Penned by Anjasa Vilelight and Amended by Teeva Lushwillow

((This information is considered to be our ‘in-character’ history and is written from the perspective of the authors.))

Before the Tribe

It all started when a troll was exiled from the Zandalar Islands, his young companion trailing behind. They started a new life together on the shores of Durotar. However the 'Horde' wasn't what they had envisioned, and not what they thought it should be. Hiring an old orc, Toregene, as their guide, the troll couple Jez and Zij quickly learned of Thrall's alliance with the forsaken and tauren; the decline of the Old Horde, the rise of the New. The mighty orcs were still much as they had expected: great and honourable beings, who had earned the trust of the Forest Trolls in the Second War, and so nearly brought their great cousins to victory.

Spurred on by the information that the Darkspear were enforced to abandon their ancient customs, the couple quickly decided that they must unite the two races together, under a common banner, to share the information and strength of each others races, yet retain their differences. A new Tribe was formed on the beaches of Sen’jin; a humble beginning that started amongst a small band in a large hut gave birth to something separate from the Horde, but allied with it.

In the Beginning

A small troll talisman was crafted by Zij's own hands; black, decorated with small feathers and string, it would allow communication wherever they would go. The young troll girl was pushed to leadership by Zij, who much preferred to not deal with the squabbling that he knew would come to a leader. As a Witch Doctor in the Zandalar Tribe, he knew power was better wielded from the shadows anyhow.

The Tribe and its fiery Chieftain rallied in the streets of Orgrimmar. Marched through the roads from Razor Hill to the Crossroads and behind, preaching a sermon of the ‘Old Ways’ and the necessity of preserving them.

For months they prospered and grew, despite the inner turmoil that occurred when so many different people got together with one another. Jez was unstable as a leader, uncertain of herself and willingly ignorant to the evil things that kept pushing at her, for the young Chieftess so loved to please. Zij, however, stayed back in the shadows, smoothing over any problems he could, exacerbating others with his machinations.

Celebration and Battle

As the Tribes fortune increased, marriage was planned. The Chieftess wed her long time lover, Zij, atop a mountain in Teldrassil. The odd location was kept private for the ceremony, and beside the attendant’s finery, they carried their weapons and armour. As an offering to his new wife, Zij let loose the Tribe onto the inhabitants of the elvish home. A blood offering to Jez; it was to be a glorious offering and cleverly planned.

However, in the shadowed wedding halls of the cave atop the mountain, treachery lurked. A forsaken, so rarely trusted, was invited to partake in the festivities, to provide more blood for the doctor’s wife. In collusion with an Alliance mercenary company, he helped divert the Tribe to be ambushed by superior forces at the gates of Darnassus.

Fighting bravely against many fold forces, the Tribe retreated and regrouped. Outwitting the alliance mercenaries, the Tribe laid waste and ravaged the great tree and its population centres. However, the night was but the first step in a long, bitter war fuelled by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, for the sullying of the doctor’s wedding gift.

Across northern Kalimdor battle raged for months. Led in battle by a brave new tactician and strategist, the Tribe waged a guerrilla war and frustrated their mercenary opponents into eventual defeat and withdrawal.

Turmoil and Adaptation

However, nothing compared to the betrayal they felt as elves, the most evil race to walk Azeroth, were accepted into the Horde. Their numbers splintered, several being picked off and seduced by elven females, others disappearing and never being heard of again. The same strong and brutal troll who led the Tribe to victory over their mercenary adversaries, Jumwa, arose again at this time. Enforcing the Tribe's standards, both easing and inflaming tensions, Jumwa was a tyrannical and devoted follower of the Tribe. However, it was not so easy to just ignore the elves, forsaken and tauren and the hold they held over Orgrimmar. Soon, the city was flooded with elves, many of them pressing at the Tribe. But still the Tribe marched on, beginning to fight vehemently for land in Ashenvale: a home to call their own.

The Tribe was strong, and its presence could be felt and because of this elves came to them for aid. For several months the Tribe dealt with the stress of conformity, feeling pressure from the Horde to keep the peace, from the Tribe to call war, and from the elves to meet with them. Open war in the streets of the Horde would not be tolerated.

In secret the Tribe fueled the foes of the elves, providing support in battle for the Amani and openly speaking out in public on behalf of the Hordes former ally. The Tribe acted true to their calling and this enraged the new pink members of the Horde all the further.

It was then that Zij, the Witch Doctor, came up with the concept of the Ambassadors. The tauren, of course, made sense. Over the past several months, the tauren had proven themselves to have the possibility of being strong and loyal allies, and Rinderwahn, the Tribe’s tauren Ambassador proved his people to the Tribe without doubt; however, the elves and forsaken caused more of a ruffle. After several days of interviewing all that responded in application, they chose two forsaken: a bookish male to deal with the Sin'dorei named Azerai, and a sadistic female to deal with other forsaken named Shahai.

Crisis

The tensions within the Tribe were eased over time, though the leadership was strained, especially its young Chieftess, who became overwrought with the stresses of command. For months, all was peaceful within the Tribe, new members began to flourish, proving themselves as loyal and worthy members. When Azerai, the forsaken, disappeared, they replaced him with two elves, one hot, one cold, and again, with Xonil Shadowleaf and Aranae Sunshower, things returned to normal.

