Gurubashi tribe

Gurubashi tribe
Main leader	High Priestess Mar'li †
Formerly	Bloodlord Mandokir †  Zan'non †  Jok'non † Var'gazul  †
Secondary leaders	The High priests
Race(s)	Jungle troll Dire troll
Character classes	Berserker, High priest, Shadow priest, Warlord, Bat rider, Hexxer, Witch doctor, Shadow hunter
Capital	Zul'Gurub
Base of operations	Tal'gurub
Theater of operations	Stranglethorn Vale, Zuldazar
Formerly	Kun-Lai Summit, Throne of Thunder
Language(s)	Zandali
Affiliation	Hakkari, Zandalari Empire, Independent
Formerly	Empire of Zul, Zandalari Invaders, Gurubashi Empire
Status	Active

The Gurubashi tribe (/ˈɡʊ.ruˌbɑː.ʃi/ GOO-roo-BAH-shee) is the remnant of the Gurubashi Empire and is the strongest tribe of jungle trolls. They reside in their capital of Zul'Gurub.

History

In ancient times, the Gurubashi were one of the tribes that arose to challenge the Zandalari for territory and power. They laid claim to enormous swaths of land in Kalimdor's lush woods. On occasion, they clashed with other tribes, often over hunting grounds. Yet major conflicts were few and rarely lengthy. Trolls were such skilled and fierce fighters that any real conflict would cost both sides dearly. Untouched land was plentiful in all directions, and the various tribes quickly learned it was wiser to resettle than risk war.

Amaani territories in Ancient Kalimdor in the aftermath of the war against the Aqir.

Circa 16,000 BDP, the Aqir and Troll War began. As the aqir encroached perilously close to the Zandalar Mountains, the Zandalari united the disparate troll tribes, including the Amani, into a single mighty force, the Empire of Zul. Together, the tribes drove the aqir away. At the Zandalari's behest, the other tribes moved out to hunt down the aqir. To permanently end the threat, no corner of the continent could be left unguarded. Thus, the Zandalari convinced the most power-hungry troll factions to establish new strongholds across Azeroth. The Gurubashi ventured southwest, where the aqir had overrun the prison complex housing the Old God C'Thun. The insectoids had enslaved the anubisath giants who guarded the prison. The insectoids and their mighty anubisaths slaughtered several large Gurubashi encampments. Thereafter, the Zandalari instructed Gurubashi priests to separate their tribe into smaller, more mobile raiding groups instead of large armies. This new tactic allowed them to constantly harass the aqir, bleeding the insectoid armies dry over a period of many years.

In time, the trolls proclaimed themselves victorious. Without war to bind them together, the troll factions grew ever more distant and insular. The far-flung strongholds of the different tribes blossomed into vibrant homes, temple cities, and eventually empires in their own right. The Gurubashi formed the Gurubashi Empire with Zul'Gurub as their capital.

In time, the disparate troll empires, including the Gurubashi, would find their lands under threat from the expanding Kaldorei Empire. Considered among the greatest threats to kaldorei imperial supremacy, the Gurubashi and Amani would be deemed the "Twin Empires" in this time. War broke out across southern Kalimdor and although the Gurubashi fought fiercely to defend their territory, they were unable to resist the night elves' arcane magics. With trollkind losing the war and Queen Azshara uninterested in controlling the entirety of troll territory, an accord was reached between the kaldorei and the Zandalari, whose influence over the other troll empires remained strong. In exchange for a strict end to all troll incursions and expansion near night elf territory, they would be permitted to remain in possession of their sacred mountain ranges of Zandalar to the south. Though the terms were considered extremely uneven and humiliating for the trolls, they had no choice but to acquiesce under the threat of utter destruction, and the Gurubashi honored the Zandalari's pact. The shame of this agreement would sow the seeds of resentment among all trolls for thousands of years to come.

Gurubashi Civil War

The territories of the Eastern Kingdoms prior to the First War.

