A Question of Leadership

Speculation abounds with a recent blue post refusing to confirm that Thrall will return as Warchief of the Horde. Now, to apply the grain of salt from the start, we should also remember that Blizzard has merely refused to confirm it, rather than outright denying it. By the end of Mists, we could very well have good old Go'El back in charge, and this speculation could be moot.

That said, speculation is fun, so here goes:

Thrall is obviously one of the most important figures in the Horde's history. The Horde is actually not altogether that old. Although it's possible that it was an old mechanism for the disparate orc tribes to temporarily unify in times of hardship and war, the current "permanent Horde" has only existed under five Warchiefs: Ner'zhul, Blackhand, Orgrim Doomhammer, Thrall, and Garrosh Hellscream. While Orgrim was arguably no more evil than Garrosh - acting only as an ambitious military conqueror who turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed by his troops - Thrall is generally seen as a kind of savior of the Orcs. He did two major things: One is that he finished Orgrim's mission to reunite the Horde after the internment camps following the second war. The other is that he rooted out a lot of the corruption that made the original Horde so evil. Doomhammer had taken steps to reduce the influence of Gul'dan's Shadow Council, but Thrall was the one who completely removed the Burning Legion-fueled demonic bloodlust and reintroduced the shamanistic links that were severed by Gul'dan in the previous generation.

From a completely objective point of view, and with modern, real-world notions of how people should interact with each other, Thrall's leadership turned the Horde from outright villainy to a worthy force for good. Thrall's alliance with Jaina's forces in the Third War (which we sadly only get to experience for one mission before we start the Night Elf campaign) was an incredible step toward a lasting peace - one that sadly did not last.

Some blame can certainly be laid on hardliners in the Alliance refusing to allow the Horde to settle into its new home. However, with Thrall and Jaina in charge, the clashes between Horde and Alliance were more of a Cold War in nature. Sure, you had hot spots in certain places, and the Forsaken certainly were playing a more aggressive game, but it was not until the Wrathgate Incident that war between Alliance and Horde sparked again.

Still, even after that incident, it was the forces under Garrosh's command that acted the most aggressive toward the Alliance, and the current state of global war is mostly Garrosh's work. Thrall made a very strange judgment in naming Garrosh his successor, and it is a decision that we know did not turn out very well.

Thrall's own journey has led him away from the war. Much as other heroes, such as Khadgar or Tirion Fordring, or the entire Kirin Tor have proclaimed themselves neutral (the Kirin Tor being the most impressive, given the Forsaken's continued attacks on Dalaran forces in Silverpine and Hillsbrad,) Thrall has become something of a neutral figure as leader (or at least champion) of the Earthen Ring. Hell, half the audience to his wedding were key figures of the Alliance.

Thrall's settling down. He's married, he's got a kid on the way. Add to that the fact that, despite his loyalty to his people, he clearly does not want to be enemies with the Alliance, and you've got to wonder if he fits as Warchief in an era of increased conflict between the factions.

Then again, there's another thing to consider: What is going to happen to the war between the factions once Garrosh is deposed? Mechanically, not to mention quest-wise, it seems highly unlikely the war's going to end and we're all going to be friends (though it would be a cool option to choose such a path for your individual character.) In every zone featuring Alliance/Horde conflict except Southern Barrens, either the Horde is the aggressor or they are fighting on neutral territory. It doesn't seem that peace-minded Thrall would be a plausible leader for such a movement. Granted, he might take the reins reluctantly and try to resolve the conflict without leaving his people nothing to show for it, but it would seem very strange for him to now be fighting the very people who helped him kill Deathwing (even if you're Horde, that's an Alliance gunship that helps chase down the Destroyer.)

So in fact I feel it would be inappropriate for Thrall to return as Warchief. If, by some miracle, the Alliance and Horde were to finally resolve their differences and unify into Velen's vision of an "Army of the Light," I could certainly see Thrall leading the charge against the Burning Legion, but agains the Alliance, I would think that Thrall would want to sit out.

Later: If not Thrall, who should be Warchief? Plus, the High King and the reorganization of the Alliance.