Varden Dawngrasp is a legendary mage minion card, from the Forged in the Barrens set.
Sounds[]
Lore[]
Varden Dawngrasp is unique to Hearthstone as one of the ten mercenaries introduced in Forged in the Barrens.
Varden Dawngrasp is also a non-binary blood elf,[1] using they/them pronouns.
- A curious intellectual seeking redemption in the eyes of their people…
- Dawngrasp spent most of their life in Silvermoon, a curious young elf and student of all things magical. They showed a preternatural gift for the arcane, quickly mastering various schools of magical thought. They were trained by Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider himself, who was part of the High Council of the Kirin Tor. It looked like Dawngrasp would rise through the ranks of the mages of Quel’thalas and attain the title of Magister.
- Alas, Arthas and the Scourge had other plans. In the aftermath of the destruction of the Sunwell, Kael’thas went to Outland, but Dawngrasp would not go. After the prince’s subsequent betrayal, many of the magisters, Grand Magister Rommath included, suspected that Dawngrasp might be in league with the traitorous prince. Alienated, Dawngrasp turned to their studies for comfort.
- After the Night of Falling Stars, a troll appeared in Silvermoon. His name was Kazakus, and he sought aid in gathering the glowing shards that had rained across the Barrens. Suspicious of the troll’s intentions, Dawngrasp went to Kalimdor of their own accord, seeking knowledge about the power contained inside the shards…[2]
Amongst the four children Elise was guiding ~1m21s into the reveal trailer of Journey to Un'Goro (they salute her at the end), three resembled adult mercenaries later seen in the Forged in the Barrens set: the slingshot-wielder resembles Varden, while the orc resembles Rokara, and the tauren resembles Guff Runetotem. After this was highlighted on Reddit,[3] Matt London initially replied to a "kids are all grown up?" question about this on Twitter stating it was non-coincidental, implying it was intended.,[4] but later the day in response to a reaction[5] stated he did not intend to confirm anything.[6]
Other depictions of a red-haired elf child in Journey to Un'Goro are in the Choose Your Path and Fire Plume's Heart spell cards, though the character in them is wearing a short full-brimmed hat like Elise the Trailblazer or Sir Finley's, not a long front-brimmed cap.
Trivia[]
- Varden Dawngrasp is the first confirmed non-binary character to be introduced to the Warcraft franchise.
- Varden is voiced by Kayleigh McKee, a transgender voice actress.[7]
- They are depicted in the art for Flurry and its upgrades, Shattering Blast, Sorcerer's Gambit, Ignite, and Rune of the Archmage.
Gallery
The elf child with the slingshot prior to saluting, wearing a brimmed cap.
Concept art by Rafael Zanchetin
Concept art by Rafael Zanchetin
References[]
- ↑ Cam Shea (2021-03-19). We Reveal a Hearthstone: Forged in the Barrens Legendary Card!. IGN.
- ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (2021-04-06). Meet the Mercenaries. PlayHearthstone. Retrieved on 2021-08-13.
- ↑ TEnOTT. Mercenaries reminds me Ungoro adventure kids.
- ↑ "No coincidence ;-)" —Matt London on Twitter. (2021-03-22).
- ↑ "Update: Matt London now states that he did not intend to confirm this. We're leaving the article as-is, just take it with a grain of salt." —Journey to Un'Goro's Junior Explorers Have All Grown Up! Some Story of The Mercenaries Confirmed by Blizzard.
- ↑ "This was not intended as confirmation. Sorry! You’ll have to wait a little longer to learn more about the mercenaries." —Matt London on Twitter. (2021-03-22).
- ↑ Kayleigh McKee on Twitter. (2021-03-24).