In the southern reaches of the Eastern Kingdoms, around 1,500 BDP, the Gurubashi jungle trolls languished in poverty and hardship. They had never fully recovered from the destruction wrought by the Sundering. Many hunting and farming grounds were forever lost, and famine was a constant companion for the empire. Desperate to reclaim their former glory, the Gurubashi of Stranglethorn Vale eventually turned to the powerful loa spirits whom the trolls worshipped. One such creature answered their call: Hakkar the Soulflayer, the Loa of Blood. The malevolent spirit promised to help the Gurubashi extend their empire across the lower half of the Eastern Kingdoms. In return, he demanded large numbers of living sacrifices. The Gurubashi who pledged their loyalties to Hakkar became known as the Hakkari. They soundly defeated nearby packs of gnolls and tribes of murlocs, as well as other trolls who opposed Hakkar. Those taken prisoner soon wished they had died in battle; Hakkar's disembodied spirit gorged on the blood of the captives for years. Under the Hakkari's control, the Gurubashi had achieved all they had hoped, conquering vast swaths of land and even many of the islands that dotted the coasts of the South Seas.

The Zandalari, observing these events from afar, were pleased at first with the Gurubashi's return to conquest and traditional worship. Yet once it became clear that Hakkar's bloodlust would never be sated, they knew that the fiendish god would drive not only the troll race to destruction, but the entire world. The Zandalari rallied their forces and set sail for the Eastern Kingdoms. There, they met with Gurubashi trolls who had kept their dissent hidden from the Hakkari. The Zandalari and their new allies learned that a faction of Hakkar's most zealous priests, the Atal'ai, were attempting to summon the loa's spirit into a living form. This, in turn, would awaken terrible new dimensions of his power and spell certain doom for the troll race. Horrified by the Atal'ai's plans, the Zandalari host stormed the Gurubashi capital of Zul'Gurub. Battles raged among the vine-covered ziggurats of the temple city day and night. Finally, atop Hakkar's bloodstained shrine, the Zandalari defeated Hakkar and most of his crazed followers.

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.

Gurubashi-Stormwind War

Medivh destroys the Gurubashi siege.

By 21 BDP, the human kingdom of Stormwind had been pushing south, claiming more and more territory near the jungles of Stranglethorn Vale. That had brought them into conflict with the Gurubashi tribes. The king of Stormwind at the time, Barathen Wrynn, dispatched his forces in a defensive manner, commanding his soldiers to intercept raiding parties but forbidding retaliatory strikes into Gurubashi land. He had no interest in a full-scale war with the trolls. King Barathen's strategy against the trolls was effective for a time, but it could not stop every attack. In 19 BDP, a troll raiding party slipped through Stormwind's patrol lines and cut a path of destruction through Westfall, the kingdom's breadbasket. The king declared that the armies of Stormwind would be bolstered but used only to strengthen their patrol routes. There would be no offensive against the Gurubashi. Prince Llane Wrynn was furious at what he saw as his father's cowardice. Alongside his friends Anduin Lothar and Medivh, the Guardian of Tirisfal, they concocted a plan to take revenge on the trolls. They infiltrated Gurubashi territory and targeted a warlord named Jok'non, who dwelled in a ziggurat in central Stranglethorn. Their plan was to kill him quickly and retreat, leaving the trolls without a leader. However, Jok'non and his followers had been experimenting with forbidden blood magic derived from Hakkar the Soulflayer. The three humans soon found themselves in a brutal fight for their lives. Jok'non's dark power nearly overwhelmed them until Medivh was forced to unleash his full might, which killed every single troll inside the ziggurat.

In 18 BDP, the Gurubashi came together under the banner of the slain warlord's son, Zan'non, and marched to war against Stormwind. It had been centuries since the Gurubashi tribes had fought as one, and the humans were utterly unprepared for their fury. Within days, Stormwind's southern defensive lines crumbled before the Gurubashi onslaught. King Barathen recalled all forces to the gates of Stormwind City. Zan'non had learned some of his father's forbidden tricks and had used them to transform a few Gurubashi into hulking berserkers possessed of otherworldly strength. These mutated giants climbed Stormwind's walls and proceeded to rip its soldiers to pieces. As the death toll on both sides mounted quickly, King Barathen mounted a desperate counterattack with his personal guards. He stormed directly into the front lines, seeking Zan'non's head. King Barathen died on the field of battle. As Stormwind's forces fell into disarray, Llane pleaded with Medivh to unleash his power as he had done before, believing it was the only way to spare the city. Medivh stood upon Stormwind City's ramparts and rained fire and ice upon the Gurubashi. When Medivh called off his arcane barrage, Stormwind City still stood. The Gurubashi and their leader were dead. Only a handful of trolls escaped the maelstrom of magic.

