Nekros Skullcrusher
 Nekros Skullcrusher | |
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| Gender | Male |
| Race | Orc |
| Class | Warrior, Warlock, Shaman (formerly) |
| Affiliation(s) | Old Horde, Dragonmaw clan |
| Occupation | Second-in-command of the Dragonmaw clan, Warden of the Dragonqueen, Holder of the Demon Soul |
| Location | Unknown |
| Status | Deceased |
| Relative(s) | Nek'rosh Skullcrusher (son) |
| Mentor(s) | Zuluhed (shaman master)[1] |
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Nekros Skullcrusher was the loyal second to Zuluhed the Whacked, chieftain of the Dragonmaw clan, and was entrusted as both warden of the dragonqueen Alexstrasza and wielder of the Demon Soul that held her prisoner.
History
In his youth, Nekros had shown promise as an apprentice shaman, and his master Zuluhed had held hopes for him. After the Dragonmaw clan joined the nascent Horde, Nekros became a warlock instead, but never joined with the Shadow Council when faced between being loyal to Gul'dan or his clan.[1] Nekros never cared for his dark, magical calling. He fled from the warlock ranks, returning to his warrior ways. But his duty to his clan, and himself, demanded that he saddle his burden, especially after a human knight deprived him of half a leg.[2][3] Now having a peg leg, he was barely able to move around his base. His weapon was known as the 
[Scepter of Nekros Skullcrusher].
At the beginning of the Second War, Nekros acted as Zuluhed's second-in-command and was among those whom Zuluhed took to Redridge's mountains to find an artifact from his vision. They found a cave with a golden disc, guarded by the red dragon Orastrasz. Zuluhed and his clan fell upon the dragon. Many orcs fell to the dragon, but they eventually killed him. Zuluhed then ordered the clan's greatest warlock, Nekros, to recover the artifact. He renamed it to the Demon Soul.[4] Zuluhed left it with Nekros to unravel its secrets,[5] and when the Horde was nearing completion of building the ships to cross to Lordaeron, Nekros unlocked the secrets of the artifact[6] with the help of Deathwing's visions. Alexstrasza sensed something was wrong so she headed south of Lordaeron. After witnessing the Horde's attack on Khaz Modan, she found the artifact in the hands of the orcs and together with her fellow dragons descended on the orcs. Unbeknownst to her, Nekros learned from his vision how to unleash Demon Soul's true power and subjugate Alexstrasza, which the orc did. With Alexstrasza injured and fallen from the sky, the orcs swarmed her and bound her in chains. The other dragons tried to help her, but Nekros kept using the artifact, until they saw he was hurting her, effectively subjugating the remaining dragons as well.[7]
Nekros became her warden in Grim Batol, using the Demon Soul to inflict unimaginable pain on her whenever she did not cooperate. When she tried to starve herself, he shattered an egg before her which forced her to return to cooperation with the orc.[8]
Nekros continually abused her, both mentally and physically, especially after the Second War, when she became the only real weapon the Old Horde had against the Alliance. Tyranastrasz, whom Nekros thought to have been her last living consort, was also being held captive with her, but was slowly dying after he contracted a fatal ailment while imprisoned by the Orcs. Nekros knew he would soon have no further means of producing more red dragon eggs to aid the Horde's fight against the Alliance.
Nekros was tricked by Deathwing into moving Alexstrasza into the open. Deathwing's own plan was to steal the red dragonflight eggs in the confusion. Alexstrasza was freed by her consort Korialstrasz, and the first thing she did was dispose of Nekros, swallowing him whole and alive.[9]
His son Nek'rosh survived the massacre.
Personal beliefs
- He believed in the fortune-telling method known as bone rolling. He believed he had a fate the bones rolled for him, long, long ago.[2]
- He believed in an afterlife filled with glorious battlefields (presumably the orcs believed they would be able to continue fight on the battlefields for eternity).[3] Shadowlands later proved him right with the existence of Maldraxxus.
Memorable quotes
- Well, this one and his comrades have come too late! You'll not get the dragon and her young, human! Nekros thought ahead of you all!
- We're not craven, backstabbing scum like Orgrim Doomhammer! Dragonmaw clan fights to the bloody end, even if it be our own!
- No tricks, mage! Give me the disk back and I may let you live!
In the RPG
When Mulfseam was telling Brann Bronzebeard about the Dragonmaw clan, he couldn't remember the name of a chief with one leg so he referred to him as One Leg.[10]
Notes
- He is also referred to as a Horde warlord.[11]
- In the index of the Ultimate Visual Guide book, he is called Nekros Skullcatcher which is likely an oversight.
- In Greek, νεκρός (nekrós) means dead. This is the word necromancy is derived from, perhaps a reference to the darker forms of magic he used.
Relatives
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This section includes speculation on characters that might be related, usually because they may share a last name. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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He may be related to Raz Skullcrusher.
References
- ^ a b Tides of Darkness, chapter 9
- ^ a b Day of the Dragon, pg. 51
- ^ a b Day of the Dragon, pg. 52
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 141
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 146
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Dragonflight Codex, pg. 28
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 155
- ^ Tides of Darkness, pg. 143
- ^ Day of the Dragon, pg. 355
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 74
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 172
| Preceded by: Zuluhed the Whacked |
Position: Leader of the Dragonmaw Clan (Azeroth) |
Succeeded by: Nek'rosh Skullcrusher |
| Preceded by: Khardros Wildhammer |
Position: Ruler of Grim Batol |
Succeeded by: Deathwing |
fr:Nekros Skullcrusher