Wars and armed conflictsAncient times

Burning Crusade · Elemental Sundering · War between Aqir and Trolls · First War between Earthen
and Iron Dwarves

Before the opening of the Dark Portal

War of the Ancients · Troll Wars · War of the Shifting Sands · War of the Three Hammers

After the opening of the Dark Portal

First War · Second War · Invasion of Draenor · War of the Spider · Third War

The Burning Crusade

War in Outland

Wrath of the Lich King

Nexus War · War against the Lich King · Zalazane's Fall · Operation: Gnomeregan

Cataclysm

Gilneas civil war · Elemental War (Elemental Invasion) · Alliance–Horde War (Invasion of Gilneas)

War of the Ancients

Edit

 History

Previous: Elemental Sundering

Next: War of the Satyr

War of the Ancients

Place: Original Kalimdor

Outcome: Decisive victory of the Kaldorei Resistance, destruction of the First

Well of Eternity, fragmentation of Kalimdor into smaller continents, creation of
the Second Well of Eternity and the World Tree Nordrassil

Combatants

 Kaldorei Resistance  Burning Legion

 Sisterhood of Elune
  Ancient  Highborne
 Time travellers
 Dragons
o Red dragonflight
o Blue dragonflight
o Bronze dragonflight
o Black dragonflight
o Green dragonflight
 Earthen
 Tauren
 Furbolg

Commanders

 Kur'talos Ravencrest†  Archimonde

o Desdel Stareye† o Mannoroth
o Jarod Shadowsong o Hakkar the
o Cenarius Houndmaster†
o Malfurion Stormrage  Queen Azshara
o Illidan Stormrage o Xavius†
o Dath'Remar Sunstrider o Varo'then†
 Dejahna† o Peroth'arn
o Tyrande Whisperwind o Lady Vashj
o Marinda†
o Maiev Shadowsong
 Krasus
o Broxigar†
o Rhonin
 Malorne†
o Cenarius
o Ursoc and Ursol†
o Agamaggan†
o Aviana†
 Alexstrasza
o Malygos
o Nozdormu
o Neltharion
o Ysera
 Dungard Ironcutter
 Unng Ak
 Huln Highmountain

template | talk | edit

Were you looking for info on the future raid instance?

The War of the Ancients is a conflict that rocked ancient Azeroth some ten thousand years prior to
the First War. It started when the reckless Highborne drew the attention of Sargeras and his Burning
Legion, and was ended, after massive casualties, when the Well of Eternity blasted the
supercontinent of Kalimdor apart.
Cenarius, Malfurion Stormrage, Tyrande Whisperwind, Illidan Stormrage, Jarod Shadowsong,
Korialstrasz, Queen Azshara, Mannoroth, and Archimonde were major players in the War.

There are differing accounts of the War:

 For the account given in the Reign of Chaos manual, with additional material from Warcraft
III, see War of the Ancients (WC3 account).
 For the History of Warcraft, and in-game book version, see War of the Ancients (WoW
account).

See Also, The Waking World and the Well of Eternity, The War of the Ancients and The
Sundering of the World.

 For a summary of the events as told in the War of the Ancients Trilogy, see War of the
Ancients (novel account).
 For other accounts, check the timelines.

History Edit

Many thousands of years ago (10,000 years before Warcraft I) the Burning Legion became attracted
to the world of Azeroth due to the reckless use of magic on that world. The night elf "Highborne",
under the direction of the Night Elf queen Azshara and her counselor Xavius, had been undertaking
experiments to draw greater and greater amounts of energy from the Well of Eternity, the source of
magical power on Azeroth.

The Highborne's reckless use of magic sent ripples of energy spiraling out from the Well of Eternity
and into the Great Dark Beyond. The streaming ripples of energy were felt by terrible alien minds.
Sargeras — the Great Enemy of all life, the Destroyer of Worlds — felt the potent ripples and was
drawn to their distant point of origin. Spying the primordial world of Azeroth and sensing the
limitless energies of the Well of Eternity, Sargeras was consumed by an insatiable hunger. The great
dark god of the Nameless Void resolved to destroy the fledgling world and claim its energies as his
own.

Sargeras gathered his vast Burning Legion and made his way towards the unsuspecting world of
Azeroth. The Legion was composed of a million screaming demons, all ripped from the far corners of
the universe, and the demons hungered for conquest. Sargeras' lieutenants, Archimonde the Defiler
and Mannoroth the Destructor, prepared their infernal minions to strike.

Queen Azshara, overwhelmed by the terrible ecstasy of her magic, fell victim to Sargeras' undeniable
power and agreed to grant him entrance to her world. Even her Highborne servitors gave
themselves over to magic's inevitable corruption and began to worship Sargeras as their god. To
show their allegiance to the Legion, the Highborne aided their queen in opening a vast, swirling
portal to Sargeras' realm within the depths of the Well of Eternity.

Once all his preparations had been made, Sargeras began his catastrophic invasion of Azeroth. The
warrior-demons of the Burning Legion stormed into the world through the Well of Eternity and laid
siege to the night elves' sleeping cities. Led by Archimonde and Mannoroth, the Legion swarmed
over the lands of Kalimdor, leaving only ash and sorrow in its wake. The demon warlocks called
down searing Infernals that crashed like hellish meteors into the graceful spires of Kalimdor's
temples. A band of burning, bloodletting killers known as the Doomguard marched across Kalimdor's
fields, slaughtering everyone in their path. Packs of wild, demonic Felhounds ravaged the
countryside unopposed. Though the brave Kaldorei warriors rushed to defend their ancient
homeland, they were forced to give ground, inch by inch, before the fury of the Legion's onslaught.

It fell to Malfurion Stormrage to find help for his beleaguered people. Stormrage, whose own
brother, Illidan, practiced the Highborne's magics, was incensed by the growing corruption amongst
the upper class. Convincing Illidan to forsake his dangerous obsession, Malfurion set out to find
Cenarius and muster a resistance force. The beautiful young priestess, Tyrande, agreed to
accompany the brothers in the name of Elune. Though Malfurion and Illidan shared a love for the
idealistic priestess, Tyrande's heart belonged to Malfurion alone. Illidan resented his brother's
budding romance with Tyrande, but knew that his heartache was nothing compared to the pain of
his magical addiction.

Illidan, who had grown dependent on magic's empowering energies, struggled to keep control of his
nearly overwhelming hunger to tap the Well's energies once again. However, with Tyrande's patient
support, he was able to restrain himself and help his brother find the reclusive demigod, Cenarius.
Cenarius, who dwelt within the sacred Moonglades of distant Mount Hyjal, agreed to help the night
elves by finding the ancient dragons and enlisting their aid. The dragons, led by the great red
leviathan, Alexstrasza, agreed to send their mighty flights to engage the demons and their infernal
masters.

Cenarius, calling on the spirits of the enchanted forests, rallied an army of ancient tree-men and led
them against the Legion in a daring ground assault. As the night elves' allies converged upon
Azshara's temple and the Well of Eternity, all-out warfare erupted. Despite the strength of their
newfound allies, Malfurion and his comrades realized that the Legion could not be defeated by
martial strength alone.

As the titanic battle raged around Azshara's capital city, Suramar, the delusional queen waited in
anticipation for Sargeras' arrival. The lord of the Legion was preparing to pass through the Well of
Eternity and enter the ravaged world. As his impossibly huge shadow drew ever closer to the Well's
raging surface, Azshara gathered the most powerful of her Highborne followers. Only by linking their
magics together in one focused spell would they be able to create a gateway large enough for
Sargeras to enter.

Malfurion, convinced that the Well of Eternity was the demons' umbilical link to the physical world,
insisted that it should be destroyed. His companions, knowing that the Well was the source of their
immortality and powers, were horrified by the rash notion. Yet Tyrande saw the wisdom of
Malfurion's theory, so she convinced Cenarius and their comrades to storm Azshara's temple and
find a way to shut the Well down for good.

Knowing that the Well's destruction would prevent him from ever wielding magic again, Illidan
selfishly abandoned the group and set out to warn the Highborne of Malfurion's plan. Due to the
insanity brought on by his addiction and the stinging resentment towards his brother's love of
Tyrande, Illidan felt no remorse at betraying Malfurion and siding with Azshara and her ilk. Above all
else, Illidan vowed to protect the Well's power by any means necessary.

Heartbroken by his brother's departure, Malfurion led his companions into the heart of Azshara's
temple. Yet as they stormed into the main audience chamber, they found the Highborne in the midst
of their final dark incantation. The communal spell created an unstable vortex of power within the
Well's turbulent depths. As Sargeras' ominous shadow drew ever closer to the surface, Malfurion
and his allies rushed to attack.

Azshara, having received Illidan's warning, was more than prepared for them. Nearly all of
Malfurion's followers fell before the mad queen's powers. Tyrande, attempting to attack Azshara
from behind, was caught off-guard by the queen's Highborne guardsmen. Though she vanquished
the guardsmen, Tyrande suffered grievous wounds at their hands. When Malfurion saw his love fall,
he went into a murderous rage and resolved to end Azshara's life.

As the battle raged inside and outside the temple, Illidan appeared from the shadows near the
shores of the great Well. Producing a set of specially crafted vials, Illidan knelt and filled each with
the Well's shimmering waters. Convinced that the demons would crush the night elves' civilization,
he planned to steal the sacred waters and keep their energies for himself.

The ensuing battle between Malfurion and Azshara threw the Highborne's carefully crafted
spellwork into chaos. The unstable vortex within the Well's depths exploded and ignited a
catastrophic chain of events that would sunder the world forever. The massive explosion rocked the
temple to its foundations and sent massive quakes ripping through the tortured earth. As the horrific
battle between the Legion and the night elves' allies raged around and above the ruined capital city,
the surging Well of Eternity buckled in upon itself and collapsed.

The resultant catastrophic explosion shattered the earth and blotted out the skies (see The Great
Sundering).

As the aftershocks from the Well's implosion rattled the bones of the world, the seas rushed in to fill
the gaping wound left in the earth. Nearly eighty percent of Kalimdor's landmass had been blasted
apart, leaving only a handful of separate continents surrounding the new, raging sea. At the center
of the new sea, where the Well of Eternity once stood, was a tumultuous storm of tidal fury and
chaotic energies. This terrible scar, known as the Maelstrom, would never cease its furious spinning.
It would remain a constant reminder of the terrible catastrophe... and the Utopian era that had been
lost forever.

Somehow, against all odds, Queen Azshara and her Highborne elite managed to survive the ordeal.
Tortured and twisted by the powers they had released, Azshara and her followers were dragged
down beneath the raging sea by the Well's implosion. Cursed — transformed — they took on new
shapes and became the hateful, serpentine naga. Azshara herself expanded with hate and rage,
becoming a massive monstrosity, reflecting the wickedness and malice that had always hidden
within her core.

There, at the bottom of the Maelstrom, the naga built for themselves a new city, Nazjatar, from
which they would rebuild their power. It would take over ten thousand years before the naga would
reveal their existence to the surface world.

The Troll Wars

Main article: The Troll Wars

One of the oldest wars in the lands of Warcraft was between the forest trolls of Zul'Aman and the
high elves. The war started because the high elves founded the kingdom of Quel'Thalas over trolls'
sacred ground, beneath which there was a ruined troll city. Elven magic helped to frighten away the
superstitious troll warbands and 4,000 years passed before trolls started the war in earnest.

The trolls had good chance of winning the war but then humans came to aid the high elves. Together
they used fire magic to prevent the trolls from regenerating their wounds. As the troll armies broke
and attempted to flee, enemy armies mercilessly ran them down and slaughtered many of their
soldiers.

The forest trolls would never fully recover from their defeat, and history would never see them rise
as one nation again.

Troll Wars

Edit

 History

Redirected from The Troll Wars

Previous: War of the Ancients

Next: War of the Shifting Sands

Troll Wars

Place: Continents of Lordaeron

Outcome: Decisive Alliance Victory, destruction of the

Troll Empire

Combatants

 Human & High Elven Alliance  Amani

o Arathi Empire Empire†
o Kingdom of
Quel'thalas

Commanders
  King Thoradin of Arathor Unknown Troll
 Lord Ignaeus Trollbane Emperor
 High King Anasterian
Sunstrider

template | talk | edit

The Troll Wars were a series of conflicts between the forest trolls of the Amani Empire and an
alliance of the humans of Arathor and high elves of Quel'Thalas, ending approximately 2,800 years
before the coming of the orcs to Azeroth.

Elven ranger and a forest troll berserker, from the Second War

Contents

[hide]

 1 Prelude and the Early War

 2 The Founding of Strom
 3 The Battle of the Alterac Mountains
 4 Aftermath
 5 References
 6 See also

Prelude and the Early War Edit

Following the War of the Ancients, the night elves outlawed the use of all arcane magic in their
forests, with execution as the penalty for use of the arcane arts. However many spellcasters did not
agree with this and wanted to use their magics. Led by Dath'Remar Sunstrider these sorcerers
decided to unleash a magical storm upon the tranquil forests. The Arch-Druid Malfurion did not want
to execute so many of his own people and decided instead to banish them all from their homelands,
and Dath'Remar led them across the sea to the east. These elves shrunk in height and their skin lost
the dark violet hue common among their kin, and thus the Quel'Dorei, commonly known as the high
elves, were born.
The elves travelled for years across the world that had been shattered by the wars with the Burning
Legion, but in the end they arrived in the lands now known as Lordaeron. Settling in the Tirisfal
Glades they quickly encountered the locals, and while contact with the human tribes was sparse, the
local trolls had built a great empire and attacked them on sight, quickly fueling a hateful feud
between the two races.

Shortly after their settling, something evil beneath the earth started to drive some of the elves
insane, so they decided to press on into troll territory. It didn't take long before the high elves
founded the kingdom of Quel'Thalas in the northern forests, not knowing it was an area sacred to
the trolls. The forest trolls attacked the fledgling nation in ever increasing numbers, forcing the elves
to use their strong magic. The superstitious troll war bands were frightened away and it was 4,000
years before they truly retaliated.

The Founding of Strom Edit

A Forest Troll Warlord ordering a charge The human tribes also suffered at the hands of the trolls. At
the time the humans were a factional people, scattered and leaderless. Chieftain Thoradin of the
Arathi saw the threat to his race and decided to unite the humans. Along with his trusted friend and
greatest general Ignaeus, later to be known as Trollbane, he devised a cunning strategy: fight the
nearby human tribes, and after each victory offer them peace and equality. With this tactic he united
the tribes and founded the first of the human kingdoms, Arathor. Situated in what is now known as
the Hillsbrad Foothills and Arathi Highlands, his growing empire ruled from the capital city of Strom.
Up to this time, the human empire had rarely had contact with the reclusive, magic-wielding elves,
and all contact with the trolls was through border skirmishes.

After years of continual besiegement by the trolls, the high elves, with defeat nearing, finally
decided to seek the aid of the now-powerful humans of Arathor. The elven king Anasterian
Sunstrider, descendant of Dath'Remar, sent out their diplomats to try and negotiate the primitive
humans into aiding them. Even though the elves had at times treated the humans no better than
they had the trolls, Thoradin saw the danger in allowing the elf civilization to fall, and agreed to an
alliance. The elves would teach one hundred humans how to wield the arcane arts of magic, while
the massive armies of Strom would mobilize and join the war against the trolls.

The Battle of the Alterac Mountains Edit

A High Elven Battle Mage casting a spellThe armies of Quel'thalas and Arathor engaged the trolls in a
great battle at the foot of the Alterac Mountains. The battle lasted for many days, but the knights of
Arathor refused to give any ground, and finally the elven masters agreed that it was time to unleash
the elven and human mages upon the trolls. Magical fires from the sky hindered the trolls'
regeneration, and their morale suffered. After some hours of the magical bombardment the
remaining human and elven warriors charged the trolls, broke their lines, and forced them into a
terrible rout. Even as they fled, the trolls were pursued and butchered by the merciless allied forces.
The trolls' power was broken and their population decimated, the last Troll empire lay in ruins.

Aftermath Edit

The trolls would never recover from this defeat. The Gurubashi Empire had been shattered by a
deadly civil war, and now the Amani Empire of the forest trolls was broken. What remained of the
trolls of the northern lands was forced into the wilderness. However, the war was not completely
unsuccessful for the trolls, thousand of elves and humans had been slain and the remaining left
completely weakened. Thoradin did initially not want his people to use magic, but he was forced to
accept it so it could be utilized against the incredible troll armies arrayed against him. This led to the
foundation of Dalaran, and later many other city-states. Following Thoradin's death his empire was
split up, thus removing any hope for a truly united humanity.

The elves owed the humans a debt of gratitude for saving their people and ending the first major
war since the Sundering and The War of the Ancients, and probably the longest in the History of
Warcraft. This debt laid the groundwork for the Alliance and was honored during the Second War
when Anduin Lothar, last descendant of the King Thoradin of Arathor, led the Alliance of Lordaeron
to war against the Horde for the second time in his life.

The humans had the largest gains of the war: they were united and they gained a debt of gratitude
from the only force able to threaten them. They were initiated into the arts of magic, their
technology was greatly improved and inspired by the elves (some claim the elves taught them the
art of metalsmithing, though it is more likely they knew of that before the war). They also became
the greatest power on the continent and were able to spread in every direction with almost nothing
in their way.

The human mage Meryl Felstorm was forced into undeath after being mortally wounded during the
war. He would later become one of the founders of the Council of Tirisfal and its sole remaining
member after Medivh's betrayal.

First War

Edit

 History

This article or section may need to be wikified to meet WoWWiki's quality standards.

 Please help improve this article!

 See the Manual of Style for ways to improve the article. (Editing help)

Previous: War of the Three Hammers

Next: Second War

First War

Place: Continent of Azeroth

Outcome: Orcish victory, destruction of the Kingdom of Azeroth, retreat of all
Humans to the northern continent of Lordaeron

Combatants

 Kingdom of Azeroth†  Orcish Horde

o Clerics of Northshire† o Shadow Council†
o Brotherhood of the o Blackrock Clan
Horse† o Bleeding Hollow Clan
o Twilight's Hammer
Clan

Commanders

 King Adamant Wrynn III†  Warchief Blackhand the

 King Llane Wrynn† Destroyer†
 Sir Anduin Lothar  Orgrim Doomhammer
 Gul'dan the Warlock
 Medivh

template | talk | edit

The First War was a conflict fought between the orcs and humans following the arrival on Azeroth of
the orcish clans of Draenor. The human kingdom of Azeroth was completely destroyed, its survivors
forced to flee to Lordaeron.

The true timeline of the First and Second Wars are blurred somewhat. The initial invasion of the
Horde was crushed completely by the Humans, but after a change in power the Orc Horde came
back for a second attempt. The Second War begins when the humans attempt to retake the fallen
Kingdom.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Prelude to the War

 2 Chronology
 3 See also
 4 References

Prelude to the War Edit

The humans of Stormwind lived in peace and prosperity on the continent of Azeroth for many years.
But that ended when the sorceror Medivh - possessed by the Dark Titan Sargeras - opened the
dimensional gate that later became known as the Dark Portal. Through the Portal came the Orcish
Horde (corrupted by Sargeras' lieutenant Kil'Jaeden) seeking to exterminate the humans. The Orcs
overconfidently unleashed their first assault directly on Stormwind Keep, but failed to defeat the
Human defenders. This attack is considered the start of the First War.

Chronology Edit

 The Orcish Horde conquer the planet of Draenor.

 Orc clans begin fighting amongst themselves.

 The child sorcerer Medivh is born of a coupling between the court Conjurer and a
mysterious traveler.

 Llane is born to King Adamant Wrynn III and Lady Varia.

 Medivh falls into a coma, and his father dies.

 While unconscious, Medivh sends Gul'dan a vision of Azeroth and the vast resources it
contains.

 Medivh awakens from a six year coma on the same day that Llane becomes Prince of
Azeroth, and sometime thereafter begins work on the Dark Portal. The warlocks on Draenor
find a small tear in the dimensional fabric and begin studying it, using this information to
unite the Orcish Horde once again.

 The Dark Portal is opened and the Horde begins their invasion.

 Initial battles do not go well for the Horde. Expecting an easy victory against a weak
opponent, the orcs rush to assault the fortress of Stormwind Keep, only to suffer a defeat of
catastrophic proportions. Few orcs survive the initial battle.

 The Age of Chaos begins with the First War and the death of King Adamant.

 The Horde is humiliated by the unexpected rout, and the clans swiftly descend into turmoil.
Chaos ensues, with factions blaming each other for the orcs' defeat.

 Gul'dan manipulates a ruthless dictator onto the throne of the Warchief. Known as
Blackhand the Destroyer, the new Warchief rallies the clans back together again and
prepares them for a new assault on Azeroth. The orcs begin raiding activities against outlying
human settlements near the Black Morass.

 Medivh sends Gul'dan another vision, teasing him with images of the Tomb of Sargeras and
the power it contains.

 The orcs bring reinforcements surging into Azeroth, decimating towns and villages and
plundering everything in their path. The towns of Grand Hamlet and Sunnyglade are
destroyed.

 Lord Anduin Lothar realizes Medivh's betrayal. He leads a small band of warriors to Medivh’s
tower and confronts the wizard. Lothar and Khadgar slay Medivh, but Sargeras' spirit
escapes.
  While searching the mind of Medivh for the true location of the Tomb of Sargeras, Gul'dan
falls in a coma during the death of the Grand Magus, leaving Blackhand and the Shadow
Council helpless.

 Blackhand the Destroyer is betrayed and slain by Orgrim Doomhammer, a trusted general
and close friend. Doomhammer replaces Blackhand as Warchief of the Horde.

 Northshire, Goldshire, and Moonbrook are destroyed.

 Stormwind Keep falls before the full might of the Horde and is sacked. During the battle,
King Llane is slain by one of Gul'dan's assassins, the half-orc Garona.

 Durotan, chieftain of the Frostwolf clan, and his mate Draka seek an audience with
Doomhammer and tell him that Gul'dan seeks to betray the Horde. On their return trip, they
are ambushed and slain by orcs loyal to Gul'dan. The assassins leave Durotan's infant son for
dead, but the young orc is quickly discovered and saved by a band of humans under the
command of Aedelas Blackmoore. The infant is taken as a slave and given the name Thrall.

 Spies loyal to Orgrim Doomhammer capture and torture Garona. In agony, she reveals the
existence of the Shadow Council and directs them to the location of Gul'dan's warlocks near
the ruins of Stormwind Keep.

 Doomhammer dispatches his elite wolfriders to the ruins. They slay or execute most of
Gul'dan’s warlocks and disperse the remaining members of the Shadow Council. Gul'dan
awakens from his coma and pleads for mercy from Doomhammer, offering complete
submission. Doomhammer accepts and grants him mercy.

 Lord Anduin Lothar concedes that the Kingdom of Azeroth has been lost. He rallies his
countrymen and leads them in a desperate retreat across the Great Sea, eventually landing
upon the shores of Lordaeron.

 The Warlocks resume their experiments with the portal.

Second War

Edit

 History

Previous: First War

Next: The Invasion of Draenor

Second War

Place: Continents of Lordaeron, Khaz Modan and Azeroth

Outcome: Alliance victory, physical destruction of the Dark Portal

Combatants

 Alliance of Lordaeron  Orcish Horde

o Kingdom of Lordaeron o Blackrock clan
o Church of the Holy Light o Stormreaver clan†
 Knights of the Silver Hand o Black Tooth Grin clan†
o Survivors of Azeroth o Bleeding Hollow clan
o Nation of Dalaran o Twilight's Hammer clan†
o Kingdom of Stromgarde o Dragonmaw clan
o Nation of Kul Tiras o Burning Blade clan†
o Nation of Gilneas o All forest troll tribes
o Nation of Alterac† o Some ogre clans
o Kingdom of Quel'thalas o Red dragonflight
o Ironforge dwarves of Khaz Modan (Unwillingly)
o Gnomes of Gnomeregan o Death knights orders
o Wildhammer clan o Goblins of the
Steamwheedle Cartel
o Nation of Alterac†

Commanders

 King Terenas Menethil II  Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer

 Regent Lord Sir Anduin Lothar†  Gul'dan†
 Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore  Rend and Maim Blackhand
 Sir Uther the Lightbringer  Kilrogg Deadeye
 The Kirin Tor  Cho'gall the Ogre-Mage
 Lord Thoras Trollbane  Shaman Zuluhed the Whacked
 Lord Genn Greymane  Zul'jin
 Lord Aiden Perenolde  Lord Aiden Perenolde
 General Turalyon  Teron Gorefiend
 Lord Khadgar
 Ranger General Sylvanas Windrunner
 Ranger Captain Alleria Windrunner
 Captain Danath Trollbane
  Thane Kurdran Wildhammer
 King Magni Bronzebeard
 King Anasterian Sunstrider

template | talk | edit

The Second War was a conflict between the newly formed Alliance of Lordaeron and the Old Horde,
engulfing almost all of the lands of the Eastern Kingdoms, and ending with the victory for the
Alliance. The events were chronicled in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. The Second War is also used
to refer to events of Beyond the Dark Portal in some accounts as well.

See also Battles of the Second War and this account of what events from the game campaigns were
included in the lore.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Prelude to war
 2 The Horde Offensive
 3 Brief counterattacks from the Alliance
 4 The Siege of Lordaeron
 5 The Alliance Takeover
 6 See also

Prelude to war Edit

 Following the events of the First War, the survivors of Stormwind led
by Anduin Lothar made their way through the Great Sea to the northern kingdom of Lordaeron to
beseech aid from King Terenas Menethil II. Following Lothar's impassioned speech, Terenas called
for an emergency council of war to discuss the Orcish threat. Meanwhile, the Orcish Horde pillaged
Stormwind city and the surrounding areas, effectively destroying all human holdings south of the
Burning Steppes.

In the years between the defeat of the Kingdom of Azeroth and the outbreak of the Second War, it
can only be assumed that both the Horde and Alliance went through massive reformations and
began huge military build-ups in preparation for war.

King Terenas, through skilled political maneuvering, enlisted the support of the human kingdoms of
Gilneas, Stromgarde, Dalaran, Alterac, and Kul Tiras. They also managed to gain the allegiance of the
Bronzebeard Dwarves of Ironforge, the Wildhammer Dwarves of Aerie Peak, and the Gnomes of
Gnomeregan. Envoys led by King Terenas attempted to gain the allegiance of the High Elves of
Quel'Thalas, though initially they were uninterested in the coming conflict and sent merely a
pittance of their forces. This resulted in the creation of the Alliance of Lordaeron.

In the last days of the First War, the leader of the Shadow Council, the Warlock Gul'dan fell into a
deep coma attempting to probe the mind of Medivh. Without the machinations of the Shadow
Council, the Horde fell prey to infighting. In a coup d'état led by Orgrim Doomhammer to end what
he saw as a corrupting influence over the Horde, the Shadow Council was destroyed as well as its
puppet Warchief, Blackhand the Destroyer. Doomhammer successfully took control of the remaining
Horde forces and began to bolster their devastated armies with orcs and ogres from beyond the
Dark Portal. With trolls, ogres and orcs fighting side by side, it was not long before the enterprising
goblins saw the potential profit in aiding them.HPG 169 The Horde gained support from Goblin
machinists and mercenaries, and through use of the Demon Soul managed to enslave the Red
Dragon Alexstrasza and the majority of her brood. It is unknown what relationship the Horde had
with the Troll tribes of Stranglethorn Vale, however they did not join forces with the Horde and
stayed apart from the Second War. Upon awakening from his coma and finding himself without
allies, Gul'dan "swore" allegiance to Doomhammer and began creation of the first death knights in
the service of the Warchief. This was the beginning of the so-called Horde.

The Horde Offensive Edit

Pre-war status: Red indicated Horde territory, blue for Alliance, and

yellow for neutral nations. The map of the Second War with the main
battles and war paths In the 6th year after the fall of Stormwind, the Horde began their northern
offensive against the Alliance forces. The Horde simultaneously launched two primary assaults. The
first was a land offensive launched out of Blackrock Mountain which moved north to the Dwarf
holdings in Khaz Modan. The second was a naval assault launched from the ruins of Stormwind,
which sailed north taking the islands of Zul'dare, Tol Barad, and Crestfall and establishing them as
primary naval bases. From these launching points, the Horde landed troops along the coasts of the
Wetlands, the Arathi Highlands, and most importantly the southern coast of Lordaeron. Southern
outposts such as Southshore, Tarren Mill and Hillsbrad were assaulted, and the Horde squeezed a
large amount of troops into Lordaeron this way, assisted by the nation of Alterac who provided them
with maps and secret routes.

Soon after, Zul'Jin and some of his champions were discovered by Horde scouts in a makeshift prison
near Tarren Mill. Upon hearing the news, Doomhammer immediately ordered his release from the
40-man raid party that captured him. Now in Doomhammer's debt, Zul'Jin agreed to form a pact
with the orcish Horde: the plains and valleys of Lordaeron would belong to the Horde, while the
trolls would take back their ancestral forests from their mortal enemies, the high elves.

The Horde's land assault proceeded to lay waste to Loch Modan, pushing the outnumbered Dwarf
and Gnome forces into the city of Ironforge, who sealed themselves from the outside threat. The
Bleeding Hollow Clan attempted several raids on the mighty dwarven city, to no avail. For the most
part, Dwarves and Gnomes were cut off from the rest of the Alliance, save through air support.
Following the ravaging of Loch Modan, the Horde pushed farther north into the Wetlands, taking
Dun Algaz, Dun Modr, and Grim Batol and converting them into fortresses for the Horde. Grim Batol
became the primary base for the land offensive, and was also converted into a hatchery for the
enslaved red dragonflight. Thandol Span was a pivotal battleground in the Second War, constantly
shifting in possession between the two factions.

