Eitrigg

Eitrigg is an aging Blackrock orc warrior and veteran of the First and Second Wars. After an encounter with Tirion Fordring, the two warriors came to respect each other and later became friends despite the animosity between their two races.

Currently, Eitrigg serves the Horde as an advisor to the Warchief. His wise counsel is considered valuable by Thrall, but disregarded by Garrosh Hellscream. He also joined Tirion in Northrend as a commander of the Argent Crusade's Zul'Drak division.

The First and Second Wars
Born into the Blackrock clan on Draenor, Eitrigg is an aging but still powerful orc warrior who was in his late fifties by the time of the defeat of the Lich King. Shortly after Blackhand was named Warchief of the Horde, 5 years before the opening of the Dark Portal, he named Eitrigg, Orgrim Doomhammer and Varok Saurfang as his lieutenants, and they helped oversee the Blackrock war machine as it prepared for the war with the draenei.

After Blackhand was killed and replaced as Warchief by Orgrim, Eitrigg continued to act as one of the new Warchief's most trusted lieutenants. 4 years after the Dark Portal, Orgrim managed to capture the Shadow Council assassin Garona and tortured her until she revealed the whereabouts of the Shadow Council. Garona swore fealty to the Horde, prompting Orgrim to spare her life and charge Eitrigg to act as her handler. Garona continued to live under Eitrigg's watchful eye throughout the Second War. She initially viewed the Blackrock warrior as just another mindless, fanatical follower of Blackhand, but over time she began to see a fading glimmer of pride and honor in him. Garona believed she could win Eitrigg's trust and told him everything she knew about Gul'dan and the Shadow Council, as well as her knowledge of demons and the Horde's true purpose. However, Eitrigg distrusted the assassin and treated her words as poisonous lies. Garona abandoned any hope of helping him see the truth and instead bided her time until an opportunity to escape presented itself. During the chaotic battles in the Hinterlands, she managed to slip into the forests and vanish. Eitrigg considered hunting her down, but waging war on the Alliance was more important than recovering a single prisoner, and some part of him sympathized with Garona's tortured past. As long as she did not turn her blades against the Horde, he would let her go, and perhaps she would be able to find a true home.

After the Horde was defeated by the Alliance at the end of the war, many orcs scattered into the wilderness. One of the solitary survivors was Eitrigg, who dwelled on everything Garona had told him. He began to believe the half-orc's words, and his unquestioning loyalty to the Horde faded. With shame and anger in his heart, Eitrigg disavowed the Horde and struck out north in search of a place to spend the rest of his days and die in peace.

Of Blood and Honor
Eitrigg was discovered years later living in the ruins of an abandoned watch tower near Hearthglen by the paladin Tirion Fordring. At first regarding each other as nothing but enemies, the two began to fight one another. Their fight caused the tower to collapse, and Eitrigg ended up saving the unconscious Tirion's life by pulling him out of the ruins. From that point forward, Tirion felt he owed a debt of honor to the orc.

However, this was not enough to prevent Eitrigg from being captured. It is certain that the orc would have been put to death in Stratholme, but thanks to the timely intervention of Tirion and Thrall's new Horde, he was saved. He regarded Tirion as his human brother after suffering such losses to save him.

After meeting Warchief Thrall, Eitrigg found that his people had rediscovered their shamanistic roots, and returned to life among his own kind. Before he left with his people, Eitrigg proclaimed that Tirion and he were brothers, bound by blood and honor.

World of Warcraft
Eitrigg served the Horde as an advisor and supporter to Thrall, and can be found in Thrall's throne room in Orgrimmar. He also served as Warchief's Honor Guard. Thrall also tasked him to oversee new recruits of the Horde.

The Burning Crusade
He announced a human spy that told Thrall about the draenei landing on Azeroth and joining the Alliance. Later, he was present when Thrall learned about the uncorrupted orcs, the Mag'har. Thrall commanded him to send ambassadors to Hellscream.



Wrath of the Lich King
In a letter to Warchief Thrall (carried by a Horde death knight who completed The Battle For The Ebon Hold), Tirion Fordring - now the Highlord of the Argent Crusade - made a postscript sending his regards to Eitrigg and requesting that Thrall send him to Northrend, saying he needed a good orc at his side.

Thrall appears to have approved this request as Eitrigg can be found at the Argent Stand, the Argent Crusade outpost in Zul'Drak. He ends the quest Pure Evil. He has made friends with many of the members:, the surly human paladin, even called him brother.

