Gurubashi tribe

The Gurubashi tribe is the tribe of jungle trolls in who reside in Zul'Gurub.

The Gurubashi civil war


Established long before the Great Sundering, the Gurubashi Empire took its name from the strongest tribe of jungle trolls at the time. The jungle trolls ruled the southern jungles of ancient Kalimdor until the Burning Legion's first invasion, which wrought havoc and devastation throughout the continent and culminated in the Great Sundering.

The long centuries following the Sundering were difficult ones for the troll race. The jungle trolls, driven to desperate ends, enlisted the aid of the god Hakkar, also known as the Soulflayer. Hakkar brought the trolls great power, but in return the bloodthirsty god required that souls be sacrificed to him.

His demands quickly escalated, and he grew impatient with his loyal priests, the Hakkari. He told them to find a way to summon him physically into the world, so that he might directly drain the blood of his victims. Most of the Hakkari were horrified at the idea, but the Atal'ai, a small extremist faction of the Hakkari, decided to do as Hakkar wished.

Before the Atal'ai could complete the summoning, the other jungle trolls, including the Hakkari, rose up in open revolt against the cruel god. Even the Zandalar tribe was drawn into the conflict, which finally ended with the destruction of Hakkar’s avatar. Driven from the jungles, the Atal'ai were hunted nearly to extinction. Yet a small group of Atal'ai escaped into the Swamp of Sorrows, where they secretly built a great temple to their god: the Temple of Atal'Hakkar. The other jungle tribes, including the Gurubashi, then turn on the Hakkari and killed or exiled for them evil deeds they had done in Hakkar's name, even though they had fought the Atal'ai. The surviving Hakkari would join the remaining Atal'ai in their temple.

The Soulflayer's Return
After Hakkar's avatar in Zul'Gurub was destroyed, things within Stranglethorn returns to normal. However over time the Gurubashi lost much of it's power and prestige. At some point the Gurubashi exiled Zanzil from the tribe and actually spit and threw stones at him. Even though the Gurubashi never gave a definite reason for their actions, it was possible that Zanzil was making other Gurubashi his mind slaves. Following this the Gurubashi would live their own lives relative peace and not bother the other Jungle tribes in the region like the Bloodscalp tribe and the Skullsplitter tribe, who wared with each other. They didn't even raise a fuss when the Darkspear tribe returned and helped the Horde create the Grom'gol Base Camp. The Gurubashi's isolationist policy would end when word reached them that that the Atal'ai and Hakkari were able to successfully resurrect Hakkar the Soulflayer within Zul'Gurub. Eager to prove themselves and return to their former glory the Gurubashi returned to the capital and pledged their allegiance to the Soulflayer.

The Gurubashi tribe guard Hakkar and his minions with reckless fervor, believing that the Gurubashi empire will be restored in return for their loyal, and don't seem to care that Hakkar has enthralled five high priests of the trolls' primal gods. When word of Hakkar's presence reached the Zandalar tribe in the South Seas, they were horrified to discover the enslavement of their kindred, the Zandalari high priests. King Rastakhan has therefore sent emissaries from the island of Zandalar to the Eastern Kingdoms, where the trolls recruit champions from Azeroth's many races in the hope that Hakkar will once again be defeated.

The Zandalari's call to arms was answered by the proud defends of Azeroth who ventured into the Zul'Gurub and killed many of Gurubashi who were guarding Hakkar with reckless fervor which ultimately failed as Hakkar was defeated. Even the five high priests High Priest Venoxis, High Priestess Jeklik, High Priestess Arlokk, High Priest Thekal, and High Priestess Mar'li and the hydra Gahz'ranka were slain. While Bloodlord Mandokir survived the assault he would later be tortured to death by the Bloodscalp tribe. The surviving Gurubashi would be led by Jin'do and remain in Zul'Gurub.

Cataclysm
When the Cataclysm that struck the land, the Gurubashi remained holed up in Zul'Gurub where Jin'do began implementing the plan to return Hakkar to the world. Jin'do's plan would see the Gurubashi membership increase thanks to aid of adventures and Ohgan'aka who helped bring Bloodlord Mandokir back to life and Jin'do would recruit Zanzil back into the fold. Zanzil would then go on to attempt to resurrect High Priest Venoxis and High Priestess Jeklik, though only Venoxis would return to life as adventures thwarted Jeklik's resurrection. Meanwhile High Priestess Arlokk's sister Kilnara has risen to the position of High Priestess and aids Jin'do in his plans.

The Gurubashi would later gain unexpected help from the Zandalar Tribe when the mysterious prophet only known as Zul issued a call for Azeroth's embattle troll populations to unite into single empire. Accompanied by members of the Gurubashi Jin'do arrived at a meeting in Zandalar where he, Daakara and the Amani and Vol'jin and the Darkspear, and an unknown Ice troll were told by presumingly Zul or King Rastakhan about Zul'Drak being lost to the Scourge and how Zul'Farrak is now a wasteland. They are told that the Zandalari plan to reclaim the former glory of the troll race, will crush any who stand in their way and states that the Troll Empire will rise again. The Gurubashi represents cheer and accept the Zandalari's offer. Vol'jin who views the Horde as his true brothers sends members of his tribe to both Orgrimmar and Stormwind recognizing that the threat of new Troll empire is something that the Horde can't handle alone. While Vol'jin is able to a gather mobile force to keep the Amani from surging out of Zul'Aman, he is unable to contain the Gurubashi.

In Northern Stranglethorn Bambala, Fort Livingston, Nesingwary's Expedition, Grom'gol Base Camp and the Rebel Camp come under attack by serpents sent by High Priest Venoxis. High Priestess Kilnara sends panthers to attack the Rebel Camp and Grom'gol while the panther Mauti attacks the hunters at Nesingwary's Expedition. Both Grom'gol and the Rebel Camp later come attack by Gurubashi trolls lead by Bloodlord Mandokir. After heroes of the Horde and Alliance beat back the Gurubashi attack they are sent to The Cape of Stranglethorn which faces it's own troubles.

Zanzil the Outcast aids the Gurubashi by turning the inhabitants of both Hardwrench Hideaway and the Explorers' League Digsite into voodoo zombies by poisoning the food in each town. After saving their respective towns adventures will be sent to speak to a troll(Vol'jin for the Horde and Ghaliri for the Alliance) who is warning Baron Revilgaz and Booty Bay about the Gurubashi.