Finally, owing to a diversion of Lothar's main army at Aerie Peak, the Horde succeeded in
penetrating Quel'Thalas through the cliffs undetected. Together with the entirety of the Amani tribe
under Zul'Jin, Doomhammer's troops slashed and burned their way through the elven forests, and
made it as far as Eversong Woods before the Alliance reinforcements could arrive.

Brief counterattacks from the Alliance Edit

Outraged at the attack on their borders, the Elves finally put forth their full strength in the war
effort. This included the deployment of Elven Destroyers south to the Hinterlands and to the shores
of Lordaeron. High Commander Anduin Lothar decided to split his army in order to out manuever
the Horde. He left half of his army, under command of his second in command, to destroy the Horde
threat in the Elven Forests, while Lothar's half would stay in the Hinterlands to destroy the large
number of Horde still remaining there. Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas managed to push back the
majority of Horde forces to the shores of Hillsbrad, but not before Gul'dan was able to acquire High
Elven runestones to use in his effort to create Ogre-magi for the war effort. With support from the
Elves, the Alliance was able to launch an attack on Zul'dare and end the invasion of Lordaeron.
Though Hillsbrad and Southshore were nearly obliterated, the Horde navies were driven back,
presumably to the shores of the Wetlands, Crestfall, and the ruins of Stormwind.

Following the victory in the north, the Alliance concentrated on pushing back the ground offensive
on the edge of the Arathi Highlands on the great bridges of the Thandol Span. The first step was a
bloody retaking of the Horde fortress on Tol Barad for use as a staging point for an invasion upon
Dun Modr, the primary base of support for the attacks upon the Thandol Span. With naval support
from Tol Barad, the Alliance ground forces were finally able to push across the Thandol Span and
reclaim Dun Modr. The Alliance continued to push south, taking the base at Dun Algaz. Though they
were unable to completely take the cursed fortress of Grim Batol, they effectively shattered the
armies of the Horde and causing them to retreat from Khaz Modan.

After the defeat of the Horde forces in Khaz Modan, a brief pause in open combat ensued. The
Horde attempted to gather more troops from the south, including the newly completed Death
Knights. The Alliance began to turn their sights northward to the remnants of the Horde forces in
northern Lordaeron, and to that end they sent Uther Lightbringer and his newly formed Knights of
the Silver Hand to lend aid to the victims of the war. However, a minor peasant riot in Tyr's Hand led
to a discovery of a plot from Lord Perenolde of Alterac, who was attempting to destroy the Alliance
from within. Learning of Alterac's plots, the Alliance forces obliterated the small, treacherous
kingdom.
The Siege of Lordaeron Edit

Alterac's betrayal had let the entire Horde army through to the walls of Lordaeron, and they began
sieging the capital. Troops from Stromgarde cut off all remaining Horde reinforcements in Alterac
and imprisoned Perenolde for his treason. The whole of the Alliance army converged on the Horde,
but were unable to defeat them at first. Meanwhile, Gul'dan took the Stormreaver and Twilight's
Hammer Clans to the location of the Tomb of Sargeras in an attempt to raise the Tomb from the sea
and claim the demonic powers for his own. It was foolish of him to try however because both clans,
including Gul'dan, were annihilated by the demons inside. Meanwhile, Doomhammer withdrew his
forces to pursue Gul'dan in order to keep them from dishonoring the Horde. The Alliance jumped on
this opportunity and proceeded to mop up the horde's remaining standing troops in Lordaeron, who
were in shambles and without air support. The Stormreaver and Twilight's Hammer Clan were
destroyed by Doomhammer's forces, which included his secret weapon: the red dragons.

The Alliance Takeover Edit

With the Horde forces thus weakened, the Alliance laid siege to the fortress of Blackrock. In order to
break the siege, Doomhammer and what followers he had left charged out of the Spire and attacked
Lord Lothar and his Paladins. After a titanic duel, Doomhammer narrowly managed to kill Lord
Lothar. Upon his death, Lothar's second-in-command, the Paladin Turalyon took command, made
Doomhammer his prisoner, and chased the retreating Orcs to their last bastion of power, the Dark
Portal.

Ragged and broken, the remaining Horde forces attempted a defense of the Dark Portal. In what has
been described as the bloodiest battle of the Second War, the Orcs were eventually defeated, their
leaders rounded up, and Doomhammer himself taken in chains. Shortly thereafter, the wizard
Khadgar, flanked by the brave warriors of the Alliance, destroyed the Dark Portal. With the
destruction of the Dark Portal, the Second War was ended.

Third War

Edit

 History
Previous: War of the Spider

Next: War in Outland, Gilneas civil war

Third War

Place: Continents of Lordaeron, Northrend, Quel'Thalas, Kalimdor, Mount Hyjal

Outcome: Mortal victory

 Defeat of the Burning legion

 Scourge invasion of Lordaeron repeled
 Burning legions invasion to the World tree reppled
 Illidan conquers Outland

Destruction of Lordaeron, Dalaran, Silvermoon, the Sunwell, and the World Tree; almost total
eradication of the Burning Legion's primary command structure. Almost Complete eradication of
the High Elf race. Lordaeron Humans flee to Stormwind and Theramore.WRPG 214 Birth of the Blood
Elven race. Creation of Illidan's forces. Beginning of Illidan's reign over Outland. Creation of the
Forsaken.
Combatants

 Mortal races  Burning Legion

o Alliance o The Nathrezim
 Kingdom of Lordaeron†  Undead Scourge
 The Silver Hand  Cult of the
 The New Alliance† Damned
 Human Expedition o Blackrock clan† (only in the
 Nation of beginning)
Theramore
 7th Legion
(presumed)
 Nation of Dalaran†
 The Kirin Tor
 High elves of Quel'Thalas†
 Ranger Corps†
 Bronzebeard clan dwarves
 Wildhammer clan dwarves
o Horde
 Orcs
 Orc clans (united
under Thrall)
 Warsong clan orcs
 Burning Blade orcs
  Darkspear tribe trolls
 Bloodhoof tribe tauren
o Night Elf Sentinels
 Night elves
 The Sentinels
 Sisterhood of Elune
 Druids of the Talon
 Druids of the Claw
 Ancients
 Children of Cenarius

Commanders

 King Terenas Menethil II†  Archimonde the Defiler†

o Sir Uther the Lightbringer†  Kil'Jaeden the Deciever
o The paladin Arthas Menethil (pre-  The Lich King
corruption) o The death knight Arthas
o Grand Marshall Garithos† Menethil (post-corruption)
 Jaina Proudmoore o The lich Kel'thuzad
 Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore† o Rage Winterchill†
 Antonidas†  Mannoroth†
 King Varian Wrynn (presumed)  Azgalor
 King Magni Bronzebeard (presumed)  Mal'ganis†
o Muradin Bronzebeard  Tichondrius†
 Anasterian Sunstrider†  Anetheron†
o Kael'thas Sunstrider  Mephistroth
o Sylvanas Windrunner  Kaz'rogal†
 Varimathras (after turning  Balnazzar†
forsaken)
 Warchief Thrall
o Grom Hellscream†
o Rexxar
 Vol'jin (presumed)
 Cairne Bloodhoof
 Tyrande Whisperwind
o Shandris Feathermoon
 Malfurion Stormrage
 Maiev Shadowsong
o Naisha†
o Califax†
 Illidan Stormrage
o Lady Vashj
o Akama

template | talk | edit

The Third War was a conflict between the mortal races of Azeroth and the Burning Legion. Unlike
the previous wars, the Third War took place in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. In the war, the
ancient night elves were reintroduced to the world. Its events were chronicled in Warcraft III: Reign
of Chaos.
Contents

 1 Prelude
 2 Scourge of Lordaeron
o 2.1 Disturbance in the north
o 2.2 Cult of the Damned
o 2.3 Rise of the Scourge
o 2.4 Culling of Stratholme
o 2.5 Rise of the death knight
o 2.6 Fall of Quel'Thalas
o 2.7 The Defiler
 3 Flight to Kalimdor
o 3.1 Mannoroth
 4 Return of the night elves
o 4.1 The Betrayer
 5 Battle of Mount Hyjal
 6 Aftermath
 7 External links

Prelude Edit

After their defeat in the Second War, the Old Horde's Warchief, Ner'zhul was captured by Kil'jaeden
for his failure. As punishment, the Deceiver destroyed Ner'zhul's body, and tortured his spirit until he
agreed to serve the Legion once again. His soul encased in a suit of armor which was then bound to
the Frozen Throne, Kil'jaeden hurled his creation towards Azeroth where it smashed into Icecrown
Glacier. Thus the first major player of the Third War, the Lich King was born. Once on Azeroth, the
Lich King took control of Northrend and he had the necromancer Kel'Thuzad take the Plague of
Undeath to Lordaeron.

Before the start of the war, the prophet Medivh came to the young orcish Warchief Thrall in a
dream. Medivh told him that he must rally the newly-reformed shamanistic Horde and move them
across the sea to Kalimdor in order to escape the shadow that was coming to consume the land.
Trusting the prophet's words, and wishing to find a new home for his people, Thrall listened to his
call, fought his way through Lordaeron's troops and sailed west.

Scourge of Lordaeron Edit

Disturbance in the north Edit

A rumor had started to travel around Lordaeron telling how a mysterious plague had gripped the
northern lands, as the majority of Lordaeron's attention was focused on the Horde's flight and
rebelling orc clans. When Medivh appeared before King Terenas telling him just as he told Thrall: to
save his people, he must travel west, Terenas told him that he would defend his kingdom. To do so,
he sent his own son Arthas Menethil, who was dealing with the rebelling orcs with Sir Uther the
Lightbringer north to investigate. Jaina Proudmoore from the Kirin Tor was sent from Dalaran to aid
in the investigation.
Cult of the Damned Edit

After joining Jaina Proudmoore, prince Arthas discovered that Andorhal's granaries were wrought
with a plague that killed all who are infected (within a period of time) after they had encountered
Kel'Thuzad in the town of Brill. Since Andorhal was the main distribution point for grain in the area,
this meant that many other towns were in danger. As they fought their way through the infected city
of Andorhal they bore witness to a unique devastation like Azeroth had never seen. They hunted
down and attacked Kel'Thuzad for his crimes against the people. The necromancer told Arthas that
he served a greater power, a dreadlord named Mal'Ganis, and that he was responsible for the
Scourge. Enraged, Arthas vowed he would kill Mal'Ganis and they traveled to Stratholme to confront
him after slaying the corrupted wizard.

Rise of the Scourge Edit

While in Hearthglen, Arthas and Jaina's forces were attacked by legions of undead. Arthas had Jaina
search for Uther while he and his forces remained to protect the town from the Scourge. It was then
he learned the truth behind the plague. The plague didn't just kill those infected, it turned them into
the undead, and thus, the Scourge. Before his army was defeated, Uther and his knights arrived and
saved the town. Not long after this battle, Arthas was met by Medivh, who warned the prince to
travel west to Kalimdor. Like his father, Arthas refused, saying his place was with his people. Jaina
believed the prophet's words but Arthas would not be swayed to leave his kingdom. They continued
to Stratholme to deal with the threat of the Scourge.

Culling of Stratholme Edit

Upon arriving at Stratholme, they discovered that the grain had already been distributed amongst
the townsfolk. Arthas, not wanting to deal with an entire army of undead, ordered Uther and his
paladins to destroy the town. Uther was appalled by this, saying he wouldn't follow the order even if
Arthas was the king. For his defiance, Arthas disbanded the Knights of the Silver Hand and called all
those still loyal to Lordaeron to come with him. Uther took his followers and left, and Jaina quickly
followed. Abandoned by his teacher and friend, Arthas continued to Stratholme to slaughter the
town.

Upon arrival, Arthas met Mal'Ganis himself. The two had a race of sorts for the lives of the town.
Arthas wished to destroy them, Mal'Ganis wished to corrupt them. When the town was in ruin,
Arthas demanded a final showdown with Mal'Ganis. Mal'Ganis, however, slipped away, vowing to
meet him in Northrend.

After the Culling, Jaina and Uther returned to Stratholme to bury the dead. Jaina was met by
Medivh, who told her Arthas would only die if he went to Northrend. The prophet then told Jaina, as
he had told everyone else, that she must travel west to Kalimdor, a request she answered to.

Rise of the death knight Edit

After arriving in Northrend, Arthas discovered the brother of the dwarven king Magni Bronzebeard,
Muradin. Upon arriving at Northrend, Muradin's expedition was attacked by the undead and was cut
off from the rest of the world. He had come to Northrend to obtain the runeblade Frostmourne.
When word from Lordaeron called Arthas's men back home, the prince used mercenaries to burn
their ships before turning his forces on the mercenaries. With no way to get home, he told his men
that their only way home was to get the Frostmourne. When he finally found the blade, he and
Muradin learned that the blade was cursed. Arthas accepted this curse and took the blade, though
Muradin was believed to be killed in the process (he was knocked out with terrible amnesia). With
the Frostmourne, Arthas lead an assault on the Scourge base where Mal'Ganis was stationed and
killed the dreadlord. With the cause of his madness dead, Arthas fled to the wilderness of Northrend
leaving his men to fend for themselves.

Months later, Arthas returned to Lordaeron to get his just rewards. When he greeted Terenas, he
took up the cursed sword and, without a moment of consideration, slew his father. Arthas then
named himself King of Lordaeron and gave the land to the Scourge. Weeks later, Arthas, now a
death knight under the orders of the Lich King, was given the task to bring the dead necromancer
Kel'Thuzad back from the dead. To do so, Arthas had to take his remains to a place of magical power.
Arthas killed his former mentor Uther for the urn he was carrying. The urn carried the ashes of his
father, to which Arthas simply disposed of and placed Kel'Thuzad's remains inside. The only magical
nexus with the necessary power was the Sunwell deep inside Silvermoon, capital of the high elves.
To revive Kel'Thuzad, the Scourge would have to burn Quel'Thalas.

Fall of Quel'Thalas Edit

Upon reaching the borders of Quel'Thalas, the Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner became a quick
thorn in the death knight's plan. Despite the mighty elf gates, the destruction of an important
bridge, and many well trained rangers, the Scourge plowed their way through Quel'Thalas' defenses
on their way to Silvermoon, and from there the Isle of Quel'Danas and the Sunwell. Before Sylvanas
could warn Silvermoon of the Scourge invasion, her camp was raided and she was taken prisoner.
Arthas tortured her and, before giving her the peace of death, he used his power to turn her into the
first banshee, making her a slave to the Scourge. With its defenses destroyed, the Scourge entered
Silvermoon and slaughtered all the high elves in the city. When Arthas reached the Sunwell, he
placed Kel'Thuzad's remains in the enchanted waters, thus turning him into a lich and corrupting the
Sunwell. With his business in the area done, Arthas had the Scourge kill the remaining high elves of
Quel'Thalas.

The Defiler Edit

With Kel'Thuzad revived, they had to do their job for the dreadlords. The Scourge traveled south to
Dalaran to obtain the Book of Medivh and use it to summon Archimonde himself to Azeroth. The
Kirin'Tor used their most powerful magics, but failed to prevent the Scourge from stealing the
spellbook. With the book, Kel'Thuzad summoned Archimonde and the Burning Legion to Azeroth.
Archimonde's first order of business when entering the world was to destroy Dalaran with his great
power. From this point and for the rest of the war, Archimonde, the Field Commander of the Legion,
led the invasion of Azeroth himself, and planned to destroy Nordrassil, the World Tree at Mount
Hyjal.

Flight to Kalimdor Edit

Shortly after the culling, before Arthas had killed Terenas, Jaina Proudmoore brought thousands with
her to Kalimdor following Medivh's request.
Having fled the Eastern Kingdoms, the Horde was scattered while sailing past the Maelstrom. Some
of the ships landed in a chain of islands near the Maelstorm where they met the Darkspear tribe.
Here the orcs aided the trolls, then led them on an escape to Kalimdor.

In Kalimdor, Grom Hellscream, chieftain of the prominent Warsong Clan, had landed with his clan.
Before they could regroup with Thrall, they ran into Jaina's soldiers and battles soon began.

When the rest of the Horde reached and regrouped on Kalimdor, Grom directly defied Thrall's orders
by attacking Jaina Proudmoore's encampment after giving in to his instinctual bloodlust. As a
punishment he was sent north to the massive Ashenvale Forest where he would collect lumber to
build a capital for the orcs.

Meanwhile, Thrall began his search for the rest of the Horde, and eventually came across the tauren,
and their leader Cairne Bloodhoof. After helping Cairne repel invading centaurs, Cairne told Thrall of
an oracle up in the Stonetalon Mountains who could aid the Horde in their journey.

Upon reaching the Stonetalon Mountains, Thrall and Jaina met the prophet who called doom long
before the Scourge of Lordaeron, Medivh. Medivh asked that the Horde and the Alliance work
together, forgetting their old hatreds to battle a new, more powerful enemy.

Mannoroth Edit

Grom Hellscream and his clan started collecting lumber as they had been ordered to. However, by
doing so, they enraged the night elves. After battling the night elves, their demigod Cenarius
stepped in personally to deal with the Warsong Clan.

After fighting a lost battle, the orcs realized that they couldn't kill Cenarius by conventional means.
Cenarius saw the orcs as demon spawn and therefore only their total eradication would satisfy him.
To defeat them, Grom and the followers drank from a mysterious fountain that empowered them,
not knowing that it had been defiled by the blood of the pit lord Mannoroth. Energized and turned
into fel orcs, the Warsong successfully attacked and killed Cenarius. With the orcs once again doing
the bidding of the Burning Legion, Mannoroth stormed up to Grom and revealed it was his blood
that empowered the orcs. Despite their victory, they were once again under demon control, and
thus the control of the Burning Legion.

To help their new allies, Jaina created a magical Soul Gem. Thrall would need to capture the mighty
Grom within it, and take the gem to a prepared magical circle to free his spirit of corruption.
Standing between the humans and free orcs, however, was the entire Warsong clan, fortified with
scores of demons that waited in ambush and mighty infernals that rained from the sky. Despite his
woes of killing many of the Warsong clan, Thrall captured Grom and brought him back for a ritual of
cleansing. Along with Thrall's shamans, Jaina, and Jaina's best priests and sorcerers, they managed to
pull the demonic taint out of Grom. Thrall and Grom then challenged Mannoroth, and though Thrall
was defeated, Grom managed to deliver a killing blow, destroying Mannoroth and freeing the orcs at
the cost of his own life. Thus Grom redeemed himself for bringing them into the legion.

Return of the night elves Edit

When it became evident that the Burning Legion had returned, Tyrande led her Sentinels into the
trees, fleeing a wave of undead which had destroyed a human and orc camp. As they fled, they were
cornered by dreadlords and Archimonde. Tyrande believed that with the Defilers' return the only
way to defeat the Burning Legion was to use the forces of old, the sleeping druids and their leader,
Malfurion Stormrage, her old love. After waking Malfurion, the next order of business was to
awaken the rest of the Druids of the Talon and the Druids of the Claw.

In their quest to free the druids, they discovered the prison that held the old demon hunter, Illidan
Stormrage. Tyrande believed that the Betrayer, as the night elves grew to call him, could be a
powerful ally against the Burning Legion and left Malfurion to awaken the druids while she freed
Illidan. Malfurion continued on to awaken the druids, who had grown feral after almost ten
millennia in the caves. However, the Horn of Cenarius freed them of their madness.

The Betrayer Edit

Tyrande continued her quest to free Illidan, fighting her way through the warden's guards. Tyrande
placed her trust in Illidan, believing his power would help them against the Burning Legion.
Malfurion, however, still distrusted his reckless brother. Eager to prove himself, Illidan vowed he
would show his brother the demons had no hold over him and he led a portion of the night elf army
to Felwood. Shortly after, the death knight Arthas found and battled with Illidan. As the two were
evenly matched, there was no reason for Arthas to engage Illidan. Illidan demanded that Arthas
reveal the reason for his presence in Felwood. Arthas told him of a powerful artifact: the Skull of
Gul'dan. The skull was responsible for the corruption of the night elves' beloved forest. Arthas
played to Illidan's thirst for power, mentioning that the skull held immense power, and Illidan took
the bait willingly.

After fighting his way through the demons, Illidan reached and consumed the power of the Skull.
With its power added to his own, he slew the leader of the dreadlords, Tichondrius, and helped seal
the Legion's defeat. When Malfurion and Tyrande found the new demon-night elf that was now
Illidan, Malfurion banished Illidan for his demonic corruption, claiming that he was "no brother of
his". A very resentful Illidan tore his way through the dead trees and was not heard of until the
coming of the naga.

Battle of Mount Hyjal Edit

Fall of the Defiler

After Illidan's banishment, Medivh called Malfurion and Tyrande to a secret grove where he had
Thrall and Jaina meet them. Medivh revealed that he was the one who helped Burning Legion create
the Dark Portal and allowed the Horde to invade Azeroth. After he was slain for his crimes, he had to
return to right his wrongs and protect Azeroth from the Legion's return. Medivh asked that the
mortal races unite to defeat the Legion, as their combined power was their only hope.
To prepare for the demons' attack, three camps were built around Mount Hyjal. Malfurion devised a
plan to use the power of the World Tree itself to destroy Archimonde. As he went back up the
summit to make the necessary preparations for Archimonde, Jaina and Thrall used whatever night
elves Tyrande could spare to fortify their bases. Archimonde tore his way through ranks of human
knights, elven sentinels, and orcish warriors and smashed his way through the human castle and orc
fortress. Jaina was able to teleport most of the surviving troops. Before Thrall escaped death, he
managed to hurt Archimonde with a bolt of his shamanistic lightning, an incredible feat in itself.
With the two bases destroyed, Archimonde stormed through the night elf gate protecting the
summit.

With Archimonde at the World Tree, Malfurion used the Horn to call on the ancient spirits in the
area to attack the demon. In an instant, they detonated into a massive explosion that destroyed the
Defiler, much of his demon army with him, and the World Tree. The price for this defeat was the
night elves' immortality, but the Third War was over.

Aftermath Edit

The Third War left Lordaeron destroyed, the Night Elves mortal, and the near-extinction of the High
Elves. No large group of humans would ever regain control of Lordaeron, though the Argent Dawn
and Scarlet Crusade have been fighting the Scourge in order to retake their land. Prince Kael'thas
Sunstrider of the High Elves returned to his ruined city and renamed his people the Blood Elves in
memory of their fallen comrades. The Blood Elves would eventually retake much of Quel'Thalas, and
in time would even reactivate the power of the Sunwell. After the war, Sylvanas would break free of
the Lich King's control, and form the Forsaken. One human commander, Garithos, has gathered the
remnants of the Alliance still remaining in Lordaeron and retaken Dalaran and the Alterac mountains
for the Alliance. After that Garithos formed an uneasy truce with Sylvanas Windrunner and together
they assaulted the capital city of Lordaeron. The Dreadlord Balnazzar, who controlled the city, fought
against their attempts to retake the city. After intense fighting and careful planning, the Alliance and
the Forsaken managed to defeat his forces and regain control of the city. After the battle, Sylvanas
ordered her second-in-command Varimathras to execute his brother Balnazzar and then to kill
Garithos which forced the Alliance forces to retreat. The Forsaken then took over the city of
Lordaeron, making their home in its sewers, calling it the Undercity.

The political scene of the current Azeroth was greatly influenced by the Third War. Under Warchief
Thrall, the orcs, tauren, and Darkspear trolls were brought together on Kalimdor to become the new
Horde, to which the Forsaken and the blood elves would later join. A peace agreement was made
between the Horde and Alliance after the war, and Thrall has made it his job to ensure that nothing
happens to break this already stressed pact. However, after the Wrathgate incident, Varian Wrynn
declared war upon the Horde, to Thrall's lament.

Without Lordaeron, the rebuilt city of Stormwind would become the base of the Alliance, with the
Ironforge dwarves becoming their closest geographical allies. The gnomes of Gnomeregan had been
unable to help in the Third war as they were dealing with their own issues closer to home — namely
a trogg invasion of their city. Because an invasion of troggs paled in comparison to the might of the
Scourge, the gnomes decided they would fight their war alone. In the end they were forced to flee
Gnomeregan and, with their king Gelbin Mekkatorque, settled in Ironforge with the dwarves. The
night elves, dealing with the loss of their immortality, and having been exposed to the world outside
their forests once more, decided they would have to make alliances with the wider world. Because
of the animosity with the orcs for killing Cenarius, the night elves in the end joined the Alliance. As
the new leader of the Alliance the King of Stormwind Varian Wrynn sent troops from stormwind to
repel the scourge invasion retaking Southshore and Hillsbrad an for the Alliance, repeling the
Scourge on the Alteract mountains constructing a Final boarder point (Chillwind Camp) for the
Alliance before The entrance of the Plague lands and siezing the Forsaken take over of lordaeron.
The human refuges of Lordaeron were given shelter in Stormwind making it their new home. a few
months later, King varian was kidnapped by the Defias Brotherhood after trying to make a peace
agreement with the Horde making him absent for 3 years. during his abscent, his 10 years old son
Anduin was crowned as king.

The losses were not in vain, however, as the Burning Legion was heavily damaged. Many senior
commanders were killed in the war, including a large number of dreadlords and countless others. As
Aegwynn put it in the Cycle of Hatred to Theramore Guard colonel Lorena, they "did more damage
to the entirety of demonkind than has been done in thousands of years."

War in Outland

Edit

 History

Previous: Third War

Concurrent: Gilneas civil war

Next: Nexus War, War against the Lich King

War in Outland

Place: Outland

Outcome:
Azerothian victory

 Disruption of the Burning Legion's invasion

  End of Illidan Stormrage's reign over Outland
 Restoration of the Sunwell

Combatants

 Alliance  Burning Legion  Illidan's forces

o Sons of o Kael'thas' forces o Illidan's Naga
Lothar  Crimson o Illidan's Servitors
 Kin Hand o Fel Horde
gdo  Bloodward  Shattered
m er Hand clan
of  Dawnblade  Shadowm
Sto  Firewing oon clan
rm  Sunblade  Bonechew
win  Sunfury er clan
d  Sunhawk  Bleeding
 Kin  Sunseeker Hollow
gdo  Net clan
m her  Dragonma
of vin w clan
Iro e  En
nfo  Wretched sl
rge av
 Gn ed
om N
es et
of he
Gn rw
om in
ere gs
gan  Laughing
 Hig Skull clan
h o Illidari
elf  Illidari
For Council
ces o Illidari Demons
o Night elf  Illidari
Sentinels Point
o Exodar o Illidari Broken
Draenei (some enslaved)
 The o Illidari Lost Ones
Kur  Umbrafen
ena tribe
i
o Wildhamm
er clan
 Horde
o Thrallmar
 Orc
s
Of
 Dur
ota
r
 Dar
ksp
ear
Tro
lls
 Tau
ren
s of
Mu
lgor
e
 The
For
sak
en
o Blood elf
Kingdom of
Quel'Thalas
o The
Mag'har
o The
Mok'Nathal
clan
o The
Shadowmo
on clan
 Shattrath City
o Aldor
o Scryers
o Shattered
Sun
Offensive
 Ashtongue
Deathsworn
 Argent Dawn

Commanders

 Force Commander  Kil'jaeden  Illidan Stormrage†

Danath Trollbane o Kazzak the o Painmistress
o Captain Supreme† Gabrissa†
Auric  Highlord o Lady Vashj†
Sunchaser Kruul†  High
o Thane  Pit Warlord
Kurdran Commande Naj'entus
Wildhamm r† †
er  Warbringer  Rajis
o Watch Arix'Amal† Fyashe†
 Commande o Prince Kael'thas  Rajah
r Relthorn Sunstrider† Haghazed
Netherwan  Brutallus† †
e  Commande  Ghaz'an†
o Commande r Sarannis†  Warlord
r Duron  Sharth Kalithresh
o Archmage Voldoun† †
Thas'ranan  Thorngrin  Rokmar
o General the the
Lordenson Tender† Crackler†
o Arechron  Pathaleon  Mennu
o Justinius the the
the Calculator† Betrayer†
Harbinger  Warp  Swamplor
o Forward Splinter† d
Commande  Warden Musel'ek†
r Kingston Mellichar†  Quagmirr
 Nazgrel  Wrath- an
o Warlord Scryer (unwilly)†
Dar'toon Soccothrat o Warchief Kargath
o Leoroxx es† Bladefist†
o Greatmoth  Dalliah the  Tagar
er Geyah Doomsayer Spinebrea
o Jorin † ker†
Deadeye  Lady  Zuluhed
o Garrosh Sacrolash† the
Hellscream  Grand Whacked†
o Dranosh Warlock  Teron
Saurfang Alythess† Gorefiend
o Overlord  Entropius† †
Or'barokh  Sathrovarr  Warlord
o Lieutenant the Morkh†
General Corruptor†  Grillok
Orion "Darkeye"
o Melgromm †
Highmount  Overlord
ain Mor'ghor†
o Forward o Ambassador
Commande Jerrikar†
r To'arch o Zandras†
 A'dal o Mother Shahraz†
o Khadgar o Chancellor
o Voren'thal Bloodleaf†
the Seer o Arzeth the
o Ishanah Merciless†
o Xi'ri o Kataru†
o K'iru
o General
Tiras'alan
o Lady
Liadrin
 o M'uru†
 Akama
o Maiev
Shadowson
g
 Lord Maxwell
Tyrosus

template | talk | edit

The War in Outland was not a singular event but a series of conflicts carried out by multiple
belligerents. The course of these events are detailed in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Prelude
 2 Conjoined Invasion of Outland
 3 Disruption of the Legion Invasion
 4 The Conflict with Illidan
 5 The Battle for Quel'Danas
 6 Aftermath
 7 Legacy

Prelude Edit

Doomlord Kazzak discovered an unknown relic and used its power to

re-open the Dark Portal. In his stead he left fellow doomguard Highlord Kruul to sow discord across
the major cities of Azeroth. Several waves of contigents from the Burning Legion attempted to
breach the portal from Draenor's side, but were kept at bay by the soldiers and mages from
Nethergarde Keep, supported by reinforcements from the ever-vigilant Argent Dawn and mercenary
troops from across Azeroth. Horde and Alliance forces under Watch Commander Relthorn
Netherwane and Warlord Dar'toon arrived later in the battle and were able to successfully repell the
Legion's forces.

