Darkspear are a bit underappreciated. So here is a bit of a love letter to my favorite tribe.
From the shadows of the old empires, came a tribe of the unwanted. The outcasts. The lowly. The Darkspear are the underdogs. For years they have been trampled under the oppression of humans, naga, and more powerful troll neighbors.
But in their progressive thinking, in allying with non-trolls, they were able to thrive. Succeed in a world where trolls are all too often dying remnants in bygone glories in ruins of ancient empires. Along with the tauren and the orcs, they made up the core and heart of the Horde in its formulative years. And indeed, succeeded in bringing to form great political change in the rebellion against Hellscream.
Darkspear don’t dwell on the past more than necessary, they look to the future. Build a better future. Not just for Darkspear children, but the Horde as a whole. And indeed, for all of Azeroth’s children. For many Darkspear druids have thrown their lot in with the Cenarion Circle, and Darkspear shaman with the Earthen Ring.
The Darkspear are open-minded, discarding harmful aspects of culture and taking in new elements from allies. At the same time, never forgetting who they are, their ancestors, or most of their traditions. As we see in Shadows of the Horde, to be a Darkspear is not to live in opulance and luxury in great cities as the Zandalari do, but one of humility and communion with the spirits.
“Darkspear nevah die” is not meant to be taken literally. But rather summing up a state of mind that I can quote from the Starks in Game of Thrones.
“When the snows fall and the wind blows. The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.”
You can kill us. But you can’t kill the idea of the Darkspear. Nor our legacy, which has and will continue to shape the future of Azeroth.
So that’s why I personally like the Darkspear, if it helps your decision at all. 