Durnnit

Durnnit
Game Name	Durnnit
Race	Troll
Gender	Male
Class	Shaman
Professions	Skinning Herbalism
Guild	Alea Iacta Est

Skinning Herbalism

Durnnit is a Troll Shaman, and Cohort of Alea Iacta Est

Description

Like most Gurubashi Trolls, Durnnit is tall, very very slim, and covererd in a fine blue fur which actually makes it look as though his skin is blue. His frame is lined with a very wiry structure of muscles owed to his prowress as a warrior and now a shaman. Durnnit posesses long tusks, which curve downward before moving away from his face. His hair is still it's natural shade of fiery red, and he wears it in a tall crest-style mohawk.

Perhaps the most striking feature of Durnnit is the troll's eerie constant sense of calm. He seems to be constantly at peace with himself, rarely displaying extreme negative emotions. Durnnit attributes this peace to his relationship with the Elemental Spirits.

Character History

Durnnit grew up in the lowest years of the Darkspear tribe's life. Unlike his elder brother, he proved apt with melee weapons very early on in his life, and consequently proved a much better hunter and warrior for the tribe. Luckily, he also proved to be very loyal to his family, and often covered for his brother's shortcomings, so the Witch Doctors would have less reason to sacrifice him for some vile blessing. Like his brother, he found this means of worshipping their Loa gods perverse and less than useless, but kept his tongue to protect his brother and family.

When Thrall and the orcs came and saved them from the Sea Witch and her Murloc minions, Durnnit was able to view the Warchief and his fellow orcish shamans during the battle, and witnessed something curious. Often it seemed the shamans were speaking to someone, without actually opening their mouths. Despite that, Durnnit heard their words as clear as day. The shamans asked the world around them to help them in their cause to aid the Darkspears. What shocked him even more was that something answered them! Never had the troll heard a force beyond the world that he could see speak so clearly before, not even the own Loa gods they all worshipped.

Durnnit asked his brother what to make of these voices, and Dahkar looked back at his brother, confused. He replied that he had heard nothing. Shocked, Durnnit dropped the subject, but marveled at the shaman's abilities as the battle continued on. There was little time to pursue the subject then and there, and their continued to be little time for it, as Sen'jin fell victim to the Sea Witch's forces, and the Darkspears found their destiny in the hands of the Orcs. Some were troubled by this, but Durnnit knew within himself that their chieftan's decision had been the right one. Something about those voices he had heard called to him, and in them he heard the promise of a new way of life. However, he would not have time to truly explore what this new power was until much later. The new Horde was taking shape, and they had to keep moving to Kalimdor.

Durnnit was present with the Horde throughout much of the Third War, staying close to Dahkar and protecting him as best he could. During this time he had many many opportunities to further witness the shaman's power in action, but the constant fighting meant there was little time for him to approach any of them and seek knowledge. Undaunted, he resolved to survive the fighting, neverending as it seemed to be. Aiding their tauren allies, fighting the humans who seemed to hate their new allies so much, bringing the Warsong Clan back from their demonic regression, it seemed like the Horde would never know peace.

Finally, Warchief Thrall briefed the soldiers on their final battle...the Burning Legion and their Scourge minions would ascend Mount Hyjal. The final alliance of the Humans under Jaina Proudmoore, the Night Elves, and the Horde would unite to delay them until a trap was readied to destroy them once and for all. Durnnit feared for himself and his brother. Dahkar had acquired tomes detailing knowledge of magic and seemed eager to study them, and Durnnit longed to know more of these spirits, as the orcs called them, who aided the shamans and heard their calls. Durnnit could feel within his soul that these spirits would be his future, just as the magic which so intrigued his brother would be his. He knew both of them had to survive the Legion, for their people's sake, and for their own.

The battle was fierce, and raged for hours. Jaina Proudmoore's people fought valiantly, but in the end, the base fell. Jaina's part in the plan was over, and she teleported as many of her people out as were still alive. Then the demons began to swarm the Horde encampment, and Durrnit fought with everything he had within him. One Doomguard, however, got the better of him, knocking Dahkar unconscious and severely wounding Durnnit. The Doomguard was poised to impale Dahkar on his fiery blade, and Durnnit, without thinking, cried out in his mind.

