Vol'jin

The shadow hunter Vol'jin (occasionally called Vol'jin Darkspear  and referred to by the Shado-Pan as Vol'jian ), son of Sen'jin, was the Warchief of the Horde, as well as Chieftain of the Darkspear tribe and rightful ruler of Durotar and the Echo Isles.

Vol'jin had sworn to do everything in his power to lead the Darkspear tribe just as his late father, Sen'jin, would have. For years Vol'jin resided in Orgrimmar, offering strategic advice to then-Warchief Thrall and assisting with critical operations such as retaking the Undercity after the Forsaken bastion had been usurped by Grand Apothecary Putress and the dreadlord Varimathras. During the Cataclysm, however, Vol'jin came into conflict with the Horde's new warchief, Garrosh Hellscream. Alienated by the orc's extremism and lust for war, the troll leader departed Orgrimmar and took up residence on Darkspear Isle. Despite his conflict with the new warchief, Vol'jin remained loyal to the Horde and opposed the efforts of the Zandalari to create a new troll empire in the wake of the Cataclysm.

By the time the war between the Alliance and Horde came to the shores of Pandaria, Vol'jin had become a bitter enemy of Garrosh. After surviving an assassination attempt by one of Hellscream's Kor'kron, Vol'jin went into hiding, while rallying support within the Horde itself to end Garrosh's reign. With Garrosh's defeat and capture, Vol'jin was led to assume the mantle of Warchief of the Horde, with the personal encouragement of Thrall as well as the rest of the Horde's leadership, becoming the first non-orc to earn the title. He ruled the Horde until he was mortally wounded during the battle for the Broken Shore; though he was evacuated back to Orgrimmar, he succumbed to fel poisoning from his wound. Following the guidance of an unknown force posing as loa, with his dying breath he named Sylvanas Windrunner, the queen of the Forsaken, as the new Warchief of the Horde.

However, death would not be the end of Vol'jin's story. Rather than passing peacefully into the care of Bwonsamdi, the loa of death, he was spirited away by a different force. His spirit was reforged and made even more powerful, an act beyond the power of even the Val'kyr. While his memories of what happened are hidden, he continues to serve and advise the Horde from beyond the grave with all his power. Vol'jin's counsel was valuable during the Fourth War, where he helped guide Princess Talanji and warned the Horde of the threat that G'huun presented to both Azeroth and the Shadowlands.

His spirit is eventually called upon to aid the adventurers in Ardenweald, when Mueh'zala has revealed his schemes for Azeroth. Alongside Bwonsamdi, Vol'jin faces the perils of the Maw before merging his essence with Rezan; after the mighty loa is mortally wounded in the Jailer's domain. Returning to Ardenweald, Rezan's power allows for the Winter Queen to offer the former chieftain a chance at resurrection. Accepting, Vol'jin is placed into an anima seed and begins the process of reincarnation.

Early years
Vol'jin was the son and former apprentice of the jungle troll witch doctor Sen'jin, leader of the exiled Darkspear tribe that lived on the remote Darkspear Islands. He grew up alongside his best friend Zalazane. Because Vol'jin was the son of the Darkspear chieftain, others always considered Vol'jin to be first between them, but he disagreed. He and Zalazane often spoke of it, laughing at the ignorance of those who thought of one as hero and the other as companion. Throughout their entire childhood, Vol'jin and Zalazane ran, fished, wrestled, and built mud forts together. Their first kill was the same beast. Vol'jin once owned a pet as a small child and cried upon its death, while on another occasion he beat an older bully senseless. Zalazane was present for all of it.

At one point, Sen'jin, having had a vision of what was to come, sent Vol'jin into First Home to be tested by the loa and become a shadow hunter. Normally such a young troll would never had been sent here, for many dangers exist even for stronger and more skilled trolls, but time was running short. Vol'jin was unsure of himself and thought with Zalazane, his best friend since birth, that they would be strong together to pass the judgment. During these tests, both trolls were each granted separate visions of a possible future for their people. In those visions, they learned many things, like that they would end up fighting each other to the death. Both the young trolls, having passed the tests and now able to see and commune with the loa were now what they sought to become. However, with each step they took, after leaving First Home, memories of what they learned faded and only keeping just a vague sense of what was needed. Returning to their main village, Master Gadrin revealed that they were out for three months and confirmed what Vol'jin saw in visions — the coming of the orcs and the death of his father. He then took over the evacuation and prepared to leave.

Joining the Horde
While they were in the First Home, for what they thought a week, ended up being three months, the Darkspear tribe was nearly wiped out by a human invasion of the Alliance, as well as constant murloc raids. Only through the timely intervention of Thrall and the orcs did any trolls survive. However, eventually the murlocs succeeded in capturing the trolls, orcs, and humans to their underground home. Thrall was able to break free and save many of the imprisoned orcs and trolls and made their way out. As they approached the exit, Sen'jin died bravely in order to save his people and new allies. With Sen'jin's death, Vol'jin became chief shadow hunter for the tribe. In order to repay Thrall for saving his people, Vol'jin pledged his loyalty and service to the Horde.

Shortly after the orcs left, a large group of trolls also sailed for Kalimdor, but Vol'jin was not among them. Instead, Vol'jin chose to weather the Sea Witch's wrath with the rest of the tribe until the time came when they could leave. Finally, a year later, they gathered up all the supplies they could and left for the new orc nation of Durotar.

During the Third War, those of the Darkspear Tribe who were present fought alongside the orcs against the Burning Legion without their chief, who was still on the Darkspear Isles at the time. After the war, Vol'jin settled the tribe upon the Echo Isles, just off the shores of Durotar. It wasn't long before a new threat appeared however, in the form of Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore's expeditionary fleet. Vol'jin aided Rexxar, Rokhan, and Chen Stormstout in evacuating the Darkspear tribe, turning the three into spirit wyverns allowing them to attack the Alliance fleet from above, and supplying them with a squadron of troll bat riders. Forced to retreat through sheer force of numbers, Vol'jin continued to aid Rexxar and Rokhan through his wise counsel, instructing Rexxar to recruit the tauren and the ogres in the fight against the humans.

Founding of Sen'jin Village
After helping the Horde stop the human invasion, Vol'jin led his tribe back to the Echo Isles. It was not to last, however, as a witch doctor named Zalazane used dark magic to enslave many of his Darkspear brethren, forcing Vol'jin to order the retreat to the mainland for fear his whole tribe would fall victim to the mad witch doctor. Vol'jin then founded Sen'jin Village along the southern coast of Durotar as a base with which to strike back at Zalazane. However, he was called to Orgrimmar to aid Thrall, leaving the recapture of his people's home to Master Gadrin. Though raids by the Kul Tiras marines persist in the Barrens and Durotar, these invasions are lesser threats and not directly aimed at Sen'jin Village.

World of Warcraft
Vol'jin resided at Thrall's fortress in Orgrimmar, assisting the Warchief with sound advice, helping to expand the Horde's security and influence over Kalimdor and witty stratagems such as the capture of Trol'kalar for use against the trolls of Stranglethorn, all the while he was guiding his people to a better future.

During Brewfest, Vol'jin used to ride out of the city to the festival grounds at 6 a.m and 6 p.m each day for the ceremonial tapping of the keg. Players present when he did this would receive a 2 hours Brewfest Enthusiast buff that increases experience gained by 10%.

Battle for the Undercity
Vol'jin was called upon to serve during the Battle for the Undercity. He maintained his position outside the gates of the Ruins of Lordaeron atop his raptor with the artillery and several grunts until Thrall and Sylvanas Windrunner arrived. There he remained to send any adventurers that followed after the Warchief to help reclaim the Undercity.

The Glory of the Darkspears
After many attempts by adventurers to reclaim the Echo Isles, Vol'jin came up with a plan to defeat Zalazane and reclaim the isles for the Darkspear trolls. After sounding the call to arms Vol'jin was joined by Witch Doctor Hez'tok, Vanira, Champion Uru'zin, Zild'jian and other members of the Horde who used Sen'jin Village as the staging ground for the Liberation of the Echo Isles. Vol'jin's forces, gathered to combat Zalazane, were reinforced after Vanira's frog spies and Horde adventurers were able to find and recruit Zen'tabra. Meanwhile, Champion Uru'zin and Horde adventurers were able to convince more Darkspear citizens to aid in the liberation of the Echo Isles.

