(This is a retcon to the Firetotem Tribe lore that I kept track of since BC up til Cata when the guild disbanded and later on reformed as Redwood Tribe on ED. I continue on the stories and traditions of those who were before me and do so by retroactive continuity change to the origin by making it more in with “General Timeline” set by Blizzard while I may disagree with some aspects.)
Approximately 1250 years before the opening of the Dark Portal.
Kalimdor.
Tormahk the Spirit Talker was leading his family north into Mashan’she from Feralas following the Kodo migrations north with many of the elderly kodo going to die but also the birth of new kodos as well. Tormahk enjoyed coming to this land as it was similar to the ancestral home of Mulgore.
Spending a week traveling north. near the edge of the Stonetalon mountains. Tormahks son spotted a strange creature. It had hooves like a proper being should. as well as horns but they were more like a goats and big ears. it gave off a sinister aura.
Tormahk told his son to stay low as he would investigate this creature without disturbing it. hiding behind some nearby rocks then began to see what the creature was doing…
On the ground was a small Fire spirit. small enough to be the size of a wolf. it was constantly shooting flames at the creature. the creature seemed interested in the fire spirit but was now using strange magic to Tormahks guess to bind the spirit to him without its permission.
Without hesitation, Tormahk leaped out from his hiding spot and charged at the creature. The Satyr put up a valiant fight but was ultimately defeated. Tormahk offered to spare the Satyrs life in exchange that it leaves this land. the Satyr hissed, swore vengeance and fled to the northeast.
The fire elemental hisses and shot streams of fire at Tormahk. after a moment of trying to calm it down. he offered the elemental a spot on his family totem. the wood would keep the spirit nourished until it was strong enough to leave on its own.
Little by little did the Fire Spirit grow. days went by when it would finally speak. offerings of needless ligaments or bundles of sticks would be given as the Fire Elemental spent time with them. It was often confused by their actions.
Many weeks have passed and the herd traveled north into Stonetalon as the days start getting shorter with each passing day. With the spirit comfortable enough with them. he begins to light their nightly campfires. the young ones even give him a name. Mah’rooq which in Taurahe means “Big Flame”. Though he told his name was Cinderion he took the name Mah’rooq as seasons began to pass.
As seasons got colder, Mah’rooq found comfort in the family of Shu’halo that took him in. his powers helped a great many over the seasons of hunting and fishing as his light often attracted fish to his side of river banks or when fishing was done in the great blue waters.
Migrations to Stonetalon was what Mah’rooq enjoyed the most. especially in specific areas. there was a great Redwood vale at the end of the pass that leads into Mashan’she. So Tormahk made special totems around the vale and the cliffside to the northwest of it that overlooked the vale and the pass. It would be there that they would make a permanent camping place when they traveled to Stonetalon.
Over the years now as Tormahk got older and Mah’rooq got bigger who was now the size of a full-grown shu’halo. his children began to take mates as well and begin having familes of their own. Tormahk knew he would not be able to travel as he has been. Age will become a hinderance to the tribe.
Mah’rooq being a spirit of fire was not familiar with age like other mortals. but in his existence he has only known survival and fury. As his time with the shu’halo began his fury has turned into a passion and desire to help these creatures who have helped him grow and become stronger than he could understand. It would be here that a pact was made between Tormahk and his heirs. That strength of the tribe would be maintained in its leader so long as the honor and traditions can be carried out of the tribe. But making such a pact would require Mah’rooq to stay in Stonetalon as he found that this land was empowering him though he was unsure why.
Generations of what was soon called Firetotem begin to grow. with every chieftain to stay behind in the Stonetalon mountains with Mah’rooq, they begin to carve a new home on the cliffside overlooking the vale that Mah’rooq enjoys so much.
While Hunting is not great in that area. Stags to the north east of the mountains was plenty from the Ashenvale forests, Fishing was abundant in the great blue waters and now numberous plantings of moonberry bushes all across the mountains fertile soils allowed for variety in foods. Mah’rooq took great care of the forest as his passion to burn was controlled as he learned about life cycles of trees and how he could help nurture their growth and encourage seeds to bloom from older and more dead trees.
