Characters of ''Warcraft''

Major and recurring characters from the fantasy series Warcraft are listed below. The series began with Blizzard Entertainment's 1994 video game Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, and continued with Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Beyond the Dark Portal, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, The Frozen Throne, World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, Mists of Pandaria, Warlords of Draenor and Legion. The franchise has been further extended with a series of novels, graphic novels, a live-action film, and other works.

A

Aegwynn

Aegwynn was the penultimate Guardian of Tirisfal. She was a mortal champion imbued with the magic of a secret council who would utilize their collective powers to fight a never-ending secret war against the Burning Legion. Aegwynn grew powerful over the years and used her powers to extend her life significantly. Foolishly believing that she had defeated Sargeras for good, after vanquishing his avatar in Northrend, Aegwynn continued to safeguard the world from his minions for nearly nine hundred years. However, the Council of Tirisfal finally decreed that her stewardship had come to an end. The council ordered Aegwynn to return to Dalaran so that they could choose a successor. Aegwynn, ever distrustful of the council, decided to select a successor on her own.

The proud Aegwynn planned to give birth to a son in whom she would vest her power. She had no intention of allowing the Order of Tirisfal to manipulate her successor as they had tried to manipulate her. Traveling to the southern nation of Stormwind, Aegwynn found the perfect man to father her son: a skilled human magician known as Nielas Aran. Aran was the court conjuror and advisor for Stormwind's king. Aegwynn seduced the magician and conceived a son by him. Nielas's natural affinity for magic would run deep within the unborn child and define the tragic steps the child would later take. The power of Tirisfal was also implanted in the child, yet it wasn't to awaken until he reached physical maturity.

Time passed, and Aegwynn gave birth to her son in a secluded grove. Naming the boy Medivh, which means "keeper of secrets" in the high elven tongue, Aegwynn believed that the boy would mature to become the next Guardian. Unfortunately, the malignant spirit of Sargeras had been hiding inside her and had possessed the defenseless child while it was still in her womb. Aegwynn had no idea that the world's newest Guardian was already possessed by its greatest nemesis.

Certain that her baby was healthy, Aegwynn delivered young Medivh to the court of Stormwind and left him there to be raised by his father. She then wandered into the wilderness and prepared to pass into whatever afterlife awaited her.

Years later she discovered her mistake and learned of the fall of her son. In her grief, she sought solace in the far away lands of Kalimdor. There she eventually met Jaina Proudmoore and aided her in calming tensions between her fledgling nation of Theramore and the Horde. She served as Jaina's chamberlain for a time, giving the young ruler wise counsel in the coming years. She later encountered Med'an, the son of Medivh and Garona Halforcen, and guided him to become the new Guardian. She helped establish the new Council of Tirisfal and gave her life to give her grandson the extra power he needed to defeat the ogre mage Cho'gall. Aegwynn is recognized as one of the greatest sorcerers of all time.

Aiden Perenolde

Aiden Perenolde, King of Alterac, was the leader of the Kingdom of Alterac during the Second War. He was among the leaders of the Seven Kingdoms called to Lordaeron, and was present at the council which formed the Alliance of Lordaeron. He and Thoras Trollbane did not get along well. When the Horde led by Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer invaded Lordaeron, Aiden Perenolde negotiated with him to try and save Alterac from destruction. They came to an agreement; Alterac and its people would be safe, but the Horde was allowed to take the mountain pass into Lordaeron, giving the Horde a good strategic point.

Thoras Trollbane later found out about his betrayal, and besieged Alterac. Aiden Perenolde was later deposed and put into custody. Alterac was later placed under martial law as a temporary solution. His son Aliden, his nephew Isiden and Daval Prestor (who was secretly Deathwing in disguise) fought over who would be the next King of Alterac, though eventually none of them succeeded.

During an orcish attack on Stormwind City in the aftermath of the Horde's defeat, Perenolde had the Book of Medivh stolen by his troops in an attempt to use for future leverage. He ultimately traded it to the Horde to rid his lands of Stromgarde and Lordaeron troops. Deathwing attacked the barracks holding the troops. His son Aliden was disgusted by the actions of his father, knowing it would destroy everything he had done to try to clear the family name. After the debacle, Perenolde was declared a traitor. Aiden later died in prison, and his son Aliden formed the rogue organisation known as The Syndicate. His nephew Isiden fled to Gilneas, where he gained the support of King Genn Greymane, though he hasn't been seen since.

Al'akir

Al'akir the Windlord was one of the four Elemental Lords and Lord of Skywall. Al'akir at first fought against the other Lords, and in their conflict, helped shape the lands of Azeroth, but when the Old Gods emerged and forged their Black Empire, Al'akir joined forces with the other Elemental Lords and fought against the Old Gods, eventually falling to their corruption. When the Titans and Keepers intervened to stop the Old Gods, Al'akir and the other Lords were defeated and banished to their elemental realms, Al'akir being sent back to Skywall.

Al'akir returns in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm under the service of Deathwing. Al'akir attempted to enslave the old Titan inhabitants of Uldum and take control of their ancient machines capable of immense destruction. Al'akir was slain when mortal adventurers invaded Skywall and battled him atop his throne.

In World of Warcraft: Legion, after Al'akir's death, Skywall was left is chaos. The Earthen Ring, who sought to unite the four Elemental Lords to help combat the Legion, stepped in and resurrected Thunderaan the Windseeker, Al'akir's strongest champion who was slain by mortals years ago, from his own sword, Thunderfury. Thunderaan united the forces of Skywall and became their new Windlord, promising to help the Earthen Ring fight against the Legion and unite with the other Elemental Lords.

Al'akir also appears in Hearthstone

Alexstrasza

Alexstrasza the Life-Binder is the leader of the red dragonflight and one of the original five dragon Aspects, charged with the guarding of all life on Azeroth. Once imprisoned by the Dragonmaw clan within the abandoned dwarven kingdom of Grim Batol, she was freed with the aid of the wizard Rhonin who was given the task by his mentor Krasus (who is, in fact, a consort to Alexstrasza).

Alexstrasza also appears in Hearthstone.

Alleria Windrunner

Alleria Windrunner was the lead scout and intelligence agent for the Alliance Expedition that marched into the orc homeworld of Draenor. Alleria Windrunner first earned renown due to the sheer number of Trolls that she slew to defend her people's homeland, Quel'Thalas, during the Troll Wars. With the help of humanity, the high elves ultimately prevailed against the Trolls.

Unfortunately, this would not be the last time that war would come to the high elves. During the Second War, the Horde burned down the borderlands of Quel'Thalas. The rampaging orcs killed Alleria's parents, but she and her two younger sisters, Sylvanas and Vereesa, survived. Driven by grief and hatred, Alleria vowed that she would have vengeance. Her pursuit of revenge took her into human lands, where she led an elite cadre of rangers in hunting down renegade orcs of the Bleeding Hollow clan, who had been trapped on Azeroth after the end of the Second War. The Alliance of Lordaeron had destroyed the Azeroth end of the Dark Portal to cut off further orc reinforcements from Draenor. However, the orc Ner'zhul and other Horde spellcasters used magical artifacts on the Draenor end of the Dark Portal, which was still intact. In this manner, the powerful warlocks reestablished the pathway between Draenor and Azeroth.

The Alliance reacted quickly to the renewed threat and sent an expedition through the portal to Draenor. Having achieved the rank of captain, Alleria was part of the expedition, which succeeded in its perilous mission and destroyed the Draenor end of the Dark Portal. Horde forces on Azeroth were cut off from reinforcements and soundly defeated, and afterwards the Azeroth end of the Dark Portal was destroyed. Alleria and the other members of the Alliance expedition shattered the Dark Portal on Draenor just as Ner'zhul opened a series of additional portals from Draenor to other worlds. Already weakened by the orcs' abuse of fel magic, Draenor began tearing apart under the stress of supporting the newly created portals. As the planet shuddered beneath their feet, the members of the valiant Alliance expedition realized that remaining on Draenor would be suicide. Thus, they chose one of the new portals and entered it. They have not been seen since that fateful day. Alleria, Turalyon, and the rest of her comrades were presumed dead, killed in the line of duty. They are honored for their sacrifice. A statue of Alleria has a prominent place in the Valley of Heroes, just inside the gates of Stormwind City.

In Legion, Alleria's bow Thas'dorah is the artifact weapon for marksmanship hunters.^[1]

Alleria also appears in Hearthstone.

Anduin Lothar

Anduin Lothar (portrayed by Travis Fimmel in the film) the Lion of Azeroth, was the last true descendant of the ancient Arathi bloodline, a knight champion of the kingdom of Azeroth (later known as the kingdom of Stormwind) during the First War, and the supreme commander of the armies of the Alliance of Lordaeron during the Second War. During the First War, the orcish Horde had invaded Azeroth via the Dark Portal. Lothar served as King Llane Wrynn's lieutenant-at-arms at the time. As the forces of Azeroth and the Horde clashed across the kingdom, internal conflicts began to take their toll on both armies. King Llane, who believed the bestial orcs to be incapable of conquering Azeroth, contemptuously held his position at his capital of Stormwind. However, Sir Lothar became convinced that the battle should be taken directly to the enemy, and he was forced to choose between his convictions and his loyalty to the king. Choosing to follow his instincts, Lothar stormed Medivh's tower-fortress of Karazhan with the help of the wizard's young apprentice, Khadgar. Khadgar and Lothar succeeded in vanquishing the possessed Guardian, whom they confirmed to be the source of the conflict. By killing Medivh's body, Lothar, and the young apprentice inadvertently banished the spirit of Sargeras to the abyss. Lothar and his warriors, returning home from Karazhan, hoped to stem the loss of life and save their once-glorious homeland. Instead, they returned too late and found their beloved kingdom in smoking ruins. The orcish Horde continued to ravage the countryside and claimed the surrounding lands for its own. Forced into hiding, Lothar and his companions swore a grim oath to reclaim their homeland at any cost.

After the First War, Azeroth (the kingdom that would later be renamed Stormwind) and all of its lands were devastated by the Horde. With King Llane dead, Sir Lothar took charge of the shattered armies of Azeroth and led the survivors across the Great Sea to the shores of Lordaeron. King Terenas, the ruler of Lordaeron, agreed to support the landless Azerothians. Spreading word of the threat that the orcish Horde represented, Lothar convinced the human nations and the demi-human races of the Eastern Kingdoms to unite to form the Alliance of Lordaeron. Since Anduin was a neutral party and because he had military experience fighting the Horde, the leaders of the Alliance decided to make him the Supreme Allied Commander of their armies. He perished in combat at the base of Blackrock Mountain against the orc Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer just before the end of the Second War and the closing of the Dark Portal. He is considered one of the greatest warriors of all time. King Varian Wrynn named his son, the crown prince of Stormwind City after him.

Anduin Wrynn

Anduin Llane Wrynn (voiced by Josh Keaton) is the son of Tiffin and Varian Wrynn, and the king of the human kingdom of Stormwind. Years ago, when his father disappeared, young Anduin was crowned king of Stormwind. Due to his age, he was unable to rule, and the task of regency was given to Highlord Bolvar Fordragon, a venerated paladin of the Alliance. Once King Varian returned to reclaim his throne, the prince began to focus his efforts on spiritual matters and diplomacy, traveling throughout Azeroth to understand how he might heal lands and souls ravaged by war. Anduin's spirit and empathy—unlike his father's warrior impulses—enabled him to form strong bonds with the draenei Prophet Velen and even a few members of the Horde.

In World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, with Pandaria revealed to the world, the young prince personally led a campaign to unveil the region's secrets and cool the flames of war that threatened to consume the continent. Anduin was one of the main opposition to the Horde's Warchief, Garrosh Hellscream, in his fight to save the continent and its people. Anduin eventually succeeded, however Garrosh was able to escape and initiate the events of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor.

When his father perished against Gul'dan's armies in World of Warcraft: Legion, Anduin, by then old enough to rule, was once again crowned king of Stormwind. Doubtful of his abilities to be a good king, Anduin travels to the Broken Shore where his father died and meets with Genn Greymane and Velen. Anduin finds his father's sword and expresses that he cannot be the hero, nor the king his father was. Genn consoles him and a vision of his father appears before him, telling him he must do "What a King must do." Anduin, now filled with a new sense of purpose and courage, takes up his fathers sword and declares he is ready to lead his people against the Legion.

Anduin also appears in Hearthstone.

Antonidas

Antonidas was a former leader of the Kirin Tor, the conclave of wizards that rules over the magical kingdom of Dalaran. The venerable archmage was one of the most powerful wizards in the world. His failing health prohibited him from spending much time away from his beloved city, so his apprentice, Jaina Proudmoore, served as his eyes and ears in the world. Antonidas looked forward to the day when he would hand over the mantle of leadership to Jaina, who he felt would make an impressive archmage. In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, he was killed by Arthas Menethil and his Scourge army when they assaulted Dalaran. He was succeeded as the leader of Kirin Tor by Rhonin.

Antonidas also appears in Hearthstone

Anub'arak

Anub'arak (voiced by Steven Blum in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, Frank Welker in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, and Darin De Paul in Heroes of the Storm) was the last ruler of the nerubian kingdom of Azjol-Nerub. Following his defeat during the War of the Spider, Anub'arak was raised as an undead servant of the Lich King, and the surviving nerubians began to refer to him as the "traitor king". Anub'arak revealed himself to Arthas Menethil upon the latter's return to Northrend, when Arthas was ambushed by blood elven dragonhawk riders. Anub'arak called for a group of crypt fiends to bring the riders out of the sky. Anub'arak went on to guide Arthas to Icecrown so that he could save the Lich King from the demon hunter Illidan Stormrage.

Following Illidan's defeat and Arthas's ascension to the Frozen Throne, Anub'arak was tasked with watching over Azjol-Nerub. Several years later, the Alliance and the Horde invaded Northrend. Anub'arak was encountered by adventurers and subsequently slain, but he would return several months later. The Lich King arrived on the Argent Tournament grounds and sent the adventurers who won the tournament plummeting into the depths below the coliseum. They fought against Anub'arak, and he was slain once more.

Anub'arak also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Archimonde

Archimonde the Defiler (voiced by David Lodge) is an eredar demon lord and a servant of Sargeras, the leader of the Burning Legion. Archimonde is heartless and brutal, but also cunning and farsighted. In his lust for power, he sought to become a god and wield powers rivaling those of Sargeras himself. Archimonde appeared as one of the primary antagonists in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. He was defeated by a reluctant alliance between the humans, orcs, and night elves, who managed to delay him until a trap could be sprung. Thousands of ancestral spirits converged on Mount Hyjal to seemingly destroy Archimonde. The demon lord was not permanently slain, however, and his spirit returned to the Twisting Nether.

In Warlords of Draenor, Archimonde was summoned to an alternate version of the orcs' homeworld of Draenor. He was eventually defeated, but not before sending Gul'dan through a portal and initiating the events of Legion back on Azeroth.

Arthas Menethil

Aysa Cloudsinger

Aysa Cloudsinger is a female pandaren and a follower of the path of Tushui. Aysa believes in meditation, rigorous training, and moral conviction. Graceful and poised, Aysa has attained impeccable form and a refined intellect through diligent practice. To Aysa, to follow the way of Tushui is to defend what is right above all else. She believes success in an endeavor never justifies dishonorable deeds. While the Alliance contains a diverse mix of cultures, Aysa is attracted to the high ideals and values that cement them together.

Azeroth

The planet of Azeroth is a nascent titan. She awakened Magni Bronzebeard from his crystalline slumber in order to warn him of the Burning Legion's return.

Azshara

Azshara (voiced by Laura Post) was the last monarch in all of night elf history. Her reign culminated in the War of the Ancients and the Sundering, after which night elf society underwent sweeping change. Strong-willed, manipulative, and incomparably beautiful, Azshara possessed far more magical talent than almost any other night elf. As one of the Highborne and the sole heir to the throne, she had long been fascinated with the Well of Eternity. After her coronation, she indulged her interests to the fullest. Soon she ordered the construction of a lavishly bejeweled palace on one of the Well's shores. Seeking to please the queen, the nobles proposed that the night elf capital city be renamed in her honor. Azshara graciously accepted, and after much heated debate, the city's name was changed to Zin-Azshari, or "glory of Azshara". Night elves everywhere celebrated the city's new name, for they loved their queen as much as they distrusted the decadent Highborne. Such was her charm that her people did not truly consider her one of the Highborne.

