Krellion, as he is known in Heroes of Might and Magic III—is a classic tavern hero who, in terms of appearance, is a quintessential Orc.
In the world of Heroes of Might and Magic, the only unit in the Stronghold (Barbarian) faction that truly resembles the Orcs of Azeroth is the Ogre. Although they share the name "Ogre," they are vastly different from the two-headed variants in Azeroth; instead, they are strikingly similar to green-skinned Orcs.
Krellion's initial stats are fairly balanced: 4 Attack, 0 Defense, 1 Power, and 1 Knowledge. His specialty is "Ogres," which means after level 4, he provides extra Attack and Defense bonuses to every Ogre or Ogre Mage in his army for every level he gains. He starts with the Offense skill and Basic Magic Resistance, and he easily learns Defense and Tactics.
His starting troops are typical of a Barbarian—Goblins, Wolf Riders, and Orcs (though the HoMM "Orcs" are smaller, throwing-axe units). To Rhodes, the Goblins and half-Orc units are essentially "trash" with low combat power; in the past, whenever he found them in Refugee Camps, he'd recruit them only to convert them into skeletons for better value.
The real parallels to the Horde are the Ogres—massive, green-skinned brutes with high HP and damage. The Ogre Mage, a Tier 4 unit, boasts a whopping 60 HP, making it elite for its tier, and it has the special ability to cast Bloodlust on friendly troops for six rounds.
In the Barbarian hierarchy, the heavy hitters are the Ogres and Wolf Raiders, followed by the formidable Rocs (or Thunderbirds), which can trigger chain lightning on impact. While the Behemoth might not have the highest base stats, its ability to ignore up to 80% of an enemy's defense makes it one of the most terrifying duelists in any world.
Rhodes had pulled several of these units from his Refugee Camps recently, and he now handed them over to his new hero. He also had Krellion visit specialized structures like the Arena, Mercenary Camp, Marletto Tower, and the Magic Academy to boost his primary attributes. He didn't send this Barbarian to the Elementalist Academy for advanced magic; Krellion was a pure warrior. Level 1 or 2 spells were enough; the rest of his growth would be focused entirely on brutal melee combat.
With his appearance and combat style, Krellion would easily earn the trust of the Orcs of Azeroth. Rhodes planned for him to infiltrate the Horde to see if his tactical bonuses could enhance Thrall's warriors. Perhaps he could even climb the ranks to compete for the title of Warchief one day, backed by Rhodes as his secret patron. Plus, having the innate support of the Forsaken (via Rhodes) would make his rise even more feasible.
"Go, Krellion," Rhodes said, secretly summoning the hero outside the gates of Theramore. "Head to the Barrens and find the city of Orgrimmar. Your strength, your appearance, and the courage of your 'Ogre' brethren will be your best calling cards. Thrall is a wise leader; he will recognize your value."
The hero stood 2.8 meters tall, a giant with explosive green muscles clad in heavy iron plate armor, carrying a massive spiked mace. Krellion let out a low, guttural roar, echoed by the Ogres behind him and the long howls of the Wolf Raiders' mounts.
"For the glory of the Horde! Do not worry, Great Master. I will follow your commands and join them," Krellion growled in the Common tongue he had just learned.
"Hahaha! Not bad! You've picked up the slogan quickly. Yes, shout it just like that: For the Horde!" Rhodes nodded with satisfaction.
After sending his new hero off, Rhodes spent two more days in Theramore with Jaina and her father. Eventually, they prepared to return to Lordaeron. Their stay wouldn't be long; they had to head to Stormwind to force King Varian to officially recognize Rhodes's title as Grand Marshal, bring the southern kingdom back into active duty, and attend Princess Calia's coronation as Queen.
"I wish you could stay longer, daughter," the Admiral sighed, seeing them off. Like any father, he had a bit of a grudge against the man taking his daughter away.
"Don't worry, Father. Rhodes is a master of teleportation now. If I miss you, I can return in an instant," Jaina smiled. With Guardian-level magic, they no longer had to spend a month drifting at sea or weeks flying.
Furthermore, the mages of Dalaran were working on perfecting "Hearthstones"—magical devices that would allow adventurers to teleport back to a bound inn within the Ley Line network, making travel between continents routine.
"I know... but I will still miss you. Lad, take good care of my daughter. If I hear you've mistreated her, I won't let it slide," Daelin warned Rhodes.
"Rest assured, Father-in-law. And use those magical ships I gave you well. They use Titan technology—their interior space is massive," Rhodes added. He had gifted Daelin several specialized space-warping ships to aid the Kul Tiran fleet.
"Kul Tirans are the best sailors in the world; I know the value of these gifts. Come to Kul Tiras sometime; I'll show you our hospitality personally," Daelin nodded.
"It's a deal. Take care of yourself," Rhodes smiled. He didn't need a tour guide; he had explored every inch of Kul Tiras and Zandalar in the "game," but he was glad that by keeping Daelin alive, the kingdom wouldn't fall into the chaos that defined its future in the original timeline.
With a flash of blue light, Rhodes and Jaina vanished from Theramore and returned to the Eastern Kingdoms.
At the same time, Rexxar, Chen, and Rokhan returned to Durotar to report to Warchief Thrall. In the Valley of Wisdom in Orgrimmar, Thrall listened intently.
"Rhodes... he has appeared again and stopped a war. This 'Twilight's Hammer' and the 'Old Gods' he mentioned... they are unsettling. If Cho'gall has truly found these 'gods,' it is a threat far greater than the Admiral's hatred."
"The human mage wasn't lying," Chen Stormstout said, taking a swig of ale. "The shadow power he described matches legends in Pandaren records. He even knew the name of Y'Shaarj."
"Warchief, do you trust his word? Should we pursue Cho'gall?" Rexxar asked.
"I trust his judgment. He fought beside us at Mount Hyjal. If Cho'gall is the puppet master, we must drag him into the light," Thrall declared. "Rexxar, I have a new mission for you. Track them down."
Meanwhile, a massive Orc with a giant spiked mace—Krellion—arrived at the gates of Orgrimmar.