Thornspeakers

The Thornspeakers are a group of druids located in Drustvar, on Kul Tiras. It was originally founded by the Drust druids, who did not agree with Gorak Tul's war against the human settlers, and left Drust society. Druidism used to be the old ways of the Drust before the days of Tul, whose ways the Thornspeakers consider to have brought disgrace upon the Drust. They are led by Ulfar, the High Thornspeaker and last of the Drust druids.

Description
The Thornspeakers are not so different from other druids. They are guardians of balance, and keepers of the cycle. To them, life is a part of nature just as death is. Most people seem to be wary of them. They have few relics remaining, some of which are runes carved on wooden plaques. The Thornspeakers cannot throw away their lives, for as long as the trees stand so must they. They know how to disrupt the magic in the core of Drust constructs.

The wolf Greenstalker was an ally of the Thornspeakers. The deer Athair and Athainne blessed the ancient Drust druids.

History
Originally, the Thornspeakers were a Drust organization. Druidism was the old ways of the Drust, from before the time of Gorak Tul. But not all of the Drust agreed to wage war against the human settlers thousands of years ago. A thornspeaker known as Sef Iwen spoke out against it, believing it to be unnecessary and that the Drust and Humanity could live in harmony. Given an ultimatum, to attack the humans or to live in the woods forever, Sef chose the latter; believing Tul simply meant to exile her. Instead, she was murdered by Gorak Tul and her soul torn from her body then shackled to the remains; forcing her to live as a spirit forever in the woods that would eventually become the Glenbrook Hunting Grounds, her death meant as an example to those who would seek to work with the humans. This, amongst the other atrocities that Gorak Tul would commit against the humans, eventually led to Sef's fellow Thornspeakers rebelling against Gorak Tul and aiding the humans. This led the Thornspeakers to leave the Drust and join Kul Tiran society. Some of the humans' descendants heard the call of the wilds and sought to learn the ancient ways, which the Thornspeakers taught them. Now Ulfar is the only Drust Thornspeaker left.

The Thornspeakers once tended to Drustvar as kin of the trees, but that age has long since passed. However, there are a few who have not forgotten that path. Ashenwood Grove was home to two Thornspeakers, Morwin Gladeheart and his student Amalie Oakseeker, until the fungarian attacked and covered it in spores.

Battle for Azeroth
The Thornspeakers sensed the activation of ancient powers in Gol Koval and moved to fight it. They banded with the rangers for mutual protection.

When Katherine Proudmoore sought to save her daughter Jaina from Thros and the grip of Gorak Tul, Lucille Waycrest directed an adventurer to Ulfar and the Thornspeakers. Ulfar at first did not want to aid them for he felt the door to the Blighted Lands should remain closed, but an attack from Gorak Tul made Ulfar realize that Thros was already open and its denizens no longer confined to their own realm.

They later assisted the red dragonflight by aiding Zallestrasza in protecting the green dragon Vadekius at his final resting place from Danir Emberlight.

As Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras, Jaina Proudmoore commissioned Dorian Atwater to build a special ship for Anduin Wrynn. Wood for the vessel was sourced from the Algerson Lumber Yard near Boralus, though the shipment needed to first be purified of dark influence with the aid of the Thornspeakers. Ulfar succeeded in cleansing the wood at their request and sent the Thornspeakers to Stormsong Valley to further aid in the vessel's construction. Ulfar himself later made an appearance at Port Fogtide for the ship's blessing.

Shadowlands
To save the sylvar Gweyir from a Drust curse, the adventurer is told by Ysera to work with Ulfar, who she once knew. Ulfar directs the adventurer to his long-dead former teacher Kivarr with a fetish that contains Gorak Tul's power, who after saving her agrees to help but requires additional reagents, including a plant called nox root that only grows in Drust corrupted soil, and some other reagents from Ardenweald. Reagents from the Shadowlands are necessary in attempting to break a Drust curse. However, this was rendered moot as Gorak Zhar's power was too great, thereby ensuring that there was no way to save those possessed by the Drust.

Named

 * Ulfar
 * Sef Iwen
 * Lyssa Treewarden
 * Adalyn Forestwatcher
 * Theodor Forestwatcher
 * Morwin Gladeheart
 * Amalie Oakseeker
 * Thornspeaker Birchgrove
 * Arthur Tradewind
 * Thornguard Burton
 * Thornspeaker Tavery
 * Thornstalker Nydora


 * Apprentice Knollden

Unnamed

 * Thornguard Shieldpaw
 * Thornguard Ironclaw
 * Injured Thornspeaker
 * Recovering Druid
 * Thornspeaker Student
 * Trapped Thornspeaker


 * Woodland Thornstalker

Speculation

 * Some of the Kul Tiran humans who were taught druidism by the Drust Thornspeakers likely also had some influence from the Gilnean harvest-witches since Kul Tiras was originally founded by Gilnean sailors.
 * Braedan Whitewall may be a corrupted Thornspeaker.
 * Marcus Swiftwind may be a member as well.
 * The fact their Cat Form is intended to be a wolf may speak to their distant Gilnean heritage, as well as the general absence of large cats in Kul Tiras. Likewise, while their Flight Form is named thistlehawk, falconers are an important part of Drustvar society. Bramblebears and wicker constructs are depicted in ancient Drust steles. While many druids derive their stag form from Malorne, Kul Tiran druids may have done so from Athair who along with Athainne may be Wild Gods who taught the Drust their druidry.