Genn Greymane

Genn Greymane (sometimes spelled as "Graymane") is the current King of Gilneas, and one of the original founders of the Alliance of Lordaeron. He is a large bearish man, a brawny warrior with thick features, a heavy beard, and black and gray armor. Greymane has also been noted for being stubborn, proud, strong-willed, cunning, and arrogant.

During the Second War, Greymane met with the other human leaders at Capital City to hear of Stormwind's fall at the hands of the orcish Horde. Greymane joined the other human leaders in forming the Alliance of Lordaeron to counter the Horde threat, but due to his pride, he offered only token support. After the conclusion of the Second War, Greymane chafed at using Gilnean taxes to help pay for the orc internment camps and Nethergarde Keep. Following the liberation of the orcs from internment camps by the New Horde, Greymane decided that Gilneas could not and would not pay for the wars of other nations, so he withdrew Gilneas from the Alliance, ordered the construction of the Greymane Wall and isolated Gilneas from the rest of the world.

Around the time of the Third War, Greymane instructed Archmage Arugal, a Dalaran wizard loyal to Gilneas, to summon feral worgen to protect Gilneas from the Scourge threat. The plan backfired, and the worgen curse would eventually run rampant among the Gilnean population. In the time between the Third War and the War against the Lich King, the number of those afflicted with the Worgen curse had grown and were now attacking Gilneas City. To counter the threat, Greymane helped to defend the city and aided in the evacuation of citizens to Duskhaven. In the aftermath, Greymane faced the dual threats of the Cataclysm and the Forsaken invasion, culminating in the battle to retake Gilneas City from the Forsaken and witnessing the death of his son and heir, Liam.

Humbled by his son's death and the devastation of his kingdom, Greymane accepted the aid of the night elves, who had offered to relocate Gilnean survivors to Darnassus. In a fit of stubbornness, Greymane was against formally rejoining the Alliance until he had almost lost his wife and daughter during the crossing. After a short layover at Darnassus and reestablishing diplomatic ties with King Varian Wrynn, Greymane becomes a changed man. Greymane becomes a staunch supporter of the Alliance, adding the ferocity of the Gilneans to the considerable might of the Alliance, intent on one day reclaiming his lost kingdom. This intention is later partly realized by the time of the Fourth War, as Gilneas is apparently restored enough to go on the offensive in the Fourth War following the Battle for Lordaeron.

Early life
Genn Greymane is the son of Archibald Greymane, the Gilnean king who lead Gilneas into its industrial age. From a young age, Greymane was taught by his father not to rely on others and that asking for help was a weakness, and this characteristic stuck with him throughout his life. Greymane had grown up with the man who would eventually become Baron Ashbury, and Ashbury's father was a member of Archibald's council of Lords that had helped Archibald build up Gilneas into the industrial nation it would become. Because of the closeness of the two families, Greymane was advised by Archibald to put his trust into the Ashbury family's fidelity to the crown.

After Archibald's death, Greymane took the throne and led Gilneas much like his father had. At some point, Greymane met his wife, Mia, at the Royal Aderic Banquet, and theirs was not an arranged marriage. They had two children: Liam, his son and heir, and Tess, who would have died in infancy if not for the intervention of the Royal Chemist, Krennan Aranas. Greymane was gruff with his children, and rarely told them he loved them.

Alliance of Lordaeron
Prior to the Second War, Greymane was among the human leaders summoned to an emergency meeting at Capital City in Lordaeron by King Terenas Menethil II. Accompanied by a group of nobles including Baron Ashbury, Lord Vincent Godfrey, and Lord Darius Crowley, the youngest and newest of the council of lords, Greymane listened to the plight of Anduin Lothar regarding the fall of Stormwind and the threat of the orcish Horde. Greymane dismissed these concerns, stating with confidence that the Gilnean army could withstand any threat. While most of the other heads of the human nations were in agreement that an alliance against the orcish invaders was needed, Greymane was hesitant about joining, and was difficult about it.

After a polite state dinner with his fellow rulers, Greymane retired to his guest chambers for the evening to discuss the situation with his nobles. Crowley was enthusiastic about the prospect of an alliance, stating that sending the whole Gilnean military to aid their sister nations against the orcish threat would strengthen ties, and it would help the people of Gilneas in the long run. Greymane felt Crowley was too naive and idealistic in this situation, and dismissed his ideas. Godfrey agreed with Crowley, but suggested that to stay in the good graces of their sister kingdoms for the benefit of trade and tariffs, they should only send a small token force instead of the whole Gilnean army. Baron Ashbury echoed Godfrey's sentiment, and Greymane stated that he would consider it.

When the rulers of the human nations met again, Greymane voted to join the Alliance of Lordaeron, though Gilneas offered only token support. Genn himself personally served on the field.

After the Second War, he was present at the meeting with other kings of the Alliance in Nethergarde. Greymane complained about the expenses of the keep, though the newly crowned King of Stormwind Varian Wrynn pointed out that a price couldn't be put on something as essential as their safety.

After the betrayal of Aiden Perenolde, the ruler of Alterac, was revealed, Greymane had his eye on ruling the now-leaderless kingdom, even though he had no right to it. He supported the claim of Lord Perenolde's nephew, Isiden, to Alterac's throne. Greymane almost fought with Admiral Daelin Proudmoore over the issue, but the confrontation never came as both of them had reluctantly agreed not to bring back any weapons. They had even agreed to having themselves searched by selected sentries from the Knights of the Silver Hand, the only military unit they all trusted despite its outward allegiance to Terenas. Over time, due to mind control by the black dragon Deathwing, he grew to support Lord Daval Prestor (actually Deathwing in human form), in his bid for the throne. However, after Prestor vanished, Greymane continued to push Isiden's claim.

Genn was later present at Arthas Menethil's induction into the Knights of the Silver Hand ceremony in Stormwind.

Seceding from the Alliance
After the war, Greymane chafed at having Gilnean taxes pay for orc internment camps and the construction of Nethergarde Keep. In a discussion with Godfrey, Greymane questioned the wisdom of listening to the advice of Crowley and Godfrey in joining the Alliance, stating that it had gotten them nothing but dead Gilneans. Greymane stated his plans to withdraw from the Alliance and wall off Gilneas from the rest of the world. Upon looking at the map of Gilneas Greymane had in front of them, Godfrey suggested the wall be built through Crowley's lands, in effect cutting off Pyrewood Village and Ambermill from the rest of the kingdom, as Crowley's lands had the mountains as a natural barrier the wall could be built into. Greymane agreed and was confident that Crowley would understand his reasoning.

Years after, the departure of Quel'Thalas who stated that the humans' poor leadership had led to the burning of their forests during the Second War, alongside the liberation of the orcs from internment camps by Thrall, led to the departure of Gilneas and its military from the Alliance, and the beginnings of the construction of the Wall to split his kingdom off from the world.

However, Crowley did not take Greymane seceding from the Alliance and the building of the wall through his lands as well as Greymane hoped he would. In an act of defiance against Greymane, Crowley sent the group of soldiers known as the Gilneas Brigade to assist Lady Jaina Proudmoore during the Third War. Genn had tried to reason with the noble, to make it clear that this wall was the way forward, and to explain why assisting the Alliance was so wrong. But Crowley refused, and insisted that he was doing what was best for the future of Gilneas, that he would end the King’s “tyranny”, and started a rebellion against Greymane, gathering like-minded Gilneans including his daughter Lorna and Tobias Mistmantle in forming the Northgate rebellion. The resulting civil war weakened the kingdom and split the populace into two groups, "royalist" and "rebel", labels that continued to spark fights years after the event ended.

Greymane was hurt that a man he considered his friend started an uprising against him, but did not blame him for it. Greymane's forces eventually captured Crowley and his followers and threw them in jail. When the kingdom of Lordaeron fell to the Scourge, he did not send any troops to help. In fact, he saw it as confirmation that he'd made the right choice in isolating Gilneas.

Unleashing the worgen
During the Third War, a massive sea of undead Scourge marched in waves upon the Greymane Wall. Their number was small at first, but it increased over time and they did not flag. Fearing it would break, King Genn Greymane opened the gate and Gilnean soldiers poured from Gilneas into Silverpine Forest. The Gilneans defended the wall for days, however, the Scourge defeated the soldiers and raised them into undeath. Greymane had secretly consulted with Kirin Tor Archmage Arugal, a Gilnean patriot who had discovered a way to summon worgen, feral creatures from another dimension, to use as an instrument against the Scourge. Desperate to protect his people, and telling no one of his plan, Greymane ordered Arugal to summon the worgen in an effort to protect his nation.

At first, everything went according to plan until the Scourge were driven off. Yet, with no more enemies left to fight, the feral creatures turned on the Gilnean soldiers stationed beyond the Greymane Wall, and soon spread their curse throughout the human population of Silverpine Forest. Consequently, King Greymane ordered the return of his troops as well as the permanent closure of the Greymane Wall's doors, however, some retreating soldiers were infected and began secretly to spread the worgen curse. Over the years, reports of strange attacks and disappearances rose, fear took root in the hearts of Greymane's people, while the curse continued to spread in the kingdom through the Wolf Cult, gradually eating away at Gilneas' humanity.

