Vrykul
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| This article concerns content exclusive to Wrath of the Lich King.
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| Vrykul | |
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| Faction/Affiliation | Scourge |
| Character Classes | Barbarian, Warrior, Warlock, Runemaster (presumed) |
| Racial Capital | Utgarde Keep |
| Racial Leader(s) | King Ymiron |
| Racial Mount | Polar bear, Worg(presumed), one was seen riding a Felsteed |
| Homeworld | Azeroth (Northrend) |
| Primary Language(s) | Unknown |
| Average Height | Unknown |
The vrykul (pronounced vrai-koul) are a race of Norse-themed half-giant warriors native to the Howling Fjord located in southeastern Northrend. It is said that in ancient times the vrykul inhabited the land, founding a vast and prosperous civilization. Then one day, without warning or explanation, the vrykul vanished, leaving behind only deserted villages and abandoned temples. Due to the encroachment of the Alliance settlement of Valgarde on their lands, the vrykul have recently returned.
Led by King Ymiron, these formidable warriors have begun attacking Horde and Alliance settlements from the fortress of Utgarde Keep, not far from Valgarde. The vrykul's motives and their whereabouts for the past several thousand years remain a mystery, though they have recently become allied with the Lich King.
The vrykul are dark and vampiric in nature, and are served by worgs and a similarly mysterious race of proto-dragons. They practice a runic magic that even the most experienced wizards find unfamiliar. For some reason they frown on manual labor, thinking it lowly.
The vrykul will apparently tie into the Titan creation myth that will unfold as events of the expansion take place, and in a recent interview with lead game designer Jeffrey Kaplan it was revealed that the vrykul are almost like the progenitors of the human race. They were part of the Titan's early plans for creating the original race that ultimately became humans, but they have turned slightly evil. Perhaps much like the stony troggs that evolved from the earthen.
The quest Anguish of Nifflevar states that vrykul children born in a certain time after their gods "abandoned" them were "weak and ugly". King Ymiron ordered all those children to be killed, but events observed in the preceding quest The Echo of Ymiron hint that not all parents obeyed this order and instead hid their children, to grow up far away from Northrend.
A dialogue uncovered by Brann Bronzebeard in Ulduar lists the Vrykul (along with the Earthen and Giants) as "seed races", suggesting that they are direct creations of the Titans, as opposed to having evolved from some other race over time.
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Appearance
Vrykul appear as very large and muscular humans. In addition to their form of flesh, there have also been reports of Iron vrykul on Northrend. These vrykul, as the name suggests, have runes engraved into their skin, and have stone-like skin. Sjonnir The Ironshaper appears to be this type of Vrykul.
Clans
Inspiration
The vrykul seem to be inspired by the Einherjar (ine-her-yar, "lone ravagers/army of one") of Norse mythology who were the spirits of warriors who died glorious deaths in battle and were resurrected to serve the gods at the time of Ragnarök. Unlike the Einherjar however, the vrykul serve an evil purpose.
The name vrykul is similar to the name Vrykyl, who are a group of undead knights from the Sovereign Stone trilogy of books. Their name is an elven word meaning "Eater of the Dead". In turn, their proto-humanoid features (such as their sloped foreheads) may be inspired by the Wendol of the novel Eaters of the Dead. Interestingly, in the book, the Wendol were implied to be a relict tribe of neanderthals, which early models of vrykul resembled, whereas in the film version, The 13th Warrior, the Wendol appeared identical to modern man, much like the more recent Vrykul models.
In addition, the vrykul may have ties to the Warhammer universe's Norscans, a nomadic and violent race of humans enthralled to the Chaos gods. The Warcraft series is believed to be originally inspired, in part, by the Warhammer games.
Speculation
| This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials.
It should not be taken as representing official lore! |
It can be speculated that the birthing of humans was a severe side-effect of the Curse of Flesh on the vrykul.
Gallery
 Male vrykul concept art |
 Female vrykul concept art |
 Older model |
 Vrykul fighting a Dwarf Warrior in Utgarde Keep |
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