Baine Bloodhoof

High Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof is the son of the late tauren leader, Cairne Bloodhoof. In addition to embodying his father’s kindness and valor, Baine has developed into a warrior without equal.

Following Cairne’s death in a duel with Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, Baine fled his home in Bloodhoof Village when the tauren matriarch Magatha Grimtotem’s agents attacked the village and seized Thunder Bluff. Although still pained by the loss of his father, Baine staged a counterattack on Magatha and her forces, ultimately retaking the tauren capital and defeating the treacherous matriarch. Cairne’s honorable son spared Magatha’s life, banishing the matriarch and her traitorous allies to the harsh Stonetalon Mountains. Since then Baine has assumed the role of high chieftain of Mulgore’s courageous tauren.

While bitterness might still linger over Cairne’s demise, Baine has pledged his loyalty to the Horde and its warchief for the good of the tauren race.

Biography


Baine fought alongside his father with pride and respect, and continued to defend his people when they established a home for themselves in Mulgore. However, in an attack by the centaur on their village, Baine was taken captive and taken back to their camp. He managed to stay alive, but he began to lose hope when all his fellow captives were killed one by one until he was the only one left.

The tauren Tagar told Rexxar to find him and bring him back. So, Baine was rescued by Rexxar, and they battled their way together through hordes of centaur until they finally made it back to Cairne, who was overjoyed to see his son alive. After he was brought back with the help of Bovan Windtotem, Cairne Bloodhoof decided to join Rexxar's party.

At Bloodhoof Village, Baine Bloodhoof leads an investigation into Venture Company operations to the east and a campaign against the Palemane gnolls to the west. With his father growing older, Baine takes a greater role in the leadership of the tauren with each passing year.

Baine attempted to warn the dwarven miners of Bael'dun Digsite that their violent mining methods were hurting the spirits of the Earth and even attempted to scare them off by sending Adventurers to break their tools. However the dwarves did not listen and continued using explosives on the earth. In Cataclysm Baine was shown to be right as the enraged Spirits of the Earth rose from the ground and killed the dwarves of Bael'dun Digsite.

Stormrage
Taking place after the defeat of the Lich King, the book shows that Baine has become a major leader of the tauren. When the Emerald Nightmare begins to slowly claim all of the denizens of Thunder Bluff, he helps guide his people in their resistance, if however futile. Later, when Malfurion Stormrage calls for the warriors of Azeroth into battle against the Nightmare, he is one of the many to answer. Once within the Emerald Dream, Baine once against shows his aptitude for leadership. When the Horde express agitation about Malfurion giving leadership to Varian Wrynn for the battle, Baine is the first to stand by his side, alleviating all tension and showing that this conflict was above their petty differences. Although they fight a seemingly hopeless battle, the united Azeroth eventually claims victory, and Baine is able to return to his people to help repair the damage.

Ascension on the Eve of the Shattering
As the war in Northrend carried on, Baine led his people in Cairne's place whenever his father was absent, such as Cairne's journey to Warsong Hold. Baine is shown to be an effective and beloved leader, a worthy successor to his father.

Cairne is killed by Grimtotem treachery during a duel with the new Warchief, Garrosh Hellscream, in the arena in Orgrimmar. Upon his death, Magatha Grimtotem, Cairne's sworn rival, orders her tribe to take over Mulgore and kill everyone in it, and sends assassins to Bloodhoof Village to kill Baine, who remains unaware of what happened in Orgrimmar. However, Baine is tipped off by a Grimtotem defector, the shaman Stormsong, and manages to escape under the cover of a kodo stampede, sending messengers to other villages warning them of the Grimtotems' treachery. They then make their escape to Camp Taurajo, where they join Hamuul Runetotem who had also managed to escape an attempt on his life. Eager to avenge his father and reclaim Thunder Bluff, Baine requests Hamuul's advice on how to fight Magatha. He informs the young chieftain that their potential allies are few, with Garrosh's allegiances unclear, the Forsaken being unable to help (as orcs loyal to Garrosh patrol the Undercity thanks to past events), the blood elves being too far away, and the Darkspear trolls being too few. Realizing he could not call upon friends, Baine decides to ask aid from an honorable enemy: Jaina Proudmoore. While there, Baine meets Prince Anduin Wrynn, heir to the throne of Stormwind; after an initial uneasiness, Baine warms to the young man, so unlike his warrior father, King Varian. His sadness and churning emotions at all that has transpired cause great empathy in Anduin; in an act of friendship, he gives Baine the great hammer Fearbreaker, an ancient heirloom given to him by King Magni Bronzebeard. The weapon "likes" Baine and steadies him with the Light that it wields, and he promises to treasure it always. Jaina is moved by this gesture, and agrees to provide Baine monetary support in his efforts to bring down Magatha and the Grimtotems.

