đŸ„“ Worgen Lore - Ask me questions!

Lore World's End Tavern: Role-play and Fan Fiction
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Aaah, bit of a tricky one, but this’ll be good to mention in either the Body or Soul section. I’ll see if I can do this one in citation style.

Worgen Eyesight

Sight
Worgen vision is far better than an ordinary human’ [1]. While one may need glasses[2][6] in human form, the worgen eye can see more clearly than dreamed possible[3]. In addition, worgen are capable of seeing and hunting in low-light environments [4][5]. While it does enhance your vision, becoming a worgen does not fix eye injuries[9].
(See Speculation on Night Vision, and check RP Tips for how to see distances.)

Color
In human form, a worgen will have the eye color they were born with, such as green, blue, or brown[7]. When in their true form, however, a worgen’s eyes will shine in brilliant hues of gold[8], ranging from brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds. (There is no canon lore on other color options. See Speculation below.)

Glow
Worgen eyes actually glow hues of gold, much like Goldrinn himself[12], wolves of the wild[13], the wolf-shaped Pack Form[17], and Kaldorei druids who have reached their greatest potential[11]. Whether this glow is because of any one reason or a combination of them is unknown, but it is a minor glow compared to Draenei, and does not interfere with stealth and hunting[15][16]. This feature - along with the fur and fangs - is not included in their human form.

RP Tips

Eyesight RP Tips

Use the Ornate Spyglass (can be bought on the Auction House) to zoom in and look into the distance. https://www.wowhead.com/item=5507/ornate-spyglass

If you are a hunter, use “Eagle Eye” to get a good look at something in the distance. https://www.wowhead.com/spell=6197/eagle-eye

Speculation

The glow of worgen eyes is likely attributed to their supernatural state, however is likely inspired by “eyeshine” in real-world animals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapetum_lucidum#Eyeshine

In lore source material, all Worgen have golden glowing eyes. Yet in the game, other colors are available for customization, and females do not (yet) have glowing options. These other eye colors may be attributed to the magic your character uses, could be simple variance (many in-game wolf models range in eyecolor), or you may simply specify and emote that your character’s eyes are golden.

Sources

[1] The curse more than heightened our senses. We see things that no normal human can. (Knaak, Richard A
 World of Warcraft: Wolfheart (p. 267). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.)

[2] https://imgur.com/56CFqqa
[3] https://imgur.com/Q6ycFBT
[4] https://imgur.com/bs6SGr3
[5] Stormheim Epilogue In-game Cinematic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ2m03Rgj5A
[6] https://imgur.com/RoVxRWf
[7] Human eye colors
Genn: https://www.wowhead.com/npc=100395/genn-greymane
Darius: https://www.wowhead.com/npc=35566/lord-darius-crowley
Tobias: https://www.wowhead.com/npc=43453/tobias-mistmantle#comments
Halford: https://imgur.com/JS9ungg
[8] Worgen eye colors
Genn: https://www.wowhead.com/npc=125496/genn-greymane
Darius: https://www.wowhead.com/npc=46036/lord-darius-crowley
Tobias: https://www.wowhead.com/npc=38507/tobias-mistmantle (though has a purple-eyed model in Duskwood)
Halford:
[9] Darius Crowley still has to wear an eyepatch. https://imgur.com/a/NM1u7eb
[10] “Mia! Tess!” Genn called out. His eyesight was better in his worgen form, and through the rain he could not see his family on the bow. “They must be inside still! They must.” (Lord of his Pack, pg 4)
[11] The archdruid stepped closer, only pausing when he and Var’dyn were within reach of one another. Malfurion’s gold eyes gleamed sharply. Some of the Highborne’s arrogance faltered. (Wolfheart p. 80)
[12] In-game Goldrinn model https://www.wowhead.com/npc=118339/goldrinn
[13] In-game Wolf models - different eye colors
(brown, green eyes) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=86932/direfang-alpha
(black, teal eyes) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=81000/garn-nighthowl
(gold, orange eyes) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=128774/rustfur-wolf
(mixed, orange eyes) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=100409/dusky-howler
[14] In-game Wolf models - different model types
(saberworg) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=25675/tundra-wolf
(vanilla wolf) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=43340/blackrock-battle-worg
(vanilla worg) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=10981/frost-wolf
(scarred) https://www.wowhead.com/npc=97091/duskpelt-snarler
[15] Sylvanas vs Genn Greymane - Stormheim Cinematic
(Genn has golden eyes, which glow slightly in the shadow)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyh5FKMvVPA
[16] (Worgen eye glow fades after a few feet) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9gabmfVMsA
[17] The Pack Form https://imgur.com/7jEy5Mq
[18] Velen’s eyes were a brilliant blue and literally glowed.(Wolfheart p. 139) (Mention of Velen’s eyes glowing, but no mention of worgen eyes glowing)

Here’s what I’ve got so far
 though I may have to re-visit the worgen eye color idea. I just found a piece in Wolfheart that blows a hole in the “all worgen have golden eyes” theory.

A male worgen stalked up to him. Nostrils flaring, the male sniffed Jarod carefully. The deep brown eyes—the most “human” feature of the otherwise bestial figure—narrowed slightly.

Knaak, Richard A
 World of Warcraft: Wolfheart (p. 242). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.

