Grothar

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Grothi Grimtotem
Keeper of the Grove
Game Name	Grothi
Race	Tauren
Gender	Male
Class	Druid
Professions	Skinning Leatherworking
Guild	Alea Iacta Est

Skinning Leatherworking

Grothi is a Tauren Druid, and Cohort of Alea Iacta Est

Description

As a Grimmtotem, Grothi bears the traditional black skin and hair coloration of the tribe. His horns curve forward from his head. He is often seen in his Moonkin form, a coloration he shares with other Tauren Balance druids

Character History

Grothi is a member of the Grimtotem Tribe, and was raised with their ingrained hatred of the other Tauren Tribes, and of Cairne's Bloodhoof tribe in particular. However, it never really took with the young tauren, who seemed to recognize the hatred for what it was: jealousy and lust for power on the part of their chieftan, Magatha.

One day, the druid Kym Wildmane was sent on an excursion by Arch Druid Hamuul Runetotem to the Wilds of Feralas. Magatha, hating Kym for her staunch support of Cairne as unified chieftan, volunteered three guards for Kym as "protection" for her in the harsh wilds. Their true mission was simple: Kill the druidess and set the blame on the wild creatures of the land. Few would believe it, but that was the intent: send a subtle message to Cairne's supporters. Young Grothi was the third of the warriors sent, this was to be his final initiatory rite among the adults of the Grimtotem, his mark of manhood. He had no desire to go through with it, but could not muster the courage to stand up to them.

On the excursion, Grothi was marveled by Kym's ability to communicate with nature, and felt something stir within him. He pondered what it could be, until his kin launched their suprise attack. Kym, though suprised, easily proved to be able to hold her own. The two versus one odds began to take their toll, until Grothi heard the voice of nature call to him and give him the courage to do the right thing. He struck down his evil brethren and saved Kym. The druidess, grateful for his aid, happily took the young Grimtotem as her apprentice and has taught him the ways of the Earth Mother. The Grimtotems banished him from their clan as a result, but Grothi no longer cares. He has a home wherever there are wilds, wherever his fellow druids gather, and wherever his guildmates are found.

In Combat

Grothi spend most of his early druidic career in his cat form. He was still on the Path of Feral Combat when he begin adventuring alongside Dahkar. The two would often team up with other adventurers to tackle difficult challenges, adventurers who insisted the druid use his bear form while fighting. Grothi has seen many of his fellow druids excel as a bear, but he never got the hang of it, nor enjoyed it very much. At Dahkar's encouragement, Grothi began pursuing the Path of Balance, eventually learning the intricate masteries of the Moonkin Form. Grothi feels as much himself in the almost alien mind of the Moonkin as he does within his own body.

Connections to other Characters

• Dahkar - Dahkar met the druid known as Grothi Grimtotem during the early stages of both of their adventuring careers. Grothi initially did not care for the mage, viewing Arcane magic with his people's usual distrust for anything not of the natural world. The two found themselves running in to each other repeatedly and developed a friendship despite their differences. Their conversations and debates have caused Grothi to see Arcane magic as a force as natural to the world as his own abilities, it can be used for good or for ill. It may be true that his association with the mage has subconsciously influenced his decision to pursue the Path of Balance. The two remain good friends and continue to work together to eradicate the newest threat to the Horde, the Scourge.

• Old Man Franks - Grothi is a being of the natural world, and as such, highly distrusts the Horde's supposed Undead allies. He was the sole voice of objection to his friend's employment of Old Man Franks as their banker, and is extremely uneasy at his conversion to Death Knighthood and inclusion in their group. Franks has proven himself a dedicated combatant against the Scourge and the other threats which face Azeroth, but his methods seem just as bad to Grothi as the Scourge itself. For now, he struggles to overlook these things for the greater good.

• Durnnit - As the younger brother of his best friend, Grothi has long known Durnnit. The two have much in common and often discuss the philosophies of their paths during their downtime. When the Horde began their assault on Northrend, the pair headed for the Howling Fjord together to study the lush environments and keep the Forsaken in check from destroying the land needlessly in the name of vengeance.

Views on other races and factions

Grothi does not trust the Forsaken. To him, they are unnatural aberrations. While he recognizes that they are forced into this state against their will, they do nothing to prove themselves as non-evil with their constant plots to develop new plagues. His tribal chieftan campaigned for their admission into the Horde, and knowing how power hungry she is, he believes they mean trouble for Cairne and the Tauren people. Grothi constantly keeps a wary eye on any Forsaken he meets or adventures with, searching for the first signs of betrayal.

Grothi at one point distrusted Blood Elves. While he does recognize magic as a natural force in the world, he was concerned the Blood Elves were using it to alter the natural world to their tastes. This opinion has slowly changed the more time he spends among them, especially as they allowed one of his fellow druids to set up their own camp within the city and regularly speak with her about the state of their lands which are corrupted by the undead plague. Eversong Woods bears no taint of overwhelming magic use, but appears to be a natural grove of beauty, one which the elves seem to have taken great pains to respect. His heart breaks at the sight of the Ghostlands, and it's restoration is something he one day intends to work towards alongside the Elves.

Grothi's opinion on the Alliance and the war between them and the Horde mirrors that of his Archmage companion. There is too much other evil in the world to fight, yet they waste good lives trying to kill each other. Few sights make him burn with fury like that of a Night Elf druid willingly participating in this madness. Students of Cenarius should know better.

Player

Old Man Franks is played by User:Oldmanfranks.