After having Witch Doctor Hez'tok talk to the spirits, Vol'jin was told to make amends with the Darkspear Loa Bwonsamdi. Seeing the wisdom in the spirit's plan and seeing his forces prepared Vol'jin called for the assault on the Echo Isles to begin. Vol'jin first led his forces in calling forth and subsequently proving their worth to Bwonsamdi. Vol'jin then moved his forces to the other isles and killed Jun'do the Traitor, while Bwonsamdi told the spirits of the Darkspear to rise and take up the ancient masks and bloody spears and that they will serve and aid Vol'jin. With only one isle left remaining to conquer Vol'jin warns his forces that Zalazane is a tricky foe who is cunning and strong with the voodoo. Vol'jin then leads the charge against his former friend.

After a fierce battle Zalazane flees and Zen'tabra discovers his location after turning into a bat, then quickly informs Vol'jin and warns him that Zalazane was working some black magic. Vol'jin, perhaps in an act of mercy for his former friend, offers Zalazane the chance to surrender only for Zalazane to reveal that he has lured Vol'jin's strike force into a trap and quickly gains control of the Darkspear warriors and forces them to fight Vol'jin and the rest of the Horde strike force. After seeing his trap fail Zalazane says that it doesn't matter as no living thing can make its way through his barrier and as such the Echo Isles will be his rule forever. Vol'jin then witnesses Bwonsamdi appearing who tells Zalazane that the dead Darkspear are his domain. Vol'jin then bears witness to Bwonsamdi raising the dead to kill Zalazane.

Vol'jin remarks that it is a fitting end for a troll so foul and thanks Bwonsamdi for his aid who tells him to care and mentions that he wait for him on the Other Side. Zen'tabra then mentions that her fate is now entwined with Vol'jin's. Vol'jin then prepares for the reconstruction of the Echo Isles.

Elemental Unrest
During the Elemental Unrest he was present at the Elemental Unrest meeting, which involved a harsh conversation between Garrosh and Vol'jin concerning his presence in the War against the Lich King. Garrosh claimed that during the war Vol'jin merely took back a few scattered islands. Vol'jin also defended the Valley of Spirits from invading elementals.

The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
Vol'jin was one of the countless witnesses for the mak'gora duel between Warchief Garrosh Hellscream and High Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof. Following Garrosh's victory, Vol'jin had concerns that something was amiss due to how easily Cairne died and shared his concerns with Eitrigg.

Cataclysm
Vol’jin has come into conflict with the Horde’s new warchief, Garrosh Hellscream. Alienated by the orc’s extremism and lust for war, the troll leader and his tribe has departed Orgrimmar and taken up residence on Darkspear Isle. He is involved with many of the troll starting area quests, one of which shows a vision of the spat between himself and Garrosh Hellscream in Grommash Hold, using some sort of incense over a brazier: Garrosh came into conflict with Vol'jin, Garrosh's relationship with him breaking down in a similar manner to that of Cairne - culminating with Vol'jin threatening to kill him for his thirst for war. Dissatisfied with Garrosh's leadership, Vol'jin led his tribe in a mass exodus to Darkspear Isle.

There they came under assault from their Ancient Enemy Zar'jira, the Naga sea witch responsible for Sen'jin's death, and her Spitescale Naga. Rather than flee as the Darkspear did before Vol'jin decided to take the Naga head on and called for an attack on the Naga that had taken over the northern isle before confronting Zar'jira to avenge his father's death by slaying her. Utilizing the immense power that burst from her when she died Vol'jin contacted Thrall to seek his council. Though Vol'jin considered leading his people away, following Thrall's council, Vol'jin agreed to stay for the sake of the Horde; relenting that Garrosh's intentions are at the very least, noble.

The Rise of the Zandalari
When Zul called for a meeting of all troll tribes, Vol'jin attended along with Jin'do of the Gurubashi, Daakara of the Amani and an unknown ice troll leader. There the tribe leaders were informed that Zul'Farrak is now a barren wastelands and that Zul'Drak has fallen to the Scourge. Zul then said that the troll tribes must unite to form a new troll empire. He enticed both Jin'do and Daakara with promises of restoring Zul'Gurub and Zul'Aman to their former glory. As the other trolls agreed to join the Zandalari, Vol'jin began to walk away and only stopped when asked if he would betray his people. Vol'jin retorted that the Horde is his people and promised to stop the Zandalari should they bring war to the land.

Following this Vol'jin sent Darkspear emissaries to both Orgrimmar and Stormwind, knowing that the Horde alone could not stop the Zandalari. Vol'jin later met with the Ranger-general of Silvermoon, Halduron Brightwing, and Vereesa Windrunner to deal with the Amani in Zul'Aman. Vol'jin told them that the Zandalari were seeking to create a new troll empire, reaching out to all of the troll tribes, including the Amani and his own Darkspear tribe — the likes of which would be a grave threat if not immediately dealt with. Knowing that the Amani could become a great threat to all of Quel'Thalas, Halduron and Vereesa resolved to join forces, which has allowed Halduron's Farstriders and Vereesa's rangers and Vol'jin's Siame-Quashi to keep the Amani contained within Zul'Aman.

Vol'jin then traveled to Stranglethorn Vale and gave the Horde and Alliance forces there a heads up about the Gurubashi in the region. Vol'jin later traveled to Booty Bay and informed Baron Revilgaz of the Gurubashi threat.

With the Gurubashi pushed back into Gurubashi, Vol'jin has ordered the Siame-Quashi to keep them contained within Zul'Gurub, while he personally led the assault against the Amani in Zul'Aman, where with the aid of adventurers, put an end to Daakara and the Zandalari's efforts within Zul'Aman.

Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War
When Warchief Hellscream called for a meeting of the Horde leaders, Vol'jin answered the call. When he learned of the planned attack on Theramore Isle Vol'jin remained silent but when Garrosh mentioned that the attack on Theramore would lead to pushing the Night Elves out of Kalimdor the Darkspear spoke. Vol'jin pointed out that the Night Elves were present on Kalimdor long before the Horde and that trying to force them out would give the Alliance the excuse they needed to be over them like bees over honey. After the meeting ended Vol'jin and Baine Bloodhoof conversed quietly where the tauren was informed of Malkorok's, Garrosh's new bodyguard, past. When Baine showed his displeasure of Garrosh letting a Blackrock clan orc and a former servant of Rend Blackhand into the Horde, Vol'jin pointed out that he let members of the Grimtotem tribe into the Horde. When Baine responded that he thought better of tauren over orcs, Vol'jin mentions that in these days he did too.

Vol'jin then personally led his Darkspear in the attack on Northwatch Hold. He met with Tauren forces, under Baine's command, at the Great Gate and co-led Troll and Tauren forces across the Barrens to Northwatch. After a fierce battle, Northwatch fell to the might of the Horde. Following the victory, members of the Horde (most notably Vol'jin, Baine, Kelantir Bloodblade, and Frandis Farley) grew frustrated and confused with Garrosh's decision to remain at Northwatch instead of pressing the attack; as Theramore was having enough time to gather reinforcements that would make the conquest of Theramore even harder. With Garrosh refusing to see anyone, Vol'jin and the others had a secret meeting to discuss exactly what the Warchief was thinking. However, treachery from within tipped Garrosh of the meeting. It wasn't until Vol'jin voiced the concern that the enslaved elements could lead to the elements themselves taking arms against the Horde, that it was discovered they were being watched. While Malkorok clearly wanted to harm them, Garrosh took no action against them (besides hitting Bloodblade, for personally questioning him), and emphasizing that their loyalty belongs to the Horde. Vol'jin was among those who bowed when Garrosh left, after being told to return to their encampments. Later on, Vol'jin and Baine were granted a meeting with Garrosh and both noticed that Malkorok was also present. The three leaders of the Horde had a polite conversation before Baine began to address his concerns and questioning Garrosh why it seems that he only listens to the Blackrock orc. After witnessing Malkorok being told to stand down, Garrosh mentions he had orders for the fleet while turning to Baine and Vol'jin. Feeling hopeful that Garrosh was either beginning the attack on Theramore or letting them in on his plan, both the troll and tauren were stunned when Garrosh's order was for the fleet to withdraw. As they left to carry out his orders, Baine told Garrosh he hoped a Horde would be left over this debacle. As they were leaving, the Darkspear and Tauren leaders heard loud laughter from both their Warchief and his bodyguard.

