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Wildkin

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Wildkin
Boomkin HS.jpg
Homeworld Azeroth
Area(s) Northern Kalimdor, Lordaeron, Broken Isles, Emerald Dream
Language(s) Darnassian,[1] Common[2]

The wildkin are serene, powerful creatures, believed by the night elves and tauren to have been created by the moon goddess Elune to protect her sacred places.[3][4] They look like a cross between a bear and a horned owl, which explains both their wisdom and ferocity.[5] Wildkin have long been allies of the night elves, helping to protect their sacred sites. Though they are thoughtful creatures, wildkin harbor a particular hatred for the Burning Legion and the Scourge, recognizing the danger they pose. While wildkin are not naturally hostile to the other denizens of Azeroth, some who have been corrupted or otherwise manipulated have become aggressive, lashing out at travelers and even their night elf allies.[5]

The wildkin also go by many other names — moonkin, owlbear, owlbeast, ravenbear and owlkin, to name a few. These gentle giants possess a natural energy described by an academic of the Kirin Tor to be druidic and similar to that of the night elves.[6] Wildkin feathers appear to contain traces of magical qualities. These powers don't seem to be wielded by the creatures, they are simply inherent to the species--part of their very essence.[7] Wherever they are found in the world, they are protecting something of importance, as they reportedly were entrusted to do long ago by Elune.[8] But if Elune's influence over them wanes or is cut off, the creatures can become dangerous and destructive.[9]

Wildkin lay eggs and, although they can't use their wings to fly, they can use them to make their fall slower.[10]

History

Some night elf scholars and priests[11] claim that wildkin are the creation of the Moon Goddess Elune,[5] who created them to guard all of her sacred places.[8] They claim that Elune created the first wildkin in the early days of the world to serve as guardians to a powerful gem through which she channeled her infinite wisdom and could communicate with her priestesses.[8] But now, many years later, the wildkin have grown more feral, and without the guidance of the goddess, they are confused. They wander without purpose, though many find their way back to the sacred areas that they once were sworn to protect.[8]

Third War

WC3RoC-logo.png This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

A wildkin of the Watchers during the Third War.

During the time of the Third War, besides regular wildkin, enraged and berserk wildkin could also be found in the wilds, stronger and more resilient than their brethren. Some intelligent wildkin also served among the night elf Watchers.[12] Eastern Kingdoms wildkin were also exhibited at Stratholme's zoo.[13]

A group of wildkin located in Azshara went mad after Illidan and his naga ravaged through the area. Maiev encountered them as well and ordered her Watchers to put them out of their misery.[14]

In Dustwallow Marsh, the wildkin led by Bloodbeak the Berserker destroyed an orc village. The orc blademaster Samuro, in turn, killed them all.[15]

World of Warcraft

WoW Icon update.png This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Among the more ornery of the wildlife of the Hinterlands were the savage owlbeasts. After many Revantusk trolls were killed, Huntsman Markhor tasked an Horde adventurer to reduce their numbers.[16]

In Winterspring, Trull Failbane sought to find what the Owl Wing wildkin were guarding.[17] Jadrag the Slicer was also sent to find relics at Owl Wing Thicket but was overwhelmed by the wildkin, and later tasked adventurers to deal with them.[18] At some point, several dwarves had set up camp at Dun Mandarr but would be overrun by the wildkin.[19]

The Burning Crusade

Bc icon.gif This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

A wildking in World of Warcraft.

After the Exodar crashed on Azuremyst Isles, its crystals corrupted the Moonwing wildkin of Silvermyst Isle. Once friendly to the local night elf family and living together in harmony, the radiation from the draenei crystals drove them mad.[20] They also began to worship Hauteur, a crazed fire elemental, who ordered them to regularly build effigies and burn them in his honor.[21] Among the Nestlewood wildkin on the isle, the mutated ones were put down by the draenei while the unaffected ones were made immune.[22]

The Oomooroo wildkin also attacked their former allies, the Stillpine tribe, and took over their hold with the help of a beast known as The Kurken.[23][24] Through some digging, an adventurer found a Blood Crystal stationed deep in the cave as the source of their corruption.[25] After Chieftain Oomooroo was killed, Stillpine the Younger sent an attack squad to wipe out the corrupted wildkin.[26][27]

On Bloodmyst Isle, the Ragefeather wildkin where also affected after the Royal Blue Flutterers helped spread the corruption even further.[28]

Cataclysm

Cata-Logo-Small.png This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Following the Cataclysm, all the Moontouched wildkin in Darkshore perished, except Aroom,[29] with their ghosts hunting the Moontouched Den. With the help of the adventurer, Aroom chose to burn the remains of his tribe with the  [Elune's Torch] recovered from Horoo the Flamekeeper. After he finally laid his tribe to rest, Aroom went to join Malfurion Stormrage.[30]

Legion

Legion-Logo-Small.png This section concerns content related to Legion.