Azshara and her court took up residence in the new palace as soon as it was complete. Many of the Highborne living in the palace devoted themselves to constant study of the Well. As their obsession grew, these Highborne drew magic from the Well's depths and channelled the chaotic energies into ever-greater spells. The Well was thrown into constant turmoil; dark storms broke out over its surface, and its waters darkened until they became utterly black. Sargeras, creator of the Burning Legion, sensed the Highborne's powerful spells and reached out to contact them from the Twisting Nether. With little effort, he corrupted all of the Highborne in the palace, including Azshara, and bent them to his will. They quickly abandoned all of their previous work and focused on bringing the Legion into Azeroth. The mesmerised nobles' primary goal, however, was to widen and stabilize the portal leading from the Twisting Nether to Azeroth, so that Sargeras himself, who promised that he would remake the world into a paradise, could enter the world. Working feverishly, the Highborne summoned demon after demon into their midst. As the storms surrounding the Well grew more violent, a crowd of frightened night elves gathered outside the palace, hoping for an explanation from their queen. When the palace gates opened at last, however, a demonic army poured out and began slaughtering the citizens of Zin-Azshari. Only the Highborne that were serving the Legion from within the palace were left untouched. Firmly in Sargeras's thrall, the palace guards watched the massacre and made no effort to help their dying people.

The queen believed that in Sargeras, she had at last found a worthy mate, and she was certain that he would be hers once he arrived on Azeroth. As time passed, she grew impatient and suggested restricting the Well of Eternity so that its energies would be available only to the Legion and their Highborne servants. Her chief advisor, Lord Xavius, worked with the rest of the palace Highborne and the Legion to implement her idea, erecting a magical shield around the Well. Suddenly cut off from the Well, the night elf defenders realised that something catastrophic had happened. Refugees from Zin-Azshari brought news of the demonic invasion to Black Rook Hold, home of Lord Kur'talos Ravencrest. Kur'talos added the refugees who could fight to his own soldiers, and the army set out for Zin-Azshari. The War of the Ancients had broken out in earnest. With the help of several allies, the druid Malfurion Stormrage destroyed the shield and killed Xavius. Azshara made Captain Varo'then her new advisor and her chief liaison with the Legion. By this time the Legion was divided: many of its demonic minions were out on the battlefield instead of helping to stabilize the portal into the Twisting Nether. The queen blamed Kur'talos's strong leadership of the night elf defenders for delaying Sargeras's arrival. She ordered Varo'then to eliminate Kur'talos, and Varo'then obediently had the valiant noble assassinated.

Despite Azshara's attempts to aid the Legion, the portal to the Twisting Nether was ultimately closed before Sargeras could reach Azeroth. Although the portal's closure saved Azeroth from demonic invasion, the Well of Eternity was unable to withstand the added magical strain, and it began to collapse upon itself. Zin-Azshari and the Well were suddenly blasted downward toward the ocean floor. The Well pierced the planet's molten core before being utterly obliterated. Ancient Kalimdor was split apart, and the seas rushed in to fill the voids between the new landmasses. The queen, her handmaidens, her guards, and the other Highborne in the palace were caught in the rushing waters. Instead of drowning, however, many were cursed and transformed into naga.

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Baine Bloodhoof

Baine Bloodhoof (voiced by Jamieson Price) is the current chieftain of the tauren, having gained the position after the death of his father Cairne. Calm, patient and wise beyond his years, Baine believes deeply in his people but fears that he is not the great leader his father was. Baine is very forgiving, as was made evident when he chose not to seek vengeance against Garrosh Hellscream after Garrosh killed Cairne in a duel. Despite diplomacy being his strong suit, Baine is a force to be reckoned with when forced into battle.

Baine also appears in Hearthstone.

Bolvar Fordragon

Highlord Bolvar Fordragon (voiced by Carlos Larkin) was a venerated paladin of the Alliance who served as the Regent of Stormwind following the disappearance of King Varian Wrynn. Upon Varian's return, Bolvar was named the commander of the Alliance forces sent to take the battle to the Scourge in Northrend. After the treachery of Grand Apothecary Putress at the Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, Fordragon was believed to have been killed, either by the Forsaken blight or the fires of the red dragonflight. Fordragon survived, though his body was altered by the dragons' flames. He was taken into Icecrown Citadel, and the Lich King tortured him in an attempt to break his will, but Fordragon refused to give in. After the death of Arthas Menethil, Fordragon demanded that the Helm of Domination be placed upon his head so that he could act as the jailer of the damned—imprisoning the Lich King within the Frozen Throne once more and containing the threat of the Scourge.

Bolvar also appears in Hearthstone.

Broll Bearmantle

Broll Bearmantle is a powerful night elf druid and an agent of Malfurion Stormrage. Broll Bearmantle was born with antlers: an omen that he was destined to become a prodigy in the druid arts. He was granted the Idol of Remulos to help him develop his connection to the Emerald Dream. During the Third War, he was a key player in the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Broll used the idol to channel his incredible druidic powers to delay the Burning Legion's offensive. He was eventually overwhelmed by the pit lord Azgalor, who used his fel weapon to corrupt the idol. The idol's corruption caused a fel explosion, killing Broll's daughter Anessa. Broll himself was corrupted via his link to the idol, causing all the animal spirits to abandon him except the bear, which had been corrupted with fel energy and fed on Broll's rage. With his grief eating away at him, Broll left night elf society and eventually allowed himself to be bought by Rehgar Earthfury. As a gladiator, he met the amnesiac human Varian Wrynn and the blood elf Valeera Sanguinar, and went on several adventures with them. One of their exploits involved recovering and cleansing the Idol of Remulos. Broll has since been a participant in recent Council of Tirisfal and Cenarion Circle ventures.

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Cairne Bloodhoof

Cairne Bloodhoof (voiced by William Bassett) was the former high chieftain of the tauren. Cairne was a fearless warrior and a wise leader of his ancient people. Though slowed somewhat by the weight of age, Cairne still possessed the strength and valor of twenty men. Fearing that his people were in grave danger of extermination from marauding centaurs, Cairne sought aid from Warchief Thrall and the other orcs, who had recently journeyed to Kalimdor. With the orcs' help, Cairne and his Bloodhoof tribe were able to drive back the centaurs and claim the grasslands of Mulgore. For the first time in hundreds of years, the tauren had a land to call their own. Upon the windswept mesa of Thunder Bluff, Cairne built a refuge for his people, where tauren of every tribe were welcome.

Cairne was slain in a duel with Garrosh Hellscream. Before the duel began, Magatha Grimtotem secretly applied to a poison to Hellscream's axe. The poison incapacitated Cairne after he sustained a minor wound, leaving him vulnerable to Hellscream's killing blow.

Cairne also appears in Hearthstone.

Chen Stormstout

Chen Stormstout (voiced by Keone Young) is a jovial and independent brewmaster. Chen was born and raised on the Wandering Isle, a massive landmass on the back of the giant turtle Shen-zin Su. There he developed his superior fighting skills and the desire to explore and discover new lands (and new ingredients for his legendary brews). Chen's wanderlust led him into adventure after adventure, from the creation of the wildly popular Brewfest event to the founding of Durotar.

Years later, Chen and his niece, Li Li, embarked on a quest that led them to the mystical Pearl of Pandaria. With the help of the artifact, Chen was able to visit Pandaria, the home of his ancestors, for the first time. Not long after, the Alliance and the Horde discovered the continent and rekindled their conflict. Like most of his people, Chen maintained his independence rather than joining either faction.

Chen also appears in Heroes of the Storm.

Cho'gall

Cho'gall was a two-headed ogre (with Cho voiced by Patrick Seitz and Gall voiced by Grant George). Cho'gall was the first of the ogre magi, an initiate of the Fifth Circle of the Shadow Council, and the chieftain of the Twilight's Hammer clan. Cho'gall was trained in the arcane arts by the warlock Gul'dan, who aided him in mastering the powers of the Twisting Nether. Cho'gall became the leader of an orc clan after the previous chieftain was executed for disobeying the Shadow Council. He renamed the clan the Twilight's Hammer, and all records of the clan's old name were destroyed. The Twilight's Hammer eventually came to serve the Old Gods, and in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Cho'gall served as the final boss of the Bastion of Twilight raid.

Cho'gall also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

C'Thun

C’Thun is one of the four Old Gods who was imprisoned by the titans long ago on Azeroth. C’Thun is responsible for the arrival of the Qiraji, a race of Silithid created in his image. They later inhabited the fortress of Ahn'Qiraj, a prison created by the titans to imprison the Old God. With the titans long gone, C’Thun waged war against many races of Azeroth. The night elves, aided by the great dragon aspects, were able to erect the great scarab wall to contain C’thun and his armies inside Ahn’Qiraj, ending the war of the shifting sands.

Centuries later, the reawakening of C’thun was near and the gates of Ahn’Qiraj were reopened. While C’thun expected the dragon aspects to fight, he did not anticipate the combined power of the mortals. A group of mortal adventurers did what was thought to be impossible and fought their way through the fortress-city into the heart of the temple where they had temporarily vanquished the Old God, as the Old Gods are not so easily defeated.

C'Thun also appears in Hearthstone.

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Deathwing

Deathwing the Destroyer (voiced by Michael McConnohie in World of Warcraft and by Patrick Seitz in Hearthstone), formerly known as Neltharion the Earth-Warder, was the leader of the black dragonflight and one of the original five Aspects blessed by the titans to safeguard Azeroth. Neltharion was given dominion over the earth. The Old Gods, twisted beings of pure evil that once ruled Azeroth, drove Neltharion to madness, and he turned against the other Aspects. After the opening of the Dark Portal, Deathwing traveled to world of Draenor, where he hid several black dragonflight eggs before returning to Azeroth and taking up the guise of the human lord Daval Prestor. Deathwing was discovered by the other Aspects during this time and retreated to the elemental plane of Deepholm to escape justice.

Deathwing returned to Azeroth after the fall of the Lich King, emerging in a world-breaking wave of destruction known as the Cataclysm. At the height of his power, Deathwing's goal was nothing less than the Hour of Twilight: the end of all life on Azeroth. The former Aspect was supported in this nihilistic goal by the Twilight's Hammer cult and the elemental lords Al'Akir and Ragnaros. Deathwing is a raid boss and the primary antagonist of the World of Warcraft expansion Cataclysm. The Aspects sent brave adventurers back in time to obtain the Dragon Soul, the only weapon capable of defeating the Destroyer. In the end, he was defeated by the other Aspects and their mortal champions, and utterly destroyed when Thrall used the Dragon Soul against him.

Deathwing also appears in Hearthstone.

Dezco

Dezco is the tauren chieftain of the Dawnchaser tribe and one of the most prominent Sunwalkers: taurens who revere An'she the Sun and draw their power from her light. After the Cataclysm, Dezco, his pregnant wife Leza, and other members of his tribe received a vision of a golden, verdant land of peace hidden in uncharted waters. The Dawnchaser tribe suffered tremendous tragedies on their way to find that valley. Ships were lost at sea, tribe members perished in mogu attacks, and Dezco's wife died giving birth to twins—although with help from a champion of the Horde, the twins survived their perilous time in the Krasarang Wilds. Sunwalker Dezco pushed onward, leading his tribe to the gates of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms—the place some had seen in their visions. After convincing the August Celestials to allow outsiders access to the sacred place—with the help of Anduin Wrynn—the Dawnchaser tribe settled at the Shrine of Two Moons and committed themselves to defending the Vale against the mogu.

Some time later, the Celestial of Hope, Chi-Ji the Red Crane, informed Sunwalker Dezco that one of his children was destined to join the protectors of the Vale, the Golden Lotus. Stunned by the news and unwilling to allow either of his sons to grow up away from their tauren heritage, Dezco decided to return to Mulgore. In his journey across the Vale, Dezco and a group of refugees fell victim to a mogu raid, and despite Dezco's best efforts to keep both of his children alive, when the fighting settled, one child was dead and the other dying from mogu poisons. A member of the Golden Lotus, Mokimo, invoked the healing power of the Vale's waters to save the dying tauren. Dezco concluded that such a wondrous place needed and deserved all the protection he could provide, and agreed to let his remaining child grow up under the tutelage of the Golden Lotus and become a caretaker of the land.

Sunwalker Dezco continues to defend the Vale, and indeed, all of Pandaria, from those who would bring harm to it.

Durotan

Durotan (voiced by Scott McNeil in Warlords of Draenor, and portrayed by Toby Kebbell in the film) was the orc chieftain of the Frostwolf clan, one of the orcish clans of Draenor. Unlike most of his people, Durotan felt uneasy when the orcs, led by the shaman Ner'zhul—who was under the influence of Kil'jaeden, the leader of the Burning Legion—waged war against the draenei, with whom they had lived peacefully for many years. He and his friend, Orgrim Doomhammer, had been saved by the draenei when they were children, and he did not agree with fighting against their unsuspecting counterparts. Nevertheless, he reluctantly aligned himself and his Frostwolf clan with Ner'zhul and his orcish Horde in order to keep his clan out of danger. After receiving a message from Velen the Prophet, the leader of the draenei, Ner'zhul ordered Durotan and some of his clan to capture Velen and bring the eredar before him so that he could speak to the Prophet in person. Durotan's intention's, however, were to speak with Velen and find out how his race had found themselves on Draenor, so that they could find a solution. As he and his clan, including their elder shaman, Drek'thar, listened to Velen, Drek'thar grew frustrated and was about to attack the Prophet, before Durotan stopped him. Following through with his orders, he reluctantly took Velen in as a prisoner of their clan before he could be harmed. However, the noble chieftain, conflicted, let the Prophet go after speaking to him again later that night. When Ner'zhul confronted Durotan about why he had returned without a prisoner, Durotan told him that if he had wanted to capture Velen, he should have done so himself. Ner'zhul was also conflicted, as the orcs held the Frostwolf clan in very high regard, and he had also begun to doubt his master and the path that he was leading them on. However, before he could speak, Ner'zhul's apprentice, Gul'dan, told Durotan that he would soon receive a message from Kil'jaeden, exiling them from the rest of the Horde.

As the months passed, the orcs, now openly under the control of Kil'jaeden, gained the upper hand on the draenei. Gul'dan took Ner'zhul's place as Kil'jaeden's lieutenant and became the first orcish warlock, wielding fel magic rather than the elemental powers of a shaman. When Gul'dan told the orcs to drink the blood of the pit lord Mannoroth, Durotan refused. He had foreseen that the blood would corrupt most of their race and bind them to the Burning Legion, and he did not want to endanger his people or participate in the campaign against the draenei. He journeyed to Azeroth instead, where he found his old friend, Orgrim Doomhammer, and told him of Gul'dan's betrayal. This act would eventually cost Durotan his life, as Gul'dan sent assassins to kill him.

An alternate version of Durotan is the primary protagonist for the Horde in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. In an alternate timeline, Durotan refused to align his Frostwolf clan with the Iron Horde. Instead, Durotan allied himself with Thrall and other Horde adventurers. He aided Khadgar and the draenei in defending Shattrath City, and participated in the assault on Hellfire Citadel. Fighting alongside Grommash, Khadgar, Yrel, and a band of adventurers, Durotan helped defeat the demon lord Archimonde.

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Falstad Wildhammer

Falstad Wildhammer, also known as Falstad Dragonreaver, is the high thane of the dwarven Wildhammer clan. He rules the Wildhammers from Aerie Peak in the Hinterlands, and serves as a member of the Council of Three Hammers in Ironforge. After the Second War, he helped Rhonin destroy the Demon Soul and free Alexstrasza from the Dragonmaw clan.

Falstad also appears in Heroes of the Storm.

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Garrosh Hellscream

Garrosh Hellscream (voiced by Patrick Seitz) was a former warchief of the Horde faction. He is the son of the heroic warrior Grommash Hellscream. When the orc clans of Draenor united to form the first Horde in order to march through the Dark Portal to conquer Azeroth, Garrosh remained behind in Nagrand due to being infected with red pox, a plague that had begun to infect the orcs. During the events of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, the Warchief Thrall, founder of the renewed Horde, travelled to Nagrand, where he met Garrosh. Though he wasn't demonically influenced himself, Garrosh was haunted by his family's legacy: his father was the first orc to embrace corruption by drinking the blood of the pit lord Mannoroth. Garrosh lived in the shadow of his father's acts until he met Thrall, who explained to the younger Hellscream that Grommash ultimately gave his life to lift the demonic blood-curse, and freed his race from servitude to dark forces. Learning of his father's great deeds, Garrosh returned to Azeroth with Thrall and became a member of the Horde.

