Grommash Hellscream (alternate universe)

Grommash "Grom" Hellscream is the former Warchief of the Iron Horde. A living legend, Grommash is a warrior of great strength and fury. Following the advice of Garrosh Hellscream, his disguised son from the prime timeline, Grommash refused to accept the Blood Pact and serve the Burning Legion. With Garrosh's knowledge of war machines and his clan's own power, he rallied the orcs of to create the Iron Horde, setting his sights on invading and conquering Azeroth. Following a series of crushing defeats, however, claimed control of the Iron Horde, corrupting it in service of the Legion and capturing Grommash. After being freed by commanders of the Alliance and the Horde, the former Warchief aided in the battle against the demon lord Archimonde.

Grommash serves as a major antagonist turned anti-hero of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor.

Early history
Grom was young for a chieftain, only a few years older than and. There had been mutterings about the mysterious circumstances under which the former chieftain had died, but the Warsong clan did not challenge Grom's leadership.

Grommash led aggressive raids deep into ogre lands. When the ogres retaliated, they nearly destroyed the Warsong clan. Golka, Grom's mate, was critically injured during the battle and pleaded with him to finish her off. Disgusted at her weakness, Grom called her "a wolf with no teeth" and walked away, leaving her to suffer. He was similarly disgusted by the weakness of his other warriors who had "bent like weeds."

Grom quickly called upon his forces to hunt down the ogre raiders. However, it was a trap set by the ogre warlord and Grom was captured. The ogre warlord tried to break Grom's spirit by strapping him to a tree and taunting him over the course of many days. While his body withered and became emaciated, Grom's will never wavered. Declaring that "this wolf still has teeth," he finally bit and killed the ogre warlord when he came too close. Grom returned to lead the Warsong clan as "the Warlord with the Iron Will."

Grommash later had the tree transported to Grommashar to serve as his throne, hanging the head of his ogre tormentor from it.

Hellscream
Grom instated the custom of Mak'Rogahn to cull the shame from that day the ogre raid nearly wiped out the clan. He was haunted and regretful over his weakness that led to Golka's death. His thoughts often turned towards pleading for a warrior's death and constantly struggled to keep his weakness from overtaking him. While sleeping, a Warsong orc woke him and insisted to have a mak'rogahn with a clan-mate. Grommash agreed and oversaw the duel. After it was over, a strange but familiar orc stepped in and began speaking about redemption for the orcish race. Grommash realized that the guards who were supposed to guard entrances had been watching the previous duel and so he sent them and the stranger into the pit. As Grommash watched the shackled stranger fight, he noticed similarities in his fighting style. When the battle ended, Grommash cut with Gorehowl, destroying the shackles. The chieftain then took the stranger into his camp and started speaking about the past, as well as about the future.

The stranger told him about a prosperous future with new weapons and world, and without slavery and. The stranger showed the chieftain a shard of an artifact that was to prove his words. Both of them went to the Stones of Prophecy but the shaman Zhanak was uncertain about this. Grommash activated the object and was shown visions about the rise and fall of the Horde in the main universe. He also saw a figure of an orc raised and named as Thrall by humans. At that moment, the stranger interrupted the visions, telling him that the visions killed Zhanak. The stranger took Gorehowl and kicked the shards out of Grommash's hands, ending the visions. Once he calmed himself, Grommash wanted more answers. The stranger responded that this is the price for Gul'dan's power which now needs to be stopped. He added that the alliance of the orcish clans can exist without the corruption and darkness. Grommash vowed to have Golka's strength in averting the fate the stranger revealed to him. He was willing to do what he was just told. Their next move was to warn the other clans and overthrow Gul'dan's masters.

Overthrowing the Legion
When Garrosh Hellscream arrived on the alternate Draenor, he was able to persuade Grommash not to drink Mannoroth's blood, but instead to prepare a technologically empowered army in order to ambush the pit lord Mannoroth, and overthrow the Burning Legion's efforts to enslave the orcs. When revealed his intention to empower the orcs, Grommash sent Garrosh to learn more.

Garrosh went with Grommash to the gathering of the orc clans, in response to Gul'dan's summons to imbibe the demon's blood. Grommash accepted the drinking horn from the warlock, but at the last moment refused to drink from it, pouring the glowing blood onto the floor and incurring the wrath of Mannoroth. With the pit lord revealed, at Garrosh's signal the hidden Iron Horde burst forth, firing ballistae and chains at Mannoroth. The orcs prepared to launch an iron star to destroy Mannoroth, but the mighty demon quickly overcame their attempts to trap him and began to lay waste to the orc army.

Grommash, seeing his chance to defeat the pit lord, seized the now unmanned iron star and single-handedly launched it at the demon, but the projectile fell short, its explosion serving only to anger the pit lord. As Mannoroth prepared to strike afresh at the orcs, Grommash soared out of the fire and smoke, leaping through the explosion to drive Gorehowl directly into the pit lord's forehead.

