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| + | {{npcbox |
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| − | {{Speculation}} |
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| + | | image = Kurdran TCG.jpg |
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| + | | name = Thane Kurdran Wildhammer |
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| + | | gender = Male |
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| + | | race = Wildhammer dwarf |
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| + | | creature = Humanoid |
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| + | | level = 70 (Elite) or 85 (Elite) |
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| + | | character = [[Gryphon Rider]] |
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| + | | health = 5,588,000 |
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| + | | affiliation = [[Wildhammer Clan]], [[Alliance Expedition]], [[Sons of Lothar]] |
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| + | | faction = Alliance |
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| + | | occupation = Ruler of Highbank, Thane of Wildhammer Stronghold, Former Chief Thane of the Wildhammer Clan, Gryphon Master of the Aerie Peak |
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| + | | location = [[Wildhammer Stronghold]], [[Shadowmoon Valley]], [[Highbank]], [[Twilight Highlands]] {{C-inline}} |
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| + | | status = Alive |
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| + | | relatives = [[Khardros Wildhammer]] (ancestor), [[Falstad Wildhammer]] (brother), [[Maz Drachrip]] (hereditary successor?) |
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| + | | companions = [[Sky'ree]]}} |
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| + | {{Warcraft II Hero|Kurdran and Sky'ree}} |
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| − | Some players have voiced objection to blood elves feeling it will ruin the atmosphere of the [[Horde]]. Others think it makes little sense that the New Horde would let in such a corrupt race and feel this upsets the balance between the [[Alliance]] and [[Horde]]. The latest controversy involves their torture and exploitation of a [[Naaru]] and hidden [[leper gnome]] sweatshop in their Capital and Thrall's and Cairne's apparent indifference. |
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| + | :''In Shadowmoon Valley, legends fly on the winds.''<ref>{{ref tcg|set=Hunt for Illidan|number=130}}</ref> |
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| − | == A defensive argument for the inclusion of blood elves == |
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| − | [[Image:BloodElves.jpeg|thumb|left|Two blood elves as seen in early versions of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]] |
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| + | '''Kurdran Wildhammer''' is a famed [[gryphon rider]] and one of the heroes of the [[Alliance Expedition]] to [[Draenor]]. |
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| − | While the feeling of the general public is that the blood elves are evil, most of these opinions are drawn from what they have previously observed from their experiences in playing as the human-blood elf campaign in [[WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne]], who accepted [[Vashj]] and [[Illidan]]'s ideas of obtaining magic at almost any cost, even consorting with [[Kil'jaeden|upper-level demons]]. |
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| + | He is a level 70 [[quest ender]] in [[Shadowmoon Valley]] and a level 85 [[quest giver]] in the [[Twilight Highlands]]. |
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| − | However, it is important to remember that the playable blood elves in Burning Crusade will not be the same as the playable blood elves in previous WarCraft titles. These blood elves draw their energies from demonic pests and mana beasts, the equivalent of rats or lesser rodents. Many are unaware of what happened to Prince [[Kael'Thas]] and his accompanying strike force (the blood elves of The Frozen Throne) through the Dark Portal in search of a cure - this will probably be a major factor into why both Alliance and Horde will be able to battle him in the [[Tempest Keep]]. The playable blood elves of Burning Crusade were the great majority of the blood elf military, who Kael'Thas sent to reclaim [[Quel'Thalas]] and [[Silvermoon City]]. |
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| + | As of [[Patch 4.1.0|Rise of the Zandalari]], Kurdran is so far the only major hero of the Alliance Expedition to have returned to Azeroth. |
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| − | The [[Sin'dorei]] bring with them a rightly feared and legendary arcane heritage, and the newly formed [[Blood Knights]]. With the reclamation of Quel'Thalas and Silvermoon City, they also bring yet another Horde presence to a continent that is generally thought of as Alliance territory. Now there are two major powers on the Eastern Kingdoms that can act as buffers, supply centers and headquarters against Ironforge and Stormwind in case the Alliance initiates another Great War. (This balances with the [[Draenei]], whose territories are off the coast of Kalimdor, a Horde-dominated continent). |