Conjoined Invasion of Outland Edit

After repelling the Legion's forces, Netherwane and Dar'toon dispatched contigents under
Commander Duron and Lieutenant General Orion in a conjoined effort to claim the Stair of Destiny
and establish footholds in Hellfire Peninsula. The Alliance was able to reinforce their already
established base at Honor Hold, still under the leadership of Danath Trollbane after two decades,
while the Horde forces under Thrall's trusted advisor Nazgrel established the new settlement of
Thrallmar.

Disruption of the Legion Invasion Edit

After the initial azerothian victory at the Stair of Destiny, the Legion
attempted to retake the Portal in order to cease the flow of troops into Outland and resume their
invasion of Azeroth. Legion teleporters set behind the enemy lines provided a constant flow of
troops to throw themselves at the Stair of Destiny. A nameless Pit Commander organized an army of
Infernal Siegebreakers, Fel Soldiers and Wrath Masters in an attempt to push back the azerothian
forces. The joint-faction army, inspired by the champions Justinius the Harbinger and Melgromm
Highmountain fought a tireless battle to keep the Portal safe. The Legion invasion was finally broken
when Alliance and Horde forces under Forward Commander Kingston and Forward Commander
To'arch managed to take down the Fel Reavers that were protecting the Legion's front teleporters
and proceeded to destroy the portals with decisive air-raids employing technology developed by
Area 52. Bombing raids were carried out on the crucial Murketh and Shaadraz gateways and the
forge camps of the Abyssal Shelf. Efforts to disrupt Legion factories at Forge Camps: Mageddon and
Rage were also carried out by Horde and Alliance troops.

Later on, during the assault on Invasion Point: Annihilator, Warbringer Arix'Amal was killed and the
portal shut down.

The final nail in the coffin for the Burning Legion's invasion was the defeat of Kazzak the Supreme at
the Throne of Kil'jaeden.

The Conflict with Illidan Edit

With the Legion threat difused, the Alliance-Horde entente became less of a united, cohesive force.
Both factions, however, turned to the threat of Illidan Stormrage, who was the hegemonous power
in Outland, ruling from his seat at the Black Temple of Karabor. This conflict was not conducted as an
organised war effort, but rather as a series of smaller-scale conflicts across Outland, against fel orcs,
blood elves, demons and naga loyal to Illidan. Only the forces of Shattrath City offered any form of
organised attack; Xi'ri, a naaru general under the command of A'dal offered to push back Illidan's
troops at the gates of the Black Temple with a joint Aldor-Scryer force. This provided an elaborate
distraction for the liberated Maiev Shadowsong, Illidan's tireless jailor and Akama, Illidan's once-ally,
to enter the Temple.
Adventurers, with the help of the Ashtongue Deathsworns, proceeded to bring down the high
command of Illidan's vast empire, and even Illidan himself, from the inside.

The Battle for Quel'Danas Edit

The final stage of the conflict on Outland would transpire outside of

Draenor itself, on the Isle of Quel'Danas. Kael'thas Sunstrider, once Illidan's most trusted advisor,
aligned himself and those of his still loyal subjects with the Burning Legion.

After extracting enormous amounts of arcane energy from Netherstorm via hijacked naaru-
technology, Kael'thas was confronted and seemingly killed at Tempest Keep. The Prince, however,
managed to survive, albeit as a wretched mana-hungry fiend. Using the great amount of energy
taken from Outland and the captured naaru, M'uru, Kael'thas triumphantly restored the shattered
Sunwell for the most abominable purpose; the summoning of Kil'jaeden into Azeroth.

A united effort of the Aldor, Scryer and the Blood Knight order, the Shattered Sun Offensive,
successfully repelled the Burning Legion from Quel'Danas. With the Legion driven back from the Isle,
the proud defenders of Azeroth invaded the Magisters' Terrace and at long last killed the Sun King.
These brave adventures then turned their attention to stopping Kil'jaeden's summoning into
Azeroth. Within the Sunwell Plateau the demon lord was in the process of being completely
summoned and only with the sacrifice of Anveena and the support from the Blue Dragonflight was
he banished from Azeroth.

Aftermath Edit

Main article: Sunwell Plateau epilogue

The Sunwell restored by the spark of M'uru. Using the spark of the
fallen naaru M'uru the Draenei leader Velen reignited the Sunwell, explaining:

"In time, the light and hope within will rebirth more than this mere fount of power. Mayhap,
they will rebirth the soul of a nation."

This strongly indicates that the Sunwell has indeed been restored using the energies of M'uru,
returning the blood elves' "fount of power". The Sunwell's new energies are possibly derived from
M'uru's powers of the Light rather than arcane magic.
Furthermore with Illidan dead the elder sage Akama swears to fill the halls of the Black Temple with
Light once again.

Legacy Edit

The aftermath of the invasion, due to the conflicts primarily staying on Outland, left the politics of
Azeroth for the most part unchanged. During this time however, Varian Wrynn reclaimed his throne
as King of Stormwind, and the warchief Thrall found and appointed the son of his close friend Grom,
Garrosh Hellscream as his advisor.

The blue dragon Tyrygosa, while on Outland discovered and researched the eggs of the Netherwing
dragonflight, prized tools in Illidan's war machine. After the war, she took some of the eggs back to
the Nexus where she cured her flight's patriarch, Malygos, of his insanity. In turn, Malygos would
declare war on all magic users for their rampant misuse of magic over his long exile.

And the battle for Quel'Danas, while primarily a organized battle against the Burning Legion, saw the
first organized movement of Scourge forces since Naxxaramas appeared over the Plaguelands. If the
Lich King subconsciously sent the Scourge there himself to halt the Legions advance, or an unseen
necrolord believing he was doing his what was best for his master is unknown. However, soon after
the crisis, the Lich King himself awoke from his long dream and attacked Stormwind, Orgrimmar, and
then declared war on the living, intending to wipe out all life on Azeroth.

Nexus War

Edit

 History

Previous: War in Outland

Concurrent: War against the Lich King, Gilneas civil war

Next: Operation: Gnomeregan, Zalazane's Fall

Nexus War
Place: Northrend

Outcome: Wyrmrest victory; Malygos slain

Combatants

 Wyrmrest Accord  Blue dragonflight

 Kirin Tor
 Alliance
 Horde

Commanders

 Alexstrasza the Life-Binder  Malygos the Spellweaver†

o Korialstrasz o Saragosa†
o Keristrasza† o Ley-Guardian Eregos†
o Raelorasz o Varos Cloudstrider†
 Rhonin o Drakos the
 King Varian Wrynn Interrogator†
 Warchief Thrall o Warbringer Goredrak†
o Grand Magus Telestra†
o Cyanigosa†
o General Cerulean†
o Goramosh†
o Curator Insivius†

template | talk | edit

The Nexus War was a conflict between the blue dragonflight and the alliance between the Wyrmrest
Accord - a coalition of the four remaining dragonflights - and the Kirin Tor of Dalaran. The war was
instigated by Malygos the Spellweaver, the Aspect of the blue dragonflight and Lord of Magic.

The term "Nexus War" first appeared on the official website for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich
King.[1]

Contents

[hide]

 1 Prelude to the Nexus War

  2 The Battle Lines Are Drawn
 3 End of the Nexus War
 4 Aftermath of the Nexus War
 5 References
 6 External links

Prelude to the Nexus War Edit

Malygos fled to his lair in Northrend after the near-total destruction of his dragonflight at the hands
of the Black Aspect Deathwing. The grief of losing his children to the treachery of one who was a
friend drove him to madness, and he remained hidden away for ten thousand years, paying little
heed to the rest of the world. He left that seclusion only once, shortly after the Second War, when
the Aspects united briefly to battle Deathwing and end the corruptive influence of the Demon Soul.

Malygos' madness and seclusion ended when Tyrygosa returned from Outland with the nether
drakes she had liberated in Netherstorm. Their nether-warped physiology helped Malygos recover
some of his lost sanity.[2] As he recovered, the Spell-weaver saw that magic had run amok
throughout the world of Azeroth, and he blamed this on the reckless use of magic by the mortal
races that had arisen in his ten millennia of isolation.

Seeking a solution, Malygos turned to the Arcanomicon, the map of all of Azeroth's ley lines granted
to him by the Titan Norgannon. Using the map to locate all of the world's ley lines, Malygos began to
divert their energies into his domain, the Nexus, on the island of Coldarra in Northrend's Borean
Tundra. They were then channeled through the floating rings of the Nexus and blasted into the
Twisting Nether.

The Battle Lines Are Drawn Edit

Malygos' actions led to rifts opening in the fabric of magic itself. This siphoning of the world's magic
also did not escape the notice of the mortal races - particularly the remnants of the Kirin Tor, the
elite magi of Dalaran. Realizing that Malygos had become a very real threat, the Kirin Tor used what
remaining powers they had to magically transfer the rebuilt city of Dalaran to the skies of Northrend,
right on the front lines of both the war with the Lich King and the coming battle with Malygos.

However, there are some members of the Kirin Tor who believed that allying themselves with
Malygos would be far more beneficial. Betraying their own brethren to preserve their own power,
these mages have been transformed and bolstered by Malygos to become the dreaded mage
hunters. Their duties included killing or capturing those who wield magic without Malygos' consent,
destroying magic artifacts and aiding in the redirection of the ley lines using surge needles.

Malygos' genocidal campaign has also incurred the ire of the red dragonflight, charged by the Titans
to preserve life. The Dragonqueen Alexstrasza, Aspect of the red dragonflight, has allied her
dragonflight with the Kirin Tor in their efforts against Malygos.

With their focus shifting from the conflicts in Outland to the continuing battle against the Scourge,
the adventurers and champions of both the Alliance and the Horde will also have a part to play in
the war against Malygos...
End of the Nexus War Edit

The final blow against Malygos was struck thanks to the efforts of mortal heroes fresh from their
victory over Sapphiron, the frost wyrm guardian of Kel'Thuzad, in the heart of Naxxramas. As a
member of the blue dragonflight in life, Sapphiron still carried on his person a key to the focusing iris
at the center of the Eye of Eternity, Malygos' inner sanctum.

The heroes delivered the key to Alexstrasza, who enchanted it with her power. The key could then
be used to open the focusing iris and lure Malygos into battle. With the key prepared, Korialstrasz
made the fateful request: Malygos must be slain, and the Heart of Magic, his most prized possession,
taken from him as proof of the deed. With their orders in hand, the heroes entered the Eye of
Eternity and confronted Malygos in the final battle, where they were joined by drakes of the red
dragonflight. With the combined strength of the heroes and the drakes, Malygos was defeated.

After Malygos' death, Alexstrasza herself arrives to speak to the heroes:

 I did what I had to, brother. You gave me no alternative.

 And so ends the Nexus war.
 This resolution pains me deeply, but the destruction - the monumental loss of life - had to
end. Regardless of Malygos's recent transgressions, I will mourn his loss. He was once a
guardian, a protector. This day, one of the world's mightiests, has fallen.
 The Red Dragonflight will take on the burden of mending the devastation brought on
Azeroth. Return home to your people and rest. Tomorrow will bring you new challenges, and
you must be ready to face them. Life, goes on.

Aftermath of the Nexus War Edit

In the wake of Malygos' death in the Eye of Eternity, the future of both the blue dragonflight and of
the world itself is uncertain. After the Heart of Magic is taken from the slain Lord of Magic (
[80R] Judgment at the Eye of Eternity/ [80R] Heroic Judgment at the Eye of Eternity), Krasus
remarks that "magic is now without its guardian" and that "a storm is still brewing on the horizon
and now we are without one of our most powerful defenders".

Since the release of patch 3.3.0, Kalecgos has been stationed at Wyrmrest Temple as the
ambassador of the Blue Dragonflight. This may mean that the Blue Dragonflight has been readmitted
into the Wyrmrest Alliance, however the leadership of the Blue dragonflight is unclear at this time.

After the Cataclysm, Kalecgos has been named the new Aspect of the Blue Dragonflight.
Though even this did not proceed as planned, Arygos grew jealous of Kalecgos and defected to the
Twilight's Hammer out of spite, desecrating the Chamber of the Aspects and causing the death of
Korialstrasz in the process.[3]
War against the Lich King

Edit

 History

Previous: War in Outland

Concurrent: Nexus War, Gilneas civil war

Next: Operation: Gnomeregan, Zalazane's Fall

War against the Lich King

Place: Northrend, Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms

Outcome: Alliance, Horde and Ashen Vedict victory

Frostmourne shattered, death of Arthas Menethil, Bolvar Fordragon crowned Lich King, collapse of
Scourge leadership
Combatants

 Ashen Verdict  Scourge

 o Argent Crusade o Host of Suffering
 Knights of o San'layn
the Silver  Blood Prince Council
Hand(Loyal o Undead Nerubians
to Fordring)  Anub'ar
 Argent Dawn  Nerub'ar
o Knights of the Ebon  Hath'ar
Blade o Frostbrood
 Horde o Blightblood Trolls
o Kor'kron Guard o Vrykul
o Warsong Offensive  Dragonflayer clan
o The Hand of  Winterskorn clan
Vengeance o Cult of the Damned
o Sunreavers o Wolfcult
o Taunka
 Alliance
o 7th Legion
o Valiance Expedition
o Silver Covenant
o Frostborn
o Knights of the Silver
Hand (loyal to the
Stormwind)
 Wyrmrest Accord
 Kirin Tor
 Other minor scourge-
opposition factions

Commanders

 Highlord Tirion Fordring  The Lich King

 Highlord Darion Mograine o Arthas Menethil†
o Thassarian  Remains fragments of Ner'zhul's
o Koltira Deathweaver spirit (?)
 Warchief Thrall  Orbaz Bloodbane†
o Sylvanas Windrunner  Blood-Queen Lana'thel†
 Grand  Anub'arak†
Apothecary  Malas the
Putress† Corrupter†
o Garrosh Hellscream  Zangus†
o Varok Saurfang  Overlord Drakuru†
o Roanauk Icemist  Sindragosa†
o Saurfang the  Deathbringer Saurfang†
Younger†  Lord Marrowgar†
 King Varian Wrynn  King Ymiron†
o Jaina Proudmoore  Queen Angerboda†
o Vereesa Windrunner  Ingvar the
o Highlord Bolvar Plunderer†
Fordragon †  Archlich Kel'thuzad †
o Muradin  Lady Deathwhisper†
Bronzebeard  Thel'zan the
  Velog Duskbringer†
Icebellow  Shade of Arugal†
 Alexstrasza  Scourgelord Tyrannus†
o Korialstrasz
 Rhonin
o Aethas Sunreaver

template | talk | edit

The war against the Lich King[1][2][3] (also called the war against the Scourge[4][5][6], battle against the
Lich King[7] and war for Northrend[8]) is an ongoing war that is played out in World of Warcraft:
Wrath of the Lich King. It started when Varian Wrynn prepared to attack the Scourge, but the Lich
King had already made his plans and attacked Stormwind before Varian could send his offensive. At
the same time the Scourge invaded Orgrimmar, and so the war began.[9]

Contents

[hide]

 1 Prelude
 2 Invasion of Northrend
 3 Early battles
 4 Counter-attack
 5 Angrathar the Wrathgate
 6 Further Battles
o 6.1 The Wolfcult and the Drakuru conflict
o 6.2 Broken Front
 7 Secrets of Ulduar
 8 The Argent Tournament
 9 Fall of the Lich King
 10 Legacy
 11 References

Prelude Edit

Main articles: Zombie Infestation, Scourge Invasion (Orgrimmar), Scourge Invasion

(Stormwind)

The capitals of Azeroth began receiving mysterious packages with infected grain. As their citizens ate
grain from the infected packages, they were turned into bloodthirsty ghouls if not treated by
members of the Argent Dawn. With all the major capitals thrown into chaos, necropoleis appeared
around the world, triggering a second Scourge war. Adventurers from both the Alliance and the
Horde fought back the disease and the advancing Scourge armies. Outraged by this treachery,
Warchief Thrall with his fellow Horde leaders, and King Varian Wrynn planned an invasion on
Northrend to deal with the Lich King once and for all.
The final straw occurred when the Lich King directly attacked the capitals of the Horde and the
Alliance. Orgrimmar and Stormwind were attacked by a large Scourge army consisting of frost wyrms
and abominations. The Battles for Stormwind and Orgrimmar were won by the brave adventurers
and their leaders once more, thus forming the Horde Expedition and the Alliance Vanguard.

Invasion of Northrend Edit

The Warsong Offensive fleet, consisting mainly of ships built by goblins from nearby Ratchet,
assembled near the Durotar coastline where they sailed off to the Borean Tundra while the Forsaken
Hand of Vengeance fleet set off from Tirisfal Glades, heading for the Howling Fjord on other side of
the frozen continent. There they stumbled upon the taunka, a long-lost race of tauren who were
fighting a losing war against the Scourge. Thanks to adventurers the taunka were saved and gladly
joined the Horde[10] to reclaim their homeland.[11][12]

Meanwhile, the Alliance fleet of the Valiance Expedition set off from Stormwind and Menethil
Harbor, building a new base on the Borean Tundra at Valiance Keep and meeting their long lost
brethren in Valgarde in Howling Fjord. The dwarven expedition known as the Explorers' League
sailed with the Alliance, hoping to find clues of their past and aiding the fight against the Lich King.
Like the Horde however, they also met a tribe of dwarves called the Frostborn who not only fought
the Scourge, but other threats as well. Although reluctant, they joined the Alliance and swore to aid
where they could.[13]

The Kirin Tor, moving a freshly reconstructed Dalaran to Northrend to fight their Nexus War against
Malygos, also aided both factions with their fights against the Scourge and offered a sanctuary to
adventurers in their city. The Sunreavers and the Silver Covenant represent their respective factions
in the Nexus War, but have not offered much in the way of aid in the Lich King conflict, though their
level of involvement has increased with the ongoing Argent Tournament in northeast Icecrown.

Early battles Edit

The early battles of the war were mostly defending their newly established bases in Northrend. Both
the Scourge and their vrykul allies attacked the expeditions, causing many casualties. Thanks again
to adventurers the factions were able to hold off the attacks and make allies in Northrend. The
battle for Icemist Village[14], the attack on Warsong Hold[15], and the raids on Valgarde[16] and
Valiance Keep[17] represent some of these battles.

Counter-attack Edit

With their forces firmly established in Northrend, the Horde and the Alliance chose to focus on the
Lich King's new-found vrykul allies, focusing their efforts on Utgarde Keep and other vrykul villages
around Northrend[18][19], to both weaken the overall might of the Scourge, and to gain strategic
advantage over the other faction.[20]

Moving deeper inland on the Dragonblight, the Alliance at Wintergarde Keep were under attack by
the Scourge necropolis, Naxxramas, while the Horde at Agmar's Hammer were cut off by the
nerubians of Azjol-Nerub. At this point, the Lich King began to attack the dragon shrines in the
region, raising the corpses of dead dragonkin into undead in the form of frost wyrms, emberwyrms
and magmawyrms. Adventurers did what they could to put a temporary stop to this new threat.
Freed of the immediate danger of attack, both factions then sent their best to face the Lich King
directly at Angrathar the Wrathgate.

Angrathar the Wrathgate Edit

Main articles: Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, Battle for the Undercity

Members of the Horde and the Alliance fighting at the siege for Angrathar the Wrathgate formed a
temporary alliance, focusing their attacks on the Scourge instead of each other. With the
dragonflights providing aerial support, both factions made a daring attack on the gate, seizing
control from the Scourge. There, Bolvar Fordragon and Saurfang the Younger taunted the Lich King
to fight his own battles instead of sending his minions. The Lich King entered the battle and quickly
slew Saurfang the Younger. Before Bolvar and the Lich King could trade blows, Grand Apothecary
Putress, chief of the Forsaken's Royal Apothecary Society and the creator of the New Plague,
betrayed the Horde and unleashed his plague on the combatants below. The plague killed most of
the Alliance, Horde, and Scourge forces at the Wrath Gate indiscriminately, apparently including
Bolvar Fordragon, and severely injured the Lich King. (Putress had later been revealed to have been
under the influence of Varimathras, who in turn was serving the Burning Legion).

This betrayal and the Battle for the Undercity that followed ended upwards of seven years of cold
war between the Horde and the Alliance.

Further Battles Edit

The Wolfcult and the Drakuru conflict Edit

With the new all-out war between the Horde and the Alliance after Putress's betrayal, only the
Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade remained fully dedicated to fighting the Lich King.
The Kirin Tor, while more dedicated to the fight than the Horde and the Alliance, was fighting wars
on two fronts: against the Lich King and Malygos the Spell-Weaver and his blue dragonflight. In the
meantime, the Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade managed to deeply entrench
themselves in Zul'Drak.

Meanwhile, the Horde and the Alliance began battling each other over the rich resources of lumber
and minerals in Grizzly Hills. When the Alliance attempted to gain allies againts the Horde and the
Horde attempted to attack the native humans of the hills both sides would uncover the existence of
a mysterious organization known as the Wolfcult. Thanks to the effort of Ruuna the Blind adventures
of both sides were able to discover that the worgen of the wolfcult were led by none other than
Archmage Arugal now reborn as the Shade of Arugal after being killed by the Forsaken.

Adventurers further escalated the conflicts between the Horde and Alliance and even, albeit
unintentionally, aided Drakuru into destroying the resisting troll tribes and giving Drak'Tharon Keep
to the Scourge. Empowered by the Lich King, Overlord Drakuru used his new powers to conquer the
remaining trolls in Zul'Drak, bringing him into direct conflict with the Argent Crusade and the Knights
of the Ebon Blade. After the Knights of the Ebon Blade sent in spies to disrupt Drakuru's Blightblood
Troll operation, he was killed by the Lich King for failing to detect them.
Broken Front Edit

With the Drakuru conflict behind them, the Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade
managed to set up bases within Icecrown itself, regaining ground starting from the Argent Vanguard.
The Horde and the Alliance however, using the best that goblin[21] and gnomish engineering[22] had to
offer, used gunships to fly onto Icecrown Glacier. Just south of Mord'Rethar: The Death Gate, the
Alliance forces assaulted the Scourge defending the gate, trying to take control of it before the
Horde could.[23] However the Horde attacked the Alliance from behind[24], leaving both sides open to
the Scourge. Despite their losses, the Horde saw this as precious time for which they may be able to
gain strategic advantage.

Secrets of Ulduar Edit

In the midst of the fighting against the Lich King, it was discovered that legendary explorer Brann
Bronzebeard had inflitrated the ancient titan complex of Ulduar. His expedition was entirely wiped
out by the iron giants within Ulduar, and Brann himself barely escaped with his life. Brann fled to
Dalaran and warned Rhonin, who in turn called King Varian Wrynn and Lady Jaina Proudmoore to
the Violet Citadel, it was there that Brann informed them of what was beneath Ulduar: the dreaded
old god Yogg-Saron.

However, Rhonin has also called Thrall and Garrosh Hellscream to the Violet Citadel as well. Tension
between the Alliance and Horde escalated even further when Garrosh attacked Varian, and the two
briefly engaged each other in combat before Rhonin intervened. Varian left Dalaran in disgust, but
not before saying to Thrall and Hellscream: "I'm done with your Horde. May this death god take you
all."

The Argent Tournament Edit

Main article: Argent Tournament

With the two major factions at war with each other, the Argent Crusade, in an attempt to unite the
two factions against the Lich King, held the Argent Tournament in the northern reaches of Icecrown.
The tournament, while trying to unite Horde and the Alliance, was designed to train their army
against the undead and more importantly find the best warriors of either faction for a small strike
force to attack Icecrown Citadel to the south. This method of using a small number of warriors is
advantageous because any great loss that they may suffer would only reinforce the Scourge, and
would only leave the whole of Azeroth open to attack.[25]

Fall of the Lich King Edit

Main articles: Frozen Halls, Icecrown Citadel (instance)

After the Argent Tournament ended with the death of Anub'arak, the Argent Crusade, led by
Highlord Tirion Fordring, struck an alliance with the Knights of the Ebon Blade, led by Highlord
Darion Mograine. Thus the Ashen Verdict is born. A combination of opposing orders for a common
purpose: the final assault against the Scourge in Icecrown Citadel and the eventual fall of the Lich
King.
Meanwhile, adventurers of the Horde and the Alliance sneaked behind the lines inside the Halls of
Reflection where Frostmourne was believed to lay unguarded. While attempting to commune with
the souls trapped inside the sword, the spirit of Uther the Lightbringer appeared, warning that the
Lich King could only be destroyed at the very place he was created: the Frozen Throne. Alas, he also
revealed that even if Arthas were to be destroyed, someone would have to make the ultimate
sacrifice. The Scourge's numbers have become so great that if they were unleashed without a
master, they would wash across the world like locusts, consuming everything in their path.

During the Ashen Verdict's progression in the Citadel, it was revealed that Bolvar Fordragon was
recovered by the Scourge, and has been tortured mercilessly by the Lich King. Despite the Lich King's
extensive efforts to corrupt him, however, he has thus far managed to resist. The Horde and Alliance
then focus on rescuing Bolvar to stop any upcoming conflict between both factions and confronting
the Lich King.

Such lofty goals were forgotten, however, in the ascension to the upper Citadel, as the Alliance and
the Horde clashed against one another in a duel of their titanic flying warships: The Skybreaker,
commanded by Muradin Bronzebeard, and Orgrim's Hammer commanded by Varok Saurfang.
Eventually, only one manages to reach the entrance to the upper Citadel. As they approach, the
doors open to reveal the Deathbringer: Dranosh Saurfang, the other Wrathgate commander, who
was raised in undeath by the Lich King, and now guards the way to the upper chambers. Rather than
facing the commanders, the Deathbringer incapacitates them and instead fights the adventurers
who accompanied them onboard their gunships. After a grueling battle, Deathbringer Saurfang falls,
as the grieving father comes to claim the body of his son.

Death of Arthas The adventurers, aided by Tirion

Fordring, ultimately ascended to the Frozen Throne itself at the top of Icecrown Citadel, where they
battled the Lich King. In the end, Frostmourne was shattered, and Arthas died. The newly-freed spirit
of Terenas comforted his son as he died, then reminded Tirion that someone must take Arthas's
place as the Lich King in order to maintain control over the Scourge. Tirion prepared to take on the
terrible burden, when Bolvar Fordragon appeared, horribly burned by the dragonfire that had
incinerated his body at the Wrath Gate. He told Tirion that he no longer had any place among the
living, and would make the sacrifice himself. Tirion placed the helmet atop the undead paladin's
head, and as the ice of the throne enveloped him he said to tell the world only that the Lich King had
died, and that Bolvar Fordragon died with him.

Legacy Edit

With the fall of Arthas, and the rise of Bolvar as the new Lich King, the Scourge forces in Azeroth
have been largely destroyed in the war; those that remain have been made passive by Bolvar's will.
For example, now that the Lich King has been rendered passive, the Western Plaguelands may yet
begin the path to recovering from the Scourge's taint.[26]. Also, with the Scourge's fall, the last
remnants of the leadership Scarlet Crusade, (which had been all but destroyed when the Scarlet
Enclave has fallen to the Death knights of Acherus) had had been eliminated with the destruction of
the Scarlet Onslaught in Northrend and the exposure of Mal'Ganis (who had disguised himself as
Barean Westwind, but was exposed by adventurers). The Crusade would go on to lose their holdings
in the Eastern Plaguelands, and Stratholme to the forces of Balnazzar, and Tirion Fordring and the
Argent Crusade would retake Hearthglen. The majority of the Crusade would flee into Tirisfal Glades
and take refuge at the Scarlet Palisade.

With the last major crisis over, Vol'jin of the Darkspear trolls has begun work into liberating the Echo
Isles, and High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque and his Gnomeregan Exiles, after calculating the next
potential catastrophe only has a 12.7% chance of actually happening, are calling all support for
Operation: Gnomeregan, the final assault to reclaim their lost city.

The war between the Horde and the Alliance which was declared in the Undercity, despite small
skirmishes in Northrend, has not exploded into a full scale war after the fall of the Lich King.
However unexpected, cataclysmic events could be all that it takes to push the two factions into an
open war.

Zalazane's Fall

Edit
  History

The subject of this article was removed from World of Warcraft in patch 4.0.1.

