Warcraft (series)

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The Warcraft universe is a fictional universe in which a series of games and books published by Blizzard Entertainment are set. Players were first introduced to this universe in the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in Eastern Kingdoms of the planet Azeroth. Known worlds in the Warcraft universe include Azeroth, Draenor the Red World (later called Outland), Argus, K'aresh, and Xoroth.

Contents

[edit] Geography

The majority of media in the Warcraft universe takes place upon a planet called Azeroth. This planet has three continents, named Eastern Kingdom, Northrend (the world polar cap) and Kalimdor, all of which are separated by a giant ocean called the Great Sea. In the center of the Great Sea is an enormous, everlasting vortex called the Maelstrom (created as a result of a cataclysm that split the previous supercontinent of Kalimdor into the three major landmasses: The Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend and Kalimdor).

The Eastern Kingdoms landmass is the setting of the majority of the Warcraft stories. In Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the Humans of the story belong to the Kingdom of Azeroth, which lies south of Khaz Modan and was the largest human kingdom at the time. In Warcraft II, the human kingdom depicted was Azeroth's northern neighbour of Lordaeron, which successfully headed the old Alliance in fighting off the orcish invasion but later fell to the Scourge in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.

The continent of Kalimdor was introduced in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Whereas Azeroth (the continent) can be described as the equivalent of medieval Europe, with highly traditional kingdoms with advanced cities, Kalimdor can be compared to the Americas at their time of discovery by Europeans, full of wild, unexplored lands. The geology of Kalimdor is similar to North America, with massive, ancient forests covering the Northern parts and vast deserts in the South.

The third continent, Northrend, is the northern polar cap of Azeroth and is the primary stronghold of the malevolent Undead Scourge. Northrend is featured in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion set Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, and will be featured in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion pack to World of Warcraft.

Second in importance to Azeroth is the planet of Draenor, now known as Outland, the original homeland of the Orcs and Ogres. The Eredar who refused to ally themselves with Sargeras and the Burning Legion fled to this planet and became known as the Draenei ("Exiled Ones" in their native tongue; Draenor being "home of the exiled"). Draenor was torn apart when an Orc shaman named Ner'zhul opened too many gateways to other worlds, when trying to escape the invading Alliance Armies coming from Azeroth, causing it to crumble and phase into the mysterious parallel dimension called the Twisting Nether, Home of the Demons. The remnants of the world are now known as Outland, and it features in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, and most prominently in World of Warcraft's first expansion World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

Other planets in the universe include Argus, the original home-world of the Eredar race; K'aresh, the original home-world of the Ethereal race and Xoroth, the home-world of the Nathrezim and Dreadsteeds. The planet of Azeroth has two moons, named White Lady (a physical manifestation of the mysterious Night Elf goddess Elune) and Blue Child. Draenor, after having been shattered into many pieces, currently has no remaining moons.

Places beyond the planets include the Great Dark Beyond, Warcraft's equivalent of outer space; the Emerald Dream, a dream-scape resembling what Azeroth would look like if animals or sentient races had never in any way altered it; an Elemental Plane where the elemental lieutenants of the malevolent deities called the Old Gods are banished; and the Dark Below, a hellish, little-referenced underworld the canon of which is debatable.

[edit] Playable races

[edit] Alliance

[edit] Humans

Humans were introduced in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. Throughout the first two Warcraft games, the human race was depicted as the archetypal European kingdom. In Warcraft and Warcraft II they were also depicted as religious; the Humans fought for the side of Heaven against the Hellish Orcs, though this was abandoned in the third game.

In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne we see the human nation of Lordaeron, the nation which is depicted throughout the second game as the main protagonists. The nation is exposed to a plague of undeath which turns those infected into undead monsters who serve the will of the Lich King (Ner'zhul). The prince of Lordaeron, Arthas Menethil, also succumbs to the will of the Lich King and is instrumental in bringing about the downfall of his kingdom and, eventually, the invasion of the Burning Legion. He is one of the main characters of the third game and its expansion.

In World of Warcraft human characters are of the kingdom of Stormwind, Lordaeron's southern counterpart. Skin coloration is varied, from black to white.

The humans are descended from an ancient nomadic tribe known as the Arathi, who conquered and united the other warring human tribes and founded the nation of Arathor and the great city of Strom, later renamed Stromgarde. The Arathi formed an alliance with the High Elves of the far north after they aided them in a war against the Amani Empire of trolls.

