Thoras Trollbane

Thoras Trollbane was the human warrior king of the kingdom of Stromgarde. He was a founding member of the Alliance of Lordaeron during the Second War. Years later he withdrew from the Alliance due to disagreements with his friend King Terenas. Thoras was ultimately murdered by his son, Galen, who sought the throne of Stromgarde for himself.

The Second War
He was one of the human leaders who met at the councils to form the Alliance of Lordaeron. Thoras was quick to agree to form the Alliance as he was a good friend of King Terenas and had a close relationship with Lordaeron. Following the start of the Second War, Stromgarde sent half of its standing army to the main Alliance forces, for Trollbane felt that battle was to be had with the orcs in order to stop their threat. Genn Greymane didn't want to form a combined army but Thoras and his friend Admiral Proudmoore accused him of cowardice so Greymane relented to form the Alliance. Stromgarde had little chance to show its offensive capabilities, as half of their army (the one that didn't go with Lothar) was defending the North lands from the Horde's invasion through the dwarven realm of Khaz Modan: which the Old Horde led by the Blacktooth Grin had already expanded into.

Stromgarde came under heavy assault and losses. They lost their island citadel of Tol Barad but continued to battle through. They tried to ambush Cho'gall and kill him but they failed. The Horde managed to destroy a good deal of Trollbane's kingdom, and continued its march towards the elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

During the Siege of Lordaeron, Trollbane personally led his troops to cut the Horde reinforcements through the Alterac Mountains, rendezvousing with General Hath who confirmed Perenolde's betrayal and sent his troops to join Trollbane's in defending the mountain passes, and preventing the entire Horde from overwhelming Lordaeron's Capital City. As the Alliance forces made their push to the south, Thoras sent a Stromgarde force under his nephew,, to retake Khaz Modan.

After the War
Two years after the war ended, Thoras alongside other kings was present in Nethergarde to discuss the signs of the Dark Portal reopening. Back in Capital City, Thoras and Terenas were visited by the goblin Krix Wiklish who wanted to seal a deal with them. After the goblin left the two kings with Muradin Bronzebeard and Daval Prestor were discussing the matter of Alterac and Lord Perenolde. Thoras was also then present in the Capital City's religion service.

Following the destruction of Alterac after its deal with the Horde became known, Thoras Trollbane petitioned King Terenas to annex the eastern portion of Alterac's territory to Stromgarde in recognition of the latter's sacrifices and valor during the Second War. Years later, he attended the ceremony in Stormwind where Arthas became a paladin.

The Alliance splinters
After the defeat of the orcs in the Second War, much of the Horde was wiped out and most surviving orcs were placed in internment camps. Trollbane, however, fervently disagreed with this policy, believing that the orcs were simply too dangerous to be kept alive. He argued with Terenas about this which was bitter for both as it was an argument between very close friends. In addition, the higher taxes, along with the high expense of maintaining and operating the numerous orc internment camps, led many leaders to believe that their kingdoms would be better off seceding from the Alliance. After the high elves left the Alliance, so did Gilneas and Stromgarde. When Lordaeron refused to mass execute the orcs, a few years before the Third War, Trollbane sadly withdrew his support from the Alliance.

After Terenas was killed by his own son, someone added a second part on the plaque in the empty tomb of Terenas in Lordaeron's palace. SI:7 believes it to have been done on the order of King Thoras. Similarly, someone recovered Terenas' crown and buried it in an unidentified grave on an island in Stormwind Harbor. Mathias Shaw and Flynn Fairwind believe that it was refugees from Lordaeron, but given the involvement of Thoras with Terenas' tomb, he could also be involved.

At some point after the death of his friend Terenas, Thoras was murdered by his son, Galen. Galen accomplished it, however, before he died Thoras was aware Galen was the one responsible, and Galen was aware that Thoras knew it was him. His body was laid to rest in his family tomb along with the mighty family sword Trol'kalar, and he was succeeded as Stromgarde's ruler by the prince.

Legion
The Knights of the Ebon Blade sought out Thoras Trollbane's crypt and raised him as a member of their new Four Horsemen. Believing that he failed as a father for being murdered by his son, and as a ruler for his kingdom falling to ruin, Thoras left Stromgarde and joined the Ebon Blade to preserve peace on Azeroth.

