- For other versions, see Peon (disambiguation).
“All muscle and no brain, that's what peons are! They're great when you can motivate them, but they have to be 'kick' started, if you know what I mean.”
Peons are the laborers and lumberjacks of the Horde and orcish clans. Cowardly, lazy, and slow-witted, they are typically unfit for warfare, but their work is simply indispensable. Without them, more able-bodied orcs would have to take precious time from their battles to do menial labor. This is why the importance of the peon is recognized in the holiday Peon Day. Even so, long years of service take a harsh toll, as most peons are physically bent from beatings and hard work. They trudge expressionlessly in their duty, a large sack slouched over malformed shoulders that are broader than any soldier's.
Peons appeared as units on the Horde side in Warcraft I, Warcraft II, and Warcraft III, and were voiced by Bill Roper. They are the classic counterpart to peasants.
First War[]
- Main article: Peon (Warcraft I)
The lowliest of the Orcs, these dogs were good for little more than rough work. They were commanded to cut wood or mine the pits for gold. They also made strong laborers in the construction of all manner of buildings. They were all cowards, and would run like little children if attacked.[1]
Second War[]
- Main article: Peon (Warcraft II)
The label of peon denoted the lowest station amongst those in the Orcish Horde. Inferior in all skills of import, these dogs were relegated to menial tasks such as harvesting lumber and mining gold. Their labor was also required for the construction and maintenance of buildings necessary to support the vast undertakings of the Horde. Downtrodden, the orc peons slaved thanklessly to please their overseers.[2]
During the Invasion of Draenor, the Sons of Lothar captured and interrogated some peons of the Horde of Draenor that Ner'zhul had sent against them as cannon fodder to delay the Alliance.[3]
Third War[]
- Main article: Peon (Warcraft III)
The label of Peon denotes the lowest station amongst those in the Orcish Horde. Inferior in all skills of worth, these dredges are relegated to menial tasks such as harvesting lumber and mining gold. Their labor is also required for the construction and maintenance of buildings necessary to support the vast undertakings of the Horde. Downtrodden, but exceedingly loyal, the orc peons toil endlessly to provide for the greater Horde.
Peon portrait in Warcraft III.
Peon unit icon in Warcraft III: Reforged.
Chaos Peon and Fel Orc Peon unit icon in Warcraft III.
Chaos Peon and Fel Orc Peon in campaign missions have a different red skin color and glowing yellow eyes compared to normal orc peons.
World of Warcraft[]
As their manual description evolved over time, it seems that in the modern Horde peons are treated in a slightly gentler manner than before, an effort which could presumably be attributed to Thrall, as was the case in the non-canon RPG. Peons are often under the watch of foremen,[4][5] overseers,[6][7][8] or overlords,[9] who ensure that they don't get too lazy or complacent, in which case they are punished using blackjacks[10][11] or booterangs. Peons are, as such, sometimes unhappy with their situation,[12][13] and sometimes gather enough self-confidence to try to progress in life.[14] For example, Murg Stonecrack is a former peon who was promoted to the rank of mining trainer and allowed to boss around other peons.
After the end of the Fourth War, Foreman Magrok in the Twilight Highlands got angered by the way peons had been treated and demanded that the Horde gave them more respect and better working conditions.[15]
Most peons still have the same soundset and quotes as in Warcraft III. Interestingly enough, many peons all over Azeroth, Outland and Draenor also share the same face, maybe a nod from Blizzard to the fact that many Alliance peasants share the same model.
Notable[]
- Ukor - Durotar
- Lanti'gah - Barrens
- Peon Bolgar - Hellfire Peninsula
- Peon Gakra - Storm Peaks
- Orc Sea Pup - Silverpine Forest
- Suspicious Peon - Orgrimmar
- Senior Peon II - Frostwall
- Murg Stonecrack - Ashran (formerly)
Types[]
Please add any available information to this section.