Following the civil war, to counter the threat, Greymane and his nobles, including Godfrey, Ashbury, and Lord Marley, would secretly hold hunting parties during the full moons into The Blackwald to track down and shoot any feral worgen they came across. During one of these trips, Greymane went ahead by himself in pursuit of a worgen and it ambushed him, biting him in the shoulder before he could shoot it and infecting him with the curse. Knowing that the nobles would shoot him as well if they saw the bite, something he would do himself and would expect no less of them, Greymane panicked. His jacket apparently not damaged, he wiped the blood from his shoulder then ripped off a piece of his satchel to stuff under the shoulder lining (presumably to absorb any bleeding and conceal any deformation of his shoulder) and pulled up the collar as high as it would go. As he hoped, his deception would prove successful.

Curse of the Worgen
Genn Greymane has had his hands full since the Northgate rebellion had been resolved. He and his people are trapped: outside of Gilneas, the Forsaken are battering at the Greymane Wall in a bid to conquer their lands. Inside, there have been rumors of Crowley supporters reforming, the Starlight Slasher killings are becoming more frequent, and reports of livestock missing. Genn increases security throughout Gilneas without compromising the security at the Greymane Wall and plans to issue a curfew to give him more time to find a more permanent solution for Gilneas' problems. He also learned about the apparent death of Halford Ramsey. Genn is sure that the perpetrator of the Starlight Slasher killings are worgen but tells the people of Gilneas that the increased security is due to renewed civil unrest from Crowley sympathizers. As time goes on, the Gilnean people become more afraid to leave their homes and the nobles become more anxious. Lord Godfrey, despite the other problems Gilneas is plagued with, is only concerned with the worgen and questions Genn on why he hasn't gone on a hunt with them lately. Godfrey questions if Genn has lost his edge after the civil war and asks Genn to let him take over so he can end the worgen threat. Genn however, feels that Godfrey's worgen hunting antics will incite panic among the populace who are already on edge due to the murders. Genn also knows that if Godfrey ever found out the truth about Genn and the worgen, he would rebel against him. Genn frequently hides away in his observatory in Greymane Manor, where his secret ally, Belysra, helps him control his worgen transformations and also tells him the origins of the worgen and the worgen curse.

Belysra, a night elven priestess, explained the origin of the worgen curse and offered up a partial cure. She explained to Greymane that the worgen released by Argual were once night elven druids who had fallen victim to a cursed and corrupted druid form around ten thousand years ago during a conflict known as the War of the Satyr. To contain the threat these druids posed, Malfurion Stormrage ordered them sealed into an eternal slumber in the Emerald Dream. Belysra explained that a night elven priestess ritual was a palliative method of letting infected Gilneans keep their minds intact while in their wolven form, but if the Gilnean still held onto the guilt of any kind, he or she could not switch back into human form at will. Still keeping his infection hidden from even his family, Greymane had been letting her perform a compact version of this ritual on him. He also asks her to aid his friend, the alchemist Krennan Aranas, in making his experimental potion that will help stem the worgen transformation.

Using a combination of Krennan Aranas' potions and Belryssa's use of Elune's Light and the worgen ceremony, Genn had managed to keep his worgen infection in check and a secret. Yet it was becoming more unlikely that he would be able to continue keeping up the facade. Genn considered granting his old friend Darius Crowley and his rebels amnesty and together they would be able to beat the worgen and the Forsaken, however, he was also wary of this as he feared that he and Darius wouldn't be able to put aside their differences.

Cataclysm
''The people of the Alliance remember the king of Gilneas as a proud, strong-willed, cunning, and arrogant man. He and his armies stood by the Alliance during the Second War, but in the aftermath, it became clear to Genn Greymane that the Alliance needed Gilneas more than Gilneas needed the Alliance. He ordered that the Greymane Wall be closed to all outsiders, effectively sealing off his kingdom from the outside world and its conflicts. But fate, it seems, was intent on teaching the king a lesson in humility...As the worgen curse swept the nation and early attempts at containment failed, Greymane found himself fighting a battle for his people's very humanity.''

The Northgate rebellion left Gilneas in a weakened state, and the number of Gilneans infected with the Worgen curse rose to the point where feral worgen openly attacked Gilneas City. Greymane, his son Liam, and Lord Godfrey led the defense against the infected worgen, and Greymane decided that despite their differences, they needed Crowley to assist them, so Greymane arranged for Crowley's release. Upon his release, Crowley gathered some of his fellow rebels to the cause and let Greymane's forces make use of his hidden artillery stash.

During the chaos, the Royal Chemist, Krennan Aranas, was captured, and once he was secure, the order was given by Greymane to evacuate Gilneas City. Crowley and his men decided to stay behind to create a distraction so that Greymane could evacuate his people to safety in Duskhaven, where they lived in peace for a relative time. Lorna had received word her father was free, but Liam told her about the choice Darius made. Lorna pulled out her gun and took aim at Genn, cursing at him and believing this was his idea of revenge after the Northgate Rebellion. Liam restrained her, and a hysterical Lorna demanded she be let go to die with her father before she began to cry in Liam's arms.

During the Cataclysm, the barrier reefs protecting Gilneas shattered, and parts of the Greymane Wall were exposed, allowing the Forsaken to invade Gilneas and take Gilneas City from the rampaging feral worgen.

Since evacuating Gilneas City, Greymane and Krennan Aranas have been working on a partial cure for the worgen curse. Greymane's forces have been capturing feral worgen and using their temporary cure to help the worgen regain their sanity. Godfrey raises objections as to the point of saving feral worgen, saying they are all beasts that should be shot, but Greymane overrides him and saves one such worgen from an executioner's blade by injecting them with a serum that gives them control of their minds, thus allowing them to retain some semblance of their humanity. When Forsaken ships arrive to bombard the town of Duskhaven, Genn orders Krennan to administer the potion to as many feral worgen as possible and leads the sane worgen in defending the town.

After the loss of Gilneas City, he retreats to Greymane Manor, where he tries to think of a plan to safeguard his people from the invading Forsaken navy forces. Tess reminded him of hope by showing him a Peacebloom. When the Shattering sends Duskhaven underwater, he decides to move the evacuees further inland and sends the Gilnean survivors towards Stormglen in stagecoaches.

He later journeys to Tal'doren, the home of the Gilnean worgen who underwent the ritual, and reunites with the now worgen Lord Darius Crowley and his army of worgen. Greymane and Godfrey wished for Crowley and his worgen to join forces against the Forsaken. Crowley remained skeptical of joining forces with Greymane, especially alongside Godfrey, who had a noted prejudice against those afflicted with the worgen curse. Greymane replied that he came to Crowley as an equal, and revealed to Crowley and Godfrey that he too was affected by the curse. Satisfied with the answer, Crowley pledged his help against the Forsaken, and together, the two united Gilneas against the Forsaken invasion. They also secured help from the night elves native to the Gilneas area.

Having learned of Greymane's worgen affliction, Lord Godfrey and his supporters Lord Walden and Baron Ashbury betray Gilneas by attempting to turn Greymane over to the Forsaken and held him hostage at Tempest's Reach. Under orders from Krennan Aranas, Walden and Ashbury were killed, Greymane was rescued and Lord Godfrey's machinations were foiled by adventurers. Instead of letting himself be arrested for treason, Godfrey killed himself, stating he'd rather die than have a worgen as his king. Days later, observing Gilneas City, he told Liam the truth about how the curse spread and revealed to him that he was bitten. Liam was fine with the revelations thus ending the emotional rift between the son and father. Greymane decided to stop concealing his infection and let his people know that he too was afflicted by the curse, and the Gilnean people accepted him and rallied to him when he called for a united counterattack against the Forsaken.

Greymane participated in the Battle of Gilneas City in order to reclaim the city from the Forsaken, personally calling out and attacking Sylvanas Windrunner, the leader of the Forsaken. During the ensuing battle, his son Liam Greymane is killed by a poisoned arrow from Sylvanas Windrunner that was intended for Greymane. Greymane, Crowley and Lorna Crowley had a funeral ceremony for Liam at Aderic's Repose shortly before the majority of the Gilnean population was forced to leave in a mass exodus of Gilneas because of the information that Sylvanas is going to use the Plague, Crowley and any remaining militant forces remained behind, forming the Gilneas Liberation Front in an attempt to rout the Forsaken out of Gilneas.

Aftermath
Using resources provided to them by their night elven allies, Greymane and Gilnean citizens boarded ships headed for the night elf capital of Darnassus. Greymane boarded one ship, and his wife Mia and daughter Tess were aboard Elune's Radiance. Due to the Cataclysm, the crossing was overtaken by a powerful storm. During the trip, Greymane suffered from guilt over the choices he had made, which cost him his country and his son, and chafed when captain Talar Oaktalon suggested that Gilneas join the Alliance. When Elune's Radiance was damaged and began to sink, Greymane shifted into worgen form and joined the rescue parties from his ship and rescued his wife, who had a broken leg, and his daughter, who had refused to leave her mother. Genn was sucked under with the ship, but Oaktalon managed to save him at the last moment. After everyone was safe, Greymane reconsidered his position of joining the Alliance.

