Old Soldier

Old Soldier is a cinematic that serves as a prologue to the Battle for Lordaeron, focusing on Varok Saurfang and his apprehension towards the war to come. It takes place right before the Battle for Azeroth opening cinematic. Old Soldier was released at ChinaJoy 2018 on August 2nd, 2018.

• The fires of war rage across Azeroth, but legendary Horde warrior Varok Saurfang wants no part in the fighting. After a lifetime spent on the front lines, he has outlived most of those closest to him, even his own son. On the eve of a battle that will determine the Horde’s fate, the old soldier must choose whether to finally lay down his axe for good.

• War has a way of wearing down the most weathered soldiers. For legendary Horde warrior Varok Saurfang, this one could very well be his last.

• Eastern Kingdoms
• Tirisfal Glades
• Lordaeron Keep

Flashback

• Kalimdor
• Darkshore
• Teldrassil
• Northrend

• It is the night before the Alliance sieges the Undercity. Varok Saurfang is haunted by memories of the death of his son and of the Burning of Teldrassil. He overlooks Tirisfal Glades from the Ruins of Lordaeron, gazing towards the Alliance armies on the horizon. Zekhan approaches, then removes his mask and salutes Saurfang respectfully.
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• Zekhan rekindles a nearby pyre with elemental magic, then looks towards the Alliance armies as well. Saurfang begins removing one of his shoulderpads.
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• Saurfang has a flashback of the Burning of Teldrassil. Sylvanas watches as the tree burns, but Varok approaches and angrily confronts her.
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• The flashback ends as Varok begins removing his gorget.
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• Saurfang angrily throws his remaining shoulderpad at Zekhan's feet.
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• Saurfang approaches the pyre, removing a necklace from his person and placing it within the pyre.
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• Saurfang has another flashback. He kneels in the snow, holding the lifeless body of a fallen orc in his arms. The orc wears the same necklace as before.
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• Saurfang gives an anguished cry as the flashback ends. He takes nearby ashes from the pyre and places them upon his face.
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• Down on ground level, wielding a torch, Saurfang begins to approach the Alliance army, intent on being granted his honorable death. Zekhan follows after him.
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• Zekhan ignores him, beginning to remove his own shoulderpads in a similar fashion. Varok pushes the troll back towards the Undercity.
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• Saurfang pauses, then approaches Zekhan angrily, throwing his torch to the ground.
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• Saurfang pushes Zekhan to the ground.
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• ''Saurfang angrily grabs Zekhan by his vestments, but the sound of a war horn interrupts him. As dawn begins to break, a Horde banner is flown over the battlements of Lordaeron. Zekhan offers Varok the necklace he'd discarded, and Saurfang stares at it wistfully.
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• His hope renewed, Saurfang gazes towards the approaching Alliance army, then back at Zekhan.
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• As the Alliance begins their assault on Lordaeron, Saurfang and Zekhan rush back towards the battlements; and as Varok faces the approaching armies, he raises his axe and gives a triumphant war cry.

• Directed by Marc Messenger
• Written by Matt Burns and Marc Messenger
• Art directed by Chris Thunig
• Music by Neal Acree
• Produced by Tony Cosanella
• CG Supervisor: Mike Kelleher
• Animation Supervisor: Ricardo Biriba
• Animation Lead: Peter Starostin
• Digimatte Lead: Fabio Barretta Zungrone
• Lighting Lead: Jason Fleming
• Animators: Ronny Kim
• Modeling Supervisor: Shannon Thomas
• Lead Character Modeler: Chung Kan
• Environment Modeling Lead: Aaron Hamman
• Saurfang voiced by Andrew Morgado
• Zekhan voiced by Valence Thomas

• Zekhan first appeared in the Battle for Azeroth opening cinematic, where he was referred to as "Zappy Boi" by the fanbase for a lack of name.
• In response to fan speculation that Old Soldiers was made or released in response to player controversy surrounding the release of Warbringers: Sylvanas three days prior, Ythisens stated that Blizzard had planned for Old Soldiers to debut at Chinajoy months before, long before Warbringers was even announced. The cinematic was in fact being created before even the unveiling of the Battle for Azeroth opening cinematic.
• Because of this, Blizzard had no way of predicting the popularity of Zekhan, and did not expect him to become a meme.
• Old Soldier received 1.3 million views within the first 12 hours after its release, and 2.5 million views after 24 hours.