The Shattering
Eitrigg returned from Northrend and was present at a celebration for Garrosh Hellscream and his warriors' return from Northrend. After an attack on night elves, Eitrigg accompanied Thrall to Dustwallow Marsh, where Thrall had a secret meeting with Jaina Proudmoore. When the meeting was over, Eitrigg discussed with Thrall about the current situation of elements, and Thrall decided to leave Azeroth and venture to Nagrand, where he would speak with the Furies. Before leaving, Thrall appointed Garrosh as a leader of the Horde and tasked Eitrigg and Cairne Bloodhoof to be Garrosh's advisers. Garrosh had Orgrimmar rebuilt with an architecture similar to that of the old ways of the Horde, which Eitrigg disliked.

After another attack in Ashenvale occurred, Cairne challenged Garrosh into a ritual mak'gora, but to the death. Magatha Grimtotem poisoned Garrosh's weapon, Gorehowl, instead of blessing it in order to have Cairne killed easily. Eitrigg and Vol'jin noticed how Cairne felt and Eitrigg realized the deception and informed Garrosh. While Garrosh was reeling from being played a fool, Eitrigg wasted no time in informing him that while he and his loyalists partied over his false earned victory Magatha performed a coup and now controlled Thunder Bluff. Enraged at being used and his honor forced into question Garrosh pleaded with Eitrigg to believe that he knew nothing of Magatha's actions. Tough informing Garrosh that he believed him, he also said that the others wouldn't be so understanding as him.

Cataclysm


During Garrosh Hellscream's ascension to the position of Warchief, Thrall told Garrosh to use Eitrigg as well as Cairne Bloodhoof and Vol'jin to advise him in leading the Horde while Thrall himself traveled to Nagrand to speak with the furies about the strange symptoms experienced by Azeroth. Although cautious of the new Warchief Hellscream's motives and actions, Eitrigg tried to advise the warchief and guide him away from repeating the mistakes of the past.

Eitrigg later learned about the Alliance's plans to invade Durotar, and wanted to ask the Warchief about sending reinforcements.

Eitrigg was later seen in the Burning Steppes with his son Ariok and worked with adventurers to stop his former clan, the Blackrock orcs, from invading the Redridge Mountains. While the Blackrock High Warlock Xi'lun was successful in summoning a pit lord, Eitrigg's efforts caused the demon to run amok and wipe out most of the Blackrock forces.

Tides of War
Eitrigg was present during the meeting of the Horde leaders, where Garrosh's plan to conquer Kalimdor was explained. Eitrigg was against the plan and even Baine Bloodhoof supported him. The orc Margolag accompanied the Horde army and was said to be Eitrigg's representative. After Theramore was destroyed, Eitrigg wrote a letter explaining all that had happened and sent an orc courier to the Maelstrom to inform Thrall.

Escalation
During the events of Vol'jin's revolution, Thrall told Vol'jin that he was going to Orgrimmar to find several orcs, Eitrigg included, who opposed Garrosh.

Siege of Orgrimmar
Eitrigg, after discovering Garrosh's new base below Orgrimmar and his corruption by Y'Shaarj, sides with the rebel and Alliance forces to end Garrosh's reign. Discovered in a badly wounded state inside Grommash Hold after the defeat of the Kor'kron Dark Shaman, he reveals to the attackers the true scale of Garrosh's lust for power. Despite his wounds, Eitrigg survives the siege, as shown by his presence in War Crimes.

War Crimes
Eitrigg accompanied Go'el and Varok to the trial of Garrosh Hellscream. Baine suggested him to be Garrosh's defender but Eitrigg declined remarking that he would have his chance to speak should he desire so. Ultimately Baine was chosen to defend Garrosh, which Eitrigg supported.

Legion
Following the Battle for Broken Shore, Eitrigg appears on the pier at Bladefist Bay and directs adventurers to see Varok Saurfang at Grommash Hold. He is later present when Vol'jin names Sylvanas Windrunner as Warchief as well as at Vol'jin's funeral ceremony, the latter of which he then helps defend against the attacking Felblade Assassins.

Eitrigg greeted the Horde warriors and told them that there was an urgent matter concerning Varok Saurfang. They accepted and the orc would find Thrall to see if he could provide assistance.

Danica the Reclaimer told the Horde Battlelord that Eitrigg was being held captive on the Broken Shore by the Felrage naga and needed to be rescued as soon as possible. Upon arrival, the orc was glad to have been found and released from the cage. Several squads were taken by the naga and needed to be rescued before they were sold to slavery or for worse, as well as dealing with their lieutenants. He then went to Skyhold and awaited the Battlelord's return. Eitrigg eventually became a champion of the Valarjar, and later provided the Battlelord with supplies in the Trial of Rage to obtain their class mount.