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| + | ==Biography== |
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| − | From a strictly practical gameplay perspective, a Sin'dorei Paladin makes a tremendously versatile addition to any party. In PvP the Paladin can be very powerful in comparison to other classes, and in PvE their ability to both heal and engage in melee combat means that they can serve equally well as either a main healer or main tank. |
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| + | ===Beyond the Dark Portal=== |
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| + | {{novel-section}} |
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| + | Kurdran Wildhammer - [[Gryphon Rider]] of [[Northeron]]<ref>[[Beyond the Dark Portal missions#VI. The Fall of Auchindoun]]</ref> - was the Chief Thane of the [[Wildhammer Clan]], and the [[Hinterlands]]<ref>{{ref book |author= Rosenberg, Aaron |authorlink= Aaron Rosenberg |title= [[Tides of Darkness]] |isbn= 978-1-4165-3990-2 |pages=161}}</ref> During the [[Second War]], the Orcish [[Horde]] led by [[Orgrim Doomhammer]] invaded the Wildhammer homeland. Kurdran was one of the first dwarves to spot the invaders and initiate battle. Soon he was aided by the forces of the [[Alliance of Lordaeron]], and together they fought the bloodthirsty horde. Kurdran pledged his and his kingdom's aid to [[Anduin Lothar]] after the human Alliance aided them in forcing the invading orcs and forest trolls out of their homeland. Kurdran and his loyal steed, the gryphon [[Sky'ree]], became legendary during the war, battling over land and sea as well as the air; lending aid to Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas. He left the Second War with nine slain dragons to his credit. After the war ended, Kurdran remained with the Alliance as a scout, his service proving invaluable to the Alliance war effort. |
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| + | Upon hearing that [[Deathwing]] had breached the [[Dark Portal]] into [[Draenor]], Kurdran was only too eager to serve as scout and warrior for the [[Alliance Expedition]] to Draenor, and thus commanded the Gryphon Rider Division. Though Kurdran was captured during the raid on [[Auchindoun]], he was rescued by the Alliance and met his vengeance upon those who imprisoned him. |
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| − | The ulterior reasons are sympathy. Although all the races of the Horde wisely note the blood elves' reputation as being reckless and dangerous, there are those within the Horde who view them as a race also in need of help. Orcs, no strangers to the debilitating effects of [[fel]] power, are surprisingly accepting of the Sin'dorei, and many older orcs who have experienced demonic corruption firsthand are fierce supporters of the blood elves. Blood elves hate unlife in all its forms, but in regards to the Forsaken, blood elves are generally willing to accept an uneasy truce. [[Lor'themar Theron]], the Regent of Quel'Thalas, served as Ranger-General [[Sylvanas Windrunner]]'s second in command, and became Ranger-General himself before being appointed Regent by Kael'thas. While the alliance between blood elves and the forsaken is uneasy at best, it is strong enough that the Undercity and Silermoon have opened a translocator between the two cities, making safe travel possible without low-ranked blood elves having to traverse the hazardous [[Plaguelands]]. This allows the once land-locked blood elf homeland unfettered access to the rest of Azeroth. |
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| + | When [[Ner'zhul]] opened his unholy portals on Draenor, Kurdran elected to remain with his comrades and ensure that the Dark Portal was sealed to prevent it from harming Azeroth. For twenty years, he was believed dead, and immortalized in stone with his friends in the [[Valley of Heroes]] in [[Stormwind]]. Today, contact between Azeroth has at last been reestablished, and he now leads Alliance forces in Shadowmoon Valley. |
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| − | == The "Common" controversy == |
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| − | A popular lore argument is "How can the blood elves suddenly forget [[Common]] upon joining the Horde?" |
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| + | ===World of Warcraft:Burning Crusade=== |
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| − | Traditionally Common is usually treated as universal language in earlier Warcraft games, novels and in [[World of Warcraft RPG|the current RPG]] and is known by most races and factions in some form (Common, [[Nerglish]], [[Undercommon]], [[Low Common]], etc). Even individuals and races that had never previously encountered members of other races are capable of having conversations due to a universal knowledge of Common. According to the RPG blood elves know Common, and it is one of their two main languages, which also includes [[Thalassian]]. |