What do yall think about the formatting though? I think I like the idea of a speculation and RP Tips section, using the spoiler dropdown

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Why do we never see worgen mages in lore? or have there been, and I am unaware?

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Could Gilnean harvest witches shape shift?

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Why do Gilneans who become afflicted with the Worgen curse sometimes obtain the desire to eat meat raw, and savagely? In some cases, while the animal is alive?

Gilneans seemed to be a pretty high class people. If anything, generally sophisticated. Yet now we have seen many examples of them becoming exceptionally brutal. I was going to just overlook the villains as just letting themselves become bloodlusted and using their new form to its fullest, but then we also have examples like these two:

https:// wow. gamepedia. com/Sam_Trawley

https:// wow. gamepedia. com/Micaiah_Wiewandt

Sorry about spaces, for some reason it’s not letting me post links. Normally I can.

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It doesn’t let me do it on the phone. Here you go.

https://wow. gamepedia.com/Sam_Trawley
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Micaiah_Wiewandt

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Ahah, I hadn’t even thought of addressing classes in worgen culture. :bacon:

I can’t recall ever seeing a named worgen mage NPC. However, I do know at least one Gilnean wizard. Archmage Arugal himself was a Gilnean, who left to join the Kirin Tor in Dalaran, only returning to Gilneas when Dalaran was destroyed by the Scourge.

Gilnean Culture (click to expand)

Gilnean culture and history could present some reasons there are less worgen mages. In short, there may not have been many mages in Gilneas to be bitten. The city was cut off from the world, so there were no Kirin Tor visiting, much less teaching apprentices in Gilneas. The city is culturally independent and industrial, so perhaps less focus on mystic arts as a culture. Mages that did pop up may have gone to join the Kirin Tor or the Alliance, meaning they wouldn’t be in Gilneas during the worgen apocalypse (Jaina too left her homeland at a young age, to join the Kirin Tor in Dalaran). In support of this, there is not one mention of Arcane magic in the Curse of the Worgen comic or the starter zone. Meanwhile around Stormwind, the Dark Riders comic has a mage main character and everything to do with arcane, with the Elwynn quests reflecting this.

Pack Worgen Culture (click to expand)

Now on the flipside, there’s plenty of reasons why wild worgen society would not have - or produce - mages. It was kaldorei mages and their meddling in the arcane that brought the Legion to Azeroth 10k years ago, and lead to the banishment of the kaldorei mages shortly after. So there were no kaldorei mages around to get bitten during the War of the Satyr. Then once they got out of the dream in modern day, they formed the Wolf Cult, and specifically recruited humans that agreed with their “re-wilding” and anti-civility ideology, being mostly thugs and rebels. I don’t imagine many scholarly wizards would jump at the opportunity to become a “jugernaught of rage”, and I don’t see an anti-civility culture producing its own wizardly scholars.

So one way or another, the use of arcane magic doesn’t seem as central to worgen cultures as it might to Silvermoon or even Stormwind. Even Genn Greymane’s own merlin-like advisor wasn’t a mage, but rather a royal alchemist, suggesting a focus on chemical and mechanical science. Of course, that’s not to say a worgen can’t become a mage, or that a mage can’t become a worgen. It simply has reason to be less likely, which would explain the certain lack of such NPC characters.

Sorry this one didn’t end up as clean and concrete as the lore on eyesight. I’m stuck on mobile for a few days, and this particular topic of cultures is far more theoretical and speculative based on lore. But hey, definitely made me get my thinking cap on! Now I feel like I aughta make a “worgen class guides” guide too, like to go over worgen druids, deathknights, hunters and the like.

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Thankyou for your questions! Haven’t been able to respond for a couple days, but these are definately helpful and I plan on answering, as well as adding these subjects to the guide.

Harvest Witches
I had to do a refresher on Harvest Witches. There’s not a lot on them, at all, and I know it’s a topic of debate. But there is far more to say they did not shapeshift than there is to suggest they did. Give me a bit, and I’ll post more on that.

Worgen Diets
I didn’t even know about these two, thanks! They definately support the argument for worgen carnivorous diets. But while they make a good case on their own, there’s far more on it in the books. It’s not just a sometimes thing. Even our good king Genn Greymane takes to all fours to hunt with claw and fang with his pack or royal guards in Wolfheart, and meat is a point of interest to worgen in both Curse of the Worgen and Dark Riders. I’ll see about collecting those sources and writing a portion on worgen diets.

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Exactly how are worgen? Genn was able to push Saurfang (or some armored orc) off of Anduin. Smack Sylvanas across a room and break part of the titan floor. I know they can lift a human but I remember this one quest in Mount Hyjal where you fight in a pit and the worgen boss is able to lift the whole carriage to throw it out you.

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It’s been stated by Blizzard that Worgen are canonically the strongest and fastest race in the Alliance. Of course this is very vague, but it at least gives us something to go off of.

I assume Worgen are super naturally strong, with the examples you stated being good evidence of such.

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Alright, here we go! Time to tackle these big questions!