When Garrosh finally began the attack on Theramore, Vol'jin not only led his trolls into battle but was chosen along with Baine to be a part of Garrosh's personal attack force on Theramore's North Gate. During the attack, Vol'jin realized that not only was there a dragon, Kalecgos, aiding in the defense of Theramore but he was also trying to trap the Horde forces in order to prevent any possible retreat. After making his way to Baine and Garrosh, who were battling fairly close to one another, Vol'jin informed them exactly what the dragon was doing. When Garrosh recalled a retreat, Vol'jin quickly repeated his order which was carried out by all nearby Horde forces. Though Vol'jin himself noticed that the blood lust of his Darkspear warriors made them reluctant to stop attacking. With the battle for Theramore seemingly lost, Vol'jin was among those who came before Garrosh as he gazed at Theramore from the bridge of Dustwallow Bay. It was there that the truth about the attack on Theramore was revealed to them. The attack was never meant to destroy the stronghold; it was meant to weaken and gather high ranking leaders of the Alliance, such as Shandris Feathermoon and General Marcus Jonathan, together for one reason: so a mana bomb could not only destroy the city but kill all those who came to its defense. A move that Garrosh claimed would weaken the Alliance. Shortly afterward, the gathered Horde forces bore witness to the mana bomb destroying Theramore, much to the cheers of many and the disgust and outrage of others: Vol'jin being among the later.

As Garrosh and many of the Horde celebrated in Orgrimmar, Vol'jin and others such as Baine, Kelantir Bloodblade, and Frandis Farley gathered in Razor Hill and grumbled about the Warchief and discussed their true thoughts on the destruction of Theramore. Soon afterward, Malkorok and members of the Kor'kron blew up the Razor Hill Inn, killing those inside like Bloodbade and Farley, who had questioned the Warchief and dubbed it an accident. When Vol'jin heard of the "accident", he had enough and decided to head back to his home on the Echo Isles. However, as he was heading home he was met by a Darkspear runner who informed him that the Alliance fleet was heading to Orgrimmar.

Vol'jin was next seen after the battle. After the Alliance fleet was pushed back and the Horde-controlled kraken were killed, Vol'jin received news that not only was Northwatch retaken, but the Alliance fleet was en route to destroy the Horde blockade. He then bore witness to Garrosh ordering the coastal blockade of Kalimdor to fall back. Baine was pleased with this decision, viewing it as Garrosh giving up on his plans for conquest. To his horror, however, Garrosh stated that his plan has changed: instead of expelling the Alliance from Kalimdor, Garrosh now aimed to wage a war of total genocide. After bearing witness, Baine declared that Garrosh would lose his support if another Theramore should happen. The tauren and troll locked eyes. While disagreeing with Garrosh but needing to protect his people, Vol'jin glanced sadly at Baine and gave him a nearly imperceptible shake of his head. In turn, Baine nodded his head showing his understanding of Vol'jin's plight.

With a world war on the horizon, Vol'jin then journeyed back to the Echo Isles to plan his next move.

Landfall
Roughly two months after the initial foray into Pandaria, Garrosh himself arrives with the bulk of the Horde fleet and quickly goes about removing the local Alliance presence along the shores of Krasarang. Garrosh and Vol'jin have yet another clash of opinions about his warmongering at the newly-constructed Domination Point, resulting in Garrosh, long-tested by the Darkspear chieftain's criticism, ordering his rival's outright murder (under the guise of Vol'jin being sent on a mission with the Kor'kron). Vol'jin survives the attempt on his life and instructs heroes to report his death to Garrosh and remain close to the warchief – biding their time and finding other like-minded members of the Horde to save their coalition before Garrosh's rule destroys it. Vol'jin has also entrusted this task to Baine Bloodhoof.

Some time afterward, he ends up caught in a river and is rescued by Chen Stormstout, who is troubled by his state. After Chen and the Horde champions help Vol'jin gain strength he sends them to find Thrall, handing over his own hearthstone (which is tied to The Den in Durotar). While Vol'jin recovers his allies free the Darkspear trolls on the Echo Isles from the Kor'kron, who under Garrosh's orders have declared martial law, with Thrall deciding to stand in and work with them until Vol'jin returns. Soon afterward, Chen takes Vol'jin to Shado-pan Monastery to recuperate. Vol'jin receives word from Baine about how Garrosh is capturing mogu and using the Sha. In a secret letter sent to Horde champions Vol'jin reveals that he is worried that Garrosh doesn't trust Baine and instructs them to keep Baine out of trouble while reminding them that Garrosh trusts them.

Vol'jin later learns about how both the Horde and Alliance are trying to obtain the Divine Bell. While he doesn't want Hellscream to have the artifact Vol'jin concludes that he would be more comfortable with the bell in Horde hands. After learning about Jaina purging the Horde out of Dalaran, in a message to his allies Vol'jin remarks that Garrosh has changed the Jaina he knew. Vol'jin also learns about the breakdown of relations between Lor'themar and Garrosh and plans to approach the regent lord for a "talk" when he is able to.

Shadows of the Horde
Teetering on the brink of death from the attempt on his life, Vol'jin fought his way out of the saurok cave, only to come to the grim realization that his wounds would not mend. Garrosh had planned his assassination well: Vol'jin's natural healing was disabled by Rak'gor's poison, and the Darkspear chieftain narrowly survived local saurok ambushes while fleeing the scene. Succumbing to his wounds, Vol'jin was granted an audience on the other side with Bwonsamdi and his father, Sen'jin, each eager to see whether Vol'jin would cross over. The great loa suggested that Vol'jin's drive to live for his people's safety was a flaw -- that Vol'jin would do well to embrace his nature as a troll and embark on bloody conquest rather than merely securing his borders. Though tempted by the prospect, having witnessed the horrors of fleshshaping within the saurok cave (and the corruption that any mortal with this dread power would likely suffer), he denies himself the power. Amused by his reaction, and ultimately pleased that Vol'jin had not given in to death's embrace so easily, Bwonsamdi sends him back to the realm of the living with a vision of the trolls' great past, when the Zandalari Empire stood at its zenith.

Unconscious and drifting down the outside river, Vol'jin was found by a group of pandaren cubs, who hastily informed Chen Stormstout that a "monster" was nearby. Aghast at his good friend's state, Chen rushed him to the safety of Binan Village, and then to the nearby Shado-Pan Monastery. Vol'jin awoke under the Shado-Pan's care, but he was not alone – a human hunter named Tyrathan Khort had also been found by Chen some time before, and the two were slated to "heal" together so that the pandaren could better understand the conflict between them and what resolution they could manage. Under the watchful eye of Taran Zhu, the man and troll aided one another with tasks both menial and essential, including games of Jihui, a native board game where the objective was not necessarily to win, but for both players to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. As Vol'jin began the healing process, he and Tyrathan came to the mutual understanding that the only way forward was to work in tandem, grudgingly or otherwise.

Vol'jin was continually mocked with visions from Bwonsamdi, quizzing the Darkspear chieftain with questions about himself and his place in Azeroth.

Vol'jin began training with the pandaren monks, regaining his strength one step at a time. They took to calling him "Vol'jian" -- a nickname of multiple meanings that slid off their tongues more easily -- and watched as he engaged in Taran Zhu's trials, such as slicing through stone slabs with his bare hands, devoid of doubt.

Soon after, a vicious snowstorm engulfed the north, while Tyrathan was away on his frequent journeys up the mountainside. Vol'jin attempted to go after him, though Zhu refused this demand; still recovering as he was, Vol'jin would likely be walking into an icy deathtrap. Instead, Zhu instructed him to keep up with his "chores," and to ponder a question: whether Vol'jin's concern was for the human's well-being or the image he would gain by rescuing him. Tyrathan was soon after found by the monks, albeit near death and battered by the blizzard. Here, Vol'jin had his first encounter with the insidious sha: the true demons halting him from recovery. In this instance, sha of doubt were gripping the human's soul, and Vol'jin undertook a Memory Wine ritual to free him from it. Stepping into the man's shoes, Vol'jin witnessed Tyrathan's comrades and fellow hunters undertake a mission to the Serpent's Heart. There, Tyrathan's company was overrun and butchered by the sha, including a woman whom Vol'jin suspected the human had been close to. Tyrathan's intense guilt and doubt over her death gave Vol'jin his opening, and the shadow hunter assailed the sha threading all around his human companion. Vol'jin was successful in freeing him from this doubt, banishing enough of the sha to save the man's life.