His first mission with the Ebon Blade was to join their assault on the Scarlet Monastery, where he lingered just outside the Chapel Gardens to condemn the Scarlet Crusade for preying upon innocent people. He later aided the Ebon Blade in attempting to retrieve the body of Tirion Fordring from the Sanctum of Light beneath Light's Hope Chapel. After Darion sacrificed himself to allow them to escape, Thoras remarked in an entire lifetime of warfare he had never seen such sacrifice.

Legionfall
Thoras participates with his fellow Horsemen, with the Deathlord and Minerva Ravensorrow mounted on Daumyr, to battle the demons on the Broken Shore.

Battle for Azeroth
Throughout the Fourth War, Bolvar had Thoras and his fellow horsemen acquire fallen champions of both the Horde and Alliance, and following its completion witnessed the new generation of death knights being raised. Darion personally sent the new death knights to travel to Orgrimmar if the death knight is Horde or Stormwind if it is Alliance and make a choice from the Hero's Call Board.

We Ride Forth
Believing that Bolvar had fallen to the powers of the Lich King, Darion attempted to kill him. However, Bolvar forcibly controlled the former's body and made him return to Acherus: The Ebon Hold, while taunting him about requiring his fellow horsemen. Though wary of it being a trap, the horsemen agreed to kill the Lich King, and decide who would wield the Helm of Domination after Bolvar was slain, with Thoras believing the new owner would be the last one standing. However, en route to Icecrown Citadel, the Four Horsemen, using their connection to the Lich King, discovered him locked in combat with Sylvanas Windrunner, and learned that this was all part of Bolvar's gambit to have the horsemen arrive and kill the winner of the conflict.

Thoras and the others were stunned when Sylvanas won and destroyed the helm instead of claiming ownership of it. With the Scourge no longer under control, Darion ordered Nazgrim and Sally Whitemane to rescue Bolvar, while he and Thoras Trollbane fought to keep Acherus under their control.

Personality
Thoras Trollbane was a natural born warrior, one of the greatest Azeroth has known. His people's lands were in the heart of troll-populated areas, and so being ready for battle was simply a way of life. Due to this, he is easily the largest and physically the strongest human king in the Alliance. Thoras was a man of few words only speaking those needed - but when he spoke, only ever spoke truth, often saying the words others were afraid to speak.

However, his gruff exterior hid a very sharp mind. This often gives him an advantage when dealing with arrogant men. Trollbane was an old friend of King Terenas Menethil of Lordaeron, likely known each other ever since they were young and was his closest ally. Though their relationship soured after the war, they still respected each other greatly. Trollbane was also a rival and an enemy of King Perenolde of Alterac, leading the armies of Stromgarde into battle against the honorable General Hath of Alterac on more than one occasion. He wielded a mighty axe into battle during the siege of Lordaeron but he was also known to wield the dreaded sword Trol'kalar.

Tides of Darkness

 * "We honor your memory, nephew, and your sacrifice. Since the founding of our glorious empire, the path to valor has always been drenched with the blood of heroes." - dedication to his nephew, Danath, in the Valley of Heroes in Stormwind
 * "That fool! What did he do, let them through?" - upon learning of the Horde's passing through Alterac
 * "King! Bah. The word sits ill in my mouth. It's an outrage! He betrays us all, damn near destroys us, and this is all he gets? I say prison, if not outright execution!" - referring to Perenolde's house arrest after the Second War

World of Warcraft

 * "These Knights of the Ebon Blade are a powerful order, Deathlord. That you command such respect amongst their ranks speaks to your accomplishments and leadership. During my life, I always fought to preserve my kingdom and people. But for my failure as a father, their blood now stains my hands. So, I will wash the failure from my hands with the blood of demons. The time has come for me to return to the fray. My sword is yours to command."


 * Greetings
 * "This war will not be won with words."
 * "We alone stand vigilant in the night."
 * "I am ready."


 * Farewell
 * "Victory without sacrifice is only an illusion."
 * "My heart still beats with the drums of war."
 * "We do what the living cannot."

Notes and trivia

 * Thoras wrote the inscription on Danath's statue in the Valley of Heroes at Stormwind City.
 * An unused NPC representing Thoras Trollbane as a normal human is situated in the same ID range as other legendary warriors presumably meant to appear in Skyhold. This, along with the original plan of Tirion Fordring being raised as one of the Four Horsemen, means that the idea of raising Thoras as one of them might have been a late addition to Legion's development cycle.
 * In the Knights of the Frozen Throne expansion for Hearthstone, Thoras appears as one of the Four Horsemen that can be summoned by Uther of the Ebon Blade's Hero Power.

Speculation
The axe he wielded may have been the Trollbane.