Gilneans and Druidic Shapeshifting

This one’s a topic of debate, as I’m sure you know. Ordinarily, in a debate, I’d humor both ideas. But since my goal is to write an RP guide, accurate to the best of my knowledge, I’ll have to decide. If someone in my guild asked me, or if someone asked me personally, I’d say no. Harvest Witches were not able to shapeshift, before being enhanced with the worgen curse. I say this for a few reasons, which I’ll explain in the drop-down menus below.

1. Harvest Witch teachings do not include shapeshifting.
  • Gilnean harvest witches follow “the old ways”, basically a term for their traditional pagan heritage. This belief is described in various quest text from NPCs, and is explained as a form of paganism, but centered on mother earth itself. Think real-world druidism in medieval era, or Neopaganism in modern day. The fact is, this Gilnean pagan heritage is culturally and fundamentally different than the Night Elf druidism. It does not teach shapeshifting.

2. A Wild God has not taught them druidism
  • Looking at the other druidic races, each involves shapeshifting in their quest text and in their culture. Their druidic ways can be traced back to a single wild god, that taught them druidism in the first place. For the Kaldorei and Tauren, that is the god of druidism himself, Cenarius. For the darkspear trolls, that is Gonk, the crafty Raptor god. The Gilnean pagans have no such gods in their culture, much less one that has approached them to teach druidism.

3. There are no animal gods in Gilneas.
  • That’s not to say druidism has to be taught. Perhaps it can be learned on your own. But even then, druidic forms are not simple polymorphs like mages use. These are gifts from the corresponding gods. Worship the cat god, you earn the cat form. Worship the bird god, you earn the bird form. Harvest Witches do not mention the existence of wild gods, nor do they seem focused on animal life at all. Not a single animal spirit is seen, mentioned, or suggested to be in Gilneas.

4. Gilnean Shapeshifting is not seen.
  • The only lore we have on Harvest Witches is from the starter zone. They are mentioned only briefly in later quests, and only briefly in the Genn short story. In the starter zone, we do not see shapeshifting. We see it from the player character, yes, because that is how the ingame druid class unlocks its abilities as you level. But while shapeshifting is seen time and again in the questlines of other races, not once does Celestine of the Harvest or other Harvest Witches use a bear form to fight the worgen, or the forsaken. Celestine is seen in Hyjal much later using ravern form, after having been bitten and thus enhanced by the worgen curse, but never once uses this shapeshifting during the Gilnean experience.

Addressing Kul Tiran Druids

Again, Gilnean druidism is a topic of debate, and I do expect the Kul Tiran druidism to be used as an argument against this, supporting Gilnean human shapeshifting. However, looking at the Kul Tiras, they have much more when it comes to shapeshifting in this aspect of their culture. Things Gilnean human harvest witches do not.

  1. Thornspeaker teachings include shapeshifting.
    This is seen in their questlines, which include seeing them taking on various different forms. Even their teacher, the last living and friendly Drust, seems to stay in a druid form. Celestine and the Harvest Witches cannot say the same, in the Gilnean stater zone.

  1. An ancient being has taught them druidism.
    Unlike the Gilneans who simply have granny Celestine, the Thornspeakers are actually taught by the last living good Drust, who is over 2,700 years old by now, and was part of a race that was spirutal, mysterious, and the original inhabitants of the land. While he’s a far cry from a wild god, he still has far more teachings to offer than any Harvest Witch had access to in Gilneas.

  1. There are Wild Gods in Kul Tiras.
    Unlike Gilneas, where the sky is choked with industrial smog and the hills are reaped of trees, the land of Kul Tiras has many animal spirits, and is overall in far better condition. Once an ally of the Thornspeakers, the wolf spirit “Greenstalker” is addressed in a questline, where he’s been controlled by the Heartsbane, and you have to kill him to restore his spirit. What is more, the stag spirit “Athair” has been present in Kul Tiras since its founding, and Athainne is even confirmed to bless Thornspeaker druids.

    More have been seen in Kul Tiras as well. Where Gilneas has nothing more than a giant spider, Kul Tiras has several wild god spirits, including a stag, doe, wolf, turtle, and even a unicorn.
    https://wow.gamepedia.com/Greenstalker
    https://wow.gamepedia.com/Athair
    https://wow.gamepedia.com/Athainne
    https://www.wowhead.com/npc=137480/aitwen
    https://www.wowhead.com/npc=130350/guardian-of-the-spring

  1. And finally, addressing the last point, the shapeshifting ability is seen time and time again in the game. Where Gilnean NPCs are never seen using druid forms in their starter zone, Kul Tiras is full of those nasty Thornspeaker druid forms, from zone questlines or world quests.

Harvestwitches become Worgen

This is where the Worgen Curse comes into play, for the Harvestwitches. These Gilnean pagans were already intimate with nature, and were capable of “simple nature magic”. Once bitten by the worgen curse, a worgen is spiritual connected to both Goldrinn and Elune, and thus capable of far more druidic potential. The Harvestwitches already had an intimacy with pagan practices, and so took to shapeshifting like fish to water. In fact, it is after they are bitten and then taught by the Kaldorei that the Harvestwitches return to the spotlight in the Horde Silverpine Forest questline, as the Inconspicuous Bears. If they were capable of this before, they would have done so.

