leadership, transforming them into worgen, and the Bloodfang Pack led by Ivar Bloodfang. At this point, they were able to seize Pyrewood Village as a defensive position, until Sylvanas's forces took it back, though at cost and in the face of fierce resistance. They would later receive aid from Stormwind City, in the form of Halford Wyrmbane and the 7th Legion who landed in Keel Harbor and liberated Gilneas City. The combined forces quickly pushed the Forsaken past the Greymane Wall, however, the Horde managed to rally in Silverpine Forest, and Crowley later surrendered to Sylvanas after she took his daughter hostage, threatening her with undeath. This signaled an end to the Alliance offensive, although the Bloodfang expanded their activities into the Hillsbrad Foothills.

The Liberation Front was also active on the coast of the Northern Headlands, attempting to rebuild a holding for Gilneas from attackers by the sea during the Battle for Gilneas. The Gilnean army later sent their emissaries to the largest Alliance cities - Stormwind City, Exodar, Darnassus, and Ironforge, as well as Shattrath City to recruit adventurers during the monthly Call to Arms: Battle for Gilneas.

Warlords of Draenor

This section concerns content related to Warlords of Draenor.

During the war in Draenor, Gilnean soldiers were found guarding the mine in Ashran, accompanied by a warhound.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

Main article: Gilneas Brigade

Greywatch, the Brigade's base in Stormheim.

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, the Gilneas military forces participated in the Battle for Broken Shore, where Gilnean Royal Guards made the bulk of their representation. Under King Greymane's leadership, the Gilneas Brigade established Greywatch in Stormheim as their main base of operations to locate the Aegis of Aggramar on the Broken Isles. Eventually, the Brigade uncovered that the Forsaken meant to plague Greywatch like they did Gilneas, and King Greymane commanded his forces to destroy the plague caches and the invading forces of Sylvanas Windrunner. Following the battle at Greymane's Offensive, the Gilneas Brigade was deployed across the Broken Isles and contested the Warden Towers against the Queensguard.

The Silver Enclave was renamed as the Greyfang Enclave after Dalaran was teleported to the Broken Isles, and became the headquarters of the Alliance in the city with Gilnean guards to protect it.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

A firing line of musketeers during the Battle for Darkshore.

At the time of the Fourth War, Gilneas was present at the Battle for Lordaeron, where Gilnean Maulers, cannons, and Knight-Captain Emery represented their troops. Genn Greymane led the charge alongside Anduin Wrynn, acting as one of the on-field generals. Following the battle, Gilneas' military returned to their kingdom under Darius Crowley, leading an assault on the Sludge Fields, which were preparing an army of their own to attack Gilneas.

The Gilneas Brigade continued its activity following the downfall of the Legion, establishing a base camp led by Marshal Layre in Drustvar. The encampment was later attacked by the Horde, seeking to drive the brigade out. In Nazjatar, Captain Razorclaw and the 7th Legion troops she led were encountered by Horde champions.

After Stormwind refused to send aid to Darkshore, due to their forces being spread too thin, Gilneas opted instead to aid the Kaldorei. King Greymane sent a large force, led by Lorna Crowley and Princess Tess Greymane to aid their allies on their warfront as a part of the Army of the Black Moon, as well as to show the Alliance had not abandoned the night elves. He stated this was to repay the elves for everything they had done for Gilneas.

Later on, the forces of Gilneas deployed Gilnean Ambushers to aid with a suicide mission in Nazmir, led by Blademaster Telaamon, to distract the Horde from forces heading for Zuldazar. During the Battle of Dazar'alor, King Greymane deployed his Gilnean soldiers against the orc grunts and their Zandalari allies at the Port of Zandalar, where they fought alongside Stormwindian footmen and dwarven riflemen. The king himself led the strike team against King Rastakhan alongside Mathias Shaw of the SI:7.

At the time of the Battle at the Gates of Orgrimmar, King Genn and his troops were tasked by High King Anduin Wrynn to flank the orcish city and successfully captured the western gate.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

During the Reclamation of Gilneas, Princess Tess Greymane was placed in charge of the operation and organized the Gilnean troops with their 7th Legion allies in Keel Harbor. While the Forsaken forces bombarded the holy shields set up by the Scarlet Crusade, creating a diversion for their Alliance allies to infiltrate the capital, Princess Tess opened the gates of the Greymane Court to begin the reconquest of Gilneas City. Fights then broke out across the capital, while the largest battle took place in the Cathedral Quarter, where the Gilneans faced the most powerful zealots. After Inquisitor Fairbell was eliminated in Light's Dawn Cathedral, the Gilnean forces and their allies gathered in the courtyard to celebrate their victory.

Organization

A Gilnean Guard wearing the basic military armor and a rifle in Gilneas City.

Within the Gilnean Army, there are numerous ranks that denote the level of authority given to a certain individual. At the very top of this chain of command is the monarch of the kingdom of Gilneas, currently her highness Queen Tess Greymane. In terms of ranks, it seems that they are based in the same way that those of the Stormwind Army and the Alliance forces in general.

The Gilnean military, in the majority of its appearances, shares its basic footman appearance with that of the Gilneas City Guard's armor. This is depicted in the Curse of the Worgen comics, though it is inaccurately given a green color scheme. This color scheme is referential to an original design for Gilneas that was in the early Cataclysm beta, but was changed before release, thus leading to a mix of the two appearances. This armor is also worn by the Gilnean Royal Guard in most appearances. From their appearance in Darkshore, their footmen have been upgraded to using the Aspirant's version of the Dread Gladiator armor.

