New Saurfang Cinematic: "Old Soldier"

Posted 2018/08/04 at 3:33 PM by perculia

Collector's Edition novellasCinematic Summary

Blizzard

The fires of war rage across Azeroth, but legendary Horde warrior Varok Saurfang wants no part in the fighting. After a lifetime spent on the front lines, he has outlived most of those closest to him, even his own son. On the eve of a battle that will determine the Horde’s fate, the old soldier must choose whether to finally lay down his axe for good.

A Good WarSaurfang and His SonA Good War

He touched a burning torch to the pyre. Orange flames began to spread, first in the kindling, then in the chopped wooden logs. Shimmers of blue and white danced among the flames as the fire grew hotter. He made himself watch the flames consume his son. It was his boy's final honor--he would not turn away. He watched skin give away to muscle, to bone, and finally, to ash.

Varok Saurfang woke up. The silence of his quarters was undisturbed but for his breathing. His cheeks were wet again, he noticed.

A Good War

Saurfang made himself watch the flames consume city and citizens alike. He would not dishonor himself further by turning away.

Saurfang at Lordaeron

Saurfang: I had to see it for myself. Was this your plan all along? Is this how you meant to achieve victory? This...honorless travesty?
Sylvanas: Honor means nothing to a corpse, Saurfang. You have the luxury of underestimating death, but it is something with which I am intimately familiar. Maybe you don't care if your people die so long as it is honorable. But to me, this Horde is worth saving. Anyone who disagrees does not deserve to stand among us. So die your warrior's death, High Overlord Saurfang. It means little to me. Perhaps I will raise your broken body to serve me once more. Or perhaps you will have a chance to say hello to your son.

Saurfang in "A Good War"here

The screams continued. They reminded him of Shattrath. He had loved the sound, then.

Smoke filled the air, reminding him of Stormwind, of racing through the streets as buildings burned all around him, finding cowering humans and butchering them as they begged for their lives. He had loved the slaughter, then.

And he had loved this war too, hadn’t he?

Saurfang did not move for hours, not until the screams faded and the flames had burned themselves down to embers. Before him, stood a smoking husk that had once been a great civilization. Inside him was a feeling of despair, a feeling of shame. There was no haze of corruption now to soften the horror.

Saurfang would remember this moment in his dreams forever. He would relive his shame, and all the new ones to come, over and over again.

You have led your Horde in the service of death, Malfurion had said.

How could Saurfang face the soldiers he had led into this war? How could he explain what they had done?

He couldn’t. He would never know how.

But the burden would be his, always, until his dying day.

As Saurfang turned away, he hoped that day would come soon…

"This was your victory. None of this--not this battle, not Malfurion's defeat--would have happened without you. You have earned this honor. Take a moment, if you'd like, and then take his head. I will meet you in Darkshore."

And with that, she disappeared over a rise to the north.

Saurfang felt numb. You have earned this honor.

High Overlord Saurfang: You think you are here to take me back to Orgrimmar. Back to the Warchief. You are mistaken.
High Overlord Saurfang: I have stopped counting the days I have sat in this cell. But it matters not in the end.
High Overlord Saurfang: After all she has done, I will never return to the Horde.
High Overlord Saurfang: Make sure you know the difference between loyalty and honor.
High Overlord Saurfang: And pray you never have to choose.
High Overlord Saurfang: We both know you are not here for me. Those you seek are down the hall.
First Arcanist: I see... If you are certain, High Overlord.
High Overlord Saurfang: I am. Lok’tar.

A Good War

Honor was all Saurfang had left. Honor and the Horde. She did not know what he would do if either were taken from him.

He would become my enemy, a terrible one.

A Good War

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Comment by AvengionSylvanas actions question my loyalty to the Horde.

We lost Saurfangs son, we lost Thrall as Warchief, Garrosh turned wicked we thought we lost Vol'jin, we had to kill Nazgrim, then we DID lose Voljin. Sylvanas is just evil. She is against life. Her actions with Heyla were really shady. This is not the Horde I joinedComment by KontakintYes we will come, All of us! For the Alliance!Comment by DrakvulA Saurfang cinematic! YES!Comment by Papanurgllethis hit me right in the ^&*!ing horde.... it actually has me so #$%^ing sad

may the horde be honorable once again... please...Comment by kaleestrazaBOIIIIIIIIIIIIComment by PapanurglleSylvanas actions question my loyalty to the Horde.

We lost Saurfangs son, we lost Thrall as Warchief, Garrosh turned wicked we thought we lost Vol'jin, we had to kill Nazgrim, then we DID lose Voljin. Sylvanas is just evil. She is against life. Her actions with Heyla were really shady. This is not the Horde I joinedComment by GilneasNathI loved this, can we just have a Warcraft miniseries lolComment by MajoraThis was amazing. Saurfang for Warchief.Comment by Tornado20Nice, thanks Blizzard. That was awesome.Comment by OLBarbokDidn't expect that, actually made me tear up a bit.Comment by DraccyI thought this was going to be a big "Life before my eyes" thing with Saurfang while the troll was talking.
By the way, troll was cool, he's good boy. He better live.Comment by 871213Aaand I'm crying. Thank you Saurfang. The Horde will live another day, and reclaim what is theirs.Comment by 2MoxieI'm gonna have to watch this two or three more times, but I can say this after one watch- the depth of emotion Saurfang is demonstrating, and having our young Troll friend challenge him that way- that one little line, "Like you?" I'm basking in this. It's beautiful. If we have to see what we saw at Teldrassil, then I'm glad to see this level of turmoil and doubt within the Horde. It's certainly authentic- I know a lot of players who are feeling just like Saurfang, right about now.

I still wonder when we'll see anything that demonstrates Alliance treachery in a way nearly as shocking as what Sylvanas has shown us so far, but for now... this feels nice.Comment by mobiledruidI'm 51 and I just cried like a child...great videoComment by ArchimtirosNow that is my warchief!Comment by garfeeldGIve them the money to make a Warcraft movie, do it animated, profit!

That was awesome.Comment by 1101490well done!Comment by 871213I thought this was going to be a big "Life before my eyes" thing with Saurfang while the troll was talking.
By the way, troll was cool, he's good boy. He better live.Comment by StrawHatZacharyThis was majorly needed. After all the Horde controversy based on Sylvannas' actions in the War of Thorns, the fact that they're reminding us that there are still major figure-heads of the Horde that embody a "better Horde" is fantastic. Well done Blizz, one of my favorite cinematics.Comment by KokoWTFHERE COME DAT ZAPPY BOI!

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