Stormriders

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"Stormrider" redirects here. For the Storm Peaks elementals, see Stormrider (elemental).
NeutralStormriders
Baelgrim Zarein and Stormperch.png
Baelgrim and Zarein by Stormperch
Main leader IconSmall Lufsela.gif Stormward Lufsela
  Formerly IconSmall Earthen Male.gif Stormward Baelgrim †
Secondary leaders IconSmall Earthen Male.gif Stormguard Vokmar
IconSmall Earthen Male.gif Stormguard Olbarig
IconSmall Earthen Female.gif Stormranger Kothilde
  Formerly IconSmall Skardyn Male.gif Stormguard Gorren †
Race(s) EarthenEarthen Earthen
Character classes Rider
Base of operations Dhar Oztan, Stormperch
Theater of operations Isle of Dorn
Language(s) Titan, Common, Orcish
Affiliation Council of Dornogal
Status Active

The Stormriders are the protectors of the Isle of Dorn. Riding stormrooks and wielding steel and lightning, they serve as the traditional army of the earthen of Khaz Algar.[1] Following the crash of Dalaran on the Isle of Dorn, many riders and rooks were lost during the infiltration of the Stormperch, and more fell to the nerubians, including their leader, Stormward Baelgrim, who died valiantly. In the wake of this decimation, the remaining Stormriders ended up rallying behind a rooktender named Lufsela, who had bonded with her stormrook, Shraubendre, without subjugating it. With the aid of Thrall, the adventurer, and Kurdran Wildhammer, a new generation of Stormriders and stormrooks emerged, revitalizing the order.

History

Stormward Baelgrim, the previous leader of the Stormriders.
Dhar Oztan, birthplace of the Stormriders.

Following the events of incident report 605-D9, the Stormrider designation was instituted in an effort to keep the Coreway and the surrounding sector safe from external threats. Utilizing newly-bound storm elementals (referred to as "stormrooks"), the Stormriders were calibrated with combat prowess and strategic awareness to execute their assigned roles. The Stormriders were originally stationed at the western watchtower of Dhar Oztan. Following the construction of Storm's Watch, they were deployed to multiple sites within their patrol district in Sector AR-938.[2]

Their leader, Baelgrim, was one of the four wards uplifted by the Titans to maintain the Edicts and build the Coreway and its fortress, Dornogal. Under his command, they have protected the isle since their inception.[3] He was the first Stormward, the very embodiment of the Stormriders, and the foremost earthen expert on stormrooks. Furthermore, he was able to summon new stormrooks from the peak of Dhar Oztan.[4] As Stormward, his directive was to protect the isle and the earthen.[5]

At some point, he had a falling out with Stormguard Olbarig, his second-in-command, over the binding of the rooks, and Olbarig left the order.[4] Baelgrim then appointed Gorren as his new Stormguard. Unbeknownst to Baelgrim, Gorren harbored great resentment toward Baelgrim for being chosen as Stormward over him—a disdain that would fester over their centuries of service.[6]

When the Stonebound began to quit their edicts and leave Dornogal, becoming the Unbound, Baelgrim was furious, particularly with Adelgonn, who abandoned her duty as Stoneward. Baelgrim, and subsequently the Stormriders, left the Unbound to fend for themselves against the threats on the Isle of Dorn.[7] Stormriders who shared the beliefs of the Unbound were discharged from the order.[8]

The War Within

The War Within This section concerns content related to The War Within.

The Stormriders strike down the nerubians.

During the war in Khaz Algar, when Dalaran crashed on the Isle of Dorn, Baelgrim went to investigate the situation, bringing a contingent of Stormriders with him and leaving Gorren in charge of the Stormperch.[9] At the crash site, he assisted the outlanders in repelling the nerubians attacking them, only to realize it had been a distraction so the nerubians could launch an assault on Dornogal.[10] He returned to Dornogal alongside his Stormriders and the outlanders and led its defense, fending off the nerubians from the city, but not before they destroyed the Coreway.[11]

Needing the aid of the Unbound to repair the Coreway, Councilward Merrix directed Baelgrim to take Moira Thaurissan, who had offered to serve as a liaison, to Freywold Village. Baelgrim begrudgingly agreed and met with Adelgonn in the village. Despite an initially tense reunion,[7] Baelgrim managed to reconcile with Adelgonn, with some help from Moira and adventurers.[12] Soon after, they dealt with a sudden nerubian attack at the Proscenium.[13]

Void-corrupted Stormguard Gorren in Stormperch.

