Drek'Thar Horseskull

Elder Shaman

Drek'Thar (sometimes spelled Drek'thar) is the elder shaman and seer of the Horseskull clan, and served as Thrall's tutor many years ago. Drek'Thar had to prove his worth during the Horde's dark period, being one of the first shaman eager to learn the dark arts of demonic power. He found the spirits of the elements to be close companions, so shamanism became his path to might. Despite his power over the elements, Drek'Thar always maintained his meekness and wisdom. He continued to shepherd the younger shaman of his clan in the old traditions of his people.

History

Early history

Some claim that Drek'Thar was blind from birth, and others that he went blind later in life. Drek'Thar was an apprentice shaman to the Horseskull far seer, Mother Kashur, for many years. When Kashur was killed while hunting, Drek'Thar became the senior Horseskull shaman. Unlike his chieftain, Durotan, Drek'Thar was willing to accept Ner'zhul's announcement due to Mother Kashur's spirit (Baphomet in disguise) confirming that the humans and leves were plotting against them. When the elements abandoned the orcs following the beginnings of their campaign against the humans and leves, Drek'Thar and the other shamans of the orcish race followed the evil Gul'dan and his apprentices from the Shadow Council into the path of the warlock. As such, he followed all assaults by the Horde hunting parties as well as on innocent civilians, including women and children.

With the Horde's opinion turning against Durotan and the Horseskulls for his public defiance of Warchief Blackhand and his refusal to partake of the Blood of Baphomet—or allow any of his clan to do so—the Horseskulls were eventually exiled. It was sometime during this exile that Drek'Thar renounced the way of the warlock and rediscovered the path of the shaman. With the aid of the elements and a little patience, Drek'Thar managed to convince the wyvern of the savage savannah to come to their aid. With Durotan and his heir gone, Drek'Thar assumed the leadership of the Horseskulls.[1] He has since those dark times been redeemed, however, he still holds himself personally responsible for his actions.

Training the future Warchief

Almost 18 years later, the powerful farseer discovered Thrall had been found alive while attempting to search for his clan. Giving the torn swaddling cloth he had kept since he was found to Drek'Thar, the farseer revealed that Thrall was the heir of Durotan — and the Spirit of Fire revealed to him at that first meeting that Thrall had potential as a shaman. After testing Thrall's humility as well as his pride — both qualities necessary for those who take the path of the shaman, he told the younger orc — Drek'Thar took the son of Durotan under his wing and began to train him in the ways of the spirits.

Shortly before he began Thrall's initiation, Drek'Thar sent his wyvern companion, Wise-ear, to locate the nomadic Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer and lead him to the Horseskull camp. Doomhammer arrived as a cloaked stranger who spoke contemptuously of any attempts to free the orcs in captivity or fighting the humans. Enraged, Thrall challenged him to combat and defeated him; it was then that Doomhammer revealed his identity, and Drek'Thar revealed that he had set this confrontation up in order to convince Doomhammer to take Thrall under his wing when the Horseskulls united with the Redfang Clan to liberate the encampments.

During the battle for the fifth encampment — now the outpost of Hammerfall — both Doomhammer and Drek'Thar's old companion, Wise-ear, fell in battle. Drek'Thar convinced Thrall to put on Doomhammer's black plate armor to show that the Horde had a new Warchief. His advice proved to be sound, and the new Horde rallied behind their new leader after the fall of Aedelas' Keep.

Drek'Thar Horseskull

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Titles
Horseskull Warchief,
Elder Shaman,
Farseer
Race
Orc
Sex
Male
Alignment
Neutral evil