During the events of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Garrosh led the Warsong Offensive, the Horde armies sent to wage war against the Lich King. Following the war's end, Garrosh returned to Orgrimmar as a venerated war hero. Garrosh eventually became the Warchief of the Horde after Thrall stepped down to focus on his shamanistic duties in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Brash, stubborn and impatient, all Garrosh wished as Warchief was to conquer all of Azeroth in the name of the Horde, and was willing to crush any who stood in his way, even the other members of the Horde. As the events of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria progress, Garrosh's increasingly brutal pursuit of dominance led him to turn to ever darker sources of power, earning the hatred and distrust of the other races and leaders of the Horde and of the denizens of Pandaria, particularly the Shado-pan, the order of Pandaren guardians. After narrowly surviving an assassination attempt by Garrosh, the troll leader Vol'jin began an uprising against the Warchief, leading the other races of the Horde in increasingly open rebellion against their former leader. The Alliance, although determined to make the most of this opportunity to dismantle the Horde and dispose of Garrosh, joined in grudging cooperation with Vol'jin's rebellion. Garrosh was defeated in a siege of Orgrimmar by Alliance and Horde champions. In an agreement to cease hostilities, both factions agreed to allow Garrosh to be tried for his crimes by the Pandaren, whose homeland suffered the greatest as a result of Garrosh's actions. Garrosh subsequently escaped imprisonment with the help of the bronze dragon Kairozdormu and initiated the events of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, changing the future by going back in time to his homeworld of Draenor before the rise of the Horde.

After influencing an alternate version of his father, Grommash, to reject the blood of Mannoroth offered by Gul'dan, Garrosh became warlord of the Warsong clan while Grommash became Warchief of the Iron Horde, based out of the fortress of Grommashar in Nagrand. A combined Alliance–Horde force led by Durotan attacked the fortress, where Thrall challenged Garrosh to Mak'gora, an honourable duel to the death. Garrosh agreed to meet Thrall "where it all began"—at the Stones of Prophecy, the site of the village he had led in Outland known as Garadar. As they battled, Garrosh claimed that his actions were for the good of the Horde, and that it was Thrall who had made him Warchief and left him to "pick up [Thrall's] pieces". Though outmatched physically, Thrall called upon the formidable powers of the elements to grasp Garrosh in a hand of earth. Garrosh raged that Thrall had made him what he was, to which Thrall retaliated by saying that Garrosh had chosen his own destiny, before Thrall ended his life with a bolt of lightning.

Garrosh also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes Of The Storm

Gazlowe

Gazlowe (voiced by Travis Willingham) is the leader of Ratchet, a town in the Northern Barrens. He was formerly the chief engineer of the Horde engineering works in Durotar, and he oversaw the construction of the city of Orgrimmar. While keen to remain neutral towards the Alliance, he has no love for them and retains strong relations with the Horde. Gazlowe is the chief engineer of the Horde garrison on Draenor in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor.

Gazlowe also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Gelbin Mekkatorque

Gelbin Mekkatorque (voiced by Dino Andrade) is the leader of the Gnomeregan refugees. Gelbin has been at the helm of the gnomish race during some of its most difficult and trying times. As the role of "high tinker" is an elected position, the fact that he has held it throughout such hardship is a testament to the love his people have for him. A brilliant inventor, Gelbin rose quickly to prominence among the meritocratic gnomes with his innovative designs and creative problem-solving skills. He built the first functioning mechanostrider, assisted in the development of the dwarven siege engine, and was instrumental in the creation of the Deeprun Tram that runs from Ironforge to Stormwind City.

The loss of Gnomeregan weighs heavily on the high tinker. He was unprepared for the invasion that swept through his beloved city, and betrayed by a trusted advisor who convinced him to react hastily, resulting in unnecessary deaths. Now Mekkatorque's brilliant mind has taken on a surgical focus with one single outcome: the retaking of Gnomeregan. The gnomes were able to carve out a tenuous foothold in New Tinkertown, but there will be more bloodshed before they manage to liberate the rest of their home.

Gelbin also appears in Hearthstone.

Genn Greymane

Genn Greymane is the King of Gilneas. During the Second War, Genn was a proud, strong-willed, cunning, and arrogant man. He and his armies stood by the Alliance during the Second War, but only offered token support. In the aftermath it became clear to Genn Greymane that the Alliance needed Gilneas more than Gilneas needed the Alliance. Following the Second War, he ordered the construction of the seemingly impenetrable Greymane Wall to protect his people from outside threats, effectively closing off the nation from the world and its petty conflicts. For years the wall did as intended, but when the worgen curse spread into Gilneas, the enormous barrier began to resemble the gateway to a prison rather than a sanctuary. Unbeknownst to his people, Genn himself was infected by the worgen curse but has secretly kept the curse controlled with help from a night elf moon priestess. During Gilneas' isolation, Genn fought a civil war against one of his dearest friends, Darius Crowley. Though Genn won the conflict with Darius' arrest, new problems emerged as the Forsaken in nearby Silverpine Forest has been urged by the Horde to conquer his lands and have begun besieging the Greymane Wall.

During the events of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Gilneas City, capital city of Gilneas, has been overrun by wild worgen. Genn releases Darius Crowley and his rebels from prison and the two joined forces to keep the worgen at bay while they evacuate the city. Genn and the evacuees regroup in Duskhaven, a rural town by the shore. With help from his royal chemist, Genn has been able to concoct a potion that will allow Gilneans infected by the worgen curse to retain their human sentience. After the Cataclysm, many of Gilneas' natural barriers were destroyed allowing the Forsaken to penetrate the Greymane Wall and freely invade Gilneas. Genn was able to reunite with Darius (who was now worgen as well) and his secret night elf allies and rally a resistance force against the Forsaken. Genn also revealed his worgen curse to his people, telling them the truth. Though many among his people accepted him as their leader despite his worgen curse, Genn had to deal with betrayals from prejudiced Gilnean nobles. Even so, his forces were able to successfully counterattack and retake Gilneas City from Forsaken occupation. Yet victory was at the cost of his son Liam's life. Knowing that the Forsaken would return and bomb their city with their plague, Genn agreed to evacuate his people and seek refuge in the night elven home of Darnassus. Humbled by his experiences, Genn decided that he and his people will rejoin the Alliance and aid them in their war against the Horde.

Genn spearheads the Alliance forces on the Broken Isles in World of Warcraft: Legion after the death of King Varian. His hatred towards Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken often resulted in heated battles between them and his Worgen throughout the Broken Isles. This conflict reached its climax in Stormheim, where Genn prevented Sylvanas from gaining control over the Val'kyr, thus preventing her from being able to raise more Forsaken to bolster her people's numbers.

Genn also appears in Heroes of the Storm.

Grommash Hellscream

Grommash Hellscream (voiced by Arthur Burghardt in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson in Warlords of Draenor, and portrayed by Terry Notary in the film) was the last surviving orc chieftain from Draenor. Having led his mighty Warsong clan to countless victories over the humans, Grommash despaired at the lethargy that overcame his race after the Second War. Grommash was the first orc to fall victim to the demons’ curse of his race, and struggled with the rage and bloodlust within his heart for many long years until, under Thrall’s visionary, idealistic leadership, he ultimately came to believe that he and his people could finally be freed from the demons’ corrupting influence. In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Grommash was tricked into leading his clan into drinking the blood of Mannoroth, thus enslaving his people to the demon-inducing rage and bloodlust once again. Thrall and Jaina Proudmoore formed a coalition and helped free Grommash from the demon's curse, before he and Thrall confronted Mannoroth together. Grommash sacrificed himself to kill Mannoroth, thus severing the demons' hold over the orcs, and became a hero of the Horde.

A Grommash Hellscream from a parallel universe is the primary antagonist in the early stages of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. In an alternate timeline, Grommash was approached by his son, Garrosh Hellscream, from the current timeline. This mysterious advisor, who quickly earned his trust, warned Grommash about a traitor who schemed against the orcs to enslave them to demon masters. Grommash used the information to expose the plot, catapulting himself into a position to unite almost all of the orc clans. Grommash forged an Iron Horde free to seize its own destiny, and set out to conquer the draenei capital of Shattrath in Talador, the draenei's holy temple in Shadowmoon Valley, and the Frostwolf orc holdouts in Frostfire Ridge. However, all managed to stand up to the Iron Horde, and Grommash's men were turned into slaves of Gul'dan when he again refused to drink the blood of Mannoroth, and his right-hand man, Kilrogg Deadeye, accepted instead. He was then captured by Gul'dan, and subsequently freed by adventurers from Hellfire Citadel in Tanaan Jungle. Grommash then joined the combined forces of Khadgar, Durotan, Yrel and adventurers from the Alliance and Horde in defeating Archimonde, who had been summoned by Gul'dan, and preventing history from repeating itself.

Grommash also appears in Hearthstone.

Gul'dan

Gul'dan (voiced by Paul Eiding in Warcraft III, voiced by Troy Baker in World of Warcraft, and portrayed by Daniel Wu in the film) is an orc warlock, formerly a shaman from the Shadowmoon clan born on Draenor, the homeworld of the orcs. Mentored by the elder shaman Ner'zhul, Gul'dan sought power above all else and when Ner'zhul was contacted by the demon lord Kil'jaeden, Gul'dan helped him make a blood pact with the demons. Ner'zhul sought to undercut their alliance when he learned the pact would make the entire orc people slaves to demons, but before he could, Gul'dan betrayed him and took his place. Gul'dan became the first known warlock and the head of the Shadow Council, a cabal of resourceful orcs who secretly served the Burning Legion from within orc society. Gul'dan's actions would ultimately lead to the corruption of the Horde; he deceived several leaders of the orcish clans into drinking the blood of the pit lord Mannoroth, binding them to the Legion. With a unified orc army at his disposal, Gul'dan launched an unprovoked attack against Shattrath City, and razed the draenei capital. Even though the orcs had followed Kil'jaeden's orders, the demon lord abandoned them, leaving them to fight amongst themselves for years on a world that quickly turned barren from the use of fel magic. Gul'dan was also responsible for raising the gigantic fel volcano known as the Hand of Gul'dan after severing the orcs' ties to the ancestral spirits of Draenor.

Gul'dan saw a new destiny for the Horde after being contacted by the corrupted Guardian Medivh, who was possessed by the fallen titan, Sargeras. The orc warlock was promised endless power in exchange for conquering Azeroth and freeing the body of Sargeras. The Shadow Council built and opened a Dark Portal with Medivh's help, and the orcs plundered their way across the Eastern Kingdoms, eventually laying siege to Stormwind City. With victory in his grasp, Gul'dan decided that he no longer wished to wait for Medivh to voluntarily tell him the location of Sargeras's tomb. The warlock was searching deep within Medivh's mind when the human sorcerer was killed during a daring raid, and Gul'dan fell into a coma. By the time Gul'dan awoke, most of his followers were dead, and the Horde was now firmly under the command of Orgrim Doomhammer. Gul'dan swore allegiance to the new Warchief by assembling an undead army—the dreaded death knights—from the corpses of Stormwind's fallen heroes. However, when Orgrim's Horde needed him the most during the Second War, Gul'dan and some of his clans abandoned Orgim to seek the tomb of Sargeras, where he uncovered the terrible truth behind his efforts: Sargeras never had any intention of granting him power at all. Gul'dan was torn to shreds by the masses of vicious demons inside the tomb, and his very skull became a focus of demonic power.

An alternate version of Gul'dan appears in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor as a secondary antagonist, who later becomes the main antagonist. This Gul'dan was contacted by the Legion directly at a much younger age, differing greatly from his transition through Ner'zhul who planned to use him in their plot to conquer Azeroth. After being exiled from his village when he was young, he journeyed to the Throne of the Elements to seek the help of the elements of Draenor, but they refused him. In his sorrow, a mysterious green essence known as fel magic appeared to him, and Gul'dan learned to harness it, using it to kill everyone in his village who had turned their back on him. After Garrosh Hellscream went back in time to convince the alternate version of his father, Grommash, to reject the demon pact, Gul'dan and his chief lieutenants, Cho'gall and Teron'gor, were imprisoned. Their magic was drained to power the Dark Portal that connected the alternate Draenor to Azeroth in the current timeline, until they were set free by adventurers to seal the portal. Meanwhile, the Shadow Council conducted its own battles against the draenei for the purposes of gaining greater power, while heroes from Azeroth battled the Iron Horde. Khadgar, the archmage who led the Azerothian expedition to the alternate Draenor (just as he had led the expedition to Draenor in the main timeline decades before), considered hunting down and stopping Gul'dan his highest priority.

After the deaths of several Iron Horde warlords, including Garrosh, Gul'dan repeated his offer to Grommash, who again refused. After incapacitating Grommash, Gul'dan made the same offer to anyone who sought greater power. Kilrogg Deadeye was the first to drink from the tainted cup and become warped by the demon's blood. Gul'dan took control of the Iron Horde and used the blood of Mannoroth to warp the landscape of the Tanaan Jungle. When a band of adventurers besieged Hellfire Citadel, Gul'dan opened a gate at the foot of the Dark Portal to summon the demon lord Archimonde from the Twisting Nether. The adventurers managed to defeat Archimonde, but in his final moments he forced Gul'dan through the gate.

Gul'dan returned as a major antagonist in World of Warcraft: Legion. Archimonde sent Gul'dan to the main timeline's Azeroth with the goal of paving the way for the Legion's third and largest invasion. Under the direction of Kil'jaeden, Gul'dan made his way to the Tomb of Sargeras on the Broken Isles. He briefly considered betraying the Legion, after discovering that the original Gul'dan was betrayed and killed by demons within the tomb, but Kil'jaeden offered him a choice: serve the Legion and be given a position of power, or betray them and be destroyed. Gul'dan chose to remain loyal and opened the tomb, allowing countless demons to flood into Azeroth. Gul'dan was then sent to Suramar to negotiate the surrender of the Nightborne elves. In a desperate counteroffensive, Alliance and Horde forces assaulted the Broken Shore in an attempt to stem the endless tide of demons. The battle resulted in a devastating defeat and the deaths of multiple heroes, including Tirion, Varian, and Vol'jin. Gul'dan made his way to the Nighthold in Suramar with the encased corpse of Illidan Stormrage, where he attempted to contact Sargeras and use Illidan's body as his new host, but was defeated by heroes and Khadgar. He was ultimately slain by the revived Illidan Stormrage.

Gul'dan also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Gul'dan appears as the main antagonist of the live-action adpatation of Warcraft which was directed by Duncan Jones. In the film itself, he was portrayed and voiced by Daniel Wu. In the film, he appears once again as a powerful orc warlock, and he unites the orc clans and forms the Horde, and creates a portal to the world of Azeroth. The orcs begin to use fel magic to drain the life out of captive draenei to sustain the portal. Once it is operational, Gul'dan leads a small warband to capture prisoners on Azeroth and sacrifice them to bring the rest of the Horde through the portal. Durotan, the chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan, his pregnant mate Draka, and his friend Orgrim Doomhammer join this initial warband. While crossing through the portal, Draka goes into labor. When the orcs arrive on Azeroth, Gul'dan assists Draka with giving birth, but the baby is stillborn. Gul'dan then drains the life out of a nearby deer to revive and infuse fel magic into the baby, which Durotan later names Go'el.

The orcs ,led by Gul'dan raid several settlements throughout Azeroth. Anduin Lothar, the military commander of the human forces in the Stormwind Kingdom, looks over some of the men that were killed, and finds a trespassing mage named Khadgar, who explains that he was investigating the dead bodies because they contained traces of fel magic.

 He has his Orcs kidnap humans to sacrifice for the portal to get the rest of the orcs in. He kills Durotain when he learns that his fel magic is responsible for destroying the Orc home. His plan is stopped by Lothar and Khadgar who stopped his portal from opening and he loses most of his Orcs' respect and their commandment when Garona becomes the new leader of the Horde.