Tyrathan and Vol'jin conversed after their shared memory, and the human was more forthcoming with questions he had avoided before. He revealed that he had indeed "died" at Serpent's Heart -- he was no longer the same man after he had crawled from its wreckage, just as Vol'jin was no longer the man he was after escaping the saurok cave and awakening at the monastery. However, the question of who both of them were now unsettled the pair. Vol'jin promised that if he found a way to conquer this particular fear, he would share the knowledge.

The loa had been distant since Vol'jin stepped into the human's mind. Vol'jin surmised that it was linked to either his faith or his experience in the human's body, though he knew deep down that he still revered his gods, if not as brutally as some other followers of the loa. He was eventually treated to visions from both Hir'eek, the loa of bats, and Elortha no Shadra, the Venom Queen, proving he was not forgotten. As it happens, he was not the only force attempting to appease the loa on Pandaria.

Over time, Tyrathan and Vol'jin came to understand one another a little better. As it happens, this was not the first time the two had been in close proximity: Tyrathan was dispatched to serve Daelin Proudmoore's forces against Thrall's burgeoning Horde, and several of his comrades had intended to slay Vol'jin then and there, to no avail. The two discussed what it means to have left their past selves behind. During a conversation between the two, Vol'jin was granted yet another vision, this time of a hidden northern island and a Zandalari fleet both docking into it and incoming southwards, towards Zouchin Village. Taran Zhu, Chen, Vol'jin and Tyrathan strategized their next move, and the latter three were assigned to a group of eighteen to halt the Zandalari advance and rescue Zouchin. Garbed in ill-fitting pandaren armor, Vol'jin and his human companion left for the town.

Vol'jin spearheaded the defense of Zouchin along with Tyrathan, breaking the siege on the village and pulling back before taking needless casualties. Several of the trolls were aghast that one of their own kind would be fighting against them, and Vol'jin used this shock to his advantage. Though he cut through a great deal, he was caught off-guard and cornered by a Zandalari warrior, taking several wounds; however, Tyrathan saved his life, impaling the Zandalari from afar. The groups retreated back and planned their next move, reading the Zandalari advance to get a better idea of where they would strike next, while the surrounding villages began to evacuate.

In a conversation with Taran Zhu, Vol'jin began to question just who he is and who he's become once more -- Chieftain Vol'jin of the Darkspear, leader of the Horde, or simply a troll. That night, he was approached once more by Bwonsamdi, though this time Vol'jin's answers to his questions pleased the great loa. Bwonsamdi revealed that the visions Vol'jin had received from the other loa were to remind of what it means to be a troll and that his vision from Shadra (typically a matron loa of the Zandalari) was to pit him against her followers for reasons unclear, perhaps to spur them to better please her. Bwonsamdi thanked Vol'jin for sending him so many new trolls to place under his "care" in the afterlife and bestowed upon him something Vol'jin had lost: his innate ability to regenerate, the gift given to all trolls. With parting words, Vol'jin promised to send him far more Zandalari before this conflict is done, and began to heal to his full potential.

Most of Vol'jin's severe wounds began to heal over with his troll regeneration back, though he chose to leave a slight portion of his throat slit to deepen and slightly change his voice, so as to make it different to the troll he had been -- the troll who had fallen for Garrosh's ploy.

For their services in the defense of Zouchin, Taran Zhu commissioned the stone likenesses of Vol'jin and Tyrathan to be engraved into a mountain of Pandaria, the same honor given to distinguished monks of the Shado-Pan. Rumors of Vol'jin's demise started to spread throughout the wider world: some members of the Horde believed that the Darkspear chieftain fell heroically against native enemies in service of the Warchief; others believed that he was targeted personally and assassinated. Some clung to the hope that he still lived, though these were few. In honor of his memory, several Horde members tattooed themselves with dark spears.

To halt the Zandalari advance, Vol'jin, Chen, and Tyrathan were tasked with venturing to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, to stop the Zandalari from reviving their slumbering mogu allies. Though practically a suicide mission (seven of them against unknown phalanxes of Zandalari), Vol'jin and Tyrathan admitted that they are dead men anyway. The man and troll reflected on their past and futures during the journey; Vol'jin was amused that the two of them could grow so close, despite the long years of hatred standing between their races. According to Tyrathan, no one in the world would believe that the two had formed a bond of friendship and now fought alongside one another in defense of a land they had no true attachment to, and that he would be tried for treason and executed if his friendship with Vol'jin was ever discovered.

Vol'jin was granted another vision by the Venom Queen, this time of the ancient alliance between the Zandalari and the mogu, a vision of an age long before any he had seen before. Vol'jin came to realize what it was that drove these two forces apart: the mutual arrogance that they were stronger than their counterpart. Both empires fell for different reasons; the Zandalari empire grew weak with its fracturing tribes and infighting, while the mogu were toppled and overthrown by the servants they had grown to rely upon. He awoke with a single spider web nestled atop his face.

Tyrathan and Vol'jin spotted a Zandalari camp nearby, complete with a group of captured Alliance scouts being tortured. Tyrathan insisted that he remain behind and help them from the shadows, and after some convincing, Vol'jin decided to help. After freeing the group from their captivity, the group's leader demanded to know where Tyrathan Knort was hiding, recognizing the fighting style of their hidden savior. Vol'jin, protecting his friend's identity, denied keeping the company of such, and says that he, Vol'jin of the Darkspear tribe, a leader of the Horde, had personally killed the man. The scouts are stunned to learn that Vol'jin himself still lived, aware of the rumors spreading of his apparent death. Vol'jin let them flee back to safety.

The group was ambushed by a Zandalari raid headed by Khal'ak, having lured Vol'jin into the open. Khal'ak had captured, subdued, and bound Tyrathan, though offered to let him live in return for Vol'jin's surrender and compliance. He warily agreed.

To Vol'jin's immense surprise, his ruthless host meant him no ill will. The two took raptors to a hidden house near Mogu'shan Palace, where Vol'jin was groomed and honored (albeit grudgingly) as an esteemed shadow hunter and leader of the Darkspear tribe. Khal'ak ordered him to be bathed and dressed in fine clothing, and the two discussed his predicament over wine and food. Khal'ak had recognized him from King Rastakhan's troll gathering after the Cataclysm, and had witnessed Vol'jin decline the offer of a great troll alliance. She did not fault him for this choice -- the Darkspear tribe had thrived under his leadership, and had suffered none of the downfalls of the Amani and Gurubashi. Khal'ak once more offered him the choice he had turned away from, though this time sweetened the notion: in return for his allegiance, the Darkspear tribe would be propelled to the first tribe of the Zandalari, above all others. Vol'jin considered this offer, and with the reason he had declined Rastakhan's offer in the first place no longer applicable in the wake of Garrosh's treachery, he admitted his interest in it.

In return for his cooperation, Khal'ak ensured the safety of Vol'jin's companions. After witnessing the resurrection of Warlord Kao, the gathered trolls traveled back to the palace and left for the Isle of Thunder. Here, Vol'jin met with Khal'ak's superior, Vilnak'dor, and convinced him of his use to the cause. Vol'jin later admitted to Khal'ak that they would need to dispose of him to smoothly transition the Darkspear into this new alliance.

In truth, Vol'jin's experiences thus far had compelled him to make quite the opposite decision: he was a shadow hunter, the leader of the Darkspear tribe, and a Horde leader; Garrosh's treachery had not been to further the Horde's goals, but only his own. Vol'jin reflected that the Horde is a family and that it falls to him to protect that family from Hellscream's ambitions. While he had considered Khal'ak's offer, the fact remained that the Darkspear had thrived not by struggling in vain to recreate an empire whose romanticized zeniths they had never truly known, but by working with the reality of the world and carving out a place in it.