Now openly supporting Baine, Stormsong travels to Ratchet to enlist the aid of its leader, Gazlowe. The goblin engineer - who had always liked "the old bull", as he called Cairne - agrees to assist Baine in his quest, providing zeppelins, explosives and other supplies. Garrosh, convinced by his advisor Eitrigg to atone for what happened in the arena, also provides a large Horde force to join with Baine. With the materials and manpower he needs, Baine leads a surprise attack on Thunder Bluff, under the cover of a false storm provided by Stormsong's shamanic powers. Baine succeeds in defeating Magatha, but decides to spare her life. Allowing those Grimtotems who would follow him to remain, Baine exiles Magatha and her loyalists.

Baine confronts Garrosh in Thousand Needles, accusing him of willfully participating in Magatha's treachery. Garrosh insists that he was unaware of the trickery until it was too late, and expects that Baine will also challenge him. Baine refuses, believing that Cairne's challenge was intended to unite the Horde and another challenge would divide it further, and begrudgingly considers the matter settled. Though he is still angry at Garrosh for his part in his father's death (after all, Garrosh had upped the ante by making the Mak'gora a duel to the death), Baine acknowledges him as his Warchief, to which Garrosh, admiring the new High Chieftain, pledges the loyalty of the Horde to the new leader of the tauren.

As Our Fathers Before Us
In the wake of Baine's ascension to high chieftain of the tauren, his formerly icy relationship with Warchief Garrosh Hellscream has become even more strained. Baine had willingly chosen not to pursue vengeance against Garrosh for the death of Cairne Bloodhoof in favor of a united Horde leadership. Baine knew that the Horde needed a strong guiding figure if it was to survive, and Garrosh could give his people inspiration. Baine meets with Garrosh and Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem in Thunder Bluff, and the young chieftain is frustrated to learn of Garrosh's increasingly numerous demands from the mighty tauren people.

One such demand is access to Mulgore's pristine and pure water supplies, since the Horde's new goblin allies had tainted much of the water adjacent to Orgrimmar with their industrious projects in Azshara. Baine is apprehensive to grant Garrosh this request, and Hamuul even more so, though after a heated exchange he agrees to the demand - if a tauren representative is sent to watch over the goblins' operations from this point forward. Garrosh accepts the compromise, and angrily leaves the meeting after reiterating his duties to keep the Horde's people safe to the onlooking tauren. In a discussion with Hamuul, Baine expresses optimism that Garrosh will either learn to overcome his recklessness in time, or that it will certainly be the death of him. Hamuul is not entirely convinced, and even puts forward the notion that the tauren had existed long before the Horde - and that if servitude to Garrosh continued in this manner, they could always go back to those independent roots. Baine denies this answer, and states his loyalty and hope in the Horde that his father helped to shape. Regardless, the shipments of water are satisfactory, and soon enough the citizens of Durotar had ample supplies of water in their homes. However, brutal raids on several of the caravans in Mulgore draw Baine's concern, and the high chieftain leaves to observe the damage. He ie disheartned to witness the slaughter wrought on by the culprits, though comes to the conclusion that it was the work of the quilboar - better armed than ever before. Baine believes that negotiation may be possible with their new leadership at this late juncture, though Garrosh learns of this and insists the murderers be dealt with in force. Baine's advisors have similar opinions, and urge the high chieftain to sanction a deposition of their new leadership in retaliation of their violent raids and harassment of tauren land. However, Baine declines this plan, citing that such coarse action is Garrosh's way - not his. Baine instead resolves to continue working towards diplomatic measures, and find another compromise; though his advisors remind him of the quilboar's consistently brutal nature.