[edit] Gnomes

The gnomes are a small and ingenious race with magic and engineering proficiencies who were first introduced in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. They resided in Gnomeregan, an underground city with advanced technology, until they were driven out by a primitive race known as Troggs. Subsequent attempts by the Gnomish government to drive out the troggs included flooding the city with radiation which ultimately killed as many gnomes as troggs. In the end over eighty percent of the Gnomish died. Refugees were taken in by the Dwarven capital of Ironforge, where they have been plotting revenge on the Troggs ever since. Gnomes have a notorious rivalry with the goblins, each thinking that the other takes the wrong attitude towards engineering. Gnomish engineering consists of cog and gear based machinery involving everything from robotic companions to large underground tram-systems, such as the Deeprun Tram, and flying machines. Whereas Goblin engineering consists of explosion based tools and machines, like dynamite and zepplins.

[edit] Night Elves

The night elves are one of the oldest races on Azeroth. More than ten thousand years ago a tribe of humanoids settled on the shores of the Well of Eternity. The Well's influence changed them fundamentally, but most importantly gave them the ability to use magic. After many years a schism occurred between the so-called Highborne, who were supported by the queen and were addicted to magic, and the rest of the population. An elf named Malfurion then discovered that the corrupted titan Sargeras and his Burning Legion were using the Well to enter into the world, with the intention of destroying it. Malfurion, his lover Tyrande, and the demigod Cenarius raced to the Well to try and destroy it. After a battle with the Highborne forces, they succeeded. The cataclysm not only destroyed the Well, but also most of the rest of the continent, resulting in a vast ocean separating the continents today.

The remainder of the Highborne were exiled, and sailed over the sea to Lordaeron where they named themselves High Elves. Later, it was discovered that Malfurion's brother Illidan managed to create a second Well of Eternity, so to stop another disaster a massive World Tree, Nordrassil, was planted over it. It gave the night elves several new abilities, for instance making them immortal. For the next ten thousand years, the survivors lived peacefully, until the second invasion of the Burning Legion. The races of Azeroth, both Horde and Alliance fought the Legion at the peak of Hyjal, until the elves managed to unleash the primal fury of Nordrassil killing the demon lord Archimonde and defeating the Burning Legion. Since then, the night elves have lost many of their abilities, and have planted a new World Tree called Teldrassil to try and recover them.

Night elves (once called Kaldorei) are imposing in stature, males being on average 7 feet tall. Male night elves are very muscular, with broad chests and shoulders, indicative of the strength that lies within both their minds and bodies. Female night elves are lithe and curvaceous, yet still muscular and strong. The race’s prominent eyebrows, long pointed ears and natural aspects imply a feral grace. Skin tones range from pale white to blue or even ruddy red, and their hair ranges in color from bright white to woodland green to lustrous black.

[edit] Dwarves

Born from the Earthen, original creations of the Titans, Dwarves are a short and strong race. The playable clan of dwarves reside in the mountain of Ironforge in the Eastern Kingdoms continent. Their skin color can be from a charcoal-grey to a human tan.

The stoic dwarves of Ironforge are an ancient race of robust humanoids who live beneath the snow-capped mountains of Khaz Modan. The Dwarves have always been fast allies with the Humans, and they revel in the prospects of battle and storytelling alike. In past ages, the Dwarves rarely left the safety of their mountain fortresses. However, whenever the call to battle sounded, they rose up to defend their friends and allies with unmatched courage and valor.

Originally a race of miners, they have recently changed their focus to archeology. Due to a recent discovery that uncovered fragments of their ancient origins, the Dwarves have undergone a remarkable transformation. The discovery convinced the Dwarves that the mighty Titans created them from stone when the world was young. They feel that their destiny is now to search the world over for more signs and proof of their enchanted heritage and to rediscover the Titans' hidden legacies. To this end, the Dwarves have sent out their Prospectors to all ends of the world in the hopes of discovering new insight into their shrouded past. These journeys led to Dwarven excavation sites all over the known world, some of which serve as outposts and others as potential hunting grounds for enemies of the Dwarven race.

