Worgen Race: 3rd WoW Expansion

Evidence says on the screenshot from World of Warcraft MPQ file leaked in patch 3.2 that Worgens will be a new race (possible horde) as the 3rd World of Warcraft Expansion: Cataclysm.

Background & Lore about World of Warcraft Worgen Race

Worgen are large, wolf-like humanoids reminiscent of a werewolf that walks upright, but lopes on all fours to run. According to sources held by the undead, the worgen come from another dimension, and exist only to terrorize and destroy. These creatures are thoroughly evil, delighting in torturing and devouring intelligent creatures. They enjoy hearing the screams of their victims as they tear them apart piece by piece. Worgen never show mercy or remorse. They may seem savage, but they are fairly intelligent and possess a cruel bestial cunning that can come as a surprise to the unprepared.
Most worgen keep their wolf-like forms at all times, but experiments by the mage Arugal has resulted in human/worgen hybrids who only appear as worgen under the light of the moon. They carry with them a dark corrupting malaise that grows wherever they infest, making the surrounding area dark and gloomy.

+They have a unique language, Worgen.

Worgen are among the few humanoids that can be skinned.
They are fairly intelligent and possess a cruel bestial cunning that can come as a surprise to the unprepared.MG 146 They have less than average intelligence, and above average wisdom. They are apparently more intelligent than ogres or quilboar, but not by much.LoC 196

Possible Forsaken-type lore. Worgen who don’t want to cause so much bloodshed or having obtained free will could join either side. Only known friendly worgens are pyrewoods worgens in human form, but other may still exist.

There are seemingly two kinds of worgen: the extradimensional ones summoned by the Scythe of Elune from a distant planet; and those cursed by Arugal’s magic (though it is possible that there are more Worgen cursed in other ways). The former seems unlikely as a playable race seeing as they are feral, bloodthirsty monsters (see below) whilst the latter, like Forsaken undead, retain a measure of humanity.

Females of this race do not currently exist in-game (also, all cursed Pyrewood Village inhabitants are male).

Worgen have a number of emotes and player animations such as salute, kneel, swimming etc.

- They dwell in simple huts and usually wear cured leather scraps as rudimentary armor.MG 146

- Ur writes: “For wherever the Worgen tread, they bring terror and bloodshed with them.”

- Always neutral evil. These creatures are thoroughly evil, delighting in torturing and devouring intelligent creatures. They enjoy hearing the screams of their victims as they tear them apart piece by piece. Worgen never show mercy or remorse.MG 146 ((Editorial note: Is this referencing the extradimentional, cursed or both?))

Even the Forsaken undead and Darkspear trolls do not display any similar degree of savagery.
However, the Worgen summoned by Velinde Starsong seemed friendly enough[, and possibly felt betrayed when she tried to find a way to get rid of them, contributing to their aggressive nature.
Join the Alliance?

+ The Kirin Tor Archmage, Alphus Wordwill, suggests a method of using “good-hearted” worgen of the “cursed human” variety to fight the Scourge and other evils for the Alliance:

“This begs the question as to what can be done with them. Are we morally correct in eliminating them, as they are a danger to all mortals? I do not believe so; rather, I believe we should find a cure. If possible, this cure would not prevent the transformation, it would do more — it would preserve the afflicted individual’s mindset after the transformation. Such an effect would allow good-hearted worgen to take on fearsome physical abilities and use these against the Forsaken, the Scourge and other evil powers. Given proper funding and support, I believe that I could create such a cure.”

+ During Velinde Starsong’s vision, she saw the Worgen battling the Burning Legion on the wolfmen’s home planet, and when Velinde summoned them using the Scythe of Elune, they agreed to assist her in battling their common foe in Felwood.

The fate of the human domain of Gilneas is unknown, but it is speculated that the inhabitants became werewolves in a similar way to the inhabitants of Pyrewood Village. Either way, Gilneas has a weak connection to the Alliance despite being a human kingdom.

The Alliance seems to be friendly with the citizens of Pyrewood village during the day (who sell basic goods to travelers). That they become violent at night may only be down to the powers Arugal possesses over them.

Note that the Pyrewood villagers turn on you when you find Apothecary Berard in a hidden room in the inn.
- They are a direct cause of the devastation of the human land of Duskwood.
Join the Horde?

+ Apothecary Berard, an undead, was affected by the worgen curse — which creates the possibility of a Forsaken worgen playable race.

Wolves have always been the symbol of the Horde with orcs frequently honoring them and naming themselves after them.

The Forsaken would likely protest against human-worgen joining the Horde, as they has been much conflict between the two in Silverpine Forest. The Sons of Arugal quest chain, among numerous quests, molds a negative opinion towards worgen from a Horde standpoint.

Source: www.wowwiki.com/worgan