First War

When the Orcish Horde invaded Azeroth, starting the First War, Chieftain Kilrogg Deadeye and his Bleeding Hollow forged into the western jungles of Stranglethorn Vale, aiming to claim it for themselves. Just as when the humans had violated their land years earlier, the Gurubashi trolls united to fight back this new threat. In the thick jungle, the fighting was unspeakably vicious. The trolls knew ways to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies, but so did the Bleeding Hollow. Even so, the Bleeding Hollow were at a severe disadvantage. They seemed to outnumber the Gurubashi in every skirmish, but the trolls knew the land too well. Had the Gurubashi not been so weakened by their attack on Stormwind—and by Medivh's defense of the city—they might have matched the Horde in strength. Yet the trolls could not muster the numbers to do anything but wage a guerrilla campaign in the jungles. But that was enough. When the leader of the Horde, Warchief Blackhand, found out how many orcs were dying in Stranglethorn Vale—for no apparent gain—he ordered the Bleeding Hollow to retreat and join the fight against the humans. The Gurubashi did not pursue the orcs out of the jungle. The trolls remained inside their own territory, ever on alert for another invasion.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Jin'do summoning Hakkar from the Altar of the Blood God.

A few years after the Third War, in 25 ADP, an old threat started stirring once again. More than a thousand years ago, Ysera and her green dragonflight had intervened when the Atal'ai had tried to summon Hakkar the Soulflayer to Azeroth. But the green dragons whose duty it was to guard the Sunken Temple were subtly being affected by the Emerald Nightmare. The descendants of the Atal'ai trolls returned to the temple and found that its guardians were disoriented and vulnerable. Both the Nightmare and the trolls dragged the dragons down into the depths of madness and corruption. In firm control of the temple, the Atal'ai began their gruesome rituals to summon Hakkar into Azeroth again. A green dragon named Itharius called for help from the Cenarion Circle, and the druids sent an Alliance force to cleanse the temple. These champions slaughtered many Atal'ai adherents and put an end to their rituals.

Rise of the Blood God

The Zandalari trolls were shocked to learn about the attempt to summon Hakkar, as they believed the Loa of Blood's return would herald a dark time for their people. They were pleased to hear that the Atal'ai had been defeated in the Sunken Temple, but their relief soon turned to horror. Some of Hakkar's adherents had survived, and they were continuing their quest. They had quietly infiltrated Zul'Gurub and enslaved the minds of many of their most powerful priests. Together, the Atal'ai and their unwilling servants were performing grisly rituals to draw Hakkar into the world. Not all trolls in the region fell under the Atal'ai's sway. Some launched an offensive to retake Zul'Gurub, but it ended in failure. The mighty trolls who fearlessly stormed the capital never returned. Instead, the Atal'ai captured and enslaved them, too. The Atal'ai and their leader, Jin'do the Hexxer, were growing more powerful by the day. The Zandalari knew that they did not have the resources to scour them from Zul'Gurub. They sent word through the Darkspear trolls that the Horde needed to act immediately. If the Atal'ai completed their summoning of Hakkar, it would throw the world into chaos. Thrall ordered a large strike force to respond to the threat. The battle for Zul'Gurub was costly and brutal. The Horde charged into the temple city, hacking through masses of Atal'ai and their enslaved followers. Though they slew Jin'do the Hexxer, his death came too late to stop Hakkar from entering the world. The Loa of Blood manifested as a force of death and insanity, but the champions prevailed, using Hakkar's own magic to defeat it.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

When the Cataclysm struck the world in 28 ADP, the Gurubashi remained holed up in Zul'Gurub, where Jin'do began implementing a plan to return Hakkar to the world. His plan saw the Gurubashi membership increase thanks to the aid of adventurers and Ohgan'aka who helped bring Bloodlord Mandokir back to life, while Jin'do recruited Zanzil back into the fold. Zanzil then attempted to resurrect High Priest Venoxis and High Priestess Jeklik, though only Venoxis returned to life as the heroes thwarted Jeklik's resurrection. Meanwhile, High Priestess Arlokk's sister, Kilnara, had risen to the position of High Priestess and aided Jin'do in his plans.

The tribe was also apparently willing to work with the Dark Horde, as they were requested for a witch doctor to come and sacrifice one of the Bravo Company, Krakauer, in a dark ritual. Their ritualist, Ritualist Tarak, was slain by an adventurer and two members of the Company, Jorgensen and Messner, before the ritual was complete.