I

Illidan Stormrage

J

Jaina Proudmoore

Jarod Shadowsong

Jarod Shadowsong is the younger brother of Maiev Shadowsong, and was commander of the Kaldorei Resistance during the War of the Ancients. By the time the War of the Ancients broke out, Jarod Shadowsong had risen to the rank of captain in the Guard of Suramar, and his sister Maiev was one of the senior Sisters of Elune. The Shadowsong family was not of noble blood, and so both siblings had earned their positions through skill and hard work. Patrolling night elf lands for possible intruders, Jarod captured Krasus and made the disguised dragon a prisoner. A strange and extremely powerful phenomenon had thrown Krasus back to a time that contained a far younger version of Krasus, and the overlap had left Krasus weakened and ill unless he was in close proximity to his younger self.

With magical persuasion from Krasus, the captain began worrying that Krasus might die before being questioned. Thus, Jarod sought out one of the priestesses of Elune in the hope that she could heal his prisoner. He happened upon the novice Tyrande Whisperwind, and she consented to lend her aid. Although she could not heal Krasus of his malady, she was soon working with him to help her friend, Malfurion Stormrage, who had recently fallen comatose. The forest demigod Cenarius arrived, to Jarod's poorly concealed astonishment, and returned Malfurion's spirit from the Emerald Dream. Malfurion was reunited with his body and made a quick recovery. Then Jarod accompanied Krasus, Malfurion, and Tyrande as they went to speak with Lord Kur'talos Ravencrest, commander of the night elf army that was fighting the Burning Legion. Kur'talos was impressed by Jarod's dedication to duty, and put a group of battle-hardened soldiers at Jarod's command. Jarod and his soldiers were responsible for watching over the four strongest spellcasters of the night elf army: Malfurion and Illidan Stormrage, the human wizard Rhonin, and Krasus. Malfurion and Krasus eventually left the army and sought out the rest of the dragons, intending to appeal to them for help against the Legion. They embarked on this quest against Lord Ravencrest's express orders and without Jarod's knowledge. Yet Kur'talos could not find it in his heart to reproach Jarod for failing to halt the spellcasters' departure.

Eventually Kur'talos's strong leadership of the night elf army irked Queen Azshara, who instructed Captain Varo'then to eliminate the noble. The assassination was successful, and Lord Desdel Stareye became the new leader of the night elf defenders. Unfortunately Desdel had no skill at tactics. The invading demons pretended to retreat and then swiftly attacked the night elves from the air. Desdel watched in horror as the demons began pouring containers of boiling red liquid over the night elf army. Hundreds were injured, some mortally. When Jarod asked Desdel what action to take, the panicked noble had no useful response. Jarod caught sight of another group of demons hovering over Desdel, and so Jarod tried to pull Desdel out of the way. However, Desdel took offense at Jarod's effort and ordered him away on pain of imprisonment. Jarod yanked his mount aside just in time to avoid an agonizing death. The demons tipped over their container, and boiling liquid poured down on Desdel and his nearby companions. Desdel was killed in moments, his face maimed beyond recognition.

After Desdel's death, the remaining nobles could not agree on a new strategy for the army. Jarod was forced to step into the breach. With his intuitive grasp of tactics and his natural talent at leadership, he quickly found himself appointed the new leader of the night elf army. The relieved nobles eagerly followed his commands. Jarod continued to doubt his importance to the war effort, but he received a very welcome surprise. Cenarius led a large group of demigods into the midst of the night elf army and humbly knelt before the astonished captain. The demigods had agreed to fight under Jarod's direction. As the captain continued to rally the night elves and turn the tide of battle, he caught the eye of the demon lord Archimonde. Malfurion's absence from the battlefield had frustrated the massive demon, who decided to take out his fury on Jarod. Archimonde was certain that the Legion's victory was inevitable, and so he took his time, sadistically toying with Jarod, slowly beating him to death. Very likely Archimonde took even greater pleasure in the prospect of finally breaking Jarod's iron will. Before Jarod was too badly wounded to recover, though, Malfurion and Illidan Stormrage worked their combined magic on the Well of Eternity. All the demons, including Archimonde, were sucked into the Well and forced back into the Twisting Nether, howling in fury.

The Great Sundering triggered the birth of a new ocean, and the rushing waters chased the night elves all the way to Mount Hyjal. At last the waters subsided, and Jarod led a group of night elves to scout the area for drinkable water. They discovered that Illidan had created a second Well of Eternity, and with Malfurion's help, Jarod and the others captured Illidan. Jarod gave Malfurion the power to decide his reckless brother's fate, and so it was Malfurion who sentenced Illidan to an imprisonment that would last ten thousand years. A reluctant army commander, Jarod was deeply gladdened by the end of the war. He dissolved the makeshift army and continued to serve as a kind of administrator for a short time, but he had never wanted to be a leader. Gradually he directed increasing numbers of petitioners to the new high priestess of Elune, Tyrande Whisperwind, whose compassion and wisdom went a long way toward calming post-war tensions. By the time Tyrande established the night elves' new army, the Sentinels, Jarod had deliberately faded into the background. He did not think of himself as a hero, and he did not wish others to do so. One day he simply vanished, along with a few personal possessions. He did not say where he was going, nor, in fact, did he bid anyone farewell. Since that time, there have been no sightings of him.

Jarod returns in World of Warcraft: Legion after the demons invade the Broken Isles. With the help of the Horde and Alliance, he rescues his sister Maiev from imprisonment, frees the spirits of his people in Black Rook Hold from the Legion's influence and aids them in fending off the demons from Val'Sharah.

Jastor Gallywix

Trade Prince Jastor Gallywix is the goblin leader of the Bilgewater Cartel. After Deathwing reawakened a volcano on his home island, Trade Prince Gallywix realized that there was good money to be made in offering panicked refugees a ticket to safety on his ship, taking their life savings—and then selling them into slavery. A clever plan, until it (and the ship) fell apart in the naval crossfire between an Alliance fleet and a lone Horde ship. The goblin survivors washed ashore on the Lost Isles off the coast of Kalimdor, where they saved Thrall from being captured by the secretive SI:7 branch of King Varian's forces. Gallywix, a survivor himself, sent his goons to enslave the goblin survivors and forced them to work in his labor mine. He was later pressured to join the Horde after being defeated at the hands of its former warchief, Thrall, and his goblin ally. Gallywix and the Bilgewater Cartel sailed to Kalimdor where the goblins integrated themselves into Orgrimmar. As a token of loyalty to the horde, the goblins explosively terraformed the forests of Azshara in the shape of the Horde's symbol, where Gallywix had himself built a private resort where he resided in luxury. Gallywix and the Bilgewater goblins aided Vol'jin's revolution against the warchief Garrosh during World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria and defended Orgrimmar's northern gate during the Legions Invasion on Azeroth in World of Warcraft: Legion.

Gallywix also appears in Hearthstone.

Ji Firepaw

Ji Firepaw is a male pandaren and follower of the more direct Houjin philosophy, is adamant that inaction is the greatest injustice. Ji holds that it is honorable to defend home and family no matter the price. Outgoing, passionate, and not one for deep thought, he is always the first into the fray. Ji finds himself attracted to the scrappy practicality that defines the Horde, and although it costs him dearly, Ji has decided to carry the banner of the Horde upon leaving the Wandering Isle.

K

Kael'thas Sunstrider

Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider (voiced by Quinton Flynn) was the last of the royal bloodline of Quel'thalas and a member of the Kirin Tor. He had been pursuing magical studies in Dalaran at the time of the Scourge invasion. When he heard of the disaster, he hastened to Quel'Thalas and found his homeland in ruins. He realized that the elven survivors were all experiencing the same sickness and lethargy, which had begun when the Sunwell's magics were drained. Determined to salvage what he could, Kael'thas rallied all the survivors he could find and renamed them the sin'dorei, or "children of the blood", in honor of those who had fallen to the Scourge.

Thirsting for vengeance despite their weakened state, the healthiest blood elves, including Kael'thas, departed their ravaged land and joined the campaign against the Scourge in Lordaeron. In the prince's absence, Lor'themar was named regent of Quel'Thalas, and Halduron Brightwing became the new ranger-general of Silvermoon. To this day, Lor'themar continues to serve as the leader of Azeroth's blood elves. He and Halduron safeguard the land while they seek a cure for their people's seemingly insatiable hunger.

When Kael'thas and his suffering people volunteered to fight the Scourge alongside Alliance resistance forces, the blood elves 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 death. Fortunately Vashj arrived in time to free the blood elves, who were suffering terribly from their hunger for magic by this time. Vashj explained that the naga, too, were addicted to magic, and she said that Illidan could help the blood elves. She then led them to the portal that Kel'Thuzad had opened during the Third War (so as to give Archimonde entry into Azeroth). With no other palatable choices, Kael'thas and his fighters followed the naga through the portal and into the shattered realm of Outland. There, the elves freed the renegade demon Illidan Stormrage, who had been taken prisoner by Warden Maiev Shadowsong.

After the rescue, Kael'thas beseeched Illidan for a cure to the blood elves' addiction to magic. Illidan had a different proposal in mind, though: in return for the blood elves' loyalty, he would teach them to drain magic from powerful alternative sources, including demons. It was an offer Kael'thas felt he had to accept. He was certain his people would die without either a cure or a new source of magic. Kael'thas pledged his allegiance to Illidan, who taught several blood elves the techniques he had offered. These teachings spread to the other blood elves in Outland, who were then able to stave off their painful hunger for arcane magic.

On Outland, the prince became twisted due to his reliance on fel energy, the dark and corrupting essence wielded by the demonic Burning Legion itself. Unbeknownst to Illidan, Kael’thas also came under the sway of the Legion’s commander, Kil’jaeden. At the bidding of his new master, the wayward prince eventually returned to Azeroth and seized the site of the Sunwell, hoping to use the fount as a means to usher Kil’jaeden into the world. Ultimately, Kael’thas was slain before his recklessness could bring ruin to Azeroth.

Kael'thas also appears in Heroes of the Storm.

Kalecgos

Kalecgos (voiced by Carlos Larkin) is one of the few surviving blue dragons, a former servant of Malygos, and the current ruler of the blue dragonflight. He often disguises himself as a half-elf and calls himself Kalec. Kalecgos is young for a dragon, and was known for befriending mortals before the Cataclysm. He fell in love with Anveena Teague, the avatar of the Sunwell, though she ultimately sacrificed herself. Years later, Kalec began a relationship with Jaina Proudmoore.

Kargath Bladefist

Kargath Bladfist was the orcish chieftain of the Shattered Hand clan, a band of orcs who go through a trial of strength by cutting off their own hands in place of weapons. In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, Kargath and his clan took control of the Hellfire Citadel in Outlands where he was slain by horde and alliance invaders.

In World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, an alternate version of Kargath became one of the Iron Horde's Warlords. Born into slavery as a gladiator, he escaped by cutting his hand off and led a rebellion with the other orc slaves against his Ogre captors, creating the Shattered Hand clan. Kargath led many brutal raids against the Arakkoa in Draenor, slaughtering their numbers and taking their lands in the Spires of Arak. When alliance and horde forces raided the Ogre Capitol of Highmaul in Nagrand, Kargath was slain in the Colosseum after challenging the invaders.

Kel'Thuzad

Kel'Thuzad (voiced by Michael McConnohie in all of his game appearances with the exception of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King) was one of the greatest archmagi of Dalaran. He was a member of the Kirin Tor and a dear friend of the archmage Antonidas. However, his lust to delve into the dark arts of necromancy made him an outcast among his fellow wizards. Heeding the call of the god-like Lich King, Kel'Thuzad traveled to Northrend and offered his soul to Ner'zhul. The Lich King commanded the dark wizard to create a cult that would facilitate the creation of a grand undead army. Kel'Thuzad used his powers and vast fortune to found the Cult of the Damned—the sinister group that would bring Ner'zhul's dark will to fruition.

In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Kel'Thuzad and his Cult of the Damned struck the first blow by releasing the plague of undeath upon Lordaeron. Kel'Thuzad was murdered by Arthas for his crimes, but after Arthas's corruption into a death knight, the necromancer's spirit remained to advise the corrupted prince at the Lich King's behest. During Arthas's siege on Quel'Thalas, he used the Sunwell's power to reanimate Kel'Thuzad as a lich. Kel'Thuzad went on to serve as Arthas's most trusted majordomo.

In the Lich King's haste to spread the plague of undeath over Azeroth, he gifted Kel'Thuzad with the flying citadel of Naxxramas. Consistent attacks from the Scarlet Crusade and Argent Dawn factions weakened the defenses of the floating fortress, enabling an incursion that led to Kel'Thuzad's defeat. However, a traitor among the ranks of the Argent Dawn absconded with Kel'Thuzad's phylactery and fled to Northrend. In Wrath of the Lich King, Kel'Thuzad returned as the final boss of the relocated Naxxramas—now floating above the Carrion Fields in the Dragonblight, besieging Wintergarde Keep. The champions of Azeroth stormed the dread citadel and defeated the lich lord once again.

Kel'Thuzad also appears in Hearthstone.

Khadgar

Khadgar (voiced by Tony Amendola in the games, and portrayed by Ben Schnetzer in the film) is an archmage of the Kirin Tor and considered to be one of the most powerful and accomplished of all living wizards. A veteran of the First and Second Wars, Khadgar was the apprentice of Medivh, the last Guardian of Tirisfal. Although he is estimated to be in or around his forties in current lore, his physical appearance is that of an elderly man as the result of a curse cast by Medivh, possessed by the Dark Titan Sargeras, shortly before Khadgar and Anduin Lothar killed him. In the aftermath of the Second War, the Horde had stolen various magical artifacts in order to open portals to new worlds to conquer. Khadgar was one of the first to volunteer to join the Alliance Expedition, a group sent through the Dark Portal to the orc homeworld of Draenor in order to stop the Horde from invading other worlds. They were successful at stopping the Horde; however it came at a price —the combined magical energies from the many portals created by the shaman Ner'zhul literally tore the planet apart. Now referred to as Outland, all that remains of Draenor is a shattered continental landmass slowly crumbling into the Twisting Nether. During the events of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, Khadgar could be found within Shattrath City in Outland where he was assisting the Naaru forces in their battle with Illidan Stormrage and the Burning Legion. At some point between World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Khadgar returned to Dalaran on Azeroth where he accepted the role as one of the Six, the ruling council of the Kirin Tor. It was Khadgar who proposed that Jaina Proudmoore be selected as the new leader of the Kirin Tor.

Khadgar helped rally the Alliance and Horde forces to march through the altered Dark Portal in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, and also participated in the subsequent battle for Shattrath City. He became embroiled in a long battle of wits with Gul'dan, seeking to stop him from corrupting the new Draenor and summoning his demon masters. Ultimately, with the aid of champions of the Alliance and the Horde, Gul'dan's plans to bring the Legion to Draenor fail, but Gul'dan himself is pulled into a demon gate; Khadgar suspects that the battle has only just begun. He is proven right in the next expansion, World of Warcraft: Legion, when Gul'dan emerges in the "main" timeline and helps to bring about the largest demon invasion Azeroth has ever witnessed. By that point, Khadgar had assumed leadership of the Kirin Tor.

Khadgar also appears in Hearthstone.

Kil'jaeden

Kil'jaeden the Deceiver (voiced by Fred Tatasciore in The Burning Crusade, Richard Epcar in Legion) is an eredar demon lord of the Burning Legion and the right hand of Sargeras. A being of incredible power, Kil'jaeden was tasked with finding formidable races and assimilating them into the Burning Legion's army. He was responsible for the corruption of the orcs and the creation of the Lich King. Kil'jaeden has been attempting to get his agents to summon him onto Azeroth so that he may finally conquer it, succeeding once at the Sunwell, but was defeated by adventurers with the aid of the Draenei and Blood Elves.

Kil'jaeden returns in World of Warcraft: Legion. He speaks with his master Sargeras before launching a massive invasion onto the Kirin Tor city of Dalaran. After invading the Broken Shore and the Tomb of Sargeras, defeating the Legion presence there, adventurers battle Kil'jaeden, with the aid of Khadgar, Illidan and Velen, on his vessel orbiting the planet, Argus. Kil'jaeden is defeated and expresses envy towards Velen and his powers, saying that he believed Sargeras could not be defeated, but perhaps Velen and the heroes could prove him wrong, before dying in an explosion of fel magic. Khadgar and Illidan use the Illidari Keystone to teleport the heroes back to Azeroth safely but unintentionally bring Argus into Azeroth's sky.