Vol'jin returned to his companions and helped them break out of their captivity. Under the cover of nightfall, they escaped the Zandalari encampment and procured an escape back to Pandaria's mainland via a fishing boat. After returning to the monastery, Vol'jin informed Taran Zhu of what had transpired, and that the Zandalari would next target the monastery. He insisted that the Shado-Pan needed to evacuate, though Zhu opted to stand and fight their ground instead. Vol'jin, Tyrathan, and Chen swore themselves to this task too, and the monastery's thirty-three defenders were aptly named The Thirty-three. Vol'jin prepared a number of traps to halt the Zandalari advance, and spoke with Tyrathan before the battle. While both were certain that they would meet death in this battle, they chose not to cement their grisly fates with goodbyes. Instead, Tyrathan offered to fletch the arrow that Vol'jin would use to kill Garrosh, and Vol'jin promised to hold him to it. The monks also forged a personal glaive for Vol'jin, to replace the one he had lost during his ordeal in the saurok cave.

While the Zandalari army had been fettered by Vol'jin and Tyrathan's traps and further hampered by a snowstorm swirling near the monastery, they pressed their numerical advantage and fast closed in on the temple. Vol'jin himself strode out to meet them, alone and offered a challenge by honorable combat to any who desired to pass him. His opponent was a towering mogu named Deng-Tai, wielding a ferocious longspear. Vol'jin held his own against his bulkier opponent, though mid-battle the Zandalari commander ordered the army to overwhelm Vol'jin and charge forward. As the tide turned against him, Chen and several monks arrived to help relieve the battle, though the group was heavily outmatched and forced to flee inwards. Regrouping inside, Vol'jin could see no sign of Tyrathan, and the survivors -- now fourteen from thirty-three -- were set upon by the Zandalari invaders once more.

Vol'jin fought and killed Khal'ak's captain in the ensuing chaos, though was immediately attacked by another mogu, preparing to impale Vol'jin with his spear. Tyrathan hurled him out of the way and took the heavy blow meant for him. Taran Zhu fought off and defeated the mogu, while Vol'jin identified and did battle with a vengeful Khal'ak. His enemy was agile and vicious and fought with the belief that she could read Vol'jin's moves and act accordingly. To counter her, Vol'jin eschewed his usual fighting style and instead made use of his monk training with the Shado-Pan. He surged forward and caught Khal'ak off-guard, and shattered her from the neck-up with a powerful fist blow.

Leaderless and stunned by the resistance, the surviving Zandalari began to flee the scene. Vol'jin swore to save Tyrathan despite the man's desire to die and invoked healing to mend his wound. Vol'jin contacted Bwonsamdi to bargain for his friend's life; with some convincing, the great loa agreed, and Tyrathan was set on a road to recovery not dissimilar to the one Vol'jin had endured. Vol'jin watched over Tyrathan during the healing process, and the two spoke once more when the time was right. Vol'jin reminded Tyrathan of his earlier offer, and the human promised to be there to fletch that arrow for Vol'jin to dispose of Garrosh with. The two parted as friends; with the life Vol'jin had helped preserve, Tyrathan aimed to try and reconcile with his family, while Vol'jin prepared to do the same with his own.

Escalation
Vol'jin came into contact with the regent lord of Quel'Thalas, Lor'themar Theron, and earned his support to strike against and overthrow Garrosh. Returning to Durotar, Vol'jin learned that his people had been put under martial law by the Kor'kron; with Lor'themar finishing up on the Isle of Thunder (and across the ocean besides), Vol'jin was forced to declare open rebellion against Garrosh preemptively, and based himself in Sen'jin Village. After speaking with both Thrall and Chen, Vol'jin sent Horde adventurers to gather supplies from Garrosh's Kor'kron forces in the Northern Barrens. Upon receiving the supplies, Vol'jin discovered that the Kor'kron had begun their attack on the village and after a fierce battle Vol'jin and his forces beat the invaders back. With Sen'jin Village secure, Vol'jin went to begin the march on Razor Hill before it was fortified, when Thrall stopped him and announced his plan to go to Orgrimmar. While Vol'jin protested that they needed him, Thrall was adamant about finding orcs who were against Hellscream such as Saurfang and Eitrigg. In a last attempt to stop Thrall, Vol'jin bluntly told him that Garrosh's forces would kill him. However, Thrall pointed out that that was a chance that he was willing to take to see that not all of his people were behind Hellscream. Thrall then asked Vol'jin to look after Aggra and his son if he didn't make it, a promise that the shadow hunter agreed to.

After watching Thrall leave, Vol'jin rallied his forces at Sen'jin Village and personally lead the attack on Razor Hill. After the Kor'kron presence was eliminated, the people of Razor Hill willingly joined the Darkspear rebellion and Vol'jin was met by Baine Bloodhoof. After agreeing to help the rebellion, while ensuring his people's safety first as many were in Orgrimmar, Baine pointed out that Orgrimmar was a fortress and that Vol'jin would need to seek out allies beyond the Horde. Soon after, Vol'jin was approached by members of the Alliance, and both the shadow hunter and an adventurer within the group agreed to a tentative alliance in order to dispose of Garrosh by launching a two-pronged assault on the city: the Horde attacking by land and the Alliance by sea.

Siege of Orgrimmar
Vol'jin and Baine moved inside of Razor Hill as the Thunder Bluff Warriors and Darkspear Headhunters were arriving. The two leaders discussed the situation of their army approaching by the sea and about Garrosh.

Vol'jin's rebellion had secured the lion's share of Durotar during the Siege of Orgrimmar, its forces now at the gates of the city itself. Vol'jin faced off with General Nazgrim, who unleashed the Iron Juggernaut against the Darkspear chieftain and Baine Bloodhoof. After its defeat, Tyrande Whisperwind secured the entrance to Orgrimmar, and told Vol'jin to go ahead while she held the line.

Vol'jin and Baine assisted Horde agents in the battles against the Kor'kron orcs in the Underhold. He told Baine and his warriors to hold the area while adventurers went after Thrall and Garrosh. Vol'jin wanted to stop the bloodshed happening above.

Vol'jin arrived at The Inner Sanctum following Garrosh's defeat, along with the other Horde leaders. Vol'jin told Thrall that the Horde needed its true Warchief back. After pointing out that it was Vol'jin who held the Horde together and preserved its honor, Thrall knelt before Vol'jin and pledged to follow his leadership. Vol'jin did not feel worthy of the title, but the other leaders of the Horde supported him, and he swore to give his all. He was then approached by Varian, who was briefly shocked at Vol'jin being the Warchief, before acknowledging that he desired peace between the Alliance and the Horde. However he warned that should Vol'jin's Horde fail to uphold honor as Garrosh did, the Alliance would end them.

War Crimes
One of the Vol'jin's first acts of Warchief was to offer a reward for Zaela's head and to that end, he sent a group of agents into the Twilight Highlands, though the Horde party was unable to locate Zaela. Sometime after, the new Warchief received an invitation for hearing the decision about Garrosh' punishment. Vol'jin and the other leaders of the Horde subsequently traveled to the Temple of the White Tiger.

Vol'jin knew this day would come. Still agreeing with Varian during the aftermath of the Siege, he thought that the rest of the orcs should not be following Garrosh's path. After Taran Zhu revealed that there was going to be a trial, the Horde leaders met to discuss who should defend the frail former Warchief of the Horde, Sylvanas offered to serve as his defender. However, Vol'jin declined her offer, remarking that they were looking for a defender and she would better serve as an accuser. With that in mind, Vol'jin offered the position to Baine, which the others endorsed and Baine reluctantly accepted. After revealing their chosen defender, Vol'jin learned that the Alliance had chosen Varian Wrynn to serve as the accuser. However, Vol'jin decided to veto this decision and the Alliance then declared Tyrande Whisperwind would then be the accuser.

After witnessing Anduin's testimony, Vol'jin told Baine that he was doing great. However, Sylvanas didn't share Vol'jin's opinion and quarreled with Baine causing the Warchief to break apart the argument and encouraged Sylvanas to be patient. During the next day, he was called as Tyrande's next witness. He spoke about the situation of trolls during Garrosh's reign as well as about the Pandaria campaign. He witnessed the vision when Garrosh commanded Rak'gor Bloodrazor to assassinate Vol'jin if he wouldn't cooperate. When Baine was asking questions, he made Vol'jin recall his threats to Garrosh.

Near the end of the trial, Vol'jin sent a letter to Jaina Proudmoore, revealing his understanding of her recent actions and informed her that he didn't hate her. After Garrosh escaped and the subsequent chaos ended, he joined Thrall in vowing that they would find Garrosh, no matter where or when Kairoz took him.