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| + | {{bc-section}} |
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| + | Kurdran and Sky'ree survived the destruction of Draenor and, after joining forces with the [[Naaru]], have taken up residence in [[Outland]]. Kurdran is the Thane of [[Wildhammer Stronghold]], the Alliance outpost in [[Shadowmoon Valley]], west of the [[Black Temple]]. Though he does not start any quests, Kurdran ends [[Quest:News of Victory (Alliance)]]. Interestingly, though he is not the target of any PvP objective, he has a tremendous amount of HP, at 5588K, more than any faction leader. |
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| + | ===Fire and Iron=== |
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| − | However, some see the above argument in itself as flawed, because they have seen no evidence in need of retconning to show that most elves even know Common to begin with. They believe although there are undoubtedly blood elves who do speak Common (as well as Orcs who spoke Common, Humans who spoke [[Orcish]], etc), they may not be the majority. They believe that the Blood elves who know the language are usually commissioned officers, delegates, diplomats, veterans from the [[Second War]] or defectors from the [[Third War]]. Quel'Thalas has always been an insular nation, and officially severed all ties with the Alliance immediately following the Second War. It is possible as a result, that there are very few ordinary blood elves who speak Common. Elves who are the most likely to know Common are usually loyalist high elves who stayed with the Alliance even after Quel'Thalas seceded, and many veterans of the previous wars have already died. Much of the current blood elf population are those who remained in Quel'Thalas throughout the WarCraft storyline. |
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| + | {{novel-section}} |
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| + | Kurdran traveled to Ironforge to represent the Wildhammer clan in the Council of Three Hammers. Tensions were running high between the Wildhammer clan and the other two clans in Ironforge as they were resentful of the Wildhammer's nonconformist tendencies as well as fearful of the false rumors circulating that said the Wildhammers were using barbaric brutal tactics on their enemies as well as their allies who didn't comply with their demands. Eventually the tensions led to a fight between a Wildhammer and a Bronzebeard that ended in somebody's death. The Bronzebeard clan and the Dark Iron clan had proposed to reforge the [[Hammer of the High King]] as an act of unity between the three clans and to ease the rising tensions in Ironforge but in order to do so, they required the scepter that belonged in Kurdran's possession. Though Kurdran was reluctant to part with the scepter for sentimental reasons and saw the reforging of the hammer as a waste of time, he nonetheless handed over the scepter so that the Wildhammer would be better received in Ironforge. Still, Kurdran had trouble adjusting to Ironforge as he missed the open skies of the Hinterlands and was not fond of the politicking required of his position. His troubles were compounded when tensions again rose as a fight broke out between Kurdran and his Wildhammer dwarves and some Dark Iron dwarves, which consequently led to a fire that killed his gryphon [[Sky'ree]]. |
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| + | The hammer would later be reforged as an act of unity between the three dwarven clans, under decree of the [[Council of Three Hammers]]. It was decided that a dark iron smith should reforge the hammer. A few days before the reforging, the council discovered that the pieces of the hammer might've been fakes. Yet the majority of the council agreed to continue with the reforging without the public knowing about it being a fake. Kurdran however, disagreed with the lie. Later that night, Kurdran would come to where the pieces were stored, and removed the Wildhammer scepter that was to be used as the hammer's handle. During a conversation with [[Moira Thaurissan]], it was implied that she planned on the Wildhammer alienating the other two clans so that tensions between the Dark Irons and the Bronzebeards would lessen. Moira informed Kurdran that his brute strength was useless, and only winning hearts and minds mattered in Ironforge. The night before the reforging, Muradin advised Kurdran to compromise his principles a little as his beliefs were not only holding himself back, but his clan and the entire city as well. On the day of the reforging, it was discovered that the handle was missing, and Kurdran admitted he had stolen it. But instead of letting it be reforged, he smashed the handle with his [[stormhammer]], and it shattered to pieces. Kurdran declared that the union of the dwarven clans shouldn't start with reforging a hammer that could be fractured again. Instead, Kurdran proposed that the dwarven clans move forward from the past and unite with a fresh start. [[Muradin Bronzebeard]] and [[Moira Thaurissan]] joined him by fracturing their fragments. |