"Spirits who aid the shaman, please, save my brother!!"

The spirits responded.

Lightning descended from the sky, burning into the demon. As it cried in agony, roots tore up from the ground, binding it, and pulling it in many directions, finally tearing the demon apart.

Durnnit sat stunned at what had just happened. Two more shaman ran to aid them, asking the spirit of water to heal their wounds. As they voiced their thanks in their mind, Durnnit echoed them. The orcs, astonished, turned to look at him. "You hear the spirits, troll?"

"Ya, mon. Since ya people be freein' us from death back in Stanglethorn, i heah dem. Nevah knew what dey were, but I be feelin' drawn to dem since. When me bruddah lay dere, about to die, I didnah know what else to do..."

The Orc laughed. "Hah! The spirits have shown us their wisdom! We thought we gained new allies, but we have gained more, we have gained blue-skinned brothers! Come, troll! Let us return to this battle! You will survive, my friend, and when it is all over, you come find Zoschka! I will take you to the Warchief and the Far Seer Drek'thar, who taught me the spirit's ways! Lok'tar Ogar!"

Energized with purpose, Durnnit plunged back into the fray, and though the demons ultimately triumphed over their forces as well, when Jaina Proudmoore teleported the remaning Horde away from the battle, Durnnit and Dahkar were among the living.

After the battle, Thrall led them to their new home, Durotar. Their Tauren allies, triumphant over the centaur marauders, had settled into the grasslands of Mulgore to the west. The Darkspears had chosen to return to their island jungle roots, and claimed a series of islands off of Durotar's coast, called the Echo Isles. The brothers, however, were not among them. Dahkar had elected to stay with several other trolls within Orgrimmar to help build the city and to study the magic tomes from Alliance wizards that they had collected. Durnnit, meanwhile, sought out the orc Zoschka, who took him before Thrall and Drek'thar. Amazed that their new allies were united with them on an even deeper level, Drek'thar resolved to teach the troll and any others he could find who heard the call of the spirits. Within days Durnnit and several others were learning from Drek'thar about the nature of the Elemental spirits.

When news of Daelin Proudmoore's agression reached Thrall, Durnnit's teaching was interrupted by the call to battle again. Still, Durnnit was capable enough to use what he did know in battle, and he fought as one of the few troll shamans in that conflict. What surprised him even more was his brother's use of Arcane magic. Apparently, he and his...friends...had been studying well. The Horde emerged triumphant, and Durnnit returned to Durotar with the Horde.

Drek'thar resumed their novice instructions, and the novice shamans progressed quickly. He soon sent them out to be apprentices to more experienced shamans, as he required returning to his clan's home in Alterac.

Durnnit journeyed to the Valley of Trials and there began his adventuring career. His older brother had long since gone ahead of him to seek out more knowledge for his fellow mages, and they did not see each other for some time, until meeting up in Outland with him and his curious companions; a tauren druid named Grothi and a blood elf warlock named Nihl. The warlock's presence was difficult for Durnnit to accept, having heard during his training the stories of the Orc Warlocks who nearly led their people to ruin, but it was clear to Durnnit that his elder brother trusted this elf, and the spirits gave him no sign to distrust him, so Durnnit did the best he could to get along with the Warlock, at least until his grief over the betrayal of Kael'thas consumed him, and drove him to spread darker powers across the Warlocks of Azeroth. After Kil'jaeden's defeat, Durnnit joined Dahkar and Grothi in disassociating themselves from Nihl. He was also present when their former banker, Old Man Franks, returned to them as a Death Knight.