For a short time after the fall of Gilneas, Greymane is present at the Howling Oak in Darnassus, where the surviving Gilneans have resettled. Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion Stormrage, the night elven leaders, welcome Greymane and the Gilnean survivors to Darnassus, and he instructs the survivors to assist the night elves in any way they can as repayment for the help they had given the Gilnean nation.

Later, the Front would succeed in securing the mainland with aid from the Alliance and Bloodfang allies, Greymane has yet to make any decisions on the future of his people's land. However, with the coast being contested and the push into Silverpine having failed, it is doubtful Genn would allow the populous to return just yet.

Wolfheart
With Gilneas' induction into the Alliance dependent on the approval of the other Alliance representatives, Genn had given his word to Archdruid Malfurion that he would give his best impression to the Alliance dignitaries. When Genn Greymane made his introduction at the welcoming banquet, he admitted to the Alliance representatives that walling off his kingdom was a mistake and that he thanks the Alliance for giving Gilneas a second chance. The Alliance dignitaries generally seem accepting of Greymane's apology and the banquet started off pleasant. Yet the situation became tense with Varian Wrynn's arrival. As Genn was telling the tales of his victories against the Horde during the banquet, Varian Wrynn arrived and mocked Gilneas. Varian insulted Gilneas by implying that they were pathetic cowards and weaklings. Despite the insults to him and his people, Genn held his anger in check and tried to persuade the king of Stormwind that Gilneas has changed, and that they are now ready to be staunch supporters of the Alliance. Varian Wrynn however, was still bitter over Gilneas' abandonment of the Alliance during their hour of need during the Third War. Varian denounced Gilneas as an ally and absolved himself of any association with the desperate nation. Despite the awful first encounter, Genn would later reveal that he noticed Goldrinn's presence around Varian when they first met; which is why he still held out hope that Varian would later change his mind.

During the summit, Genn demonstrated Gilneas' military might and the supernatural strength of the worgen form to show what it could provide to the Alliance. The Alliance approved of the benefits and many began to support Gilneas' readmission. Despite this, Varian Wrynn stood up and made an announcement. Although he acknowledges the benefits Gilneas could bring to the Alliance, he points out that he could never trust nor forgive Gilneas for abandoning them in their hour of need during the Third War. Varian declared that the Alliance has no need for such fair weather friends and would never consent to allow such mongrels into the Alliance. This left the summit in an uproar and effectively ruined any chance Gilneas had of joining the Alliance. Genn left the summit angry and disappointed in Varian.

Genn later encountered Varian again when Malfurion lured Varian into the worgen's hunting grounds. An argument was sparked between Varian and Genn about who was the better hunter. Malfurion proposed a hunting challenge to settle the matter. While chasing a boar, however, they inadvertently agitated a giant bear. With one of Genn's subjects in danger, the Gilnean king and the king of Stormwind worked together to kill the giant bear, with Varian landing a killing blow to the bear's neck with his hunting knife. Genn and his worgen honored Varian for his kill, though he didn't stay around to accept it as he snuck off to self-reflect in the woods.

After much self-reflection, Varian sought Genn out again just as he was about to depart from Darnassus. Varian asked him for his help in how to better control his rage. Genn led him to the Howling Oak where he showed him the night elf ritual that allowed the worgen to control their bestial fury. Though he did warn him that not all survived the trials the ritual entailed and some had to be put down since they lost themselves to their worgen nature, Varian decided to go through with it. To Genn's surprise, it was recommended for Varian's ritual that he drink the waters from the Wells of Tranquility, Balance, and Fury all at once instead of separately, which Varian did.

Genn guided Varian to recall the most relevant moments in his life and the choices that led up to them. After Varian underwent the ritual and mastered his rage, Varian heard Goldrinn howling in approval and he awakened, with Genn and the worgen watching in awe as the aura of Goldrinn envelops him. Without a shadow of a doubt, Varian was indeed Goldrinn's champion. Varian told Genn to gather his worgen, as he was determined to do battle with his enemy, Garrosh Hellscream.

Having gathered the worgen and his forces, Varian mobilized his forces through Ashenvale and reinforced the Alliance forces battling there with Garrosh Hellscream's Horde. Genn and his worgen supported Varian as he led the charge against the Horde. The worgen were instrumental in routing the Horde and killing several massive magnataur that the Horde had captured in Northrend. With the worgen reinforcements and Varian Wrynn's leadership, the tide of battle turned and the Alliance were able to drive out the invading Horde army.

In the aftermath of the battle, Varian was honored as the hero of the battle for Ashenvale and Goldrinn's favored champion. Varian later called for a second Alliance summit, this time being a proponent for the induction of Gilneas and the worgen into the Alliance. After Gilneas was officially voted into the Alliance, Varian spoke of how many threats have arisen to challenge the Alliance and disrupt the peace that they worked so hard to attain. The Horde has threatened the Alliance and now more than ever, it needs to band together and match their enemies' fury and energy in order to survive in this new Azeroth that Deathwing created. With the worgen at their side, Varian assures his allies that the Alliance will prevail and will do so with honor.

Shattering
Greymane later journeys to Stormwind City to aid Varian Wrynn with Alliance military operations and assisting in Gilnean reclamation efforts. Greymane remains at the side of Wrynn and his son Anduin in the throne room of Stormwind Keep. Gwen Armstead, the mayor of Duskhaven, takes Greymane's place in Darnassus.

Genn makes a brief appearance as being present at the meeting of the Honor Delegation and Varian Wrynn in the throne room.

Tides of War
When Theramore was in danger of being invaded by the Horde, Varian Wrynn assured Jaina that he would request Genn's help.

Genn was present during a meeting with Varian and other Alliance leaders or ambassadors to decide on the best way to destroy the Horde's blockade around Kalimdor. He suggested tricking the Horde into believing they would liberate Feathermoon Stronghold.

Mists of Pandaria
Genn is seen in the Shrine of Seven Stars, where the Alliance dignitaries and allies discuss the pros and cons of using Sha power. Genn was awed by the Sha's horrific power.

While Genn is not present in the Siege of Orgrimmar, he can be seen in a vision of an alternate timeline where he is present with the leaders of the Alliance and Horde observing Garrosh's body.

Genn was present at the trial of Garrosh Hellscream. Opting for his worgen form, he accused the Horde leaders of being complicit in Garrosh's crimes, arguing that some of them like Sylvanas had even launched their own attacks, and wanted to put all its leaders on trial, after which Taran Zhu calmly told him that such would take quite a while, and that not all of them had long lives.

Legion
''In recent years, the grizzled ruler of Gilneas has suffered many hardships: his son and his nation fell to the Banshee Queen Sylvanas and her Forsaken, and he nearly lost his humanity to the worgen curse. Yet from these tragedies, Genn has found new strength and courage. He is determined to fight tooth and claw against any enemy that threatens the safety of the Alliance. '' Shortly before the Burning Legion's third invasion, Genn left Stormwind Keep. Genn participated in the Battle for the Broken Shore alongside Jaina Proudmoore, Gelbin Mekkatorque, and Alliance adventurers, personally leading a squad of Gilnean Royal Guards. Going as reinforcements, the team came to Varian's aid, and faced as he reached the Tomb of Sargeras, along with the demons he summoned. Varian calls in the Alliance gunship Skyfire and orders Genn to advance to Sylvanas Windrunner and instruct her to clear the skies. Yet before he could carry out his task, Sylvanas uses her war horn to signal the Horde forces to quit the field, leaving Genn livid over their abandonment. Without the Horde's support, the Alliance would be overrun and thus Genn urges Varian to order a retreat. Varian orders all Alliance forces to fall back to the gunship. As it takes off, however, Gul'dan summons an immense fel reaver through the portal, which grabs onto the Skyfire, causing it to tip and send many Alliance soldiers plummeting to their deaths. Genn turns human again and reaches out his hand to pull Varian up to the deck but instead of handing him his hand, Varian passes a letter he wrote to his son and asks Genn to deliver it to Anduin. Genn nods at his request and watches Varian dive to slay the fel reaver impeding their escape while Genn orders the gunship to depart. Varian made a valiant last stand against the demons, killing several of them until he was finally subdued. Genn screamed in anguish after he watched Gul'dan obliterate Varian with overwhelming fel magic.

After the battle ended with Varian's death, Genn and Jaina held the Horde responsible for the disaster and resolved to avenge Varian. Genn did not attend Varian's funeral because he could not bring himself to face Anduin, and he asks an adventurer to deliver the letter in his stead while he prepares the  Skyfire to take off with his Gilnean forces. Genn himself tells the adventurer that rage has taken over him, and he is determined to get his vengeance against the Forsaken.