- Lazy Peon - Durotar
- Warsong Peon - Ashenvale
- Hammerfall Peon - Arathi Highlands
- Coldmine Peon - Alterac Valley
- Irondeep Peon - Alterac Valley
- Thrallmar Peon - Hellfire Peninsula
- Bleeding Hollow Peon - Hellfire Peninsula
- Stonebreaker Peon - Terokkar Forest
- Warped Peon - Terokkar Forest
- Shadowmoon Peon - Shadowmoon Valley
- Dragonmaw Peon - Shadowmoon Valley
- Disobedient Dragonmaw Peon - Shadowmoon Valley
- Horde Peon - Battle for Mount Hyjal
- Warsong Hold Peon - Borean Tundra
- Warsong Peon - Borean Tundra
- Bor'gorok Peon - Borean Tundra
- Warsong Peon - Dragonblight
- Wintergrasp Peon - Wintergrasp
- Warsong Peon - Icecrown Citadel
- Durotar Farmhand - Durotar
- Dranosh'ar Laborer - Durotar
- Orgrimmar Skyway Peon - Orgrimmar
- Caravan Peon - Northern Barrens
- Splintertree Peon - Ashenvale
- Demoralized Peon - Ashenvale
- Frightened Peon - Stonetalon Mountains
- Krom'gar Peon - Stonetalon Mountains
- Stonard Peon - Swamp of Sorrows
- Cowering Peon - Swamp of Sorrows
- Hearthglen Drudge - Western Plaguelands
- Rok'nah Peon - Theramore's Fall
- Ragefire Peon - Secrets of Ragefire
- Twinspire Peon - The Jade Forest
- Garrosh'ar Peon - The Jade Forest
- Warfront Peon - Krasarang Wilds
- Hellscream Laborer - Northern Barrens
- Overburdened Laborer - Northern Barrens
- Orgrimmar Peon - Siege of Orgrimmar
- Frostwall Peon - Frostwall
- Frostwolf Peon - Frostfire Ridge
- Grom'kar Peon - all over Draenor
- Iron Peon - Shadowmoon Valley
- Iron Horde Peon - Shadowmoon Valley
- Gul'var Peon - Shadowmoon Valley
- Warspear Peon - Ashran
- Peon - Talador
- Riverside Peon - Nagrand
- Garrison Peon - Tanaan Jungle
- Vol'mar Peon - Tanaan Jungle
In the RPG[]
Pity the poor peon, working from dusk to dawn, slaving away in the service of orc and Horde. Permanently bent from years of labor, the expressionless orc trudges in his duty, a large sack slouched over malformed shoulders that are broader than any soldier’s.
Commonly treated with contempt, the wise Horde chief knows that without these sturdy little guys, the Horde war machine would grind to a halt. They are nearly worthless in combat, which is why they prefer to hide in Burrows and throw spears out the windows, if it comes to that.[16]
Orgrim Doomhammer respected peons and punished the orc captain Narg Snarl for disrespecting them.[17]
Quotes[]
Notes and trivia[]
- An SI:7 spy was once disguised as a peon.
- Amani'shi Peon is a forest troll peon.
- In Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, "Peon" is an obtainable rank.
Gallery[]
Orc Peon in the Trading Card Game.
Lazy Peons in the TCG.
Sleeping orc peon from the Alterac Pass battleground.
Orc peon cutting wood from the Alterac Pass battleground.
References[]
- ^ Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Orcish Horde of the First War, Peon
- ^ Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Ground Units of the Orcish Horde, Peon
- ^ Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 16
- ^ Foreman Thazz'ril
- ^ Gorsol
- ^ Peon Overseer
- ^ Chief Overseer Mudlump
- ^ Lug'ruk
- ^ Overlord Bor'gorok
- ^ [Foreman's Blackjack]
- ^ [Overseer's Blackjack]
- ^ Disobedient Dragonmaw Peon#Quotes
- ^ Where Are the Workers?#Notes
- ^ Peon (Dazar'alor)#Quotes
- ^ [40-70] Where Are the Workers?
- ^ Horde Player's Guide, pg. 196 - 197
- ^ Horde Player's Guide, pg. 193