Warlord Zaela

For the boss encounter in the Siege of Orgrimmar, see Galakras. For the boss encounter in the Upper Blackrock Spire, see Warlord Zaela (tactics).
*Not to be confused with Zaelatha.*

{{#cargo\_store:\_table=NPCs|Races=Orc|Gender=Female|Affiliations=Iron Horde, Ironmarch, Dragonmaw Clan}}

**Warlord Zaela** was the leader of the Dragonmaw clan after its return to the Horde. A staunch follower of Garrosh Hellscream, she fought at his side during the Siege of Orgrimmar. When Garrosh was overthrown, Zaela joined the Iron Horde with him, and now leads the Ironmarch expedition within Blackrock Spire.

## History

### Twilight Highlands

Cataclysm **This section concerns content related to *Cataclysm*.**
 File:Zaela WoD.jpg
 File:Zaela.jpg
Zaela is first introduced alongside Gregor, chastising him for his reluctance to aid Garrosh Hellscream's fleet out of his fear of the current Dragonmaw Warchief, none other than Overlord Mor'ghor. Following the Horde's failed negotiations with the tyrannical Mor'ghor, Zaela finds and releases the player from their captivity, returning their confiscated gear.

Zaela is highly worried about the future of the Dragonmaw under the corrupted Mor'ghor, citing him as a traitor to his own blood, and that he and his fel orcs would bring about the destruction of the clan. She sends the player back to the Horde fleet, bargaining that if Mor'ghor is deposed, she and the true Dragonmaw would be the Horde's allies forevermore.

The Horde forces lay siege to Dragonmaw Port from the shore, and the Dragonmaw themselves take up arms against the fel orcs with supplies sent by the Horde fleet. The fight is taken directly to Mor'ghor, and with the help of the Horde, he is disposed of. Zaela announces that a new Dragonmaw dawns with his death. Meanwhile, the Horde and the Dragonmaw route out the remaining fel orcs, and Garrosh himself returns to meet Zaela.

In the wake of Mor'ghor's death, Zaela is named leader of the Dragonmaw, and welcomed into the Horde by Garrosh.

Despite the Dragonmaw taking up arms with the Horde, Narkrall Rakeclaw within Bloodgulch is less than pleased with his new allies. Taking the "Demon Chain", an item used to project will upon sentient beings (in particular, black dragons) and his own subdued black drake, Torth, Narkrall leaves to annihilate the Wildhammer outpost of Thundermar in an attempt to gain support from the clan- against Zaela. Narkrall is left for dead in the process, having not anticipated the Alliance backing the Wildhammer, and the chain is returned to Zaela. Torth, however, survived the encounter, and fled the scene free from the chain's influence.

Now free from his enthrallment, Torth sets his sights on revenge against the Dragonmaw. Zaela is able to subdue him outside The Gullet, and attempts to put him under the chain's influence once more. Unwilling to serve, Zaela concludes that he must die.

Zaela later relocates to Crushblow, joined by a Horde liason named Lady Cozwynn sent by Lady Sylvanas Windrunner. She has gained the title of Warlord, and assists Garona Halforcen alongside Cozwynn during the showdown with Skullcrusher the Mountain.

Zaela and Garrosh developed a strong bond during the conflict.

### Escalation

Mists of Pandaria **This section concerns content related to *Mists of Pandaria*.**
Zaela was summoned by Garrosh to help put down the burgeoning Darkspear Rebellion; she was found at the Dranosh'ar Blockade projecting her will onto an enslaved proto-drake. SI:7 agents were sent to spy on her and overheard her converse with a nearby dark shaman; she expressed disdain for the trolls' rebellion, and maintained hope that Garrosh would move against them soon. She was surrounded by corpses of executed trolls.