Several of the tauren begin to express dissatisfaction with Baine's compromising attitude with Garrosh. Viewing his willingness to bow down to every demand made of him as an affront to their peoples' interests, they consider walking away from the Horde. Meanwhile, Baine continues relentlessly to find the answers to the quilboar issue. He looks to Hamuul for guidance, and the archdruid instructs him to commune with the shamans in addition to the druids to find the answer.

Baine later finds himself dealing with yetther troublesome issue - several tauren preparing to leave both Mulgore and the Horde, led by Greyhoof Farwanderer; disheartened that Mulgore has become simply an extension of Garrosh's will. Despite Baine's encouragement to remain loyal to the Horde, referencing it as being far more than its leaders; an enduring and unifying concept that Thrall and Cairne helped shape. Baine reasons that given the chance, these problems will be overcome and the Horde will be saved from both its external enemies and internal strife; though the wanderers prepare for their journey either way.

In the face of these disheartening events, Baine finally receives some good news from Hamuul in regards to the quilboar. They conclude that the source of their renewed unrest is also that of water; the recent cataclysm having cut off the quilboar's own sources. Baine and Hamuul personally inform Garrosh of this, though the warchief grows highly irritated after learning of yet another attack on tauren land that had gone unpunished. After an insulting exchange over the nature of the Earth Mother and Baine's continued passivty in regards to the savage quilboar assaulting Horde territory, Garrosh assures him that something realistic will be done about this problem, and quickly. As Baine arms himself and his Sunwalkers to assist Garrosh's attack, he finds himself doubting his leadership capabilities in the face of this constant turmoil. He receives the unlikely support of Hamuul, who reassures him that his decisions for the good of their people are just and noble. In Mulgore below, Garrosh and a regiment of Kor'kron prepare for an assault on the quilboar.

Gorehowl in hand, Garrosh and the expert Kor'kron make quick and ruthless work of the quilboar via their tunnels. However, an ambush launched by hundreds of the beasts has the Kor'kron regiment literally swarmed over; Garrosh himself disarmed and backed into a corner. As he prepares to fight to the death, Baine, Hamuul and the Sunwalkers arrive to relieve the battle. Baine succeeds in repelling the ambush with his equally skilled use of Fearbreaker, and helps the warchief reclaim Gorehowl. The Horde forces retreat, and Hamuul demonstrates the power of the Earth Mother to Garrosh as he calls upon a river. Baine stands over the defeated quilboar, and instructs them that this river will provide them with all the water they need - providing no more attacks are made on the tauren people. The quilboar anxiously return to their tunnels.

Baine informs a silent Garrosh that if the tauren need further assistance in Mulgore, they will let him know; and the warchief travels back to Orgrimmar via zepplin.

Baine is approached by Greyhoof Farwanderer and the tauren that had prepared to leave Mulgore prior, and having witnessed Baine's victory over the quilboar, apologize for doubting the high chieftain's ability to lead; requesting a pardon for this rash action. Baine grants it, and urges them to remain strong and steadfast in these trying times for the good of their people.

Looking upon his land as night falls, Baine turns to his guests, and reaffirms his belief in the Horde - that his father had promised to repay a great debt to it, and that he will deliver it.

In World of Warcraft
Baine Bloodhoof is a level ?? quest giver located in the High Rise in the tauren capital of Thunder Bluff. Prior to Patch 4.0.3, he was located at Bloodhoof Village in Mulgore; he has since been replaced there by Ahmo Thunderhorn.

He starts the following quests:

Elemental Unrest
During the Elemental Unrest Baine aided in the defense of Thunder Bluff by combating the water and wind elementals that appeared on the Spirit Rise.



Tactics
Like Cairne before him, Baine is a powerful tauren chieftain and his in-game abilities are a testament to it. Now without the risk of Horde shamans and druids hurling entire Alliance raids from Thunder Bluff's lift-balconies, an air-born raid can attack Baine directly from his tent. It is recommended to tank him inside of it, as his knockback ability has a wide range, and can result in unsuspecting victims gaining aggro on more of Thunder Bluff's guards and elite patrols than necessary. Downing him as fast as possible before the Horde can mount a defense raid is the best strategy to employ.

