We Need a Hero!

The approaching Cataclysm expansion gives me a lot to think about as a Horde player, as our identity as a faction is about to become rather complicated. The heroes that we revere, such as Thrall and Cairne, are going to be off fighting the good fight, whilst we’re going to be under the command of bloodthirsty morons like Garrosh Hellscream, a man who many feel is inferior to a basic campfire .  Throughout Wrath there’s been a growing schism between the wise and honourable leaders of the Horde and the warmongering attitude of Garrosh and his lackeys. Interesting times are approaching for the Horde. Not the fun kind of interesting times either, more like the kind that make you want to cower underneath the nearest kodo!

Thanks to Garrosh, war with the Alliance thunders ever closer and internal politics threaten to make the Horde crumble like a wet cake. Oh and apparently there’s this Deathwing guy who’s going to do something evil involving a cat. The Horde is on a path to self-destruction, in many ways akin to ancient Rome in its final years. Whilst more than capable of dealing with any given threat at any one time, it now finds itself fighting off opponents on numerous fronts and at the same time faces mounting political problems from within.

The Horde needs a hero, and with the usual candidates occupied with saving the world, there’s only one guy for the job. More than ever in its difficult history, the Horde needs Varok Saurfang!

Overlord Varok Saurfang: Hero

Help Us Varok Saurfang, You’re Our Only Hope!

Saurfang. The very name inspires fear and awe in equal measure. In Thrall’s absence, I believe the salvation of the Horde falls on the soldiers of this weary general. No, not just because he’s Warcraft’s answer to Chuck Norris, but because he’s the only member of the Horde hierarchy who is up to the job of saving the Horde. Allow me to explain why.

First and foremost, Varok Saurfang may be the only living person who can keep Garrosh in check. It is important to note that whilst Garrosh defied even Thrall’s authority he treats Saurfang with respect, albeit in an aggressive and disgruntled manner. Horde players will remember Saurfang advising Garrosh in Warsong Hold against making the same mistakes as his father, talking him out of a foolhardy assault upon Alliance holdings in Northrend. Having Saurfang providing counsel could prove essential to holding Garrosh back from making too many rash decisions such as these. As a reformed veteran of the old demonic Horde, Saurfang knows first-hand where an unhealthy thirst for battle will take you. With that in mind, he’s sworn to kill Garrosh before he drags the Horde back into its old bloodlust and that oath may prove decisive. In addition, Saurfang commands the respect of the Horde at large. As a noted Orc war hero in both the old and new Horde, even those who don’t agree with his politics will respect the Horde’s greatest general. If Garrosh won’t listen, many commanders and soldiers of the Horde still will. Saurfang shares the beliefs of Thrall as well as the experience of countless years of war behind him, displaying strength that is tempered with wisdom. If nothing else, that should give him the power to keep Thrall’s legacy alive until the shaman can return.

Warsong Hold: Saurfang Warns Garrosh Against Repeating the Mistakes of His Father

Furthermore, Saurfang’s reputation extends to the Forsaken and Blood Elves as well. He has after all led multi-racial campaigns in recent years such as the assaults on Ahn’Qiraj and Icecrown Citdal. This is essential, as the events of the Wrathgate and the death of Kael’thas have respectively alienated the Eastern Kingdoms slices of the Horde pie. Sylvanas is unlikely to tolerate her city being run by Orcs for long, and now that many of their issues have been sorted the Blood Elves really lack motivation to be dragged into another war by their less erudite allies. Whereas Garrosh has proven himself less than capable of taking other races into consideration (in fact his leadership heralds institutionalised racism), Saurfang has  much more pragmatic military mind. True, he has every reason to hate the Forsaken after what they did to his son, but he can also see the necessity of the Horde maintaining its foothold in the Eastern Kingdoms. He is a general after all.

Ultimately, the drums of war are getting louder everyday and Saurfang is the nexus around which future events will turn. If he can stay by Garrosh’s side, steering him away from arrogant aggression, then the Horde has a good chance of pulling it together. If not then there is nobody to stop the many small cracks in the Horde empire from bringing the great edifice tumbling down.

Heroes of the Horde, I implore you – support Saurfang, he may be your only hope!

Plus if you don’t he’ll cleave you in two.

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