The Iron Tide
Officially inaugurated as Warchief of the Horde, Vol'jin is now located in Grommash Hold bearing his new title.

When the Iron Horde began its preliminary invasion of Azeroth, Vol'jin sent Horde champions to join the forces there and fight off the attackers. Horde champions, along with Khadgar and Thrall, later inform him of this new threat and what it may mean for Azeroth.

Warlords of Draenor
He sent Warmaster Zog to Frostwall to assist the commander, and has dispensed a notable number of shadow hunters to assist the Horde forces all across Draenor, among them Rokhan. Vol'jin has also been kept informed of the Horde's status on Draenor by Knight-Lord Dranarus. When the Garrison reaches its third stage, Vol'jin promotes the commander to General of the Horde's forces on Draenor.

After took over the Iron Horde, Vol'jin arrived to Frostwall to plan the invasion of Tanaan Jungle. He suggested to build a shipyard and sent the commander to the Iron Docks. After the shipyard was built, he wished the adventurer to bring glory to the Horde. He also established an elite group of trolls, Vol'jin's Headhunters, and sent them to assist in Tanaan. The warchief was also interested in how Grommash managed to weaponize gronns.

Legion
Vol'jin opened the Underhold to provide shelter when the third invasion of the Burning Legion started.

During the Battle for the Broken Shore, Thrall and Vol'jin assaulted the island and cleared the shoreline by killing Azgalor and his forces. They subsequently made their way to Sylvanas and Baine, who were holding off the demons. Along with the Alliance, they chased Gul'dan whilst they took care of Krosus. The Horde set off to cover a high ridge, while the Alliance confronted Gul'dan. During the fighting, unknown force aided the Legion by ensuring that Vol'jin was dealt a mortal blow by a felguard's spear. Despite this, however, he was able to break the spear with one strike and killed the felguard in turn. Vol'jin then collapsed from his fatal wound, even losing a tusk in the process, which was noticed by Sylvanas who rode forth to save him. As she neared him, the Warchief told her to not let the Horde die and realizing the battle was lost, Sylvanas summoned her Val'kyr to carry the wounded and led the retreat, carrying Vol'jin back to the ships and leaving the Alliance forces to be overrun.

Upon returning to Orgrimmar, Vol'jin - suffering from fel poisoning from the broken spear tip still in his body - called the Horde leadership together with Sylvanas being the last to arrive. With all present the loa Mueh'zala, told Vol'jin that death would claim him soon. He then admitted that he had never trusted Sylvanas nor believed that in the Horde's darkest hour, she would be the save it. Manipulated by the guidance of Mueh'zala, Vol'jin followed his decision to name Sylvanas the new Warchief of the Horde. Knowing that others would not understand, Vol'jin urged Sylvanas to step out of the shadows and led.

Vol'jin's spirit then passed into the afterlife, while his body was taken outside the gates of Orgrimmar and cremated on a ritual pyre. Sylvanas asked the assembled Horde who would help her avenge him - a call to arms that was answered by all present. Tyrathan Khort, Vol'jin's human friend from Pandaria, attended the funeral from a safe distance and swore to fulfill his promise of killing Vol'jin's killer.

Following Vol'jin's death, the Darkspear tribe became leaderless.

Battle for Azeroth
Master Gadrin says that he often has felt Vol'jin's spirit whispering to him. His strength was the lifeblood of the Darkspear, and some would even say he was the spirit of the true Horde.

The Echo Isles came under attack once again by Zalazane, who broke free of Bwonsamdi and came back as a lich with an army of undead. He was able to break away because Bwonsamdi did not also have Vol'jin's spirit. Vol'jin's glaive was used to combat Zalazane because it was necessary to use a magical weapon to harm someone who escaped the grasp of Bwonsamdi, and the bond between Vol'jin and Zalazane was great. Upon his death Zalazane proclaimed "What? Vol'jin... you could not have grown so strong without becoming... a..." Vol'jin's glaive then began to glow.

Afterward, the Zandalari Princess Talanji offered to bring the ashes of Vol'jin to Atal'Dazar, the burial temple of Zandalari kings. Along the Golden Road up Mount Mugamba Master Gadrin told of Vol'jin's past deeds to honor him, even as the Sandfury, Gurubashi, and Amani tribes fought to keep the ashes of a "Horde-loving traitor" out of Atal'Dazar. Upon reaching the temple Bwonsamdi appeared and said to instead bring them to his temple, the Necropolis. But upon arrival there, they learned Vol'jin's spirit was not in his urn and Bwonsamdi grew very worried about having lost a soul that was supposed to be in his care.

Seeking to learn where Vol'jin's spirit had gone missing, Bwonsamdi tasked the adventurer and Talanji with performing a seance with the aid of some of Vol'jin's friends from life, Gadrin and Rokhan. They reached far into the Shadowlands with Vol'jin's bond with Rokhan and Gadrin serving as a guide, and upon encountering him he tasked them with slaying G'huun as justice for the sons and daughters of lost loa and sons and the heart of Zandalar, culminating with stabbing his glaive into G'huun's corpse. With his glaive soaked in G'huun's blood, it was paraded before the Zandalari in Zuldazar as Vol'jin told Talanji that she set in motion the events leading to G'huun's death by leading the Horde to Zandalar. However, the question of why Vol'jin's spirit had gone missing remained unanswered.

Tides of Vengeance
When Baine wished to speak to Vol'jin once more, Talanji performed the seance again to call on his spirit. With all that Sylvanas had done to strain the Horde's unity, Baine had to know who the voice that spoke to Vol'jin telling him to make her warchief really was. But Vol'jin's memory had been muddled by death, denied for him by shadows that he knew were coming for his friends. Spirits of the dead attacked the seance, and Vol'jin realized Baine's question was a good one if someone was trying to have him killed for asking it. At Vol'jin's request they traveled to the Broken Shore and called on his spirit there to shed some light on the mystery. As they searched more spirits attacked them, and Vol'jin realized that that day on the Shore, something wasn't right with the way the demons' blades slipped past his guard as if the loa had forsaken him. Even now he still could not hear their voices, and no matter how much he called to Bwonsamdi the loa of death was not answering. He realized that something had been helping the Legion that day to ensure that Vol'jin died.

In Durotar, Vol'jin and the adventurer delved into the Veil and fought off more spirits as they moved toward Grommash Hold. That day he died, Vol'jin had gotten glimpses of the Other Side and expected to see Bwonsamdi, Hir'eek, Shadra, or any of the other loa but none appeared. But he had felt a powerful presence in the shadows that had taken him somewhere, but now the memory of where was hidden from Vol'jin to prevent him from sharing the truth: that it may not have been the loa that wanted Sylvanas warchief, but something else. Vol'jin didn't believe this was Bwonsamdi's style, but that didn't mean the loa of death couldn't have been behind it. Vol'jin, Talanji, and Baine traveled to the Necropolis, where Bwonsamdi revealed that he had not been ignoring Vol'jin's previous cries for aid; rather, he had not heard them at all. They confronted Bwonsamdi to ask him if he was the one who had told the shadow hunter to make Sylvanas the warchief, which Bwonsamdi denied. Even as much as Bwonsamdi was all for war and death, Sylvanas took things too far, and besides that Sylvanas kept the souls of what she killed as undead instead of releasing them for Bwonsamdi to claim. Troubled by their words, Bwonsamdi agreed to help them find out who had really told Vol'jin to put Sylvanas in charge.

Bwonsamdi opened a Death Gate to one of his rivals in the ownership of souls: the Lich King. Like Bwonsamdi, the Lich King told Vol'jin that he was not responsible and that Sylvanas was upsetting the balance of life and death. Furthermore, the Lich King informed Vol'jin that he had been altered more than he realized and as neither undead nor damned he did not belong in the Frozen Throne. The Lich King sent ghouls after them, forcing them to flee through Bwonsamdi's gate. Realizing that Vol'jin's spirit was getting help from some other power, Bwonsamdi also sent them to speak to the Val'kyr Eyir. Eyir informed the group that Vol'jin had been "touched by the hand of valor" and become something beyond even her power to forge, but whoever it was that had aided him was was not the same person who had told him to make Sylvanas warchief. Back at the Necropolis, Bwonsamdi mused that while Eyir and the Lich King were not his only rivals they were the ones he thought most likely to be behind it. He urged Vol'jin to search not the living world but the Shadowlands for his answers.