In conclusion, human Harvestwitches did not use druidic shapeshifting. The new Thornspeaker druidism actually helps support this. For each reason the Gilneans can’t, the Thornspeakers have a reason they can. The Thornspeakers may be humans, but they have multiple wild gods and thousands of years of knowledge at their disposal. Harvestwitches were capable of far less, until enhanced by the worgen curse.

Thankyou for this question! I ended up having to do a lot more digging into Thornspeakers, and thinking on druidism itself. Which is a good thing! I’ll have to include all this in the “Soul” section of the guide
 maybe some of it in Culture too
 but I’ll definitely have to include this in some kind of additional Worgen Classes RP guide. Here’s your free bacon, in case I forgot :stuck_out_tongue: :bacon::bacon::bacon:

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sniffs around for the bacon
What is your take on Worgen Death Knight’s?

Is the official Blizzard explanation of the player being an escapee from Shadowfang Keep and getting caught by the Scourge and raised by Arthas an acceptable one? Or are Worgen DK’s more of a impossibility that only exist for the sake of faction racial class balance?

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I was just thinking about this the other day. And I’ll allow Raedolf to give you an official answer, but I will give you my take on it.

Personally, I was never a fan of the official Blizzard explanation, you and your friend escaped Shadowfang Keep and end up joining the Argent Dawn and then get killed and raised. My main issue with this was your character theoretically has no control over themselves as a Worgen, they haven’t done the ritual or anything. However, I also remembered that there are Worgen in Grizzly Hills who seem to have some semblance of control, in that they can stay in human form and transform into their worgen form.
Because of this you could argue that you and your friend escape from Shadowfang Keep and have some control over your Worgen nature, and thus stay in human form because I doubt many in the Argent Dawn would take kindly to a giant bloodthirsty wolf, after that you join the Argent Dawn and then are later killed and raised.

It’s not the greatest explanation for Worgen Death Knight, but it’s possible.

The way I play my Worgen DK, he was one of the people of Pyrewood infected with the curse and taken to Shadowfang Keep, he ends up being killed by the adventurers (the players) when they show up to kill Arugal. Then when the Lich King sends the San’layn to retrieve Argual’s remains to bring him back (we find him in Grizzly Hills) they also bring back several Worgen remains to be revived as Death Knights because what’s more deadly than a ferocious Worgen that’s also a Death Knight?

Anyways, that’s how I did my character because to me that makes more sense, and it avoids the issue of “how did he have control of himself and not get killed on the spot by the Argent Dawn?” when he escaped Shadowfang Keep like the Blizzard explanation for Worgen DK.

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Worgen Diet and Instinct

Thankyou again for finding these two. Funny enough, the debate on worgen diets is what started it all for me, years ago. Someone on the forums asked the question, I answered, and a then-guildie disagreed and began trolling on an alt.

It’s been three years since then, and I’ve had the opportunity to research, ponder, and discuss the topic. At length. The question of “what worgen eat” really is bigger than simply taste. It involves biology
 instinct
 and delving into what the worgen really are. Whether they’re furry humans, or savage predators.

In short, yes, worgen eat meat. The wolf-men are predatory and carnivorous by nature. The worgen is physically equipped for the role of predator, with claws, a sensitive nose, and a maw of fangs. So too is the worgen instinctually predatory, by default. Halford Ramsey narrates it best in Curse of the Worgen - a sophisticated Gilnean detective - once he is turned.

A new, uncharted world stretched before me. And yet raw desire and emotion warred within. A need to sate hunger, to slake thirst, to run with feet barely touching the ground.


Then a shift in the wind alerted me to another scent, an odor I had encountered many times in my work

Blood.

Instantly calm, peace, and serenity were shattered. Rage swelled anew. I raced toward the source.

There was no thought, only action. I attacked! Driven by hunger, overwhelmed by the desire to pierce flesh with my teeth, to rend and tear


(Curse of the Worgen, issue 3, pg 1-4)

Alpha Prime - the first worgen - addresses this instinct as well, more than once in the book. Perhaps one of his most forward of quotes is this, addressing on his imprisonment.

“Be at peace”? At PEACE?! We are meant to run! To hunt!
The exile of the Dream was a torture you could never possibly comprehend! You cannot tame what is meant to be wild!
(Curse of the Worgen, Issue 5, pg 20)

This does not appear to be “some” worgen, either. Even the most sophisticated Gilnean worgen example we have, King Genn Greymane, hunts on all fours, with a pack. In fact, it was the bitten nobles that accompanied him, hunting on all fours in Teldrassil.

Those who accompanied Genn included other surviving members of the nobility, male and female. However, in addition, favored officers and Genn’s own personal staff and guards would also be included in the “royal” hunt.
(Wolfheart p. 263)

He bared his teeth as he imagined the nearby pack pursuing its prey, and increased his pace in order to better his chances of joining the chase before it was too late. He knew that the pack would not hunt too far apart from one another. Their lupine tendencies would make the worgen follow certain traits that Varian understood very well.
(Wolfheart p. 264)

And at last he saw a worgen who could only be the Gilnean king. Genn flung himself after a massive boar with tusks so sharp and strong that, if the animal turned to face the worgen, Genn would truly risk death. At the moment, though, the boar thought only of flight. Genn, however, was fast gaining. He ran sometimes on only his legs, but other times used his hands too. With a litheness that Varian had not even seen from the much younger Eadrik, the veteran ruler closed on the boar.
(Wolfheart pp. 265-266)

The bear let out a moan and fell on its left side, its throat now torn out. A worgen stood above the dead animal, blood and bits of meat still dangling from the end of his claws. The worgen looked at Varian.
(Wolfheart p. 274)

I’ve recently found another quote for support as well, in the newest book “Before the Storm”. The passage below begins with Anduin and Genn (in human form), eating breakfast together at the table, and Christie Golden takes this moment to comment on Genn’s other eating habits.