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Lei Shen

Lei Shen (voiced by Paul Nakauchi) was an ancient mogu warlord who was able to unite the warring mogu clans. His aim was not to simply conquer weaker races, as his forebears had done, but to build a true empire. In order to do so, he traveled to the mythical Thundering Mountain and sought the truth about the forgotten god of the mogu. There he found the titanic keeper Ra-den, who stood guard over a powerful titan device known as the Engine of Nalak'sha, and claimed dominion over both. With his newly acquired powers, Lei Shen dubbed himself the "Thunder King" and became the first emperor of the mogu. He joined forces with the troll empire of Zandalar and established a tyrannical rule over Pandaria until the time of his death.

When the mists parted and revealed Pandaria to the world, the Zandalari trolls helped the scattered mogu resurrect their former leader. Lei Shen returned to his fortress, the Throne of Thunder, and began a campaign to crush the pandaren, reclaim the continent, and rebuild his empire. He was ultimately slain by heroic adventurers, and his black heart was eaten by Wrathion to prevent him from returning again.

Liadrin

Liadrin (voiced by Dana Lyn Baron) is the blood elf who founded the order of paladins known as the Blood Knights. The Blood Knights originally gained their powers by siphoning energy from a captive naaru named M'uru. When Kael'thas used the Sunwell to summon Kil'jaeden, the Blood Knights turned against him and pledged their services to the naaru A'dal. After Kil'jaeden's defeat, M'uru's heart was used to reignite the Sunwell as a font of holy magic.

Liadran also appears in Hearthstone.

Lich King

The Lich King (voiced by Michael McConnohie) is the master and lord of the Scourge, which he rules telepathically from the Frozen Throne atop the Icecrown Glacier. Kil'jaeden created the Lich King from the spirit of the orc shaman Ner'zhul to raise an undead army to conquer Azeroth for the Burning Legion. Initially trapped within the Frozen Throne, the Lich King eventually betrayed Kil'jaeden and merged with the human Arthas Menethil to break away from the Legion and conquer Azeroth for himself.

Years later, the Alliance and the Horde marched to destroy the Lich King only to discover that the Scourge would always need a leader. Bolvar Fordragon volunteered to become the new jailer of the damned, dedicating his existence to containing the undead. When the Legion returned, the Knights of the Ebon Blade - death knights who broke away from the Scourge before the war in Northrend - agreed to willingly serve the Lich King as long as he kept the rest of the Scourge confined to Northrend.

Li Li Stormstout

Li Li Stormstout (voiced by Lauren Tom) is the niece of Chen Stormstout. As a part of the illustrious Stormstout family, Li Li seems to be experiencing exactly the same wanderlust that gripped her uncle Chen in his youth…only worse. Her fixation on travel and exploration sent Li Li careening around her hometown, the back of the great turtle Shen-zin Su, also known as the Wandering Isle, as she grew up under the watchful eye of the martial artist and geomaster Strongbo. Bo found the young spitfire of a Stormstout to be as exacerbating as she was enthusiastic, but grudgingly vowed to protect Li Li when she ran away to search for her uncle Chen—even though he originally intended to bring her back to the Isle by force if necessary.

Stories of Li Li's travels to Kalimdor and beyond have been collected in numerous volumes, some penned by the young Stormstout herself, but perhaps the most pivotal result of Li Li's wandering has been her recovery of the omen-granting Pearl of Pandaria, which ultimately galvanized the return of Chen Stormstout. Reunited with her uncle Chen, Li Li now has a chance to roam Pandaria for the very first time, though her demeanor sometimes rubs other pandaren the wrong way. Some have taken to calling her "Wild Dog," a derogatory term for pandaren from the Wandering Isle.

Li Li also appears in Heroes of the Storm.

Lor'themar Theron

Lor'themar Theron (voiced by Dave Mallow in World of Warcraft, Gideon Emery in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria) is the leader of the blood elves. A veteran of the Second and Third Wars, Lor'themar served directly under the then Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner. Following Sylvanas's fall during the Scourge invasion, Lor'themar fought to help the survivors regroup and regain some of their former glory. Determined to forge ahead, they re-christened themselves blood elves in honor of their fallen brethren. Lor'themar took on an administrative role as regent lord under his people's ruler, Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, but it wasn't long before the still-weary elves discovered that Kael'thas was indebted to demonic entities. After helping to depose Kael'thas, Lor'themar remained de facto leader of the blood elves, many of whom now doubted whether they truly wanted to be ruled by a prince.

When the continent of Pandaria was discovered by Horde forces, Lor'themar and the blood elves were invited to help conquer the new land, but the sinister methods of Warchief Garrosh Hellscream led Lor'themar to reconsider his position. The regent lord initiated conversations with King Varian Wrynn, hoping to stage a coup, but Garrosh sabotaged his diplomatic efforts by organizing a heist in Darnassus and focusing blame on the blood elves. Later, Lor'themar allied himself with the Darkspear Rebellion led by Vol'jin, and in a joint operation with the Alliance, overthrew Garrosh from his position as Warchief.

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Magatha Grimtotem

Magatha Grimtotem is the matriarch and chieftain of the Grimtotem Tauren, a tribe of brutal and warmongering Tauren. Magatha is a powerful shaman and often sought the title of High Chieftain, which belonged to Cairne Bloodhoof, and after his death, Baine Bloodhoof. Prior to the events of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Magatha secretly applied a poison to Garrosh Hellscream's axe that was used in a Duel between him and Cairne. The poison weakened Cairne long enough for Garrosh to slay him in battle. Magatha's plot was revealed however and she was banished from Thunder Bluff alongside her tribe by Garrosh and Baine, who had become High Chieftain after his fathers death. The Grimtotem tribe fled to Thousand Needles in south Kalimdor, where they became involved in battles between both alliance and horde adventurers.

Magatha returns in World of Warcraft: Legion where she travels to the shaman order hall in the Maelstrom to ask for aid as the Legion has invaded her tribes home in Thousand Needles. The player travels with Magatha and defeats the legion, liberating the Grimtotem tribe, and recovers the Doomstone, an elemental artifact capable of immense destruction, from the demons. Despite Magatha's objections, the Doomstone is returned to the Maelstrom to be kept in safe hands, while Magatha agrees to fight alongside the player as the Shaman's Legendary Follower.

Magni Bronzebeard

Magni Bronzebeard (voiced by Carlos Larkin in the games, and portrayed by Michael Adamthwaite in the film) was the former king of Ironforge and the dwarves of Khaz Modan. The eldest of the three Bronzebeard brothers, Magni was destined to be the king under the mountain. When the orcish Horde invaded Azeroth, Ironforge’s dwarves offered to join the Alliance of Lordaeron. Led by King Magni Bronzebeard, the city’s resilient inhabitants proved to be the backbone of the Alliance forces, helping to secure victory after victory against the orcs. Ever since that time, Ironforge’s dwarves have remained an invaluable part of the Alliance.

When freak natural disasters began rocking much of Azeroth just prior to the Cataclysm, the dwarven lands were not spared from the calamitous upheavals. A series of violent quakes tore through areas surrounding Ironforge, reducing settlements to rubble and taking the lives of many innocent dwarves in the process. To glean answers as to the troubling state of the world, King Magni selflessly underwent a mystic ritual to commune with the earth. The archaic ceremony, however, had an unexpected effect: Magni was transformed into diamond and became fused to the depths of Ironforge itself. The Council of Three Hammers took over leadership of Ironforge and in Legion Magni was freed from his prison by Azeroth's sleeping Titan so it could communicate with him.

Magni also appears in Hearthstone.

Maiev Shadowsong

Maiev Shadowsong (voiced by Debi Mae West) played a key role in the battle against the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients. In the aftermath, Maiev asked to be appointed as the jailer of Illidan Stormrage and took on the mantle of leader of the Watchers. When Illidan was set free from his prison, Maiev and her Watchers chased him to the ends of the world. After Illidan rose to power in Outland, Maiev followed him there and tried to apprehend him, but she was defeated and subsequently imprisoned. Maiev was held at the Warden's Cage in Shadowmoon Valley, where Akama and his Ashtongue Deathsworn served as her jailers.

During the events of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, Maiev allied with Akama and snuck into the Black Temple during a Sha'tari attack, where she joined Akama and the adventurers he had rallied in the final battle against Illidan. Fuelled by a desire for vengeance, Maiev struck the final blow that ended the Betrayer's life. Instead of relishing in her victory, she became a shell of her former self, admitting that with Illidan dead, she was nothing.

Malfurion Stormrage

Malfurion Stormrage (voiced by Ed Trotta) was the first of the mortal druids on Azeroth, and the night elf who initiated the mainstream use of druidism among the kaldorei people ten millennia ago under tutelage of the demigod Cenarius. Under the guidance of Cenarius—the demigod of nature and patron of druids—the venerable Malfurion Stormrage has protected the night elves from demonic invaders for millennia. During the War of the Ancients, Malfurion was among those who defended all life on Azeroth from the terrible Burning Legion, along with his future lover Tyrande Whisperwind and his brother Illidan. After their victory against the demons, Malfurion saw to it that the night elves left the Legion's ravages behind, settling in a new home near Mount Hyjal and overseeing the growth of the World Tree, Nordrassil. The Aspect of Dreams, Ysera, linked Nordrassil to the Emerald Dream—a representation of Azeroth without war and interference from sentient beings—allowing all druids, including Malfurion, access to the realm. Malfurion and others explored the Dream for centuries.

Malfurion was awakened by Tyrande to aid the resistance against the Legion once more during the Third War; upon returning to his slumber, he battled his nemesis, the satyr Xavius, who was attempting to corrupt the Emerald Dream from inside. When Deathwing broke the world and stirred the rage of elementals during the Cataclysm, Malfurion left the night elven capital of Darnassus, and gathered his fellow druids to save Azeroth once more, creating a task force to stop the invasion led by the vicious firelord Ragnaros. With the Destroyer's demise, a finally wakeful Malfurion rejoined Tyrande to support the efforts of the Alliance.

Malfurion also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Malygos

Malygos the Spellweaver (voiced by Cam Clarke) was the leader of the blue dragonflight and one of the original five dragon Aspects, blessed by the titan Norgannon and charged with guarding magic and the arcane. The oldest of the dragon Aspects, Malygos lent his power to the creation of the Dragon Soul. After the destruction of the blue dragonflight at the hands of Neltharion, Malygos was driven to madness. Having regained much of his sanity by the time of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Malygos began to grow concerned by the reckless use of magic on Azeroth. Declaring war on all magic users (particularly the Kirin Tor in Dalaran), Malygos sought to end the perceived misuse of magic by the mortal races. As the protector of life, Alexstrasza stepped in to defend the mortals, which resulted in Malygos's death in the Eye of Eternity. Malygos was succeeded as the leader of the blue dragonflight by Kalecgos.

Malygos also appears in Hearthstone.

Mannoroth

Mannoroth the Destructor (voiced by Arthur Burghardt) was the Demon King of the Pit Lords and general of the Burning Legion. As a Pit Lord himself, he is a being of pure hate, malice, and rage. He is the ultimate living engine of destruction, seeking only to raze and murder everything in his path. He has some significant ties to the orcish race since his blood was the original source of their bloodlust and corruption. Mannoroth has waited ten thousand years to return and finish the job he started during the War of the Ancients and with the Burning Legion's agents creating portals into Azeroth once again, he feels that the time for his vengeance is finally coming.

In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, he tricked Grom Hellscream into leading his people to drink his blood, thus enslaving the Warsong clan to the demon-induced rage and bloodlust once again. Thrall and Jaina formed a coalition and helped free Grom from the demon's curse and afterwards, Grom and Thrall confronted Mannoroth together. Grom sacrificed himself to kill Mannoroth, thus severing the demons' hold over the orcs.

Mannoroth did not stay dead and would eventually return in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. Once again, he had attempted to assemble the Horde, but due to the actions of Garrosh Hellscream the Orcs had been supplied with Goblin weaponry to combat the Pit Lord. Mannoroth was slain by Grommash, and remained deceased for the majority of the War on Draenor. His return would be enacted prematurely by Gul'dan, however, resulting in a severe lack of power on Mannoroth's end. Over the course of the final battle atop Hellfire Citadel, Gul'dan not only restored Mannoroth to full power, but also enhanced the power he once possessed. Even with this great strength, Mannoroth was once again defeated and his soul was returned to the Twisting Nether.

Medivh

Medivh (voiced by Michael Bell in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Heroes of the Storm, and World of Warcraft: Legion, voiced by Cam Clarke in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade and Hearthstone, and portrayed by Ben Foster^[2] in the film) was the last Guardian of Tirisfal, descending from a long line of powerful sorcerers charged with defending Azeroth against the Burning Legion and other threats. He was the son of Aegwynn, the previous Guardian, and Nielas Aran, a conjurer from the court of Stormwind and member of the Council of Tirisfal. Unbeknownst to anyone, Medivh was born corrupted, as he was possessed by the essence of the Dark Titan Sargeras after Aegwynn had defeated his "avatar" centuries before. Medivh grew up in Stormwind with his best friends Llane Wrynn, the future King of Stormwind, and Anduin Lothar. When the powers of the Guardian (and Sargeras) awakened within him, Medivh fell into a comatose state, remaining so for many years, with his friends tending to him.

By the time of the First War between humans and orcs, Medivh lived as a recluse in the mystic tower of Karazhan, with only his steward Moroes and his personal cook (known simply as "Cook") residing in the tower with him. It was around this time that he finally took an apprentice, a young mage from Dalaran named Khadgar. Through the visions that haunted Karazhan, Khadgar had learned that Medivh had been responsible for working with Gul'dan to open the Dark Portal, bringing the Horde to Azeroth. Realizing the Guardian was corrupted, Khadgar turned to Lothar, who led a party into the tower to confront Medivh, ending with Lothar taking off his friend's head. Medivh's body was buried outside of Karazhan by Khadgar, who would go on to become a powerful archmage in his own right.

By Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Medivh had returned from the Beyond to redeem himself for past sins; the novel Cycle of Hatred by Keith R.A. DeCandido revealed that in the years following Medivh's death, Aegwynn pooled all of her remaining powers (what she had not bestowed upon Medivh so that he would become the Guardian) to resurrect her son. Medivh appeared in the guise of a wandering prophet, warning the Horde and the Alliance of the dangers they faced and urging them to band together. Jaded by generations of hate, the orcs and humans would have none of it. Medivh was forced to deal with each race separately, using prophecy and trickery to guide them across the sea to the legendary land of Kalimdor. There, the humans, orcs, and night elves were at last united under a common cause, and convinced by Medivh to band together and make a last stand against the Burning Legion at Mount Hyjal. With his work done, Medivh seemingly vanished after the battle was won.

Medivh returns in World of Warcraft: Legion, when the Legion attempts to take control of Karazhan. He appears in the flesh to Khadgar (much to the latter's surprise) to aid in dispelling the Legion's magic and defeating the intended incursion into Azeroth. After the demons are defeated, Khadgar asks for Medivh's help in the ongoing invasion; Medivh declines, saying that he was needed elsewhere, and that Azeroth already had its Guardian in Khadgar. Though Khadgar refuses, believing that the power of the Guardian was corrupting, Medivh replies that Khadgar has all the power he needs, and that it was his courage and strength of heart in defending Azeroth that made him the Guardian. He tells Khadgar that "it may be simpler to shut a door than to pass through it, but sometimes a step into the unknown is required to break the bonds of fate", and then departs, leaving Khadgar to ponder the meaning of his words.

Medivh also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Moira Thaurissan

Moira Thaurissan (voiced by Elle Newlands), daughter of King Magni Bronzebeard and Princess of Ironforge, is one of the members of the Council of the Three Hammers, in which she represents the Dark Iron clan. Kidnapped several years ago by the dark sorcerer and then Emperor of the Dark Iron dwarves Dagran Thaurissan, Moira was surprised to find herself being offered more respect and equality as a woman by her captor than she had even known from her father. Thus, she came to love him and the two were married. When her father sent a team to kill Thaurissan and free Moira from her presumed ensorcellment, Moira, stricken by grief, refused to return home, and revealed that she was pregnant.

