Azotha

From WoWWiki

Azotha was the name of nomadic humans around the time of the Sundering. They apparently had some connection to the titans.^[1]

Before the Great Sundering, the early humans were nearly as savage as their foes, which included the trolls, and both groups wandered the land battling each other while trying to plant the seeds of their cultures.^[2] The trolls hunted these nomadic tribes of humans.^[3] These early humans may have had access to divine spells through worship of the Old Gods or early cults that would become the Church of the Holy Light.^[2] Many generations of humans and Kaldorei were befriended by the bear Ancients, Ursoc and Ursol, who were beloved in return.^{S&L 84-85}

It was a time that called for warriors and spies to help fight the war between the Azotha and jungle trolls or between the night elves and Queen Azshara’s demon guard. In the early histories of dwarves and humans, the Kaldorei were seen as shadowy figures of dark perfection wielding incredible god-like powers. In between the finding of magic from the Well of Eternity and the Sundering, the nascent humans — along with other races — were sometimes captured and used as slaves by the Kaldorei.^[4] When the night elves fought the demons during the War of the Ancients in their lands, the humans and trolls retreated deep into the wild. Groups of endangered humans or night elves were guided away from the doomguard by Aviana disguised in mortal form.^[5]

After the Sundering, for thousands of years, the human tribes teetered on the brink of extinction as their numbers were winnowed by an ever-increasing struggle simply to gather what was needed for survival. For millennia they persevered, wandering ever further afield in search of game, wood, and refuge. They were nomadic hunter-gatherers and divided into many tribes. These years were nearly the race’s last, as it eked out sustenance from the ashes and the aftermath of the destruction, until the sun returned. The surviving tribes of humans sent out intrepid bands to explore the reborn world and to find their long-lost brethren. Slowly, trade routes were established across the revitalized world.^[6] Azotha settled in places including Stranglethorn Vale.^[1].

Notes

The Arathi named the land of Azeroth as a whole in homage to their ancient ancestors, the Azotha.^[7] There is evidence of a connection between titans and Azotha, ancient evidence can be found in the Azotha ruins in Stranglethorn Vale.^[1] Some believe humans may be a variation of earthen that had grown taller than the rest.^{DS 21} Some modern human females have retained the ability to turn their flesh to stone or steel like the dwarves (and some gnomes) due to what they believe to be an ancient connection to the titan forger Khaz'Goroth.^[8]

Azotha are legendary for having gold, and this fact has made it into the modern dysphemism, "I'd give Azotha gold for a dull moment."^[9] Azotha civilization apparently extended to the Stranglethorn Vale, where Azotha ruins have been found, lost mosaics discovered, and evidence of the titans. There may even be remnants of a lost Azotha tribe or tribes still living there as well.^[1]

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore!

They apparently evolved from the vrykul as it was said that the vrykul are almost like the progenitors of the human race. They were part of the titans' early plans for creating the original race that ultimately became humans, but they have turned slightly evil.^[10]

It is stated that vrykul children who were born in a certain time after their gods "abandoned" them were viewed as "weak and ugly".^[11] King Ymiron ordered all those children to be killed, but events hint that not all parents obeyed this order, and instead hid their children to grow up far away from Northrend.^[12]

References