Rise of the Zandalari

The efforts to summon Hakkar begun anew amid the alliance between the Gurubashi and Zandalari.

The Gurubashi would later gain unexpected help from the Zandalar tribe when the mysterious prophet only known as Zul issued a call for Azeroth's embattled troll populations to unite into a single empire. Accompanied by members of the Gurubashi, Jin'do arrived at a meeting in Zandalar where he, Daakara and the Amani, and Vol'jin with the Darkspear, and an unknown Ice troll were told by Zul about Zul'Drak being lost to the Scourge and how Zul'Farrak is now a wasteland. They were told that the Zandalari plan to reclaim the former glory of the troll race, will crush any who stand in their way and stated that the troll empire would rise again. The Gurubashi representatives cheer and accept the Zandalari's offer. Vol'jin, who viewed the Horde as his true brothers, sent members of his tribe to both Orgrimmar and Stormwind recognizing that the threat of a new troll empire was something that the Horde couldn't handle alone. While Vol'jin was able to gather a mobile force to keep the Amani from surging out of Zul'Aman, he was unable to contain the Gurubashi.

During the war against the Zandalari, in Northern Stranglethorn's Bambala, Fort Livingston, Nesingwary's Expedition, Grom'gol Base Camp, and the Rebel Camp came under attack by serpents sent by High Priest Venoxis. High Priestess Kilnara sent panthers to attack the Rebel Camp and Grom'gol while the panther Mauti attacked the hunters at Nesingwary's Expedition. Both Grom'gol and the Rebel Camp later came under attack by Gurubashi trolls led by Bloodlord Mandokir. After heroes of the Horde and Alliance beat back the Gurubashi attack, they were sent to the Cape of Stranglethorn, which faced its own troubles.

Zanzil the Outcast aided the Gurubashi by turning the inhabitants of both Hardwrench Hideaway and the Explorers' League Digsite into voodoo zombies by poisoning the food in each town. After saving their respective towns, adventurers were sent to speak to a troll who was warning Baron Revilgaz and Booty Bay about the Gurubashi. This troll turned out to be none other than Vol'jin, the Darkspear leader himself.

Darkspear agents inside Zul'Gurub had discovered that Jin'do is wrestling Hakkar the Soulflayer into submission, holding him by spirit chains and stripping out his power into himself. They enlisted adventurers to put an end to Jin'do's mad plans once and for all. Upon destroying the spiritual chains holding the Soulflayer in place, Hakkar turned upon Jin'do, and utterly destroyed him, leaving only the corpse of Jin'do the Broken. Hakkar then returned the adventurers to the mortal realm, promising to deal with them another time, before vanishing. Though Hakkar was free, the Zandalari lost their hold on Zul'Gurub, while the Gurubashi was dealt a severe blow that it may not recover from.

Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

As the Alliance and Horde were exploring the continent of Pandaria in 30 ADP, word of its rediscovery reached the Zandalari trolls as well. By the hundreds, these Zandalari boarded ships and set sail to conquer the long-lost continent. The Gurubashi bolstered the Zandalari forces invading the northern shores of Pandaria, along with the Amani, Drakkari, and Farraki tribes. After the Zandalari managed to revive their ancient ally, Lei Shen, the Thunder King, the Gurubashi convened with the other troll tribes and the mogu on the Isle of Thunder. There, they faced the combined forces of the Alliance and Horde, who eventually managed to raid the Throne of Thunder, Lei Shen's seat of power. In the end, while they fought fiercely, the Gurubashi and their leader, High Priestess Mar'li, were defeated.

Fourth War and aftermath

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

During the Fourth War in 33 ADP, members of the Gurubashi residing in the Port of Zandalar in Zuldazar resisted the idea of the Horde allying with the Zandalari Empire. Princess Talanji had recently opened the port to all races to peddle their wares, but these merchants were being shaken down by Gurubashi thugs, among thugs from other tribes.

Furthermore, the Gurubashi enclave in Zuldazar, Tal'gurub, was taken over by the witch doctor Vol'jamba, a former pupil of Zul who enslaved the minds of the Gurubashi residents. Horde adventurers, accompanied by Zul, freed the spirits of the deceased who were being used for dark voodoo rituals, as well as the survivors from their mind control.

They later appeared at the Speakers' Step, having worked themselves into a murderous rampage. An adventurer culled them. They apparently developed a mental weakness since the rise and fall of Hakkar. Part of the reason why they were upset was because the Darkspear had been granted an embassy in Dazar'alor, despite the Horde having helped them against the Jambani.

