(This post is a work in progress, and is subject to change. For more on worgen lore, see đ„ Worgen Lore - Ask me questions!)
Purity of Essence
The Cultistâs Guide to Worgen
Table of Contents
OOC Introduction
Welcome to the beginnerâs guide to worgen. More specifically, my beginnerâs guide to canon worgen roleplay. My intention is to write and post this (and following posts) as a reference for my own guild members as they learn to roleplay a worgen, as well as to be available to the public for reference, review, and discussion.
Believe it or not, the starter zone is merely a fraction of the worgen lore written by Blizzard. Their lycanthropic race has been explored and revisited in several formats, including short stories, comics, quests, cinematics, novels, and more. Together, these sources paint the worgen as Blizzard intended.
Sources
If you have the time and money to spend on these sources, Iâve included them just below. If not, you are more than welcome to refer to the following worgen RP guide. All claims below will be citing one of the aforementioned sources, and will include âSourcesâ, âSpeculationâ, and âRP Tipsâ sections for each topic. If you have a question, please comment! Every question will be answered, and will help add to the guide itself.
Click on each source below for more information, including descriptions and links.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (2010)
In 2004, vanilla World of Warcraft launched. Worgen were included as hostile monsters in Ashenvale, Silverpine Forest, and Duskwood, and were dungeon bosses of the original Shadowfang Keep dungeon, the final boss being Archmage Arugal.
In 2008, the Wrath of the Lich King expansion was released. Archmage Arugal returned as a ghost in the Grizzly Hills questline, in which he began yet another worgen pack.
In 2010, Cataclysm was released, making the worgen a playable race through Gilnean Worgen. Old zones were revamped, including all three vanilla zones previously mentioned. Horde questlines involve the worgen as well, including quests in Tirisfal, Silverpine, and Gilneas. More was revealed on worgen origins, but not much.
When citing items, quests, and NPCs from the game, the article will reference
Wowhead.comorhttp://wow.gamepedia.com/Portal:Main.
Lord of his Pack (2011)
Just as Cataclysm is released, Blizzard produces Lord of his Pack, a short-story by Senior Story Developer James Waugh. The story follows the Gilneans on their voyage to Darnassus. It tells of a tragedy at sea never discussed in-game, and includes several flashbacks to points in Gilnean history, including Genn Greymaneâs childhood, the summoning of the worgen, and memories of his son.
Genn Greymane: Lord of his Pack
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/story/short-story/leader-story/genn-greymane
Wolfheart (2011)
Ten months after Cataclysm, Blizzard releases Wolfheart, a novel by Blizzard and Richard A. Knaak, with Story Developers Micky Neilson and James Waugh.
The novel follows the Gilnean worgen after the starter zone, and after they arrive in Darnassus. The Gilnean Worgen learn to embrace their new predatory instincts, and even Genn Greymane and his royal guard takes to all fours to hunt with claw and fang. Genn and the Gilneans meet with Varian Wrynn, who denies them entry into the Alliance, until he too undergoes the Ritual of Balance. Together, Varian, the Gilneans, and the Kaldorei defeat Garrosh Hellscream in Ashenvale.
Buy on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Wolfheart-Richard-Knaak/dp/1451605765
Read more on Wowpediahttps://wow.gamepedia.com/Wolfheart
Listen on Youtube (partial)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvGLQriAhCw
Curse of the Worgen (2011)
Eleven months after Cataclysm, Blizzard releases Curse of the Worgen, a five-part comic series by Blizzard and DC Comics, with Story Developers Micky Neilson and James Waugh.
The comic revisits the Gilnean starter zone, and explains it all from yet another perspective. When it comes to the fall of Gilneas, the starter zone is revealed to be only half of the story. In addition, the comic includes several flashbacks to the War of the Satyr, to explain the very origins of the race, and how exactly the worgen appeared in Gilneas.
Buy on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Worgen-Blizzard-Legends/dp/194568352X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3O0QIG77QQUE3&keywords=curse+of+the+worgen&qid=1554920355&s=books&sprefix=curse+of+the+worgen%2Cstripbooks%2C-1&sr=1-1
Buy on Amazon (Kindle)https://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Worgen-MICKY-NEILSON-ebook/dp/B009MD2CH0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Read More on Wowpediahttps://wow.gamepedia.com/Curse_of_the_Worgen_(comic)
Dark Riders (2013)
Three years after the release of Cataclysm, Blizzard releases âDark Ridersâ, a large single comic by Dark Horse Comics by Mike Costa, with Chris Metzen, Alex Afrasiabi, Luis Barriga, and Micky Neilson.
The events of the comic take place some time between Vanilla and Cataclysm, before the worgen starter zone. The story follows three humans and a gnome into Duskwood, in search of the Scythe of Elune. They encounter the Dark Riders of Deadwind Pass, infiltrate Nightbane Worgen society, and ultimately recover the Scythe of Elune from both.
The characters from the comic later appear in World of Warcraft: Legion in various zones.
Buy on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Riders-Michael-Costa/dp/1401230288
Read More on Wowpediahttps://wow.gamepedia.com/Dark_Riders_(comic)
Chronicle 1-3 (2016-2018)
In 2016, Blizzard released the first Chronicle book, by the Blizzard lore team, with all the authors hired to help write their stories in the past. Chronicle 1 begins at the genesis of the world, and the creation and evolution of the first races, eventually covering the War of the Satyr and the origins of the Worgen. Chronicle 2 covers more modern history, including Gilnean history. Chronicle 3 is the third and final installment, and covers all events included in Warcraft lll up to Cataclysm, thus including the summoning of the worgen.
While the sections on worgen are sorely lacking and paraphrased, they do explain quite a bit about Goldrinn and Elune, the War of the Ancients, and the real reason Duskwood is cursed by shadow (it was Medivh, not the worgen).
Buy on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01J5DNPHM
Read More on Wowpediahttps://wow.gamepedia.com/World_of_Warcraft:_Chronicle
Related Projects
â Related Projects â
Wyrmrest Accord
Worldâs End Tavern
- đș Purity of Essence - A Wolf Cultist's guide to Worgen
- đ„ Worgen Lore - Ask me questions! - #40 by DĂąrak-wyrmrest-accord
- Worgen by Night (Coming Soon)
Story Forum
- Worgen timeline (Coming soon)
Contact Info
Ingame: Raedolf
Btag: Gryoko#1133
Discord: RedmaneRaedolf#1794< The Wolf Cult > Guild Discord:
https://discord.gg/wk34ZsB
âWorgen by Nightâ Community Discord:https://discord.gg/EuF4BY6
Ancient History
Modern History
Current Events
Emotion
Intelligence
Body 
Characteristics
Capabilities
Biological Systems
Spirit 
Transmission
Shapeshifting
Culture 
Communication
Structure
Groups