Rylak

Rylaks
Homeworld	Draenor (alternate)
Environment	Any
Area(s)	Frostfire Ridge, Gorgrond, Nagrand, Spires of Arak, Shadowmoon Valley

Rylaks are a type of two-headed, flying predators and scavengers native to Draenor. In the main universe, they appear to have transformed into mutated chimaeras. In the alternate universe, they are still common on the alternate Draenor and are frequently captured and ridden by the Thunderlord orcs and other members of the Iron Horde.

Background[]

Chimaera concept art — Rylak concept art.

The versatile, flying rylak have adapted to climates across Draenor, but their greatest density is in Frostfire Ridge. Here, warm volcanic stone ledges make for excellent nesting sites, while snowy featureless expanses serve as prime hunting grounds for these ferocious predators to seek flesh with their dual sets of eyes and nostrils. Their thick hides protect them from the elements, as well as from the arrows of frustrated hunters. Adventurers seeking to display a two-headed rylak trophy should remain wary of both sets of fangs... and those seeking to tame a new mount should consider the Iron Horde's tendency to armor the largest rylaks and lead them into combat.^[1] Mulverick is one of few Frostwolf orcs to have mastered the art of rylak riding.^[2]

The Blackfuse Company, allies of the Iron Horde, are enslaving the rylaks dwelling at Darktide Roost, off the southern coast of Shadowmoon Valley.

Alternate Rylak model skull — A skull found in Gorgrond.

In the main universe, the rylaks of Gorgrond were tamed and ridden by an orcish clan referred to as the Nelghor-shomash ("Cry of the Beasts"), later known as the Dragonmaw clan. The Dragomaw fondly referred to their rylak mounts as nelghor, or "loyal beasts". When the clan later ventured to Azeroth and encountered dragons, it would apply the term nelghor to them as well, and all orcs would eventually refer to dragons as nelghor. The name of the Dragonmaw clan never changed, but its meaning surely did.^[3] After the Old Horde had conquered much of Draenor, the threat of starvation caused the orcs to hunt most of Draenor's native creatures to extinction. The Dragonmaw turned on their trained rylaks and used them as a source of food.^[4]

One of the most ancient and powerful types of rylaks are the black variants, living in the highest reaches of the Stonefury Cliffs.^[5]

A brilliant ogre once had a thought that riding a rylak would make travel much faster than using pack animals or walking. Roughly crafted from thick leather and utilizing an excessive number of knots, a special seat could comfortably accomodate an ogre. However, it could only be saddled on a rylak the size of a small mountain which seems to explain why no one has ever seen ogres fly.^[6]

Interestingly, the rylak known as Roardan the Sky Terror apparently has feathers and is called a "bird" by both Durotan and Maraad.^[7] Rylaks lay eggs^[8] and collect an immense amount of fur when building their nests.^[9]

During the war in Draenor, several of them have been moved with the Ironmarch army to Blackrock Spire in Eastern Kingdoms on Azeroth.

Notable[]

Amaukwa <The Breath of Moon>
Charl Doomwing
Chilltongue <The Iron Wolf's Mount>
Darktide Matriarch
Dreadwing
Gok'tal
Rakun
Roardan the Sky Terror
- Lil' Roardan
Tura'aka
Venombarb

Types[]

As a mount[]

Main article: Rylak mounts

The [Iron Skyreaver] is available for purchase from the in-game Shop.
The [Soaring Skyterror] is rewarded from [Draenor Pathfinder], the achievement that grants the ability to fly in Draenor.

As a hunter pet[]

Main article: Chimaera#As a hunter pet

Rylaks are tamable by hunters as part of the chimaera family. They were originally added in patch 6.0.2 as their own unique pet family but were merged with chimaeras in patch 8.0.1.

Notes and trivia[]

Since the rylaks were referred to as nelghor by the Dragonmaw, the etymology of "rylak" is unknown, given that orcs were the ones to interact with rylaks the most out of Draenor's races.
The Tier 17 hunter set, Rylakstalker's Battlegear, is themed around the rylak.
As seen above, an alternate model for rylaks exists in the files but never made it to the final version of Warlords of Draenor and remains unused. However, their skulls can be found in various locations across Draenor.

Speculation[]

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.