A wildkin in armor in Legion.

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, the Brood of Nithogg attacked the Blackfeather wildkin in Stormheim. Their leader, Cukkaw, tried to appease the storm dragons with the help of an adventurer.[31] At the Blackfeather Altar, they performed a ritual and were able to summon Nithogg. Unfortunately, the latter wasn't impressed and killed the chieftain, leaving his tribe leaderless.[32]

In Val'sharah, the Lostlight wildkin were so connected to Elune that they became aggressive in her absence.[33] Several dryads were sent to calm the owlbeasts, but never returned after they have been turned into Undulating Boneslimes.[34][35] Their presumed leader, Boneflux, was the one holding Remulos captive in his lair in the Undergorge, until the adventurer and Guviena Bladesong came to free him.[36]

Battle for Azeroth

BattleForAzeroth-Logo-Small.png This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

During the Battle for Stromgarde, the Ragebeak wildkin emerged at Hatchet Ridge when the Alliance advanced in the Arathi Highlands.

Culture and behavior

Owlkin constructs in Nestlewood Thicket.

Wildkin have their own language[37] which possibly has many dialects and, although they are, in fact, capable of speaking Common,[38] not all of them do. They make nests for their eggs and live in small societies. It's not uncommon for them to sleep inside caves or hollowed-out trees, and some of their settlements have a fireplace in the middle which they use for heating and cooking. They commonly use torches too.[39] They also have been observed to make effigies of themselves to mark the beginning of their territory and, occasionally, organize rituals with varied purposes.[39]

They commonly have leaders of which there is usually only one per community. How or why one wildkin becomes the leader is not known. These leaders have an organizational purpose in their communities and often organize the invasion or defense of some territory during conflicts with other races.

Moonkin children are taught dancing, enjoy moonberries and can use [Moonfire] from a very young age.[2]

It is unknown if they can read, but a book was found among the possessions of the Blackfeather chieftain, Cukkaw, in a cave in Stormtorn Foothills in Stormheim.

They collect the feathers of their fallen kind onto a funeral pyre, which they burned with a special torch holding Elune's fire. They believe that, once laid to rest, their spirits will return to Elune.[40]

An altar made by the wildkin for a ritual, made out of wood, bone, and stone.

The wildkin can be seen using simple weapons and tools such as spears, hammers, knives, and rope. They understand and are able to use symbols and effigies with ritualistic or territorial purposes, which they commonly construct using wood, stone, rope, and bone or draw using a white paint of unknown origins, one commonly found symbol made with this white paint is their paws or feet.

Breeds

Besides the regular wildkin, there are other breeds that can be found throughout Azeroth. Sometimes the word "wildkin" is used to refer to all of these breeds:

Owlbear

Owlbears are lumbering, misshapen creatures, beloved by the night elf druids and treants alike. They are benevolent by nature, but fearsome when roused or angered. Though they stay away from populated areas, they are often found in the serene glades of Mount Hyjal.[41] Several of them were part of the Primal Guardians group on Moonglade Isle during the Third War.

Owlbears can be found in Darkshore and the Hinterlands.

Owlbeast

Owlbeasts are wildkin found in Winterspring, the Hillsbrad Foothills and Val'sharah. Nils Beerot calls them "soulless, feathered monstrosities sent from the darkest depths of the Twisting Nether to prey upon the weak".[42] Some of the owlbeasts in Winterspring are referred to as "moontouched",[43] but what exactly this means is unclear.

They were charged by Elune to protect her places of importance[44] and sacred places.[45]

When cut from the light of Elune, they may turn aggressive.[45]

Owlkin

Concept art of an owlkin.

Owlkin are found on Azuremyst Isle. This specific breed is not normally hostile to other humanoids. However, the draenei ship The Exodar recently crashed nearby, and the radiation from the power crystals of the ship has caused some of the Nestlewood Owlkin to become Mutated Owlkin. The owlkin have also absconded with some of the draenei's spare parts which were scattered about the area.[46] Recently, some draenei have been inoculating as many of the unaffected owlkin as they can, hoping to protect the innocent creatures.[47] Unfortunately, for the Mutated Owlkin it is too late.

Moonkin

"Moonkin" redirects here. For the druid form, see [Moonkin Form]. For other uses, see Moonkin (disambiguation).