Since Gilneas has become strongly industrialized and technologically advanced under the impulsive of King Archibald Greymane, the Gilnean forces heavily use firearms and artillery such as cannons, riffles, and guns more than any other human nation. The rapier is a weapon widely used by the Gilneans, particularly by their militiamen, which symbolically inspires their forces in battle. The Gilnean military deploys less knights and mages, but more riflemen, cannons and druids on the battlefield. The ranks of the Gilneas Brigade also include cannoneers, priests, hunters, wizards, clerics, infiltrators, arcanists, and trackers in addition to the usual troops. The Gilnean Rangers were once a unit of human rangers operating on behalf of Gilneas during the times of King Archibald.

Although the kingdom has its own naval force, both military and civil (or at least what remains of it since the invasion of Gilneas), the only known Gilnean ship to have been encountered is The King's Fang, under the command of Captain Nuthals and his crew outside the Cove of Nashal in Stormheim.

Gilneans are often accompanied by mastiffs, either as hunting hounds or as wardogs. Mountain horses have served Gilneans since before the First War, they are known for their strength, ferocious demeanor, how they are comfortable with their riders, and their proclivities to embrace their feral side. Vicious Gilnean warhorses are born, bred, and, battle-tested in Gilneas. Their Gilnean gryphons are stronger than the native gryphons of the Broken Isles, and may be able to carry a 2,000-pound cannon. Their forces also use hippogryphs since their encounter with the night elves.

During the Third War, Crowley's Gilneas Brigade was commanded by a mountain king named Torq Ironblast, and their ranks were almost entirely made up of dwarven riflemen and mortar operators.

Divisions

• Gilneas Brigade
• Gilneas City Guard
• Gilnean Royal Guard
  • Greyguard
• Gilneas' standing militia
  • Gilnean Militia
• Wolfpack

Formerly

• Gilneas Liberation Front
• Crowley's Gilneas Brigade
• Gilnean Rangers

Membership

A Gilnean version of the Alliance banner used by the Gilneas Brigade.

Named

•  Lord Darius Crowley
•  Commander Lorna Crowley
• Marshal Layre
• Archmage Brixton
• Knight-Captain Emery
• Captain Blackmaw
• Captain Broderick
• Captain Nuthals
• Captain Razorclaw
• Captain Roberts
• Lieutenant Surtees
• Lieutenant Walden ^†
• Sergeant Cleese
• Houndmaster Payne ^†
• Gryphon-Master Clifford
• Nurse Dolores
• Abigail the Huntress
• Derek Testerman
• Desmond
• Henry Lew
• Lormic Farroden
• Scot Moore
• Steward Dayton

Formerly

• Torq Ironblast

Unnamed

• Gilnean Ambushers
• Gilneas City Guards
  • Wounded Guards
  • Slain Guards ^†
• Gilnean Commander
• Gilnean Defusers
• Gilnean Echoes
• Gilnean Emissaries
• Gilnean Footmen
• Gilnean Guards
• Gilnean Laborers
• Gilnean Maulers
• Gilnean Militias
• Gilnean Musketeers
• Stormglen Defenders
  • Stormglen Mastiffs
• Stormshield Mine Guards
• Vengeful Swiftclaws

Formerly

• Dwarven mortar operators
• Dwarven riflemen

Gilnean Royal Guard

Main article: Gilnean Royal Guard#Appearances

Gilneas Brigade

Main article: Gilneas Brigade#Unnamed

Gilneas Liberation Front

Main article: Gilneas Liberation Front#Unnamed

Notes

• The Gilnean Army has its own standard rations which is distributed to its troops.
• Gilneas has gryphons in their armed forces, they are said to be able to carry more than standard gryphons.
  • They are mostly armored versions of the  [Ebon Gryphon] mount.
• Captured Warriors on the Broken Shore can have the armor of the Gilnean military if they are worgen.
• The Military District is the southeastern section of Gilneas City and is apparently focused on the Gilnean Army.
• Despite having been included in the manual for Warcraft II and all accounts having been a presence during the Second War, Gilneas is not playable nor interacted with during gameplay in Warcraft II. Their first video game appearance as a combative force, outside of mention, was actually in Warcraft III, through the Gilneas Brigade, a group mostly made up of dwarves.

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

In Warlords of Draenor, Marshal Gabriel alongside the Stormshield Knights may have been Gilneans, as they use the voice files (the latter using more than just simple poke quotes) for Gilnean humans.

Gallery

• 

  Gilneas Tabard

• 

  Tabard of the Gilneas Liberation Front.

• 

  Sergeant Cleese's original beta tabard.

• 

  Gilnean Footman

• 

  Gilnean Musketeer

• 

  Gilnean Royal Guard

• 

  Greyguard

• 

  Greyguard Elite

• 

  An older armor design from the Cataclysm beta.

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  Gilnean and Stormwindian footmen fighting in Dazar'alor.

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  Vicious Gilnean Warhorse

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  Gilnean Gryphon

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  Gilnean mastiff

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  Gilnean tents in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.

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  Militia Commander in Hearthstone.

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  Phantom Militia in Hearthstone.