“I had almost forgotten we were heading into summer,” Greymane said as he helped himself to a sweet-smelling, perfectly ripe peach. Amberseed buns, Stromgarde cheese, herbed eggs, ham, bacon, fresh sunfruit, and pastries also had been laid out, and milk, coffee, tea, and a selection of juices were provided to wash it down.

As a worgen, Greymane had hunted for food in a way that the rest of the Alliance could not, and could feed upon things others could not. Worgen were, in many ways, the strongest and best suited to war, for the adage that an army marched on its stomach was a true one. But clearly the king of Gilneas still relished the taste of summer’s first fruits.
(Before the Storm p. 46)

More support can be found in other worgen lore sources as well. The Nightbane worgen in the comic Dark Riders love meat with a passion, so much so that two foolish worgen attacked without waiting for the pack. There are several mentions of bacon in the game, in jest, but there are also several instances of worgen eating meat, anywhere worgen can be found. In Duskwood, the Nightbane can be found eating slain wolves. In Silverpine Forest, the Bloodfang worgen were easily distracted by the meat on the table in the Shadowfang Keep dungeon. In the Grizzly Hills, the secretly worgen villagers try to sell you raw meat, and fur with puncture marks.

That’s not to say worgen can’t eat other things. Even my family dog loves her some potato chips. Worgen are at least half human too, even if they do have a canine mouth, so chocolate or grapes isn’t going to kill you if you eat it, as it would a dog. What is true is that worgen are compelled to eat meat, as well as to hunt it themselves.

Thankyou for this question! I actually had to go looking for old posts, and through various books in my kindle library for this one. Now that I have them on hand, reformatting this for the guide should be a piece of cake.

The only one I couldn’t find the source link for was the vendor in Silverbrooke village, that sells you raw meat and punctured fur scraps. Evidence of hunting by fang, even by the ‘human’ villagers. I’m gonna need to hop ingame to find that one
 couldn’t find him on wowpedia or wowhead.

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Hmmm
 good one
 this is one I haven’t tackled in detail quite yet. Let’s see what I can come up with here.

I don’t doubt that the worgen are strong, but I’d need a source for this, if I’m to claim that in a lore-based RP guide. If you’re going off of the racial stats (which don’t seem to do much), I’d be hesitant to take that mechanic as the full truth.

It is true worgen are the fastest, able to keep up with any horse or mechastrider when they take to all fours [1]. It is also true that the worgen are as agile as elves [2], and that it was using this swiftness and dexterity that they took down Forsaken, Tauren, and goblin shredders in Ashenvale [3].

As for strength
 let’s see
in Curse of the Worgen, we see a worgen lift a man off the ground, and tear them in two[4], as you said. We also see a worgen rip off a satyr’s head[5], as well as lift enemies off the ground with one arm, including a kaldorei woman[6], a human man[7], and a whole adult worgen[8]. Worgen are seen busting through the solid wooden doors[9] of the Gilnean cathedral, as well as through glass windows in Gilneas and Duskwood.

In contrast, we also see worgen bested in strength, mostly when imprisoned or bound. Both Alpha Prime[10] and Halford Ramsey[11] restrained by vines, and unable to break free. Worgen are seen restrained in stocks[12], both in the comic, as well as the starter zone, and several locations in the game.

Sources
  1. https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/game/races/worgen
  2. https://imgur.com/5dgQuJW
  3. https://imgur.com/CXfFUbJ
  4. https://imgur.com/pXMQPF3
  5. https://imgur.com/X3IUr1x
  6. https://imgur.com/cxbjItj
  7. https://imgur.com/yjD0rYl
  8. https://imgur.com/hnyGkKb
  9. https://imgur.com/nv2S358
  10. https://imgur.com/otvZYXX
  11. https://imgur.com/F72A1o7
  12. https://imgur.com/4h7sWUZ

Judging by how worgen are depicted, they are indeed stronger than a regular human. But I’d be hesitant to claim they’re the strongest playable race, considering other beefy races like Tauren. The fact that the worgen chose to use swiftness and agility to take down the tauren should be noted. For both the tauren, and the goblin shredders, the worgen outmaneuvered their strong opponents, to strike from behind.

I’m gonna have to think on this one some more, that’s for sure! In the guide, I’d likely try to summarize all this in a few sentences under Strength. Perhaps that the worgen are indeed physically strong, but often rely on their agility as well.

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Aaah, the good ol’ fashioned Worgen Deathknights question. I’ve definately got an answer for this one. Let’s see if I can do this one too before I have to go to class


Worgen Resistance to Undeath

Let’s address that first part, so we understand how the worgen deathknight is at all possible.