Eitrigg attended a dinner with the Horde leaders after the defeat of the Burning Legion. Soon later, he arrived to the Orgrimmar Embassy with the other leaders. When Magni called upon the champions of the Armies of Legionfall to draw the corruption out of the Sword of Sargeras, Eitrigg carried Strom'kar, the Warbreaker if the player was not a warrior, representing the Valarjar.

Battle for Azeroth
Eitrigg is aboard The Banshee's Wail in Zuldazar. He aids Trade Prince Gallywix in establishing the Horde's base in Drustvar, and in the process reveals that he is afraid of witches.

He is one of the Horde commanders during the Battle for Stromgarde.

Sometime during the Fourth War, Eitrigg traveled to the to recruit the  that the Horde saved from Garrosh Hellscream's meddling and the Burning Legion's corruption. With the aid of a Horde champion, Eitrigg was able to establish a connection between Azeroth and Draenor through the use of the shard of the Vision of Time in his possession. However, upon arriving to Draenor, the two Horde agents were taken prisoner on suspicion of being a Lightbound spies. While being interrogated by Overlord Geya'rah they are approached by who recognized the two as coming from Azeroth. After hearing Eitrigg's request for aid, Geya'rah would object on the grounds that the Mag'har couldn't pledge soldiers to aid the Horde when they faced enemies of their own. Believing that having a common foe would calm Geya'rah's wariness, Warchief Hellscream requested that the two Horde emissaries assisted Geya'rah in putting down an ogre uprising led by Kor'gall, Greatson of Kor'gall. After slaying the traitorous ogre, Geya'rah would inform Eitrigg and the Horde champion about the threat of the Lightbound.

Eitrigg would subsequently aid the Mag'har when the Lightbound attacked Beastwatch. Upon learning that the entire Lightbound army was en route to Beastwatch, Eitrigg held the line against them while the Mag'har were gathered by. During the battle, High Exarch Yrel herself appeared on the battlefield and offered the Mag'har one last chance to embrace the light. As Warchief Hellscream and Lantresor charged against the Lightbound, Eitrigg activated the shard of the Vision of Time in his possession in order to return to Azeroth. With Mag'har now on Azeroth, Eitrigg led their new leader Overlord Geya'rah to Sylvanas where she subsequently pledged the Mag'har's loyalty to the Horde.

Eitrigg was present in Zanchul during Talanji's coronation.

When Baine was arrested and Zelling was killed for their parts in freeing Derek Proudmoore from Horde captivity, Eitrigg recalled Tirion's sacrifice to save him in the name of honor and did not agree with Sylvanas's decision to punish Baine.

Revolution
Eitrigg was amongst the Horde heroes to answer Varok Saurfang's call to arms and joined his revolution. However, while the other revolutionaries journeyed to Razor Hill, Eitrigg went back to Orgrimmar. Unbeknownst to Eitrigg, Dark Ranger Lenara had spied on the Saurfang's secret meeting and reported it to Sylvanas. Thus knowing that Eitrigg had sided with Saurfang, Sylvanas ordered for loyalists to capture him and bring him to Nathanos Blightcaller. When confronted about meeting Saurfang in secret, Eitrigg openly admitted to it while remarking that he grew tired of the deceit. Believing that Sylvanas is driven by something dark, Eitrigg vowed to draw blood for her no longer. He then revealed his intention to join Saurfang's army outside of Orgrimmar and asked the loyalists to stand with him. Should the loyalists agree, then they both exit Orgrimmar together and join the revolution, however, should the loyalists refuse, Eitrigg declared that their choices have been made.

Declaring that there is a difference between loyalty and blind obedience. Eitrigg vowed that he was done following the Banshee's orders. Despite his strength, Eitrigg lost the fight to the loyalists, was captured, and delivered to Nathanos. During the conflict between loyalists and revolutionaries, Saurfang challenged Sylvanas to a Mak'gora, which ended in his death and Sylvanas's abandonment of the Horde. Eitrigg was subsequently freed after Sylvanas's and Nathanos's departure and attended Saurfang's funeral.

