Ursoc

Ursoc was an Ancient Guardian, one of the several demigods that were among the first living creatures to roam Azeroth. He was worshiped as a god by the furbolgs of Grizzly Hills, the land he used to rule.Children of Ursoc
==Biography==
Ursoc and Ursol are patrons of those who favor balance of nature and the living beasts of the wild. Among their most loyal followers, the furbolgs, practice their respective customs; those who follow Ursol become shamans, while the others who follow on Ursoc become hunters or warriors and carve wood statues and structures. Timbermaw Hold in northern Felwood is an example, as the stronghold's entrance is a giant wood carved in the shape of a growling bear head — as homage to the twin bears. A group known as the Druids of the Claw also revere Ursoc.Mistress of the Claw
===Early life===
Many millennia ago, two inquisitive bear cubs roamed the area around the Grizzly Hills together. These brothers, named Ursoc and Ursol, had more curiosity than good sense, and they frequently found themselves trespassing in the domains of bigger predators. Danger did not discourage them, and each one never left the other behind, even when circumstances seemed dire. They caught the attention of Keeper Freya, who was traveling across Azeroth in search of exceptional wild animals. Freya recognized their potential and saw what they would become. When they matured, they grew stronger and bigger than any other bears in the Grizzly Hills, and they did not suffer the ravages of aging. In time, Freya made them into Wild Gods for their dedication to each other.Tome of the AncientsExploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 26
Ursoc had a strong protective streak. The more he saw of the wilds of Azeroth, the more he felt it was his duty to preserve them. For him and other Wild Gods that were guardians of their domains, Freya crafted unique weapons, artifacts that could only become as strong as their wielder made them. Their true potential could only be unlocked with practice, nurture, and self-improvement. Some Wild Gods did not understand Freya's gifts and neglected their weapons; Ursoc was not one of them. Freya gifted him the Claws of Ursoc, forged of titansteel and imbued with a small portion of the essence of the titan Eonar herself. With no intention of letting them waste and decay, Ursoc dedicated himself to mastering their power. He trained tirelessly, every day traveling long distances and training with his brother, who had received a staff that eased the use of magic. Ursoc's titansteel claws became an extension of his own body, and Ursol became an expert in manipulating the flows of magic. Together they had become two of the most powerful Wild Gods in existence, and soon they would become known as Azeroth's staunchest defenders.
Ursoc once fought alongside a tauren named Eruna Highmountain against servants of the Old Gods. Believing that a great darkness was coming and the world needed strong warriors and leaders like her, Ursoc blessed Eruna's spear, Talonclaw, which had previously been blessed by another Wild God named Ohn'ahra.Tales of the Hunt
He would eventually father a son, Orsonn, and a daughter, Kodian.
===Death===
During the War of the Ancients, Ursoc and Ursol were the first to answer the call of Cenarius to combat the Burning Legion. They clashed with the doomguard, were eventually overwhelmed by felhounds, and died defending the land.War of the Ancients Trilogy
When the fighting was over, a young furbolg cub found the titansteel Claws of Ursoc. Recognizing who they belonged to, he brought them back to his tribe. For generations, those furbolgs worshiped the claws as the final sign of their god. Few furbolgs had the courage to use the claws in battle, and for those that did the result was horrifying. Ursoc had spent years unlocking their potential; for an untrained mortal, they inspired an uncontrollable bloodlust that lashes out at friends as well as enemies. Eventually, Ursoc's spirit within the Emerald Dream had simply seen enough. The furbolgs were not capable of controlling his power, so he withdrew it from the claws until someone worthy would claim them. Eventually, a group of Druids of the Claw wrestled the powerless claws from the furbolgs and returned them to Ursoc's spirit within the Dream.
===Resurrecting===
At the time of the war against the Lich King, the furbolgs of Grizzlemaw in the Grizzly Hills, starting to feel the clutch of madness, resurrected Ursoc by using the magics of the failed world tree Vordrassil. However, the mysterious evil taint that still exists within the tree soon began to overcome the furbolg and Ursoc after the resurrection, corrupting them both. After being defeated and cleansed within his own cave by Tur Ragepaw and the adventurers, Ursoc warned them about the Old God Yogg-Saron, who was responsible for Vordrassil's downfall.Ursoc quest chainExploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 33
His children, Orsonn and Kodian, can be found in Rage Fang Shrine and Heart's Blood Shrine, respectively.