With the Unbound returning to the city and preparing to repair the Coreway, Baelgrim set off to the Stormperch to rally the Stormriders. There, he discovered that Gorren had betrayed the order and made a deal with Xal'atath for power, corrupting many of the Stormriders into skardyn and unleashing void monstrosities within the rookery. Gorren declared that Baelgrim was ill-chosen and that he, not Baelgrim, should have become Stormward. With the help of adventurers, Baelgrim was able to defeat Gorren, his followers, and the creatures they unleashed, but nearly the entire Stormrider order was wiped out by Gorren's betrayal.[9]

With the Stormriders decimated, it became imperative to divert the nerubians away from the city. Baelgrim planned to draw the nerubians, including their leader Queensguard Zirix, to Cinderbrew Meadery and ignite the place, causing an explosion that would wipe them out.[14] However, they were cut off from the fuses in the ensuing battle. Baelgrim ultimately sacrificed himself to trigger the explosion, killing Queensguard Zirix and the gathered nerubian troops.[5]

Because of the recent conflicts, the Stormriders had lost their stormrooks, who had dispersed back to Skywall, and with only a few veterans remaining, things looked grim. The survivors were grievously injured, and without their stormrooks, they could do little to patrol the isles, let alone train more riders. When the Horde and Alliance arrived on the shores of the Isle of Dorn and started training the earthen for war, Alleria Windrunner tasked adventurers to help restore the Stormriders. Alongside Thrall, they discovered that one of the order, a rooktender by the name of Lufsela, still held her stormrook. She had managed to bond with a wild stormrook, Shraubendre, without subjugating her.[15] In Lufsela, Thrall sensed a bond with the rooks, even those returned to the storm, and thus Lufsela journeyed with them to Dhar Oztan, hoping to discover how to summon the stormrooks like Baelgrim used to do. There, they encountered Olbarig, Baelgrim's first Stormguard, and a number of earthen pilgrims who had been drawn to the site by a mysterious call they had felt.[4] With guidance from Thrall and Olbarig and the help from adventurers, Lufsela eventually succeeded in her mission. The stormrooks, who had been the ones calling to the earthen pilgrims from the elemental plane, found their matches among those gathered, choosing their riders, who were then made Stormriders.[16][17]

The new generation of Stormriders meet the Wildhammer clan at Dhar Oztan.

With most of the older Stormriders still injured, Kurdran Wildhammer was brought in to train the new generation.[18] This training included aerial maneuvers and combat while riding their stormrooks.[19][20] Around this time, Olbarig also went to Cinderbrew Meadery to pay respects to Baelgrim. While doing so, he found Baelgrim's stormrook, Zarein. Shocked that Zarein had not returned to Skywall, Olbarig realized that the stormrook had been mourning Baelgrim as well. Despite Baelgrim's adherence to the Edicts, he had bonded with his rook deeply. Zarein now remained, having chosen to continue serving. Bonding with Olbarig over their shared grief, Zarein took Olbarig as its new rider.[21][22]

The training the new Stormriders received, along with Olbarig's new bond with Zarein, came at an opportune time. Shortly after the earthen renounced the Edicts as a people, a titanic failsafe activated, threatening the entire island. Riding out with adventurers, the new Stormriders proved their worth by defeating the Colossal Titan Construct that had risen from the sea on the southern shore of the isle. In the aftermath of this victory, the Stormriders took a victory lap over the isle, letting all earthen know they were under their protection once more. Incomplete without a leader, Merrix looked to Olbarig to be their new Stormward. However, he declined, believing that another among their rank was more worthy, and nominated Lufesela for bringing back the Stormrooks and making them equal to their riders. Lufsela accepted the charge, taking the mantle of Stormward, and named Olbarig and Vokmar her new Stormguards.[23]

The Stormriders were later amongst the forces that arrived to aid the Arathi when the nerubians launched an all-out assault on Hallowfall.[24]

Following the wave of recently awakened earthen leaving Khaz Algar, Olbarig was sent to Orgrimmar as a delegate to meet with the Horde.[25] Meanwhile, Vokmar traveled to Ironforge to do the same with the Alliance.[26] Stormward Lufsela also commissioned a new branch of the Stormriders called the "Stormrangers," tasked with scouting ahead for the Awakened earthen, assisting them as they explore outside Khaz Algar, and acting as the eyes and ears of the Council. Kothilde was appointed as their leader.[27]

During the joint Arathi, earthen, and goblin expedition to Siren Isle, the Council of Dornogal dispatched Stormrangers to protect them on their journey.[28]

When Hallowfall once again came under threat by the Sureki and the Arathi army was stretched thin, a call to arms was issued to those with the strength to wield a weapon, and the Flame's Radiance was formed. When news reached Dornogal, Lufsela requested Stomrider Gurnot lead a unit to support their cause. Subsequently, he and his Stormriders could be found helping the Arathi defend Mereldar from the nerubians.[29]

Organization

A Stormrider.