[edit] Draenei

Draenei are the last of the original Eredar, the race that eventually became corrupted by the Burning Legion. They greatly respect the Alliance's devout reverence for the Holy Light. Draenei have skin ranging from purple to pale blue, and both genders are relatively tall compared to humans, have cloven, goat-like hooves, and tails. Males usually have tentacle-like appendages extending from their chin, while females have two horns on their temples extending backwards. The Draenei's leader was the prophet, Velen, who ruled with Archimonde and Kil'jaeden as the exarchs over Argus, the Draenei's original home world. Velen was contacted by the Naaru, who escorted him (and the Eredar who rejected Sargeras's offer of great power to the Eredar in exchange for their loyalty), across the cosmos, in the Naaru's dimensional traveling vessel, Tempest Keep. Kil'jaeden has hunted the Draenei since they left Argus with the Naaru. Some of the Draenei have succumbed to the Burning Legion's corruption, in body but not in mind, becoming the broken and lost ones, who were separated from the Light by the Legion's corruption. For example, one band of Draenei, led by Akama, were changed in appearance. Draenei range from 7 feet to 7 1/2 feetin height. While living in the world of Draenor, some had embraced the powers of the elements, becoming shaman. This practice was revealed to the Draenei farseer, Nobundo, by the spirit of the wind, which also uncovered that this would allow the light-forsaken Broken to still serve the Holy Light.

[edit] Horde

[edit] Orcs

The Orcs are generally green skinned and muscular humanoids. They are warlike, but formerly shamanistic creatures from the planet Draenor. The Burning Legion cursed them with a terrible bloodlust causing them to slaughter the newcoming Draenei, who would have been wiped out without the help of the Naaru, messengers of the Holy Light. The orcs invaded Azeroth, through a device known as the Dark Portal. There they destroyed most of the Alliance territory, resulting in a huge massacre.

The Orcs were enslaved by the Burning Legion and were used to destroy all who opposed it. However, the orcs eventually freed themselves from the grasp of the Demon Mannaroth. Before this however a small band of Orcs led by Grom Hellscream, to which the bloodlust had returned, snapped. They slaughtered many night Elves including the demi god Cenarius unable to stand up to the power of the fel blood orcs, therefore, the orcs were greatly mistrusted by the night elfs. However the majority of the orcs were still peaceful and were led by Thrall, son of Durotan and the humans and elves allied with them to defeat the burning legion. After the battle for mount hyjal they ventured off to the other parts of Kalimdor to find a new place to call home. While the Alliance refuses to forgive the orcs, the orcs did made up for what they had done by killing the Demon Mannaroth, one of the main demon lords invading Azeroth with Grom Hellscream giving his life in the process. They found the land of Durotar, which they named after their former leader Durotan, in which they built the glorious kingdom of Orgrimmar, named after Orgrim Doomhammer, former Warchief of the Horde.

As of the present time, the following Orcish Clans survive within the Horde. -Frostwolf Clan -Warsong Clan -Bleeding Hollow Clan These orc clans are merely examples of the very few amounts of Orcs who hold strong to their old shamanistic beliefs and clansmenship.

[edit] Forsaken

The undead Forsaken army resides in the haunted lands of Tirisfal Glades. These undead are rebels of the Scourge. They are in fact different to the mindless Scourge, however, for they have free will, unlike the Scourge led by the Lich King. They have no sympathy for any enemy they face. The Forsaken are said to care little about the Horde however they seem to show sympathy for the blood elves, they only want revenge on the Humans, and possibly the entire Alliance itself. These merciless creatures are led by Sylvanas Windrunner, who is advised by the demon Varimathras. They reside in Tirisfal Glades, where the catacombs of the Ruins of Lordaeron have become the capital of the Forsaken, Undercity.[1]

[edit] Tauren

The Tauren are one of the oldest races in Azeroth, a proud and tenacious race with bull-like features and a culture that is very similar to an evolved American Indian culture. They are druidic, shamanistic, peaceful, and powerful beings. They have large hooves, and a towering body structure. The Tauren reside in the grasslands of Mulgore.

Mulgore, which is now the home of the Tauren, was fought over by the defending Tauren and the raiding Centaurs. The Tauren would have lost their land, but Thrall and his orc brethren helped the peaceful Tauren after befriending their leader, Cairne Bloodhoof. The Tauren were honor-bound and they allied with the Horde. Cairne built an astounding, towering city, known as Thunder Bluff, on top of four great mesas where many different trades come together.

