Durotan (film universe)



Durotan was chieftain of the, mate to and father of. Although he resisted the invitations of the warlock, with his homeworld of dying, Durotan was forced to join Gul'dan's  in order to preserve his clan. After travelling through the Durotan chose to forge an alliance with the humans of Stormwind in order to save his people from the dark influence of Gul'dan and his  magic, but was betrayed by his childhood friend. His clan slaughtered, Durotan challenged Gul'dan to a, where he was dishonorably killed by the warlock's magics.

His weapons were Sever and Thunderstrike.

Dying Draenor
As heir to the Frostwolf clan, Durotan would be personally taught by his father, Garad. As a youth Durotan would befriend Orgrim Doomhammer and the boys would forge a lifetime friendship.

Durotan bore witness to Gul'dan's parlay with with father, where Garad refused to join the Horde. At the end of the parlay Garad would be given the ceremonial dagger required for it and be poisoned, and later die in battle against the Red Walker clan. A grieving Durotan, unaware of Gul'dan's role in his father's death, would be blessed by the spirits after Drek'Thar asked them to find the new Chieftain worthy. Despite his grief and awe at the situation Durotan and Drek'thar would come to realize that something was off with the spirits.

Over time the Redwalkers would grow bold and directly attack the Frostwolves but would be repelled and with the death of their hunting party the Redwalkers would retreat north. While leaving a few scouts to watch over the Frostwolves the Redwalkers would through unknown means take their strength from the spirits, all the while anticipating that the Frostwolves would come to their aid. In the mean time Durotan would welcome the once exiled Draka back into the clan, where the two would become close with another. However unknown to Durotan the dormant volcano near their home was close to erupting and in their weakened state Drek'Thar and the other shaman were unable to hear the spirit's warning. As such the clan would be caught off guard but Durotan would be able to successfully save the bulk of the clan. Sometime later he and Draka would become mates, with Draka later becoming pregnant with his child.

In this time of uncertainly Gul'dan would try to once again to gain Frostwolf support for the Horde and Durotan would be greatly tempted to join. However he ultimately rejected convinced that doing so would make them the warlock's slaves. A surprised Garona would use the Draenei tongue to warn them that Gul'dan was dangerous, and Draka (who had learned the tongue in her exile) informed her that they knew, though when Gul'dan demanded to know what was said Drake informed that warlock that Garona had called them fools. Accepting this Gul'dan then called Durotan stubborn but remarked that should he see wisdom and change his mind all he had to was head to Tanaan Jungle. While the likes of Doomhammer and Drek'thar would praise Durotan, other Frostwolves were in disagreement with rejecting the Horde and Durotan would be challenged by Nokrar and despite winning Durotan would refuse to kill arguing that too many Frostwolf lives had been lost. Nokrar, still convinced to join the Horde, would take his family and leave and Durotan would give chase to prevent the loss of Frostwolf lives. While Nokrar's family would be recovered Nokrar would be killed and eaten by the Redwalkers, a fact that would horrify Durotan.

Sometime later the spirits would be able to get a message of sorts to Drek'Thar and Durotan decided to lead a party north to aid the spirits, while leaving Draka and Doomhammer in charge. With Durotan and his war party gone the opportunistic Red Walkers decided to strike out against the Frostwolves in order to wound them and use them as a food supply. Unknown to the Redwalkers the weakened spirits still had enough energy to give one final gift to the Frostwolves and Durotan and his party rushed south and the Frostwolves under the command of Draka and Orgrim Doomhammer fought to kill their enemies. As a result Durotan would arrive in the midst of the fighting and the Redwalkers would ultimately be destroyed, and it's Chieftain would only live long enough to inform Durotan of how a once noble clan had fallen. While the Frostwolves wanted to leave their corpses rot, Durotan would order that the Redwalkers would be buried because despite their sins, they were still orcs and by them treating with respect the Frostwolves would remind themselves of what they never would become.

The war with the Redwalkers and hardships had taken a toll on the Frostwolves and Durotan in order to ensure the clan's survival ordered them to march south to join the Horde.

Warcraft
After entering the Great Gate Draka would give birth to a still birth Go'el but Gul'dan's magic would quickly give him life. Durotan and Draka would dote upon their child and become worried about his future.

Durotan would join the Horde in attacking the humans but would would refuse to raid the defenseless towns seeing no honor in attacking those who could not defend themselves. As Gul'dan's fel magic starting destroying the land around them Durotan, wishing the best for his son and his people, would decide to work with the humans to stop Gul'dan. However Doomhammer unable to see how working with the humans would secure victory would betray the Frostwolves and cause the parlay to become an ambush. The Frostwolves would be brought to the Horde encampment and Durotan would be imprisoned. Soon after the Frostwolves would be destroyed with only Durotan, Draka, Go'el, and a guilt driven Doomhammer as the only known survivors.

Durotan would later be freed by Doomhammer, who he would knock down with the latter doing nothing to stop it. After agreeing to work with another Durotan would challenge Gul'dan to a. Though evenly matched at first, as Durotan began to win Gul'dan would use fel magic to win. A furious Doomhammer and other orcs would call Gul'dan a cheater who had no respect for their ways and only by killing these dissidents would Gul'dan's hold over the Horde remain secure. However Doomhammer would remain alive and Durotan's corpse would be placed as a warning to the other orcs.

Doomhammer would later take it down and take one of Durotan's tusk from his corpse in order to bring it to his son, Go'el.

Notes and trivia

 * Unlike his main-universe counterpart, Durotan is not green but remained brown.
 * In the main universe, Durotan did not participate in the events of the First War as he was exiled and assassinated in Lordaeron at the start of the war.
 * Durotan is depicted wearing fur cape of a white wolf in the novel Durotan, film and its novelization, possibly hinting at the story of Lords of War.
 * He is portrayed in Warcraft by Toby Kebbell.
 * His appearance seems to have inspired the new look for Thrall in Battle for Azeroth.