Within Grommash Hold, Eitrigg told loyalists that he would not hold the choice they made against them as they each did what they thought was right. He implored them to leave it in the past and focus on reuniting the Horde. Meanwhile, he informed Saurfang's revolutionaries that honor had saved the lives of thousands and saved his own life more than once. He admitted that while he couldn't live with the shame of the terrible deeds he committed under Blackhand's command, Saurfang helped other orcs most past their guilt and strive for lost honor. Eitrigg declared Saurfang a fearsome warrior but what made him a hero was giving the Horde hope when it needed it most.

Abilities

 * War Campaign - Orgrimmar


 * Battle for Stromgarde


 * Grizzled Orcish Commander


 * Warsong Warrior & Horde Warrior

Quests

 * A Gift for the Warchief's Advisor
 * Machines of War
 * Report to the Labor Captain
 * Return to the Highlands
 * Sauranok Will Point the Way
 * Traitor's Bait
 * Weapons of Mass Dysfunction
 * Where Is My Warfleet?


 * Pure Evil


 * Durotar
 * Missing Reports
 * Return to Eitrigg


 * Burning Steppes


 * A Needle in a Hellhole (Horde)
 * A Perfect Costume (Horde)
 * Into the Black Tooth Hovel (Horde)
 * Strategic Cuts (Horde)
 * Taking the Horn For Ourselves (Horde)
 * General Thorg'izog (Horde)
 * Abuse of Power (Horde)
 * Enough Damage For One Day (Horde)
 * Flame Crest (quest)
 * Blackened Ashes (Horde)
 * Latent Demons of the Land (Horde)
 * A Heap of Delicious Worg (Horde)
 * Placing the Pawns (Horde)
 * A Delivery for Neeralak (Horde)
 * A Delivery for Thorg'izog (Horde)
 * A Delivery for Xi'lun (Horde)
 * Locked and Loaded (Horde)
 * Assault on Dreadmaul Rock (Horde)
 * Glory Amidst Chaos (Horde)
 * The Spoils of War (Horde)


 * The Battle for Broken Shore (Horde)
 * Fate of the Horde
 * A Desperate Plea (Legion)
 * Missing in Action: Eitrigg
 * Mission: Search and Rescue (Horde)
 * Operation Felrage (Horde)
 * Champion: Eitrigg


 * All Apologies
 * Dread Head Redemption
 * Enemies Below (Orgrimmar)
 * The Lord of Blackrock (Horde)
 * The Lord of Blackrock (Horde) (2)
 * Vision of Time (quest)
 * Restoring Old Bonds
 * Calling Out the Clans
 * Drustvar Ho!
 * Profit and Reconnaissance
 * Wiccaphobia
 * I Hope There's No Witches in the Mountains


 * A Veteran's Summons


 * The New Horde (quest)
 * Eitrigg's Wisdom

Of Blood and Honor

 * Do you think my people survived in your world this long using brute strength alone? Your kind has always underestimated mine. That is why you lost the first war, I think.
 * have great honor, for a human. That much was clear from our fight. No honorable warrior deserves to die like a trapped animal. It would not have been right to simply leave you there. Besides, I have seen enough death in my time.
 * There is much you do not know about my people. Their honor and their pride left them long ago. I decided my duty to them was finished when my sons were killed.
 * All orcs are warriors, human. We know little else. Despite my sons' strength and prowess, they were betrayed by their own leaders. During the last war our clan chieftains fought amongst themselves over petty rivalries. As one particularly bloody battle concluded, my sons were ordered to pull back from the front lines. One of our chieftain's rivals, hoping to advance his clan's standing within the Horde, countermanded the order and sent my sons and their brethren back to be slaughtered. It was a dark day for our clan... A dark day for me. I realized then that there was no hope. Corruption and enmity had completely overshadowed my people's spirit. I felt that it was only a matter of time before the Horde devoured itself from within.
 * We are bound by blood and honor, . I will not forget you.

Burning Steppes

 * The Blackrock orcs are my kin. My father was a Blackrock, as was his father before him. My mother was a Blackrock. And I am a Blackrock. But before anything else, I am an orc. And that means honor above all else. My Highlord has granted me leave to complete my task here in the Burning Steppes. And I will not leave until the Blackrock orcs here learn the error of their ways.

On-click

 * Greeting
 * Hail, friend.
 * Throm'ka!
 * Yes?


 * Pissed
 * What?
 * My axe grows thirsty.
 * Do not provoke my fury!


 * Farewell
 * Goodbye.
 * Keep your weapon sharp.
 * Stay strong.

