Hunting wolf: Gorefang

For some reason, Silverpine Forest is one of those regions in World of Warcraft that reminds me a lot of my native Sweden. Something about those dark, brooding pine forests and the cliffs that just appeals to me on a deep level. Of course, Sweden does not have quite as many worgen and other monsters, and fewer undead. Actually fewer wolves too, and most of them are in parks.

Today's rarespawn is Gorefang.



Basic facts

Gorefang is a rare mob worg found in Silverpine Forest in the Eastern Kingdoms.



There's a few reported spawn points for Gorefang on wowhead, but I don't think the creature truly has that wide of a distribution. I almost always find Gorefang near the Dead Field in the northern part of the zone, in the same general area as the many black worgs. Gorefang stands out because he uses the greyish worg color, and is the only worg in the zone to do so. It does not patrol very far, just pacing back and forth a small area where it spawns.



What's the story?

Gorefang is an average rarespawn when it comes to abilities and drops. It has a weak rend, and that's it. No special drops either. Thus Gorefang is an easy mob to kill, should you so wish.



One thing about Gorefang worth noting is that it is a pretty easy way to get a non-black worg for a Horde hunter. Most white and grey worgs are much higher in level (going into the 40s), or found exclusively in Alliance territory. For this reason alone, I think Gorefang is worth remembering should you ever want a nice-looking worg pet.



The idea of "worgs" or "wargs" being larger, more ferocious, more intelligent wolves is derived primarily from the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, who had wargs as semi-intelligent allies to his evil forces. It is interesting to note that World of Warcraft to some degree continues the association between orcs and wargs (now worgs), and also still has orcs riding these ferocious beasts rather than horses.



While we can't say much about Gorefang (even what gender it is), the close proximity to Arugal's Shadowfang Keep may be more than a coincidence. Many pale worgen patrol the area, and the black worgs in the forest have become more dangerous and bloodthirsty at the behest of the mad archmage. Actually, were it up to me I would decide that Gorefang is a pet of Arugal's worgen servant, Wolf Master Nandos, sent out to terrorize the Forsaken settlements.

Most notable for being an easily accessible "special" looking worg for Horde players, Gorefang is still a nice-looking rarespawn which meshes well with the zone it is found in.

Until next time... don't go howling at the moon.

~Dragonshade

We hunger for flesh! : Rot Hide Bruiser

Gnolls are another of those minor sentient races of the Warcraft setting that just never seem to get their own storyline or a big feature. When the biggest claim to fame for your entire race is a rather vicious level 11 quest mob who is famous for killing newbies... you just don't have too much to brag about. Gnolls are almost entirely lifted from Dungeons & Dragons, being hyena-like savage scavenger humanoids and that is about it. With no real history and no large context to place them in, gnolls are just kind of "there", monsters to menace the more peaceful races and harass new adventurers.

Today's entry is about one such low-level opponent, the Rot Hide Bruiser.



Undead gnolls in the woods

The Rot Hide Bruiser is a rare mob undead gnoll found on Fenris Isle in Silverpine Forest, in the Eastern Kingdoms.



Found inside Fenris Keep, the Bruiser dwells with a large number of other rot hide gnolls, and can be quite tricky to track down. He can spawn in a number of different locations, seemingly always indoors. However, given the huge number of possible nooks and crannies within the buildings inside the keep, finding him can be a chore. Using /target or some sort of tracking is almost required.



Annoyingly, several times when I located him he was parked facing a wall inside the ruined smithy inside the keep, with a number of other gnolls around him. Since he does not wander, it turned out to be impossible to turn him around for good shots. Fortunately persistence won in the end, and I found him standing in a much better spot inside one of the other buildings. Returning to hunt down a rarespawn twice or even more times just to get good pictures to post is actually something I do a lot, which is why you will sometimes see both night and day pictures within the same post.

The Bruiser's tale

Now, most rarespawns in World of Warcraft have a name. They are almost always named mobs, whether it is a given name or a title. Some unfortunate rare mobs don't have names, though, only being referred to by a rough description.