 This includes items and quests that can no longer be obtained.

 The in-game information in this article is kept purely for historical purposes and
should probably not be under any other categories.

For the subzone of the same name, see Zalazane's Fall (subzone).
For the quest, see Quest:Zalazane's Fall.

Previous: Nexus War, War against the Lich King

Concurrent: Operation: Gnomeregan, Gilneas civil war

Next: Elemental Invasion

Zalazane's Fall

Place: Echo Isles, Durotar

Outcome: Horde victory

Death of Zalazane and reclamation of the Echo Isles by the Darkspear tribe
Combatants

 Horde  Restless Zombies  Zalazane's Hexed

o Darkspear Trolls o Tiki Trolls
 Darkspear Warriors Warriors o Hexed Dire
o Echo Isles Animals Trolls
o Adventurers o Voodoo Troll
o Mindless
Trolls

Commanders

 Vol'jin  Bwonsamdi  Zalazane†

o Witch Doctor Hez'tok o Jun'do the
o Vanira Traitor†
o Champion Uru'zin
 o Zild'jian
 Zen'tabra

template | talk | edit

Zalazane's Fall is the final push by Vol'jin and the Darkspear tribe to retake the Echo Isles from the
clutches of the evil Zalazane. It is a culminating event for the Horde to occur before the release of
the next expansion, Cataclysm. Furthermore, all troll characters created after the liberation of the
Echo Isles will have their new starting point there. [1] The event started on the 7th of September,
2010 (USA) and the next day on EU servers.

Contents

[hide]

 1 First annoucement
 2 Second announcement
 3 Scripted event
 4 Videos
 5 Gallery
 6 Patch history
 7 References

First annoucement Edit

The following information is taken from the official site:

Most of Azeroth's savage trolls are infamous for their extreme hatred of other races, but the
Darkspear tribe and its leader, Vol'jin, are an exception. Over the years, the Darkspears have proven
to be invaluable members of the Horde. Vol'jin in particular is known to offer strategic advice to
Warchief Thrall on a regular basis, and the cunning troll played a role in retaking the Undercity after
it was overthrown by the rebel forces of Varimathras and Putress.

Yet for all of the tribe's accomplishments, the Darkspears are still plagued by a tragic history of exile.
Long ago they were driven from Stranglethorn Vale's mainland by the more powerful trolls of the
Gurubashi empire and then settled on a remote island. The Darkspears later sought refuge with the
Horde when their isle was destroyed by a mysterious sea witch, and Thrall granted the trolls new
lands on the Echo Isles off the coast of Durotar. Aside from a brief exodus when Daelin Proudmoore's
fleet arrived to hunt down orcs, the Darkspears enjoyed relative stability until one of their own,
Zalazane, drove his brethren from their latest home.

The witch doctor Zalazane had been one of the tribe's leading mystical instructors when he was
inexplicably driven to insanity by the powers under his control. Utilizing dark magic, he enslaved
many of his fellow tribespeople and amassed an army of mindless Darkspear trolls. Fearing that all of
his tribe would come under Zalazane's sway, Vol'jin ordered the remaining free Darkspears to
abandon the Echo Isles.
Vol'jin's Darkspears settled in nearby Sen'jin Village, which they have since used as a staging point to
attack Zalazane. Over the years, members of the Horde looking to test their worth have braved the
Echo Isles to confront Zalazane, and many of them even returned seemingly victorious with his
severed head. These victories, however, proved to be nothing more than illusions created by the
twisted witch doctor's dark magic. Days after these trophies were taken to Sen'jin Village, they
reverted to their true forms: painted rocks and coconuts adorned with wooden tusks, or even the
heads of Zalazane's enslaved trolls.

Despite these setbacks and his preoccupation with advising Thrall on Horde-related matters, Vol'jin
has spent considerable time formulating a strategy to recapture the Echo Isles. Now he believes that
the time to strike at Zalazane has come. As the Darkspear leader and his close allies Vanira and
Champion Uru'zin await approval of their plan from the ancestral spirits, they have begun rounding
up new troll recruits and staging reconnaissance missions to learn about Zalazane's minions.

Yet Vol'jin's trolls are short on forces, and the enslaved Darkspears on the Echo Isles outnumber
them. The Darkspears are well-known for being among Azeroth's bravest combatants, however, and
fortunately many non-trolls have expressed interest in assisting Vol'jin, perhaps hoping that restoring
the Echo Isles will eventually bolster the Horde's strength.

Vol'jin is also aware of the strategic importance that a Darkspear homeland offers his allies, but he is
motivated by more personal reasons. Zalazane's betrayal was an affront against Vol'jin's dream of a
better life for his tribe, a destiny that his late father, Sen'jin, envisioned years ago. Only by retaking
the Echo Isles will Vol'jin be able to honor his father and at long last secure a permanent homeland
for the long-exiled Darkspear tribe.[2]

Second announcement Edit

Zalazane's Fall recruitment poster "Zalazane Must Fall!" Cries Vol'jin

Embedded on the coast of Durotar, the tiny troll Village of Sen'jin is bursting with recent activity. In
what some claim is a retort to the overblown assertions of the vertically-challenged High Tinker
Mekkatorque, Troll Chieftain Vol'jin has announced his intention to "honor de ancestors n' take back
da 'omeland, mon." The call has been given, and the scattered Darkspear tribe has begun to gather
at the once-sleepy location. Now the primal rhythm of beating drums and strange clouds of acrid
smoke drift aloft deep into the night, arguably a sign of celebration and preparation for an
impending offensive.
With the full support of Thrall and his counterparts, Vol'jin is calling upon all factions of the Horde to
prepare for an assault on Echo Isles and the twisted witch doctor Zalazane. He will pay for his crimes
against the Darkspears and the land bestowed upon them by Thrall! As explained by Vol'jin in the
demand for Zalazane's fall today, honorable members of the Horde passing through the village
proper -- whether they've never slain a boar in their lives or are the subject of every dragon's
nightmare -- will be given a chance to help their upstanding troll brothers in what will surely be the
most brutal of attacks. But first there must be preparation. With the Echo Isles on the line, no detail is
too small, no spoken word too trivial. And for that reason the noted troll shaman, Vanira, will get
adventurers started on the monumental tasks ahead.

Using sacred totemic rituals, Vanira needs frogs for her agenda. It is unclear of her exact intentions
with these amphibious lurkers of Sen'jin, but there appears to be a bat handler standing by. Could it
be that frogs will soon rain down from the heavens upon the Echo Isles? When asked for further
comment, Vanira only remarked that she's seeking "da perfect spies." It seems war is sometimes won
with even the most unlikely of arsenals. Spying on the enemy, however, is only the beginning. Vol'jin
has spoken of a most-trusted trainer of reinforcements, Champion Uru'zin, who will guide new
recruits of all ranges of experience into battle-hardened Darkspear warriors. "Trollin' for volunteers,"
as Vol'jin remarked, will be a key component to building a strike force capable of overthrowing
Zalazane's hexed Darkspears.

Vol'jin argues that the spirits are on the side of his Darkspear tribe. Can animistic beliefs truly
manifest into proven battle leverage against Zalazane? Perhaps only Vanira and her beguiled spies
can answer this. But it is rumored that, long ago, a tribe of troll druids once called the Echo Isles
home. If ever there was a time for good omens such as this, it is now. Only if the spirits truly are on
the side of the son of Sen'jin, reportedly only a phenomenon that Witch Doctor Hez'tok can decipher,
then the assault will commence! Those who assist Hez'tok in his ceremony will be adorned with
Darkspear Pride, allowing adventurers the ability to take on the form of an elite Darkspear Warrior
during battle. Wearing such battle garb is an honor to the ancestors of a people long persecuted and
plagued by war between tribes.

Should the spirits give their blessing to Vol'jin, Champion Uru'zin will call for all seasoned veterans of
the Horde levels 75-80 to aid in the attack. If "at last, everythin' be ready," as Vol'jin put it, his plan is
to launch a full assault from the shores of Sen'jin village. Vol'jin exclaimed in his call for such an
assault today, "come, now! Join in de liberation of de Echo Isles! Zalazane will fall!" He's gone so far
as to offer a particularly rare Sen'jin Overcloak to those who help bring Zalazane down. Even still,
sources report that this foe possesses powerful voodoo and black magic.

Preparations for Zalazane's fall are underway, but will it be enough to best this witch doctor? It's
time, proud members of the Horde, to stand with your disaffected troll brethren and recognize the
full might of the Darkspear tribe![3]

Scripted event Edit

Vol'jin yells: Sons and daughters of de Darkspear! Friends of de tribe!

Vol'jin yells: We be gatherin' here, on de shores of Sen'jin Village, to be takin' BACK what is
ours!

Vol'jin yells: Come, now! Join in de liberation of de Echo Isles! Zalazane will FALL!
Vol'jin yells: We be gettin' ready to march to de Isles, an' FREE dem of Zalazane's wicked
rule! Join me!

Vol'jin yells: Zalazane's time has come! De Darkspear will have a proper home again. Be
ready!

Vol'jin says: You came, wise sista! De Darkspear be grateful.

Zen'tabra says: Of course, Son of Sen'jin. Zen'tabra always keep her word.

Vol'jin says: De time has come! Warrior of de Darkspear, make ready! Da Loa walk wit us!
Are ya ready, Vanira, Zen'tabra?

Vanira says: De elements be walkin' wit us, too...

Zen'tabra says: ...as do de beasts of de Isles.

Vol'jin says: Den we go! First, to Bwonsamdi... if we gonna win dis, we need his mojo on our
side.

The party moves to a first isle.

Vol'jin kneels at the skull pile and begins a chant.

Bwonsamdi appears.

Bwonsamdi yells: WHO BE STIRRIN'UP MY BONES? Dem's Bwonsamdi's charges, and not ta
be touched!

Vol'jin yells: I be Vol'jin, Son of Sen'jin, here ta ask your aid, o great Bwonsamdi.

Bwonsamdi yells: I know who ya are, shadow hunter. An' I know what ya WANT. But what
makes you tink I'm gonna help YOU? Ain't a wise ting, callin' me from de Other Side...

Vol'jin yells: I ain't askin' for me alone, Great Spirit, but on behalf of da Darkspear Tribe... on
behalf of me PEOPLE.

Bwonsamdi yells: Darkspear... it been a long time since I heard de drums... since I drank de
ritual offerings. I be watchin' over your dead, Vol'jin, and for NOTHIN'. Why have de
Darkspear forsaken Bwonsamdi, eh?

Vol'jin yells: We were driven away, Great Spirit. Hexmaster Zalazane took de Isles from us...
drove us mad, made us fight one another. De only trolls left in de Echo Isles are his mindless
voodoo slaves.

Bwonsamdi yells: Zalazane...

Vol'jin yells: Aid us, Bwonsamdi! Help us regain our home! Return de Darkspear to de Isles,
and hear your drums again! Drink your ritual offerings once more! Dis, as de Son of Sen'jin, I
swear.

Bwonsamdi yells: Hrmmm. Time ta see how bad ya want dis, shadow hunter. Time ta see if
you be WORTHY.

A battle errupts and the party emerges victorious.

Bwonsamdi yells: Ya tink ya got what it takes ta face ME? Give up, shadow hunter!
Bwonsamdi enters the fray.

Bwonsamdi yells: ENOUGH! You got some BIG mojo, Vol'jin. Maybe you worth helpin' after
all...

Vol'jin yells: Not me, Great Spirit. Me TRIBE.

Bwonsamdi says: Go to de old village, across de water. Take it back. I'll help ya den.

Vol'jin says: Dey be waitin' for us, all. We fight now for our old home... we gonna reclaim
what be OURS!

The party moves to the main isle. A battle errupts, Jun'do the Traitror is finally killed.

Bwonsamdi yells: Spirits of de Darkspear... ARISE! Take up de ancient masks, take up de

bloody spears... you be followin' VOL'JIN, now!

Bwonsamdi yells: Now GO! Use me boon wisely.

Vol'jin says: Don' be underestimatin' Zalazane... he be a tricky foe, cunnin' and strong with
de voodoo. Are ya ready? MOVE ON!

The party reaches Zalazane's camp.

Vol'jin yells: It be TIME, Hexmaster! De sons and daughters of de Darkspear have returned!
We gonna drive you into de sea...

Zalazane yells: You ain't doin' nothin' of de sort, shadow hunter. De Echo Isles are MINE!

Zalazane yells: Witness de power of me voodoo... you ain't leavin' dis island ALIVE!

A battle errupts, the party emerges victorious and Zalazane flees.

Zalazane yells: Ha ha ha ha!

Vol'jin yells: We can't be lettin' him get away!

Zen'tabra yells: Der ain't no escapin' Zen'tabra. Not while he on dese islands.

Vol'jin yells: Den find him, wise one. Go!

Zen'tabra transforms into a bat and flies away, then returns.

Zen'tabra says: He be just west of here, workin' at some black magic.

Vol'jin says: Not for long. Time ta finish dis ting.

The party moves to another isle.

Vol'jin says: Give up, Zalazane. It be over, now.

Zalazane yells: You fool! I ain't runnin' away. I lured ya here, ta kill ya wit' your own precious
tribe!

A battle errupts and the party emerges victorious.

Zalazane yells: No matter! I can't be touched. No living ting can make its way trough dis
barrier! Da Echo Isles be Zalazane's ta rule, shadow hunter! Now, and FOREVER!
Bwonsamdi yells: BWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!

Zalazane yells: Who... who dat be?

Bwonsamdi yells: ZALAZANE. What you tinkin', takin' dat which be mine? De Darkspear dead
are MY domain, sorcerer... and now you gonna be one of dem!

Zalazane's shield is dispelled.

Zalazane yells: No! No... NOOO!

Zalazane explodes.

Vol'jin says: A fittin' end for so foul a troll. Bwonsamdi; you have my tanks, and dat of all de
Darkspear. We will continue to honor you, as is proper.

Bwonsamdi says: It'll be good to hear de Darkspear drums once more. You take care now,
Son of Sen'jin. Bwonsamdi will be waitin' for ya... on de Other Side...

Vol'jin says: Time to return to de village. Time to rebuild our home... de Darkspear's home.
Will you be stayin' wit' us, wise Zen'Tabra?

Zen'tabra says: Me fate be entwined wit' yours now, Vol'jin, for good or for ill. I be stayin'.
Operation: Gnomeregan

Edit

 History

The subject of this article was removed from World of Warcraft in patch 4.0.1.

 This includes items and quests that can no longer be obtained.

 The in-game information in this article is kept purely for historical purposes and
should probably not be under any other categories.

For the quest, see Quest:Operation: Gnomeregan.

For the achievement, see Operation: Gnomeregan (achievement).

Previous: Nexus War, War against the Lich King

Concurrent: Zalazane's Fall, Gilneas civil war

Next: Elemental Invasion

Operation: Gnomeregan

Place: Gnomeregan, Dun Morogh

Outcome: Alliance victory

 Explosion of the Irradiator 3000

 Reclamation of Gnomeregan's surface by the Alliance
o Gnomeregan dvided between Alliance part and leppergnomes part
  Refounding of the State of Gnomeregan

Combatants

 Alliance  Leper Gnomes

o Gnomeregan Exiles
o Adventurers

Commanders

 High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque  Mekgineer Sicco Thermaplugg

o Elgin Clickspring o Commander Boltcog†
o "Doc" Cogspin o Gasherikk†
o Hinkles Fastblast
o Pilot Muzzlesprock
 'Thunderflash'
o Captain Tread Sparknozzle
o Drill Sergeant Steamcrank
o Toby Zeigear

template | talk | edit

Operation: Gnomeregan is the name of Gelbin Mekkatorque's plan for the retaking of the surface of
Gnomeregan, starting on September 7 2010 on US servers and September 8 2010 on EU servers.
Only players between level 75 and 80 will be able to serve during the operation, but lower level
players can help by motivating other gnomes or by turning in items.

The quests leading up to the assault are described here.

Contents

[hide]

 1 First announcement
 2 Second announcement
 3 Further forum announcements
 4 In-game Mail
 5 Scripted event
 6 Videos
 7 Gallery
 8 Patch history
 9 References

First announcement Edit

Gelbin Mekkatorque is known as much for his technical brilliance as he is for his just leadership of the
gnomes. In addition to being elected high tinker, the most prominent rank in gnomish society, Gelbin
proved himself to be an inventor without equal by leading the construction of the Deeprun Tram,
which links Stormwind and Ironforge. Yet all of the high tinker's achievements have been
overshadowed by one catastrophic event that occurred under his rule: the fall of Gnomeregan.

Around the time of the Third War, an ancient menace known as the troggs surfaced in Gnomeregan
from the depths of Azeroth. This barbaric race, thought to have been unintentionally released during
the Uldaman excavation, crushed the gnomes' defenses and became entrenched in the lower sections
of the city. Gelbin, for all his genius, was at a loss for a way to eradicate the savage invaders until his
chief advisor, Mekgineer Sicco Thermaplugg, proposed that they inundate Gnomeregan with toxic
radiation.

Confident in Thermaplugg's radical plan, Mekkatorque gave the order to irradiate the city. This bold
move worked at first: toxic radiation spread throughout Gnomeregan and momentarily stopped the
troggs' incursion. Soon, however, it was evident that the radiation was killing gnomes as well as
troggs. In the end, nearly 80 percent of the gnomish race died, and many of those who survived were
mutated into deranged leper gnomes. To add to the tragedy, the troggs then resumed their assault
on the city.

Mekkatorque and the healthy survivors evacuated Gnomeregan and were taken in by the dwarves of
neighboring Ironforge, but Thermaplugg disappeared. The high tinker later learned troubling news
that his former advisor had seized control of the toxic gnomish city and instated himself as its twisted
overlord. Much to Mekkatorque's shock, he also discovered that Thermaplugg had secretly desired
the office of high tinker and might have been previously aware of or even complicit in the trogg
invasion.

The immense loss of life at Gnomeregan weighed heavy on Mekkatorque's shoulders, and in his fury
he ordered the death of Thermaplugg. A band of heroes took up the mission and returned with a tale
of victory, but after analyzing the claim, Mekkatorque realized that the mechanized overlord
defeated in the depths of the city was likely nothing more than a cleverly engineered facsimile of
Thermaplugg.

Aware that defeating his nemesis would require a more robust approach, Mekkatorque labored over
strategies to retake his city. His tireless brainstorming recently paid off with the formulation of
Operation: Gnomeregan, a brilliant multi-phased assault plan devised to liberate the gnomish capital
and bring the real Thermaplugg to justice. With the operation set to begin, resourceful gnomes such
as "Doc" Cogspin, Captain Tread Sparknozzle, and Drill Sergeant Steamcrank have been overseeing
preparations and fine-tuning new technology that will be vital to the offensive.

Meanwhile, Mekkatorque has begun rounding up all able-bodied gnomes to join in the attack, and
his call to arms has also been heard by other members of the Alliance. The gnomes' techno-savvy has
been vital in past conflicts, and many Alliance heroes are likely to join the offensive to recapture the
extraordinary inventions within the fallen city. For Mekkatorque, however, his plan goes beyond just
reacquiring lost technology. The retaking of Gnomeregan will determine his legacy in history, either
as the high tinker who lost the gnomes' beloved capital, or the one who reestablished it as the center
of innovation on Azeroth.

Operation: Gnomeregan is about to get underway.[1]

Second announcement Edit

Operation:Gnomeregan recruitment poster On April 8th, 2010, Blizzard released a "press release"
from High Tinker Mekkatorque that reads much like a recruiting poster complete with a download-
able poster even ending with the following quote at the bottom "Operation: Gnomeregan is coming,
and the Gnomeregan Exiles want YOU!"

"Operation: Gnomeregan Imminent," Says High Tinker Mekkatorque

After rumors spread throughout Kharanos and Ironforge about Mekgineer Thermaplugg preparing
his irradiated soldiers to meet the growing gnomish clamoring for the reclamation of their once-great
city, High Tinker Mekkatorque today exclaimed Operation: Gnomeregan to be imminent, describing
his former ally Thermaplugg's irradiation of the beloved city as "a date which will live in a
proportionate rate of increase in impropriety!" Speaking to a small conglomerate of various Alliance
representatives, Mekkatorque pointed out that the time to strike is now. After all, Thermaplugg has
eluded death for years to keep his reign over Gnomeregan; and with the fall of the Lich King, the last
great threat to the citizens of Azeroth, the chance of any cataclysmic event taking place in the
foreseeable future is "less than 12.7%[2]," Mekkatorque's leading combat medical advisor Doc
Cogspin purported.

With confirmation of the impending attack upon Gnomeregan comes your chance to get involved.
Victory begins in Tinker Town! As great citizens of Azeroth and proud members of the Alliance, High
Tinker Mekkatorque shall call upon you to serve his gnomes in exile. After all, the best offense is a
good... offense! Whether you're a hero of your people and slayer of the most dreadful Burning Legion
and Scourge creatures, or an up-and-coming adventurer, you can start by motivating your gnome
brethren to unite behind the Gnomeregan banner. All it takes is a bit of finesse with the Motivate-a-
Tron to call gnomes to action. The device works flawlessly! After all, what good would it be if such a
powerful invention ended up turning Tinker Town citizens into little critters? Almost no good!

With fresh new recruits at your side, Mekkatorque will send you to Steelgrill's Depot, the staging
grounds for the Gnomeregan offensive, where you'll meet Captain Sparknozzle. Do as he commands
by completing Drill Sergeant Steamcrank's training and testing the operative capabilities of the brand
new Mechano-Tanks before they're shipped to the front lines. Seizing Gnomeregan is more important
than your fear of heights, which will be put to the test as you're summoned by Pilot Muzzlesprock to
neutralize the irradiation vents bruising the Gnomeregan horizon in a critical Radiageigatron
bombing run.

Every man, woman, and child is called to serve! Even if you're just barely getting your bearings on the
art of combat in places like Kharanos or Elwynn Forest, you can do your part by helping fuel the war
effort. A few dead boars leads to a few more comfortable siege pilot seats, and surely you can handle
such a crucial step in the preparation for facing Thermaplugg's poisoned followers. You can even help
master wordsmith Toby Zeigear in writing High Tinker Mekkatorque's battle cry. The road to success
will be paved by you, and you'll be rewarded as such with a commendation of Gnomeregan Pride,
allowing you to temporarily don the uniform of the elite Gnomeregan Infantry.

Thermaplugg is no trifling gnome, though his arrogance will be his undoing! Even still, he is
undoubtedly preparing never-before-seen forces to meet this assault. Only the most battle-hardened
heroes of the Alliance (levels 75-80) will be called to serve during Operation: Gnomeregan. When
Mekkatorque determines the operation is ready to get underway, you must speak with him on the
front lines before following him on a full assault of the enemy air field, surface command post, and
into the tunnels of lower Gnomeregan. It is said that Thermaplugg has employed the use of so-called
"Brag"-bots to spread his propaganda and hubris. Be not afraid of his words, fellow members of the
Alliance. Stick with Mekkatorque and Doc Cogspin to ensure your safety. After all, you wouldn't want
to lose the grace of Cogspin's Surgeon General's Warding. Gnomeregan must be cleansed of
irradiation and the troggs it was intended to repel. It is time to reclaim this modern marvel and earn
your very own Gnomeregan Overcloak, a testament to your historic bravery in the face of madness!

Operation: Gnomeregan is coming, and the Gnomeregan Exiles want YOU! [3]

Further forum announcements Edit

In April 2010, it was clarified that only the "surface of Gnomeregan" would be recaptured and that
the actual instanced dungeon would remain in the game. Furthermore, the newly freed region
would serve as the new starting point for any Gnome characters created afterwards.[4]

In-game Mail Edit

As the event begins, all Alliance characters are sent a letter by the High Tinker himself:

Operation: Gnomeregan

Good Sir/Madame,

As a proud member of the Alliance, duty compels you to journey to Ironforge with haste and submit
yourself to the will of High Tinker Mekkatorque, King of Gnomes.*

The end of our exile draws nigh - Operation: Gnomeregan is about to begin!**

* Lawyerbot 2000 informs me that I actually possess no legal authority whatsoever - over gnomes or
otherwise - but still, you have to admit that sounded impressive!

** Seriously, please come help out if you can. Many thanks!

Scripted event Edit

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Citizens and friends of Gnomeregan!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Today is the day we take back our glorious city from the vile
traitor Thermaplugg!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Gather around me as we prepare to reclaim our homeland!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: No more shall our people live as refugees, as outcasts, as
wretched, irradiated slaves chained to the yoke of a madman's war machine!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: The end of Thermaplugg's reign draws near!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Gather now at the staging area!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Our tactics, our science, our bravery and determination shall
prevail.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: The assault begins in but a moment!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Operation: Gnomeregan begins NOW!

The party moves on.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Initiate Phase I: Recapture the enemy airfield!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Destroy their rocket launchers and achieve total air
superiority!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Targets in sight! Squads, deploy: Destroy all enemy rocket
launchers!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: That's one down. Keep attacking!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: There's another destroyed. Maintain the assault!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Excellent work. Don't let up!

The party captures the Airfield.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: The airfield is ours, and with it, the skies over Gnomeregan.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Now our Multi-Bombers can obliterate the Thermaplugg's
shielded Tankbuster Cannons.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Initiate Phase II: Capture the Surface Command Post!

High Tinker Mekkatorque yells: Our Multi-Bombers have destroyed Tankbuster Cannons'
shields. Take them down and secure the Surface Command Post!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: We've secured the surface! Operation: Gnomeregan is
proceeding with 93% efficiency...well done, everyone!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: I'll shut down the defensive radiation pumps. Squads,
commandeer the remaining mechanized suits and move up to the Main Entry.

The party captures the Surface Command Post.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: We stand at the brink of victory, my friends. Initiate Phase
III: Into the tunnels!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Once we capture the underground railway and loading dock,
we'll use them to make a rapid attack on the heart of the city.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Gnomeregan is within our grasp!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: NEVER! Wait...is this thing on? Is it... this button?
Testing...testing. Ah! *ahem*

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: NEVER! Gnomeregan is MINE, Mekkatorque.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: You think you'll just march into MY city?
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Activate the Expendable Atomic Defense System:
DRIVE FORTH THE TROGGS!!!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot explodes and waves of troggs pour out of Gnomeregan.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: My GEARS...that's got to be every last trogg in the city!
Squads, dig in!

High Tinker Mekkatorque yells: Frag bombs and suppressing fire...HOLD THE LINE! We
won't be turned back now!

The last wave of troggs dies and Gasherikk appears.

High Tinker Mekkatorque yells: Sweet baby titans! That's got to be the biggest trogg I've
ever seen! Keep firing...take it down!

Gasherikk dies and the party moves into Gnomeregan.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: It's too quiet. Where are Thermaplugg's defense forces?

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: What...what is that? That looks like the radiation bomb that
poisoned Gnomeregan...wait! Incoming!

A battle errupts.

Commander Boltcog yells: Our defenses are impenetrable! WE are the true sons of
Gnomeregan!

The party reaches the central platform.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: No! No, no, NO!!! I won't allow you into my
kingdom, usurper! I WON'T ALLOW IT!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Activate the Ultimate Atomic Protection System.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: ...DISINTEGRATE THEM ALL!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: IT'S A TRAP! That's a fully functional irradiator!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: It is... and twenty-six TIMES more powerful than
the first!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: You've FAILED, Mekkatorque! I've caught and
defeated you before you even set FOOT in my precious city!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Now DIE!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Oh, I'd love to see that old cog's face. I bet
he...what? It's still on? WELL TURN IT O-

Irradiator 3000 yells: Irradiator 3000 activated. Attention. Emergency. You now have ten
minutes to reach minimum safe distance.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Ten minutes? Plenty of time to disarm the device.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Hinkles, hand me that Whirring Bronze Gizmo and some
Fresh Spring Water. Cogspin, toss me that Dirty Trogg Cloth and a Handful of Copper Bolts...
 Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: TEN MINUTES?! You left the factory setting on?
Give me that controller, you idiot!

Irradiator 3000 yells: *BEEP* Attention. Emergency. You now have ten seconds to reach
minimum safe distance.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Whuh-oh! Lapforge, beam us back, quickly!

As the Irradiator 3000 explodes, the party is teleported to Tinker Town.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Curses! We had to fall back. But Thermaplugg's lost, and he
knows it...he's only bought himself time.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: We hold the surface, and when the radiation clears we'll
assault and recapture Gnomeregan with a force twice this size.

Elemental War

Edit

 History

This article's name may be incorrect.

 Please note that while the content may be

valid, this article's name is based on
conjecture.
 This article should not be moved unless
discussed first - Remember to follow the
naming policy.

This article or section is a Cataclysm stub. You can help expand it by editing it.

 Please replace me with an appropriate stub from Category:Stubs after the

expansion is released.

