Far back into the mists of time, the nomadic, nature-loving Tauren roamed the plains of the Barrens, at constant war with the savage, predatory centaur. When Thrall's orcish Horde helped them defeat the centaur several years ago and claim a permanent homeland in the beautiful land of Mulgore, High Chief Cairne Bloodhoof swore allegiance to Thrall and founded the city of Thunder Bluff.
These gentle giants are among the most ancient races on Azeroth; their creation is shrouded in legend. They follow the ways of the Earthmother, revering nature and the sacred Hunt. Though they are now united under the wise rule of High Chief Cairne Bloodhoof, and have an impressive city to call their racial home, many Tauren still cling to their varied tribal customs. Tauren respect the orcs deeply, though consider them a bit savage at times. There is some tension between their traditional shamans and the "new" Elven-influenced druidic healers who claim to be resurrecting an even more ancient tradition. But the Tauren's true hatreds are for the centaur and for the greedy, pollluting, multiracial Venture Company. The Ironforge dwarves are not much better, with their endless archeological excavations that scar the serene face of the Earthmother. And the only thing keeping the Tauren from waging war on the hideous Forsaken is that these monsters have supposedly sworn allegiance to Thrall. At least, for now...
Available Classes: Warrior, Hunter, Druid, Shaman
Names: First names are heavy on hard consonants and round vowels. Male first names often end in -k or -n. Female names frequently are longer, sound softer, and/or end in -a. Their last names often trace back through many generations, though they sometimes take a new last name to commemorate a particularly noteworthy deed or ability. Examples: Bron Brokenhorn, Colecheta Quillsplitter.
Hair: Manes are usually dark brown or black, or in rare cases, gray. All Tauren also have horns of brown or black, with the males' being significantly more prominent.
Eyes: Red, black, brown, green, or silver.
Skin: Tauren have hides covered in flat, coarse hair like a cow or horse, and may be solid colored, patched, or accented in white. Colors include black, brown, gray, white, red, and buff.
Height/Weight: Males tower up to 7 and a half feet tall and weigh up to 400 pounds. Females are perhaps half the weight and significantly shorter.
Age: A new adventurer will be between 51 and 68. 75 is "middle aged." The average Tauren dies around 95 years of age, though heroes can live as long as 150.
Social Status: All have an equal place in the eyes of the Earthmother. Even the feeble or crippled may have unique wisdom that the most heroic warrior should heed. No Tauren own land, and there are no Tauren farms. All land belongs to the Earthmother, and Tauren are permitted to hunt and gather the bounty she offers, so long as they preserve its balance.
Family: There is no set family structure for Tauren. Different tribes had different structures, ranging from matriarchal systems to a male-dominated "herd" mentality. The only thing that is somewhat rare to find is a human-like "pairing" tradition, though even this is practiced in some tribes. In general though, there is a strong communal rather than "nuclear" family structure.
Hometown: Tauren were traditionally nomadic by nature, so the idea of a "hometown" is new. The oldest Tauren born in Thunder Bluff are still little more than infants, so chances are most adult Tauren see the Earthmother's plains in general as their "home." Sample concepts: Stoic protector, raging bull, serene advisor, looming menace, mystical philosopher, master of the Hunt, pacifistic tree-hugger, spooky spirit-caller.
Good Diamond Words: BROODING, INTROSPECTIVE, JUST, PEACEFUL, PROTECTIVE, REVERENT, SILENT, STUBBORN, SPIRITUAL, STOIC, TACITURN, VENGEFUL, WISE
Generic Backstory: You are 55 years old, a young Tauren just starting out his or her adult life as a full member of your tribe and of the Horde. For most of your life you roamed the Barrens with the others of your tribe, learning from your elders to hunt kodo and gather the Earthmother's bounty. Not long before you came of age at 50, you met the newcomers to the plains: the orcs. Though at first they seemed savage and unruly, you came to respect them, especially when they did what your people could not... drove the centaur into a submissive and defensive position, allowing your people to set up permanent camps in the green, lush lands of Mulgore. The tribes have united now under High Chief Cairne Bloodhoof, a wise Tauren hero and fierce fighter who commands the respect of all. Bloodhoof swears allegiance to the orcs' leader, Thrall, and therefore, so do you. It is time now to serve the Horde, and strike a balance between fueling expansion and protecting the natural balance.
Official Tauren Page