Moonkin are blessed by Elune and spread nature's grace wherever they travel.[48] Native to night elf areas in northern Kalimdor, such as Darkshore, these large, flightless, sapient, and bipedal creatures have the size of an upright walking bear, but with bird-like features such as a beak, feathers, and flightless wings. They also drop eggs of various sorts. The distinct roar of the moonkin is one of the most terrifying sounds in nature.[49] A group of them also lives in Verdant Wilds.

Most notably, balance druids, druids who wield and balance the power of the sun and moon, can take the form of a moonkin.

Ravenbear

Ravenbears are black-feathered wildkin found at Blackbeak Overlook and the Stormtorn Foothills in Stormheim.

Notable

As a companion pet

Moonkin Hatchling

In Warcraft III

WC3RoC-logo.png This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

In the RPG

Icon-RPG.png This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Creation

A wildkin in the Monster Guide.

Desiring a creature of might to claim as her own and disenchanted with the violence of wolves, Elune combined the best traits of her beloved night birds, the owls, with the brute force of benevolent bears.[50] The result: a swift, elegant, and fiercely loyal hunter.[51] Other scholars claim that wildkin were the misguided creation of a sorcerer. Regardless of their origins, wildkin have been the beloved allies of night elf druids of the wild and ancients alike since the time of the War of the Ancients.[50]

Description

Wildkin in Magic & Mayhem being attacked by a Hooks of Binding RPG ability.

Wildkin resemble a bear with a head of an owl with antlers that has feathers trailing down its limbs making them look like miniature wings. They stand upright at about 10 to 12 feet tall, and their body is covered in hairy feathers, usually brown or white. Their arms have a wing-like shape that end in clawed talons, and their heads have a beak and antlers. These odd creatures also emit a distinctive sound when riled, sounding like a combination of growl and screech. Wildkin feathers are very highly prized in certain circles for their rare magical properties. Wildkin in Hinterlands have mutations, such as deformed limbs, scabbed pelts with large bald patches, or red eyes. No one knows how this wildkin corruption began.[51]

Wildkin possess a high intelligence and often understand good reasoning.[52] Most wildkin do not speak, but they understand Darnassian.[51] Some particular wildkin, namely the ones that acted as Watchers at the time of the Third War, seemed to be capable of speech. They prefer the serenity of nature and stay away from populated areas, frequenting the Barrens or the glades of Mount Hyjal. There are also considerable numbers in Darkshore. Some wildkin can be found in the Hinterlands and Winterspring. They are known to assist night elves and ancients in guarding locations that those races deem important. Wildkin are very territorial, and as such are good guardians. Most wildkin treat peaceful travelers with respect, sometimes coming to their aid or assisting lost visitors out of their forests. Wildkin are slow to anger, but they fight fiercely and relentlessly when roused. They ferociously attack hostile creatures on sight.[51] They have a particular hatred of all undead and minions of the Burning Legion. The great beasts slash with their claws and stab with their beak in combat.[50] A badly injured wildkin may retreat and pursue enemies later, once it heals.[51] Heroes who encounter wildkin either come away speaking of their incredible gentleness or their tremendous ferocity.[50] Wildkin mate for life and bear fuzzy gray cubs that do not develop their claws and brilliant plumage until 2 or 3 years of age. Night elves consider the shimmering pelts and golden eyes of the wildkin to be beautiful.[51] Full-grown wildkin exceed 10 feet in height and weigh between 1,000 and 3,000 pounds, and sometimes even more.[51][50]

Owlbeasts, larger and more powerful cousins of wildkin, seem derived from the same species, but their origins remain shrouded in mystery. The night elves claim that Elune also created the owlbeasts to serve as her guardians, but owlbeasts do not possess the gentle natures of wildkin.[53] Owlbeasts embody chaos over good; they fly into uncontrolled rages in combat. No one knows what sets off an owlbeast's wrath, so cautious adventurers give the creatures a wide berth. Owlbeasts attack relentlessly and fearlessly. They fly into a frenzy immediately upon entering combat and fight to the death.[53] Owlbeasts grow to almost 20 feet tall and weigh 3,000 pounds or more. They prefer colder climates than do wildkin, and as a result they develop white or silver feathers in the snowy season. Like wildkin, owlbeasts do not speak, but understand Darnassian.[53]

The owlbears are also described in Appendix Three of Manual of Monsters, though these owlbears seem to be slightly different from the previously described. According to this source, owlbears are probably the result of unusual natural selection. They roam all terrain and feed on anything they catch, but they prefer to live near settlements were they can steal livestock to complement their hunting. Owlbears are nomadic, and live in caves or fallen trees until their chicks grow up to be strong enough to keep up with the owlbear's frequent moves. They can be found all over Azeroth, usually in groups of one or two, and sometimes in family units. Most farmers in Azeroth call them a blight.[54]

Inspiration

The wildkin are likely inspired by the owlbear, a magical half-avian, half-ursine beast in Dungeons & Dragons that was in turn based upon a plastic toy from Hong Kong. The pet description for Ragepeep references this by saying "Part owl, part bear... and part stag, which handily avoids potential lawsuits."