However in the intervening months, assassination attempts on the Witch Doctor proved troublesome, and over time grew closer to success, creating panic, fear and anger amongst members. The Tribe’s militancy grew.

Then the Tribe's Chieftess vanished, the Doctor explaining that illness had overcome her. Retreating into seclusion, the pregnant Jez was little heard of or seen again, hiding her shame from the eyes of the Tribe.

The Chieftain stepped flawlessly into the spotlight of power, promoting his new secret orcish lover and friend, Draeka, quickly through the ranks to act as his right-hand. For months, the two trained the Tribe, encouraging their ideals and fighting for their place in this world. Zij’jin and Draeka ruled those they loved with kindness and the hardness of parents.

The Tribe quickly reached a peak, and with the sudden illness and death of the Chieftain, quickly fell into the pits of sorrow. Though countless battles were fought in glory, in the end the Chieftain succumbed in bed to an assassin's poison, separating his spirit from his earthly body.

And with that change came many more. Under Jumwa'jin the Tribe stuck true to its ideals of preserving their unique heritage and ways; the vision of Zij'jin. At the same time, the mighty and revered Jumwa'jin welcomed those of Forsaken and elvish creed to aid in the Tribe’s goals as hired mercenaries but not members. Those individuals of their kind who were dissatisfied with Thrall's Horde, and wished the strength of unity without the conformity. In the end, all was done over dominance of Ashenvale, a new home, independence, and revenge on those that hurt them so deeply.

Jumwa'jin, though he had towed the previous Chieftain's line and willingly enforced the rules, was not a racist; he held no contempt for the elves or forsaken and saw value in both of their contributions.

Reform

Throughout the troubles, betrayal and struggles, Jumwa'jin has remained a strong leader, showing us the way! The betrayer tried to test his strength and cunning, and failed! Ashenvale may have been lost to us, but Jumwa'jin has not fallen, has not faltered, and has continued to push through, leading his mighty warriors to victory! The Tribe is stronger and more dedicated, focused under his lead, and we forged ahead! All races unified now by a common goal for victory!

Battle

Together, the strong, loyal and proud of the five races of the Horde will triumph under the leadership of Jumwa'jin. Our mighty Chieftain whom has led us to victory time and time again; from our early days in battle against the Alliance armies, to the halls of Karazhan, to the chambers of Naxxramas and the icy confines of Arthas’ Citadel, and beyond. Through cunning and strength Jumwa’jin has led the Tribe through fire and ice and a hail of arrows. The Tribe reformed, that much is certain. Meeting in Azshara, plotting and planning and growing ever stronger.

Under his guidance we slaughtered the undead residents of Karazhan, and then we pushed ahead again! Into Northrend, home of the Lich King. But Jumwa'jin did not falter, and neither did his Tribe, for the Tribe was strong and capable and certain of its footings.

For months we brought blood and glory to the Tribe, rising higher and higher beyond all expectations anyone had held for the Tribe. The Tuskguards, under the watchful gaze of Jindal, trained. They defended our makeshift home.

We armed ourselves rightly, prepared for the battle we knew must come. The battle for our home.

Home

For years the Tribe had struggled for such a place. We had shed blood and tears and lost friends and loved ones in the pursuit of it. A home. Such a simple term, but one so encompassing.

And so we fought! Hand and teeth and nail and blade, we fought. And we earned ourselves a home. The garden will soon be filling with children, all under the capable, strong hands of our loving and merciful Chieftain.

Tragedy

For months we lived there, under the careful guidance of our Chieftain, Jumwa’jin, and his elven wife and Chieftess, Anjasa Vilelight. Zul’waja, we called it, in their honour. It was a home – what the Tribe has sought since landing upon those sandy beaches of Sen’jin. A place where the customs of each race could be cherished and practiced, where individuals could teach one another of their crafts, where families flourish.

But the battle into Ulduar, the slaughter of the old ones, would have repercussions beyond that of those felled in battle. A token of their victory, a tentacle taken as a trophy insidiously wormed its way into the deepest psyches of the inhabitants of the otherwise peaceful city. They turned on one another, paranoid and frightened by the deeply unsettling dreams and thoughts.

Jumwa’jin ordered the city evacuated and a makeshift shelter was set up on Draenor. The Chieftess stayed behind, and through her mad ramblings, the tauren Isanti Fairtide gathered enough information to seek out the treasure, to learn of its nature. She handed it to Baerath and, after studying it, turned it back to the Chieftain. Together, he and his second wife, Idryl Bitterose, destroyed it.

Rebirth

With the loss of their city, the Tribe was demoralized and lost. Jumwa’jin sought guidance from the spirits and, after being besieged by silithids seeking their destroyed dark treasure, changes were required to the Tribe.

The military hierarchy that had been put in place so many years ago would have to crumble and, if the Tribe were to continue its survival, their knowledge and information must be passed to one another. A focus on community and family drove out the idea of brick and mortar homes.

It was a new dawn, a new age, and through the ashes of Zul’waja would arise the true spirit of the Burning Tusk Tribe.

Hail Jumwa’jin! For the Burning Tusk Tribe!

Written by the Tribal Scribes on this, the equinox. Edited and approved by Chieftess Anjasa Vilelight

Amended by Teeva Lushwillow, Advisor to Jumwa’jin.