Vol'jin agreed to return to the Other Side, with the promise that if he found anything he would send word. He told the adventurer to mind theirself, as he felt the Horde would be needing them soon. Vol'jin was concerned that none of the three death beings he had spoken knew what was going on and none of them liked Sylvanas being warchief, but Talanji believed that no matter the circumstances she was still the leader of the Horde and promised to ensure it was a just rule. Before he left, Vol'jin spoke highly of Talanji's forward-thinking ways and asked her to call on him if she ever needed advice.

In Talanji's coronation day as new queen of Zandalar, Vol'jin watched her during Bwonsamdi's trial and bowed to her on her way to speak with her people. He also witnessed her meeting with Sylvanas that same day from afar and vanished afterwards without saying a word.

Shadowlands
It is revealed that Mueh'zala, who was the loa of death before Bwonsamdi and is an ally of the Jailer, was the one who told Vol'jin to make Sylvanas warchief.

Bwonsamdi, after overpowering Mueh'zala in De Other Side, brings Vol'jin to the Necropolis in Nazmir to learn the truth. Mueh'zala boasted that he had sent another ancient spirit to the Maw for refusing to join with him, and would have done so for Vol'jin had his ties to Azeroth not prevented it. Bwonsamdi offers Vol'jin a chance for payback, and to rescue the spirit from the Maw. Vol'jin is reluctant, given that he had heard nothing escaped the Maw, but Bwonsamdi's latest ally, a Maw Walker belonging to the Night Fae Covenant of Ardenweald, has the ability to come and go from the Maw at will, as their soul is tied to Azeroth, just like Vol'jin's; however, he warns that Vol'jin should "hold tight ta dem threads and don't be fully manifestin' ya spirit in dat dark place", or his spirit would be cursed to oblivion. Vol'jin finally agrees, unwilling to let Mueh'zala have the last laugh.

Once inside the Maw, Vol'jin only uses enough of his soul to track their target, as anything more would sever the bonds tying him to Azeroth and trap him there. The spirit they find is the Wild God Ashamane, killed during the War of the Ancients ten thousand years before. After securing Ashamane's spirit to be returned to Ardenweald, Vol'jin detects three more spirits, belonging to Loa killed in Zandalar: Hir'eek, corrupted by G'huun; Shadra, sacrificed by her own priestess, Yazma; and finally, Rezan, the Loa of the Zandalari kings. While Hir'eek and Shadra are secured within the Maw Walker's Soulkeeper Crystal along with Ashamane, Rezan has been tortured nearly beyond help by the Mawsworn. Rezan recognizes Vol'jin as a fierce spirit who seeks justice, and so grants the last of his essence to him, so that all that Rezan had been could be reborn within him. Vol'jin protests, saying that his people needed him; Rezan, however, felt that Vol'jin was the one they needed. Vol'jin promises not to waste Rezan's gift, and that his name would not be forgotten. The Maw Walker brings the rescued spirits, along with Vol'jin, to the Winter Queen, ruler of Ardenweald, who takes them under her care; though she could not say what fate held, she offered Vol'jin a chance to one day be reborn anew. Vol'jin accepted, saying that it would be time for him to begin a new hunt - after getting some rest.

Quests

 * More Than Expected
 * Moraya (quest)
 * An Ancient Enemy
 * Sen'jin Village (quest)
 * Making Contact (Stranglethorn, Alliance)/Making Contact (Stranglethorn, Horde)
 * Warlord of the Amani


 * Dagger in the Dark (quest)
 * Find Thrall!


 * Garrison Campaign: War Council (Horde)
 * We Need a Shipwright (Horde)
 * Nothing Remains (Horde)
 * All Hands on Deck (Horde)


 * Spirit Call
 * Justice for the Fallen
 * The True Leader of Zandalar
 * Shades of Disruption
 * To the Broken Shore (The Shadow Hunter)
 * Where He Fell
 * To Orgrimmar
 * Where He Died
 * The Lies of a Loa
 * Mysteries of Death

Removed content

 * A Gift for the Warchief
 * Meeting the Orcs
 * Meeting the Orcs (blood elf)
 * Allegiance to the Horde
 * Message for Vol'jin
 * Report to the Labor Captain
 * Enemies Below (Orgrimmar)
 * All Apologies
 * Dread Head Redemption
 * Machines of War
 * Return to the Highlands
 * Sauranok Will Point the Way
 * Traitor's Bait
 * Where Is My Warfleet?
 * Warning the Warchief
 * The Warchief Will be Pleased
 * Warchief's Blessing
 * The Lord of Blackrock (Horde)
 * Walk With The Earth Mother
 * Warchief's Command: Twilight Highlands!
 * Weapons of Mass Dysfunction


 * The Admiral's Orders (2)
 * A Life Without Regret
 * The Battle For The Undercity (Horde)


 * Zalazane's Fall
 * Lady Of Da Tigers
 * Dance Of De Spirits
 * Preparin' For Battle
 * Zalazane's Fall (quest)


 * Escalation
 * Vol'jin of the Darkspear
 * Battlefield: Barrens (Horde)
 * Battle of Sen'jin Village /Vol'jin of the Darkspear (Alliance)
 * Battle of Razor Hill /Battlefield: Barrens (Alliance)

Tactics
The battle with Vol'jin is arguably the most difficult of all the faction leaders, a major factor being his strategic position. At face value, the several entrances to Orgrimmar can seem appealing to a would-be raid, though Grommash Hold itself has been moved to the most populated area of Orgrimmar - leaving Vol'jin flanked by a large amount of Horde players at almost all times. Vol'jin's lack of elite guards is compensated by the Warchief's Herald that pulls with him, and the small amount of space allocated for the fight- leaving most of the raid susceptible to AOE and easy crowd control from Horde players, most deadly being chain fears on healers or tanks. It is also important to note that stealthing into the room is almost impossible, as the pair of Forsaken Delegation Deathguards in the Hold can see through stealth effects.

Warcraft III

 * I be Vol'jin, leader of the Darkspear tribe. It be good that the Thrall sent you when he did, mon. Our villages already be under attack by the human fleet! We've got no time to waste.
 * We heard reports that the human fleet patrols the channel between the mainland and Theramore Isle. Be wary, mon. They could stand between you and the sorceress you seek.

World of Warcraft

 * Aggro
 * You make big mistake, mon.
 * Here come the voodoo!
 * For the Darkspear tribe!


 * Greeting
 * Spirits be with you, stranger. How may I help?''
 * You come to consult the spirits?''
 * How can old Vol'jin help you?''


 * Grommash Hold
 * Another hero? The fates smile upon us on this day,.

Tapping of the Keg at Brewfest

 * We will learn who the greatest brewmaster is. We know the breweries are up for the challenge. We would not have invited them otherwise. So now, let us celebrate with our fine warrior brothers! Let us count down from five. Then old Vol'jin will tap this keg and we can all decide who is the greatest of brewmasters. Ziggy Zoggy Ziggy Zoggy Oy Oy Oy! The keg has been tapped! The battle begins! Now raise your glasses with me, as I toast our combatants... Brew for the Horde! Drink for the Horde!

Zalazane's Fall
Zalazane's time be runnin' out. De Echo Isles will belong to de Darkspear Tribe again!

Meeting with Halduron and Vereesa



 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say

Landfall

 * Greeting
 * Spirits be wit'cha.
 * How kin ol' Vol'jin help ya?
 * De spirits be restless.
 * Dese be da dark times.
 * Da Darkspear never gonna give up.


 * Greeting (Dagger in the Dark)
 * Watch me back, mon.
 * Keep ya eyes wide open.
 * Stay close.

Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde

 * "Dese mogu, dey be the creators. Dey workin' wicked, dark magic here. Dis' be the blackest of magics."
 * "Garrosh playing god? Dis ain't what the Horde be about."

Personality and traits
Vol'jin is a wise, pragmatic leader, who feels that his own personal happiness and wishes always take backseat to keeping his people prosperous, even at his own suffering.