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| − | There are many who have not seen any race aside from their own prior to the Horde induction, so it could be much less likely for them to speak Common. As with most of the other playable races, new Blood Elf characters are probably young enough to have never seen battle when they first start out. Also, after severing ties with the alliance, it is likely that the use of common has been outlawed among blood elves and are encouraged to speak Thalassian in order to preserve cultural identity. |
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| + | Realizing that [[Falstad Wildhammer|Falstad]] was the better dwarf to represent the Wildhammer clan in the [[Council of Three Hammers]], Kurdran decided to step down from his position as Wildhammer representative and traveled to [[Stormwind]] to aid [[King Varian Wrynn|King Varian]]'s army.<ref>[[Fire and Iron]]</ref> |
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| − | However, the basic reasons remain decisions largely for the sake of competitive gameplay. Blizzard goes to great lengths to promote tension between factions, and discourages fraternizing and communicating with the opposing faction. Having a language barrier promotes this, especially when applied to PvP servers. This language barrier may not actually be present in non-game materials (novels, etc). |
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| + | ===Cataclysm=== |
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| − | The language barrier also extends from Blizzard's experience by letting [[Forsaken|undead]] speak Common- players displayed a noted (almost repulsive) lack of maturity with this ability, and [[Gutterspeak]] was the result. |
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| + | {{Cata-section}} |
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| + | Kurdran Wildhammer is present in the [[Twilight Highlands]]. He is the ruler of [[Highbank]] and can also be found in [[Kirthaven]]. He aids Alliance adventurers in uniting the various Wildhammer clans of the Twilight Highlands and bringing them under the Alliance banner. He also serves as a commander in the Alliance army that is fighting against the [[Twilight's Hammer Cult]]. |
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| + | ==Personality== |
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| − | == Why hunters and not warriors? Suggested gameplay and lore reasoning == |
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| + | Kurdran is well liked by his friends for his jolly personality and love for battle. He is a fierce warrior and does not like to be seen as a weakling, insisting to fight on despite being heavily wounded. [[Danath Trollbane]] was likely one of his closest friends and was whipped into frenzy hearing Kurdran's apparent death. Unlike many Wildhammers, he is not hostile towards wizards and spell-casters. |
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| − | [[Image:Blood_elf.jpg|thumb|A blood elf Spell Breaker]] |
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| − | As cited in the Classes section, the gameplay reasoning behind the decision is that Blizzard wanted both new expansion races to be able to roll a locked number of six classes. With the elimination of faction exclusive classes, the choice came down between Hunter and Warrior, and Hunter was chosen as the sixth class. From a Lore standpoint, the inclusion of Hunters and exclusion of Warriors can be explained through several reasons. '''''Note: this does not mean that [[Blood_Elf_Swordsman|blood elven warriors]] may not exist in the Warcraft universe, only that they are not a playable class.''''' |
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| + | ==Valley of Heroes Monument== |
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| − | Blood elves as a race are the physically weakest of all the races of the Horde. Orcs, trolls, Forsaken and tauren are superior to them in size, weight, strength and constitution, each in different but always superior degrees for the respective races. All blood elves, regardless of station or occupation, boast a great affinity for the arcane arts - an area of contention the Horde was notably inferior to prior to the inclusion of the blood elves. |
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| + | [[File:Kurdran.jpg|thumb|The Statue of Kurdran Wildhammer in Stormwind|left]] |
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| + | {{Book||width=60em|content= |
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| + | ==== <!-- Don't remove --> ==== |
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| + | Kurdran Wildhammer |
