Heroes of Azeroth
Durotan: The Chieftain Who Refused the Blood
Durotan, son of Garad, was chieftain of the Frostwolf clan of Draenor, the life-mate of Draka and the father of Thrall (Go'el). He was a lifelong friend of Orgrim Doomhammer and one of the few chieftains who refused the blood of Mannoroth. He tried to warn the Horde about Gul'dan's Shadow Council, and for that his clan was sent into exile in the Alterac Mountains. He and Draka were murdered soon after Thrall was born, but the son they left behind would free the orcs.
Video: Durotan, A Legend Who Gave Birth to THE Legend
Son of Garad
Durotan was one of the three sons of the Frostwolf chieftain Garad and of Geyah. Of the three (Ga'nar, Fenris and Durotan), he was the one who held most closely to family and tradition. When a drift lurker's bite left Geyah in a coma, Ga'nar wanted to leave her to her fate, but Durotan stayed to look after her with her wolf Stormfang.
When a pack of garn attacked, Durotan lost himself in bloodlust and killed everything that moved. As Geyah awoke, he found that he had killed Stormfang too. From that day on he wore Stormfang's fur as a reminder of loyalty, and of his own capacity for savagery (Lords of War). After Fenris vanished, Garad chose Durotan over the hot-headed Ga'nar as his heir.
At a Kosh'harg festival Durotan met a young Blackrock orc, Orgrim Doomhammer, and the two became close friends, which was rare between clans. A draenei hunting party from Telmor led by Restalaan once saved them from an ogre, and the two young orcs dined with Prophet Velen. Durotan later met Draka again at a Kosh'harg. Once a sickly child he had blessed, she had grown strong, and she became his life-mate.
Chieftain in dark times
Garad died of the red pox, and Durotan became chieftain. Then Ner'zhul, deceived by Kil'jaeden, turned the clans against the draenei. Sent to meet Velen at Oshu'gun, Durotan learned that the "ancestors" there were really a dying naaru. He let the Prophet go, saying there was no honour in taking a willing prisoner.
As the war went on, the Frostwolf shamans found they had been cut off from the spirits. On Blackhand's orders Durotan still led the attack on Telmor, and his perfect memory recalled the code phrase for the city's hidden crystal, Leafshadow. Restalaan fell to Durotan and his wolf Nightstalker. Before the attack on Shattrath, a warning from Ner'zhul led Durotan to refuse the blood of Mannoroth, as Orgrim also did, and both fell under Gul'dan's suspicion.
Exile in Alterac
On Azeroth, Durotan kept speaking out against Gul'dan. In secret the warlock told him that the Frostwolves were no longer part of the Horde. If they ever came back, he would kill every male, female and child of the clan. Draka was pregnant, so Durotan led his people north to a hidden valley in the Alterac Mountains, where Drek'Thar returned to the spirits. There Go'el was born.
The last journey
Durotan, Draka and the baby went to a secret meeting with Orgrim, now Warchief, and Durotan told him everything about Gul'dan, the Shadow Council and the demonic pact. Orgrim decided to act against the warlock and sent his guards to escort the Frostwolves home. Those guards were loyal to the Shadow Council, not to Orgrim. They had heard every word, and after several days on the road they attacked.
Durotan and Draka fought hard and killed one of the attackers, but both were struck down. Durotan's arms were cut off so that he could never hold his child again. As he died slowly, his last thought was relief that he would not have to watch his son torn apart by the beasts of the forest. Aedelas Blackmoore found the infant and named him Thrall.
Legacy
- The Rock of Durotan: Durotan rests beneath this monument in Alterac Valley, which bears a plaque by Drek'Thar.
- His son: Thrall freed the orcs from the camps and from demonic corruption, founded the nation of Durotar in his father's name, and carried on Durotan's family line through Durak and Amarehz.
- His harness: Durotan's Battle Harness, plate passed down through ten generations of Frostwolf leaders, was lost over time.
- Afterlife: Draka's soul went to Maldraxxus, and Durotan's destination is unknown, but the two were reunited at some point. At Azeroth's first Kosh'harg in Razor Hill they briefly appeared as spirits beside other legendary orcs (A Worthy Offering).