Following her father's petrification, Moira later returned to Ironforge to claim the throne. With the support of the Dark Iron clan, she seized control of the dwarven capital, holding the people of Ironforge hostage, including the visiting Prince Anduin Wrynn. When King Varian Wrynn and SI:7 operatives entered the city in order to assassinate Moira, the young Anduin was able to persuade his father to spare her life, and rather guide her to be a better leader. Varian reluctantly agreed, but in exchange called for the formation of the Council of Three Hammers, balancing Moira's will against those of the leaders of the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer clans.

Despite her troubled past, in recent times Moira has worked to reintegrate the Dark Iron clan into the Ironforge Kingdom, and has made great efforts to prove both her own and her people's loyalty to King Varian and the Alliance.

Muradin Bronzebeard

Muradin Bronzebeard (voiced by Carlos Larkin) is the brother of King Magni Bronzebeard of Ironforge. During the dark days of the Second War, Muradin served as the liaison between Lordaeron and the dwarves’ realm of Khaz Modan. While at the court of Lordaeron, Muradin befriended the youthful Arthas and taught him how to master fighting blades of every type. Muradin was one of the first dwarves to establish the Explorer’s Guild, a group dedicated to archaeology and exploration of the unknown world. Though Muradin rarely has a chance to visit Khaz Modan or Lordaeron anymore, he is a firm supporter of the dwarves’ alliance with the humans.

As Arthas began to slip into madness while in pursuit of the cursed sword, Frostmourne, Muradin pleaded for the young prince to listen to his counsel as he had so many times before, but Arthas refused to listen, and Muradin became Frostmourne’s first victim at Arthas’s hand. In World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, it is revealed that Muradin survived and had been suffering from amnesia. He wandered Northrend until he was found by the frost dwarves and after witnessing his battle prowess, made him their king. Ever since then he has been going by the name Yorg Stormheart, named after a legendary frostborn dwarf. Years later his people had befriended the Alliance's Explorer's League during the Alliance's war against the Lich King. After being recognized by Alliance adventurers, Muradin was reunited with his brothers and recovered his memories. He then proceeded in aiding the Alliance fight Arthas, who had become the Lich King. Years later, he became the representative of the Bronzebeard clan for the Council of the Three Hammers since the “diamond-ization” of his brother, King Magni.

Muradin also appears in Heroes of the Storm.

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Neptulon

Neptulon the Tidehunter (voiced by John Behlmann) is one of the four Elemental Lords and Lord of Water. Neptulon originally fought against the other lords before the time of man until the Black Empire of the Old Gods began corrupting Azeroth. Neptulon joined forces with the other Elemental Lords to fight against them and their insectiod armies, but eventually was corrupted by their influences and enslaved. When the Titans and Keepers intervened to stop the Old Gods, Neptulon and the other Lords were defeated and banished to their elemental realms, Neptulon being sent back to the Throne of Tides.

Neptulon returns in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm where he fought against Deathwing and the Twilight Cult in Vashj'ir. When groups of alliance and horde soldiers and adventurers were shipwrecked and captured by the Naga in Vashj'ir, they fought against the Naga and Twilight Cult leading them to the Throne of Tides where Neptulon was fighting for control of his realm against the Leviathan, Ozumat. The horde and alliance adventurers assisted Neptulon in defending the Throne, but Neptulon was captured by Ozumat and his fate was left unknown.

It is revealed that Neptulon survived his encounter with Ozumat and returns in World of Warcraft: Legion. Summoned by the Earthen Ring, Neptulon agrees to aid the shamans in fighting against the Legion and agrees to unite with the other Elemental Lords.

Neptulon also appears in Hearthstone.

Ner'zhul

Ner'zhul was an elder orc shaman who first united the orcish clans of Draenor into what would later become the first orcish Horde, before falling as a slave of the Burning Legion. Long ago, Kil'jaeden enthralled Ner'zhul and used the cunning shaman as his conduit to spread battle lust and savagery throughout the orc clans. Before long, the shamanistic orcish race was transformed into a bloodthirsty people. Kil'jaeden then urged Ner'zhul and his people to take the last step: to give themselves over entirely to the pursuit of death and war. Yet the old shaman, sensing that his people would be enslaved to hatred forever, somehow resisted the demon's command. Frustrated by Ner'zhul's resistance, Kil'jaeden searched for another orc who would deliver his people into the Legion's hands. The clever demon lord finally found the willing disciple he sought—Ner'zhul's ambitious apprentice, Gul'dan. Kil'jaeden promised Gul'dan untold power in exchange for his utter obedience. The young orc became an avid student of demonic magic and developed into the most powerful mortal warlock in history. He taught other young orcs the arcane arts and strove to eradicate the orcs' shamanistic traditions. Gul'dan showed a new brand of magic to his brethren, a terrible new power that reeked of doom. Kil'jaeden, seeking to tighten his hold over the orcs, helped Gul'dan found the Shadow Council, a secretive sect that manipulated the clans and spread the use of warlock magics throughout Draenor. As more and more orcs began to wield warlock magics, the gentle fields and streams of Draenor began to blacken and fade. Over time, the vast prairies the orcs had called home for generations withered away, leaving only red barren soil. The demon energies were slowly killing the world.

After Orgrim Doomhammer's defeat in Azeroth, a new orcish army prepared to strike at the unsuspecting Alliance in Draenor. Ner'zhul, the former mentor of Gul'dan, rallied the remaining orc clans under his dark banner. Aided by the Shadowmoon clan, the old shaman planned to open a number of portals on Draenor that would lead the Horde to new, unspoiled worlds. To power his new portals, he needed a number of enchanted artifacts from Azeroth. To procure them, Ner'zhul reopened the Dark Portal and sent his ravenous servants charging through it. Under Ner'zhul's surgical command, the orcs quickly rounded up the artifacts that they needed and fled back to the safety of Draenor. King Terenas of Lordaeron, convinced that the orcs were preparing a new invasion of Azeroth, assembled his most trusted lieutenants. He ordered General Turalyon and the archmage, Khadgar, to lead an expedition through the Dark Portal to put an end to the orcish threat once and for all. After the Second War drew to a close, Ner'zhul—guided by visions of death—frantically opened new portals to worlds that the orcish hordes might invade, but the magical stress of creating so many portals at once tore Draenor apart. Ner'zhul escaped the death of his homeworld by fleeing into the nearest rift, only to find the demon Kil'jaeden lying in wait for him. Kil'jaeden had long manipulated Ner'zhul's visions to guide the orcs down a dark path, and the demon punished Ner'zhul by destroying his body and encasing his spirit in an icy cask that would come to be called the Frozen Throne. This act birthed the Lich King, a spectral presence made to command the Scourge, an army of undead that would serve as the Burning Legion's advance weapon against Azeroth.

Despite his orders, the Lich King plotted against Kil'jaeden, seeking to break free of the Legion's influence. During the Third War, he summoned Arthas Menethil, the fallen prince of Lordaeron, to serve as his most loyal death knight. In Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, when the Lich King was threatened by the forces of Illidan Stormrage, Arthas travelled to the Frozen Throne in Northrend and broke the ice surrounding his master, donning the Lich King's helm and merging with him, before encasing himself in the surrounding ice for five years. Within the Lich King's deep sleep, the spirit of Arthas destroyed what remained of his former self—along with what remained of Ner'zhul's spirit—and Arthas took full control of the Lich King's spectral presence, becoming the sole leader of the Scourge, before awakening prior to the events of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.

Ner'zhul also appears in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor in an alternate timeline as the former chieftain of the Shadowmoon clan and one of Grommash Hellscream's lieutenants within his newly formed Iron Horde, who had abandoned his shamanistic ways—along with his people—and begun to use the powers of necromancy and the void. He was defeated and killed by adventurers within Shadowmoon Burial Grounds.

Nozdormu

Nozdormu the Timeless One is one of the five dragon aspects and leader of the bronze dragonflight. Nozdormu is tasked with ensuring that the flow of time occurs normally, without interruption, and that events happen as they are fated. To accomplish this mission, Nozdormu knows much about the nature of time. He uses his abilities and powers to prevent others from discovering these same secrets. Should a sorcerer or other mortal being begin to delve too deeply into magic that alters or affects time, Nozdormu always steps in to remove the threat, one way or another.

Nozdormu also appears in Hearthstone.

N'Zoth

N'Zoth is one of the four Old Gods that inhabit the planet of Azeroth, who is primarily responsible for corrupting the mind of Neltharion, forcing him to create the Dragon Soul that would weaken the power of other four Dragon Aspects. Neltharion would be known as Deathwing the Destroyer from this point onward, who would later unleash his power on Azeroth, bringing the Cataclysm to all continents, and subsequently dispelled the mist that surrounds Pandaria.^[3] N'Zoth's forces continue to be on the move, with N'Zoth himself slowly breaking free of his subterranean prison.

N'Zoth also appears in Hearthstone.

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Orgrim Doomhammer

Orgrim Doomhammer (portrayed by Robert Kazinsky in the film) was the warchief of the orcish Horde during the end of the First War and the entirety of the Second War. Incensed by his friend Durotan's death at the machinations of the Horde's corrupt leadership, Orgrim set out to free the Horde from demonic corruption and ultimately assumed the role of warchief of the Horde by killing Gul'dan's corrupt puppet, Blackhand. Under his decisive leadership, he led the Horde to conquer the Eastern Kingdoms, and might have succeeded had Gul'dan not divided his forces during a crucial battle to chase after a powerful artifact in his search for power. The Alliance took advantage of his forces' weakness and pushed the Horde back to Blackrock Spire. Orgrim sought to demoralise the Alliance and regain the Horde's momentum by slaying Anduin Lothar at the base of the Spire. Instead, Lothar's lieutenant, Turalyon, used Lothar's passing to whip the Alliance into a frenzy and pushed the Horde back to the Swamp of Sorrows. After the Dark Portal was closed, cutting the stranded orc clans off from reinforcements, the orcs buckled under the might of the Alliance, and were rounded up and placed in internment camps. Orgrim escaped imprisonment and wandered Azeroth as a hermit until Durotan's Frostwolf clan introduced him to his son, Thrall. Inspired by the young orc's idealism, Orgrim revealed his identity to Thrall. The two rallied the surviving orcish clans and fought to break the orcs out of the internment camps. During one such prison break, Orgrim was mortally wounded by a knight and passed the mantle of leadership to Thrall. The orcish capital of Orgrimmar, the Horde-controlled town of Hammerfall in the Arathi Highlands, and the flying battleship Orgrim's Hammer that patrols the skies of Icecrown are named in his honour.

An alternate version of Orgrim Doomhammer appears in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor as one of Grommash Hellscream's lieutenants within the Iron Horde. Initially, he commanded the Iron Horde forces in Talador seeking to eradicate the Draenei from their capital of Shattrath City. After his friend Durotan pleaded with him to leave the Iron Horde and join him in defending the city, Orgrim eventually saw the fault in the Iron Horde's actions and stood up to Blackhand, who led the assault on the draenei capital from the sea. Despite the aid of Durotan, Yrel and adventurers, he is killed by Blackhand in a reversal of fate.

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Ragnaros

Ragnaros the Firelord (Voiced by Chris Metzen) was one of the four Elemental Lords on Azeroth, and lord of the Firelands. Ragnaros, along with the other lords, helped shape the lands of Azeroth and fought against the Old Gods and their Black Kingdom before being corrupted by their influence. When the Titans and the Keepers intervened to stop the Old Gods, Ragnaros and the other Elemental Lords were defeated and banished to their elemental realms, Ragnaros being sent back to the Firelands.

Many years later, the dwarven Emperor Thaurissan and his Dark Iron clan of dwarves served under Ragnaros and attempted to summon him back to Azeroth. This plan was foiled however when King Magni sent adventurers to slay Thaurissan. Ragnaros was instead summoned into the Molten Core by his majordomo and was defeated by mortal adventurers.

In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Ragnaros returned under service to Deathwing and assaulted Mount Hyjal in attempts to burn the World Tree, Which would cause mass destruction to Azeroth. Brave adventurers pass through the portal and assault the Firelands, destroying many of Ragnaros' allies. Raganros was defeated once again by mortals, and with the help of Cenarius, Malfurion Stormrage and Hamuul Runetotem, he was slain once and for all.

In World of Warcraft: Legion, Ragnaros' death left the Firelands in disarray and civil war as forces fought to become the new Firelord. The Earthen Ring assaulted the Firelands once again and assisted Lord Smolderon in defeating his rivals to become the new Firelord. After succeeding, Lord Smolderon agreed to unite with the other Elemental Lords, and assist the Earthen Ring in fighting the Legion.

Raganros also appears in Hearthstone and as a playable hero in Heroes of the Storm.

Rend Blackhand

Rend Blackhand was the orcish ruler of the defeated Dark Horde. Rend was the son of the former warchief of the Horde, Blackhand the Destroyer. Rend served the black dragon Nefarian, and his mount was a massive chromatic drake named Gyth. Rend met his end when brave adventurers seeking to slay Nefarian attacked his citadel.

Rend Blackhand also appears in Hearthstone

Rexxar

Rexxar (voiced by Steven Blum in Warcraft III and Heroes of the Storm, and Matthew Mercer in Hearthstone and World of Warcraft) is a half-orc half-ogre beastmaster of the Mok'Nathal clan. Raised by the Mok'Nathal clan on Draenor, Rexxar's massive size and strength made him invaluable during the Horde invasion of Azeroth during the First War, despite his mixed heritage. Bloodshed and backstabbing from within his faction (coupled with the death of his companion wolf Haratha at the hands of an orc warlock) eventually diminished Rexxar's will to fight for the Horde, and he left to wander alone. Rexxar found new companions, including the bear Misha, and came to trust the wilderness more than the "civilized" world.

During the Third War, while traveling through Kalimdor's Barrens, Rexxar stumbled upon Mogrin, an orc warrior defeated by quilboar, and agreed to take a message to the new warchief of the Horde. Journeying to the recently built city of Orgrimmar, Rexxar met the young warchief Thrall, who schooled him in the attitudes of a reformed Horde. Impressed by what he saw, Rexxar decided to fight alongside the troll scout Rokhan and the pandaren traveler Chen Stormstout to keep Orgrimmar safe from the attacks of Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore. Daelin ignored the pleas of his daughter Jaina and attacked the Horde, believing its members to be untrustworthy monsters. Rexxar led a counterattack, which led to the death of the grand admiral. With Orgrimmar established, the newly titled Champion of the Horde returned to his homeland in Outland, the remnants of the world of Draenor. Rexxar remains ever ready to serve the new Horde—his true people—once again.

Rexxar returns in World of Warcraft: Legion where he has traveled to the Broken Shore to help the Horde fend off the Legions threat in Highmountain. He is able to be recruited by Hunters as an Order hall Follower.

Rexxar also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Rhonin

Rhonin (voiced by Keith Silverstein) was a maverick mage and former leader of the Kirin Tor. During the Second War, Rhonin led a small group of resistance fighters to destroy the Demon Soul and free the Dragonqueen Alexstrasza from the Dragonmaw Clan's command. He later fell in love with his companion, Vereesa Windrunner, and started a family. Just after the fires of the Third War died down, he was summoned by his mentor, Krasus the dragon-mage, to aid him in investigating a rift in time. This investigation sent the two of them and an orc named Broxigar back in time to the War of the Ancients where he took part in the war and led a contingent of night elf sorcerers called the Moon Guard in fighting against their corrupted Queen Azshara's armies. He was eventually sent back to the present by Nozdormu as reward for his valiant contributions in the war; just in time to witness the birth of his twins.

Prior to World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Rhonin had been elected the new leader of the Kirin Tor. The Kirin Tor had just established their neutrality in the war between the Horde and Alliance, welcoming Horde magi into Dalaran for the first time. Rhonin hoped that the Kirin Tor could be the bridge between the Horde and Alliance and coordinate the feuding factions to fight against the threats to all of Azeroth. Rhonin was also leading the Kirin Tor through a war against Malygos, the very Aspect who had been chosen to guide and monitor magic.