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| − | Although there are a significant amount of rank-and-file blood elven soldiers, these spellbreakers typically serve as city guards and honor guards, and still have a substantial amount of magical ability which sets them far apart from the warriors of other races. Since the opening of the Dark Portal, the role of the Blood Knights has been changed from honor guards to frontline troops to help assist the Horde war effort. The remaining surviving rangers from the three Great Wars have been training more recruits, under the guidance of Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing, and will make a reappearance alongside their fellow adventurers by the time of the expansion. |
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| + | Renowned Dragon Fighter. Gryphon Master of the [[Aerie Peak]]. Commander of the Gryphon Rider Division attached to the [[Alliance Expedition]] that marched into the orc homeworld of [[Draenor]]. Presumed deceased. |
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| − | ==Bulk Up== |
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| − | There has been an ongoing complaint over the new changes done to blood elf models, and specifically the choice to bulk up male blood elves. The current models stand slightly straighter and have bigger biceps than the old models. The official [[CM]] response by [[Nethaera]] stated that the change was made in order to make male blood elves look more menacing and masculine to the opposite faction, and the answer was met with heavy criticism. Many fans decried this as unwarranted machismo and stereotyping, as these players wanted a slender male model available to the Horde faction. There have been ongoing petitions and forum threads since the change asking for a revert to the old model, and calling for a change in the male blood elf's stance and voice responses to remedy their perceived lack of masculinity instead of a physical change. |
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| − | It has pointed out that prior to this model change there have been reports of skeletal tearing (the model's skeletal frame poking out of the skin) during movement. The increased number of polygons, biceps size and general size of male blood elves appears to have repaired the problem. |
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| + | We will hear [[Sky-Ree]]'s calls upon the winds. We will hear your hammer thunder across the mountaintops. Ride hard into the hereafter, brother. The halls of our ancestors await you. |
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| − | Defenders have also pointed out that there have been promotional pictures showing very bulky and muscular blood elves. These were done by [[Samwise Didier]] who typically draws all males in exaggerated fashion, even the traditionally slender trolls. |
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| − | Even with this "bulk-up", blood elves still remain the second most slender race (the first being Forsaken, due to decay) in the game. |
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| + | - High Thane [[Falstad Wildhammer]] |
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| − | == Paladins == |
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| + | }} |
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| − | The most controversial facet of the blood elves is their ability to become paladins. It should be noted, however, that of all the controversy, this one is the most credible lore-wise. The ability balances the right of the draenei to become Shamans, an action Blizzard took as part of a way to clarify the role of the Shaman in lore. It also underlies the depth of the blood elves' desperation that they would feed off an altruistic being that the high elves would never have considered harming. By providing the [[M'uru]] explanation, Blizzard underlines the pathos that will likely be a source of great drama, as well as an element of mystery: how could the Horde, led by the idealistic Thrall, the loyal Vol'jin and the wise Cairne, allow their allies to torture a naaru? |
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| + | {{clrl}} |
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| + | ==Quotes== |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | ===Fire and Iron=== |
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| + | *''"The new Ironforge begins here. Ask yerselves, do ye want tae start it by puttin' this [[Hammer of the High King|hammer]] back together so that one day it can be broken again? The Wildhammers have chosen tae take a step forward, not back. Who among ye is wi' us?"''<ref>[[Fire and Iron]]</ref> |
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| + | ===Twilight Highlands=== |
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| + | *"I am Kurdran, High Thane of the Wildhammer Clan!" |
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| + | *"We must unite the Wildhammer clans!" |
