War stories, articles & game guides
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War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“Although you have acted valiantly in freeing the trapped calves, many of them will still die. You see, without a caretaker, these calves must fend for themselves in the wild. But there is a way! Hope yet remains! North of here in the mammoth fields, bordering the Scalding Pools, you will find Khu’nok the Behemoth: a mammoth as wise as he is ancient.
Take this mammoth orphan and present it to Khu’nok. He will know what to do.”
-Archdruid Lathorius
Take the Orphaned Mammoth Calf to Archdruid Lathorius in the Borean Tundra.
Quest Giver: Arch Druid Lathorius at D.E.H.T.A. Encampment [57, 44]
Turn In: Khu’nok the Behemoth at [59, 30]
Objective: Take the Orphaned Mammoth Calf to Khu’nok the Behemoth.
Quick Facts
Walkthrough
Khu’nok Location: [59, 30], north of the D.E.H.T.A. camp in the mammoth fields bordering the Scalding Pools. He’s a massive mammoth, easy to spot.
Simple Method:
Calf Lost? Don’t Worry:
The quest can be completed even if the calf is no longer following you. Multiple players confirm: just walk up to Khu’nok, and you’ll get credit regardless. If you lost the calf along the way (or never had one due to bugs), try approaching Khu’nok anyway before abandoning the quest.
The Calf Companion
The mammoth calf functions as a companion pet, which creates several quirks:
Walking Speed Only: The calf moves at standard walking speed and cannot keep up if you mount. If you want the calf to actually accompany you, walk the whole way.
Companion Pet Conflict: Summoning another companion pet (including vanity pets from addons) will cause the calf to disappear. Disable any pet auto-rotation addons before accepting this quest.
Random Colors: The calf’s appearance is random. Players have reported grey, blue, pink, and greenish colored calves. If you want a specific color, you can abandon and re-accept the quest until you get one you like.
Eventually Dies: If you try to keep the calf past quest completion, it will eventually die. You cannot adopt it permanently.
Persistent Calf Bug: Some players report the calf staying with them even after completing the entire chain. This appears to be a rare glitch.
If the Calf Disappears:
Story Context: The Wise Mammoth
Arch Druid Lathorius explains the grim reality: “Although you have acted valiantly in freeing the trapped calves, many of them will still die. You see, without a caretaker, these calves must fend for themselves in the wild.”
But there’s hope: “North of here in the mammoth fields, bordering the Scalding Pools, you will find Khu’nok the Behemoth: a mammoth as wise as he is ancient. Take this mammoth orphan and present it to Khu’nok. He will know what to do.”
Khu’nok is no ordinary mammoth. When you approach:
“<Khu’nok looks upon you with intelligence unusual for a beast.>”
“<You hear a voice in your head. It is Khu’nok.>”
“Your name has been heard in the whistling winds, <name>. You have done a great thing for my kin. For this we will consider you an ally. Alas, our torment cannot end without bloodshed and violence. The price of peace for the mammoths will be the death of Kaw…”
Khu’nok communicates telepathically. He acknowledges your efforts but makes clear that saving orphans isn’t enough. The hunter Kaw must die.
Lore: Khu’nok the Behemoth
Khu’nok is presented as an ancient, sapient mammoth with telepathic abilities. He serves as the patriarch and protector of the mammoth herds in Borean Tundra. His wisdom and power make him a natural ally for D.E.H.T.A.’s mission.
The fact that he speaks directly into your mind suggests the mammoths of Northrend are far more intelligent than typical beasts. This sapience makes Nesingwary’s hunting all the more tragic from D.E.H.T.A.’s perspective. They’re not just killing animals; they’re slaughtering thinking beings.
Explore Borean Tundra’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Borean Tundra Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.
Phase1
Binds when picked
Two-Hands Sword
605 - 1,010 Damage Speed 3.60
(224.3 damage per second)
+283 Strength
+596 Critical Strike
Durability 85 / 85
Requires level 110 to 120 120
Sell Price:
64
64
8
Phase2
Binds when picked
Ranged Bow
572 - 774 Damage Speed 3.00
(224.3 damage per second)
+320 Agility
+576 Critical Strike
Durability 85 / 85
Requires level 110 to 120 120
Sell Price:
62
12
73
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
You will receive:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Phase3
Binds when picked
132 Armor
+26 Intellect
Durability 25 / 25
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 53.
Equip: Increases spell power by 40.
Sell Price:
2
20
Phase4
Binds when picked up
563 Armor
+298 [Agility or Intellect]
+607 Stamina
Durability 85 / 85
Requires level 110 to 120 120
Sell Price:
36
60
Vikstone's War JournalLathorius admitted it before I left.
“Although you have acted valiantly in freeing the trapped calves, many of them will still die.” His voice was quiet now. “Without a caretaker, these calves must fend for themselves in the wild. But there is a way. Hope yet remains.”
He pressed a calf into my arms. It was small, warm, terrified.
“North of here, bordering the Scalding Pools, you will find Khu’nok the Behemoth. A mammoth as wise as he is ancient. Take this orphan to him. He will know what to do.”
The walk north was long and the calf stayed close, too young to understand what had happened to its mother, only that something was wrong. I found myself talking to it. Nothing important. Just noise to fill the silence.
Khu’nok stood among the mammoth herds. His eyes tracked my approach, unsettling me, as I was expecting a simple-minded beast.
Then his voice filled my head.
Your name has been heard in the whistling winds. You have done a great thing for my kin. For this, we will consider you an ally.
I set the calf down. It stumbled toward the great mammoth, bleating.
Alas, our torment cannot end without bloodshed and violence. The price of peace for the mammoths will be the death of Kaw…
Even the beasts wanted blood. Even the ancient, wise ones demanded killing before they’d consider the matter settled.
Khu’nok accepted the orphan. His price for peace was simple: the hunter called Kaw the Mammoth Destroyer had to die, and the mammoths wanted Vikstone to ride one of their own to do it.