Rhonin died years later when he sacrificed himself trying to contain a mana bomb created by the Horde which destroyed Theramore Isle. His actions saved the lives of many people who would have been caught in the bomb's expansive radius, including his wife Vereesa and Jaina Proudmoore.

Rhonin also appears in Hearthstone.

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Sargeras

Sargeras is a corrupted titan and the creator and leader of the Burning Legion. Once he was a champion of order and justice for the Titan Pantheon and its mightiest warrior, who chased demons and imprisoned them in his own pocket realm, Mardum, the plane of banishment. However, after encountering so much unfathomable evil of the Old Gods, servants of the Void, attempting to change a planet's sleeping titan into something horrible, Sargeras came to the conclusion that the battle for order was unwinnable, since evil is an inherent flaw in the fabric of creation. He then destroys the planet with its titan and the Old Gods that inhabited it, believing that only by destroying everything and starting anew without the underlying defect could true order be achieved.

When the Titan Pantheon heard of what Sargeras had done, its members were stunned by what they had learned, but even more by Sargeras's rash actions. Had he called on their aid, they argued, they could have purged the growing world-soul from the Void's corruption. Although he tried to convince the titans that what he had done was necessary, he came to realize it was futile. Arguments flared between Sargeras and the Pantheon, and soon he realized that it would be best to leave the Pantheon and start purging the universe from the Void's corruption himself. Thus, he freed the demons he previously hunted from their prison in Mardum and from them created the Burning Legion: a fearsome army to usher his Burning Crusade to end all life. The Pantheon confronted Sargeras over this crusade so Sargeras killed the other titans.

During the War of the Ancients 10,000 years before the First War, Sargeras oversaw the first Legion invasion of Azeroth after contacting Queen Azshara and persuading her to open portals that allowed the demons to invade the world. The Legion was ultimately defeated and Sargeras's attempt to enter the world of Azeroth caused the Well of Eternity to implode and his spirit to shatter, causing the Sundering of the world and the breakup of the supercontinent Kalimdor.

Many years later, Sargeras's avatar, a small portion of his powerful spirit, was destroyed in a battle with the Guardian of Tirisfal, Aegwynn. However, a portion of Sargeras's soul embedded in Aegwynn, and manipulated Aegwynn into helping him. Sargeras then possessed her son Medivh while still in the womb. After Medivh was killed, the portion of Sargeras's spirit that had possessed him was released and this spirit was sent reeling in pain back into Sargeras, which resulted in his disappearance for years. Recently, however, Sargeras's presence has been felt once again in the Twisting Nether, where his spirit has returned to. During the events of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor and World of Warcraft: Legion, the beginning of his return sets events into motion that ultimately lead to the Burning Legion launching a devastating third invasion of Azeroth. His actions, or the effects of his actions, essentially make him one of the primary antagonists of the Warcraft series, along with the Old Gods. In the live action film Warcraft, Medivh possesses the power of Sargeras, though he is only hinted at and not named.

Shaohao

Shaohao (voiced by Greg Chun) is the last pandaren emperor of Pandaria. Shaohao was born many thousands of years ago, before the Sundering, and his time as emperor of Pandaria seemed truly auspicious…but not for the reasons he dreamed about. Young, devoted Shaohao began his reign as all emperors did, by consulting a venerable Jinyu waterspeaker to learn of his future. The Jinyu waterspeaker saw tragedy and destruction approaching; green fire rained from the sky, and the land was awash in chaos. Determined to keep his empire from ruin, Shaohao vowed to overcome his weaknesses, and so he set off to seek the advice of the Jade Serpent Yu'lon, the Celestial of Wisdom.

It is not an easy thing to master one's self. Shaohao's journey hurled him headlong into peril, and the burdens he felt only became heavier. The embodied darkness of the Sha emerged from all of his negative emotions: doubt, despair, fear, anger, hatred, and violence. One by one, he conquered almost every single emotion until only pride remained. But there was no time to eliminate his final weakness.

The earth shook with the tremors of the Sundering, and the land teetered on the brink of annihilation. When the cities of the pandaren seemed doomed to fall, Shaohao appeared before his people, urging them to take courage. In his travels, the emperor had learned that overcoming his weaknesses did not mean physical strength or perfect statecraft, but rather placing the sanctity of Pandaria above his own safety in order to protect his people. The pride he felt for his people & their culture manifested as a thick fog of mists which encircled Pandaria and hid the continent from the rest of Azeroth for the next ten millennia, until the Cataclysm later revealed it again.

Even afterwards, some say the Last Emperor's presence can still be felt, particularly when walking in his footprints up the hills of Kun-Lai Summit.

Sylvanas Windrunner

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Taran Zhu

Taran Zhu is the pandaren lord of the Shado-Pan. For thousands of years, Pandaria was isolated from the conflicts and troubles raging across Azeroth, but that did not mean its inhabitants lived free of danger. The mantid swarmed every century. Uncontrolled emotion threatened to summon the dangerous spirits known as the sha. The only defense against those threats was the Shado-pan, the mysterious order that protected their land with unending vigilance. Their leader, Taran Zhu, dedicated his life to eliminating threats to the balance of Pandaria, but he never could have imagined that the island’s faltering shroud of mists would bring the Alliance and the Horde’s all-out war to his shores. Zhu warned the outsiders of the dangers their conflict might bring to the isle…and his suspicions were validated when the sha flocked to the violence of the battling factions.

And, yet, the same races rushed to Zhu's aid when the Lord of the Shado-Pan was influenced by the Sha of Hatred. A renewed Zhu grew to grudgingly accept (and even welcome) the champions of both factions, joining forces with them to strike at the Thunder King and Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, whose ambitions ravaged Pandaria's precious Vale of Eternal Blossoms. Zhu and his disciples have yet to falter in their dedication to their homeland—but it remains to be seen if they will rise to defend the world beyond the Mists as well.

Terenas Menethil II

Terenas Menethil II (voiced by Ted Whitney in Warcraft III and Earl Boen in World of Warcraft) is a deceased human and a former king of Lordaeron. Terenas was the first king to shelter Anduin Lothar and his Stormwind refugees after their exodus from their homeland. The benevolent ruler was convinced that humanity must stand steadfast against the blasphemous onslaught of the Horde and so his armies were the first to heed the call to arms issued by Sir Lothar and the people of Azeroth. Convinced that the Horde would overcome all of humanity if left unchecked, Terenas called his neighbor kings together to inform them of the Horde's threat. The leaders of the seven human nations met and agreed to unite in what would become known as the Alliance of Lordaeron. The Alliance succeeded in defeating the Horde and the scattered orc clans were quickly rounded up and placed within guarded internment camps. Though it seemed that the Horde had been defeated for good, some remained highly skeptical that peace would last.

Unaware of the death cults forming in their lands, the leaders of the Alliance nations began to bicker and argue over territorial holdings and decreasing political influence. King Terenas of Lordaeron began to suspect that the fragile pact they had forged during their darkest hour would not last for much longer. Though some factions rescinded their allegiance to the Alliance, King Terenas still had allies that he could count on. After preparing for many long months, Kel'Thuzad and his Cult of the Damned finally struck the first blow by releasing the plague of undeath upon Lordaeron. Uther and his fellow paladins investigated the infected regions in the hope of finding a way to stop the plague. Despite their efforts, the plague continued to spread and threatened to tear the Alliance apart. As the ranks of the undead swept across Lordaeron, Terenas's only son, Prince Arthas, took up the fight against the Scourge.

Frustrated and stymied by the seemingly unstoppable enemy, Arthas took increasingly extreme steps to conquer them and his comrades warned him that he was losing his hold on his humanity. Arthas's fear and resolve proved to be his ultimate undoing. He tracked the plague's source to Northrend, intending to end its threat forever. Instead, Prince Arthas eventually fell prey to the Lich King's tremendous power. Believing that it would save his people, Arthas took up the cursed runeblade, Frostmourne. Though the sword did grant him unfathomable power, it also stole his soul and transformed him into the greatest of the Lich King's death knights. With his soul cast aside and his sanity shattered, Arthas led the Scourge against his own kingdom. Ultimately, Arthas murdered his father and crushed Lordaeron under the Lich King's iron heel.

Therazane

Therazane the Stonemother is one of the four Elemental Lords and Protector of Deepholm. Immensely powerful, Therazane once fought against the other Lords before the time of man, but when the Old Golds emerged and began corrupting the lands of Azeroth, Therazane and the other Elemental Lords joined forces to fight against the Black Empire until she was corrupted by their influence. When the Titans and the Keepers intervened to stop the Old Gods, Therazane and the other Lords were defeated was banished to their elemental realms, Therazane being sent back to Deepholm.

In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm after Deathwing shatters the World Pillar and rips a hole between Deepholm and Azeroth, the Twilight's Hammer cult invades Deepholm and begins to hatch their twilight drakes and corrupt the earthen elementals there. When Alliance and Horde forces arrive to fight against the Twilight Hammer, Therazane, skeptical of mortals at first, agrees to help. With their combined forces, Therazane and the heroes of Azeroth defeat the Twilight's Hammer and destroy their drake hatcheries.

In World of Warcraft: Legion, Therazane reveals that the Twilight's Hammer had a hidden Hatchery in Deepholm and the Legion attempts to corrupt them for their own use. The Earthen Ring arrive to help and destroy the remaining clutch of Twilight Drakes and repel the Legion. Therazane in return vows to aid the Earthen Ring in fighting the demons and agrees to unite with the other Elemental Lords.

Thrall

Thrall (voiced by Chris Metzen in all of his game appearances with the exception of Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans, where he is voiced by Clancy Brown) is an orc shaman, the current leader of the Earthen Ring, and a former warchief of the Horde. Thrall's parents, Durotan and Draka, were killed by assassins sent by Gul'dan. Found by Aedelas Blackmoore of Durnholde Keep, Thrall was raised from a young age as a gladiator and trained in many forms of combat. Through help from an unlikely friend, Thrall managed to escape Durnholde and find the Frostwolf clan in the Alterac Mountains. Through the Frostwolf chieftain, Drek'Thar, Thrall learned the ways of the shaman. Being naturally talented, he eventually became the greatest shaman on Azeroth. Under the leadership of his father's old friend, Orgrim Doomhammer, Thrall liberated the remaining orcs still held in internment camps throughout Lordaeron. During the assault on the fifth and last internment camp, mere days before the battle of Durnholde Keep, Orgrim fell in battle, with a human lance protruding through his torso and armor and emerging from his chest. It had taken eight mounted human knights and a cowardly sucker punch at full gallop from behind to defeat him. With his dying breath he gave his black plate armor and weapon (the Doomhammer) to Thrall, and named him the new warchief of the Horde. For a time, the Horde traveled throughout Lordaeron, never staying in one location for too long. Thrall was eventually plagued by visions from a prophet, telling him to take the Horde west across the sea where they would be able to find a home. After the orcs landed on the continent of Kalimdor, the prophet revealed himself to be Medivh and warned of a Burning Legion invasion that would overrun Azeroth if Thrall and the Horde did not ally with Jaina Proudmoore's forces and the native night elves. Though they succeeded in defeating the Legion, the pact between their forces subsequently crumbled. The orcs went on to build the city of Orgrimmar, and they named the surrounding region Durotar. During World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Thrall stepped down as warchief in order to focus his attention on his duties as a shaman. Azeroth was shattered as a result of Deathwing's return to the world and the shamans of the Earthen Ring were put under immense pressure to try to heal the lands. Knowing that the orcs would prefer a strong-willed leader, Thrall reluctantly chose Garrosh Hellscream as his successor, hoping the position would instill a sense of responsibility into him. While seeking a way to combat the Cataclysm, Thrall found a mate in the Mag'har orc Aggra, who would later become the mother of his son. In World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, Thrall returned to Orgrimmar to join the rebellion against Garrosh.

In World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, Thrall was among those who followed Khadgar through the Dark Portal. On the alternate version of Draenor, Thrall leads the player and horde forces to Frostfire Ridge where he assists in the construction of the Horde Garrison and meets younger incarnations of his parents and family. Thrall helps fight against the Thunderlord clan and the Iron Horde and retakes Frostfire Ridge, but at the cost of his uncles, Ga'nar and Fenris, the latter having joined the Iron Horde. Thrall then aids Khadgar in retaking Shattrath City from the Iron Horde. When horde and alliance forces assault the Warsong clan in Nagrand, they battle against Garrosh, who by that time had become the Warsong's Warlord. Thrall intervenes as Garrosh is about to win the battle and challenges him to Mak'gora, a duel to the death. Thrall and Garrosh duel at the Stones of Prophecy, the place where the two had originally met in Outlands. As Garrosh gains an upper hand in the fight, Thrall uses his elemental powers to overpower Garrosh, violating the sacred rules of Mak'gora. Garrosh blames Thrall for who he has become, while Thrall says he had chosen his own destiny before killing Garrosh with a bolt of lightning.

In World of Warcraft: Legion, Thrall fights alongside the Horde forces on the Broken Shore. He sustained heavy injuries before the Horde was overrun and forced to retreat. After almost losing the Doomhammer after the legion invaded the Maelstrom, Thrall passed it down to another shaman after he learned he could no longer wield it, nor use his elemental powers as well as he could before killing Garrosh with them on the alternate Draenor.

Thrall also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Tirion Fordring

Tirion Fordring (voiced by Bernard Hill) was a hero of the Second War and one of the first five Knights of the Silver Hand selected by Archbishop Alonsus Faol. Tirion later became Lord of Mardenholde Keep in Hearthglen, until he was stripped of his title and exiled for defending an orc named Eitrigg. Following the death of his son, Taelan, Tirion came out of exile and renewed his commitment to fighting evil. Wielding a holy sword known as the Ashbringer, Tirion led an organization called the Argent Crusade against the Lich King and the Scourge. In Icecrown, Fordring staged a tournament to prepare an elite fighting force to face the Lich King. The Lich King planned to kill Tirion's allies and raise them as his mightiest champions, but they were able to defeat him after Fordring used the Ashbringer to shatter the Lich King's blade, Frostmourne.

Fordring was later captured by Gul'dan, who had journeyed to Azeroth from the alternate timeline version of Draenor. Fordring was tortured and mortally wounded, and in his last moments he chose another paladin to take up the Ashbringer and act as his successor.

Tirion also appears in Hearthstone.

Turalyon

Turalyon was one of the first five Knights of the Silver Hand selected by Archbishop Alonsus Faol, and was the lieutenant of Anduin Lothar during the Second War. When Lord Lothar fell in battle at the base of Blackrock Spire, his lieutenant, Turalyon, rallied the Alliance forces at the eleventh hour and drove the Horde back into the abysmal Swamp of Sorrows. Turalyon's forces succeeded in destroying the Dark Portal, the mystical gateway that connected the orcs to their homeworld of Draenor. Cut off from its reinforcements and fractured by infighting, the Horde finally buckled in upon itself and fell before the might of the Alliance.

As the fires of the Second War died down, the Alliance took aggressive steps to contain the orcish threat. A number of large internment camps, meant to house the captive orcs, were constructed in southern Lordaeron. Guarded by both the paladins and the veteran soldiers of the Alliance, the camps proved to be a great success. Though the captive orcs were tense and anxious to do battle once more, the various camp wardens, based at the old prison-fortress of Durnholde, kept the peace and maintained a strong semblance of order.

However, on the hellish world of Draenor, a new orcish army prepared to strike at the unsuspecting Alliance. Ner'zhul, the former mentor of Gul'dan, rallied the remaining orc clans under his dark banner. Aided by the Shadowmoon clan, the old shaman planned to open a number of portals on Draenor that would lead the Horde to new, unspoiled worlds. To power his new portals, he needed a number of enchanted artifacts from Azeroth. To procure them, Ner'zhul reopened the Dark Portal and sent his ravenous servants charging through it.

The new Horde, led by veteran chieftains such as Grom Hellscream, chieftain of the Warsong clan, and Fenris Wolfbrother, chieftain of the Thunderlord clan, surprised the Alliance defense forces and rampaged through the countryside. Under Ner'zhul's surgical command, the orcs quickly rounded up the artifacts that they needed and fled back to the safety of Draenor.

