A History of the Tribes’ Relationships to One Another
Approx. 16,000 – 15,000 Years Before the Dark Portal Opens: The Formation of the Tribes
The first and most powerful tribe of trolls to arise is the Zandalar tribe, who lay claim to the highest peaks of the Zandalar mountain range and build a grand city of gold called Zuldazar [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 70]. Over the next several centuries, the Drakkari, Amani, and Gurubashi tribes form and amass enough strength to rival the Zandalari’s own [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 72]. A smaller tribe composed of dark trolls also comes together, although they remain largely independent from the others, uninterested in their desire for land and power [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 93].
During this time, the Drakkari, Amani, Gurubashi, and Zandalari all occasionally engage in skirmishes over hunting grounds, but major conflicts are few and far in between [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 72].
When the C’Thrax, Kith’ix, emerges and begins waging war on the trolls, the Zandalari move to unite the disparate tribes into one force – known as the Empire of Zul – strong enough to overcome the monstrous creature and its armies of aqir [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 72]. Realizing that the minions of the Old Gods must be defeated for good lest they rise up to threaten trollkind once more, the Zandalari convince the various troll factions to pursue the aqir wherever they flee across ancient Kalimdor. In return, the Drakkari, Amani, and Gurubashi are allowed to settle any land they find [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 73].
Both the Drakkari and Amani push north, whereas the Gurubashi pursue the insectoid aqir to the south. After centuries of fighting, the tribes eventually claim victory and, consequently, the land that was promised to them. Now located across far-reaching parts of ancient Kalimdor, the factions grow distant and become increasingly insular without war to bind them together. Nonetheless, the Zandalari continue to maintain a significant degree of influence over all of the trolls for years to come [World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume I, pg. 73-74]. In fact, according to the non-canon RPG, trolls from each of the tribes gather in Zandalar every six years to discuss political matters [RPG: Lands of Mystery, pg. 82].
At some point between the formation of the tribes and the Third War, the Frostmane and Winterax tribes split off from the Drakkari Empire and settle in Dun Morogh and the Alterac Mountains respectively [Page: Winterax Tribe, Page: Eimear].
jacobvanloon
theartofmadeline
jbbartram-illu
tangentwithtanner
kaledo-art
andulkaphoto