When Master Gadrin sought to have Vol'jin's ashes be placed in Atal'Dazar, Gurubashi trolls were among the challengers who tried to stop him.

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

Following the death of Vol'jamba and his followers, Tal'gurub was given back to the Gurubashi survivors. In 42 ADP, when High Arcanist Thalyssra visited Zuldazar, she noted that Tal'gurub had become a hive of activity.

Culture

Main article: Jungle troll

Razzashi raptors are among the cleverest predators in the jungle, making them favored by the Gurubashi trolls. The only known Razzashi Raptors were said to have been in the custody of Bloodlord Mandokir in Zul'Gurub. This species of raptor has not been seen in many years. The purebred royal raptors of Zul'Gurub, these mounts have become a rare sight in Stranglethorn Vale. The Gurubashi have been known to fly into a rage at the sight of any non-troll riding one of their precious beasts.

The Black War Raptor is bred from the same vicious line that sired Ohgan and brought victory to the Gurubashi Empire.

Stranglethorn's Gurubashi trolls often capture powerful snakes to keep as pets or to cook as meals.

Notable members

Name	Role	Status	Location
High Priestess Mar'li	Hight prietress of Shadra, Leader of the tribe and Member of the Council of Elders	Deceased	Lightning Promenade, Throne of Thunder
Bloodlord Mandokir	Former lord of the tribe	Deceased	Mandokir's Domain, Zul'Gurub
Zan'non	Jok'non's son and successor as warlord of the Gurubashi.	Deceased	Unknown
Jok'non	A warlord of the Gurubashi prior to the First War.	Deceased	Unknown
Var'gazul	A chief of the Gurubashi Empire in the past.	Deceased	Unknown

Loa

Loa	Role	High priest(s)	Temple	Status
Bethekk	Loa of panthers	Kilnara	Temple of Bethekk	Alive
Shadra	Loa of spiders, venom, and spies	Mar'li	Shadra'zaar	Reincarnating
Hakkar	Loa of blood	Unknown	Altar of the Blood God	Reincarnating
Hethiss	Loa of snakes	Venoxis	The Coil	Alive
Hir'eek	Loa of bats and the night	Jeklik	Altar of Hir'eek	Reincarnating
Shirvallah	Loa of tigers	Thekal	Naze of Shirvallah	Alive

Notes and trivia

• The Gurubashi tribe was originally meant to have a larger role to play in Zandalar than they did.
  • Several unused NPCs are in the game's files, namely, Ambassador Shala, who uses the same model as Mar'li. Other NPCs include Embassy Headhunters, and Enraged Headhunters.
  • All of these NPCs are notably tagged with Gurubashi Empire, rather than the tribe.
• Gurubashi trolls have been inconsistently displayed over the years; when they were first encountered, they appeared physically similar to all other jungle troll tribes, having various shades of blue and light green skin along with thin, lithe bodies.
  • However, for an unknown reason, ever since the Rise of the Zandalari, Gurubashi trolls have appeared in different ways. While the jungle troll model and skin tones are still commonly used, they are not the only depiction. Several trolls, such as the Gurubashi Warmongers and Gurubashi Workers, appear with forest troll models, which have become a somewhat common appearance for Gurubashi trolls ever since, even showing up at the Throne of Thunder.
  • Witch Doctor Qu'in and a few others have dark skin, which some speculate to have been added for dark trolls.
  • Meanwhile some Gurubashi like Venomancer T'Kulu and Venomancer Mauri, including venom priests that appear during the Horridon fight, have the pinkish skin of the old Zandalari trolls.
  • The Gurubashi tribe appeared on Zandalar in Battle for Azeroth, this time having only jungle troll models and skin tones during their main questline appearances. However, their dire trolls had a shade of green skin most commonly seen on forest trolls. Their appearance in the world quest,  [50WQ] Hundred Troll Holdout, once again depicts them with forest troll skin tones, though this time with jungle troll models.

Gallery

• 

  Gurubashi Arena in the Trading Card Game.
• 

  Gurubashi Dwarf Destroyer in the TCG.
• 

  Gurubashi Hypemon in Hearthstone.
• 

  Gurubashi Offering in Hearthstone.

See also

• Troll Compendium/Jungle Troll Tribes#Gurubashi Tribe