Ursoc.jpg|Ursoc in his corruption.
Ursocimage.jpg|Ursoc cleansed after his defeat.
===Legion===
Ursoc's spirit has resided in the Emerald Dream since his second death in the Grizzly Hills. A druid adventurer sought out the Claws of Ursoc to use in the battle against the Burning Legion, but satyrs serving the Emerald Nightmare had tainted Ursoc's domain within the Dream in pursuit of the Claws for themselves. After earning the blessing of his brother Ursol, the druid went to obtain the Claws of Ursoc. The adventurer helped Ursoc to fight off minions of the Nightmare, but it was all a trap set up by Xavius. When the Nightmare Lord arrived Ursoc boasted that Xavius could not stand up to a god, but Xavius, saying he has been shaped by the powers of the Old Gods, captured Ursoc nonetheless.
A Son of Ursoc appears in the Emerald Dreamway to direct the Archdruid of the Dreamgrove to the Essence of Tenacity from Rokmora, in order to power the Idol of the Wild and commune with Malorne.Neltharion's Lair: Essence of Tenacity When Malorne becomes trapped in an Emerald Nightmare recreation of his death at the hands of Archimonde, figments of Ursoc and Ursol are seen battling demons during the War of the Ancients.The War of the Ancients (quest)
Ursoc is a boss in the Emerald Nightmare raid, fought within a twisted nightmare version of Grizzly Hills. The Nightmare's veil lifted from him just before he died, after he had to be put down by a band of adventurers. After Xavius was killed, Ursoc's spirit could be found within the Emerald Dream.
Ursoc EN.jpg|Ursoc in the Emerald Nightmare.
Afterlives - Ursoc the corrupted.png|The bear god while battling adventurers in the Nightmare.
Afterlives - Malfurion and Ursoc.png|Malfurion mourning Ursoc after his defeat.
===Shadowlands===
Following the events within the Nightmare, Ursoc's soul traveled to Ardenweald in the Shadowlands, where he fell into slumber within a wildseed in Tirna Noch to await his rebirth. A sylvar named Ara'lon swore an oath to the Winter Queen to look after the bear god's wildseed and feed it with fresh anima.
When the anima drought fell upon Ardenweald, it became increasingly difficult for Ara'lon to find new anima. One day when returning from foraging, he came across members of the Wild Hunt sacrificing the wildseeds in Tirna Noch to preserve the little anima remaining. He initially lashed out in anger, but the Winter Queen showed him a vision of how all of Ardenweald was at risk of dying. He was requested to sacrifice one soul for the forest, with the Winter Queen sympathetically acknowledging Ara'lon's pure heart and that she would honor his decision if he chose not to, but Ara'lon realized that he would have to sacrifice Ursoc's wildseed if the forest was to survive. He sorrowfully told Ursoc that he would serve the wilds one last time and asked for the bear god's forgiveness, before draining the anima from his seed and leaving it to crumble in the wind.Afterlives: Ardenweald
Afterlives - Ursoc's wildseed.png|The bear god's wildseed.
Afterlives - Ursoc's end.png|The death of Ursoc's wildseed.
==Locations==
==In the RPG==
:The enormous bears lumber forward, scanning their surroundings with much more than animal intelligence. When they turn to watch their flanks, they reveal the dark, glyph-like markings in their fur. Raising their heads and sniffing the air, they stop suddenly and flex their claws, ready for a fight.
