NEW ALLIANCE RACE TO BE THE MOK'NATHAL?

(Update: Continue reading if you would like a good story, but before getting too giddy, have a look here.)

That'd be the case if you are to believe Criksoul, a level 1 Easter Bunny Warlock on the Perenolde Realm Forum.

Q u o t e:
From Orc and Ogre blood did the mighty race of the Mok’Nathal rise. The prospering warriors prided themselves over their attunement with nature and their daunting presence on the battlefield when faced with anyone unwise enough to test their wrath. Boasting both Orc cunning and Ogre might, the half breeds were considered noble warriors amongst both the Orc and Ogre clans. Their standing amongst both races soon cascaded with the coming of demonic magic and with it the might of the powerful demigods of the Ogre race. Recognized only as the Gronn, the power the seven of them wielded was unequaled throughout Draenor. The Gronn cared little for their own children, let alone other races they felt to be inferior. With their odium came their intolerance towards the Orcs, whose blood flew through the veins of the Mok’Nathal.

The fact that the Ogres would dare bring impurities to their bloodline angered their demigods, who hunted down all Mok’Nathal and tormented them relentlessly. Their own Ogre brethren were forced by the almighty Gronn to help purify the lineage and pursued the half breeds with there godly masters; forcing the Mok’Nathal to turn to the Orcs for haven from their chase. Sadly, the demonic magic the Orcs gained hold of contorted their judgment and manner, making them apprehensive and mistrusting towards their cousins.

Their only hope to survive was to take flight from the smoldering world which only became an option when Medivh opened the Dark Portal, linking the Orcs blood lusted warriors to Azeroth. Lead by Tagar Bearclaw and Rexxar the Beast Master, the Mok’Nathal traded one hell for another. Where they were no longer hounded by the Ogre’s demigods, they were now being killed on sight when ever crossing paths with the now senseless Orcs.

Tagar Bearclaw refused to recognize what now looked like fate and instead ordered what remained of his clan to fashion together makeshift rafts and journey across the Great Sea. Their extensive expedition landed them on the coasts of Kalimdor, and their battered clan, now safe from both the mindless Orcs and the immortal Gronn, was finally able to rebuild their once grand domain. Rexxar, who was renowned for his valor when faced with the Gronn and left to die after vicious torturing, left the clan to take up a nomadic life and live amongst what he believed to be his closest ally; nature.

The Mok’Nathal, troubled with the fact that several of their brethren still wandered the burning world of Draenor, swore to liberate them from the Gronn’s relentless hunt and take retribution for their brother’s deaths. Refusing to side with the ally they needed the most when first faced with their enemy gods took up arms with the Night Elves and their Allies, who willingly accepted them into their ranks when presented with the knowledge that the Blood Elves had sided with the vile Horde.

Alkhol’Nathal would offer the half breeds with the shelter of a city rivaling the prominence of the one they left behind when fleeing from the world that damned them to the isolation of Azeroth. Situated North West of the Barrens, the lands of Lashindow connected the forests of Ashenvale to the Stonetalon Mountains and offered the Alliance a slight edge against the Horde’s forces.

---

Something you'll be reading at E3.

For those of you unfamiliar with mixture of Warhammer/Lovecraft/Ancient Mythology that is Warcraft Lore, a Mok'Nathal could be seen in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne in the form of Rexxar. In WoW, Rexxar can be seen wandering Desolace and Feralas.

Asked about the racial abilities of the Mok'Nathal, Criksoul replied;

The Wild's Blessing:
When activated, the Mok'nathal has a 25% chance to stun an enemy for two secconds when hit. Lasts 10 secconds.
 
Callous:
+5% defense
 
Heated Brand:
+10 Fire resistence
 
The Wild's Offerings:
+10 to Leather Working
 
Sorry, but Blizzard wanted to keep the Alliance trend for being more defensive, where as the Horde are more offensive.
 
EDIT: And of course their mounts will be bears. Oh my.

And followed up with;

Blizzard never needed, or better yet wanted to fix population imbalances. They simply wanted a 'cool' race for the Alliance and are very excited about their choice.
 
I think it's important that I tell you that these racials are currently what's on 'the drawing board'. Blizzard only nailed down two of the Blood Elf racials and are still unsure about what else they will give them, hence the hush hush on detailed information about the race.
 
Before they picked these racials, I believe their last idea was 'Bloody Knuckles' that gave +20 to Fist weapons. They removed it because of the lack of Fist weapons (which they will be adding much more of in expansion, so keep your eyes pealed for those and level up your skill).

Our friendly neighborhood seekrit sauce taster also discussed the Mok'Nathal starting area...

The Coast line around the area protruding out into the ocean at the Stonetalon Mountains will be extended slightly and will stretch all the way to Ashenvale. The mountains will be slightly reshaped. The zone will look like a crescent moon and will be roughly as large as Silverspine Forest.
 