Previous: Gilneas civil war, Operation: Gnomeregan, Zalazane's Fall

Concurrent: Alliance–Horde War (Cataclysm), Invasion of Gilneas

Elemental War

Place: Azeroth (world)

Outcome: Undetermined, ongoing

Combatants

 Alliance  Horde  Proud  Old Gods'

o Kingdom o Nation of defenders of forces
of Durotar Azeroth o Twilig
Stormwind  W o Four ht's
 SI: ars drago Ham
7 on nfligh mer
o Alliance- g ts clan
controlled Cla  R  R
Stromgard n e a
e  Ko d g
 Le r'k n
ag ro  B a
ue n l r
of Gu u o
Ar ar e s
at d ,
ho  Fr  G
r ost r D
 R wo e e
e lf e a
f cla n t
u n h
g  Sh  B w
e att r i
er o n
P ed n g
o Ha z
i nd e a
n cla n
t n o Earth d
e  Ra en
ger Ring T
o Kingdom oa o Cena w
of r rion i
Ironforge cla Circle l
 Br n  G i
on  Dr u g
ze ag a h
be on r t
ar ma d '
d w i s
Cl cla a
an n n H
 Wi o Bilgewater s a
ld Cartel m
ha  Bil o m
m ge f e
m wa r
er ter H
 Cl Ho y l
an bg j o
 M obl a y
oir ins l a
a o Kingdom l
Th of  A
au Quel'Thala n D
ris s c a
sa  Rel i r
n iqu e k
loy ary n
al  Far t I
Da stri s r
rk de o
Iro rs a n
n o Forsaken n
Cl  Ro d D
an yal w
 St Ap D a
or ot e r
m he m v
pik car i e
e y g s
cla So o
n cie d  D
o Gnomereg ty s a
an  Ga r
o High elf len o Ramk k
exiles - ahen
 Hi co  Therazane's A
gh ntr earth n
val oll followers c
e ed  Neptulon's i
hi Str water e
gh om servants n
elv gar t
es de s
o Darnassus  D
 Ho e o Forgo
wli f tten
ng i ones
Oa l o Black
k e drago
 All r nfligh
ia s t
nc  T
e  Fo w
Ce rsa i
na ke l
riu n i
s's Val g
 chi 'ky h
ldr r t
en o Darkspear
 All tribe d
ia  Ec r
nc ho a
e Isl g
Hi es o
gh o Stonemaul n
bo ogre f
rn o Shatterspe l
e ar tribe i
ni o Revantusk g
gh tribe h
t o United t
elv tauren
es tribes  N
 Th  Su e
e nw f
Se alk e
nti ers r
ne s
l e
o Exodar t
draenei
 All T
ia o
nc l
e '
Br v
ok i
en r
of
Az o Quee
er n
ot Azsha
h ra's
o Gilneas Naga
 Gil  Ragnaros' fire
ne minions
as  Al'Akir's wind
Lib creatures
er
ati
on
Fr
on
t
 Bl
oo
df
 an
g
pa
ck
o Stillpine
tribe
o Theramor
e
o Nation of
Kul Tiras
 Ba
ra
di
n's
W
ar
de
ns

Commanders

 King Varian Wyrnn  Warchief Garrosh  Alexstrasza  Old Gods

o Thassarian Hellscream o Korial o Death
o Radulf o High strasz wing
Leder Warlord  Ysera  S
o Mathias Cromush o Erani i
Shaw o Warlord kus n
 Co Zaela  Nozdormu t
m o General o Sorid h
m Drek'Thar ormi a
an o Karga o Anac r
de Rageroarω hron i
δ
r os a
Ar o Rexxar o Chro
rin  Or norm  N
gt ha u e
on n  Kalecgos f
† Og  Azuregos a
 Lady Jaina re  Malorne r
Proudmoore bla  Cenarius i
o Captain de o Malf a
Fairmount  T urion n
o Captain h Stor
Darill a mrag o Cho'g
 King Magni r e all
Bronzebeard† g  H  G
o Moira a e
Thaurissan  Primal Torntusk m n
o Muradin  Vol'jin u e
Bronzebea o Zen'tabra u r
rd o Champion l a
 o Falstad Uru'zin l
Wildhamm o Vanira R
er  Cairne Bloodhoof† u G
 Ku o Baine n r
rd Bloodhoof e i
ra  Hig t m
n h o a
Wi Chi t x
ld eft e e
ha ain m
m Clif  A
m fw  B r
er alk r c
o Vanndar er o h
Stormpike  Regent Lord l b
 Jalinde Lor'themar Theron l i
Summerdrake o High s
 High Tinker Gelbin Examiner B h
Mekkatorque Tae'thelan e o
 Tyrande Bloodwatc a p
Whisperwind her r
o Shandris o Halduron m B
Feathermo Brightwing a e
on o Koltira n n
o Ordanus Deathweav t e
o Archmage er l d
Mordent  Trade Prince e i
Evenshade Gallywix c
 High Chief Stillpine o Trade o Avian t
 Prophet Velen Prince a u
 King Genn Donais o Torto s
Greymane  Sylvanas lla
o Lord Windrunner o Goldr  G
Darius o Master inn r
Crowley Apothecar o Aessi a
o Krennan y Faranell na n
Aranas o Fallen  High Shaman d
o Ivar Prince Muln
Bloodfang Galen Earthfury M
Trollbane o Farse a
er g
Nobu i
ndo s
 F t
a e
r r
s
e R
e o
r m
m
 E a
a t
n h
n
u o Quee
n
o Thrall Azsha
 A ra
g  Ragnaros
g o Baron
r Gedd
a on
 Al'Akir
 K
i
l
a
g

G
o
r
e
f
a
n
g

 Therazane
 Neptulon

Major Battles: Elemental Invasion

template | talk | edit

The Elemental War is the destructive conflict between the forces of the Old Gods led by Deathwing
the Destroyer and the other citizens of Azeroth (The Horde, the Alliance, and the neutral forces such
as the dragonflights). After the second sundering of the planet from his emergence from Deepholm,
the cataclysm upheaval was the primary causes of the war between the Horde and the Alliance.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Background
 2 The Cataclysm
 3 Hyjal and Vashj'ir
 4 Repairing the World Pillar
Background Edit

With the destruction of the Demon Soul at the Battle of Grim Batol, Deathwing fled to the Elemental
Plane of Deepholm to recover and prepare for his return to Azeroth. During his absence, his son,
Nefarian attempted to create a powerful dragonflight, with only partial sucess before his defeat in
Blackrock Spire. Sometime later, Sintharia created the powerful Twilight dragonflight. By the time
the Alliance and Horde set sail for Northrend, the black dragonflight ended it's battle against
Ragnaros, allying with the Firelord and Ala'kir the Windlord.

By the end of the war against the Lich King, Deathwing had completely recovered from his defeat.
Shortly after the heroes of Northrend returned home, Deathwing prepared for his return, sending
earthquakes and shockwaves cross the planet. Allying with Deathwing, the cultist of the Twilight
Hammer began spreading word of doom and destruction to the races of Azeroth, leading up to an
attack of major cities by various elementals. Though the first attacks were stopped, Deathwing
finally emerged from the Maelstrom, destroying the World Pillar in Deepholm and causing the
Second Sundering.

The Cataclysm Edit

The Cataclysm caused by Deathwing's return reshaped the face of much of Azeroth. Entire areas
were devastated, resources lost, and raging elementals attacked. The upheaval caused the Horde
and Alliance to fight each other for resources, while battling the members of the Twilight Hammer
wherever they could.

Hyjal and Vashj'ir Edit

While massive resources was spent on war against the counterpart faction, the Horde and Alliance
eventually turn their focus on the forces of the Twilight Hammer and Deathwing, directing forces to
Mount Hyjal.

At some point prior to the Cataclysm, Malfurion Stormrage finally awake from the Emerald Dream,
leads the Cenarion Circle against the Twilight Hammer at Mount Hyjal. Ragnaros, after being
banished in the Molten Core was resummoned to Azeroth by Deathwing to destroy the World Tree
of Nordrassil. Ysera, who herself is awake and active in the campaign against the Twilight Hammer,
has adventurers reawaken other Ancients to aid in the battle.

Elsewhere, a island appeared off the coast of Stormwind, which is vital to both the Alliance and the
Horde in their ongoing conflict. En route to the island however, the ships were all attacked all aboard
were killed by Naga. It is eventually learned that the naga, allied with Deathwing, are waging a war
against Neptulon the Tidehunter, in an effort to take control of the seas themselves. Rather than
allowing the naga to take control of a powerful domain, the mortal races aid the Tidehunter
repelling the naga.

Repairing the World Pillar Edit

The Cataclysm brought Azeroth closer to the Elemental Planes than it has ever been. The shaman of
the Earthen Ring, feeling the distress of the planet, work to repair the damage Deathwing caused.
Thrall, gave the title of Warchief of the Horde to Garrosh Hellscream while he tried to stabilize the
rift within the Maelstrom, keeping Azeroth from collapsing into Deepholm. Forces of the Horde and
Alliance have joined forces with the Earthen Ring to repair the World Pillar, but must battle the
Twilight Hammer in Deepholm to recover the misses pieces. Rather than join the Ragnaros and
Al'akir, Therazane the Stonemother chose to side with the mortals, to prevent her enemies from
taking her realm.

Alliance–Horde War (Cataclysm)

Edit
  History

This article's name may be incorrect.

 Please note that while the content may be

valid, this article's name is based on
conjecture.
 This article should not be moved unless
discussed first - Remember to follow the
naming policy.

This article or section is a Cataclysm stub. You can help expand it by editing it.

 Please replace me with an appropriate stub from Category:Stubs after the

expansion is released.

Previous: Gilneas civil war

Concurrent: Elemental War (Elemental Invasion)

Alliance–Horde War

Place: Great Sea, Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms

Outcome: Undetermined, ongoing

Combatants

 Alliance  Horde
o Kingdom of Stormwind o Nation of Durotar
 SI:7  Warsong Clan
 7th Legion  Warsong
 League of Outriders
Arathor  Hellscream's
o The Three Hammers Reach
 Bronzebeard clan  Kor'kron Guard
 Explorers'  Frostwolf clan
League  Shattered Hand clan
 Wildhammer clan  Rageroar clan
  Dark Iron clan  Dragonmaw clan
 Stormpike Guard  Stonemaul clan
 Stonefist clan  Stonard orcs
o Gnomeregan  Orc Sea Dogs
o Darnassus o Bilgewater Cartel
 Alliance Cenarius's  Bilgewater Hobgoblins
children o Kingdom of Quel'Thalas
 Alliance Highborne  Reliquary
night elves  Farstriders
 The Sentinel  Blood Knights
 Silverwing o Forsaken
Sentinels  Royal Apothecary Society
o Exodar draenei  Stromgarde
o Kingdom of Gilneas  Defilers
 Gilneas Liberation Front  Forsaken Val'kyr
 Bloodfang pack o Darkspear tribe
o Nation of Theramore o Shatterspear tribe
o Nation of Kul Tiras o Revantusk tribe
 Baradin's Wardens o United Tauren Tribes
 Sunwalkers

Commanders

 King Varian Wyrnn  Warchief Garrosh Hellscream

o Thassarian o High Warlord Cromush
o Halford Wyrmbane o Overlord Krom'gar†
o Joanna Blueheartω δ  General Greebo†
o Radulf Leder o Warlord Gar'dul†
o Mathias Shaw o Warlord Bloodhiltω δ
 Commander Arrington† o Admiral Hatchetω δ
 Lady Jaina Proudmoore  Warlord Torok
o Captain Fairmount o Overseer Gorthak
o Captain Darill o Gargok
 King Magni Bronzebeard† o Dispatch Commander Ruag
o Council of Three Hammers o Korm Bonegrind†
 Muradin Bronzebeard o General Warhowlω δ
 Brann o Legionnaire Nazgrim
Bronzebeard o General Drek'Thar
 Kurdran Wildhammer o Karga Rageroarω δ
 Falstad o Warlord Zaela
Wildhammer o Rexxar
 Princess Moira  Orhan Ogreblade
Thaurissan  Tharg
o Vanndar Stormpike  Primal Torntusk
 Jalinde Summerdrake  Thrall
 High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque o Aggra
o Elgin Clickspring o Kilag Gorefang
o "Doc" Cogspin  Vol'jin
 Tyrande Whisperwind o Zen'tabra
o Shandris Feathermoon o Champion Uru'zin
 Su'ura Swiftarrow o Vanira
 o Gwen Armstead  Cairne Bloodhoof†
o Broll Bearmantle o Baine Bloodhoof
o Ordanus  Tahu Sagewind
o Archmage Mordent Evenshade  Aponi
o Master Thal'darahω δ Brightmane
o Belrysa Starbreezeω δ  Hamuul Runetotem
 Vassandra Stormclaw  High Chieftain Cliffwalker
 Lyros Swiftwind  Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron
 Talran of the Wild o High Examiner Tae'thelan
 Prophet Velen Bloodwatcher
o Exarch Cynω δ o Halduron Brightwing
 King Genn Greymane o Koltira Deathweaver
o Prince Liam Greymane†  Trade Prince Gallywix
o Lord Darius Crowley o Sassy Hardwrench
 Lorna Crowley o Doc Zapnozzle
o Krennan Aranas o Foreman Dampwick
o Ivar Bloodfang o Boss Mida
 Lord Admiral Tandred Proudmoore o Ace
o Commander Marcus Johnsonω δ o Gobber
o Trade Prince Donais
 Sylvanas Windrunner
o Master Apothecary Faranell
o Fallen Prince Galen Trollbane
o The Black Bride
o Forward Commander Onslaughtω
δ

o High Executor Crenshawω δ

Major Battles: Invasion of Gilneas, Battle for Gilneas, Battle for Andorhal

template | talk | edit

The Alliance–Horde War is an intercontinental war that began shortly after the Cataclysm, as part of
the expansion set World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Background
 2 Conflicts
o 2.1 Eastern Kingdoms
o 2.2 Kalimdor
o 2.3 Great Sea
 3 References

Background Edit
Five years after the Battle for Mount Hyjal, the fragile truce between the Horde and Alliance had all
but evaporated. In the wake of the Third War and The Founding of Durotar, the Forsaken entered a
partnership of convenience with the Horde while the night elves and gnomes emerged from ages of
solitude to join the Alliance. For another year the armistice held, though tensions continued to
mount as worldwide conflicts drew the two sides closer to all-out war and fighting erupted in
strategic battlegrounds. Despite these frequent skirmishes, the Horde and Alliance often set aside
their differences and joined forces to face a number of threats. In time the blood elves and draenei
led them through the Dark Portal to wage the War in Outland against the Burning Legion.

Following the year-long campaign in Outland, the Horde returned to Azeroth with a new ally in the
Mag'har, led by Garrosh Hellscream. Soon, the long-missing Varian Wrynn put an end to Onyxia's
schemes and returned to reclaim the throne of Stormwind. Attempts at diplomacy between Thrall
and Wrynn soon fell apart as a peace conference in Theramore was ambushed by the Twilight's
Hammer. Attention quickly turned northward, however, as the looming threat of the Lich King bore
down on the mortal races of Azeroth.

Garrosh Hellscream and Varian Wrynn, appointed as the supreme commanders of the Horde
Expedition and Alliance Vanguard respectively, who had previously butted heads in Theramore, led
their forces to Northrend where they waged war against the Scourge. Though fighting a common
enemy, tensions between the Horde and Alliance grew swiftly until spilling over after the Battle of
Angrathar the Wrathgate. During the resulting Battle for the Undercity, Varian Wrynn, grief-stricken
over the loss of Bolvar Fordragon, and the state of the former Capital City of Lordaeron, lashed out
at Thrall and declared war against the Horde. Hostilities continued to escalate for the remainder of
the War against the Lich King, until the Lich King was finally defeated.

Three years have passed since the military forces of the Horde and Alliance first set foot on the
shores of Northrend, and they now wage war amidst the disasters wrought by Deathwing's return to
the world. Thrall has left the Horde to lead the Earthen Ring's efforts in preventing the rift beneath
the Maelstrom from tearing apart the world, and has appointed Garrosh Hellscream as Warchief of
the Horde in his absence. King Varian Wrynn, convinced that the Horde has remained unchecked for
too long, continues to lead the Alliance.

Conflicts Edit

Eastern Kingdoms Edit

With the weakening of the Scourge after the War against the Lich King, the Alliance forces led by
Thassarian have claimed the western part of Andorhal, and the Forsaken forces led by Koltira
Deathweaver have claimed the eastern part of the city. The two factions are currently fighting each
other for control of the whole city.[1] During the Battle for Andorhal, the Forsaken, their ranks
bolstered by the use of the val'kyr to raise their slain foes, push the Alliance out of the city and claim
Andorhal as their own, effectively conquering almost all of the old kingdom of Lordareon. All Alliance
forces are now hard-pressed, the Forsaken being in the South and the Sin'Dorei in the north.

In Hillsbrad Foothills, The Forsaken destroy the Alliance presence entirely by destoying the damaged
city of Southshore. The Forsaken blight used by the attackers devastated the land, driving the
alliance back to Alterac for good. The Forsaken also conquer Arathi Highlands, destroying
Stromgarde with the help of the risen prince Galen Trollbane.[citation needed] Hammerfall is reinforced
and rebuilt as a fortress. The forsaken control now almost all of the lands from Western Plaguelands
to Wetlands.

By orders of the new Warchief of the Horde, Garrosh Hellscream, the Forsaken mobilise and move
into Gilneas to secure a port for the Horde in southern Lordaeron. The Gilneans, now transformed
into worgen, attempt to fight off the invaders as best they can. Eventually the night elves arrive in
Gilneas, bringing both vital military aid and the truth behind the worgen curse. Likewise, Orcs
reinforce the Forsaken forces, causing an escalation into an all-out battle between the Alliance and
the Horde in the region. The Forsaken, against the orders of the Warchief to cease production,
unleash their devastating Forsaken Blight against Gilneas. Many of the survivors flee across the sea
to Teldrassil, where the night elves grant them sanctuary.

Even with Gilneas falling into the hands of the Forsaken, the fighting between the Gilnean worgens
and the Forsaken continues. Bloodfang worgen who had recently allied themselves with the Gilneas
Liberation Front, with the help of 7th Legion reinforcements from Stormwind, destroyed three Orc
gunships that had arrived.[2]. After that the 7th Ligion and the Bloodfang worgens invaded the city of
Gilneas took back the city's districts and drove most of the Forsaken back to Silverpine. Despite this
the Forsaken still held the northern parts of the land, and would continue to pose a serious threat to
the Worgens. Later, the Forsaken killed many of the Hillsbrad refugees on Fenris Isle and resurrected
them, bolstering Forsaken forces and making up for the loss of the three orc gunships.[3]

Druids in the Gilneas Liberation Front used their bear form in guerilla warfare against Horde forces
at the Forsaken Front, which resulted in the loss of a few Horde squads. Eventually the Horde forces
learn of this tactic, and it becomes ineffective after counter-measures are implemented.[4]

In the Twin Peaks near Grim Batol in the Twilight Highlands, the dwarven Wildhammer clan fight
against the orcish Dragonmaw clan, having recently rejoined the Horde, battle for control of this
strategic mountainous region. The Twin Peaks are crucial for staging effective offensives against the
black dragonflight and the Twilight's Hammer, who currently control the Twilight Highlands.[5] To the
south, the humans of Marshtide Watch battle the Stonard orcs in the Swamp of Sorrows. In the end
Stonard had fallen in to the hands of the Alliance killing all the armed orcs and letting the citizens
flee to the Blasted lands.

Kalimdor Edit

All-out battles have erupted in the Barrens, Ashenvale, and the Stonetalon Mountains. Due to the
Cataclysm the Barrens have been split into the Northern Barrens and the Southern Barrens.

In the Southern Barrens Alliance forces have claimed the eastern lands while the Horde have taken
the west. The Alliance has constructed new military outpost to solidify their control of their new
territory while the Horde has done the same to prevent further Alliance expansion. The central
region between the two camps will become a war zone as the factions fight for control..[6] Bael
Modan is destroyed by the advancing Horde army. Eventually, because of one of the Alliance
commander's tactical incompetence, the Horde retakes the Barrens, driving the defeated Alliance off
for good, devastating anything left standing, and anyone caught in their way.[citation needed]
In the Northern Barrens, the Horde defensive post Mor'shan Rampart is under attack by the Alliance.
In turn Northwatch Hold is now under attack by Horde forces.[7] After a crucial battle, the
Northwatch Hold and the Alliane fleet defending it are devastated by Horde warships. The survivors
retreat back to Stormwind.[citation needed]

In Ashenvale, the Horde has been recently able to conquer more of the ancient forest and have cut
down even more trees. This allowed the Horde to wrest control of Silverwind Refuge. Meanwhile
Zoram'gar Outpost has its defenses improved and air assaults from the outpost commence on the
Night Elf. The village of Astranaar, Maestra's Post, Raynewood Retreat, and surrounding towers have
also been destroyed and taken by the Horde. [8] Despite Silverwind Refuge and other Alliance
outposts being conquered by the Horde, Alliance forces led by the Night Elves have taken back
certain parts of Ashenvale. Splintertree Post comes under ground assault by the Alliance, all Horde
forces at the nearby road have been killed.[7] This victory was short lived, however, as the Horde
utterly destroys all the attackers and continues to drive the Night Elves back from the region. [9]

Off the coast of Kalimdor, on the Lost Isles, and the island off Azshara, the Bilgewater Cartel goblins
with aid from stranded Orcs fight against Alliance forces and attempt to establish a new city to
replace the loss of Kezan.[10] In Azshara Alliance forces are attacking Valormok, a largely undefended
but unimportant Horde outpost in Azshara.[7]

In Darkshore, the Horde allied themselves with the Shatterspear tribe trolls seeking to conquer it for
the Horde. Realizing the Horde's plans, the night elves launched an assault on Shatterspear Vale.
After a short fight, the night elves have finally taken the village and burned it down, killing every
single troll in the village.

In Azshara

The Night Elf saboteurs assaulting Orgrimmar rear gate have been destroyed, thanks to the Goblins
building up the area. All Night Elves are also killed on the road to Ashenvale. [11]

Great Sea Edit

The war even extends to the Great Sea where naval battles are fought for control of key trade
routes.[12]
The Invasion of Gilneas was the first battle between the worgen of Gilneas and the Horde and also
the first official battle between the Alliance and the Horde since the War against the Lich King.
Seeking to construct a port in Lordaeron which would have grant them a strategical point against the
Alliance, The Forsaken fleet backed by the Horde invaded Gilneas. Although the Forsaken gained the
upper hand at the beginning, the Gilneans with the help of Darnasus and later from Stormwind
managed to repel the invasion and took back the capital city. After the victory Gilneas rejoined the
Alliance after 28 years.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Causes of the invasion

 2 Chronology
o 2.1 Origins of the Curse
o 2.2 Godfrey's Treason
o 2.3 The Battle for Gilneas City
o 2.4 Escape from Gilneas: The Endgame
o 2.5 The liberation of Gilneas
 3 Aftermath
o 3.1 The Invasion of Silverpine
  4 References

Causes of the invasion Edit

The Cataclysm has caused the gates of the Greymane Wall to shatter, which marked the end of
Gilneas' isolationism from the rest of Azeroth. Due to the events at the Battle of Angrathar the
Wrathgate, the Forsaken are "in the dog house" with the rest of the Horde and the Horde
leadership, now controlled by Garrosh Hellscream, has ordered Sylvanas Windrunner to claim
Gilneas so the Horde can have a port in southern Lordaeron.[1]

Chronology Edit

Ships of the Forsaken Navy commenced a bombardment of the coastal town of Duskhaven and its
surrounding farmsteads while landing footsoldiers. Newly-cured worgen, acting under the command
of Prince Liam Greymane, moved into action, catapulting onto the ships and slaying their captains,
and then leashing a pack of mastiffs on the area commander, Dark Ranger Thyala. But even with this
victory, there came a price. The earth, already weakened from the bombardment, began to
fragment and collapse as the Cataclysm continued, and an evacuation of Duskhaven was put
together before the town was completely consumed. The survivors fled to Greymane Manor, and
then further inland - into the Blackwald.

Origins of the Curse Edit

Within this dark forest, the Gilneans met the night elves, who told them of the origins of the worgen
curse - that long ago, the Druids of the Scythe had abandoned the balance and allowed the beast
within to consume them. They had been banished to the Emerald Dream to sleep for eternity under
Tal'doren, the wild tree in the Blackwald...but not before their curse had spread. Lord Darius
Crowley, who had also been transformed into a worgen and had managed to regain the balance
between man and beast, revealed that the Forsaken were not only after the lands of Gilneas, they
were after something that could bring the worgen under their control - the Scythe of Elune. Aided by
Tobias Mistmantle and his trackers, the worgen killed Sylvanas' dark rangers and reclaimed the
precious artifact. Knowing that the alchemy that had returned their minds to them would not last
long, the worgen drank of the waters of Tal'doren, and restored the balance between human and
beast. King Genn Greymane himself came to the Blackwald and revealed that he too had been
affected by the curse, and joined with all of his people to drive the Forsaken from their lands.

Godfrey's Treason Edit

Lord Godfrey was an unaffected nobleman who condemned the transformed Gilneans as monsters.
Upon learning that Greymane himself had been cursed, Godfrey put a plan into motion that he
believed would save Gilneas. Joined by two eastern lords, Baron Ashbury and Lord Walden, Godfrey
captured Greymane and held him prisoner. He hoped that by turning the king over to the Forsaken,
Gilneas would be spared.
The Gilnean worgen struck back, tracking down and assassinating both Ashbury and Walden, and
cornered Godfrey at Tempest's Reach. With his support gone and his plan defeated, Godfrey
committed suicide rather than acknowledge a worgen as his king.

The Battle for Gilneas City Edit

With the dissent from within crushed, Greymane sent his loyal supporters to aid in liberating the
mining town of Emberstone from Forsaken control. Prince Liam and Lorna Crowley, the daughter of
Lord Darius, led the troop, making headquarters in the livery stables. After freeing the enslaved
Gilneans, they aimed at the Forsaken leader, Executor Cornell, known for his unbound ruthlessness,
and Valnov the Mad, the so-called scientist who carried out inhuman experiments on the villagers
too old to work the mines.

Having assembled an army composed of every available Gilnean, the army was split around Gilneas
City, Liam heading the assault from this gate, while King Greymane and Lord Crowley handled the
assault on the other districts.

Around Stoneward Prison, the flesh beast known as Gorerot appeared and threatened the whole
operation, but powder cannons brought by the villagers of Emberstone saved the situation.

Liam caught Sylvanas' forces at Greymane Court, while his father met them on the other side. As the
tide was turning against Sylvanas, she used her dark powers to stun every one in the immediate area
and aimed a poisoned arrow at Genn Greymane. Liam jumped in front of the bowshot, saving his
father from certain doom. As Sylvanas fled the scene, Liam died with the knowledge that the city
had been freed from Forsaken control.

Escape from Gilneas: The Endgame Edit

Later on, Sylvanas met with General Warhowl, envoy of Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, telling him
that Gilneas was under control and agreeing not to use the Forsaken Blight, as its development had
been banned after the incident at the Wrathgate. As the emissary left, Sylvanas told High Executor
Crenshaw to deploy the new plague as planned, despite Garrosh's command.

At the dawn of the next day, despite the wishes of Garrosh Hellscream, the Forsaken used their
Blight on Gilneas, what the Forsaken didn't know however is that the population was being
evacuated through a secret passage to Aderic's Repose due to Tobias Mistmantle and an Adventurer
discovering the plot. While Adventurers distracted the Forsaken using bombing bats they had
recovered destroying some of their Blight deployers and thinned out the forsaken ranks, the rest of
the city populace escaped. Lorna Crowley facing Korm Bonegrind. The night elves, led by the
priestess of the moon Belrysa Starbreeze, made good on their promise and brought ships at Keel
Harbor, as well as an offer of sanctuary in their lands. Unfortunately, the Forsaken's allies, the
Horde, arrived as well. An orcish gunship, similar to Orgrim's Hammer, which had fought in
Northrend, entered the field, preventing the transport ships from taking the Gilneans to safety.
While the druids were holding the enemy back, the siege weapons carried by the elven ships were
deployed and met their enemy head-on.

A hippogryph-mounted party boarded the gunship to place explosives in the engineering room
below deck. As they proceeded, the gunship's captain, Korm Bonegrind, appeared and the party fled
on wyverns roosting on the lower deck. With its engines destroyed, the explosives detonated,
destroying the gunship at the Greymane Wall.

The liberation of Gilneas Edit

After the Gilnean civilians were evacuated to Darnassus, Greymane went to Stormwind to ask for
support for his people. Realising that joining Gilneas to the Alliance would grant them stratigical
allies against the Forsaken, King Varian Wrynn sent the 7th Legion to Gilneas. At the same time time
The Gilneas Liberation Front made allies with the Bloodfang pack lead by Ivar Bloodfang who helped
the GLF attack the Forsaken front toward the north, cutting them off from the forces in the city. Too
add to the combined strain on the Forsaken, the hundreds of survivors who had fled Southshore and
Hillsbrad Fields when the Forsaken attacked them too had invaded Fenris Isle and claimed it as their
own lead by Magistrate Henry Maleb. Desperate for revenge on the undead monsters, Darius
Crowley and Ivar Bloodfang offered the people a chance to protect themselves by becoming immune
to the plague by drinking the blood of the Worgen and having the strength to get their revenge. This
single act bolstered the Worgen numbers greatly and although forsaken adventurers managed to kill
around hundred, it barely made a scratch in their forces.

