Taunka

The taunka (also known as winter tauren) are an ancient offshoot of the yaungol and relatives to the tauren who have adapted to the harsh environment in Northrend. Unlike their more peaceful tauren relatives, the taunka forcibly bend nature and the elements to their will in order to survive.

The taunka were long thought to be lost until they were re-discovered by Garrosh Hellscream and his orc forces upon their arrival in Northrend. Due to being forced to migrate from their homes by the encroaching Scourge, the taunka have largely given their allegiance to the Horde.

Although they appear similar to the tauren, they resemble more than, and are referred to as bison-men by Apothecary Malthus.

History
The taunka are the descendants of a bovine race known as the yaungol. Several millennia before the First War, the yaungol roamed central Kalimdor and lived in peace with the demigod Cenarius, but were eventually driven south due to not wanting to share hunting grounds with the trolls. There, the yaungol were enslaved by the mogu empire and twisted by the mogu flesh-shapers. Though they eventually regained their freedom along with the other slave races during the pandaren revolution, much of their ancient cultural heritage had been lost. Heated arguments led many yaungol to migrate back north. One group, who would later take up the name "tauren", resettled in central Kalimdor and rediscovered their ties to Cenarius, while the more nomadic tribes traveled across the entire continent, only stopping when they reached the frigid lands near the Storm Peaks. There, titan-forged machinery such as the Forge of Wills transformed these northern yaungol into a new subspecies, known as the "taunka". The taunka, tauren and yaungol retained some contact with one another for many years, but the Great Sundering finally shattered the connections between the tribes.

4,500 years prior to the First War, shockingly vicious and bloody battles erupted between the normally peaceful taunka and forest nymphs of Northrend. When word reached the night elf druids of the Cenarion Circle, the elves conducted an expedition to find the cause of the brutal conflict. To their immense horror, they discovered that the roots of the World Tree Andrassil had reached so far into the ground that they had come into contact with the prison of the Old God Yogg-Saron. The malevolent being's energies had spread through the tree, slowly driving all lifeforms in the area to madness. As a result, the Cenarion Circle were forced to fell Andrassil, killing it in order to stop its suffering. Forever after, it would be known as "Vordrassil", or "Broken Crown".

Culture
Tenacious and stoic, the taunka are well aware of the rigors of living in the harsh wastes of Northrend. Although they may seem dour or even cold to outsiders, those who come to know them will soon recognize an embattled race of survivors characterized by colossal hearts and unshakable resolve.

Shamanism
Unlike the tauren, the taunka have survived only by forcing the land and the elements to yield to their will. Their relationship with nature has been one of constant struggle and grim perseverance. When asked if taunka were dark shaman, Dave Kosak said that "taunka are taunka".

Customs

 * The taunka use black polar bear pelts in their religious rites, usually at the funerals of those who hunt black polar bears.
 * They also collect the feathers of noble birds of prey to use in crude fortunetelling ceremonies.
 * The down of the spotted hippogryph is prized by the taunka and used for everything from fletching to ceremonial clothing.
 * Taunka are clan-bound to be paired.
 * The taunka of Camp Winterhoof in the Howling Fjord have been hunting the giant yeti of the local hills for generations. Tradition dictates that in preparation for the hunt, a loud horn which allegedly mimics the mating call of the female yeti is to be crafted from a ram horn before being inscribed with carvings.
 * The taunka of Taunka'le Village use steam cured caribou leather for making watertight containers.

Locations
Most of the taunka camps are either destroyed, evacuating, or planning to evacuate. The only two exceptions to this are currently Oneqwah and Tunka'lo. Oneqwah is where the Camp Winterhoof taunka are evacuating to.


 * Taunka'le Village (Borean Tundra): Currently being evacuated
 * Camp Winterhoof (Howling Fjord): Planning to evacuate
 * Camp Oneqwah (Grizzly Hills): Intact, taking in evacuees
 * Icemist Village (Dragonblight): Capital, destroyed, infested by undead nerubians
 * Westwind Refugee Camp (Dragonblight): Intact, refugees head here after evacuation
 * Camp Tunka'lo (Storm Peaks): Intact, not planning to evacuate

Steel Gate

 * The Rivenwood Captives (+250 Taunka)

Vengeance Landing or New Agamand
Breadcrumb to Camp Winterhoof, you may only complete one...
 * Camp Winterhoof (quest) (+10 Taunka)
 * Help for Camp Winterhoof (+10 Taunka)

Camp Winterhoof
Chieftain Ashtotem has:
 * Skorn Must Fall!
 * Burn Skorn, Burn! (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * Gruesome, But Necessary (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * Towers of Certain Doom (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * The Conqueror of Skorn! (+350 Taunka)
 * Dealing With Gjalerbron (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * Necro Overlord Mezhen (Horde) (+350 Taunka)
 * The Slumbering King (Horde) (+350 Taunka)

While attacking Skorn, find a drop that begins:
 * Stop the Ascension! (Horde) (+350 Taunka)
 * Of Keys and Cages (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * The Walking Dead (+250 Taunka)
 * Sleeping Giants (Horde) (+250 Taunka)

While Dealing With Gjalerbron, find a drop that begins:
 * Gjalerbron Attack Plans (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * The Frost Wyrm and its Master (Horde) (+350 Taunka)

Greatmother Ankha has:
 * Find Sage Mistwalker (+10 Taunka)
 * The Artifacts of Steel Gate (+250 Taunka)
 * The Cleansing (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * In Worg's Clothing (Horde)
 * Brother Betrayers (Horde)
 * Eyes of the Eagle (Horde)
 * Alpha Worg (Horde) (+350 Taunka)

Longrunner Pembe has:
 * The Book of Runes (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * Mastering the Runes (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * The Rune of Command (Horde) (+250 Taunka)

Sage Edan has:
 * March of the Giants (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * The Lodestone (Horde) (+250 Taunka)
 * Demolishing Megalith (Horde) (+350 Taunka)

Wind Tamer Kagan has:
 * Suppressing the Elements (+250 Taunka)