War stories, articles & game guides
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2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
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War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“The druids of old seem to have had good reasons for destroying Vordrassil. We cannot let the furbolgs regrow it. On the other hand, saving Ursoc’s spirit hinges on the magic contained by the sapling. Take this torch and use it to burn the tree. You will find it in the middle of Grizzlemaw, inside Vordrassil’s old trunk. Bring me Vordrassil’s ashes.
It is my hope that once purified by fire, we may use its magic to cleanse Ursoc’s spirit of its dark taint.”
-Hierophant Thayreen
Hierophant Thayreen in Amberpine Lodge wants you to take the Verdant Torch and use it to burn Vordrassil’s Sapling. Bring Vordrassil’s Ashes back to Hierophant Thayreen.
Provided item:
Quest Giver: Hierophant Thayreen — Amberpine Lodge, Grizzly Hills [31, 59]
Objective: Use the Verdant Torch to burn Vordrassil’s Sapling inside Grizzlemaw, then bring Vordrassil’s Ashes back to Hierophant Thayreen.
Quick Facts
Walkthrough
Getting to the Sapling
The sapling is deep inside Grizzlemaw [50, 42], the furbolg city built inside Vordrassil’s massive stump. The entrance to the stump is at approximately [50, 48].
Using the Torch
The Verdant Torch is provided when you accept the quest. Once at the sapling at the bottom of the stump, use the torch from your inventory. This burns the sapling and produces Vordrassil’s Ashes, which you must loot and bring back to Thayreen. Don’t forget to pick up the ashes before leaving.
Collect Seeds on the Way
If you’re also doing Vordrassil’s Seeds (and you should be), collect the 8 seed objects scattered around the interior of Grizzlemaw as you navigate toward the sapling. This saves a second trip.
Return to Hierophant Thayreen at Amberpine Lodge [31, 59] with the ashes.
Lore Context
Thayreen’s plan: the ancient druids were right to destroy Vordrassil, and the furbolgs must not be allowed to regrow it. But the magic contained within the sapling is the only thing that can save Ursoc’s corrupted spirit.
By burning the sapling with a specially prepared torch, the fire purifies Vordrassil’s magic while destroying the physical tree. Upon turn-in, Thayreen confirms the ashes still contain Vordrassil’s magic and expresses hope that “once purified by fire, we may use its magic to cleanse Ursoc’s spirit of its dark taint.”
The Purified Ashes of Vordrassil (created from these ashes) are the key item used in the chain’s finale, Ursoc, the Bear God. After defeating corrupted Ursoc, players sprinkle the purified ashes on his corpse to free his spirit and trigger his warning about Yogg-Saron.
Grizzlemaw itself is an impressive piece of world design. The furbolg built an entire city inside the stump of what was once a World Tree, complete with warring tribal factions. The stump is so massive it’s a major landmark visible from across the zone, and its interior extends far underground.
The furbolgs’ attempt to regrow the tree using corrupted seeds shows how desperation and grief (over Ursoc’s death) led them to repeat the same mistake the ancient druids fought to undo.
Explore Grizzly Hills’ hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Grizzly Hills Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Vikstone's War JournalThayreen lit a torch and handed it to me, its flame green with druidic magic.
“The druids of old had good reasons for destroying Vordrassil. We cannot let the furbolgs regrow it.” She paused, weighing something. “On the other hand, saving Ursoc’s spirit hinges on the magic contained by the sapling. Take this torch and burn the tree. You will find it in the middle of Grizzlemaw, inside Vordrassil’s old trunk. Bring me the ashes. Once purified by fire, we may use its magic to cleanse Ursoc’s spirit.”
Grizzlemaw was a cathedral of rot. The furbolgs swarmed through its passages, but I found paths through shadow that avoided the worst of them. At the heart of the hollowed trunk, the sapling stood alone, growing where it should not.
My ancestors had planted Vordrassil. They had destroyed it when they learned what grew beneath. Now I knelt before their mistake’s child, torch in hand.
The fire caught instantly, green leaves curled black. The wood hissed and cracked. Something in the smoke smelled almost clean.
I gathered the ashes carefully.
Thayreen’s face lit when I returned. “Yes! Vordrassil’s magic is still present in these ashes.” She cradled them. “There might be hope for Ursoc yet.”
Hope, pulled from fire and ruin.
The ashes still hold Vordrassil’s magic, and Thayreen sees hope in them. But corrupted seeds are scattered through Grizzlemaw, and no one else can be allowed to replant in Vordrassil’s Seeds.
