Broxigar Broxigar Saurfang ( aka Broxigar the Red , Broxigar the Red Ax , or simply Broxigar ) was a veteran orc warrior whose comrades were slaughtered in battle and who sought his own death in battle because of his guilt . Broxigar was an important figure in the War of the Ancients , and was chronologically the first orc ever encountered on Azeroth in the new altered timeline . Biography . Broxigar was a veteran of the First , Second , " and " Third Wars — well - known among his people for his heroic actions in helping to hold a vital mountain pass against hordes of demons during the Third War . Of all of his comrades , Broxigar was the only one left alive when orcish reinforcements finally arrived on the battlefield . Though he was greatly honored by his people , Broxigar never forgave himself for his " cowardice " in surviving while all of his comrades died a noble , glorious death . When the Horde shamans detected the temporal anomaly in the Stonetalon Mountains , Broxigar and a younger warrior were sent to investigate . Broxigar ' s companion , Gaskal , was slain and Broxigar himself was thrown ten thousand years into the past along with a human , and a dragon . Among the night elves . In due course , Broxigar was captured by the Moon Guard and brought to Suramar for safekeeping . Though the night elves treated him like an animal , the priestess Tyrande was kind to him , giving him food and healing his injuries . Broxigar called her " shaman " , believing that the powers of healing she used were granted to her by the spirits . Broxigar was eventually freed by Tyrande who had meanwhile teamed up with two other time - travelers , the dragon - mage Krasus and his former pupil , the human mage Rhonin . Broxigar stood guard over the comatose Malfurion as the latter destroyed a Highborne spell disrupting the Well of Eternity . Against the Legion . Broxigar ' s fighting skills earned him a fair reputation among the Kaldorei Resistance . Though typically xenophobic , the night elves accepted him ( although the presence of the dragon Korialstrasz may have influenced that somewhat ) . When Broxigar ' s axe was taken by the Moon Guard s that captured him , the night elf Malfurion , under the forest demigod Cenarius ' direction , created a mystical axe of wood that had the sharpness and density of a diamond . In Broxigar ' s hands , it was to be the death of literally thousands of demons and allowed him to achieve the unthinkable against their lord . A Blaze of Glory . At the final battle over the Well of Eternity , Broxigar realized that if the world and the future were to be saved , his companions needed more time . Broxigar leapt from the back of one of the red dragons also carrying Rhonin into the swirling portal that was opening at the bottom of the funnel . When he passed through , and arrived in the realm of the Burning Legion , he proceeded to slaughter multitudes of demons , blocking their advance towards the portal , slaying so many that he ended up standing atop a hill of their bodies — mocking more to come challenge him . It was there that he eventually attracted the attention of Sargeras , who came personally to put an end to the orc ' s life . However , using the magical axe crafted for him by Malfurion , Broxigar did the impossible , and struck a small wound in Sargeras ' leg . This wound would later be the focus of Krasus and his allies ' spellwork , that for a second , tore Sargeras ' attention away from his struggle to keep the portal open . . . allowing Malfurion and Illidan to close it upon him . Broxigar ' s life was ended by Sargeras , right before the demon entered the portal , by the jagged edge of Sargeras ' s broken sword . With this final act of loyalty , Broxigar the Red sealed his place in history as the only known mortal to have ever staged an assault upon the Burning Legion ' s leader . Broxigar the Red died , not a mere honorable death , but was struck down in a blaze of glory nearly unheard of in the history of the orcs . When Krasus returned to the present day , his first act was to take Broxigar ' s magical axe directly to Thrall . Disguised as an orc shaman , Krasus told his tale of how Broxigar helped stop another demon invasion , and implored the Warchief to sing songs of Broxigar the Red , his legendary life , and his glorious sacrifice . The night elves raise up a statue to him , making him the the only orc to have ever been given homage by them . Now his brother , Varok Saurfang , High Overlord of the Kor ' kron Guard holds his name in honor . Varok also mentions Broxigar when you turn in Dranosh Saurfang ' s battle armor . In World of Warcraft . In the Escape from Durnholde Keep instance , Epoch Hunter drops .