After Varian's death, Genn becomes the leader of the Alliance forces on the Broken Isles, having instructed the Gilneas Brigade to establish Greywatch to secure Stormheim from threats. Genn's Gilnean forces are supplemented by 7th Legion and 7 on the Skyfire as they undertake an official mission by King Anduin Wrynn to escort Alliance champions to Stormheim and aid them in obtaining the Aegis of Aggramar. Unofficially though, after receiving intelligence of suspicious Horde activity, the Skyfire has been tracking Sylvanas Windrunner's fleet. Genn Greymane and Sky Admiral Rogers, who believed Sylvanas herself was a passenger on one of the ships, chose to attack the fleet. Unable to make contact with the rest of the Alliance fleet, the Skyfire proceeded with their assault. Though their forces managed to board the Forsaken's ships and kill their captains, when they boarded the royal flagship the Alliance discovered that Sylvanas had already left the ship and that Nathanos Blightcaller was leading a Horde force to the Skyfire. Genn would face off against Nathanos himself during the defense of the ship, who goaded Genn to fight him using his worgen form.

Greymane gained the upper hand and managed to wound Nathanos, but the battle abruptly ended as Forsaken boarders completed their sabotage, causing the Skyfire to crash. The Skyfire was destroyed but its crew was able to evacuate before the crash and rallied in the Skyfire Triage Camp while combating the Horde. The survivors were evacuated to Greywatch where Genn Greymane oversees the campaign to acquire the Aegis of Aggramar and hunt for Sylvanas.

While Alliance adventurers pursue the Aegis, Genn uncovers that the Forsaken means to plague Greywatch like they did Gilneas. Greymane commands his forces to destroy the plague caches and the invading Forsaken apothecary to secure Greywatch and later sends Lorna Crowley to uncover what Sylvanas seeks in Skold-Ashil. As Lorna discovers that Sylvanas means to create more Val'kyr by subjugating Eyir, Genn musters the Alliance fleet in trying to assault Dreadwake's Landing. The battle at Greymane's Offensive goes poorly and his offensive is repelled. After hearing news of Lorna's intelligence, Genn personally goes to the vault in Skold-Ashil to confront Sylvanas.

At the vault, Sylvanas uses a magical lantern called the Soulcage to bind Eyir and tortures the Val'kyr to obey her commands. Genn lets out a beastly howl and speaks to Sylvanas in a menacing tone from the shadows. Genn told Sylvanas her quest for immortality has left her vulnerable and cries out that he will have his vengeance on her as he pounces at her from the ceiling. He then declared he will avenge Varian, Gilneas, and his son as he strikes at her, eventually knocking her down. Genn then charged at her but Sylvanas evaded him and shot a poisoned arrow at his shoulder, turning Genn human. Sylvanas taunted Genn by saying she overestimated him and calling him an "old wolf". However, Genn then revealed that he had swiped the Soulcage during his last charge, and smashed it on the ground, destroying it and freeing Eyir. Sylvanas watched in shock and anger as Eyir was released from her constraints and disappeared. Genn walked out of the vault, snapping the shaft of Sylvanas' poisoned arrow lodged in his shoulder, and told Sylvanas that since she stole his son's future, he now took hers. Genn returned to Lorna and the Gilneas Brigade, who manage to successfully reverse the effects of the poison back at Greywatch.

He later appears (vocally, not physically) when the player assaults any Warden Towers, giving them orders on capturing the tower for Gilneas and commending them when they are successful.

Sometime after the campaign in Stormheim, High King Anduin Wrynn rebuked Sky Admiral Rogers and Genn Greymane for taking his assignment much further than he had ordered.

The Compass
Before the campaign on Pandaria, Anduin made a compass for his father's birthday. Varian would keep it close to him until the end. When the Legion attack Varian's airship during the Burning Legion's third invasion, the airship fell into the water and Varian with it. As he slowly was drowning, Varian accidentally dropped the compass into the sea.

When an Alliance hero was skulking around the monsters of the sea of the Broken Shore, a glittering spark caught their attention. Swimming to the bottom of the sea, they found that it was a compass with a picture of Anduin inside. Although it has long stopped working, whatever remained of the portrait inside could clearly be identified as Anduin. Thinking it was important, the adventurer brought the compass to the king. Anduin was stunned and realized that he didn't have time to mourn after his father passed away. The king thanked the adventurer.

All would be quiet until Genn called for the same adventurer to meet him in the keep. Genn mentions that the king had not been the same ever since the adventurer brought him the compass back, mentioning that Anduin had become listless and distracted. Genn sends two guards to surveil him and they said that the king had been praying at the Cathedral of Light. He asks the adventurer to remedy his melancholy by going to the king and convince him to resume his duties.

After returning to the keep, Anduin finds Genn and Velen discussing him. Velen holds Anduin in high regard saying that a vision showed him becoming a great leader. Genn, on the other hand, feels that Anduin doesn't have the mettle to succeed, for he doesn't have the experience of the Broken Shore and how the compass easily broke his spirit.

At Wrynnfall in front of the Tomb of Sargeras, Genn shows Velen the site of Varian's death, and Velen comments that Anduin does not know the Legion like they do. Anduin arrives, much to Genn's initial shock but it quickly becomes sorrow, and Anduin reveals his worries and doubts about living up to his father's legacy. The young king finds one of the two blades comprising his father's sword Shalamayne under the ash and sand and falls to his knees. Genn kneels before a despairing Anduin to speak to him face-to-face and tells him how Varian's heroic actions were a challenge to them to never let fear prevail, even at the very gates of hell. With encouragement from Genn and a vision of his father, Anduin finds renewed hope and the sword begins to glow in his hands.

The Wound
Sargeras, lord of the Burning Legion, was eventually defeated, but not before he managed to wound Azeroth greatly in Silithus. Despite their losses, Anduin gave a hopeful speech at Lion's Rest in Stormwind to the Alliance, with Genn watching him from the back of the crowd while smiling proudly. Master Mathias Shaw of 7 approached Genn and told him that he needed to speak with the High King immediately. As Genn and Shaw walked off, Anduin saw them and quickly ended his speech. Away from the crowds, Shaw reported that many goblins had been digging up a mysterious new substance in Silithus. Though they did not know what this substance was, it seemed that the Horde did know. Anduin said they had to learn more, and Shaw assured him that SI:7 was already on it.

Before the Storm
When King Anduin Wrynn summoned his councilors to Stormwind's map room to discuss opinions on Azerite, both Greymane and Prophet Velen marveled at its power but were also aware of its potential for misuse. Although Anduin was reluctant to use Azerite for destructive purposes, Genn reminded Anduin that Sylvanas would use it for destructive purposes and so should the Alliance. When Anduin revealed his plans to travel to the other member nations of the Alliance so that he may thank them, provide them aid in their economic recoveries, and enlist their help as well, Greymane reminded Anduin that he is king of Stormwind and his people needed him there. Genn added that Gilneas for their part needs no royal visit. When Anduin transitioned the conversation of how his travels to the Broken Shore has benefited his development as a leader, Greymane stressed to Anduin that his safety and presence are integral to the stability of his kingdom and the dangers of him adventuring with no successor to his throne. Even so, Anduin firmly believed that although Stormwind needs him, him traveling to the other Alliance countries to promote unity and prosperity is the right thing to do for all and the proper use of peacetime.

Sometime later, Anduin had breakfast with Genn Greymane and Prophet Velen. Anduin told Genn he would like him to act as regent of Stormwind while he was away, as well as serve as his heir should something happen to him. While Genn was honored and agreed to serve Stormwind in Anduin's absence, he also noted that he was an old man and that Anduin should be thinking of creating an actual heir. In the meantime, Genn and Velen continued to advise Anduin on how to go about his diplomatic tour.

After Anduin returned from his trip from Ironforge and Netherlight Temple, Genn Greymane and Anduin had dinner in Stormwind, where they were filling out all the paperwork required to formalize the state of affairs before Anduin's trip to Darnassus. Genn once again thanked Anduin for trusting him with his kingdom, but he felt it was his duty to discuss the matter of an heir for Stormwind. Though Anduin tried to make light of the situation, Genn sternly reminded him that matters of politics aren't a game and Stormwind could find itself in a dire situation if power is transferred to the wrong person. Anduin agreed, having been reminded of the Stonemasons riot that killed his mother, and Onyxia's machinations. Genn recalled how the death of his son Liam had left a void in his heart, and how he's had his love for the remnants of his family and his hatred for Sylvanas to cope with the pain. Though he still mourns Liam's passing, he sees a lot of the goodness Liam represented in Anduin and finds himself wanting to guide Anduin as he would his own son. Anduin was moved but told Genn he can't replace his father. Genn gave Anduin the same advice he would have given Liam: that life is too short and unpredictable. Genn urged Anduin to use this time of peace, for however long it may last, to search for a queen to bear him a successor. Genn suggested that if he has not found a mate already, perhaps he should consider an arranged marriage and would even offer his own daughter's hand. Anduin knew he needs to undergo a courtship eventually but he found the idea of an arranged forced marriage, stranger or not, abhorrent and felt Tess Greymane would feel the same. Anduin promised he will revisit this topic with him at a later date and transitioned the discussion to be about his meeting with Calia Menethil. When Anduin discussed how the Conclave had brought together priests from all walks of life, including Forsaken and Horde, Genn reminded him that although his compassion for all races is an admirable trait, he must be wary it does not lead to dangerous naiveté. Although the Horde has produced some notable noble members such as Thrall and Baine, Genn stressed that the Forsaken are depraved abominations who don't feel the same things living people do. When Anduin countered that the Conclave was being led by the Forsaken Alonsus Faol, Genn was outraged that such a blasphemy had befallen such a beloved hero of humanity and questioned Anduin how he could tolerate it. Anduin responded that the Conclave had shown him that the Forsaken aren't all mindless Scourge and although not all of them are good, some such as Alonsus Faol and Frandis Farley are. Although Genn was eager to walk out and dismiss the notion of seeing the Forsaken as people, Anduin was stern and managed to get Genn to listen to his proposal. Anduin proposed using Faol to open negotiations and heal the rift between the Forsaken and the Alliance. Anduin proposed that if the Alliance reunited the Forsaken with their families, Sylvanas may be convinced to not consider the Alliance as a threat and use Azerite for destructive means. And should true diplomacy with the Forsaken succeed, then the Alliance and Horde can work together to heal Azeroth.