1,100 Years Before the Dark Portal
Changes in Mashan’she as creatures known as centaurs coming from no where start to roam the land. in about a few generations they begin to cut off shu’halo from migrating to the south. The Firetotem take an aggressive stance to make sure such an evil blight do not spread north.
With their position on the cliffs and at the behest of Mah’rooq and the current chieftain. Braves would be formed with empowerment from the Fire spirit only when Centaurs would trespass into the Stonetalons great vale as it was the only way in.
Being cut off from their migration was hard for the Shu’halo as they were never ones to stay in a single place for a long time. but now they had no choice. When young ones come of age and do their rites of passage they have a choice of the flame. to maintain their ancestral ways and migrate but now heading east into the barrens or stay and help protect the land from evil centaurs in the south.
With this system it helped maintain the society of warriors and those of tradition to keep balance among the tribe. each year Mashan’she became more and more desolate and dead while the powers that killed the land had not spread past the mountains. it was a chill that could be felt. Trade continued with other tribes that passed by or came to offer praise to Mah’rooq for protecting the lands.
But in time… nothing lasts.
230 Years Before the Dark Portal
It came like a light rumbling across the mountain ranges. rocks slides could be heard in the distances but nothing really damaged. animals scared and thrown off. Just fresh after another centaur raid that failed as it always had. Mah’rooq felt an anger one that called to him. not by choice. He told Chieftain Brah’ha of he need to leave and that he would return to the tribe in time. Though the chieftain was confused by this request as Mah’rooq had never needed to leave the tribe ever.
Mah’rooq left the essence of his strength in a single totem. The Great Firetotem was to be a symbol of the chieftain and would maintain a connection to Mah’rooq no matter where he was until the day he came back.
Already the tribe felt scared and filled with sorrow that Mah’rooq left. Looking at the chieftain as a light of his power and passion for them. they begin to do their best to survive.
Over every generation, the shu’halo of Stonetalon mountains began to lose more and more ground to the centaurs. as more of their people would be killed by the bloodthirsty creatures. though what numbers they did kill with them. next generation would find it harder to combat their numbers.
Tribes like the Cliffwalkers found sanctuary in the cliffsides but there is little place to grow or have much food. Grimtotem try their best to fight off the centaurs and appear to do so but with minor losses to their tribe. calling those weak shu’halo. They looked down on the Firetotem with the loss of Mah’rooq.
Still the Firetotem struggle on…
10 Years After The Dark Portal Opens
It was this night that lives in infamy for the Firetotem. Kolkar clan was spotted coming into the Stonetalon mountains. Chieftain Skytree requested to Great Mother Pella to send a group of braves to do a night raid on the centaurs and get the suprise on them. the great mother agreed and all the braves headed to the west to cut off the easy trail the went north from the great vale. Little did the shu’halo know. the Kol’kar clan knew of a path through the lands heading east.
In the night did the Kol’kar strike. there was not time to fight back. many were killed, few survived. those that did live through the night fled south and east into the barrens. many tribes out there. warning them of Kol’kar expanding out. Braves that returned found their home destroyed.
Separated the Firetotem traveled north east heading closer to the Ashenvale forest. They know of stories of the ghosts that live there that kill evil. they would be safe among the spirits of that forest.
31 Years After the Dark Portal
With news spreading among the tribes that Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof had joined some allies called “orcs” and that they pushed back the centaur hordes and reclaimed the ancestral land of Mulgore.
Though it seemed too good to be true. it would be another year or so living near the Ashenvale Forest that the Braves of the Firetotem would begin to see some loved ones again after Cairne Bloodhoof called a gathering of the chieftains of the tribes. under the banner of the Bloodhoof Tribe and Cairne being named High Chieftain would the shu’halo find strength once again.
Chieftain Skytree agreed to this after being reunited with his children and his sister.
With aide and support of the new Tauren High Chieftain and the Horde, The Firetotem looked to taking back the Stonetalon mountains which were a year-long campaign against the centaurs.
Now with making a temporary home in Sun Rock Retreat, the Firetotem complete campaigns to help maintain the shu’halo traditions that were set forth by their ancestors.