### Siege of Orgrimmar

 File:Galakras.jpg
Mists of Pandaria **This section concerns content related to *Mists of Pandaria*.**
Zaela, a member of the True Horde, oversaw the defense of Durotar's shores during the Siege of Orgrimmar atop her fearsome drake, Galakras. She faced off against the naval forces led by Varian Wrynn and Lor'themar Theron. After Galakras was shot down from the sky, Zaela was launched from him. Upon hitting the ground, however, she threw down a smoke pellet and vanished, evading adventurers for a time.

### War Crimes

File:WoW-novel-logo-16x62.png **This section concerns content related to the *Warcraft* novels, novellas, or short stories.**
Zaela, having survived the Siege of Orgrimmar, flees to Grim Batol with what remains of the Dragonmaw clan. A message from a dragon sends her gathering up other loyalists to the True Horde, including Shokia and Thalen Songweaver. She also attacked Westguard Keep, freed Harrowmeiser, and recruited pirates.

Zaela and the Dragonmaw ally with the Infinite dragonflight and attack the Temple of the White Tiger, causing a distraction long enough for Kairoz to free Garrosh and escape with him. After she was sure the two made it, she called for retreat.

### The Iron Tide

Warlords of Draenor **This section concerns content related to *Warlords of Draenor*.**
At some point, she lost an eye. As Garrosh's only ally on Azeroth, Zaela is located in the Blasted Lands guarding the Dark Portal along with Commander Tharbek and his Ironmarch invasion force of the Iron Horde. There she owns a rylak. They later moved to Upper Blackrock Spire and claimed it as their main base of operations. The adventurers of the Horde and Alliance invaded the place and she commanded Tharbek to finish them off while she went to finish her "weapon".

### Warlords of Draenor

Warlords of Draenor **This section concerns content related to *Warlords of Draenor*.**
Later, she is encountered as the final boss of revamped Upper Blackrock Spire. Tharbek and the proto-dragon with whom she had forged a close bond, Ragewing the Untamed. Zaela was one of the True Horde's most ardent followers. Despite her zeal, however, she was still slain by adventurers in the midst of a plot, utilizing a doomsday weapon, to induce the eruption of Blackrock Mountain and destroy Stormwind City.

### Battle for Azeroth

Battle for Azeroth **This section concerns content related to *Battle for Azeroth*.**
An Echo of Warlord Zaela is faced at the Temple of the White Tiger by adventurers seeking to attune a shard of the Vision of Time to Draenor.

## Locations

File:Icon-time.svg This section contains information that is out-of-date.

## Quests

* Madness (quest) File:Activequesticon.png
* Negotiations Terminated File:Availablequesticon.png
* You Say You Want a Revolution File:Activequesticon.png
* Insurrection (quest) File:Availablequesticon.pngFile:Activequesticon.png
* Death to Mor'ghor File:Availablequesticon.png
* Return to the Highlands File:Activequesticon.png
* The Southern Flank File:Availablequesticon.png
* The Northern Flank File:Availablequesticon.png
* How to Maim Your Dragon File:Activequesticon.png
* The Demon Chain (quest) File:Availablequesticon.pngFile:Activequesticon.png
* Fury Unbound File:Availablequesticon.pngFile:Activequesticon.png
* Crushblow (quest) File:Activequesticon.png
* Ogres & Ettins (Horde) File:Availablequesticon.pngFile:Activequesticon.png
* Move the Mountain (Horde) File:Availablequesticon.png
* Skullcrusher the Mountain (Horde) File:Activequesticon.png

### Objective of

* Return to Sender
* Egg Them On!
* Iron Horde's Blackrock
* Eviction
* Upper Blackrock Spire (quest)

## Personality

Zaela's personality would appear to be rather contradictory. In *Cataclysm*, Zaela appeared to be accepting of other races. Zaela admired Garrosh for leading a diverse group of people, worked closely with the Forsaken, Lady Cozwynn as well as the half-draenei Garona, and frequently stood up for the Horde player against the more extreme members of the Clan. Zaela was portrayed as rather cautious in this portrayal, not approving of foolhardy attacks on the Alliance, and wanting to focus on the Twilight's Hammer.

