- For the boss encounter in the Siege of Orgrimmar, see Galakras. For the boss encounter in the Upper Blackrock Spire, see Warlord Zaela (tactics).
 Warlord Zaela | |||||||
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| Title |
Warlord of the Dragonmaw clan[1] Dragonmaw Chieftain | ||||||
| Race | Orc (Humanoid) | ||||||
| Class | Warrior | ||||||
| Reaction | Alliance Horde | ||||||
| Affiliation(s) | Iron Horde, Ironmarch, Dragonmaw Clan | ||||||
| Former affiliation(s) | True Horde, Horde | ||||||
| Occupation | Warlord of the Ironmarch, Warlord of the Dragonmaw Clan, Commander of the True Horde | ||||||
| Location | Various Locations | ||||||
| Status |
Deceased (post- Upper Blackrock Spire) | ||||||
| Companion(s) | Galakras, Ragewing the Untamed | ||||||
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Warlord Zaela was the chieftain of the Dragonmaw clan after its return to the Horde. A staunch follower of Garrosh Hellscream, she fought at his side during the Siege of Orgrimmar. When Garrosh was overthrown, Zaela joined the Iron Horde with him, and now leads the Ironmarch expedition within Blackrock Spire.
History
Twilight Highlands
Warlord Zaela
Zaela at Crushblow
Zaela is first introduced alongside Gregor, chastising him for his reluctance to aid Garrosh Hellscream's fleet out of his fear of the current Dragonmaw Warchief, none other than Overlord Mor'ghor. Following the Horde's failed negotiations with the tyrannical Mor'ghor, Zaela finds and releases the player from their captivity, returning their confiscated gear.
Zaela is highly worried about the future of the Dragonmaw under the corrupted Mor'ghor, citing him as a traitor to his own blood, and that he and his fel orcs would bring about the destruction of the clan. She sends the player back to the Horde fleet, bargaining that if Mor'ghor is deposed, she and the true Dragonmaw would be the Horde's allies forevermore.
The Horde forces lay siege to Dragonmaw Port from the shore, and the Dragonmaw themselves take up arms against the fel orcs with supplies sent by the Horde fleet. The fight is taken directly to Mor'ghor, and with the help of the Horde, he is disposed of. Zaela announces that a new Dragonmaw dawns with his death. Meanwhile, the Horde and the Dragonmaw route out the remaining fel orcs, and Garrosh himself returns to meet Zaela.
In the wake of Mor'ghor's death, Zaela is named leader of the Dragonmaw, and welcomed into the Horde by Garrosh.
Despite the Dragonmaw taking up arms with the Horde, Narkrall Rakeclaw within Bloodgulch is less than pleased with his new allies. Taking the "Demon Chain", an item used to project will upon sentient beings (in particular, black dragons) and his own subdued black drake, Torth, Narkrall leaves to annihilate the Wildhammer outpost of Thundermar in an attempt to gain support from the clan- against Zaela. Narkrall is left for dead in the process, having not anticipated the Alliance backing the Wildhammer, and the chain is returned to Zaela. Torth, however, survived the encounter, and fled the scene free from the chain's influence.
Now free from his enthrallment, Torth sets his sights on revenge against the Dragonmaw. Zaela is able to subdue him outside The Gullet, and attempts to put him under the chain's influence once more. Unwilling to serve, Zaela concludes that he must die.
Zaela later relocates to Crushblow, joined by a Horde liason named Lady Cozwynn sent by Lady Sylvanas Windrunner. She has gained the title of Warlord, and assists Garona Halforcen alongside Cozwynn during the showdown with Skullcrusher the Mountain.
Zaela and Garrosh developed a strong bond during the conflict.[2]
Escalation
Zaela was summoned by Garrosh to help put down the burgeoning Darkspear Rebellion; she is found at the Dranosh'ar Blockade projecting her will (possibly via the Demon Chain) onto an enslaved proto drake. SI:7 agents are sent to spy on her and overhear her converse with a nearby dark shaman; she expresses disdain for the trolls' rebellion, and maintains hope that Garrosh will move against them soon. She is surrounded by corpses of executed trolls.
Siege of Orgrimmar
- Main article: Galakras
Zaela oversees the defense of Durotar's shores during the Siege of Orgrimmar atop her fearsome drake, Galakras. She faces off against the naval forces led by Varian Wrynn and Lor'themar Theron. After Galakras is shot down from the sky, Zaela is launched from him. Upon hitting the ground, however, she throws down a smoke pellet and vanishes.
War Crimes
Zaela, having survived the Siege of Orgrimmar, flees to Grim Batol with what remains of the Dragonmaw clan. A message from a dragon sends her gathering up other loyalists to the True Horde, including Shokia and Thalen Songweaver. She also attacked Westguard Keep, freed Harrowmeiser and recruited pirates.
Zaela and the Dragonmaw ally with the Infinite dragonflight and attack the Temple of the White Tiger, causing a distraction long enough for Kairoz to free Garrosh and escape with him. After she was sure the two made it, she called for retreat.
The Iron Tide
At some point, she lost an eye. As Garrosh's only ally on Azeroth, Zaela is located in the Blasted Lands guarding the Dark Portal along with Commander Tharbek and his Ironmarch invasion force of the Iron Horde. There she owns a rylak. They later moved to Upper Blackrock Spire and claimed it as their main base of operations. The adventurers of the Horde and Alliance invaded the place and she commanded Tharbek to finish them off while she went to finish her "weapon".