The region will be largely mountainous with lots of forestry and coast line. Most quests will take place within the mountains themselves in large, subterranean tunnels and on the coast line.

...and the spawn of fluffy clouds and jellybeans that the Blood Elves will be riding upon.

The Blood Elf mount will actually be a Unicorn. The Epic version will not feature armor, however it will feature wings and a very cool 'aura'...

...These are not your ordinary care bare rainbow hopping Unicorns. They have been sadistically tainted by magic, just like the Blood Elves.

Let's cut to the chase. Real or fake?

Well, it's the most likely collaboration of information I've seen out of the options floating around.

* The Mok'Nathal have their origins in the Outlands. Blizzard has stated that this would be the case with the new Alliance race.
* The lore supplied fits in with the rest of that surrounding the Warcraft universe. A reason as to why the Mok'Nathal are part of the alliance is also supplied.
* The racial abilities are actually realistic. No WTFPWN button.
* It's not going to be Murlocs. Just stop saying that. Now.
* No photoshopped screenshot is supplied with the text.
* This strapping young fellow, either by conincidence or sneaky slip in, looks decidedly Mok'Nathalish.

And additionally, for my own liking;

* I believe Blizzard is looking to go with a race that is not so obvious. Mok'Nathal fits the bill.
* I believe Blizzard, even if not attempting to address server population through the inclusion of a race (if you could ever do that, anyway), is wanting to add another "large" race to the Alliance side.

As the kids these days say; post a screenshot or it never happened. AMIRITE?

Edit: I forgot the supposed Mok'Nathal classes.

So far, the line up Blizzard has nailed down is as follows:

Warrior
Hunter
Rogue
Druid

Blizzard wants to give them either Mage or Warlock as well, but nothing is for certain. Their leaning more towards Mage, however, since they are not 'dark' and 'evil' where as the Warlock is.

Comments

[Oz]

A guildmate is pretty solidly sure it will be Worgen, for the same reasons you listed. Reading their history as given in game and readable in SFK, there's several references of "if they could be turned to good, they would be a powerful force for the Alliance."

Only time will tell!

[Abalieno]

Well, it makes sense.

But without juicy screenies it's not a scoop :)

[Oz]

Blizzard might not even know yet and are using the Mystical Dartboard of the Wolf (little joke, I kill me) to figure it out still. There might even be some developer in the meeting going "well, you know that Wisp idea really doesn't seem all that bad..."

[Chumprock]

I've been speculating those half-breeds for a while now, but am continually brushed off.

Horde gets a pretty race like the night elves.

Alliance gets a big ugly race like the tauren.

[Rand 'al Thor]

I really don't see the big deal about new races to be honest. Essentially race choice comes down to what skin you are wearing. If Blizzard wanted to actually bring somehting new ot the table they'd introduce new classes What the hell do I know.

For the guy who said Worgen--They seem a bit well to far on the side of "not good" to really seem viable to me.

These guys however def lean towards the "not so bad side" (and the Dranae or however the hell it's spelled).

[Zauber]

+5% defense as a racial trait? This would evoke major howls of anguish from the current warrior ranks.

[ayumiko]

I think 25% chance on stun for 2 seconds would be imbalanced with the rogue class...

[Fennes]

I still don't buy it; Mok'Nathal is a name that would have never made it out of Blizzard's PR department, and their writing team would never have let that clumsy mess of run-on sentences pass for official prose. The standard for Blizzard's writing is considerably higher than this.

There might be a half-orc half-whatever race on the horizon but I don't think we'll ever see that name or text description in anything official.

[Mr. Gearhead]

Hate to break it to you, but the race-name 'Mok'Nathal' is canon.

[Cosmik]

"The standard for Blizzard's writing is considerably higher than this."

If I remember correctly, Blizzard misspelled the word "Horde" in the original Blood Elf description.

[Rand 'al Thor]

"If I remember correctly, Blizzard misspelled the word "Horde" in the original Blood Elf description.

"
That they did.

[Rand 'al Thor]

ANd to make it all go away, dude got caught and admitted it was a hoax :P

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-realm-perenolde&t=145693&p=1&tmp=1#post145693

[Cosmik]

http://n3rfed.blogs.com/n3rfed/2006/04/no.html

[Ancalagon]

btw... how can a race which consists of ORCS and OGRE and that for the alliance side? how could that work??? humans are HUNTING orcs. so that the mok'nathal should be on alliance side is redicules...

[Pwntlolz]

Hate to brake it down to you guys but Mok'Nathal ain't gonna be teh new alliance race... Half Orc half Ogre alliance side? Doubt it...
And what of Rexxar if this does happen?
And since when are Mok'Nathal so numbered? They arent..they are wandering tree hugers... My guess is blizzard doesnt even have the slightest clue about the new alliance race yet... But I doubt theyll be Dranei ..since Dranei are supposed to be the OUtland goblins ((Neutrals))..But hey thats just me...Blizzard is known for iracional ideas and stupid mistakes...so you never know ;)