Sometime later, Genn aided Anduin in arranging his manservant Wyll Benton's funeral and returned to the map room to attend Anduin's meeting. There Anduin revealed his intention to set up a Gathering between the Forsaken and their human loved ones. Genn concurred with Sky Admiral Rogers that the Forsaken were undead monsters whose malady the Alliance shouldn't embrace and also stated his belief that they are plotting to spread their curse to all of humanity. Genn advised against Anduin's Gathering for practical political reasons as well and agreed with High Exarch Turalyon that one escalated altercation can lead to political catastrophe and war. When Genn accused Anduin of using the Gathering as a way to make himself feel better about Wyll's passing, Anduin could not deny it since it was partially true. Even so, Anduin's desire for peace, partially to honor his friend Wyll's dying wish, and his belief that Sylvanas would never endanger her Forsaken in such a way that would start a war overcame his trepidation for any of the stated risks. Sternly, he commanded his advisers to support him in securing and orchestrating this meeting.

Genn and Calia Menethil aided Anduin in interviewing potential candidates for the Gathering. Much to Anduin's slight annoyance, however, Genn was very dour and constantly reminded the candidates to keep in mind their loved ones have changed into undead Forsaken who serve Sylvanas and may have done horrible things as members of the Scourge. Genn had asked Anduin how he could tolerate working with Sylvanas after she abandoned his father Varian during the Battle for the Broken Shore and all the foul deeds she committed. Though Anduin admitted it wasn't easy, the Gathering's potential to stop a war fueled by Azerite was too promising a reward to pass up.

One late evening, Anduin summoned Turalyon and Genn to the Cathedral of Light and reunited them with Alonsus Faol in a last ditch effort to convince them of the righteousness of his cause. Genn was outraged that Anduin would traumatize them by using an abominable version of their old friend in order to make a point. He accused Alonsus of manipulating the boy, but Faol retorted to Greymane that his hatred of him stems from fear; fear that if he acknowledges the Forsaken as people, then he would also be acknowledging that his son died for nothing. Though Genn was about to assault Faol in fury, Turalyon stopped him as he would not permit violence in a sacred place. Faol tried to convince Genn his rage and pain was prohibiting him from understanding a truth that could change his perceptions, but Genn wanted to cling to hatred and sorrow as it was what fueled him to fight. Faol sympathized but when he asked if he would still hate the Forsaken if Faol came to him with a Forsaken Liam, Genn was shaken to the core. Unable to face the truth, Genn howled in fury and fled the Cathedral.

Genn attended the Gathering but was regulated to staying at Stromgarde Keep to organize the Alliance security forces, since Anduin didn't want to risk an altercation between Genn and Sylvanas. Though the Gathering started off peaceful, Sylvanas eventually ordered to recall the Forsaken participants. When some Forsaken participants refused or hesitated to retreat from the event, Anduin felt the Divine Bell's pain in his body and realized that Calia Menethil had revealed herself to instruct any of the deserting Forsaken to find sanctuary in the Alliance's side of Stromgarde Keep. Sylvanas responded by sending her dark rangers to kill all the Forsaken participants. Genn was one of the Alliance leaders that scrambled to secure the Alliance participants.

Back in the Arathi Highlands, Anduin helped the Stormwindians bury the Forsaken participants of the Gathering. As Anduin and Genn attended the Forsakens' funeral, Anduin fully expected to be chastised for his failure and welcomed Genn to do so as he felt responsible for the dead. Instead, Genn gave him comforting words and told him to not blame himself, and that Sylvanas was the one responsible for killing her own people. Genn apologized and acknowledged that the Gathering showed him that the Forsaken still had humanity in them and that peace was possible between them and the living. Anduin also acknowledged that Genn was right about Sylvanas, but Genn said that he was wrong about her as well, as he thought her to be ruthless to the Alliance but not to her own people. Anduin lamented how Sylvanas had politically outmaneuvered him to twist the outcome of the Gathering to her own advantage. Anduin finally came to the conclusion that peace could never be possible with Sylvanas in power, and that he truly believed that Sylvanas was irredeemable.

War of the Thorns
As King Anduin Wrynn and Genn Greymane sparred in the royal garden, Mathias Shaw interrupted their training to report that their plan to saturate Orgrimmar with 7 agents had been successful. Shaw stated that there has been a disagreement between Nathanos Blightcaller and High Overlord Varok Saurfang regarding the deployment of troops. Saurfang was said to have wanted an army deployed to Silithus, while the Blightcaller regarded it as a waste of resources. Many in the Alliance interpreted the deliberation to march on Silithus as a sign of the Horde's intention to weaponize Azerite and secure a monopoly of the mineral in Kalimdor. After relaying this information to High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind, Tyrande had begun to secretly amass a night elf army in Feralas to intercept the Horde forces should they march to Silithus.

Later on, Shaw reported the public fistfight between Nathanos and Varok. Nathanos' subsequent reprimanding seemed to confirm the Alliance leaders' suspicions of the Horde's capability to make Azerite weapons and that Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner had endorsed Saurfang's Silithus campaign. Greymane believed the Horde has already found a way to create Azerite weapons and Tyrande concurred with him. Tyrande stated that if the Alliance was in agreement, her army stood ready to deter the Horde's campaign. King Anduin, in the end, gave his endorsement to deploy the night elven troops. While Genn and other Alliance leaders were at Stormwind City aiding in the planning for the upcoming war, the Horde saw an opportunity to attack Ashenvale. With the night elf fleet en route to Silithus, Ashenvale had only Malfurion and an insufficient amount of defenders to defend it. When word reached Stormwind of the Horde invasion, the Alliance leaders realized that the Horde had deceived them into weakening Ashenvale's defenses. Genn was furious about Shaw's misleading information but Anduin told him the spies reported what they saw and that the failure was his. The Alliance leaders coordinated with each other to accommodate as many refugees as possible and to reinforce the Ashenvale warfront. Genn had desired to go to Darnassus to aid in the Howling Oak's evacuation since the Gilneans would need a respected authority figure to calmly arrange their evacuation. However, Anduin objected as he needed Genn in Stormwind to advise him should the worse outcome occur. Instead, Genn recruited his wife Mia for the endeavor and though he instructed her to complete her task as quickly as possible so she could come back safely, part of Genn knew she would go beyond her duties to save as many lives as possible.

As the War of the Thorns progressed, Anduin became more restless. One sleepless night, he went to the map room to look over the map table and recalled which areas the night elves were losing ground in. Genn who also couldn't sleep, joined him in contemplating about their dire situation. Anduin discussed with Genn that the Horde's influence would nearly dominate all of Kalimdor and should Sylvanas hold Darnassus and its citizens hostage, it could tear the Alliance apart or paralyze the Alliance from retaliating. Anduin told Genn that Sylvanas may coerce him to abandon Gilneas in favor of safeguarding a hostage Teldrassil, and that political manipulation would put them at odds. To Anduin's surprise, Genn told Anduin he would not withdraw his support from the Alliance even should such an event come to pass, as he would never betray the kindness of the night elves in order to reclaim his homeland. Genn stated he was committed to the protection of his Alliance allies even if it required sacrifice and that was something that Sylvanas did not understand about the living nor the Alliance. Anduin and Tyrande, who had overheard their conversation, were moved by Genn's words. Tyrande stated that even should her city fall, the Alliance will not be divided. However, she also bore bad news as recent reports stated that the night elves were making their stand at Astranaar.