Later on Zaela was portrayed as far more brash - undertaking risky military attacks - as well having a condescending attitude towards the other races of the Horde, believing the Horde should be comprised of only orcs. This is assumed to be due to Garrosh's influence.

## Quotes

### Cataclysm

Cataclysm **This section concerns content related to *Cataclysm*.**
 File:Warlord Zaela.jpg

##### Conversation with Narkrall

**Narkrall Rakeclaw says:** That's right, beast. You belong to the Dragonmaw now.
**Narkrall Rakeclaw says:** And if you don't obey, we're cutting you up for parts.
**Zaela says:** Impressive. Complete domination of the animal while it's weakened.
**Zaela says:** Tell me, what is this charm you're using?
**Narkrall Rakeclaw says:** The Demon Chain. It projects our will like a physical force.
**Zaela says:** With your wing of drake riders and the support of the Horde, we can make an assault on the Bastion of Twilight.
**Narkrall Rakeclaw says:** The Horde? I SPIT on your Horde! Our enemies are weak and splintered, yet you bargain with Hellscream? Dragonmaw stand alone!
**Zaela says:** Another treasonous word and I will put you in your place, Narkrall.
**Narkrall Rakeclaw says:** I will prove it to you. I will strike the Wildhammer at Thundermar.
**Narkrall Rakeclaw says:** When I return victorious, we will see who the Dragonmaw call "Warchief".
**Zaela says:** Narkrall! If you wish to challenge me, you do so here. Do NOT squander our forces on a fool crusade.
#### Gossip

At ??
This stronghold is fortified, but our enemies close in from all sides. We would be wise to secure our position on the coast before advancing farther inland.

At The Gullet
I am new to the burdens of leadership. I should've seen Narkrall's insubordination coming. Instead I am cleaning up his mess.

I don't know how Garrosh Hellscream does it. He must possess great strength to hold together a force as diverse as the Horde... I should like to know him more.

#### On-click

Greetings
* "Speak plainly. My people don't mince words."
* "We are Dragonmaw."
* "I bear the mark of the Dragonmaw."
* "I speak for the Dragonmaw."
* "My people welcome yours."

Irritated
* "Step off!"
* "Hah! You don't even know how to use that finger."

### Mists of Pandaria

Mists of Pandaria **This section concerns content related to *Mists of Pandaria*.**
Main article: Galakras § Quotes

### Warlords of Draenor

Warlords of Draenor **This section concerns content related to *Warlords of Draenor*.**
Main article: Commander Tharbek § Quotes
Main article: Warlord Zaela (tactics) § Quotes

## Notes and trivia

* Zaela uses the *Warlords of Draenor* Dragonmaw model for her Twilight Highlands and the Siege of Orgrimmar instance, but not for her appearances in the Blasted Lands and in Upper Blackrock Spire, where she uses grey skin without the glowing yellow eyes.
* When first introduced, Zaela lacks any form of title. Upon reaching Crushblow, she has been named a Warlord.
* Many fans pair Garrosh with Zaela due to their loyalty to each other and mutual respect.
* Her eye-patch model is the same as Lor'themar used.
* Zaela is voiced by Lani Minella.
* It was initially planned that Zaela would travel with Garrosh to Draenor.
* The Enormous Dragon Fang might have belonged to her.

## Speculation

She may have used the Demon Chain to control the proto-dragons during the Siege of Orgrimmar and in the Blackrock Spire.

## Patch changes

* Warlords of Draenor **Patch 6.0.3 (2014-10-28):** Model updated.
* Cataclysm **Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23):** Added.

## References

 1. ↑ Warlord Zaela (tactics)#Dungeon Journal
2. ↑ *War Crimes*, chapter 6
3. ↑ Upper Blackrock Spire (quest)
4. ↑ Galakras#Dungeon Journal
5. ↑ Echo of Warlord Zaela (quest)
6. ↑ How to Maim Your Dragon
7. ↑ Blizzcon 2013 - World of Warcraft - The Adventure Continues Panel

## External links

* Wowhead
* WoWDB

es:Zaela