Worgen are resistant to conventional forms of undeath. It is for this reason that Sylvanas cannot raise them after the forsaken kill them in battle, and are thus more effective in countering the forsaken than humans. This is noted in the Silverpine Forest questline, and humans later in the questline voluntarily become worgen for this very reason.

“Conventional forms of undeath” includes natural undeath as well. See Duskwood. Duskwood is a zone full of undeath, including zombies, banshees, skeletons, and ghosts, without any scourge involvement whatsoever. These restless dead are in fact natural undead, restless after death for other reasons, usually if they have unfinished business in the world of the living. Not only are worgen unable to be raised by typical necromancers, but will not come back as restless zombies, as a human might. All because of the worgen’s spiritual connection to Goldrinn and Elune, a god of Life and goddess of Azeroth respectively.

Now that we’ve covered conventional forms of undeath, let’s talk about the Lich King. The Lich King is far more powerful than an everyday necromancer. Where a Valkyr are simply blessed spirits of Vykrul women, the Lich King is more of a death god. The Lich King is far more powerful, having been made so by The Burning Legion. He is able to telepathically control an entire undead army, raise a whole dragon to undeath, and raise various races as deathknights. Note also that Sylvanas’s valkyr can only make mediocre rotting undead, where the Lich King raised super powerful deathknights. Considering how much more powerful the Lich King is, compared to Sylvanas’s forces, yes. It does make sense that the Lich King can raise worgen as Deathknights.

Now to address that note on the actual scenario given to us. First off, I’ll say that no, you do not need to follow that scenario exactly. There are two important details when it comes to creating a Worgen Deathknight backstory.

  1. Worgen can become Deathknights. Really, it doesn’t matter if you use WoW’s example or not. We know that worgen can become deathknights. If you have a better idea on how your worgen came in contact with the scourge, go for it. No where does it say 100% of worgen deathknights came from Shadowfang Keep.

  1. Worgen have come into contact with the Scourge. Time and again, worgen have come into contact with the scourge forces, directly or otherwise. Here’s just a few examples I can think of.
  1. When they were first summoned in Gilneas, the Kaldorei Worgen summoned were pointed towards the Scourge outside the wall.
  2. After the Forsaken killed some of those Kaldorei Worgen, Arugal, and the human worgen in Shadowfang Keep, the scourge was in the area to raise Arugal.
  3. According to the DK questline, some worgen fled Shadowfang Keep and joined the fight against the Scourge with groups like the argent dawn.
  4. Raised as a Shade by the Lich King’s princes, Arugal started his own Wolfcult in the Grizzly Hills, at the Lich King’s behest. Living worgen were brought with him to northrend, where they gave the curse to willing villagers in Silverbrooke and other human villages. Those who opposed the cult were killed, and raised as simple undead to work tirelessly in the mines for the scourge.

In short, we know that worgen can become deathknights. And we know that worgen have came in contact with the scourge on multiple occasions. Which occasion, how they died, and how their body was recovered is up to you.

If some human tells you that you can 100% only play a DK worgen from Shadowfang Keep, ask them if they grew up in Northshire and killed kobolds for money. The starter zone is an example, not a rule.

Worgen Psychology

Totally gonna be late for class, but I want to answer this one too.

This aspect of worgen psychology is incredibly interesting to me. On one hand, all worgen are subject to predatory instincts and seething rage. Yet at the same time, even “feral” worgen are completely sane, contrary to popular belief.

Let’s look at Shadowfang Keep first off. Shadowfang keep itself actually has a ton of support for feral sentience. At first glance, it looks like a few beasts that just overpowered some humans and took the place. In reality, Archmage Arugal summoned the worgen, including Alpha Prime, the first worgen. Alpha Prime spoke with him, and eventually earned Arugal’s loyalty. In the Curse of the Worgen epilogue, we actually see Archmage Arugal bend the knee to Alpha Prime. In the very next frame, we see worgen subjects of Alpha Prime leaving Shadowfang Keep, set on betraying and overthrowing their alpha. These worgen indeed wild, and are fully sentient.

This is supported by the original Shadowfang Keep dungeon as well, that came out years before the comic. In the dungeon, we see several worgen. These worgen are not only named, but also wear clothes, and have several voice lines.

https://wow.gamepedia.com/Shadowfang_Keep_(original)
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Rethilgore
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Razorclaw_the_Butcher
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Odo_the_Blindwatcher
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Wolf_Master_Nandos


“Feral” worgen are not “mindless” worgen. Many of the Kaldorei and even human-worgen in Shadowfang keep were sentient. They were even able to use human form - without using the ritual - as depicted earlier in Curse of the Worgen. Their feral lifestyle is a choice, lead by their wild but oh-so-sentient and clever leader, Alpha Prime.

These worgen are in their right mind, and have minds of their own. Just like Varkas was able to set out to betray Alpha Prime, it is just as possible for other worgen to flee Shadowfang Keep altogether if they so wished, as in the Deathknight questline.

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It’s really nice see someone talking about lore with sources and logic, regardless the race or subject that is studied, congrats for that pal!!

Now, time to go for the bacon. I think it’s pretty obvious that Gilneas main religion was the Light, considering that they have a cathedral in the midle of the city, and probably the harvest witch and his magic were more like a secondary practice among Gilneas humans.
So, if this were true, what is the current state of Worgens in relation with the Light? they are faithful to the Light? they still practicing it? Or are more inclinated to tilt his faith to the Druidism?