Durotan family tree
Mermaid source of the family tree
%% Durotan – canonical family tree (The Tirisfalen)
%% Dashed = exact link not specified
flowchart TD
GA["Garad<br/><i>Father · Frostwolf chieftain</i>"]
GE["Geyah<br/><i>Mother</i>"]
RH["Rhakish<br/><i>Draka's grandfather</i>"]
KE["Kelkar<br/><i>Father-in-law</i>"]
ZU["Zuura<br/><i>Mother-in-law</i>"]
GN["Ga'nar<br/><i>Brother</i>"]
FE["Fenris Wolfbrother<br/><i>Brother</i>"]
DU["Durotan"]
DR["Draka<br/><i>Life-mate</i>"]
LO["Lokra<br/><i>Sister-in-law</i>"]
KB["Karg Bloodfury<br/><i>Brother-in-law</i>"]
RY["Ryal<br/><i>Aggra's mother</i>"]
TH["Thrall / Go'el<br/><i>Son</i>"]
AG["Aggra<br/><i>Daughter-in-law</i>"]
DK["Durak<br/><i>Grandson</i>"]
AM["Amarehz<br/><i>Granddaughter</i>"]
GA --- GE
GA --> GN & FE & DU
RH --> KE
KE --- ZU
KE --> DR & LO
LO -.- KB
DU --- DR
DU --> TH
DR --> TH
RY --> AG
TH --- AG
TH --> DK & AM
AG --> DK & AM
Canon note: Kelkar and Zuura are named in Warcraft: Legends Vol. 4. Fenris Wolfbrother is listed as Durotan's brother. Karg Bloodfury is listed as a brother-in-law without the exact link being given, so he is drawn with a dashed line. Orgrim Doomhammer was his best friend, not kin. The alternate-Draenor Durotan's daughter Geya'rah belongs to that timeline and is not shown.
Death discrepancies
The sources disagree on several details of Durotan's murder:
- Who the killers were: Lord of the Clans calls them unnamed agents of Gul'dan. Chronicle Vol. 2 says they were Orgrim's own guards, loyal to the Shadow Council. The old Burning Crusade website blamed humans, which contradicts every other source.
- One guard or several: Lord of the Clans and Twilight of the Aspects (where he is named Grukar) have a single treacherous guard. Chronicle uses the plural.
- Who died: in the older version Durotan snaps one assassin's neck and the traitor is killed by his own allies. Chronicle only says the Frostwolves killed one guard.
- Where: Twilight of the Aspects sets the meeting in Hillsbrad and has the ambush soon after. Chronicle puts it on the edge of Loch Modan, followed by several days of travel north.
- When: the meeting was first dated to year 0. Chronicle Vol. 2 moved Thrall's birth to year 1.
This page follows Chronicle Vol. 2, the most recent account.
Related heroes
FAQ
Who killed Durotan?
According to Chronicle Vol. 2, it was Orgrim Doomhammer's guards, who were secretly loyal to the Shadow Council. Lord of the Clans describes them as agents of Gul'dan.
Is Durotan Thrall's father?
Yes. Durotan and Draka are the parents of Go'el, whom Aedelas Blackmoore named "Thrall".
Did Durotan drink the blood of Mannoroth?
No. Warned by Ner'zhul, he refused the demon's blood, as did Orgrim Doomhammer.
Why were the Frostwolves exiled?
Because Durotan kept opposing Gul'dan. The warlock expelled the clan from the Horde and threatened to wipe it out if it ever returned, so Durotan led his pregnant mate and his people to the Alterac Mountains.
Where is Durotan buried?
Beneath the Rock of Durotan in Alterac Valley.
What were the names of Durotan's wolves?
Nightstalker and Sharptooth. He also wore the fur of Stormfang, his mother's wolf, whom he killed in bloodlust.
Who were Durotan's brothers?
Ga'nar and Fenris Wolfbrother, the other sons of Garad and Geyah.
Is the Warcraft movie Durotan the same?
No. The 2016 film takes place in a separate continuity. This page covers only the main game and book canon.
Sources
- Christie Golden, Rise of the Horde (ch. 5, 10, 14, 15); Lord of the Clans; Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects; War Crimes (ch. 7).
- World of Warcraft: Chronicle, Vol. 2 (pp. 69, 123, 129).
- Warcraft: Lords of War; Warcraft: Legends Vol. 4.
- In-game: Rock of Durotan (Alterac Valley), Escape from Durnholde Keep, A Worthy Offering (Dragonflight).
- Community wikis cross-checked: Warcraft Wiki – Durotan, Wowpedia – Durotan, plus their pages on Draka, Garad, Geyah and Ga'nar.
Illustrations: original artwork by The Tirisfalen. World of Warcraft and Warcraft are trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment. This page is fan content and is not affiliated with Blizzard.