The Stormriders are sworn to protect the Coreway, the surrounding sector, and the earthen that live in it from all threats. They are assigned to the skies above Dornogal, the Stormperch, Dhar Oztan, and the Dhar Watchtowers: Dhar Bandar, Dhar Durgaz, and Dhar Kazhad.[30] The leader of the Stormriders is called the Stormward. There have been only two Stormwards in the order's long history: Baelgrim, who held the position from the founding of the order until his recent death, and Lufsela. The Stormward's second-in-command is called the Stormguard. While the position was traditionally held by one person, Lufsela recently appointed two people to the role. Stormriders used to be calibrated with combat expertise and tactical insight in the Awakening Machine to execute their designated roles. However, the new generation of Stormriders can come from any background and are not required to have been calibrated for this designation beforehand in the Machine.[17]

While stormhammers are their signature weapons, Stormriders are also trained to use shields, spears, and throwing axes.[31] Stormriders must prove their competence in battle before they are granted clearance to wear Stormrider armor.[32] The greatest Stormriders in the order do not merely possess the power of the storm; they have mastered it over many battles, being able to channel the storm's power through their armor.[33]

Despite its name, the order is not solely made up of Stormriders. Rooktenders and rookguards, who tend and protect the stormrooks, are also part of the Stormriders. In addition, the Stormriders have Archivists assigned to the Stormperch to maintain records of ongoing events there, and Ordinants, the elite forgemasters of the earthen.[2] Like other branches of earthen society, there are also Caretakers in the order. They are responsible for healing wounded riders and ensuring they are safely guided to the Stonevault when the end of their cycle draws near. While not officially Stormriders, Caretakers receive adequate training to assist them effectively in the field. They rarely see combat, but they are given the necessary skills to ride a Stormrook of their own. Odarrok is currently the last of them.[34] On rare occasions, Peacekeepers accompany the Stormriders into the Coreway to deal with unexpected threats.[2]

The Voidriders were a short-lived offshoot of the Stormriders, created by Gorren after he betrayed the order and turned many of its members into skardyn.[35]

The Stormrangers are a new group within the Stormriders, created by Lufsela. Their duty is to explore outside Khaz Algar, act as scouts for the Awakened, and serve as the eyes and ears of the Council of Dornogal.[27]

Stormrooks

Main article: Stormrook
A fully clad stormrook (with leg bindings).

Fast, clever, and capable of powerful offensive attacks, the stormrooks are the mounts and companions of the Stormriders. Until recently, the Stormriders used magical leg bindings to keep their stormrooks in check. No Stormrider was permitted to combat train a rook without bindings. However, this created a stifled bond between the rider and the rook. While obedient and responsive to their riders' commands, the inherent connection observed in other creatures tamed by the earthen, such as the cloudrooks or ramoliths, was far more muted in the stormrooks. Their guardianship was displayed through strict commands, and their responsiveness was tied to the discipline of their rider. Despite this, some riders and rooks managed to form a strong bond to the point where the rooks would refuse to take on another rider in the event of their rider's passing.[36] A Stormrider's stormrook can not only navigate extreme winds with grace but also conjure fierce tempests to defend themselves.[37] While stormrooks do not need to eat, Stormriders feed them charged moss, sourced from Rambleshire, which helps heal and empower the rooks.[36]

Following the rise of the new Stormriders, stormrooks are no longer bound to service. Instead, they now choose to serve and select their own riders.[16]

Notable

Main article: Stormriders members
Stormward Lufsela, the current leader of the Stormriders.
Former

Notes

  • The stormriders all wear a variation of some sort of the Stormrider's Attire set.
    • The base gold and blue set is worn by the typical stormriders. The silver and gold variant is worn by the stormrangers. The purple and black variant has so far only been seen on the void-corrupted stormriders. The black and red variant has yet to be used.

Gallery

References

 
  1. ^ N [80] Ground Pounders
  2. ^ a b c Dawn Interface
  3. ^ N [70-73] State of the Union
  4. ^ a b c N [80] Dhar Oztan
  5. ^ a b N [70-73] Bring the Thunder
  6. ^ Stormguard Gorren dialogue just before Kyrioss
  7. ^ a b N [70-73] The Fourth Seat
  8. ^ N [70-73] Honor Their Memories
  9. ^ a b N [70-73] Calling the Stormriders
  10. ^ N [68-70] Secure the Beach
  11. ^ N [68-70] They Come from Below
  12. ^ N [70-73] Echoes of Compassion
  13. ^ N [70-73] The Proscenium
  14. ^ N [70-73] Lasting Repairs
  15. ^ N [80] After the Storm
  16. ^ a b N [80] Rook Rally
  17. ^ a b N [80] Strays
  18. ^ N [80] Flight Training 101
  19. ^ N [80] Flight Training 102
  20. ^ N [80] Flight Training 103
  21. ^ N [80] Paying Respects
  22. ^ N [80] The Edicts
  23. ^ N [80] Titanic Failsafe
  24. ^ N [80] The Might of Khaz Algar
  25. ^ Olbarig#Quotes
  26. ^ Vokmar#Quotes
  27. ^ a b Kothilde dialogue.
  28. ^ Stormranger Guide#Quotes
  29. ^ Gurnot#Quotes
  30. ^ N IconSmall Earthen Male.gifIconSmall Earthen Female.gif [10] The Analysis Interface
  31. ^ N [80] Conduit of the Southern Storm
  32. ^ N [70-80] The Stormrider's Bond
  33. ^ N [70-80] A Sacred Connection
  34. ^ Odarrok#Quotes
  35. ^ Stormguard Gorren#Adventure Guide
  36. ^ a b Observational Notes: Stormrooks
  37. ^ Gale's Pet Journal description
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