When the Horde began to besiege Teldrassil, an outpour of panicked refugees began to rush out from the portals in the Wizard's Sanctum. Though Anduin tried to keep the portals open for as long as he could, he nearly ordered closing them in order to safeguard Stormwind. Mia, however, still hadn't made it through to Stormwind, so Genn powered his way to the main portal. Although Anduin and Tyrande tried to restrain him from charging into the danger, Genn was determined not to let Sylvanas take away another thing he loved. After running through the main portal, Astarii Starseeker and a mage called out to him. Together, the group helped an injured Mia and the night elven infant Finel get out from a pile of rubble. After Astarii healed Mia's wounds, Genn carried Mia and the infant and asked Astarii to come with them to safety. However, Astarii wanted to stay behind to comfort those who were about to die, leaving Genn to wish her goddess to watch over her one last time. Genn carried Mia and Finel to safety in the last portal before ordering it closed. After he returned to Stormwind, Genn told Tyrande and the other Alliance leaders that the Horde had burned Teldrassil, but angrily vowed to make the Horde pay for their transgressions.

Battle for Lordaeron


After the Burning of Teldrassil, the Alliance retaliated with a massive assault on the Ruins of Lordaeron occupied by the Forsaken, in an attempt to reclaim the fallen human kingdom. During the Battle for Lordaeron, he notably swatted aside Varok Saurfang after he knocked down King Anduin Wrynn, before being himself incapacitated by a troll shaman.

Genn and the other Alliance leaders eventually managed to corner Sylvanas within the Imperial chamber, with Genn disgusted by how she desecrated Terenas' throne with her presence, and where King Anduin demanded her surrender. However, the Banshee Queen had lured them into a trap, and escaped to her gunship while a massive torrent of Blight drowned the Capital City. Saved by Jaina Proudmoore, Genn and the other Alliance leaders returned to Stormwind Keep to plan their next move.

Kul Tiras
Following the battle at Lordaeron, the Horde infiltrated Stormwind and freed two Zandalari prisoners: Princess Talanji and Zul. Genn confronted them in the Cathedral District, forcing the Horde to run to the harbor, where they escaped to Zandalar. Fearing an alliance between the Horde and the mighty troll empire, Jaina suggested an attempt to recruit Kul Tiras and its legendary fleet in service of the Alliance. As she left for her homeland, Anduin asked Genn to help her and travel to Kul Tiras with a 7th Legion escort in order to establish a foothold there.

Genn's ship arrived shortly after Jaina and an alliance emissary were taken into custody by the Kul Tirans, but was given sanctuary in Boralus Harbor by its harbormaster Cyrus Crestfall, who had also hired Flynn Fairwind to free the emissary as well. When Genn questioned why Cyrus was helping them despite the icy reception the Alliance had received from Kul Tiras thus far, Cyrus told the story of an old friend of his from the Second War who had tragically died from a wound he chose to ignore rather than ask others for help before it was too late. He reflected that Kul Tiras was in a similar state, with Katherine Proudmoore blinded by poor advice from her advisors to the nations internal problems, and that if they didn't reach out for help from the Alliance his beloved kingdom would meet the same fate as his friend. Genn agreed with that sentiment, having experienced the same humbling lesson during the fall of Gilneas, and that they would work together to open Katherine's eyes and show her that in unity there was a strength.

After the Alliance had united or freed the various Houses of Kul Tiras and exposed the attempted plot of Priscilla Ashvane to bring down House Proudmoore and take over the kingdom, Genn finally approached Katherine at Lord Admiral's Rest in front of Daelin's grave lamenting how alone she felt now. Genn gently reminded her that she still had Jaina. Turning to her fellow and last remaining living leader from the original Alliance of Lordaeron, Katherine rebutted by saying Jaina had betrayed her kingdom. Genn, in turn, insisted that Jaina simply did what she felt was right by following her heart in the hope of peace at the time and that she had suffered for it even now. Katherine admitted to Genn that Jaina's fate haunted her dreams, with Genn now beseeching that it wasn't too late to rescue her daughter, and for Katherine to take the chance Genn himself would have given anything for to hold his own son Liam again by bringing Jaina home.

Tides of Vengeance
Shandris Feathermoon, Maiev Shadowsong, and Sira Moonwarden sought to convince Anduin to commit Alliance forces to Darkshore to retake it from the Horde, but with the war focused on Zandalar, Arathi, and Kul Tiras; Anduin did not have the troops to do so. Despite Anduin's refusal Genn wouldn't stand by. Citing all the aid that the night elves had given to the Gilneans in the past, he sent Gilnean forces to Darkshore to help.

During the Battle of Dazar'alor, Genn confronted King Rastakhan in his throne room and tried to convince him to surrender. Rastakhan refused, however, forcing the Alliance to battle him to the death. After the battle, Genn attended a war council with Anduin, Wyrmbane, Shaw, and Jaina to discuss their next move. When Anduin expressed regret over Rastakhan's death, Genn reassured him that it was an unavoidable casualty of war, and admitted that he respected Rastakhan as a true king for being willing to fight to the very end for the sake of his people.

He was later present on the Kul Tiran vessel in Stormwind Harbor with the other Alliance leaders to witness the Kul Tirans gifting the vessel to Anduin and rejoining the Alliance.

Rise of Azshara
After catching wind of the remains of the Horde fleet moving out to the sea, the Alliance assembled their fleets to finish the Horde's naval power, with Genn among their forces. Unbeknownst to the Alliance, Nathanos Blightcaller was using the black blade to guide the Horde fleet and pursuing Alliance fleet towards Nazjatar where both fleets would be attacked by the naga under Queen Azshara's command after the seas were opened. Though surprised by their arrival in Nazjatar, Genn and Jaina Proudmoore rallied the Alliance together.

Realizing that their shelter was barely defensible, and much of the Alliance army was in an even more precarious position, Jaina elected to search deeper into Nazjatar for a more defensive position. However, en route, the Alliance encountered Blademaster Okani, leader of the Waveblade Ankoan. As they ventured together, they were confronted with an astral projection of Queen Azshara, who boasted that Nazjatar would be the last thing they would see and promised that she would hold the waters around Nazjatar at bay as long as she remained entertained. Deciding to work together, the Waveblade Ankoan allowed the Alliance to regroup and reinforce their base of Mezzamere.

After Alliance spies caught wind of Sylvanas Windrunner planning to assassinate Baine Bloodhoof, Anduin sought Jaina's aid to rescue him, which Jaina accepted due to recognizing that she owed Baine for returning Derek to her. Unaware of her mission, Genn asked Jaina what had transpired when she returned causing Jaina to reveal that she and Mathias Shaw had sneaked into Orgrimmar and while there joined with Thrall, and Varok Saurfang to prevent Baine from being assassinated. Initially outraged at Jaina and Anduin for saving a leader of the Horde, Jaina was able to calm him down by pointing out that they had a common enemy. Remarking that Sylvanas and Azshara wanted the Alliance and the Horde at each other's throats, Jaina suggested that they direct their efforts against Azshara instead of the Horde. She further encouraged that it would buy time for Saurfang's rebellion to take root. Though wary Genn agreed but warned her that if the Horde turned against them, they will answer for it.

Seeking to gain control of the Tidestone away from Azshara, Jaina directed Shandris Feathermoon and the champion to investigate the ruins of Zin-Azshari for anything potent enough to counter Azshara's sorcery. After Jaina learned that the Javelins of Suramar were obtained, she declared it an amazing find and that with them they could assault the guardian of the Tidestone and secure it. Declaring that now was the time to act, Jaina directed the Alliance to take the fight to the naga. En route, however, the Alliance encountered Horde forces led by Lor'themar Theron and First Arcanist Thalyssra and after a brief argument, both sides agreed to fight together against Azshara's forces, where during the fighting Genn worked side by side with Lor'themar. After the Javelins of Suramar were used to shatter the Tidestone's protective barrier around Lady Zharessa, Genn joined the fight against Azshara's champion. After Jaina and Thalyssra combined their magics in order to use the Tidestone to open the way to Azshara's Palace, Jaina warned that they couldn't underestimate Azshara as she was one of the most powerful sorceresses alive but declared, nevertheless, that she must be defeated. However, Lor'themar and Jaina argued about which side would deal the final blow to the Queen only to be interrupted by Azshara herself, who formally invited all of them to enter her palace.

Genn was later informed of Azshara's defeat and was witness to Lor'themar declaring it a hollow victory as not only did Azshara survive, but N'Zoth was freed. In response, Jaina declared that the Fourth War had kept them distracted and that divided they had no hope against N'Zoth. Agreeing with Jaina's assessment Lor'themar revealed to her his vow to tell his people of what transpired in Nazjatar, of how Azshara fell because the Horde and Alliance stood together, of the rising threat of N'Zoth, and his promise to take his place besides Saurfang and Thrall.

Genn was present at Anduin's side when his and Saurfang's combined forces marched on Orgrimmar. Instead of assaulting the main gates, Greymane and his forces were tasked to flank the city alongside the western gate. After the mak'gora between Sylvanas and Sarufang and ending the war between the two factions, Genn could be seen expressing his outrage over not only how Sylvanas escaped, but by how lightly he feels the Horde has been punished for their war crimes. When Genn returned to the Wind's Redemption, Genn shared with Mathias Shaw his concerns about how not only are Sylvanas and her agents still at large but also how the Horde has become united once again. Shaw suggested they watch the Horde closely and inform King Anduin if there is a need for action.