As such, the Bruiser is just that. An undead gnoll bruiser. The rot hide gnolls succumbed to the plague when the Scourge swept through Lordaeron during the Third War. Afterwards, the sorcerer Thule Ravenclaw, who had sworn his soul to the Lich King, became their ruler in undeath. Betraying all former bonds of friendship and loyalty, this hateful magus now rules Fenris Isle from the keep, guarded by a large number of rot hide guards. In all likelyhood, the Bruiser was just an unusually brawny gnoll who was thus reanimated as a warrior thrall of Ravenclaw.



While a rather unremarkable rare mob, the Bruiser does have a few things that make it stand out. First off, it is about six levels stronger than the rest of the mobs on the island. While not an elite, this makes him a rather frightening prospect for characters around level 16 visiting the island for quests. Secondly, he has not one but two unique BoE drops, a club and a belt. The club is not the same model as the bruiser wields (he goes with the more traditional board with a nail in it) but it is at least close enough.



Finally, as there is not much to say about the mob itself, a few words of opinion. The gnoll model is, quite frankly, terrible. While it looks very much like the Warcraft III rendition of gnolls, compared to the smoother and more detailed graphics of WoW it looks angular, undetailed and unappealing. The blocky feet and legs, the lack of detail on arms and hands... I believe this is the reason that gnolls have never been featured much except in starter zones and as odd NPC's. If any race desperately needs a model overhaul, gnolls would be my first pick.

Until next time, don't let the undead gnolls bite.
~Dragonshade

Bears and wolves: Old Vicejaw

Bears are rather popular animals in World of Warcraft, just like in the real world. Whereas we hate and fear wolves and large felines, bears look a lot cuddlier and more benevolent (even if they in the real world can be easily as dangerous). Literature and mythology are also filled with noble, wise and heroic bears. Interestingly this is also reflected in the rarespawn fauna of WoW, where there are quite a few rare mob bears. The fact that my main is a feral (bear) druid certainly does not change my opinion on bears in any way. And you're silly for even thinking it.

Today's rare mob is Old Vicejaw.



In the accursed forest

Old Vicejaw is a rare mob bear found in Silverpine Forest in the Eastern Kingdoms.



Silverpine was once part of Lordaeron, and is the zone that directly borders Gilneas, Lordaeron's neighbor to the south. Now a dark, twisted area ruled by undead or madmen like the archmage Arugal, Silverpine nevertheless retains some natural life.



Old Vicejaw can be found in the forested area surrounding the road running from the Greymane Wall to the Undercity. He can be seen wandering around a bit off the road, often close to other bears. In comparison with the other local bears, Vicejaw is a lighter brown and quite easy to spot.

An average bear

Old Vicejaw isn't the most unique rarespawn bear in the game. He's a standard color, has no really special abilities and no unique loot. He's just basically a named bear a few levels larger than the average.



For a hunter, a bear is a rather nice tenacity pet. They eat many types of food and have a quite excellent racial ability for a "tank" pet, namely Swipe, similar to the feral druid ability of the same name. However, Vicejaw's average appearance may not make him too desireable to seek out and tame.



It's always hard for me to write any lore speculation about these very average rarespawns. Old Vicejaw is one of several bears carrying the "Old" epithet, indicating he may be a particularily large specimen, who has been in the region long enough to earn a name. Vicejaw indicates that someone (likely more than one person) has ended up on the receiving end of a very nasty bite. Maybe the nearby Dalaran mages named the bear after encountering it preying on their livestock?



While Vicejaw spawns rather close to Shadowfang Keep, I doubt he has any connection with Arugal, whose favored pets and minions are wolves. More likely, Vicejaw was here before the intrusive archmage appeared on the scene, and is merely minding his own business. Maybe a worgen or two has found themselves on the receiving end of his jaws too?

In conclusion, Old Vicejaw has little unique about him, but at the very least he looks good and has a nice name.

Until next time;
~Dragonshade