Combat ally

 * Spawn
 * say
 * say
 * say


 * Aggro
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say


 * Killed a mob
 * say
 * say
 * say


 * Defeated
 * say
 * say
 * say

Gossip
Now is not the time,.
 * Dranosh'ar Blockade


 * Cut Ashbringer dialogue

Note: this dialogue was datamined but never seen in-game

Throm-Ka, Highlord. I see we both value some peace and quiet now and again.

Sit with me if you would - just for a few moments.

Tirion was my brother by blood. We saved one another's lives many moons ago. He was a good man... an honorable man.

He always thought highly of you - from what I hear from others his trust has not been misplaced.

I have watched many lead their people down dark paths. Tirion often spoke of the Light that guided his hand and his people - let it guide you to greatness as well.

I am not one for conversation - much remains to be done. May our paths cross again,.

Orgrimmar Embassy

 * The Horde needs allies. This is true.


 * But to be worthy of a place here, those we recruit must have honor in their hearts. If they lack it, their presence only diminishes us.

The Banshee's Wail

 * I have fought many wars. Watched heroes and cowards alike bleed out on the field of battle.


 * But this war feels... different.


 * It tests more than our mettle and skill. It tests our hearts. Our faith in one another.


 * Whatever comes, the Horde will endure.


 * It must.


 * Post-A Display of Power
 * Years ago, Tirion Fordring sacrificed everything to spare my life as a matter of honor. Baine has done much the same. Are we now to punish him for it?


 * I fear the Horde is becoming what we once hated, . And I do not like it.

In the RPG
Thrall was kind enough to lend Eitrigg's services as a loremaster to Brann Bronzebeard when compiling the history of the Horde.

Notes and trivia

 * His mount is a wolf.
 * In-game, he is larger than normal sized orcs.
 * Eitrigg's Copper Coin can be fished from the Dalaran Fountain.
 * Eitrigg is called elder.
 * Both of his parents were Blackrocks and are probably dead as he speaks about them in past tense.
 * The Shattering notes through Garrosh that Eitrigg moves slowly, due to joint pain.
 * Eitrigg's life is also retold in the Ashbringer comic by Tirion to Darion Mograine.
 * Eitrig is German for "festering".
 * There was once several Alliance guilds on the US Eitrigg server which, seemingly unwittingly, named themselves things like "Eitriggs Army", which brought about notable head-scratching from people who were familiar with the lore and knew that Eitrigg was an orc.
 * In Hearthstone, Eitrigg's TCG artwork is used by the Frostwolf Warlord card.
 * Eitrigg is voiced by Fred Tatasciore in Mists of Pandaria, Legion and Battle for Azeroth.
 * Although Eitrigg is a Blackrock clan orc, when accompanying a player as a Champion Bodyguard in Legion, other players see him as a generic Warsong Warrior. In his appearance on the Broken Shore, his generic name is Horde Warrior, while in Drustvar, it is Grizzled Orcish Commander. During Traitors In Our Midst, his generic name is Defecting Orc and Captured Orc.
 * While it is assumed that Eitrigg is the orc appearing next to Rexxar in the cinematic "The Negotiation", he greatly differs from his in-game appearance. His skin tone is green rather than grey, and both his hairstyle and beard are different. It is, however, identical to his generic appearance as a Grizzled Orcish Commander.
 * After the death of Varok Saurfang, Eitrigg is the last of the Old Horde orc leaders, that is still alive.

Sons
In Of Blood and Honor, Eitrigg mentions having had two children, both of whom were killed. Cataclysm introduced Ariok as Eitrigg's son, but it's unknown whether he is one of the two or a third child.

The death of Eitrigg's children seems to have several versions:
 * 1) According to Of Blood and Honor, during the Second War, orcish clan chieftains fought among themselves. As one bloody battle concluded, Eitrigg's sons were ordered to pull back from the front lines. One of his chieftain's rival, hoping to advance his clan's standing within the Horde, countermanded the order and sent Eitrigg's sons and their brethren back to be slaughtered.
 * 2) According to Eitrigg's Wisdom, Eitrigg and his two sons joined Dal'rend Blackhand in Blackrock Mountain, but the latter were both killed in battle against the Dark Iron dwarves.
 * 3) The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm mentions that his sons were betrayed by fellow orcs and killed in battle.

It is unknown which version is considered the canonical one, but it is likely the newest version from The Shattering. If so, it may also indicate that the description from Of Blood and Honor is correct as well, since the "fellow orcs" could refer to the rivaling chieftains.

The Ultimate Visual Guides list Ariok as Eitrigg's only son and the two deceased ones are not mentioned at all.