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| + | *"Together, we will storm [[Twilight Highlands|the highlands]]!" |
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| + | |||
| + | ==Notes== |
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| + | * Previously, Kurdran briefly replaced his brother Falstad as the Wildhammer representative of the [[Council of Three Hammers]] (an error on the part of the creative team) until he was replaced once again by Falstad in a later build due to [[Red Shirt Guy]]. Interestingly, the Council of Three Hammers faction leader story, ''[[Fire and Iron]]'', is written from the perspective of Kurdran and gave lore-based reasons behind the switch.<ref>http://us.battle.net/wow/en/game/lore/leader-story/the-council-of-three-hammers/</ref> |
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| + | *Prior to Patch 4.1, when interacting with Kurdran in the [[Twilight Highlands]], Kurdran retained the on-click voice files he had as a member of the Council of Three Hammers ("The Council of Three Hammers requires me presence..."). His replacement, Falstad, also shared the same voice set. In patch 4.1, Kurdran gets unique on-click quotes. |
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| + | |||
| + | ==Gallery== |
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| + | <gallery> |
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| + | File:Kurdran2.jpg|Kurdran art from Warcraft II |
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| + | File:HeroKurdranWC2.gif|Kurdran in Warcraft II |
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| + | File:Kurdran-wildhammer.jpg|Kurdran in Wildhammer Stronghold |
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| + | File:Kurdran Highbank.jpg|Kurdran in Highbank |
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| + | File:Kurdran TCG 2.jpg|Complete [[TCG]] artwork. |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| + | |||
| + | == References == |
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| + | {{reflist}} |
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| + | |||
| + | {{Succession|[[Khardros Wildhammer]]|'''Chief Thane of Hinterlands & Wildhammer Clan'''|[[Falstad Wildhammer]]}} |
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| + | {{Succession|[[Moira Thaurissan]]|'''[[Ironforge|Lord of Ironforge]]<br/>(as the [[Wildhammer clan]] representative of the [[Council of Three Hammers]] and Regent to [[Dagran Thaurissan II]])'''|Incumbent}} |
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| + | {{Succession|None|'''[[Wildhammer clan]] representative of the [[Council of Three Hammers]]'''|[[Falstad Wildhammer]]}} |
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| + | |||
| + | {{Grand Alliance}} |
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| + | {{Main characters}} |
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| + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Wildhammer, Kurdran}} |
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| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Lore characters]] |
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| + | [[Category:Major characters]] |
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| + | [[Category:Wildhammer dwarves]] |
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| + | [[Category:Game characters]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[Category:World of Warcraft: Tides of Darkness characters]] |
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| + | [[Category:World of Warcraft: Beyond the Dark Portal characters]] |
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| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[es:Kurdran Martillo Salvaje]] |
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| + | [[fr:Kurdran Marteau-Hardi]] |
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| + | [[pl:Kurdran Wildhammer]] |
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Revision as of 23:05, 5 July 2011
 Thane Kurdran Wildhammer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Wildhammer dwarf (Humanoid) |
| Level | 70 (Elite) or 85 (Elite) |
| Class | Gryphon Rider |
| Affiliation(s) | Wildhammer Clan, Alliance Expedition, Sons of Lothar |
| Occupation | Ruler of Highbank, Thane of Wildhammer Stronghold, Former Chief Thane of the Wildhammer Clan, Gryphon Master of the Aerie Peak |
| Location |
Wildhammer Stronghold, Shadowmoon Valley, Highbank, Twilight Highlands  |
| Status | Alive |
| Relative(s) | Khardros Wildhammer (ancestor), Falstad Wildhammer (brother), Maz Drachrip (hereditary successor?) |
| Companion(s) | Sky'ree |
Template:Warcraft II Hero
- In Shadowmoon Valley, legends fly on the winds.[1]
Kurdran Wildhammer is a famed gryphon rider and one of the heroes of the Alliance Expedition to Draenor.
He is a level 70 quest ender in Shadowmoon Valley and a level 85 quest giver in the Twilight Highlands.
As of Rise of the Zandalari, Kurdran is so far the only major hero of the Alliance Expedition to have returned to Azeroth.