Now a full-fledged Shaman, Durnnit seeks to serve the Horde and the Elements in whatever way he is able to, and to further spread their wisdom to the Horde. He knows the Scourge in Northrend must be defeated, lest they spread undeath to all of Azeroth, but Thrall's allowance of Garrosh Hellscream to lead the assault troubles him. He can clearly see the orc is consumed by rage and bloodlust, yet knows Thrall is blinded by this because of his relationship with Garrosh's father. He is also highly concerned about this "blight" their Forsaken allies are developing and what effects it will have on the land. He has now joined his companions in Northrend, not only to fight the Scourge, but to see that they not lose themselves in destroying them. Dahkar has secretly gone to him and asked him to make contact with any elements within the Warsong Offensive who share similar goals, and Durnnit has successfully done so, having learned that High Overlord Saurfang himself has established a network of agents for this purpose. Durnnit now waits for a signal he hopes never comes: A signal from Saurfang that Garrosh has gone too far and become consumed by Bloodlust, and they need to put him down. In the meantime, he continues to serve the Horde and the spirits by fighting the threats which seek to destroy them.

In Combat

The power of the shaman blends the strong traditions of the orcs of both physical combat and use of the elements. Modern shamans split their foci between three forms: Wielding the elements directly against their foes, using the elements to enhance their melee forms, and using the elements to restore and heal. Durnnit has typically followed the enhancement path since his initiation with some occasional dalliance into the Elemental path.

Connections to other Characters

• Dahkar - Durnnit, despite having protected his older brother for most of his life in a society that does not reward or encourage such behavior, still looks up to him and is fiercely loyal to him. He highly respects his ability to learn and practice arcane magic with the extreme profficiency that he has, and is proud of him for being named an Archmage. The title means little to him, but he knows to his brother, it is a huge honor. Dahkar once told him that for everything he had done, it was Durnnit whose destiny placed him in a role that would serve as the unifying force of the Horde and had saved their people, and that he (Dahkar) is the one who should be proud of his brother.

• Old Man Franks - Durnnit's calm centers from an absolute belief that the spirits will guide him truly, and he approaches the presence of the Death Knight from that perspective. The Death Knight has endured terrible death twice at the Scourge's hands, and has come out stronger for it each time. If the Spirits have guided Durnnit to the Death Knight, then Durnnit assumes there is a reason for it, and accepts him. For Old Man Franks' part, the Death Knight respects the shaman for neither trying to force his beliefs upon him, nor using them as an excuse to shun him. The two of them are often paired together in the front lines of battle while their companions cast their spells, and have forged a sort of partnership based around that.

• Grothi - The Druid shares many of Durnnit's beliefs about respecting the power of the world, yet they come at it from such different angles. The two spend much of their time together discussing their respective abilities and paths, each trying to understand the other's perspective and how they relate, and have become extremely good friends as a result.

• Nihl - Whereas Old Man Franks was turned into what he is completely against his will, Nihl chose to become what he is. Durnnit had a much more difficult time accepting him, but ultimately deferred to his brother's wisdom. Still, he tried to avoid the warlock as much as possible. When Nihl fell apart, delving deeply into dark and forbidden warlock powers, Durnnit could no longer accept him. He could not stand by someone who so damned their soul with no cares about the consequences. He has not seen Nihl since the group banished him, and would be highly nervous should he re-emerge onto the scene.

Views on other races and factions

Like Dahkar and Grothi, Durnnit views the Orc and Tauren races as brothers, united by cause and guidance of the elemental spirits. His brother and his shamanistic training have removed any prejudices against the Forsaken, though their recent upswing in activity related to developing a new plague has him very concerned. He shares Grothi's opinions of the Blood Elves following the events at the Sunwell.

He distrusts gnomes, but aside from that has no inherent prejudices against the other Alliance races, preferring to judge them on their own merits. He is disgusted by the Alliance leadership because of their inability or unwillingness to stop Varian Wrynn's idiocy. To some extent he is angered by the Draenei, because they share shamanism in commmon with most of the Horde, yet still let their old hatreds of the orcs blind them from seeking friendship and learning from each other. Like his companions, he finds the war between the Horde and Alliance to be less than useless, and puts high esteem in factions which fight towards true threats.

Player

Durnnit is played by User:Oldmanfranks.