[edit] Blood elves

Once part of the High Elf race, the Blood Elves had practiced noble magic in their forest home in the north of the Eastern Kingdoms. After the undead Scourge destroyed their capital and the source of their power, the Sunwell, the high elves began calling themselves Sin'dorei which in their tongue means 'children of the blood' (more commonly referred to as Blood Elves) in homage to their loss. With the leadership of their prince, Kael'thas Sunstrider, the Blood Elves continue to defend their homeland from the terror of the Scourge. Recently, Prince Kael'thas has returned to Quel'thalas, summoning the great demon Kil'Jaeden with the Sunwell's powers.

[edit] Trolls (Darkspear)

The trolls of the Warcraft Universe have a vast and very diverse background with many different tribes, of which only the Darkspear are playable. The four major troll ethnicities include Forest, Jungle, Ice, and Sand. Other notable mentions include Dark trolls, about which very little is known, Zanzil the Outcast and his Followers, and the earliest of all trolls - the Zandalar tribe; from which all other trolls are said to have descended. Inside each of the four ethnicities, trolls are further divided into separate tribes with various allegiances.

The playable trolls, the Darkspear, are led by Vol'jin and fled the continent after splitting off from the Gurubashi (Jungle) Empire. It was Sen'jin who welcomed Thrall and his orc brethren to Kalimdor when Thrall fled the Eastern Kingdoms to try and establish a new Horde. Sen'jin, Thrall, and several other orcs and trolls were captured by murlocs soon after their arrival. Thrall managed to break from his cell and free many, but Sen'jin was sacrificed by a murloc sorcerer. It was in Sen'jin's honor that the Darkspear were allowed into the Horde.

[edit] Media set in the Warcraft universe

[edit] Computer games

Other

[edit] Other media

Tabletop games

Collectible card games

Books

[edit] Film adaptation

In May 2007, production company Legendary Pictures acquired film rights to adapt Warcraft for the big screen with the game's publisher, Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard had originally considered hiring a scribe for the film adaptation before teaming up with Legendary Pictures.[3] The companies plan to create a film that would not follow one specific Warcraft games' storyline, but would still take place in the fantasy universe.[4] According to Blizzard's Chief Operating Officer Paul Sams, the film's budget would be over $100 million.[5]

In June 2007, Legendary Pictures chairman Thomas Tull said that the studio was working closely with Blizzard's designers and writers to adapt World of Warcraft. Tull explained the desire to have a good story for the film adaptation, "I think some of the stuff that makes a game translate well... if there's a lore, if there's a road and story and a world that's been created, and characters that are interesting in a way that's more than just point and shoot."[6] World of Warcraft's lead designer Rob Pardo expressed interest in being able to adapt the intellectual property of World of Warcraft to the appropriate medium of the film. He also added that the designers were collaborating with Legendary Pictures on story and script development.[7]

In August 2007, at BlizzCon, it was unveiled that the film will aim for a projected 2009 release. It was also revealed that the movie will take place from an Alliance perspective and will be geared towards a PG-13 audience, with a storyline set one year before the beginning of the World of Warcraft storyline. As of this time no director or cast are yet associated with its development. Thomas Tull stated that, "It’s not so much a quest movie. It’s more of a war movie."[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/races/undead.html
  2. ^ October 25 Release Date - World of Warcraft Trading Card Game Blog
  3. ^ Pamela McClintock; Ben Fritz. "Brave new 'World'", Variety, 2006-05-08. Retrieved on 2007-01-31. 
  4. ^ Borys Kit. "Legendary enters world of 'Warcraft'", The Hollywood Reporter, 2006-05-09. Retrieved on 2007-01-31. 
  5. ^ Tal Blevins. "GC 2006: Warcraft Movie Update", IGN, 2006-08-24. Retrieved on 2007-01-31. 
  6. ^ Brandon Sheffield; Brandon Boyer. "H&G: Tull Talks World of Warcraft Film", GamaSutra.com, 2007-06-29. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. 
  7. ^ Brandon Sheffield; Jolene Spry. "H&G: Blizzard's Pardo Talks WoW Film", GamaSutra.com, 2007-06-28. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. 
  8. ^ Paul Hayes. "Warcraft Movie Chronicles: 'WoW' Film at BlizzCon 2007", Movie Chronicles, 2007-08-05. Retrieved on 2007-08-05. 

[edit] External links

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