Biography
Beyond the Dark Portal
Kurdran Wildhammer - Gryphon Rider of Northeron[2] - was the Chief Thane of the Wildhammer Clan, and the Hinterlands[3] During the Second War, the Orcish Horde led by Orgrim Doomhammer invaded the Wildhammer homeland. Kurdran was one of the first dwarves to spot the invaders and initiate battle. Soon he was aided by the forces of the Alliance of Lordaeron, and together they fought the bloodthirsty horde. Kurdran pledged his and his kingdom's aid to Anduin Lothar after the human Alliance aided them in forcing the invading orcs and forest trolls out of their homeland. Kurdran and his loyal steed, the gryphon Sky'ree, became legendary during the war, battling over land and sea as well as the air; lending aid to Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas. He left the Second War with nine slain dragons to his credit. After the war ended, Kurdran remained with the Alliance as a scout, his service proving invaluable to the Alliance war effort.
Upon hearing that Deathwing had breached the Dark Portal into Draenor, Kurdran was only too eager to serve as scout and warrior for the Alliance Expedition to Draenor, and thus commanded the Gryphon Rider Division. Though Kurdran was captured during the raid on Auchindoun, he was rescued by the Alliance and met his vengeance upon those who imprisoned him.
When Ner'zhul opened his unholy portals on Draenor, Kurdran elected to remain with his comrades and ensure that the Dark Portal was sealed to prevent it from harming Azeroth. For twenty years, he was believed dead, and immortalized in stone with his friends in the Valley of Heroes in Stormwind. Today, contact between Azeroth has at last been reestablished, and he now leads Alliance forces in Shadowmoon Valley.
World of Warcraft:Burning Crusade
Kurdran and Sky'ree survived the destruction of Draenor and, after joining forces with the Naaru, have taken up residence in Outland. Kurdran is the Thane of Wildhammer Stronghold, the Alliance outpost in Shadowmoon Valley, west of the Black Temple. Though he does not start any quests, Kurdran ends Quest:News of Victory (Alliance). Interestingly, though he is not the target of any PvP objective, he has a tremendous amount of HP, at 5588K, more than any faction leader.
Fire and Iron
Kurdran traveled to Ironforge to represent the Wildhammer clan in the Council of Three Hammers. Tensions were running high between the Wildhammer clan and the other two clans in Ironforge as they were resentful of the Wildhammer's nonconformist tendencies as well as fearful of the false rumors circulating that said the Wildhammers were using barbaric brutal tactics on their enemies as well as their allies who didn't comply with their demands. Eventually the tensions led to a fight between a Wildhammer and a Bronzebeard that ended in somebody's death. The Bronzebeard clan and the Dark Iron clan had proposed to reforge the Hammer of the High King as an act of unity between the three clans and to ease the rising tensions in Ironforge but in order to do so, they required the scepter that belonged in Kurdran's possession. Though Kurdran was reluctant to part with the scepter for sentimental reasons and saw the reforging of the hammer as a waste of time, he nonetheless handed over the scepter so that the Wildhammer would be better received in Ironforge. Still, Kurdran had trouble adjusting to Ironforge as he missed the open skies of the Hinterlands and was not fond of the politicking required of his position. His troubles were compounded when tensions again rose as a fight broke out between Kurdran and his Wildhammer dwarves and some Dark Iron dwarves, which consequently led to a fire that killed his gryphon Sky'ree.
The hammer would later be reforged as an act of unity between the three dwarven clans, under decree of the Council of Three Hammers. It was decided that a dark iron smith should reforge the hammer. A few days before the reforging, the council discovered that the pieces of the hammer might've been fakes. Yet the majority of the council agreed to continue with the reforging without the public knowing about it being a fake. Kurdran however, disagreed with the lie. Later that night, Kurdran would come to where the pieces were stored, and removed the Wildhammer scepter that was to be used as the hammer's handle. During a conversation with Moira Thaurissan, it was implied that she planned on the Wildhammer alienating the other two clans so that tensions between the Dark Irons and the Bronzebeards would lessen. Moira informed Kurdran that his brute strength was useless, and only winning hearts and minds mattered in Ironforge. The night before the reforging, Muradin advised Kurdran to compromise his principles a little as his beliefs were not only holding himself back, but his clan and the entire city as well. On the day of the reforging, it was discovered that the handle was missing, and Kurdran admitted he had stolen it. But instead of letting it be reforged, he smashed the handle with his stormhammer, and it shattered to pieces. Kurdran declared that the union of the dwarven clans shouldn't start with reforging a hammer that could be fractured again. Instead, Kurdran proposed that the dwarven clans move forward from the past and unite with a fresh start. Muradin Bronzebeard and Moira Thaurissan joined him by fracturing their fragments.