Ursoc and Ursol were well-known friends to the Ancients and night elves, and hailed as gods by the furbolg tribes. The bears held glyph markings on their fur. Ursol and Ursoc visited the villages of the night elves, especially during festivals to the Moon. Ursol carved statues made of dead trees, while Ursoc was fond of brew. Both learned this from mortals. The brother bears would spend time allowing night elven children to mount them, and also spent time drinking ale with the night elves.Shadows & Light, 84 Ursol and Ursoc befriended generations of night elves and humans.Shadows & Light, 85
Ursoc was a strong fighter, warrior and healer, using his paws and teeth. Combining his powers with his brother, they would strike as one at any enemy with efficiency, using strength and magic. Typically, he would employ teamwork in combat so that he could use both of their strengths simultaneously. Ursoc would leap into the fray to fight with tooth and claw, while his brother would use magic. Like his brother, he had instinct for leadership that helped to inspire his allies, but he was ferociously dedicated to his brother and would step away from an engagement if his brother was in need of help.Shadows & Light, 83-85
It makes sense that the pandaren either worship, worshiped, or are possibly even akin to Ursoc and Ursol in much the same way as the dwarves/earthen were to the titans. This is given much credence by the pandaren's shamanistic culture and "earthy" civilization (Ursol), combined with their feral combat skills and love of brew (Ursoc). They also appear to have a friendly disposition and seem to be similar in many other ways as well.
Though some focus on their fierce martial aspect, Ursoc and Ursol remain primarily the patrons of those who believe in a balance between nature and all living creatures. Among the night elves, the druids of the claw take on the form of bears and wander the wilderness on a never-ending pilgrimage dedicated to the ursine Eternals. Though the destruction of the ancient Kaldorei homeland destroyed much of the land traveled by the twins, those who worship them have never given up their search for any of Ursoc's "alewells" and Ursol's carvings that may have survived to the present day. The furbolg are the most fervent followers of the twins in the present day, following in their magical tradition and carving their fortress, Timbermaw Hold, in the form of a gigantic, growling bear head.Shadows & Light, 84-85 Timbermaw Hold is the shrine to the Ancients Ursoc and Ursol erected by the furbolgs requiring years and the labor of hundreds to construct.''World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 382
Furbolg follow in the path of the long-dead ursine demigods Ursoc and Ursol. Though written history says they perished, can Eternals who possess the immortality special quality truly die? Perhaps the "fallen" Eternals have simply slept away centuries while their wounds healed…Shadows & Light, 68
Furbolgs and night elves revere the bear twins, Ursoc and Ursol. They were friendly and helpful in the early days of Azeroth's history, attending festivals and delighting children. Ursoc was a brewer, making ales that even today the furbolgs try to mimic; and Ursol was an artisan, carving statues from dead trees. These brothers fought against Queen Azshara and her demon army and fell in battle ten thousand years ago.World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 251
==Quotes==
===Grizzly Hills===
* I thank you all. The druids of old were wise to tear down Vordrassil, for its roots seep deep into the dwelling of an ancient evil. You know their kind as Old Gods. Beware Yogg-Saron, the beast with a thousand maws. His evil extends beyond Vordrassil's roots.
===Legion===
;Emerald Dream
Thank you, <name>. You have done what no others could.
==Trivia==
*Ursoc and Ursol's names come from the Latin word for bear which is Ursus.
*Ursoc is voiced by Josh Petersdorf in Legion and Afterlives: Ardenweald.
*Lil' Ursoc is a baby version of Ursoc, available from the In-Game Store and Battle.net Shop.
==Speculation==
Brann Bronzebeard believes that the furbolgs are the descendants of Ursoc.World of Warcraft: The Magazine Volume II Issue I Yet established that the furbolg race evolved from the jalgar. The jalgar race may have been Ursoc's descendants or creations.
==Gallery==
Ursoc TCG.jpg|Ursoc the Mighty in the TCG.
Ursol TCG.jpg|Ursoc in the background of the art for Ursol the Wise in the TCG.
==Patch changes==
*
*
==See also==
*Cover of Ursoc the Mighty
==References==
==External links==
Category:Bears
Category:Animal ghosts
Category:Ancient Guardians
Category:Grizzly Hills mobs
Category:Emerald Nightmare NPCs
Category:Malorne's Nightmare NPCs
Category:Ursoc's Lair NPCs
Category:Unique models
Category:Afterlives characters
Category:Deceased characters
Category:Ardenweald souls