As most of the forsaken forces were occupied fighting the Worgen, the 7th Legion fleet, sent by king
Varian Wrynn sank down the entire Horde fleet with Gnomish submarines and invaded the City.
With the Warchiefs fleet destroyed and most of their forces cut of by the Gilneas Liberation Front,
the 7th Legion took control of the capitol and killed all the Forsaken troops in Gilneas City leaving
only their commander Captain Rutsak alive to witness the massacre. After that the combined forces
of the Gilneas Liberation Front and the 7th Legion took control ofGilneas, finally free of the
Forsaken. As the Forsaken retreated, adventurers managed to recover the body of Vincent Godfrey
and assasinate the 7th Legion's commander, Pietro Zaren, while others forces managed to retrieve
the bodies of Baron Ashbury and Lord Walden. After that the Forsaken forces had retreated back to
Silverpine Forest and the Gilneas paninsula where they had made their last hold out in Gilneas

Aftermath Edit

Gilneas was left in ruins, both by the Forsaken invasion and by the very land ripping itself apart.
While their soldiers in the front, the surviving Gilnean civiliences fled to Teldrassil and other Alliance
strongholds, where they offered their services to the Alliance. With his homeland turning in to a war
zone and his heir slain, Genn Greymane journeyed to Stormwind, political and military capital of the
Alliance, where he stands at the side of Stormwind's master, King Varian Wrynn.

Though Gilneas is free of the Forsaken for the moment, the border remains a hot spot between the
Horde and Alliance where both sides fight for control in the Battle for Gilneas.

The Invasion of Silverpine Edit

Now that Gilneas was secure the 7th Legion and GLF attempted to begin pushing into the lands of
Lordaeron and reclaim it from the Forsaken. Meanwhile Sylvanas Windrunner had Arthura bring
back Godfrey, Walden and Ashbury in service to the Forsaken. Out of survival, the Kirin Tor mages of
Ambermill and Dalaran Crater (left behind to protect the land for the day when Dalaran would
return), made a pact with the Alliance to protect themselves from the Forsaken who in the past
years had been attacked by them. They agreed to summon in the Stormwind army when the time
was right to repel the Forsaken. Too protect themselves till then, they phased the entire of
Ambermill out of their reality so they could not be attacked. This plot however failed when Forsaken
adventurers found a way in and disrupted the connection to this different dimension and brought
back into the original. At this point the Forsaken killed the Kirin Tor mages and rose them as New
Forsaken.

The Forsaken than began the destruction of Pyrewood which the Alliance were in control of, after it
was set ablaze, the 7th Legion and Gilneas Liberation Front decided to begin their plans and start the
invasion of Lordaeron. The two armies clashed on the battlefront of southern Silverpine. As the
battle went on Sylvanas sent Godfrey and his entourage to capture Lorna Crowley who had not
become a Worgen and could be changed into a Forsaken. She was overpowered and kidnapped by
the traitor Godfrey and brought back to Sylvanas where she could then finally put an end to the
invasion. Accompanied by High Warlord Cromush, her Val'kyr and her most trusted soldier, they
went to meet Darius Crowley and Ivar Bloodfang at the gates of Gilneas. There she offered Darius a
choice, either he leave Silverpine and take the entire GLF with him, or his daughter would become a
Forsaken. Godfrey, Walden and Ashbury then appeared with his daughter and he had to make an
ultimatum. Unable to allow such a horrifying fate happen to his daughter he agreed to retreat back
to Gilneas. Lorna was released and Ivar cursed at Darius for being a coward.

As the three fled back to the safety of Gilneas, Godfrey did the unthinkable and assassinated
Sylvanas Windrunner. In shock the Horde group had a short duel with Godfrey's trio until they were
overpowered and forced to fall back to Shadowfang Keep. Cromush ordered the Val'kyr to "fix" the
Banshee Queen but in doing so they sacrificed themselves in the process to bring her back. The Dark
Lady rose again furious with rage at Godfrey's betrayal and believed that the Val'kyr were indeed the
future of the Forsaken. With that she returned to Undercity to recover. The Alliance forces fell back
to Gilneas and the invasion of Silverpine was over.
Aegwynn

Edit

 History

Magna Aegwynn
 Gender Female

Race(s) Human

Character
Archmage, Former Guardian
class

Affiliation Guardian of Tirisfal, Theramore, New

Council of Tirisfal

Occupation Former Guardian of Tirisfal, Jaina

Proudmoore's chamberlain

Location Buried near Karazhan, Deadwind Pass

Status Deceased[1]

Relative(s) Nielas Aran (lover), Medivh (son),

Brighteyes (granddaughter?), Med'an
(grandson) [2]

Mentor(s) Magna Scavell

Aegwynn (sometimes known as Magna Aegwynn; sometimes spelled Aegwyn), Matriarch of Tirisfal,
was the penultimate (second-to-last) Guardian of Tirisfal and is recognized as one of the greatest
Guardians. She is also the mother of the sorcerer Medivh.
The Order of Tirisfal was originally forged to protect the world from demonic corruption of magic
(namely by the Burning Legion) — and these Guardians were given considerable power and
longevity. The Order was kept as a secret amongst only the greatest magi. But over time, the
Guardian became a puppet of the Order, and the focus was lost. When Aegwynn became the
Guardian, however, she refused to be manipulated. She remained focused on the matter at hand —
the demonic powers at play in Azeroth. The same hubris that led to the Guardian's diminishing
caused their downfall.

Aegwynn served as the Guardian of Tirisfal for almost 500 years. Following the end of her reign, she
would eventually serve as Jaina Proudmoore's chamberlain for a time near the end of her life.
Aegwynn is recognized as one of the greatest sorcerers of all time.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Biography
o 1.1 Genesis
o 1.2 Aegwynn against Twisting Nether
o 1.3 The Birth of Medivh
o 1.4 Medivh's Awakening
o 1.5 Exile and Return to Society
o 1.6 Present activities
 2 Memorable quotes
 3 World of Warcraft
 4 References
 5 See Also

Biography Edit

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft novels or short stories.

Genesis Edit

Aegwynn was trained in magic by the Guardian Magna Scavell. Aegwynn was the only girl among five
apprentices. Most of the boys didn't treat her fairly, claiming that she couldn't become a wizard, but
Aegwynn persevered. Before the end of her first year as an apprentice, she had mastered the lost
incantations of the Meitre scrolls, the last surviving work of one of the powerful Highborne wizards
from nine thousand years earlier (human mages were dissuaded from even reading the scrolls until
well into their careers — even Quel'dorei couldn't read them until a decade into their
apprenticeships).

For this feat, she was chosen to succeed Scavell as Guardian of Tirisfal. Though her fellow (male)
apprentices complained, the Council maintained that she was the best and the Guardian could not
afford to be anything less. The elves on the Council at the time believed that as Aegwynn had faced
greater challenges to become a mage than the others, she was most deserving — Erbag the gnome
chided the boys for their immaturity.
Aegwynn was subsequently supplied with the power of the Tirisfalen, and began work immediately.
One of Aegwynn's first challenges was the destruction of the demon Zmodlor who had begun to
possess children in a schoolhouse. Aegwynn rushed in and vanquished the demon before damage to
the children could result. Erbag and Relfthra admonished her for her quick action — she had rushed
in without a thought to Zmodlor's grand scheme, and could have put the world at further risk.
Aegwynn fired back that she couldn't allow children to suffer just because the Council favored a
reactive solution to demons.

Aegwynn against Twisting Nether Edit

Aegwynn battling the Avatar of Sargeras in Northrend 500 years

following her initial Guardianship, Aegwynn traveled to the world's roof, Northrend, in order to
defeat a hunting party of demons that were stalking dragons.[3] After burning them to ashes with the
dragons' help, an avatar of the Dark Titan Sargeras himself arose from the dust. With the help of the
dragons, Aegwynn battled and ultimately defeated the Lord of the Legion. She carried and trapped
his physical form near the Maelstrom, within the Tomb of Sargeras, so that it might never be
rejuvenated by the powers of the Nether. Following this historic event, Aegwynn, by her own
admission, grew arrogant and cocky.[4] She felt that she no longer needed to act in concert with the
Council, that she had done the impossible, and thus she — not the Tirisfalen — would choose the
next Guardian. However, the Destroyer had manipulated her in a way that she could not perceive...

The Birth of Medivh Edit

(778 years later; 70 years prior to World of Warcraft...) Though powerful, Aegwynn was at her core
mortal and consequently knew that she would have to pass on her powers, lest the demons be given
free reign of Azeroth. She was determined to prevent the council from manipulating her successor as
they had continually tried to manipulate her. She chose the conjurer of Azeroth, Nielas Aran, to
father her heir. Nielas was initially elated when it appeared that the Guardian had fallen in love with
him, but was slightly thrown to realize that she had used him only to sire an heir and take the choice
of next Guardian away from the Council.

Aegwynn gave birth to a son in the fall of that year, naming him Medivh, or "Keeper of Secrets" in
the Elven tongue. Aegwynn left the baby Medivh in the care of his father at Stormwind Keep. She
locked deep within him the knowledge of Tirisfal, to be made manifest when he reached physical
maturity. When that time came however, the power of Tirisfal was too much for him to properly
channel and the resulting backlash of magical energy pouring from the child killed his father Nielas
and reduced Medivh to a comatose body.

Medivh's Awakening Edit

Medivh awoke twenty years later, assuring the clergy of Northshire that he was in full control of his
powers. Aegwynn suspected that something was amiss and her suspicions were confirmed when she
watched, in shock, as Medivh made pacts with the Burning Legion and brought the orcs to Azeroth.

Aegwynn confronted Medivh seeking to turn him away from his chaotic course and back to the
Guardianship for which he was intended. When he refused her she attempted to battle him but,
having given all her power to him so long ago, she was defeated. It was then that Medivh revealed
all to her.

As he died in battle before her, Sargeras had spirited his essence into Aegwynn's own body like a
cancer, lying in wait for her to conceive as he knew she would. Sargeras later stitched himself into
the fabric of Medivh's unborn body so that when he awoke and realized the power of Tirisfal he
would also manifest his unholy, demonic heritage. Somehow unable to kill Aegwynn, Medivh instead
banished her from his sight.

In a desperate attempt to spread word of Medivh’s evil, Aegwynn had an audience with King Llane.
She warned him that Medivh was behind the orcish invasion and that he would eventually have to
be dealt with. Llane listened gratefully.

Aegwynn, knowing that she had done all she could possibly do, watched the events unfold before
her. She watched her son die, the fall of Blackhand and Gul’dan, and her last testament was a praise
to the Alliance before she left to prepare herself for her death.

Exile and Return to Society Edit

After witnessing the fall of her son, Aegwynn evaded death's grasp. At some point in the proceedings
above, Medivh had stripped her of all remaining magic, but neglected to drain her anti-aging spells.
Unraveling the spells, Aegwynn used them to teleport herself as far away as she possibly could — to
the far side of Mulgore on Kalimdor. Aegwynn then built herself a small home in the hills near
Ratchet, and grew a garden, to live out her life in solitude.
Or so she thought. Aegwynn's magic was still effective enough to scry using her well. When Medivh
died a few weeks later, she formulated a plan — she would save up her magic, piece by piece until
she could bring back The Last Guardian. It took her 21 years, and again nearly cost her her life. It was
accomplished though and Medivh had returned.

After his disappearance, Aegwynn again sought solitude, but was rudely interrupted by Jaina
Proudmoore. Though Aegwynn was willing to assist Jaina in her attempt to relocate a herd of
thunder lizards, she was annoyed by the deference Jaina showed her, and the continued use of the
title "Magna". Shortly after Jaina's arrival they were sealed in Aegwynn's home by familiar magic:
Zmodlor's. After a well-timed escape, Jaina, Aegwynn, and Jaina's colonel Lorena discovered
Zmodlor had been freed and was now working to create a war between Durotar and Theramore. The
trio confronted the demon, but Jaina was incapacitated by the warlocks. In a last desperate act to
fulfill her duties as Guardian (which she had never shirked in the past) Aegwynn supplemented Jaina
with her last source of magic: her own life.

Present activities Edit

This section concerns content exclusive to the World of Warcraft: The Comic.

Aegwynn Against all conceivable odds, Aegwynn survived yet again.

Declared by Theramore's surgeons to "have the constitution of an elf," she began serving as Lady
Jaina's chamberlain and advisor, under an assumed name to avoid any unwanted guests.

She assisted Jaina in helping to uncover some of King Varian's lost memories, and also assisted the
blood elf gladiator Valeera in subduing her magical addiction. Shortly after she was present at a
summit where the half-orc assassin Garona made an attempt on Varian's life. In the events that
followed, Aegwynn discovered Garona's son, Med'an, bore a striking resemblance to her own son.
Adding to the fact was that Med'an gave off powerful aura like a "beacon of power", much like
Medivh did. Aegwynn could only conclude that he must be her grandson. This knowledge gave her a
new surge of hope and joy, and she began to see him as a chance for redemption, likely from her
choices that had shaped Medivh's life.[5]

Aegwynn considered whether or not to tell Med'an how Medivh is related to him, but also believed
that revealing herself as his grandmother was ultimately a selfish wish on her part. As her arrogance
had killed her son and brought disaster to her world, whatever was best for Med'an would take
precedence: his future was too important. Though the boy's guardian, Meryl Felstorm, strongly
disagreed, she would come to decide that no one, especially Med'an, should know who had fathered
him. She believed that the son of Medivh would be distrusted and shunned by any who learned of it:
his future would be blighted, and his potential wasted. Aegwynn convinced Meryl into silence only
by agreeing to keep quiet about his possession of Kathra'Natir.[6] She is one of the founding
members of the New Council of Tirisfal.

In the final battle between the New Council and the newly-empowered ogre mage Cho'gall, she
sacrificed herself to give her grandchild the extra power he needed to defeat the evil Ogre.
Afterwards, the council buried her at Morgan's Plot by Karazhan, next to her son.
Memorable quotes Edit

Aegwynn healing Valeera Sanguinar.

 "Honestly, they don't teach you young mages anything these days. Violet Citadel's gone to
pot, and that's the truth."
 "Don't go calling me 'Magna'. That was another time and another place, and I'm not that
woman anymore."
 "I was facing dangers far worse than that little twerp of a demon when your great-
grandparents were infants."
History of the blood elves

Edit

 History
From History of the Blood Elves at the the old official Burning Crusade site.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Chapter 1: The Founding of Quel'Thalas

 2 Chapter 2: Arathor and the Troll Wars
 3 Chapter 3: The Second War (Warcraft 2)
 4 Chapter 4: The Third War (Warcraft 3)
 5 Chapter 5: Rise of the Blood Elves
 6 Chapter 6: Reconstruction
 7 Hierarchy:
 8 External links

Chapter 1: The Founding of Quel'Thalas Edit

Almost seven millennia before the First War, the exiled high elves landed on the shores of
Lordaeron to seek out a new home. These outcasts were led by Dath'Remar Sunstrider, whose
surname meant "he who walks by day".

Cut off from the powerful energies of the Well of Eternity and no longer immortal, many of the high
elves died from exposure or starvation during their long journey. In addition to these hardships, the
elves were forced to flee the site of their first settlement, Tirisfal Glades, due to a mysterious evil
influence that drove many of their number mad.

As they pressed further inland, the high elves developed a blood feud with the cunning, barbaric
trolls of Zul'Aman, who controlled most of the northern reaches of Lordaeron. Finally the exiles
reached a region whose forested glades reminded the high elves of their distant homeland in
Kalimdor. The elves drove out the resident Amani trolls and founded the kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

Using a vial of sacred water stolen from the first Well of Eternity, the
high elves created a fount of mystical power at a convergence of powerful ley energies in
Quel'Thalas. They named this fountain the Sunwell, and its potent arcane magic fed and
strengthened all high elves on Azeroth. Thus, the city of Silvermoon was established. The power of
the high elves grew, and they cast an enchantment on the forest that would keep them bathed in
eternal springtime.

Elven magi crafted monolithic Runestones along the borders of Quel'Thalas; these massive stones
powered a magical shield intended to mask the elves' magic from extra-dimensional threats and
protect the land from invasion. The hard-won peace of Quel'Thalas would endure for roughly four
thousand years.

Chapter 2: Arathor and the Troll Wars Edit

Thirsty for revenge, the Amani trolls eventually gathered together

and staged a vicious campaign to destroy the elven civilization forever. The high elves were
hopelessly outnumbered. The current king of Quel'Thalas, Anasterian Sunstrider, desperately sought
allies to aid him in the war, and so it came to pass that the king struck a partnership with the human
nation of Arathor.

The elves taught a small number of humans how to wield magic. With these new magi and the
armies of Arathor, the high elves succeeded in destroying the trolls' power base. The Amani empire
would never fully recover from its defeat.

Quel'Thalas had been saved, and so the high elves pledged their loyalty and friendship to the nation
of Arathor and to the bloodline of its king, Thoradin. As a result of the alliance between Arathor and
Quel'Thalas, the wizard nation of Dalaran was formed, where humans and elves would study magic
for years to come.

Chapter 3: The Second War (Warcraft 2) Edit

The isolationist elves took little interest in the events of the Second
War. Nevertheless, they provided the Alliance of Lordaeron with token support, for the last
descendant of King Thoradin, Lord Anduin Lothar, commanded the Alliance military forces. The high
elves had not forgotten their pledge.
Then the Horde recruited Amani trolls into its ranks. Shortly thereafter, the Horde burned down the
borderlands of Quel'Thalas and slaughtered many high elf civilians. Furious at this wanton
destruction of life, the elves subsequently committed all their resources to the war.

By the time the Horde was driven back, however, the orcs and trolls
had already achieved their true goal: to steal and desecrate many of the Runestones that powered
the elves' defensive shield. The warlock Gul'dan then used the pilfered stones to power his devious
Altars of Storms.

Nevertheless, the Alliance ultimately won the Second War, and most of the vanquished orcs were
rounded up and placed in internment camps. In the war's aftermath, the cost of rebuilding was
significant, particularly when added to the cost of maintaining the internment camps. Without a
common enemy, the human nations began bickering over territorial claims. To make matters worse,
the high elves abruptly seceded from the Alliance, blaming the humans' poor leadership for the
burned forests of Quel'Thalas. High elves gradually grew further and further apart from their human
and dwarven allies.

Chapter 4: The Third War (Warcraft 3) Edit

During the Third War, the evil prince Arthas Menethil laid waste to
Quel'Thalas, wiping out most of its population and reducing large tracts of the mighty kingdom to
ash in his quest to reach the Sunwell. Yet not all who fell before Arthas stayed dead: his courageous
archenemy, Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner, was raised into undeath to serve the merciless
prince as a powerful, tormented banshee.

As the undead armies closed in on the Sunwell, a high elf named Dar'Khan Drathir (who hoped to
gain the favor of the Lich King) aided Arthas by lowering the shields surrounding the Sunwell.
Dar'Khan's treachery resulted in an explosion that knocked him unconscious and scattered most of
the Sunwell's powers.

The wizard Borel (also known as Krasus and the dragon Korialstrasz) sensed the mystical energy
being unleashed and succeeded in trapping a portion of it inside an avatar disguised as a young
human girl, Anveena. Unaware of Borel's deed, Arthas then used the remaining energies of the
Sunwell to reanimate the spirit of Kel'Thuzad in the form of a nightmarish lich.
 In the aftermath of the battle, King Anasterian lay dead along with the
members of the Convocation of Silvermoon, the high elves' ruling body. Lor'themar Theron, Sylvanas
Windrunner's second–in–command, assumed temporary leadership of the high elves, for the true
heir to the throne, Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, was still in Dalaran. The few remaining high elves to
survive the Scourge's invasion quickly grew ill and apathetic.

It became clear that the high elves had become addicted to the Sunwell's arcane energies. Being
constantly suffused in magic had fundamentally changed their race. Now that the source of their
magic was gone, they were suffering acute pangs of withdrawal.

Chapter 5: Rise of the Blood Elves Edit

Prince Kael'thas was the last of the royal line and a member of
Dalaran's ruling council, the Kirin Tor. When the Sunwell was defiled, he was studying magic in
Dalaran. He returned to find his homeland in ruins and most of his people dead. He realized that the
surviving high elves were all suffering from the same lethargy, which had been brought on by their
loss of magic. Determined to salvage what he could, Kael'thas rallied the survivors and renamed
them the sin'dorei, or "blood elves", in honor of those who had fallen to the Scourge.

Thirsting for vengeance, Prince Kael'thas and the healthiest of his warriors immediately joined the
campaign against the Scourge in Lordaeron while Lor'themar and a ranger named Halduron
Brightwing remained behind to safeguard the land and seek a cure for their people.

In joining the Alliance resistance forces, Kael'thas and his people were met with suspicion and
outright hostility, particularly from the prejudiced human Grand Marshal Garithos. Garithos assigned
the blood elves increasingly difficult missions until Kael'thas was forced to accept the assistance of
Lady Vashj and her naga. When Garithos discovered that the blood elves were working with the
naga, he felt that his distrust had been vindicated. He imprisoned the hapless blood elf soldiers in
the dungeons of Dalaran and sentenced them to execution.

Fortunately for Kael'thas, Lady Vashj arrived in time to break the prisoners free. She then led them
to the portal that Kel'Thuzad had opened during the Third War in order to allow Archimonde entry
into Azeroth. Kael'thas and his warriors followed the naga through the portal and into the shattered
realm of Outland. There, the elves met the one being capable of putting an end to their painful
hunger: the renegade demon, Illidan Stormrage.
Most of Kael'thas' group chose to stay in Outland, but Rommath was sent back to carry a message of
hope to those blood elves remaining in Quel'Thalas. Rommath accomplished his mission: relaying
tales of a glorious promised land, spreading the teachings of Illidan (teachings which Rommath
smoothly attributed to Prince Kael'thas), and planting the notion that Kael'thas might one day return
to lead his people to paradise. Rommath has since remained in Quel'Thalas to help rebuild and await
the prince's return.

Chapter 6: Reconstruction Edit

Months later, the traitor Dar'Khan – now a powerful agent of the Scourge – returned to
Quel'Thalas. There he battled the avatar of the Sunwell, Anveena, and a band of heroes aided by
blue dragons. Despite the magics he wielded, Dar'Khan was destroyed in the end. Under the
watchful protection of Lor'themar and Halduron, Anveena has decided to stay in the ruined city and
begin the process of renewal.

Only a handful of individuals know that Anveena is actually the avatar of the Sunwell's power.
Lor'themar and his people keep this secret tightly guarded.

Meanwhile, Rommath and the new order of elven magi made great progress in tutoring their
brethren to manipulate arcane energies. Soon the spires of Silvermoon rose skyward once again,
powered by volatile magics. The blood elves have even begun retaking portions of Eversong Forest.
Emboldened by the promise of Kael'thas' return, the prince's weary people now focus on regaining
their strength and forging a new path into an uncertain future.

Hierarchy: Edit

Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider

Ruler of the blood elves, currently residing on the Isle of Quel'Danas.

Lor'themar Theron

Regent of Quel'Thalas, leader of the blood elves on Azeroth in the prince's absence

Halduron Brightwing

Ranger-General of Silvermoon, the blood elves' military commander on Azeroth

Grand Magister Rommath

Leader of all blood elf magi on Azeroth, and a fiercely loyal servant of Kael'thas
Med'an

Edit

 History

Med'an

Gender Male

Race(s) Quarter-orc[citation needed], quarter-

draenei[citation needed], half-human
 Character
Shaman, Mage, Paladin
class

Affiliation New Council of Tirisfal

Occupation Guardian of Tirisfal

Location Unknown

Status Alive

Relative(s) Garona (mother), Medivh (father),

Aegwynn (grandmother), Nielas Aran
(grandfather), Maraad (great-uncle),
Meryl Felstorm (foster father),
Brighteyes (alleged halfsister)

Mentor(s) Meryl Felstorm, Maraad

This article or section contains lore taken from the Warcraft manga or comics.

"When the child of the three realms becomes as light, the ancient power will be released. The
earth will tremble. The seas will rise up in answer, and all will be madness. A new day will
dawn, bringing with it chaos or peace."

- A prophecy concerning Med'an

Med'an is the current Guardian of Tirisfal, a founder of the New Council of Tirisfal, and the son of
Garona Halforcen and Medivh. His unusual parentage and training has given him the unique ability
to interweave shamanic magic with the arcane and divine. This gift, however, has also drawn him
into conflict with cultists who believe he is the subject of an ancient prophecy and dark entities who
would make his power their own.

Med'an is the main protagonist of the third and fourth volumes of the World of Warcraft comic, and
has yet to appear in World of Warcraft or other related media.

The "three realms" in the prophecy refer to the world which his racial heritage originated from,
which is Argus for draenei, Draenor for orc and Azeroth for human.

Contents

[hide]

 1 Biography
o 1.1 Birth and childhood
o 1.2 Learning the truth
o 1.3 Theramore peace summit
o 1.4 Escape from Ahn'Qiraj
o 1.5 Family reunions
 o 1.6 New Council of Tirisfal
o 1.7 Journey to Outland
o 1.8 Into Karazhan
o 1.9 Guardian of Tirisfal
o 1.10 Return to Ahn'Qiraj
 2 In Cataclysm
 3 References
 4 External links

Biography Edit

Birth and childhood Edit

This section concerns content exclusive to the World of Warcraft: The Comic.

Med'an as a young man in Stasia Fallshadow's vision Med'an was conceived during a tryst between
the half-orc half-draenei assassin Garona Halforcen and the Guardian Medivh while she resided in
Karazhan as an emissary for the warlock Gul'dan. She gave birth following her assassination of King
Llane Wrynn of Stormwind and, fearing that she may again be compelled to kill those closest to her,
gave him up to Meryl Winterstorm, a millenia-old undead mage and member of the original Council
of Tirisfal.

Meryl raised Med'an as his adopted son in the war-torn region of Duskwood, while Garona secretly
watched over him from afar. Taking up residence in Brightwood Grove, Meryl taught Med'an armed
combat and, as the youth grew closer to adulthood, helped guide him in his mastery of shamanic
and arcane magic.

Learning the truth Edit

While gathering firewood one night, not long after King Varian Wrynn's victory over Onyxia, Med'an
and Meryl fell under attack from a band of Twilight Cultists. Dispatched by the Forsaken mage Stasia
Fallshadow, who had witnessed Med'an in a vision relating to an ancient prophecy, the cultists
gained the upper hand until Garona emerged from the shadows, swiftly killing the assailants and
giving Meryl and Med'an a chance to escape.

Med'an rushes to aid his savior. Med'an recognized Garona as a woman who had once protected
him as a child, and hearing an utterance of Eredun — the language of the Burning Legion — went
back to help her. Upon returning to the scene of the ambush, however, he found that she had
disappeared. In truth, Garona had been Stasia's target, Med'an the bait to lure her out of hiding, and
the demonic phrase a control word once used by Gul'dan to magically ensorcel her.

Eager to find the woman responsible for his rescue and unsure of why Meryl would hide her identity,
Med'an listened in on a conversation between Meryl and Koron, a Forsaken spy. Learning that she
was actually his mother and that the ogre Cho'gall, leader of the Twilight's Hammer clan, had
captured her with the intent of sending her to Theramore to assassinate King Varian Wrynn and
others at an upcoming peace summit, Med'an stole Koron's vampire bat, Snubnose, and set out
alone to rescue her.
Theramore peace summit Edit

Med'an managed to track down Stasia and his mother to an island off the coast of Dustwallow
Marsh and there observed them from a safe distance. Awakening the next morning to sounds of an
argument, Med'an discovered that Garona was being magically controlled and the mental
programming was beginning to wear off, but Stasia was planning on killing her after completing the
task. The cultists disembarked and Med'an took flight after them, but by the time he arrived in
Theramore the peace summit had already become a battlefield.

Amid the chaos, Med'an found Garona in a furious battle with Varian Wrynn, who desired
vengeance for the murder of his father. Med'an attempted to aid his mother, saving Anduin's life
and getting injured by Fanghorn in the process. Sensing that her forces were being defeated, Stasia
spoke the command word to paralyze Garona, leaving her to be killed by the king. Med'an lept to her
defense but was tossed aside by Varian, only to be captured by a retreating Stasia.

Escape from Ahn'Qiraj Edit

While his mother was detained for questioning as a prisoner of Theramore by Jaina Proudmoore,
and the Alliance and Horde prepared for the coming war against the Lich King, Med'an was taken
into the depths of Ahn'Qiraj. There, Cho'gall hung him on the corpse of the Old God C'Thun, where
he would be tormented by the Old God's mad whisperings, and began making preperations for its
resurrection.

In Theramore, Aegwynn's sorcery helped Garona break through a mental barrier to reveal the
location of her son, just as Meryl arrived. Valeera Sanguinar reluctantly joined the undead mage and
the two teleported into Ahn'Qiraj, where they did battle with the Twilight Cult and killed Stasia.
Making their way further into the ruined temple, they confronted the increasingly hideous Cho'gall,
mutated by the power of the Old God.

Together they managed to recover Med'an, but was intercepted by Cho'gall. Unable to fend off
Cho'gall and with Meryl knocked unconscious, Valeera grew desperate and offered her body willingly
to the dreadlord Kathra'Natir in order to use his power to fend off Chog'all. This gave Med'an
enough time to revive Meryl who was able to teleport them all away to a secure location. It was
there that Kathra'Natir coveted Med'an's body and power and tried to possess Med'an's body in
order to take his powers for his own. Med'an however, was able to reject the demon through his
own will. In order to lure the demon away from Valeera, Meryl was forced to become its host. The
trio teleported to Theramore, where Aegwynn immediately recognized the youth as her grandson
but remained silent. Med'an was taken to see his mother, only to find that Garona had escaped.
Meryl used his sorcery to determine her location, the now vacant Onyxia's Lair, and Valeera set out
alone to recover her — with Med'an following close behind.