Personally, Vol'jin values freedom, even at the cost of misery and pain, above all else, and would never tie himself down to a life of leisure and security if it meant losing his freedom. Aside from that, Vol'jin highly values personal relationships, seeing Thrall and Cairne as his "brothers", his emotional attachment to his "Papa", Sen'jin, and was very close to Zalazane from birth until he went mad from his own power. While not warmongering, as indicated by his disgust at the idea of the Zandalari trying to regain their glory through war, as well as Garrosh's aggressive stance against the Alliance, he will do whatever it takes to keep his people safe, and to honor his commitment to Thrall and the Horde, as they are his "people" as much as the Darkspear tribe.

As seen by his heated conversation with Garrosh though, violence is not beneath him to solve a problem, but he is a well-spoken diplomat who knows how to pick and choose his words carefully to garner the results he wants. He seems to hold no real grudge against the Alliance, as he has no issue with sending envoys to Stormwind Harbor to ask for their help in defeating the Zandalari in Zul'Gurub, and seems to easily work alongside anyone who he feels works within the scope of his strategies. When he's not focused on the task at hand, Vol'jin wisely guides his people and cares for those he is close to and is ready to kill and die for those who would bring harm to them.

It also seems that Vol'jin is a very powerful Shadow Hunter, using voodoo to transform Rexxar, Rokhan and Chen Stormstout into invisible wyverns, a feat which has never been seen before.

According to information gleaned from the quest The Admiral's Orders, he once had a distrust of humans. However, the dialogue was simply copied and pasted from Nazgrel who used to end the quest. That quest is no longer available. Despite that, he indeed have some degree of disgust and distrust towards them. In Vol'jin: Shadow of the Horde, he was alarmed and struggled to protest when Chen told him a human, Tyrathan Khort will tend to him. When Tyrathan touched him in order to stop him from drawing another jihui cube, he was revolted and was about to wrestled Tyrathan's hand from him, as he felt that humans have no right to touch a shadow hunter like himself. As time progressed, this soon faded as he befriended Tyrathan and even tried to negotiate with Bwonsamdi to spare him when he is mortally wounded. After the defeat of Garrosh, he replied Varian's request to speak with him with courtesy. He even sent Jaina Proudmoore a letter offering his understanding of Jaina's ordeal. After the escape of Garrosh and Kairozdormu, he was willing to work alongside the Alliance to hunt Garrosh down.

In the RPG
He is the acting chieftain of the Darkspear tribe.

After Thrall saved the Darkspear tribe from certain annihilation, the tribe's shaman leader pledged their loyalty to the Horde forever. It isn't, however, stated, if this relates to Sen'jin or Vol'jin.

In the TCG
Vol'jin appeared on a card twice in the World of Warcraft: Trading Card Game. Once in the Blood of Gladiators set, and once in the Throne of the Tides set. His title is worded as Darkspear Chieftain.

Notes and trivia

 * His generic name in Battle of Azeroth is a wisp called Restless Spirit.
 * Bwonsamdi regards Vol'jin as one of his favorites.
 * Vol'jin's impaled body can be seen in the Stormwind Harbor of the Realm of Y'Shaarj.
 * Vol'jin seems to be the first known troll to be burned on a funeral pyre.
 * Upon his death, Vol'jin is removed from Grommash Hold (replaced by Varok Saurfang) as well as from Darkspear Hold.
 * Nimboya once referred to Yenniku as his own son in the quest Saving Yenniku, saying"...I at least know that my son's soul is free." His words were changed at some unknown point after the Cataclysm quest overhaul to "...I at least know that the soul of my chief's son is free." The quest text made it unclear if Nimboya was referring to Sen'jin, or Vol'jin's son, but according to Matt Burns on Twitter Yenniku seems to be Vol'jin's son.
 * In Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, Vol'jin referred to having a significant other when Tyrathan asked him if he had any family, saying "She gonna understand." It would stand to reason that this is Yenniku's mother, though her identity is unknown.
 * Despite being the leader of the Darkspear Trolls, in World of Warcraft Vol'jin was affiliated with Orgrimmar prior to the Cataclysm. His model used in Zalazane's Fall was more fittingly affiliated with the Darkspear Trolls.
 * Vol'jin's Pride, the main Horde base in Talador, and Vol'mar, the main Horde base in Tanaan Jungle, are named after him, as are Vol'jin's Spear and Vol'jin's Headhunters, the Horde forces in Ashran and Tanaan, respectively.
 * Lorewise, Vol'jin is only a shadow hunter. His model of a witch doctor in Warcraft III was a game mechanic likely to distinguish him from Rokhan.
 * He can use healing magics and voodoo curses.
 * As seen during his ride out to the Brewfest grounds for the Keg Tapping, Vol'jin rides an Emerald Raptor.
 * Vol'jin and Gelbin Mekkatorque, the gnome leader, share a number of odd similarities. Both of them were betrayed by a most trusted friend (Zalazane/Sicco Thermaplugg), both were forced out of their homes, both led a force to retake their homeland (Zalazane's Fall/Operation: Gnomeregan), during Brewfest both of them ride out of their respective cities to the festival grounds at 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. each day for the ceremonial tapping of the keg, and prior to the Cataclysm they both were in another race's "capital" (Orgrimmar/Ironforge).
 * Along with Sul the Sandcrawler, Vol'jin is the only troll in World of Warcraft whose in-game model possesses facial hair. Zabra Hexx had a beard in World of Warcraft: Ashbringer and Rokhan had one in The Frozen Throne, but since those two use the default player troll model in World of Warcraft, facial hair is unavailable to them.
 * Vol'jin was formerly voiced by Chris Metzen. As of patch 5.1, Vol'jin is voiced by Dave Fennoy (the voice of Gabriel Tosh in StarCraft II).
 * As of patch 5.2, his Echo Isles model was changed, as was his on click dialogue. But for the starting zone events, he still uses the old voice. In addition, if you had done the Domination Point quests up to Dagger in the Dark, and you go back to the Echo Isles, Vol'jin wouldn't be there and as of 5.4 now resides at Razor Hill for all players.
 * As well as a shadow hunter, Vol'jin also received monk training from the Shado-Pan in Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, giving him access to some hand-to-hand techniques his opponents would not expect.
 * It was also revealed in Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde that Vol'jin has killed too many humans to count. Most of them were most likely Kul Tiras that assaulted the Darkspear on the Darkspear Islands and Durotar.
 * Vol'jin appears as a legendary card for the Priest class in the Goblins vs Gnomes expansion of Hearthstone. His flavor text reads: "Vol'jin is a shadow hunter, which is like a shadow priest except more voodoo."
 * According to Rokhan, Vol'jin was the finest Warchief the Horde had ever known.

Alternate timeline
During the final day of the trial of Hellscream, the bronze dragon Kairozdormu helped Garrosh escape by summoning alternate timeline counterparts of those present. Vol'jin's counterpart hailing from an unknown timeline was notably more primitive, savage and sadistic than him. According to Christie Golden, not much is known about the alternate timeline Vol'jin seen in War Crimes, other than that things went "very bad" in the timeline he came from. He was a shadow hunter and wore a necklace made of human and elven ears and seemed less reasonable than his main universe counterpart. According to Baine, Kairoz selected the most broken and the darkest versions those present. To send them back to their own realities, one was to accept the other self. He took a sick joy in attacking the weakened Anduin Wrynn and even attempted to take his ear as a trophy before Chromie grabbed and threw him away. It is unknown how Vol'jin accepted his alternate self (which Baine revealed as the only way to truly send them back to their original timeline) or his reaction.

It is possible that enmity between human, trolls, and elves is extremely heated at the other timeline. In Vol'jin: Shadow of the Horde, Vol'jin attempted to tell Chen Stormstout about the human-troll enmity and how it is pulsed with hatred. It was mentioned that Vol'jin has killed countless humans before.

Speculation
It has been theorized that Vol'jin has become a loa, though his own questline in Battle for Azeroth shows that it's not clear on what he is yet. He visits multiple powerful entities to question what he has become, and no one can give him the answers he needs. Bwonsamdi does not know what happened to Vol'jin after he died, Eyir says he was "blessed by valor", something beyond her capabilities, and the Lich King says he is neither undead nor damned.
 * While Mueh'zala was confirmed as the one who encouraged him to name Sylvanas Warchief of the Horde, it is unknown who it was that saved him. It may have been the Arbiter recognizing it was not his proper time, or even Rezan, based on him declaring Vol'jin the future of their people.