It is worth bearing in mind that Baine's elite guards, the Honor Guards, share the knockdown that the Bluffwatchers possess - without diminishing returns. As such, a large amount of guards in addition to constant stunning can allow Baine to simply crush an unprepared tank while its healers are unable to react.

Regardless, Thunder Bluff is not the most populated capital city of the Horde, and a prepared and subtle raid should be able to defeat Baine without huge interference.

Personality
Baine is everything Garrosh Hellscream is not, he is patient, calm, wise beyond his years, and looks to spill as little blood as he possibly can by looking at every possible alternative that could avoid a battle. His ability to speak calmly to Garrosh despite his rapid demands and insults to his people's ways only show Baine's inner control and patience in dealing with someone he feels will either end up killing himself, or growing up the hard way. He greatly dislikes anything that disrupts the peace and gets to the heart of the matter in order to quickly resolve a problem. Baine believes deeply in his people, but often feels doubt that he is not the great leader his Father was, and tries to calmly lead his people in dark times with his confidence in not Garrosh, but in the Horde's integrity and ideals. While Baine is not afraid to take charge and tell people calmly what he thinks, he is almost always trying to avoid unnecessary conflict, especially in a world already filled with much strife and suffering. Diplomacy is his strong suit, but he is a force to be reckoned with, as he fights to end a conflict as soon as possible. Despite any of his personal losses or direct affronts to his leadership, Baine is incredibly forgiving of people, and able to lay aside grudges for the sake of his people, and his own inner peace. As he tries to emulate his Father, he also walks his own path, as someone who is incredibly perceptive and deals with problems logically, as well as seeking to help deliver peace to a world that sorely needs it.

Abilities
Cleave-Inflicts 110% of normal melee damage to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 3 targets.

Mortal Strike-Inflicts 100% weapon damage and leaves the target wounded, reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 25% for 5 sec.

Uppercut-Inflicts normal damage plus 50 to an enemy, knocking it back.

War Stomp-Inflicts Physical damage to nearby enemies, knocking them back and stunning them for 6 sec.

Quotes
Text:
 * Greetings young one, and welcome to Thunder Bluff. You'll find safe refuge from the burdens of the world here. All denizes of the Horde are welcome here.


 * The spirits of the present and past come alive here this sacred place, my friend. Honor them, and in doing so honor yourself.

Greetings:


 * "I am Baine, son of Cairne, now Chief of the Bloodhoof Tauren."
 * "Never despair, friend. The eyes of the Earthmother are upon us."
 * "Honor the Earthmother, always. This is the way of the Tauren."
 * "Ish-ne-halo-por-ah"

Aggro:
 * By my father's spirit, I shall not be defeated!
 * You are unwise to challenge me!

Killing a player:
 * Rest in peace!
 * You die with honor!

Quote From :
 * "The world is torn, and our Horde allies have turned down dark paths. We must guide them. Even in the darkest hour, we will bravely hold our heads high, and honor the Earth Mother in all we do."

Honoring Cairne
This is the full transcript of the dialogue between the elders of Thunder Bluff: say say say  say say say say  say

The War Dance
say  say say  say say say  say say  say say

Trivia

 * Baine uses in-game, the Hammer Anduin Wyrnn gave him, Fearbreaker.
 * It seems the friendship between Baine and Anduin has replaced the Jaina and Thrall friendship that helped keep peace between the two factions, now that Thrall is no longer the Warchief.

RPG: Lands of Mystery
It would seem that after Brann Bronzebeard had a chance to speak to the tauren chieftain at Thunder Bluff about the dwarves of Bael'dun Digsite, that Baine Bloodhoof asked a group of young tauren to act as emissaries to the dwarven excavation of Bael’dun to convince the dwarves to cease their careless digging. Given enough effort, the tauren apparently convinced the dwarves to allow a shaman to oversee their site to make sure that the land is properly cared for during the excavation, and that the dwarves return to the land as much as they take. Baine then asked them to deal with the Venture Company as well – a more difficult proposition, however, it seems a few good axe swings were likely more effective than conventional diplomacy.