Family reunions Edit

Med'an arrived at Onyxia's Lair to find his mother preparing to leave on Valeera's wyvern while
Valeera fought her rescuer, the draenei paladin Vindicator Maraad. In their brief reunion, Garona
revealed to Med'an that he was part-draenei and that Maraad was his great uncle. Unwilling to put
her son at risk while she still remained subject to Cho'gall's magic, she asked Med'an to stay behind
with Maraad and Meryl, and to tell Jaina everything that had happened.
In the cavern Med'an seperated Maraad and Valeera, telling them that they weren't enemies and
that Garona had departed. Though he did not know it at the time, she secretly traveled to Ahn'Qiraj.
Med'an then again fell victim to the whisperings of C'Thun, but Maraad channeled the Holy Light to
help him. As the group teleported back to Theramore, Med'an asked Maraad if he could be taught to
use the Light, and Maraad agreed to teach him what he could, if he was willing to dedicate himself to
years of discipline.

New Council of Tirisfal Edit

In Theramore, Med'an and his newfound allies discussed the threat of Cho'gall and the Twilight's
Hammer clan. With the armies of the Horde and Alliance now focused on the war in Northrend,
Meryl and Aegwynn decided that it was time for the Council of Tirisfal to begin anew.

Med'an began training with Maraad to use the Light, showing a natural affinity for it and quickly
grasping the basics to help drive away the Old One's continued whispers. Meanwhile, it was decided
that the re-formed council must also include practitioners of nature and divine magic, a result of the
on-going Nexus War and the actions of Malygos the Spellweaver, Aspect of the blue dragonflight. To
that end, the group prepared to travel to Durotar, Dun Morogh, and Outland to seek out noteworthy
candidates.

As Jaina returned from Razor Hill with the shaman Reghar Earthfury, Theramore came under attack
from a Faceless One that had been awakened by Cho'gall. During the battle, Med'an intuitively wove
together arcane and shamanic magic to defeat the ancient creature, then healed Valeera by
simultaneously calling upon the power of the Light and the earth. Unaware that he had done
anything special, he remarked simply that he had only done what others had taught him, and that he
still had much to learn.

Realizing that Med'an must be chosen as the new Guardian of Tirisfal and that he would not be safe
on Azeroth, it was decided that he would travel with Maraad to Shattrath City, beyond the reach of
the Old God. Aegwynn also came to the conclusion that she should not burden her grandson with
Medivh's legacy, and asked Meryl to keep his father's identity a secret. Even so, that night Med'an
was visited by a vision of his father, beckoning him to Karazhan.

Journey to Outland Edit

Unwilling to face the truth — that he was the son of the hated man who opened the Dark Portal and
brought ruin to both Azeroth and Draenor — Med'an traveled to Outland with his great uncle. There
he was shown the Path of Glory and the ruins of Auchindoun, causing Med'an to feel even more
shame in his unique ancestory.

In Shattrath, however, Med'an learned from Khadgar, who had once served his father and worked
alongside Garona, that the two had been doomed even before birth, victims of Sargeras and
Gul'dan. Even so, he says that for Med'an to have been born they must have fought against their
fate, and through him the demonic forces may yet be undone. Before returning to Azeroth with
Dalynnia Wrathscar, A'dal urged Med'an to meditate on his decisions, cautioning that his choices
could lead him to become a weapon against evil or a bringer of doom.

Into Karazhan Edit

Returning through the Dark Portal, Med'an decided that he must hear what his father has to tell, and
teleported to the nearby tower of Karazhan, following his father's voice. There he met not his father,
but an avatar of Medivh's remaining power, which had waited for years to deliver him a message.
The avatar magically transported Medivh to a gigantic chess board where they, along with Garona,
Llane, Aegwynn, Khadgar, and Anduin Lothar, played the roles of chess pieces.

Atop the board, Medivh told Med'an of his life, possession by Sargeras, rebellious affair with Garona,
eventual death at the hands of Khadgar and Anduin, and redemptive return to the world as the Last
Guardian, guiding the denizens of Azeroth to victory at the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Declaring that he
wished for Med'an to have the freedom that he himself was deprived of, Med'an was magically
granted armor and Medivh's power to do with whatever he chose.

In an instant the chess board was transformed, with Med'an's own allies taking place of the chess
pieces, and Cho'gall and an army of elementals appearing as his opponents. Deciding that he would
fight the ogre, he issued a challenge and then teleported to back Theramore. There he found the city
under siege by a real army of elementals, summoned from the Elemental Plane by Cho'gall to wreck
havoc on Azeroth.

Joining battle alongside the new order — now counting Rohan and Hamuul Runetotem as members
— Med'an wielded his powers to try and free the elementals from the Old God's control. Meryl, who
had recently returned from a meeting in Ahn'Qiraj with Garona, during which he tasked her with
finding the base of Atiesh, was forced to rely again upon the power of the demon Kathra'Natir, and a
hasty attempt to infuse Med'an with the powers of the council failed and knocked him unconscious,
but Broll Bearmantle's arrival paved the way for a victory.

Guardian of Tirisfal Edit

Upon awakening, Med'an was informed by Aegwynn that the council, now complete, was preparing
a formal investiture ceremony. He explained to her that he had traveled to Karazhan and there had
been granted knowledge and power by his father. Concerned that some of the other members of
the council might not accept him as Guardian were they to know his heritage, she wished for him to
keep it a secret, but tired of secrets and lies, Med'an stated that they would have to accept him for
who he is if they wanted him as their Guardian.

Entering the meeting, Med'an requested that the members offer him their power so that he could
fight Cho'gall and fulfill the prophecy by bringing about peace. Aegwynn, Maarad, and Meryl
explained his particular parentage and upbringing, while Reghar and Hamuul offered support, saying
that his mixed heritage made him an ideal choice. Broll, Dalynnia, and Rohan agreed, should he wish
to accept the role, though Meryl noted that he could not join the Order, as he could not allow the
demon within him to have access to the group.

As the members of the Order prepared to transport themselves to the Twisting Nether, where they
could safely perform the necessary rites upon Med'an, Meryl set out for Silithus with Valeera and
Aegwynn, eager to rejoin Garona and lend their aid to the new Guardian when the time for battle
arrived.

Return to Ahn'Qiraj Edit

 Med'an, becoming the new Guardian of Tirisfal In the Twisting Nether,
the council performed the investiture ceremony and Med'an thanked them for their trust and
shared power, vowing to use it wisely before teleporting to Ahn'Qiraj. There he joined his allies and
did battle with Cho'gall, who revealed to him that his plan was to sacrifice Med'an and use his potent
magical power to resurrect C'Thun. Cho'gall began performing the rites and channeled a great deal
of energy, but Med'an was able to contain it within a ward around the ogre.

In Meryl's following attempt to have Med'an cleanse the Base of Atiesh of its demonic taint,
however, Meryl lost his hold over Kathra'Natir and the demon traced the flow of Med'an's magical
energy into the Twisting Nether, attacking the Council and weakening Med'an. At Aegwynn and
Meryl's behest, Valeera and Garona delivered the now-purified base of Atiesh to Med'an, while an
injured Aegwynn gave up her life so that Meryl might channel her remaining energy into her
grandson. In the Twisting Nether, the surviving Council members managed to restrain the dreadlord
using their combined powers.
 Med'an, wielding the restored Atiesh Restoring Atiesh, Greatstaff of
the Guardian to its rightful state, Med'an focused the powers of the council through it to defeat
Cho'gall. Following the battle, the Council mourned the death of Aegwynn, but Med'an offered them
comfort, saying that she willingly gave her life and will live on through him. With the battle over,
Med'an returned the powers to the Council, thanking them for letting him see the world through
their eyes and showing him how much he has left to learn.

At Morgan's Plot, west of Karazhan, the Council laid Aegwynn to rest, near Medivh. Meryl, having
regained control over Kathra'Natir, renamed himself Meryl Felstorm and went into exile with
Garona, vowing to hunt down and destroy what remained of the Twilight's Hammer. The rest of the
Council parted ways while Med'an remained under the care and tutelage of his uncle, Maraad.

In Cataclysm Edit

This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

It has been stated that Med'an will not appear in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, as he will be
otherwise occupied.[1]
Writing Contest Winner: Silver Hand, Ebon Blade

by Raphael Ahad

Any hopes Tirion Fordring had been harboring for a peaceful and orderly day were dashed when the
so-called champions of Ironforge and Sen'jin yanked each other off their chargers in a seething fit of
rage. The crowd screamed bloody murder and took to the tourney ring, leaving Tirion and his
companions seated alone in the stands, and within moments the façade of civility had crumbled into
chaos. Racial epithets in Zandali and Orcish and Dwarven and Common flew free as arrows, and it
was all Tirion could do to refrain from adding his own curses to the pile.

The breath from his exasperated sigh fogged the chilly air. He raised his palm to his eyes, unwilling to
watch as yet again Barrett Ramsey and his overworked peacekeepers made a valiant but ultimately
futile attempt to restore order to the tourney grounds. The staccato din of steel on wood echoed off
the outer walls of the Crusaders' Coliseum, drowning out the oblivious music of lute and harp
dancing feebly on the frozen winds. Beside him, a high elf dressed in the tabard of the Silver
Covenant clicked his teeth in haughty indignation.

"Really, Jaeren, the company you keep these days." Arelas Brightstar swept a lock of pale golden hair
from his eyes and crossed his arms. "Savages with no concept of honor, these barbarians of the
Horde."

Seated on Tirion's other side, Jaeren Sunsworn frowned in contempt. His mane of blazing red hair
matched the colors of the Sunreavers in which he was adorned. "You name them savage, but they
have a thousand times the honor of your human allies. An orc wields his axe in his hands. A human
hides his dagger in his smile."

"Enough," grumbled Tirion, his voice brusque and harsh as he rose to his feet. "I suggest the two of
you assist Crusader Ramsey before your representatives embarrass you further. All men are capable
of honor, though you wouldn't know it from the men you've brought with you."

The highlord turned and walked away, leaving the elves to their bickering. If only they knew how
they both vex me, he thought to himself, perhaps they would realize they have more in common than
they think.

Along the walls of the corridor leading to the coliseum's gates, statues of the Silver Hand's and
Argent Dawn's fallen heroes stood a stalwart vigil. Tirion glanced up at their stony eyes, intending to
pay his respects, but his shame would not permit him to meet their gaze with the clamor of the
brawl still ringing in the air. He climbed the wooden steps to the walkways above, sturdily
constructed despite the haste with which they were erected. He nodded a silent greeting to a
crusader standing guard at the edge of the terrace and turned toward the northernmost catwalk.

A coastal breeze wafted up to him, carrying with it the savory aroma of frying fish and roasting boar
and the familiar cries from the merchants' stalls below. It was a welcome respite from the riot that
broiled behind him. The vendors had come slowly at first, but as word of the tournament spread
they started arriving in increasing numbers. Now they lined the base of the coliseum on all sides,
feverishly advertising their wares and services to the soldiers who answered the call of the Crusade,
their banners and toys and apparel to the spectators who followed.

Their presence brought a smile to Tirion's face. Eadric had huffed and puffed about them at length,
claiming, as he often did, that their mercantilism brought shame and sin to their doorstep. Tirion, by
contrast, found them quaint. They reminded him of the tourneys he had hosted at Hearthglen,
seemingly a lifetime ago, the bugles blaring and the sweet sound of laughter on the summer winds
of Lordaeron, the succulent flavor of meat and mead on his tongue, the excitement in Taelan's eyes
as knights from across the Eastern Kingdoms took the field.
A gust of frigid wind brought the highlord back to reality, biting through the seams of his armor like a
dire wolf's teeth through silk. With a heavy heart, he reminded himself that the summer winds of
Lordaeron were nowhere to be found in this land of eternal winter, and that Taelan's eyes would
never open again. The merchants were all that remained.

"Do you know what the Scourge envy most about the living, Tirion?"

The voice was cold and rasping, and Tirion knew to whom it belonged before turning to face him.
Darion Mograine had made a habit of starting every conversation by asking Tirion, quite
pedantically, if he "knew" something. He had forgone his armor, choosing to dress himself in the
deep violet robe of his alter ego, the Ebon Watcher. A fitting name, in Tirion's opinion, given that
since the tournament began Darion and his Knights of the Ebon Blade had been merely spectators
and not participants themselves.

"Welcome, Darion. I was not informed of your arrival."

"It's your capacity for hatred," Darion said, ignoring his greeting. "It's incredible."

"I've personally heard from a good number of the Scourge that they hate the living."

"They do," the death knight answered, "but that hatred is borne of cold, dead hearts. It's a pale
shadow of the real thing."

He tilted his head back, listening to the sounds of the riot behind them. Tirion caught a faint grin
creeping across his cracked and frozen lips.

"Oh, but the living," Darion continued. He sounded almost wistful, hard as it was to tell with his
voice warped by the darkest of magics. "Their blood boils; they foam at the mouth; they howl so
loud the world shakes all around them. The living hate one another more than the Scourge ever
could. If you only knew how badly they wish they could remember what that feels like, to harness
and control it."

"And do you?" Tirion asked in a tone more accusatory than he'd intended. "Do you remember what
it means to hate someone?"

Darion's eyes met his, the unearthly azure glow of undeath masking the deep, natural blue they
were in life. The frost in the air clung to Darion's amber whiskers and turned them a stark white. A
chill climbed Tirion's spine as he took note of how it made the two of them look so much alike.

"I remember," Darion answered after a moment, "perhaps better than you. I'm not the one who set
age-old enemies against one another and armed them with sticks."

Tirion exhaled in frustration. His patience with Darion's idea of conversation was wearing
increasingly thin, and this was a topic they had treaded into ruin. "This tournament is a necessity,
Darion. We cannot attack Arthas with sheer strength of number lest he turn that strength against us.
You know this better than anyone."

"What I know is that you've been less than honest with those who've taken the field. You say this
tournament's purpose is to find the strongest soldiers in Azeroth, but I know your true intention is to
snuff out the fires of war that Wrynn and Hellscream have stoked. And for that, I name you a fool."
Tirion bristled, but Darion had the right of it. He had, deep within his heart, hoped that the armistice
he'd imposed would foster a spirit of cooperation, even a temporary one, between the Alliance and
the Horde. It didn't take much in the way of observation to see that no such thing had occurred.

"If we are to defeat Arthas, we must all stand together as one," he conceded. "Give them time,
Darion, and they will see the truth of it."

"They've had years, Tirion. It will not happen."

"It already has," Tirion replied. He'd pushed Darion in this direction before, but he saw that the need
for the latter's compliance was growing stronger with each passing day. "Within your own order of
'knights.' If the champions here were to see them stand side by side, human and Forsaken, orc and
night elf, if you would pledge a regiment and raise a pavilion here..."

Darion's laugh was like the shattering of glass. It turned the heads of several crusaders around them
and made Tirion's skin crawl. "No," the death knight replied. The tone of his voice brooked no
argument.

Tirion could feel the anger boil within him, and had to take a breath to stop himself from spewing
venom in Darion's direction. "If you will not send me your knights," he said, struggling to remain civil,
"then why do you bother gracing us with your presence?"

"My knights and I have been formulating a plan of our own. Not with quite the pomp and
circumstance of your operation here, but then again, we tend to do things differently than you."

A peculiar look flashed across Darion's face as he turned to face him. Had Tirion not known the man
better, he might have thought he looked abashed. "I'm here to request that you visit the Shadow
Vault to weigh in on it."

Tirion furrowed his brow. This, he had not expected. "Why not simply tell me of the plan here? I
cannot leave the tournament unattended."

Darion's eyes flicked to the side. "I would rather reveal it to you privately," he confided, his voice
barely above a whisper. "I am certain Eadric can handle matters here for one day. And Barrett
Ramsey seems to be doing a fine job keeping the peace. When I was in the Argent Dawn, Tyrosus
had him shoveling dung. Glad to see he's moving up in the world."

A dull pain had seeped into the space behind Tirion's eyes, and for a fleeting moment of madness he
found himself longing for his old cottage on the banks of the Thondroril River, for a life free from the
burdens of leadership and warfare. But that life had cost him far too much in the end, and there was
no going back.

"I will meet you on the morrow, Darion." His voice croaked with age and exhaustion. "And we shall
see how you intend to bring down Arthas."

"The Lich King."

Tirion opened his eyes. Darion was looking at him, through him, his face a mask as always.

"Pardon?" Tirion responded, unsure why the clarification was needed.

"You call him Arthas, but Arthas is long dead."

Darion took a pointed look around the tournament grounds, to the merchant stalls below them, the
training dummies in the rings that surrounded the coliseum proper, the aspirants and valiants and
champions supping together on tables and benches between their jousts, the lute and harp
entertaining those who had come to watch and wager on their outcomes.

"He died the day he plunged Frostmourne into his father's heart," he said, the smugness gone from
his voice. When he once again met Tirion's eyes, it was with a look that almost spoke of compassion.
"And Lordaeron died with him. Remember that."

Darion's words trampled him like a stampede of wild elekk. The Ebon Watcher offered a perfunctory
salute in farewell and made his way down the stairs.

The sounds of the riot had subsided, replaced once again with the relatively peaceful hawking of the
merchants and the banners flapping in the wind, but a much more violent tumult stirred within
Tirion's heart.

***

Though he had heard descriptions of it in passing, Tirion was taken aback by just how imposing the
Shadow Vault was in person. It towered over the surrounding mountain peaks, a spire of saronite
that echoed the design of Icecrown Citadel itself. The Knights of the Ebon Blade had only recently
wrested control of it from the Scourge, and Tirion was left to wonder how much of the latter's
influence was left to continue haunting the place.

He found Darion amidst a cadre of his knights, huddled conspiratorially around one of their
grotesque runeforges. He was fully armored now, and seemed all the more commanding for it. The
message was clear: he was highlord here, not Tirion. Upon catching sight of him, Darion dismissed
his companions and gestured for the paladin to meet him in a secluded corner of the hall.

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come," he confessed, his unnatural voice echoing within the
confines of his helm.

"There were matters that required my personal attention," Tirion answered. "King Varian and the
lady Jaina flew in aboard the Skybreaker this morning. Warchief Thrall and Overlord Hellscream
arrived shortly thereafter."

"It's good to know Azeroth's leaders can find the time to enjoy a good joust in the midst of war."

Tirion ignored the jab. "Wrynn cares little for the tournament itself, but recognizes the importance
of solidarity when facing the Scourge. Thrall has always shared my opinion on the matter." He
paused before continuing, his voice a low grumble. "It's Garrosh that seems to be of a mind with
you."

Death had not robbed Darion's chuckle of its sardonic mirth. "Perhaps there's hope for the Horde
after all."

Tirion frowned. It was a subject that plagued his thoughts. "Thrall sees the father in the son. I hope
he remembers everything Grommash Hellscream did in life, and not just how he died."
"A father seldom sees his son for what he is," Darion said. There was something enigmatic in his
voice, and Tirion found himself wishing he could see the expression hidden behind the helmet's
mask.

An Ebon knight approached them, wordlessly handing Darion a scroll of parchment before saluting
and returning to his post. It took Tirion a moment to realize no order had been issued, nor gesture
made, on Darion's part, and he was left to wonder how the command had been given at all. Just as
Arthas commands the Scourge, he thought, deeply unsettled.

"Do you remember what I told you when we first breached the walls of Scourgeholme?" Darion
asked the question almost casually as he unfurled the parchment and examined it.

"You told me to fire my artillery upon my own men," Tirion replied, making little effort to veil his
contempt. "I would have none of it."

"If that's all you remember, then you missed the point. I told you that the Lich King knows no
boundaries." Darion turned the parchment to face Tirion and placed it in his hands. "And that if we
are to defeat him, we must extend our own. That is my plan."

At first, Tirion was not sure what he was surveying. The scroll was littered with arcane runes with
which he was unfamiliar, but gradually he began to notice the trappings of a blacksmith's plan. Upon
closer inspection of its details, his stomach began to turn.

"Darion," he said, his voice thin and unbelieving. "What is this?"

"Our key to victory," the death knight replied. Tirion could hear the sickening smile playing upon his
decomposed lips. "Hewn from piles of primordial saronite, shaped around Light's Vengeance itself.
Fitting that we use his own weapon against him, is it not?"

Tirion shook his head feebly, his eyes still transfixed upon the parchment. "No..."

Darion continued, relentless. "Once the blade has been forged, it will be bathed in the blood of his
most powerful minions. Then it will drink the souls of a thousand more."

The world spun madly around Tirion. Merely holding the plans made him feel unclean. "Enough,
Darion." A measure of strength returned to his words.

But Darion's voice had become pitched with excitement, and he seemed not to hear or acknowledge
Tirion's protestations. "And finally, it shall be adorned with fragments from the Frozen Throne itself.
We will turn the very source of his power against him! All I ask is the assistance of the Argent
Crusade's craftsmen. The speed with which they built that coliseum –"

"I SAID ENOUGH!"

Tirion's voice boomed across the hall. Several Ebon knights, surprised by his outburst, halted their
tasks and craned their necks to spy on the argument. Darion stood his ground, unmoved and
unfazed.

"I take it you find Shadowmourne's creation objectionable."

"'Shadowmourne'?" Tirion spat the name like a curse. "Have you gone mad, Darion? A weapon
forged of undiluted saronite, that devours the souls of those it slays? Adorned with shards from the
Frozen Throne? The throne Arthas sits this very moment, the throne that claimed his soul?" Tirion
crushed the plans in his hands and threw them at Darion's feet. "By its very name it's clear you
realize how foul an endeavor this is! You walk a path no different from that of Arthas himself!"

For a moment, Darion said nothing and merely gazed at the crumpled scroll upon the floor. When
next he spoke, the fervor from moments earlier was replaced with the coldest ice. "Watch your
words, paladin. I will not be compared to him."

Tirion flared. The anger in him rose to the surface, bearing its righteous fangs. "Is that so,
Mograine?" He stepped forward, to within inches of the death knight. "As I recall, he is not the only
one who killed his father."

He would never have guessed the dead could move so quickly. Darion's mailed fist flashed through
the air like lightning, and a heartbeat later Tirion was falling to his knees, the taste of blood tickling
his mouth. The hall rang with the song of a dozen swords unsheathed, but the Knights of the Ebon
Blade stayed their hands. Whether it was by their own discretion or their highlord's, Tirion did not
know.

Darion wrenched off his helm and dropped it clattering to the ground. Tirion wiped the blood from
his lip, turned his head to look at him, and was shocked by what he saw. Black tears streamed down
Darion's illuminated eyes, freezing before they fell, cracking open rifts into his cheeks and making a
ruin of his face. Tirion hadn't known the dead could still cry.

"Arthas Menethil murdered his father." Darion's voice quavered with raw emotion, as it had when
he was still alive. "I granted mine peace."

Tirion opened his mouth to say something in response, but the words choked and died in his throat.
Darion unfastened the latches on his breastplate and let it fall beside his discarded helm. He wore no
shirt underneath, thereby exposing the long, jagged scar that traveled the length of his sternum.

"Do you remember how I died, Tirion?" The dark magic warping his voice did nothing to mask his
pain. "Arthas ran his sword through his father's heart, but I ran it through my own. I died so that my
father's anguished soul might go free. I ask you, did Arthas make any such sacrifice for his father? I
died for mine. I loved him, as only a son can. You should know that better than anyone."

A cold silence filled the Shadow Vault, bereft of breath save Tirion's own. The heavy weight of guilt
sat upon the paladin's heart and cowed him into shame. Once again, Darion had the right of it. But
to forge such a blade...

"Darion," he said as he rose to his feet. "I am sorry for what I said. But my stance remains
unchanged. We cannot wield the powers of darkness against the Lich King lest we descend into
darkness with him. We must stand in the Light." Tirion rested his hand on Ashbringer's pommel.
"Your father once wielded this sword against the Scourge, and drove fear into their fearless hearts.
Thanks to you, it is with us again. It will be our key to victory."

Darion's rasping laugh echoed in Tirion's ears. Gone was the sardonic mirth and self-satisfied sense
of mockery from earlier. Now it was only cold and bitter. "You criticize Shadowmourne, but you
would place your faith in a sword with such a checkered past itself? Ashbringer and Frostmourne
have faced each other before, on hallowed ground, and still only met in a stalemate. We now take
the fight to the foot of the Frozen Throne, his seat of power, and you hope to defeat him with it?"

"It's the Light I place my faith in, not a sword." Tirion set his mouth in a line, unwilling to budge.

"I too placed my faith in the Light once, Tirion." Darion kicked his armor aside, turned toward the
forges, and began to walk away. "I have learned a great many things about 'faith' since then."

The pit of Tirion's stomach sank into oblivion. The course of action Darion had set for himself was
the highest folly. Couldn't he see where this road led? Was he so blinded by his grief and his desire
for retribution? Tirion could not simply stand aside and watch it happen. Not again.

"If not to faith, then listen to reason," he called after him.

"That is exactly what I am doing," Darion answered. "You, clearly, are not. Take your precious
craftsmen, build your stands and coliseums, play your summer games, and be gone. We will march
on Icecrown Citadel, Shadowmourne in our hands."

"Please." Tirion reached out to him, a desperate gesture to match the tone of his voice. For the first
time in years, Tirion felt old.

"I said be gone." Darion turned his back on him.

"Damn it, Taelan, will you listen to me?"

The words had left his mouth before Tirion realized what they were. Taelan's name bounced off the
walls for everyone to hear, Tirion most of all. An acrid sting overwhelmed his eyes, and he found that
it was his turn to cry. Darion stopped and turned to face him. He wore an incredulous look, as if
seeing Tirion for the first time.

The silence was unbearable, thick and heavy like a harbor's fog, and as eternal as death itself ought
to be.

"You wield his sword," Darion said at last, "but you are not my father."

A pair of Ebon knights silently stepped forward to escort Tirion off of the premises, and he knew his
welcome had been worn. When he arrived at the tournament some time later, Mariel Trueheart
aided him in applying a salve to where Darion had struck him. It stung like fire, but not nearly as
much as Darion's parting words.

***

Alone with his thoughts, Tirion sat upon the broken stone and reflected on all that had been lost:
Wilfred Fizzlebang, dead as a product of his own hubris. Accusations of treachery and deceit, placing
peaceful relations between the Alliance and the Horde in an even more precarious position than
they had been before. And the final blow, the embarrassing revelation that they had built the entire
tournament atop a network of nerubian ruins. Tirion now sat within those ruins, amidst the rubble
of the coliseum, and thanked the Light that the champions had at least been able to defeat the
twice-risen Anub'arak yet again.
Still, the tournament had cost the Crusade dearly in terms of men and resolve. Tirion looked into the
dank pool of water at his feet, noting the fatigue that had crept into his eyes throughout their
campaign in Northrend. He was beginning to look as pale as the Scourge. Any way he looked at it,
the tournament had been an unmitigated disaster. What had been the point of it all? Had good men
and women truly died for the sake of the Crusade, or had they laid down their lives solely for his
farcical notion of recreating what he had lost long ago?

Arelas and Jaeren might have made some choice observations about it, had they not been murdered
by cultist machinations earlier in the tournament. They were buried in a small plot of land up the hill
from the coliseum, their graves resting side by side. How Tirion missed their bickering.

A chill danced across his skin, and Tirion realized he was not alone. He raised his head and was
greeted with the unexpected sight of Darion Mograine and three of his knights standing upon the
surface of the water, which had frozen around them at their unholy command.

"Darion." Tirion's voice croaked as he spoke. It was the closest to a cordial greeting he could muster.

"Tirion," he replied. This time he had donned his armor for the visit, and his voice seemed once again
under his complete mastery. "This is Crok Scourgebane, my hand-selected champion. With him are
Illyrie Nightfall, my mistress of horse, and Zor'be the Bloodletter, my master of arms. Their pavilion
will be situated on the northern face of the coliseum. I trust that will be satisfactory."

Initially, Tirion was struck too dumb to respond or understand. He thought for a moment that they
might be playing some sort of prank.

"Yes," he said in a cautious tone. "It will be."

The orc by Darion's side, the one named Crok, stepped forward and bowed his head. "Hail, Highlord
Fordring," he said, in the gruff and confident tone that came so naturally to his race, "I am honored
to set foot on your tourney grounds and to represent my brothers and sisters within your lists."

Lordly courtesies found their way back into Tirion's command. "As we are honored to host you, Crok
Scourgebane. I look forward to witnessing your prowess on the field."

Crok and the other two Ebon knights saluted and made their exit, leaving the highlords and the
memory of their quarrel to themselves.

"An orcish champion," Tirion offered. "An interesting choice."

"To send a message," Darion replied. "That the squabbles of race are of little importance to us death
knights, as they should be to everyone when faced with a foe such as ours. We must all stand
together as one, after all."

Tirion bit back a foolish grin. "Of course," he said, then after a moment he added, "If you have set
forth to make a mockery of my tournament, Darion –"

"I have not."

A new silence fell over them as Tirion remained seated upon his stone and Darion stood atop the
frozen surface of the pool. The death knight crossed toward him with an air of apprehension, the ice
crackling underneath his boots as it froze and thawed and froze again along his path. He took a seat
beside Tirion without a word. The silence was as pronounced as it had been at the Shadow Vault
three days prior, but the cold hostility from before was conspicuously absent. To his mild
amusement, Tirion noted that it felt more awkward than anything else.

"Do you know why I chose the name Ebon Blade?" Darion asked at last.