Cya!

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Thanks for the answer. One last question about the sentience of Worgen DKs. Given that DKs raised by Arthas were enslaved to him, do you think his immense necromantic powers played any role in caging the feral instincts of the worgen?

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Found this quote

“In the early days of humanity and its civilization, many tribes of humans had primitive belief systems that incorporated simple nature magic. However, the rise of organized religion such as the Holy Light and the potent arcane magics introduced by the high elves quickly supplanted such traditions. Gilneas, due to its relative isolation, has retained a degree of their ancient culture in the contemporary era. The religious leaders of what was in Gilneas referred to as the “old ways” eventually became “harvest-witches”; those who used their nature powers to augment Gilneas’ agricultural output during and following its period of industrialization” (source: Ask CDev Round 3)

Given that the Church of the Holy Light was (and still is) the dominant religion throughout the human kingdoms for some time, id argue that most non-druid Worgen still adhere to that belief system. As for the Harvest Witches of Gilneas, the Night Elves seemed to have helped them to get a better understanding of their powers. And im sure they have adopted the same Druidism of the Night Elves or at least tied their own ancient Harvest Witch beliefs with that of the Nelves. Given that Gilneas has had an intimate relationship with the elves after they took them in, I wouldn’t be surprised if more Gilneans took to Druidistic beliefs for the simple reason of trying to understand their curse. Perhaps some have even tied their belief of the Holy Light to that of Elune. Dealing in speculation of course.

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Interesting. Yes, makes sense that some Worgens being nowadays more into Druidism than the Light. I would like to believe that also some of them still attached to the Light, specially those who were priests before the curse.

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I’m glad you appreciate it! I really do love this stuff.

Worgen Spirituality

That’s a very big question, and a sensitive topic. No matter the answer, someone would be upset. Even I have changed my perspective on it from time to time, as I learn more about Druidism, worgen cultures, and The Light.

The topic of worgen religion itself is quite a difficult one, because there is no one single culture of worgen to look at. There’s Gilnean culture, then Gilnean worgen. There’s Kaldorei culture, then there’s kaldorei worgen. Beteween the Gilneans, there’s a cultural divide between upper-class Royal and lower-class Rebel. Between the Kaldorei worgen, there’s a divide between those that worshipped Goldrinn and became worgen, and those who were simply bitten in the crossfire. There are packs made of just Kaldorei-Worgen (Terrowulf), of just human Worgen (Greymane, Moonrage, and Bloodmoon), and several consisting of both, no doubt mixing the cultures (Nightbane, Bloodfang, and Talonbranch).

There is such a variety of contributing variables that, in the end, it really depends on what culture the character is a part of, what their personal experiences and beliefs are, and what kind of character you wish to play.

That said
 I’ll tell you what I do know.

Worgen Religions (click to expand)

Goldrinn and Elune

The two gods Goldrinn and Elune are frequently mentioned in the worgen lore, for good reason. It is their combined magics that created the worgen curse, and thus it is to they that the worgen owe their strength. Even if Gilnean worgen do not openly worship these pagan deities, they surely seem to revere them. Genn Greymane himself refers to Goldrinn as “our patron spirit”, and respects Varian because he is Goldrinn’s chosen champion.

We see things that no normal human can. Some call you Lo’Gosh, though that they use a Taur-ahe title for you I find ironic. Still, it is but another name for Goldrinn, as we have come to know our patron spirit since our transformation. I saw the aura of that spirit around you the first moment you arrived at the banquet, and even though you gave every indication of crushing our hopes then, I still held out for our chances because I could see his touch upon you as if it were your own skin. . . .”

Knaak, Richard A
 World of Warcraft: Wolfheart (p. 267). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.

Varian surveyed the other worgen, and though they were swift to recover from their shock, their movement yet struck him as slightly slower than his own. “Goldrinn . . . ,” Genn muttered, staring. “Lo’Gosh . . . his aura . . . it surrounds you so completely. . . .” Around them, the ears of the other worgen flattened, but in awe, not fear. “Goldrinn truly touches your heart, your soul . . . ,” Genn murmured. “The wolf honors you, and so—so do we. . . .” Varian said nothing, but he, too, was at last able to sense what Genn had known from the beginning. The ghost of the great wolf had made him its chosen, its champion.

Knaak, Richard A
 World of Warcraft: Wolfheart (pp. 331-332). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.

Some Gilneans, however, have come to embrace and worship Goldrinn fully, such as those that joined Alpha Prime’s “Wolf Cult” in Gilneas. Alpha Prime himself spoke of both Goldrinn and Elune when he spoke of the curse as a purity, in his cult’s holy book “Purity of Essence”. Thanks to this book, the Wolf Cult appears to be the dominant belief in the Bloodfang (Curse of the Worgen) and Nightbane (Dark Riders) packs. The Nightbane and Bloodfang even refer to the Scythe of Elune as the “Fang of the Father”, referring to the male wolf god Goldrinn, rather than Elune.