Realizing that Falstad was the better dwarf to represent the Wildhammer clan in the Council of Three Hammers, Kurdran decided to step down from his position as Wildhammer representative and traveled to Stormwind to aid King Varian's army.[4]
Cataclysm
Kurdran Wildhammer is present in the Twilight Highlands. He is the ruler of Highbank and can also be found in Kirthaven. He aids Alliance adventurers in uniting the various Wildhammer clans of the Twilight Highlands and bringing them under the Alliance banner. He also serves as a commander in the Alliance army that is fighting against the Twilight's Hammer Cult.
Personality
Kurdran is well liked by his friends for his jolly personality and love for battle. He is a fierce warrior and does not like to be seen as a weakling, insisting to fight on despite being heavily wounded. Danath Trollbane was likely one of his closest friends and was whipped into frenzy hearing Kurdran's apparent death. Unlike many Wildhammers, he is not hostile towards wizards and spell-casters.
Valley of Heroes Monument
The Statue of Kurdran Wildhammer in Stormwind
Kurdran Wildhammer
Renowned Dragon Fighter. Gryphon Master of the Aerie Peak. Commander of the Gryphon Rider Division attached to the Alliance Expedition that marched into the orc homeworld of Draenor. Presumed deceased.
We will hear Sky-Ree's calls upon the winds. We will hear your hammer thunder across the mountaintops. Ride hard into the hereafter, brother. The halls of our ancestors await you.
- High Thane Falstad Wildhammer
Quotes
Fire and Iron
- "The new Ironforge begins here. Ask yerselves, do ye want tae start it by puttin' this hammer back together so that one day it can be broken again? The Wildhammers have chosen tae take a step forward, not back. Who among ye is wi' us?"[5]
Twilight Highlands
- "I am Kurdran, High Thane of the Wildhammer Clan!"
- "We must unite the Wildhammer clans!"
- "Together, we will storm the highlands!"
Notes
- Previously, Kurdran briefly replaced his brother Falstad as the Wildhammer representative of the Council of Three Hammers (an error on the part of the creative team) until he was replaced once again by Falstad in a later build due to Red Shirt Guy. Interestingly, the Council of Three Hammers faction leader story, Fire and Iron, is written from the perspective of Kurdran and gave lore-based reasons behind the switch.[6]
- Prior to Patch 4.1, when interacting with Kurdran in the Twilight Highlands, Kurdran retained the on-click voice files he had as a member of the Council of Three Hammers ("The Council of Three Hammers requires me presence..."). His replacement, Falstad, also shared the same voice set. In patch 4.1, Kurdran gets unique on-click quotes.
Gallery
Kurdran art from Warcraft II
Kurdran in Warcraft II
Kurdran in Wildhammer Stronghold
Kurdran in Highbank
Complete TCG artwork.
References
- ^ World of Warcraft Trading Card Game: Hunt for Illidan. Blizzard Entertainment. 130.
- ^ Beyond the Dark Portal missions#VI. The Fall of Auchindoun
- ^ Rosenberg, Aaron. Tides of Darkness, 161. ISBN 978-1-4165-3990-2.
- ^ Fire and Iron
- ^ Fire and Iron
- ^ http://us.battle.net/wow/en/game/lore/leader-story/the-council-of-three-hammers/
| Preceded by: Khardros Wildhammer |
Position: Chief Thane of Hinterlands & Wildhammer Clan |
Succeeded by: Falstad Wildhammer |
| Preceded by: Moira Thaurissan |
Position: Lord of Ironforge (as the Wildhammer clan representative of the Council of Three Hammers and Regent to Dagran Thaurissan II) |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
| Preceded by: None |
Position: Wildhammer clan representative of the Council of Three Hammers |
Succeeded by: Falstad Wildhammer |
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