As the pit lord released a devastating explosion in his death throes, a stunned Garrosh picked himself up off the ground and dived for Grom, pulling him out of harm's way. This reflects another departure from the prime universe, in which Grommash Hellscream slew Mannoroth only to be killed by the resulting explosion.

With the Legion's plot foiled, Gul'dan was imprisoned, and the united Iron Horde was revealed. Grommash proclaimed a glorious future for their people and launched a campaign across the continent to conquer or destroy all opposition. Gul'dan's plans to invade Azeroth were also re-purposed to suit this new Horde.

Code of Rule
Grommash Hellscream sent an emissary to the ogres at Highmaul, who explained that they would have to prove their worth or be made extinct. A few hours later the Iron Horde began to lay siege to Highmaul under Grom's command. Not long after, seeing that the Iron Horde could possibly seize Highmaul, sought peace with the Iron Horde and personally met with Grommash. During this meeting, Imperator Mar'gok remarked that even with their strength the Iron Horde was weak due to lacking the magical prowess of the ogre-magi. The Imperator then remarked that even if the Iron Horde did claim Highmaul, they would lose an entire year in removing the bodies so they could successfully live within the city. Grommash in response retorted that not only would they win, but that they had no desire to dwell within Highmaul; they simply wanted the ogres dead. However he did acknowledge the might of their sorcery and ordered the Imperator to teach them their arts, and in return, the ogres would be spared. After a brief council, Imperator Mar'gok tried to get Hellscream to call off the siege before beginning the training of orc mages, pointing out that each ogre death was one less person who could teach the orcs. However, Hellscream was adamant that the ogres teach them the magic of the breakers immediately, and knowing he had no choice if he wished to save Highmaul Imperator Mar'gok conceded to his demands.

At Hellscream's command Imperator Mar'gok and his ogres fought orc warlocks who the Iron Horde had taken prisoner and after witnessing the ogres winning (despite the losses they suffered) Grommash called off the siege of Highmaul and declared the ogres of Highmaul to be henceforth servants of the Iron Horde. Approaching the Imperator, the Warchief of the Iron Horde ordered him to deliver all orc slaves in Highmaul to and warned that any attempt at treachery or rebellion would see them returning to claim his blood.

The Iron Horde
As the Warchief of the Iron Horde, Grommash exerts authority over most of the orc clans (excepting those who rejected membership, such as the Frostwolf clan, the Laughing Skull, the  and the Shadowmoon Exiles). He named Garrosh the new warlord of the Warsong clan and gave him his Gorehowl.

He set out to conquer the draenei strongholds of in Talador, and their holy temple in, as well as the Frostwolf holdouts in Frostfire Ridge.

Among his orders were doubling of research and engineering efforts at the Iron Siegeworks in Frostfire Ridge, forcing rylaks of Shadowmoon Valley into submission, as well as subdue and subvert the magic of the arakkoa.

Warlords of Draenor
Grommash is first seen after the is destroyed in Tanaan Jungle, standing upon a rise with the other Warlords. He commands his forces to attack the Azerothians and the rescued Frostwolf and draenei prisoners, but they escape to the harbor and sail off to safety. However, as they leave he threatens to find them and make them pay for disrupting his plans.

In Shadowmoon Valley, showed the Alliance Commander a vision of how Grommash had "convinced" Ner'zhul to join the Iron Horde. Some time later, Ner'zhul showed the warchief the power of the Dark Star when he summoned Arkeddon. Grommash, impressed, ordered the invasion of Karabor to begin.

After one of the Azerothian commanders had been captured by Azuka Bladefury and imprisoned in Mok'gol Watchpost, they witnessed a council meeting between Hellscream, Bladefury and Blackhand. He berated Blackhand for allowing the Alliance and Horde forces to continue to assault the Foundry and also inquires into the status of Bladefury's plan. After the meeting, he departs to Tanaan.

He is later briefly seen with Kargath in Highmaul, capital of ogres, with whom the Iron Horde had allied, and observes Kargath in the coliseum. When Kargath dies and enters, Grommash is already gone.

After Azuka Bladefury is killed, the allied forces at the confront Hellscream. Exarch Yrel/ demands that he surrender, but he refuses. He then declares that if they dare challenge him, he will be waiting in Tanaan, which at this point, he and his forces retreat through the gates.

An Inside Job
Gul'dan approaches Grommash at Bladefury's Command in Talador and mocks the Iron Horde's failures and losses, which include the death of the Warchief's son; a point that Gul'dan punctuates by throwing Gorehowl at Grom's feet. Gul'dan re-opens his invitation to drink the blood of Mannoroth. Grommash, saddened by his son's death and wishing to preserve his honor, does not agree to Gul'dan's offer and attempts to strike him down, only to be effortlessly incapacitated by the warlock's magic. Gul'dan opens the offer to all other orcs present, promising them power like his if they accept. Kilrogg steps up in order to drink the blood, with Grommash urging him in vain not to do so. After Kilrogg's transformation, Gul'dan takes control of the Iron Horde.