A laugh, unbidden, escaped from Tirion's lips. Apparently, new habits died as hard as the old. Darion,
his face hidden underneath his helm, turned to glance at him. Tirion shook his head. "No, I don't."

"It is because we are a weapon, Tirion. Tempered and hardened, cold and unforgiving. Ours is a path
of pain and death. That is our lot, and we embrace it."

Slowly, Darion raised his arms and removed his helm. His face bore the scars from his frozen tears.
He set the helmet gently upon his lap and looked down into the water. Tirion could only imagine
what thoughts he entertained as he stared at his reflection.

"But a weapon is only as good as the hand that wields it," he continued. "And a weapon such as
Shadowmourne requires a special hand. A strong hand. A pure hand." At last, he turned to face
Tirion. The unholy light behind his eyes belied the humanity buried within them. "A silver hand."

It was then that understanding dawned on Tirion. Darion had not come to make mockery; he had
come to make peace. "The victor of this tournament," he said softly. It was neither question nor
decree.

Darion nodded. "Which is why I have chosen to support it. I..." He trailed off, as if debating whether
or not to go on. "I may have been hasty in dismissing the merit of these champions. To face the
Traitor King alone, in his home, and emerge victorious... that is truly impressive."

Tirion watched the younger man closely, taking his time to reply. "Yes," he said, with no trace of
smugness in his voice. "The tournament has produced a number of excellent soldiers." Now he
hesitated, as Darion had, sounding his own internal debate. At length, one of the two voices rose
over the other. "Surely, one among them will prove worthy to wield the blade."

He watched for it, and it was there, however small: a glimmer of reaction in Darion's dead eyes. "My
knights will aid in the reconstruction of the grounds," he replied. "And then Scourgebane will set to
testing those who would call the blade their own. The ultimate decision will be mine."

"As you wish, Highlord Mograine."

Darion stood and bowed his head before turning to leave, his helmet tucked under his arm. Tirion
watched him walk across his path of frost for a number of paces, the waves of a new decision
crashing within him.

"Halford and Grimtong," he called out to Darion as the latter was about to walk out of earshot.
Darion looked back over his shoulder, a quizzical look on his face. "Two of the Crusade's finest
smiths," Tirion explained. His decision had been made. "No doubt you will find their assistance
invaluable."

Darion was some distance away, but Tirion thought he could make out a faint, almost imperceptible
smile as it graced his lips. "Thank you, Ashbringer."
Tirion felt suddenly discomfited. "That title belongs to Alexandros Mograine," he said.

"As do a few others," Darion replied. He turned toward the shadows at the edge of the cave and
continued onward. His voice was barely audible, but his words rang loudly in Tirion's ears. "You
would wear them well." He sounded almost wistful.

Darion didn't look back after saying it. Tirion watched as he disappeared from sight, leaving him
alone with his thoughts once again. "A silver hand to wield an ebon blade," he said aloud to no one.
He hazarded another glance at his reflection in the water, and thought his complexion had
somewhat improved.

It was some time before Tirion came up from the depths of the nerubian ruins to take stock of the
situation. The sun had crossed its zenith hours beforehand and now dipped gently below the
mountainous peaks to the west, dwarfed as they were by the tower of the Shadow Vault. Its long
shadow stretched east across the range, as if it were reaching out to the tourney grounds. The
thought of it brought a smile to Tirion's face.

All around him, the Crusade and various volunteers toiled to repair the damage done by Arthas's
intervention. Crok Scourgebane and the other death knights had pitched their tents amidst a row of
vendors. A few seemed put off by their new neighbors, but others looked excited at the prospect of
new customers. The Silver Covenant and the Sunreavers still supped on opposite sides of the
coliseum, but the poisonous enmity that had been hanging in the air for the past few weeks seemed
to have been washed away.

As he passed by the stands en route to the Argent Pavilion, Tirion took note of a boy and a merchant
he vaguely recognized watching the Ring of Champions in eager anticipation. Following their line of
sight, Tirion witnessed two such champions, a human from Stormwind and an orc from Orgrimmar,
mounting their steeds.

"So which do you favor, Timothy?" asked the man.

The boy pointed squarely at the orc. "Him, Father."

The man seemed surprised. "Truly?" he asked. "Why?"

Timothy shrugged. "I like him."

The father raised his eyebrows, but appeared to accept the explanation. He fished a coin from his
pocket and tossed it to another man standing in the aisle between the stands.

"One gold on Orgrimmar." He then stood, cupped his hands over his mouth, and yelled, "Lo-katir
ogier!" in mangled Orcish at the top of his lungs.

The champions gave the man a series of odd looks. Tirion watched as the orc's gaze travelled from
the father to his son, who was all bright eyes and wide smiles. Apparently, they were infectious. The
orc tapped his lance to his shield amicably, and yelled, "Lok-tar ogar!" in return. The champion from
Stormwind chuckled, and the two began the most sportsmanlike joust Tirion had seen in weeks.

Tirion walked away with renewed vigor in his step. Perhaps Darion had been halfway correct in his
original assessment of the tournament. In his heart of hearts, Tirion had foolishly sought, on some
level, to recapture those lost summer days in Lordaeron. But the land itself was razed, his home
overrun by misguided fanatics, and his son taken from him forever. Nothing he could do now would
change that.

But he could, and would, rebuild. As would all of Azeroth. And in so doing, perhaps they could build
a new Azeroth, one where the sight of a young human boy squeezing his father's hand and cheering
with all his heart for an orcish champion was not so unheard of.

Perhaps, all things considered, this tournament was not such a farce after all.

The Eredar, the Naaru, and the Birth of the Burning Legion

The draenei originated as a race known as the Eredar – a group of supremely talented magic users
who originated on the planet Argus, millions of years prior to Azeroth’s creation. These creatures
were led by three of the strongest magic users – Archimonde, Kil’jaeden, and Velen. Sargeras, the
dark titan intent on destroying worlds and devouring magic, was in the middle of building a vast
army to carry out his dark purposes – and the inherent power of the Eredar quickly drew his
attention. He approached the three leaders, offering them both vast powers and immortality in
exchange for their allegiance.

While Archimonde and Kil’jaeden were quick to agree to join the Burning Legion, becoming the first
sentient race to pledge their allegiance, Velen had many misgivings about accepting Sargeras’s offer.
Velen, unbeknown to the other two leaders, had experienced a vision – a dark foretelling of the
Burning Legion’s creation and the aftermath that followed. But the other leaders remained firm in
their stance, and knowing that other races would inevitably join the Legion’s ranks, the eredar
declared that their language, Eredun, would be the Legion’s common language. The Legion soon
grew in power – but one remained who was largely unhappy about this arrangement.

Velen watched his fellow eredar quickly fall to the machinations of Sargeras, twisting into a warped
reflection of their demonic corruption. These Eredar were now the man’ari – a word with no real
translation, but one that implies that there is something horrifically wrong in the Eredar language.
And once again Velen was approached by a vision – but this was no vision. A naaru appeared,
offering to take Velen and any other like-minded Eredar to safety.

The naaru are a dimension traveling race of beings that are intent on purifying worlds and imbuing
them with the harmony of peace and understanding. They saw what had happened to Sargeras, and
knew what the ultimate consequences of the Burning Legion would be – something that they had
shared with Velen before, in the hopes that the vision would convince the Eredar to turn Sargeras
down. When Velen was the only one to abstain, the naaru decided to save the few Eredar that they
could.

And so Velen and his followers left Argus, whisked away via one of the dimensional ships that
belonged to the naaru. For thousands of years they traveled, exploring dozens of worlds and
adapting a new name – ‘draenei’, or ‘exiled ones’. Unfortunately the draenei were not left to their
own devices – the man’ari left behind viewed Velen’s departure as an act of ultimate betrayal, and
pursued the draenei wherever they went. While Archimonde was angry, it was Kil’jaeden who was
furious – Velen had not only been a leader with him, but he had been one of Kil’jaeden’s best
friends, someone he had loved like a brother. While Kil’jaeden’s wrath was relentless, Velen, the
draenei, and the naaru were far too cunning, and soon vanished.

The Light And How To Swing It

It was during this journey across dimensional space that the naaru spoke to the draenei of the Light
– the concept of practicing virtue wherever one fled. The Light teaches that there is a connection
between the self, and the universe – that senses and emotions, love and peace all connect one
closer to the universe from which one was created. When a person is moved, that emotion connects
them to the universe, reminding them that they exist. Because they exist, the universe must exist as
well, to create and instill that feeling or emotion inside. From this circle, one can create more
changes to create more feelings – in essence, spreading peace and ‘light’ among others simply by
existing and creating those emotions that trigger those feelings. The Light, or the Holy Light, is in
essence the glory of the universe, reflected upon the soul and mirrored back onto itself, and others.
The draenei embraced this knowledge, and the naaru reassured them that one day, other forces
would join them in the stand against the Burning Legion, and the naaru would forge them into a
single, unstoppable army of the Light.

But where had the draenei and their naaru teachers vanished to? Well, the naaru had found a little
planet out in the middle of nowhere that seemed a perfect fit for the fleeing draenei – a world
inhabited by a few sentient races, the most powerful being the orcs. The naaru landed safely on this
little world in the dimensional ship known as Oshu’gun, and the draenei spread out upon it, calling
the planet Draenor, or ‘Exile’s Refuge’. The orcs, a primitive sort, were a largely shamanistic society,
and the draenei lived peacefully beside them, sometimes indulging in some limited trade, but mostly
keeping to themselves out of respect for the orcs.

The Return of Kil’jaeden

This idyllic peace unfortunately was not meant to last. Kil’jaeden, under orders from Sargeras to find
a mortal army that could be used to invade worlds, had sent servants out to find suitable mortals for
his master’s wishes. These servants returned with news that delighted Kil’jaeden – they had
stumbled across a world that showed signs of the draenei’s magic, and this time, it wasn’t just a
world they’d landed on and fled – the draenei had actually settled there. Not only this, but the little
world contained a mortal race known as ‘orcs’ – creatures that showed shamanistic potential, and
exactly what Kil’jaeden had been looking for.
Kil’jaeden had his potential army – and he also had his potential revenge, if he played his cards right.
Speaking to the elder shaman Ner’zhul and taking on the guise of his late wife, Kil’jaeden tricked the
orc into thinking that the draenei were plotting against his people. Once that foothold had been
established, he subtly introduced warlock magic to the clans, and encouraged them to strike back
against their draenei ‘enemies’. The orcs, believing they were working under their ancestor’s orders,
complied – and soon the draenei found themselves under attack by the one-peaceful cohabitants of
their new home.

The conflict lasted nearly eight years, during which over eighty percent of the draenei race was
mercilessly slaughtered. The draenei fell in droves, and those that were left were changed, mutated
by the fel energies wielded by orcish warlocks into shadows of their former selves. These draenei
were called the ‘Broken’ – devolved versions of the draenei. The most notable of these was Akama –
once a guardian of the Temple of Karabor, he was responsible for evacuating as many of the draenei
civilians as possible, and one of the most exposed to the fel energies that caused the draenei to
mutate. Akama went into hiding in Zangarmarsh with the survivors.

A few draenei survived unchanged – Velen and a scant handful of his followers also fled to
Zangarmarsh, where they managed to successfully hide from the orcish assault. But Velen could see
that this world the draenei had settled on was no longer safe for his people to remain on. This is
where the path of the Broken and the path of the Draenei split – for Velen gathered his followers to
him and prepared them to once more take flight – this time not on the broken ship of Oshu’gun,
deep in the orc territory, but to the north – Tempest Keep, a naaru fortress stationed in
Netherstorm.

The Draenei of Azeroth

But Velen and his followers had another small problem – Tempest Keep had been overrun by blood
elves led by Kael’thas Sunstrider, and the naaru guardian Mu’ru had been taken prisoner by the
strange little pointy-eared magic-obsessed elves. Velen knew that the Keep – or rather, one portion
of it, the wing known as the Exodar, was his people’s only chance to escape the dying planet and find
a new hope for survival. And so he led his people in an assault on Tempest Keep itself. The draenei
somehow managed to fight their way into the Exodar and take off, but they were not alone – some
of the blood elves had managed to follow them into the Exodar, and as the ship flew through the
skies, the blood elves worked quickly to sabotage the dimensional engines. Once activated, the
engines went haywire, sending the Exodar hurtling out of control through the Twisted Nether until it
reached the closest habitable planet – Azeroth.

Screaming through the skies of northern Kalimdor, the crippled ship ripped through a small island
chain off the coast of Darkshore, coming to a crashing, abrupt halt. The draenei had survived, again.

Sort of. While the ship landed, it didn’t land safely, and still more of the draenei were killed in the
crash. The few survivors awoke, taking the islands as a new homeland, embarrassed at the sheer
amount of destruction the crash had caused. Surviving too were some of the blood elf attackers,
who gathered and made their own base on the islands to the north to recover and come up with a
way to wrest the Exodar from the draenei’s hands and return it to Tempest Keep. This is the official
origin of the draenei on Azeroth.

The Draenei of Outland

Meanwhile on Draenor, while Velen and his followers hid in Zangarmarsh, Akama and his Broken
followers had less success. While at first the draenei were sympathetic to their condition, as the fel
corruption worsened and the physical changes grew more dramatic, the draenei grew wary, afraid. It
was unknown if the affliction that corrupted the Broken was contagious, and the draenei didn’t wish
to risk suffering the same fate as the Broken had. And so the Broken were…asked, politely, to take
their leave. This understandably upset the Broken – they were draenei, simply hurt – and yet instead
of receiving help from their people, they were being tossed aside.

Akama was the worst affected by the fel corruption, a shadow of his former draenei self. He and his
Broken followers formed a tribe called the Ashtongue. They hid well, but were soon forced out of
hiding – the pit lord Magtheridon and his army of demons and fel orcs had taken over the Temple
that Akama had once called home, tainting it with his demonic presence. Akama and the Broken
fought relentlessly, wishing nothing more than the pit lord’s extinction, but as the battle raged it
became clear that he and his people were vastly outnumbered. It was at this point that two unlikely
allies – Lady Vashj, leader of the naga, and Kael’thas Sunstrider, leader of the blood elves, joined the
fight. Both races had come from another world called Azeroth, to escape the clutches of human
captors. Akama, grateful for their assistance, agreed to pledge his loyalty to their master, Illidan
Stormrage.

Fighting alongside the naga, the blood elves, and Illidan, Akama finally saw what he’d been waiting
for – Magtheridon fell, and the Temple was taken over once more. But rather than give the Temple
back to Akama and his people, Illidan took it for himself, a throne from which he would rule all of
Outland. Akama craved vengeance on the orcs and demons that had corrupted, warped and
slaughtered his race. But he knew in his heart that Illidan was not the savior that his followers had
described. Illidan served Kil’jaeden, ultimately – and while it is unknown if Akama was among those
that originally lived on Argus, it can be assumed that he knew who Kil’jaeden was.

It was Kil’jaeden who appeared before Illidan, ordering him back to Azeroth, to destroy the Frozen
Throne – and it was Akama who stayed behind to guard Illidan’s holdings, while Vashj and Kael’thas
went with their master. While it’s never directly mentioned, it can be assumed that this may have
been a logical point at which Akama started speaking to Maiev Shadowsong, Illidan’s warden on
Azeroth. The night elf, presumed dead by her people, had been captured while trying to bring Illidan
back to Azeroth for punishment for his crimes, and imprisoned underground near the Black Temple.
Maiev lived for nothing more than vengeance upon Illidan Stormrage, and would stop at nothing to
see him dead. Akama, for his part, wanted the Black Temple restored, and wanted his people’s
reputation restored alongside it.

Twisted, battered, and assumed to be the ultimate betrayer of the draenei people, Akama quietly
planned his own revenge…and Illidan’s downfall. Akama and the Broken that knew of Akama’s true
intentions surrounding the temple took up a name for their faction – the Ashtongue Deathsworn –
sworn to kill Illidan and regain their home, through any means necessary.

The Lost Ones

A third group of draenei exist as well, on Azeroth of all places – the Lost Ones. These draenei have
devolved even further than the broken, bearing little resemblance to their eredar origins. When the
Dark Portal was reopened into Azeroth, a small tribe of Broken calling themselves the ‘Broken Exiles’
traveled through it, scarred by the violent events of their world’s destruction. They settled in the
Swamp of Sorrows, but soon found themselves devolving even further from their Broken state –
perhaps because of the separation from their home world, but even more likely due to the fel
corruption combined with the energies of the Dark Portal they had passed through. These former
draenei split even further – one group losing all that remained of their sanity and taking up
residence at Harborage in the Swamp of Sorrows. The others took the name Lost Ones, in mourning
for their lost world, and established a colony called the Fallow Sanctuary in the Swamp of Sorrows.

A few other Broken Exiles took up residence near the remains of the Dark Portal in the Blasted
Lands, ever hoping that the way would open so they could once more find their way home.

That’s it for the Draenei, at least until I go over the events and lore of The Burning Crusade. Their
history may seem short because it is short – while from a timeline standpoint the draenei have been
around far longer than anything save the Titans and the Naaru, they were pretty much an unknown
until they were announced as the new Alliance race. While some people hate them and think
they’ve got no business in Warcraft Lore, I think that Blizzard managed to fit them in neatly enough –
with one or two gigantic gaping holes in lore than can be easily explained. There are still a lot of
unanswered questions about the Draenei however, and I’ll be going over those tomorrow. Be sure to
check back for the summary!
(Note: this version of events is based off of the Burning Crusade version of the draenei/eredar split.)

25,000 or so years ago, there were no draenei. This is because the word draenei means 'exiles' in the
language of the eredar, the people who rose to civilization on the world of Argus. The eredar looked
much as the draenei of today do, and they were prodigiously gifted, strong, intelligent and naturally
capable of learning to channel magical energy of any variety. Using these abilities, they built a
society that lasted for thousands of years, one that was so marvelous that it even drew the attention
of the titan Sargeras.

Unfortunately, this was after Sargeras had decided that his fellow titans and their whole 'let's go
from world to world changing things to be the way we would like them to be' deal was pointless and
futile. Anger and resentment built up in the former champion of the Pantheon until he stalked away
from his fellows, abandoning his purpose as a defender of their works and instead choosing to work
against them. So resolved, he began building a mighty war host to take his war of total destruction
across the myriad worlds studded like gems throughout the Great Dark Beyond. Races like the
Annihilan (Pit Lords) made excellent shock troops, and the Nathrezim were perfect spies and
infiltrators, but what Sargeras needed were generals. Beings who could lead his forces, who were
naturally powerful, strong, and intelligent enough to guide and direct a universal crusade of total
destruction. And on Argus, he found the eredar.

At the time the eredar were effectively lead by a triumvirate. Even today, their descendants the
draenei often break into such groups to deal with tasks of importance. The eredar leadership
consisted of Archimonde, Kil'Jaeden, and Velen. When Sargeras first appeared to them, still clad in
his glorious presence as one of the titans, both Archimonde and Kil'jaeden were very interested in
his offer of even greater power and a role of responsibility and leadership in his vast new
undertaking. To travel the many worlds, see things no eredar had ever experienced before, wield
power on a scale undreamt of! Only Velen, of the three, was hesitant. He didn't have any concrete
reason to reject Sargeras' offer,and thus no real objection he could make to his friend Kil'jaeden, but
something about the titan seemed wrong to Velen and his suspicions gnawed away at him.

A vision Velen saw of the truth... of Sargeras' supposedly benevolence exposed for the mad desire
for destruction that it was, and the eredar twisted into loathsome parodies of themselves as they
wreaked destruction and havoc in Sargeras' name... led to contact with the Naaru K'ure and gave
Velen both the resolve and the means to flee Argus. The Naaru instructed Velen to gather his
followers and retreat to the highest mountain on Argus, and retrieved the Prophet and his followers
just before servants of Kil'jaeden and Archimonde (who had taken Sargeras up on his offer) nearly
destroyed them.

It is this event that made them 'draenei', or exiles. From this moment, one race became two, with
the eredar servants of dread Sargeras known as 'man'ari' by their former kin. In time the eredar of
the Burning Legion would even embrace the word man'ari (meaning foulness or corruption) and use
it to refer to themselves proudly. Every modern draenei must live with this knowledge, that his or
her greatest enemies are also his or her former people, that the darkness has demonstrated it can
corrupt even their closest kin. That it can corrupt anyone, even the mightiest of their people... even
Archimonde and Kil'jaeden fell prey to its insidious influence. Only Velen escaped their fate, and only
Velen led the remaining one third of their people away from Argus.

For thousands of years the following pattern repeated itself: Velen and the Naaru would find a new
world for the draenei to settle on, only to be discovered by agents of Kil'jaeden who had taken
Velen's decision as a personal affront (in great part due to their previously strong friendship -
Kil'jaeden is said to have viewed Velen as a brother, or even more than a brother, almost another
aspect of himself in Rise of the Horde) and who would not allow them to escape. Over and over
again Velen had to use his prophetic gifts and the aid of the Naaru to escape Kil'jaeden and the
Legion, who had only grown in numbers and power over the years. Finally, through a combination of
luck and their combined abilities, they arrived on a world that would come to be named Draenor, or
'Exile's Refuge' in ereduin.

Well, when I say 'arrived' what I should probably be saying is 'crashed to the surface in an enormous
crystalline ship that fused into a massive diamond on impact and which nearly killed the naaru K'ure,
who was entombed within to regenerate and who drew the spirits of others to himself as he did so,
leading to a tradition wherein orc shamans would be instructed to treat Oshu'gun as sacred and in so
doing tend to K'ure during his regeneration' but that's a mouthful. Handful? I am typing this after all.

This world was a relatively pleasant one, quiet, with a variety of flora and fauna making it suitable
for the draenei to live but without any real reason for the Legion to seek it out. It was inhabited by a
race of intelligent beings who lived in a semi-nomadic hunter/gatherer clan structure. As each
people had little the other wanted or understood, conflicts were rare among them, although it did
puzzle the draenei to see their crash site become a holy site to the orcs. Velen himself mourned his
friend entombed within the gleaming mountain and set forth to lead his people on their new world,
and for uncounted centuries the two races existed in a state of wary peace. The orcs had other
things to worry about like ogres and gronn, while the draenei lived relatively free of those concerns
in cities like Shattrah or Telmor, which was protected by a powerful crystal artifact.

This was the cycle of life on Draenor for millennia.

We've covered the events of the Rise of the Horde from the Horde perspective already. Kil'jaeden's
agents found Draenor, Killy'J was tired of Velen always getting away so he played it cool and used
deception (It's baked into that 'the Deceiver' title he's got) to convinced Ner'zhul that the draenei
were up to no good despite thousands of years of evidence that the draenei were basically just
chilling out in their weird cities and not really much of a threat to anyone.

Fingers can be pointed here at draenei complacency, although to me that's a touch unfair. Still, it
can't be denied that after thousands upon thousands of years of running from demonic maniacs who
used to be their friends and neighbors, the draenei as a whole just wanted to have a place to call
their own. They didn't react as quickly to the orcs and their sudden bellicose stand as they could
have: having once hosted a young Durotan and Orgrim Doomhammer, Velen was under the
impression that the up and coming orc leadership was admirable and could be negotiated with.
Unfortunately he failed to grasp the true extent of the hostility that Kil'jaeden had created, nor did
he know its ultimate source. Had he seen the hand of his old enemy, it might not have mattered, for
with K'ure entombed within Oshu'gun the draenei lacked a ready means of escape. Velen made the
mistake of attempting to visit K'ure's resting place at this time, which only agitated the orcs further
(and led with the Prophet being briefly held captive by the Frostwolf chieftain Durotan, who held
Nagrand at that time).

The fall of Ner'zhul and the rise of Gul'dan ended any chance for peace between orc and draenei,
and Durotan's betrayal of the means by which draenei had brought him and Doomhammer into
Telmor sealed that city's fate, as demon blood addicted orcs slaughtered the inhabitants. While the
draenei did not go quietly... their mastery of arcane power, the Holy Light first shown to them by the
Naaru, and natural size and strength allowed them to fight effectively and the orcish dependence on
the spirits meant that as they took actions the spirits disapproved of, their power waned.... Gul'dan
quickly set about replacing waning shamanistic power with warlock magics that the draenei were
not equipped to resist en masse. Eventually, even Shattrath City fell. Gul'dan set up camp in the
former Temple of Karabor, Velen's own private sancturary, and transformed it into the Black Temple.

This unchecked, unjustified, and rapacious violence was the result of Kil'jaeden taking advantage of
the aggressive hunter mentality of the orcs and magnifying it first with paranoid and suspicion and
later with demon blood taken from an Annihilan, Mannoroth. While these elements were already
present (hey, you try fending off ogres and gronn with good looks, it takes some significant whacking
with big, heavy objects to keep those dudes off your back) it was the culmination of Gul'dan's
manipulation that convinced so many to willingly enslave themselves to demons. The complete
slaughter, the genocide waged upon the draenei was Kil'jaeden's goal, but it was an afterthought to
Gul'dan, something he engaged in merely to cement his own power.

As the orcs fell to squabbling and Draenor, poisoned by fel corruption, began to become unlivable,
the few remaining draenei gathered together in hidden refuges placed in regions no one would
really want like Zangarmarsh. Velen had been forced to allow himself to be protected and removed
from the major centers of draenei life as they fell, forced to watch as his followers were slaughtered
in vast amounts. Now some of the draenei were finding themselves changed by the fel energies
unleashed by heedless orc warlocks.

Unfortunately, the draenei did not respond to this new problem with the equanimity one might
hope for. Already reeling from the carnage of the orcish assaults, many draenei responded to these
'broken' with horror and revulsion and ostracized them from their already reduced society. These
unfortunates were named 'krokul', or Broken and were often forced to become hermits... when and
if entire tribes were not so stricken. Akama, formerly a priest at the Temple of Karabor, ended up
leading an entire tribe of broken.

In their reduced state it would have been fairly easy for Gul'dan to have finished the job, but as was
stated above, he didn't really care about the draenei at all: it was Kil'jaeden that had wanted
revenge, and he withdrew his influence, sated at having forced Velen to watch his people die by the
myriad myriads. (Yes, I reference Procopius.) Gul'dan found himself much more interested in finding
a way to keep his people alive, which not only led to his alliance with Medivh/Sargeras and the
opening of the Dark Portal, but gave the remnants of the draenei breathing room. (It also allowed
Lost Ones, a tribe of broken further mutated by fel energies, to make their way to Azeroth. To this
day Lost Ones can be found in the Swamp of Sorrows and Blasted Lands.)

Velen and his followers hid at the former anchorage of Telredor, and Akama lead his Ashtongue tribe
of broken. The former Vindicator Nobundo walked the land attempting to reconnect with the Holy
Light that he had lost when he was one of the few survivors of the massacre at Shattrath. Then
Ner'zhul tore Draenor apart, and created Outland, the shattered ruin of the once lush planet. In the
aftermath of his action the draenei actually seemed to recover somewhat, as not only did the orcs
have more pressing matters (like pure survival) to occupy them, but the Naaru of the Shat'tar faction
arrived at Draenor in what would be known as Tempest Keep as well, to try and lead resistance to
the Burning Legion. Together with the Aldor, they helped reclaim and rebuild Shattrath from the
charnel pit the Horde left behind.

The coming of Illidan to Outland brought change that aided and yet also harmed the draenei. Akama
and his tribe of broken allied with Illidan and helped him close the portals and reclaim the Black
Temple (formerly the Temple of Karabor) from the pit lord Magtheridon but Illidan's ally Kael'thas
Sunstrider led a force of blood elves to seize control of Tempest Keep while the Naaru were
occupied helping the Aldor at Shattrath, seizing M'uru in the process. This led Velen to determine
that the time was at hand to leave Outland once and for all. With Nobundo having returned to
Telredor and demonstrated that the draenei affinity for magic extended itself to the elemental and
ancestral spirits of the land that the orcs had abandoned to chase after fel magic, Velen began to
believe in the words of an old prophecy of his and took direct action for the first time in decades. A
force of draenei and broken stormed Tempest Keep, managed to commandeer one of the four
satellite structures, and escaped Outland, although not without sabotage from the blood elves loyal
to Kael'thas.

A starting draenei PC picks up his story from this point: the Exodar, the crashed satellite of the Naaru
dimensional fortress sabotaged by Kael'thas' servants, has ripped a hole in the Twisting Nether and
arrived on Azeroth, crashing into islands loosely controlled by the Kaldorei. A starting player gets to
experience the aftermath, as injuries are tended to, the new world is explored, contact is made with
the Alliance and eventually a great threat is dealt with, earning the respect of the draenei people.

The draenei, led by Velen, provide the Alliance with their real foothold back into Outland, while
Nobundo's teaching allows the draenei to tap into the same spirit magic as their enemies in the
Horde. It seems that the draenei are in an expansionist phase now, as their presence can be felt in
settlements in Ashenvale, in ambassadors sent to Stormwind and Aerie Peak, and even in Northrend
where they work to root out corruption. They're done running. Velen took part in the final
banishment of Kil'jaeden and the restoration of M'uru, and in so doing re-created the Sunwell,
proving that the draenei can do good even to those who have only offered evil to them. Survivors
who have touched the Holy Light, heard the spirit's call from their desertion and answered, and
worked magic unlike any people before them have joined with allies to ensure that what happened
on Draenor will not happen to Azeroth.

Basically, draenei are awesome. Next week, most likely we'll taalk about Velen and maybe Nobundo
as well.