Warlords of Draenor
Later, she is encountered as the final boss of revamped Upper Blackrock Spire. Tharbek and the proto-dragon with whom she had forged a close bond, Ragewing the Untamed, were killed. The adventurers killed her, stopping the plan of using a doomsday weapon that would trigger the volcano of the Mountain and thus the destruction of Stormwind City.
Locations
| Notable appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | Level range | Health range |
| Dragonmaw Port | 85 | 85,239 |
| Crushblow | 85 | 426,195 |
| Quest:Skullcrusher the Mountain | 85 | 1,704,780 |
| Durotar | 93 | 479,751 |
| Siege of Orgrimmar | 93 | 19,560,000 |
| Patch 6.0 | 103 | 3,791,480 |
Quests
- Quest:Madness
- Quest:Negotiations Terminated
- Quest:You Say You Want a Revolution
- Quest:Insurrection
- Quest:Death to Mor'ghor
- Quest:Return to the Highlands
- Quest:The Southern Flank
- Quest:The Northern Flank
- Quest:How to Maim Your Dragon
- Quest:The Demon Chain
- Quest:Fury Unbound
- Quest:Crushblow
- Quest:Ogres & Ettins (Horde)
- Quest:Move the Mountain (Horde)
- Quest:Skullcrusher the Mountain (Horde)
Personality
Zaela's personality would appear to be rather contradictory. In Cataclysm, Zaela appeared to be accepting of other races. Zaela admired Garrosh for leading a diverse group of people, worked closely with the Forsaken, Lady Cozwynn, and frequently stood up for the Horde player against the more extreme members of the Clan. Zaela was portrayed as rather cautious in this portrayal, not approving of foolhardy attacks on the Alliance, and wanting to focus on the Twilight's Hammer.[3]
Later on Zaela was portrayed as far more brash - undertaking risky military attacks - as well having a condescending attitude towards the other races of the Horde, believing the Horde should be comprised of only orcs. This is assumed to be due to Garrosh's influence.
Quotes
- Main articles: Galakras#Quotes, Warlord Zaela (tactics)#Quotes
Zaela's appearance prior to Warlords of Draenor.
- Greetings
- "Speak plainly. My people don't mince words."
- "We are Dragonmaw."
- "I bear the mark of the Dragonmaw."
- "I speak for the Dragonmaw."
- "My people welcome yours."
- Irritated
- "Step off!"
- "Hah! You don't even know how to use that finger."
Dragonmaw induction
Garrosh Hellscream says: Ahh, there she is. The battle-maiden of the Dragonmaw. Let me see your face.
Zaela says: Hellscream, I am Zaela of the Dragonmaw. Your people have freed mine from tyranny. We are your instrument. The strength of the Dragonmaw is yours to command. For the Horde!
Garrosh Hellscream says: Blood and honor, hero. The Horde welcomes you. Your people will be put to the test as we obliterate Twilight's Hammer and lay claim to this distant shore. But first... some unfinished business.
Conversation with Narkrall
- Narkrall Rakeclaw says: That's right, beast. You belong to the Dragonmaw now.
- Narkrall Rakeclaw says: And if you don't obey, we're cutting you up for parts.
- Zaela says: Impressive. Complete domination of the animal while it's weakened.
- Zaela says: Tell me, what is this charm you're using?
- Narkrall Rakeclaw says: The Demon Chain. It projects our will like a physical force.
- Zaela says: With your wing of drake riders and the support of the Horde, we can make an assault on the Bastion of Twilight.
- Narkrall Rakeclaw says: The Horde? I SPIT on your Horde! Our enemies are weak and splintered, yet you bargain with Hellscream? Dragonmaw stand alone!
- Zaela says: Another treasonous word and I will put you in your place, Narkrall.
- Narkrall Rakeclaw says: I will prove it to you. I will strike the Wildhammer at Thundermar.
- Narkrall Rakeclaw says: When I return victorious, we will see who the Dragonmaw call "Warchief".
- Zaela says: Narkrall! If you wish to challenge me, you do so here. Do NOT squander our forces on a fool crusade.
Gossip text
"This stronghold is fortified, but our enemies close in from all sides. We would be wise to secure our position on the coast before advancing farther inland."
"I am new to the burdens of leadership. I should've seen Narkrall's insubordination coming. Instead I am cleaning up his mess.
I don't know how Garrosh Hellscream does it. He must possess great strength to hold together a force as diverse as the Horde... I should like to know him more."
Notes
- When first introduced, Zaela lacks any form of title. Upon reaching Crushblow, she has been named a Warlord.
- Many fans pair Garrosh with Zaela due to their loyalty to each other and mutual respect.
- Her eye-patch model is the same as Lor'themar uses.
- Zaela is voiced by Lani Minella.
- It was initially planned that Zaela would travel with Garrosh to Draenor.[4]
Patch changes
- Patch 6.0.3 (2014-10-28): Model updated.
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Added.
References
External links
| Preceded by: Overlord Mor'ghor |
Position: Chieftain of the Dragonmaw Clan (Azeroth) |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
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