Trivia

  • Wildkin share skeleton and animations with ogres.

Gallery

For images of druids that shapeshift into wildkin see Moonkin Form#Gallery.

  • A wildkin in World of Warcraft.
    A wildkin in World of Warcraft.
  • Black variant (old model).
    Black variant (old model).
  • White variant (old model).
    White variant (old model).
  • Brown variant (old model).
    Brown variant (old model).
  • Black variant (old model).
    Black variant (old model).
  • A wildkin in Legion.
    A wildkin in Legion.
  • Black variant (new model).
    Black variant (new model).
  • Galena in her moonkin form blasting an imp.
    Galena in her moonkin form blasting an imp.
  • Wildkin concept art.
    Wildkin concept art.
  • Wildkin concept art.
    Wildkin concept art.
  • Wildkin concept art.
    Wildkin concept art.
Trading Card Game
Hearthstone

Patch changes

  • Legion-Logo-Small.png Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Updated model added for Moonkin Form.

References

 
  1. ^ Brothers in Blood
  2. ^ a b Moonkin Festival
  3. ^ A [47] Favored of Elune?
  4. ^ H [59] Guarding Secrets
  5. ^ a b c Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 183
  6. ^ The Old Wizard's Almanac
  7. ^ A [55] Moontouched Wildkin
  8. ^ a b c d A [59] Guardians of the Altar
  9. ^ N [10-45] Where the Wildkin Are
  10. ^ N [15-30] You Gotta Have Eggs
  11. ^ Priestess of Elune (Winterspring)
  12. ^ Ancient Watcher (Warcraft III), Elder Watcher, Watcher (campaign)
  13. ^ The Culling (WC3 Human)
  14. ^ Rise of the Naga (WC3 NightElf)
  15. ^ Old Hatreds (WC3 Orc)
  16. ^ H [10-30] Hunt the Savages
  17. ^ H [56] Wild Guardians
  18. ^ N [15-30] Razor Beak and Antlers Pointy
  19. ^ A [59] Enraged Wildkin
  20. ^ A [1-30] All That Remains
  21. ^ A IconSmall Draenei Male.gifIconSmall Draenei Female.gif Shaman [10] Call of Fire
  22. ^ A [1-10] Inoculation
  23. ^ A [1-30] Search Stillpine Hold
  24. ^ A [1-30] The Kurken is Lurkin'
  25. ^ A [1-30] Blood Crystals
  26. ^ A [1-30] Warn Your People
  27. ^ A [1-30] Chieftain Oomooroo
  28. ^ A [1-30] Culling the Flutterers
  29. ^ A [5-30] The Last Wildkin
  30. ^ A [5-30] Elune's Fire
  31. ^ N [10-45] Nithogg's Tribute
  32. ^ N [10-45] Dances With Ravenbears
  33. ^ N [10-45] Where the Wildkin Are
  34. ^ N [10-45] Moon Reaver
  35. ^ N [10-45] Grotesque Remains
  36. ^ N [10-45] Moon Reaver
  37. ^ Cukkaw
  38. ^ Aroom
  39. ^ a b Ragefeather wildkin
  40. ^ A [5-30] Elune's Fire
  41. ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, pg. 87
  42. ^ H [7-30] Extinction
  43. ^ H [58] Wild Guardians
  44. ^ N [10-45] Where the Wildkin Are
  45. ^ a b N [45WQ] Rage of the Owlbeasts
  46. ^ A [1-10] Spare Parts
  47. ^ A [1-10] Inoculation
  48. ^  [Moonkin Hatchling]
  49. ^  [Moonkin Hatchling]
  50. ^ a b c d e Manual of Monsters, pg. 107
  51. ^ a b c d e f g Monster Guide, pg. 141 - 142
  52. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 240
  53. ^ a b c Monster Guide, pg. 142
  54. ^ Manual of Monsters, pg. 192


Wildkin groups and tribes
Sapient species native to Azeroth
Ancient guardian
Cenarian
Other
Troll/Elf
Troll
Elf
Other
Goblin/Pygmy
Gorloc
Unknown relation
This is a sub-template of Sapient Species
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