The World of Warcraft Townhall/Beastiary

This article is a copy of "The World of Warcraft Bestiary" or simply "Bestiary", an official article by Blizzard Entertainment. It presented creatures implemented in the game and was followed by the Burning Crusade Bestiary and the Wrath of the Lich King Bestiary. The original article did not survive the overhaul of the World of Warcraft Official Website, but can still be viewed through online archives (see below).

Furbolg

What once were believed to be only whispers and rumors of attacks by savage and cruel bands of furbolg in the night elves' enchanted forest have become an increasing concern for the Sentinels. It is thought that the passing of the Burning Legion and the vestiges of its demonic taint drove the simple and peaceful bear-men to madness. Their aged and wizened leaders have been replaced by ruthless firebrands who lead the crazed furbolgs to prey upon the denizens of Ashenvale Forest. Where the furbolgs coexisted peacefully with the night elves for ages, with claw and fang they now seek to carve out their own home in the endless forest.

Found in: Teldrassil, Ashenvale Forest

Harpy

Once content to confine themselves to their ancestral home in the peaks of the Stonetalon Mountains, the feral and vicious harpies of Kalimdor have spread their influence across the length and breadth of the continent. The vicious winged women have taken to raiding unsuspecting caravans and savaging any who cross into their territories. Their nests, littered with the gruesome remains of their victims, are now a common sight from the arid mesas of Durotar to the lush forests of Teldrassil.

Found in: Teldrassil, Mulgore, Durotar, the Barrens

Green Dragonspawn

Heeding the call of their goddess, Ysera, the Green Dragonspawn stand to protect Azeroth from the waking evil within the Sunken Temple. Dragonspawn form the ranks of the ground army within each of the five great dragonflights. Among the murk-ridden marshes of the Swamp of Sorrows, the Green Dragonspawn patrol at the behest of their dreaming mistress; Ysera has warned of a lurking terror within the temple, and her loyal servants are determined to protect the land from the emerging doom.

Found in: Swamp of Sorrows

Frostmane Troll

The Frostmane Trolls once ruled over the frigid lands of Dun Morogh, only to have their empire fall to Dwarven armies. These tribal creatures were driven to the hills in retreat -- a shameful blow to their warring nature. With King Magni's forces split between the Alliance Wars and quelling the Trogg invasion, the Frostmane Trolls have seized the opportunity to reclaim Dun Morogh in an attempt to restore the kingdom that crumbled under Dwarven might ages ago.

Found in: Dun Morogh

Rockjaw Trogg

The jagged, snowy peaks of Dun Morogh provide the Ironforge Dwarves with a limitless supply of ore and stone for their ambitious engineering endeavors. From the city of Ironforge, dug deep into the mountains, to Anvilmar in the Coldridge Valley, the marvels of Dwarven ingenuity mark the land. Not all is at peace in Dun Morogh, however. The Dwarves' insatiable digging at the Gol'Bolar Quarry unleashed a menacing tribe of Rockjaw Troggs from their subterranean den. While the massing Trogg invasion looms over the lands of King Magni Bronzebeard, the Frostmane Trolls have taken advantage of the distraction to attempt to reclaim their ancestral home. Life is harsh in the white-powdered mountains of Dun Morogh, but what the Dwarven people lack in height they make up for in heart and valor.

Found in: Dun Morogh

Skeleton

A strange darkness has recently engulfed the region of Duskwood, bringing out Skeletons and other Undead creatures from deep within the shadows. While gangly and seemingly frail, the Skeletons possess superhuman strength and are highly resistant to most physical attacks. Though it is unclear whom the Skeletons work for or whether they serve a greater purpose at all, it is alarmingly clear that they seek to destroy anything in their paths.

Found in: Duskwood

Venom Spider

Long ago, Elwynn Forest was populated with a group of Spiders that lived peacefully among the woods. However, when the curse fell over Duskwood - turning the once peaceful woodland into a realm of terror - the Spiders began to mutate and grow to monstrous proportions. Now, the lurking Venom Spider hunt their hapless prey in all of the shadowed corners of the land. Possessing both deadly acidic venom and powerful webbing, these cruel beasts stalk any foolish wanderers who stray too far into the haunted woods.

Found in: Duskwood

Basilisk

These powerful, enchanted creatures are something of an anomaly throughout the land of Azeroth. They are not known for their ill temper, but if provoked, these hulking creatures will defend themselves and their nesting grounds with ferocity. Fond of the legendary "singing crystals" of Stranglethorn, the Basilisk have learned that consuming these crystals will give them exceptional powers to lull their prey to sleep or even turn them to stone. As a side effect of eating the crystals, the Basilisk have mutated: the mystical crystals now grow from their scaly hides, giving them even greater power against their enemies.

Found in: Stranglethorn Vale

Jungle Troll

The Jungle Trolls are dark, superstitious creatures who revel in the hunt and the rigors of personal combat. In ancient times, the Jungle Trolls reigned over the lands south of the Redridge Mountains. Though their glorious kingdoms have since fallen to ruin, they seek to reclaim the dark majesty of their former empire. Equipped with voodoo magics and unparalleled combat skills, these Trolls have become relentless in their efforts to reclaim their jungle homeland.

Found in: Stranglethorn Vale

Harvest Golem

The terrifying Harvest Golems are mechanical constructs programmed to hunt down and terminate the Human inhabitants of Westfall. Though their origin is uncertain, some believe that only the wily Goblins could have created these mechanical monstrosities. Others speculate that the Defias Thieves had the Harvest Golems built to scare off the local inhabitants of Westfall so that they could run their smuggling operations with greater impunity. Whatever the case may be, the Harvest Golems have done their jobs well - eliciting terror in anyone foolish enough to roam the fallow fields of Westfall alone.

Found in: Westfall

Defias Thief

Legend holds that the Defias Brotherhood was founded by a group of noblemen who once stood for freedom and justice. Having long ago forsaken those noble virtues, the mysterious Defias faction is now composed of thieves, bandits, and vicious mercenaries. This vile group is determined to wreak havoc upon and ultimately destroy the House of Nobles in Stormwind City. Convinced that the Nobles are corrupt and villainous, the Defias Brotherhood has waged an underground war in their quest to rid the land of their hated enemies.

Found in: Westfall, Elwynn Forest

Gnoll

The cunning Gnoll packs of the Redridge Mountains have notoriously plagued the Human and Dwarven kingdoms alike. Recent times, however, have seen the Riverpaw Pack of Gnolls became a more ominous threat, raiding farms and Human villages throughout Elwynn forest. Many speculate that the historically dimwitted Gnolls have conspired with another force, which is equipping them with weapons, tactical leadership, and magic. Though it is unclear what the Gnolls are after, the Stormwind Marshals have now realized that the creatures pose an obvious threat to the kingdom and must be eradicated.

Found in: Elwynn Forest

Kobold

The grimy, vermin-like Kobolds dwell deep within the crags and rocky caves of the Redridge Mountains. These slovenly creatures are best known for their penchant for digging and their underground excavations. Most recently, the Kobolds have found themselves falling prey to the merciless Riverpaw Pack of Gnolls. These cunning Gnolls have proven themselves to be merciless taskmasters, forcing the Kobolds into an existence of neverending drudgery. Since their enslavement, the historically meek Kobolds have grown bitter and aggressive toward any creature that meddles with their ceaseless labor.

Found in: Elwynn Forest

References

The bestiary can still be viewed here through the Wayback Machine. The images (both .jpg and .gif) were retrieved from http://www.diablo3.com.au/wow/townhall/beastiary/dragonspawn.shtml, a copy of the same web page.