Visions of N'Zoth
After the end of the Fourth War, Genn was present at Stormwind Embassy during the peace treaty. He witnessed Tyrande interrupted Anduin's speech, saying the call for vengeance was still strong, that the Horde had yet to answer for their crimes and that they were untrustworthy, asking Anduin how he would handle it if Stormwind fell. After she concluded her speech by calling Anduin's faith in the Horde naive, Genn told Anduin that there was truth in her words. He further remarked that while peace was on the table today, soon enough the Horde would sound their drums and march for war, and when that day comes, no scrap of parchment would hold them back. Genn also believed that in order to preserve peace, the Alliance must prepare for war.

Shadows Rising
Following the end of the Fourth War, Genn attended a meeting with Anduin and Turalyon in the crypt of the Cathedral of Light, in which the corpses of retrieved of 7 members suggested that dark rangers were on Zandalar. This knowledge caused Turalyon to wonder if Sylvanas sought vengeance on Queen Talanji for pulling her support to the Banshee Queen, while Genn believed that Talanji was still working with Sylvanas and was providing her shelter on the island. Anduin then declared Turalyon as the Lord Commander of the Alliance forces, with the task of finding Sylvanas Windrunner and to use whatever means he must, something that Genn saw as a wise choice.

He was later informed by Jaina, that Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner had uncovered that Sylvanas's loyalists were heading to Zandalar.

Shadowlands
Genn was present in Bashal'Aran and witnessed Tyrande's speech about Horde's defeat in Darkshore.

When Sylvanas used the Helm of Domination to shatter the barrier between Azeroth and the Shadowlands, both Genn and Anduin were at Lion's Rest. Genn was forced to watch helplessly as two Mawsworn kyrian kidnapped Anduin, and while he attempted to stop them, they easily took him away to the Shadowlands. Realizing Sylvanas was responsible, he howled her name in helpless rage.

According to Genn, Sylvanas deliberately left him behind, apparently seeking to torment him with the loss of yet another son. He vowed to do whatever he could to find Anduin and the other leaders.

Genn later met with the other Alliance leaders and the Knights of the Ebon Blade to discuss their next course of action.

Quests
{{columns|2|

Worgen storyline

 * Safety in Numbers
 * Old Divisions
 * Brothers In Arms
 * The Rebel Lord's Arsenal
 * Message to Greymane
 * Save Krennan Aranas
 * Time to Regroup
 * Vengeance or Survival
 * Slowing the Inevitable
 * Knee-Deep
 * Last Chance at Humanity
 * Alas, Gilneas!
 * Exodus
 * Betrayal at Tempest's Reach
 * Flank the Forsaken
 * The Howling Oak (quest)
 * Breaking Waves of Change

Legion pre-event

 * The Battle for Broken Shore (Alliance)
 * The Fallen Lion

Stormheim

 * Making the Rounds (Alliance)
 * Greymane's Gambit
 * To Catch a Banshee
 * Combustible Contagion
 * Whispers from the Dark
 * Cut Out the Heart
 * To Skold-Ashil (Alliance)
 * Becoming the Ascendant (Alliance)
 * Ending the New Beginning

Anduin's compass

 * Consoling the King

Other
}}
 * With Hope in Hand (Alliance)

Abilities
Genn Greymane fights alongside Varian Wrynn at Stormwind Keep. Only Varian's death is needed for the achievement.


 * Nazjatar

Personality
Genn Greymane is one of arguably the most complicated Alliance leaders - while one of the most hostile to the Horde and its interests, he is also one of those who has undergone the most changes, physically and emotionally, and the most significant character development. In the Second War, he was arrogant and impetuous, very reluctant to support Anduin Lothar and the Alliance he helped establish between the Seven Kingdoms, even after hearing of Stormwind's fate and the orcish invasion, and provided only token support to their efforts in Lordaeron and later Draenor. Shortly afterwards, he sealed off Gilneas in a strictly isolationist policy after they left the Alliance, believing that their people neither wanted nor needed the support of the other kingdoms, refusing even to support his neighbors against the Scourge in the Third War.

The Cataclysm with its destruction of the Greymane Wall, allowing for the Horde and Sylvanas Windrunner to invade Gilnean lands, and Genn's subsequent transformation into a worgen himself seemed to have marked the beginning of a major personality change, especially after the death of his only son and heir Liam Greymane. While he was filled with a deep and overwhelmingly loathing of the Forsaken and Sylvanas in particular, he was also shaken from his previous detached apathy, and filled with a sense of greater purpose - to rejoin the Alliance he once abandoned and to reclaim the Kingdom of Gilneas from the Horde. Despite having likely no knowledge of the night elves as a people and culture, he was able to quickly bond with them, as they were responsible for saving the remnants of his people and giving them a second home in Darnassus, especially after Talar Oaktalon helped save his wife and daughter during their stormy voyage to Teldrassil. Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion Stormrage asked Genn for help at Lor'danel and against the Horde in Kalimdor, which he was more than eager to provide.

Varian Wrynn's arrival in Darnassus, however, stirred old and bitter memories between the two leaders, who had known each other since the Second War, and despite Genn's initial attempts to reconcile with him, he refused to forgive Genn for abandoning the rest of the Alliance afterwards, and rejected all notions of welcoming them back into their ranks. Only after Genn helped Varian reach balance within himself using the Ritual of Balance did the two leaders began to slowly see each other as friends, and together, they were able to cooperate and drive Garrosh Hellscream's invaders from Ashenvale, saving the night elves when even Tyrande Whisperwind and her daughter Shandris Feathermoon could not turn the tide. Afterwards, Genn apparently left the Howling Oak and moved to Stormwind Keep, serving as a personal advisor to Varian in his capital, from where they organized Alliance forces during the rest of the Cataclysm. While he was a staunch supporter of the Alliance henceforth, his rage at the Horde and Sylvanas did not abate even after the events of Pandaria, when he proposed placing all the Horde leaders on trial at the end of the Alliance-Horde war, as he deemed all of them guilty of enabling Garrosh's crimes or even launching their own attacks against the Alliance.

After participating in the Battle for Broken Shore, Genn witnessed Sylvanas Windrunner retreating her forces, and tried to save Varian as a fel reaver prevented their escape, but Varian instead gave him his last letter to Anduin, and Genn howled in impotent rage as he heard Varian's final dying scream of agony. He then immediately organized the other Gilneans to pursue Sylvanas Windrunner to Stormheim aboard the Skyfire, and personally faced Sylvanas, shattering her Soulcage and preventing her from salvaging the Forsaken's future, believing that his son had been avenged, but further deepening their personal enmity. His pain and rage would be eased, if only slightly, after he returned to the Broken Shore with Velen and gave Shalamayne to Anduin Wrynn, witnessing him accepting his responsibilities as the rightful King of Stormwind.

Genn remained in Stormwind and became a close advisor to Anduin, lending his vast experience to the younger ruler, admitting that he had a "hole in his heart" where Liam used to be, which he attempted to fill with his hatred for Sylvanas, but later found another purpose in guiding Anduin, who reminded him of Liam. Despite his shock at Anduin inviting Alonsus Faol to the Cathedral of Light, he nevertheless accompanied him to Stromgarde Keep, where Sylvanas slew most of the Forsaken who met with the Alliance. He realized, however, when he observed the Forsaken that not all of them were broken by their terrible ordeals, and apologized to Anduin for having judged them all as monsters. Sylvanas later attempted to use Genn's hatred for her to her advantage during the War of the Thorns, believing his wanting to assault Gilneas or Lordaeron would splinter the Alliance, but it largely backfired when Genn, no longer the selfish man and ruler he once was, vowed to place the interests of the night elf people before his own. After losing his second home, along with the lives of most of the Darnassian night elves and very nearly his wife Mia Greymane in the Burning of Teldrassil, Genn's hatred for Sylvanas and the Horde was freshly rekindled, and he sent most of his forces to the Battle for Darkshore when even Anduin was unable to directly aid them. At Kul Tiras, where Gilnean sailors had settled long ago, Genn helped Katherine Proudmoore reconcile with her estranged daughter Jaina Proudmoore after telling her of how he would give anything to hold Liam again. Although he cooperated with Lor'themar Theron and Thalyssra in Nazjatar, he seemed to retain his intense skepticism towards the idea of lasting peace with the Horde, apparently agreeing with Tyrande and gravely warning Anduin that even without Sylvanas, they would eventually march against them.

Interview with James Waugh
Genn's personality in-game seems drastically different from that shown in the novels, appearing as a kinder, understanding ruler instead of the gruff, impatient king. This was addressed and explained during an interview:
 * I had a question about Genn, because I was wondering how early you decided to change Genn from more of a, lets be honest, before this comic he was kind of a jerk.