Hellfire Citadel
Grommash was held captive by Gul'dan and taken to a vantage point in Tanaan Jungle, overlooking his iron citadel. Gul'dan mocked Grom for his choices and bathed the citadel in twisted fel-blood to better serve his needs. Grom's will is not yet broken, however; he ensured his usurper that the heroes who had challenged his Iron Horde would defy Gul'dan and the Legion also.

Grommash is later encountered in under the captivity of the demonic commander Fel Lord Zakuun. He gains his freedom after the demon's death, claiming his axe and leaving to confront Gul'dan.

Grom is present during the battle against Archimonde at the Black Gate. He fights alongside Khadgar, Yrel, and champions of Azeroth in overcoming the mighty demon lord, although Gul'dan escapes his wrath. After the battle, Grommash proclaims the victory and the freedom of to the gathered soldiers, and will work to rebuild his world alongside his  enemies.

Battle for Azeroth


The draenei and orcs lived together in peace for years, but when the naaru arrived, the draenei became fanatical and attempted to forcibly convert the orcs to the Light. By the time a Horde adventurer from Azeroth returned roughly thirty years after Archimonde's defeat, Grommash has become Warchief of the : the uncorrupted orcs of Draenor who had banded together against the Lightbound draenei. At some point, he had a son who joined the Lightbound and rose to the rank of exarch. He would personally choose Geya'rah as his second in command during the war between the Lightbound and the Mag'har elevating her to the rank of overlord.

As the Mag'har and Lightbound clashed, events on Azeroth would see to a new war between the Horde and the Alliance. In the midst of this, Eitrigg sought to travel to the and call upon the debt the Mag'har owed to the Horde for liberating them from Garrosh Hellscream's meddling and the Burning Legion's corruption. During Overlord Geya'rah's interrogation of Eitrigg and a Horde champion, the pair having been taken prisoner on suspicion, Warchief Hellscream would arrive and recognize 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 soothe 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.

Following securing Beastwatch against an attack by the Lightbound, Warchief Hellscream and Overlord Geya'rah were approached by and informed that the entire Lightbound army was spotted heading towards them. While Lantresor gathered every orc he could to Beastwatch, Hellscream held the line with his forces. During the battle, High Exarch Yrel appeared on the battlefield and offered the Mag'har one last chance to embrace the light. Warchief Hellscream ordered Overlord Geya'rah to gather and safeguard the Mag'har, and escape to Azeroth with Eitrigg and the adventurer. Just as Eitrigg activated the shard of the Vision of Time, Hellscream and Lantresor charged against the Lightbound.

Overlord Geya'rah, Eitrigg, the adventurer, the remaining Mag'har, several gronn and ogres successfully teleported to Durotar and pledged themselves to the Horde. Geya'rah presumes Grommash did not survive his encounter with Yrel.

Quests

 * Bonds Forged Through Battle

Lords of War

 * "When you hear our howls of war, when you feel the ground quake beneath you, then you will know what it means to be Warsong."

Gossip

 * Future Gorgrond
 * Heroes from your world once freed me from a demon's grip in Hellfire Citadel. Were you among them?
 * 
 * If so, I owe you a great debt. Perhaps the spirits will show me a way to repay it.


 * You have traveled far, . You may find our world to be even more savage now then it was when your people last set eyes upon it.
 * The Mag'har will bend to no one. Not even those we once called friends.

Notes and trivia

 * He can also be seen watching fights between garrison commanders in the Coliseum of Highmaul.
 * During the final battle with Archimonde in, Grommash uses all damaging area-of-effect Warrior talents (Shockwave, Bladestorm, and Dragon Roar) with the exception of Ravager (warrior ability).
 * Instead of his whole lower jaw being tattooed black, this Grom has only a small part of his lower jaw tattooed.
 * Being born in the year -26, in the alternate timeline Grom refused Mannoroth's blood at the age of 22, in the year -4.
 * Grommash first appeared in the epilogue of War Crimes where Garrosh and Kairoz saw him raising Gorehowl.
 * Grom is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
 * A StarCraft II portrait of Grom is available for players who purchase either the digital deluxe or collector's edition of Warlords of Draenor.
 * During the planning stages of Warlords of Draenor, Grommash was intended to be the final boss of the expansion. However, as the story progressed, the developers found this to be an unsatisfying direction that was further exacerbated by Blackrock Foundry being Iron Horde-centered; and having two such raids back-to-back would only further a growing weariness of orcs. So they decided to focus on the more evil and dangerous threat of Gul'dan and the Burning Legion.
 * A Grom Hellscream statue is available since August, 2015.
 * Grommloc was given out as a reward to BlizzCon 2014 attendees.

Speculation
Despite being overthrown by Gul'dan, Grommash is credited to have sent several ships on missions. This may reflect the ignorance of the Alliance and Horde intelligence which assumed that Grommash was still in charge of the Iron Horde and were not yet aware of Gul'dan taking it over.