The Gilneans at least revere Goldrinn and Elune, while the more tribal worgen seem to heavily worship Goldrinn. While it is not stated that ALL worgen MUST worship Goldrinn, it may be difficult not to feel some respect and gratitude towards the great god of the hunt, and the goddess of balance. But again, it comes down to the character. A street rat risen to greatness thanks to the Curse may be thankful, while an aristocrat knocked down to a new low may loath those gods responsible for the curse. Even so
 it is indeed curious that Genn Greymane, the King of Gilneas itself, enjoys the worgen form so readily, and respects Goldrinn so much.

The Old Ways

Now to address the Old Ways, which the Harvest Witches of Gilneas follow. I’ve heard it referred to as Gilnean Paganism, and really, that seems quite accurate. We don’t know much about the Old Ways, but we know that it was an old animistic (pagan) belief left over from the days of human tribes. We are told that this had completely died out in other human nations, and was in the process of dieing out (more slowly) in the secluded city of Gilneas. We are also told that it was rare, only practiced on the fringes of agrarian villages, and that Genn hadn’t been exposed to it - in his own country - until the fall of Gilneas.

He had heard that druidism was practiced among some of Gilneas’s agrarian folk, but he hadn’t been exposed to it until recently.
Lord of his Pack, pg 2

The Old Ways are indeed a secondary religion of Gilneas, if not even rarer. Gilneas is based on industrial revolution England, so let’s look there as an example. Paganism once dominated Scotland and Ireland. Now, 59.5% are Christian, while Neo-Paganism is counted somewhere within the 0.4%. Meaning, if you have one thousand people, up to four of them may be some variation of pagan. This may have been slightly higher in the industrial revolution some two hundred years ago, and may be higher in Gilneas - set in a fantasy world with spirits - but the point still stands that the “Old Ways” would be rather rare. This number is said to have grown slightly during the Gilnean famine, and of course may have grown more popular among Gilnean Worgen as they become closer with nature.

Yet even so, the Old Ways are far from being the prominent religion among worgen. Rather, it is more akin to added lore, to justify and introduce Gilnean Worgen druids.

The Light

The Light
 is an interesting topic. The Light appears to be the dominant religion not only among humans, but among the other Alliance races as well. The Gnomes pray to the Light in the starter zone, the humans dwarves and draenei all have priests as their current racial leaders, and several civilian NPCs pray to The Light.

The Light appears to be the dominant religion of Gilneas as well. The “Light’s Dawn Cathedral” stands at the very center point of the city. Genn refers to praying and The Light multiple times in Curse of the worgen (“I pray you’re both wrong” and “Light, no
 not this. Not now. Not the Forsaken.” in issue 5), as well as Liam, who says “Light, help us all!” directed to the The Light, as the cataclsym strikes.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/512036763871739925/570805527651811330/unknown.png

As for Gilneans once they become worgen, it’s difficult to say. I would say an individual’s belief is heavily influenced by the culture surrounding them, and this certainly applies to worgen. Those like Genn living in Stormwind amid other Alliance races may continue to worship the Holy Light alonside them, maybe even strengthened in this fellowship, “as iron sharpens iron”. Those living in the Nightbane and Bloodfang may revere the Light in their spare time, alongside Goldrinn and Elune, or forget the Light altogether. The same can be said for those that spend their time in the Cenarion Circle.

Also, the one worgen Priest I can recall is in Raven Hill Duskwood, named Sister Elsington. She uses holy Light, and gives you quests regarding the restless ghosts in the area, helping you calm their souls.
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Sister_Elsington

All Three (Speculation)

Some food for thought as well
 My own character has explored each of these religions in his own way, over the years. In a way, he now practices a balance of all three. Because it is religion, it is influenced by personal experience, personal choice, and cultural influence. With a Harvest Witch past, discovering Goldrinn and Elune in roleplay a few years ago, and a recent near-death encounter with The Light, he’s found a way for all three to work in agreement.

The Light is all that is good in the universe. Goldrinn is a god of Life, far lesser in power than the Light. Elune is a goddess of balance, found only on Azeroth, while the Light covers the whole universe. The Old Ways is simply a reverence of nature, and caring for nature in the mortal world with basic nature magic.

Chronicle 1 says that in the beginning, there was Light. Where the Light was absent, Shadow grew to power. Rising tension between the two resulted in conflict, “rupturing the fabric of creation, and birthing a new realm into existence”. If only Light and Shadow existed, then the other four planes of magic (Life and Death, Order and Disorder) resulted from the “explosion”. Since Life and Order are positive, they must have come from Light, and since Disorder and Death are destructive, they must have come from Shadow in contrast. If Life goes hand-in-hand with Light, then nature itself - as well as the demigods - exist because of the Light.

Therefor; Nature obeys the Wild Gods, which obey the plane of Life, which obey The Light.

In this way, using nature magic, revering Goldrinn, and worshipping the Light functions, as a nature oriented follower of the Light. Just as a soldier may serve in a different regiment, but serve the same country.

This is certainly going to be an interesting topic to include, in the worgen RP guide. “Religion” itself is a field of study, that people can major in, especially anthropology, theology, and psychology. I’m just a worgen-obsessed Environmental Science major. :sweat_smile:

I dare say I went far deeper into this topic tonight than needbe
 but such a big question! And worthy of a good answer.

And bacon. :bacon:

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