 * James Waugh: "I think you're dead on. And then when suddenly had to make a character that was going to be a racial leader, do we want that same guy that was a complete jerk? And to be honest, some of that just fell to the themes that are present in Gilneas. It's a culture that walled itself off from the rest of the world. Previously we had a said this was just to protect themselves(The Gilneans). But what kind of culture breeds a decision like that? So, to me, it wasn't so much that Genn was a jerk but he was just self-reliant. He believes in the superiority of his people, the strength of his people and not asking others for help. That is a sign of weakness. His father Archibald came out of that and there's a character there. It, in a way, defined the ideals of the Gilneas culture. Because they are very advanced, it's very Victorian. They seem to have industry there, that ethos builds that industry. So he was prideful, but he gets put in a place. And that was really the point of the short story I wrote. He has to relook at his entire values. His culture has to look at its entire values system, and in that way, we can make him more relatable."

Day of the Dragon

 * "If you don't like the sound of my voice, Lord Admiral, good steel can always make certain you never hear it—or anything else—again."

Miscellaneous

 * "Pah, the fountains in Gilneas could grant ten times as many wishes as Dalaran's!"

Cataclysm

 * Greetings
 * Gilneas will rise again!
 * For Gilneas!
 * Gilneas will prevail!
 * My people have suffered so long... if only I could shoulder more of their burden.
 * The Alliance has done us a great service, for this I am eternally grateful. (After the Storyline.)


 * Aggro
 * FOR GILNEAS!
 * I SHALL BURY YOU!


 * Killing a player
 * Fall before me!
 * You have no chance!


 * Death
 * Gilneas...I have...failed you.

Curse of the Worgen

 * "When I told some of you that I wanted to form an army to retake Gilneas City from these light damned Forsaken… There were those who said Gilneas City would never be retaken. That it was impossible. Well I say to you that we must no longer let our fears control us! For too long I let my fear control me… Fear that I had made all the wrong decisions… Fear that our nation would lose its identity… Fear that if all of you knew the truth, the whole truth… You would reject me as your leader. Well I give in to fear no longer. Look upon me now and see that which I have kept hidden. Now that you know the truth, I ask each of you… who will stand with me, who will fight by my side? Who among you will set aside your fear?"
 * "Then it is time for those Forsaken predators to become the prey!!"
 * "It's high time these Forsaken bastards learned... that there's nothing more dangerous than a cornered animal.

Hallow's End

 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * Genn turns around to face the Wickerman and takes out a torch as he orders it.
 * yell
 * yell
 * Genn and the crowd of Wickerman Revelers throw their torches and light the Wickerman, then switch to Worgen form. They cheer and applaud, then return to human form. Genn despawns.

Gossip
Gilneas demands justice!
 * Cove of Nashal

We must act swiftly if we wish to apprehend the Banshee Queen.
 * Greywatch

Are you prepared to answer the call of duty, ?

On-click

 * Greetings
 * For country. For family!
 * All I do, I do for Gilneas.
 * What news do you bring?
 * We owe much to the Alliance.
 * Hail champion!
 * Our curse is also our greatest gift.
 * You have my attention.


 * Pissed
 * I advice you to let sleeping dogs lie..
 * I am a VERY good boy, even if I growl sometimes.. thirteen out of ten! Especially loyal to young kings!
 * You're sending the wolf?! (laughs) Well, that's all you had to say!


 * Farewell
 * My people have endured much.
 * Gilneas will prevail.
 * Never let your guard down.
 * We will have justice for the fallen.

Gossip
Remain vigilant,. War is always on the horizon.
 * Wind's Redemption

The people of Kul Tiras are united, but their leading house is not, and the Alliance is without one of our most powerful heroes.
 * Lord Admiral's Rest

It is my hope this rift can be healed as well.

I suppose it was too much to hope they had forgiven Jaina. Her uncertain fate is troubling, but we must remain focused on the mission.
 * Harbormaster's Office

We must bring Kul Tiras into the Alliance. If Katherine Proudmoore is unwilling to hear us out, these sympathizers are our best hope.

We're in the trap. All we can do is try to get out.
 * Nazjatar


 * During Changing Tides


 * The Tidal Conflux

So this is what is keeping the water from flooding in? I'm glad we have it now.

Long have I waited for this moment,. I will finally claim justice for Liam.
 * The Dranosh'ar Blockade

Stormwind Embassy
The campaign on Argus was costly, but necessary. Now we must focus on defending our own lands.
 * Initial

We cannot sit idle while those Horde monsters build their forces.

In order to preserve peace, we must prepare for war.
 * Post 8.3.0

Shadowlands
The Banshee's cursed shadow hangs over us all.
 * Death Rising gossip

In the RPG
Genn Greymane is a brawny warrior, despite being in his seventies by year 26 ADP. He is classified as a fighter, hunter, and scoundrel.

Appearance
Genn Greymane is a grizzled, bearish man with fading gray hair and blue eyes. From Legion onward, his hair has faded completely to white.

In his original appearance from Cataclysm, Greymane used a generic human model with a black suit and a golden cloak. This inspired a few pieces of artwork, as can be found in the TCG and in Chronicle Volume 3. In Curse of the Worgen, he wore a matching but more detailed, grey suit with a golden trim. In Legion, Genn's hair and beard were trimmed, and Genn's model was finally and retroactively updated to match his Curse of the Worgen depiction. In Legion onward, his suit is brown with a silver trim.

His worgen form's original art by Wei Wang depicted him with gray-white fur and blue eyes, akin to his human form. In-game, he initially used a generic worgen model with dark fur and golden eyes, which Chronicle Volume 3 ' s art matches. In Legion, Greymane's model has a stark white fur, but still with golden eyes. In the Battle for Azeroth cinematic, Genn matches exactly his original art by Wei Wang, with a marine blue outfit.

In Heroes of the Storm, Greymane is depicted with pointy werewolf ears, and his worgen form has dark fur and blue eyes.

In Hearthstone, he is depicted with his Heroes of the Storm outfit but with gray-white fur.

In Hearthstone
Genn Greymane appears as in the The Witchwood expansion for Hearthstone. His flavor text reads: "Ever since Sylvanas killed his son, he's dreamed of getting… even."

Notes and trivia

 * Last time Genn visited Stromgarde presumably at some point before the Third War, Gilneas was a powerful nation and Stromgarde's star was waning.
 * As of, Greymane is one of the four surviving Alliance rulers from the Second War, the others being Kurdran Wildhammer, Gelbin Mekkatorque, and Magni Bronzebeard (who was petrified during a ritual in the events of The Shattering, but has returned as a crystalline herald for Azeroth); King Terenas of Lordaeron, King Thoras Trollbane of Stromgarde, Admiral Proudmoore of Kul Tiras, Lord Perenolde of Alterac, Antonidas of Dalaran, King Anasterian Sunstrider of Quel'Thalas and, King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind have all died (all murdered with the exception of Perenolde, who died in prison) in the interim.
 * Magni and Thoras have since returned, albeit as a living crystal statue and a Death Knight respectively. Both have left the leadership of their respective kingdoms.
 * During the time that Gelbin was put into stasis following the Battle of Dazar'alor, Genn was the only Second War leader still actively leading of his people. Mekkatorque was later healed thanks to the aid of the Mechagon mechagnomes and resumed his position of leadership immediately.
 * Genn is also one of the two alliance racial leaders with a still living spouse in World of Warcraft, the other being Tyrande Whisperwind.
 * While at first glance it may appear that Greymane was named so by Blizzard because of the worgen curse, his introduction being all the way back in Warcraft II would mean it is a coincidence.
 * Unlike some worgen, Genn prefers his human form. He becomes a worgen only when it is absolutely necessary, concerned that he may lose himself in bestial violence.
 * His thoughts in Wolfheart contradict this slightly, as he claims he prefers the feeling of his worgen form as he does not feel the constriction of age upon him while in that form; though it may be in reference to exertion.
 * Genn is a playable character in Heroes of the Storm. He shifts between ranged (human form, with a pistol) and melee (worgen form, with his claws) combat.
 * Genn's generic name in Nazjatar is Gilnean Elite, and his mount is Vicious Gilnean Warhorse and a gryphon.
 * Genn's new model in has two colorations. Originally, there was one model used that had Genn looking noticeably younger, with darker grey hair. This was changed during the development of  where he received an alternate coloration, giving him stark white hair and a brown and silver coat, akin to the one worn by Genn in Glowei's depiction. The first coloration is exclusively used in all pre-Legion appearances, perhaps to show a passage of time.
 * Prior to, his hair was a pale gray and used the standard human male model.
 * Genn's Copper Coin can be fished up from the fountain in Dalaran.
 * Genn Greymane's Coin can be fished up from the fountain in the version of Dalaran.
 * In Gilneas and during the Battle for the Broken Shore Genn was protected by Gilnean Royal Guards.
 * During the alpha stages of Warlords of Draenor, a scrapped quest-line revolved around finding a cure for a sickness that reverted worgen to their feral state. King Greymane would succumb to this state, become ill and be bedridden in Stormwind. His daughter, Tess Greymane, would travel to the region to find the cure.
 * Genn is voiced by Cameron Folmar.