King Terenas of Lordaeron, convinced that the orcs were preparing a new invasion of Azeroth, assembled his most trusted lieutenants. He ordered Turalyon, now given the rank of High General, and the archmage, Khadgar, to lead an expedition through the Dark Portal to put an end to the orcish threat once and for all. Turalyon and Khadgar's forces marched into Draenor and repeatedly clashed with Ner'zhul's clans upon the ravaged Hellfire Peninsula. Even with the aid of the high elf Alleria Windrunner, the dwarf Kurdran Wildhammer, and the veteran soldier Danath Trollbane, Khadgar was unable to prevent Ner'zhul from opening his portals to other worlds.

Ner'zhul finally opened his portals to other worlds, but he did not foresee the terrible price he would pay. The portals' tremendous energies began to tear the very fabric of Draenor apart. As Turalyon's forces fought desperately to return home to Azeroth, the world of Draenor began to buckle in upon itself. Grom Hellscream and Kargath Bladefist (of the Shattered Hand clan), realizing that Ner'zhul's mad plans would doom their entire race, rallied the remaining orcs and escaped back to the relative safety of Azeroth. On Draenor, Turalyon and Khadgar agreed to make the ultimate sacrifice by destroying the Dark Portal from their side. Though it would cost their lives and the lives of their companions, they did it since it was the only way to ensure Azeroth's survival. Even as Hellscream and Bladefist hacked their way through the human ranks in a desperate bid for freedom, the Dark Portal exploded behind them. For them, and the remaining orcs on Azeroth, there would be no going back.

In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, it was revealed that High General Turalyon's expedition survived and renamed themselves the Sons of Lothar. Turalyon and his lover, Alleria Windrunner, went missing after losing a battle.

In World of Warcraft: Legion, Turalyon appears in a recording.

Tyrande Whisperwind

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Uther the Lightbringer

Uther the Lightbringer (voiced by Michael McConnohie), or Sire Uther Lightbringer, was the first paladin of the Knights of the Silver Hand who led his Order in battle against the Horde during the Second War. The legend of noble Uther guides the Alliance years after his passing. Many devout followers of the Light were killed during the First War, unprepared for the sheer brutality of warfare against the Horde. The leader of the Clerics of Northshire, Alonsus Faol, believed that the Light could protect the faithful and devoted, and thus began training the most virtuous knights of Lordaeron to wield the Light in battle.

The first knight to be named a paladin was Uther, who helped found the Knights of the Silver Hand alongside Archbishop Faol and became a legend among his order. When the Second War began, Uther fought alongside his brother-in-arms, Turalyon, to fend off the forces of Horde commander Orgrim Doomhammer and lead the Alliance in a final, successful attack on the Dark Portal. In the wake of the Horde's defeat, Uther helped rebuild Stormwind City and cared for the sick and injured. Uther remained in a leadership role with the Silver Hand for years, eventually taking Lordaeron's prince, Arthas Menethil, as his apprentice. The two forged a close relationship as teacher and student, and together they served justice throughout the land…until the Scourge struck Lordaeron. Arthas's growing anger at the spreading plague of undeath led him to horrific acts—such as the culling of Stratholme—and his thirst for vengeance drove him to madness. After the prince became a champion of the Lich King and killed his own father, Uther decided to personally guard the urn of the slain king. Arthas and Uther fought in Andorhal, and when the battle ended, the legendary paladin lay dead.

Uther also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

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Valeera Sanguinar

Valeera Sanguinar (voiced by Tara Platt) is a female blood elf who refuses to take sides in the war of Horde and Alliance, but has saved the life of Stormwind’s king more than once. Valeera Sanguinar was lucky to survive the bandit raid that killed her family, even though she had no place to go—her people were devastated by the undead Scourge's attack on the elven capital of Quel'Thalas. The young blood elf lived a survivalist existence until she was arrested for theft and later sold to Rehgar Earthfury, who put her to work as a gladiator alongside the night elf druid Broll Bearmantle and the orc Bloodeye Redfist. When Redfist was killed, Valeera and Broll were teamed up with an amnesiac human warrior who would later become known as Lo'Gosh, the "Ghost Wolf."

The trio quickly discovered that Lo'Gosh was Varian Wrynn, the missing king of Stormwind, and they embarked on a journey to restore his memory and throne, pitting themselves against the black dragon Onyxia, who secretly controlled the human kingdom. During the expedition, an assassin placed a demon's mark on Valeera, leaving her possessed and vulnerable to the demon's influence. The possession amplified Valeera's racial addiction to magic, but she managed to expel the demon with the help of the undead mage Meryl Felstorm and Aegwynn, the former Guardian of Tirisfal, a mage empowered to protect Azeroth from the Burning Legion. Once he'd regained his crown, King Varian offered Valeera a position as an advisor in Stormwind, and she accepted, though with one condition. She is not loyal to the Alliance; she is loyal to Varian Wrynn and his son, Anduin.

Valeera also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Varian Wrynn

Varian Wrynn (voiced by Chris Metzen in all of his game appearances with the exception of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, where he is voiced by Jon St. John, and portrayed by Dylan Schombing in the film) was the king of the human kingdom of Stormwind and High King of the Alliance. In his younger years, Varian survived the ravages of the orcish invasion of Azeroth, the First War, ending with the assassination of his father, King Llane Wrynn. Years later, Varian reclaimed Stormwind City and initiated its reconstruction, marrying the beautiful Tiffin Ellerian and raising a son, Anduin, whom he named after the great Alliance hero Anduin Lothar. Long after the dust settled from the Third War, Varian was kidnapped by Defias Brotherhood minions of the black dragon Onyxia, who split Varian into two separate beings: one embodying his strength and resolve, and one bereft of willpower. The dragon hoped to kill Varian's warrior qualities, yet still rule Stormwind by using the weaker king as her puppet. But Varian's stronger half escaped his captors. Robbed of his memories and enslaved by a Horde gladiatorial trainer in Kalimdor, Varian's stronger half fought his way to freedom, earning the nickname “Lo’Gosh,” or “ghost wolf,” while in battle. With the help of his comrades, he was able to recover his true identity and led an army to slay Onyxia.

After reuniting his selves and reclaiming his throne, King Wrynn organized the campaign against the Lich King in Northrend and defended his realm against the terrors of Deathwing's Cataclysm. In recent days, Varian has turned his eye toward his old enemies in the Horde, and many in his council fear that their king actually desires another years-long war between Horde and Alliance. Varian's ongoing struggle—to balance his warrior's instincts with his duties as a king—has only grown more critical in the wake of Theramore's destruction and the battle for the continent of Pandaria. As the events of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria progress, Varian underwent many trials to rally the other factions of the Alliance into a unified coalition that led to a final siege of Orgrimmar where his forces and Horde rebels toppled Warchief Garrosh Hellscream. When Garrosh was arrested, Varian chose to end the war with the Horde rather than prolong it as the price of victory, even if possible, would cause too much bloodshed on both sides. However, he warned the new warchief, Vol'jin, that should the Horde return to its warmongering ways, the Alliance would seek to end them.

After playing a minor role in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, Varian led an assault against Gul'dan, who had returned to Azeroth from a different, newly created timeline, in World of Warcraft: Legion. Along with Tirion Fordring and the rest of his army, Varian was killed in the ensuing battle, and was succeeded as King of Stormwind by his son, Anduin.

Varian also appears in Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm.

Vashj

Vashj (voiced by Barbara Goodson) was a night elf born in Vashj'ir, a city led by her mother, Lestharia Vashj. She left her home and traveled to the city of Zin-Azshari, capital of the night elves, some time before the War of the Ancients. Once chief among Queen Azshara's handmaidens, Lady Vashj became one of the serpentine naga when Azshara and her followers were sent to the bottom of the sea during the Great Sundering.

Ten thousand years later, Vashj answered Illidan Stormrage's call. She followed him to Lordaeron, where she met Kael'thas Sunstrider and rallied his blood elves to Illidan's cause, and then to Outland, where Illidan deposed Magtheridon and became the lord of that shattered world. Vashj and her followers used the Coilfang Reservoir in Zangarmarsh to pump the lake water into their underground lair. In World of Warcraft, a group of adventurers stormed Vashj's lair and slew her. Her dying breath was an apology to her master.

Velen

Velen (voiced by Alan Shearman) is the leader of the draenei. Originally an eredar of the planet Argus, Velen and his people were a magically gifted and intelligent race, Velen having the gift of 'sight'—the ability to see visions of the future. He, along with Kil'jaeden and Archimonde were the three most prominent leaders of the eredar. Knowing their potential, the Dark Titan Sargeras contacted the three leaders with a proposal: in exchange for their loyalty, they would be given great power and prestige. Kil'jaeden and Archimonde readily accepted the offer, but Velen curiously held back. Before deciding on Sargeras's offer he received a vision from the naaru K'ure—the truth behind Sargeras's plot, one that involved death and destruction as members of the Burning Legion, as opposed to the utopia Sargeras proposed. Velen rounded up all those followers who did not wish to follow this path and fled with the assistance of the naaru aboard one of their inter-dimensional ships, Oshu'gun, calling themselves the draenei, or 'Exiled Ones'. Kil'jaeden, who loved Velen like a brother, saw this as the ultimate betrayal and vowed to hunt Velen and the draenei until they were wiped out. Arriving on an unknown world they named Draenor (the orcs' home world) the draenei settled for a time living peacefully alongside the orcs while being taught by the naaru in the ways of the light. Kil'jaeden eventually discovered their existence and through manipulation and deceit convinced the orcs that the draenei were plotting against them, engineering a genocide on the draenei. With assistance from the naaru once more, the surviving draenei fled Draenor, this time aboard the inter-dimensional ship the Exodar. However, during the flight, the reactor on the ship malfunctioned causing it to crash land on another unknown planet—turning out to be Azeroth. In need of assistance and recovery, the night elves of nearby Darnassus were the first to offer aid. After short negotiations, the draenei joined the Alliance to help fight against the Burning Legion.

Velen also appears in Hearthstone.

Vereesa Windrunner

Vereesa Windrunner (voiced by Courtenay Taylor) is the younger sister of high elves Alleria and Sylvanas Windrunner and Ranger-General of the Silver Covenant. She became a ranger in the service of the high elven Silvermoon City, embarking on a career that would carry her through many tragedies—the deaths of most of her family to orcish invaders, the ruin of her homeland, Quel'Thalas, by the undead Scourge, and the transformation of her sister Sylvanas into a nightmarish Banshee—and also through triumphs, including the destruction of the tainted Demon Soul talisman, and her eventual marriage to the human mage Rhonin, with whom she would raise two children.

Relocating with her family to the magical city of Dalaran, Vereesa formed the Silver Covenant, a faction of militant high elves who reject the presence of blood elves among the Kirin Tor. When an attack orchestrated by Warchief Garrosh Hellscream obliterated the city of Theramore and killed Rhonin, Vereesa assisted Jaina Proudmoore in mobilizing the Kirin Tor Offensive, a military group composed of war magi and warriors, to support the Alliance and stop Horde advances in Pandaria. Vereesa and her troops were among those who expunged Horde magi from Dalaran, leaving the long-neutral city now firmly aligned with the Alliance. As the Ranger-General of the Silver Covenant, the youngest scion of the Windrunner family is in a position to stave off future tragedy—if any remains to prevent.

Void Lords

Pure incarnations of Void, or Shadow energy, these beings are the true antagonists of the Warcraft series, though unsung. These beings have never been seen, due to the fact that they can only appear in the physical universe after consuming vast and untold amounts of matter and energy. Even then, they can only appear for a small while, consuming all they see just to maintain their physical forms.

In an attempt to control the universe, the Void Lords created the Old Gods and sent them hurtling through the universe, known as the Great Dark Beyond blindly, hoping that they would crash into a planet with a world-soul, or dormant titan, in it. The Old Gods would corrupt the titan, turning it into an instrument of their will, creating a dark titan that would destroy every other titan.

While most of the Old Gods crashed onto dormant worlds, a few landed on worlds with dormant titans. Sargeras was the first to discover the Void Lord's plot in action, and, seeing no recourse, destroyed the world-soul, and the Old Gods. Afterwards, Sargeras was banished from the Titan Pantheon for his actions. On his own, Sargeras creates the Burning Legion in order cleanse the universe of all life so the Void Lords cannot corrupt the universe.

The only other known world-soul to become host of the Old Gods was Azeroth itself. The four Old Gods on Azeroth are named Y'Shaarj, N'Zoth, Yogg'Saron, and C'Thun. When the titans discovered Azeroth, appears uncorrupted. Acting quickly, they were able to seal the Old Gods, creating the titan keepers to watch over the Old Gods.

Vol'jin

Vol'jin (voiced by Chris Metzen in World of Warcraft and its first three expansions, Dave Fennoy in Mists of Pandaria) is the Warchief of the Horde following the downfall of Garrosh Hellscream at the end of Mists of Pandaria, and is the leader of the Darkspear trolls. A member of the exiled trolls of the Darkspear tribe, Vol'jin became the leader of his people after the death of his father, the witch doctor Sen'jin. After Thrall's orcs relocated to Kalimdor during the Third War, the Darkspears joined them, and Vol'jin became one of the warchief's most trusted advisors. Vol'jin collaborated with Thrall to resolve crisis after crisis: he stabilized the Undercity after a coup orchestrated by Grand Apothecary Putress and the dreadlord Varimathras, and ousted the witch doctor Zalazane from the Echo Isles, the home of the Darkspear trolls.

Then, Garrosh Hellscream rose to become warchief of the Horde. Almost immediately, Vol'jin disliked the younger Hellscream's lust for war, and it didn't take long for the troll to move the majority of his people out of Orgrimmar and back to the Echo Isles, where the Darkspears might distance themselves from Garrosh. In time, Vol'jin turned his eye toward the Zandalari—an ancient line of trolls who were planning to forge a new troll empire—and dispatched heroes of both the Horde and Alliance to deal with them. After the Horde's attack on Theramore and subsequent campaign to claim Pandaria, Vol'jin's relationship with Garrosh deteriorated further. During the events of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, Vol'jin's fearless stance against Garrosh's increasingly bloodthirsty lust for war nearly saw him assassinated by the Warchief. After narrowly surviving the attempt due to the help of old friend Chen Stormstout, Vol'jin returned to Durotar where he set about building a rebellion against the Warchief. With the other leaders of the Horde quietly backing Vol'jin, and even the Alliance fuelling the rebels' efforts, the troll leader became the spearhead of the movement against Garrosh. After Garrosh was defeated, Thrall—rather than return to lead the Horde—named Vol'jin as the new Warchief.

In World of Warcraft: Legion, Vol'jin and the other leaders of the Horde joined in the attack on the Broken Shore with the Alliance. While the Alliance, led by Varian Wrynn, engaged Gul'dan in a frontal attack, the Horde protected the cliffside flank, keeping the demons at bay. They were unable to hold for too long, and the Warchief took a demon blade to the stomach, infecting him with fel poison. The undead leader Sylvanas Windrunner called for the Horde's retreat, personally taking Vol'jin back to her ship to flee the Broken Isles. This retreat caused the Alliance to be overwhelmed, and Varian was killed by Gul'dan. In his final moments, Vol'jin named Sylvanas the new warchief of the Horde.

Vol'jin also appears in Hearthstone.

W

Wrathion

Wrathion (voiced by Aaron Phillips) is one of the few remaining black dragons on Azeroth. Born of an egg purified by the efforts of the red dragon Rheastrasza, a gnome scientist, and mighty heroes, Wrathion is the only black dragon in Azeroth known to be free from the corruption of the Old Gods. Their eternal curse had turned Wrathion's father, Neltharion the Earth-Warder, into Deathwing, the mad creature called the Destroyer by the races he tormented.

From the shadows, Wrathion employed assassins to eliminate many of his tainted "siblings" in the black dragonflight. After the fall of Deathwing, his attention shifted to the exploration of the continent of Pandaria and the turbulent relationship between the Alliance and Horde. While his true agenda remains a mystery, Wrathion has revealed himself to both factions, allegedly to help defeat a threat that he believes could overcome the combined efforts of all heroes in Azeroth. The threat is believed to be the Burning Legion, and their lord, Sargeras. Many of the Players in World of Warcraft, hope that Wrathion makes a return.

Wrathion also appears in Hearthstone

Y

Ysera

Ysera the Dreamer is the leader of the green dragonflight, one of the five original dragon Aspects, and was charged by the titan Eonar as the Aspect of Nature. She is the protector of the Emerald Dream, a vast spirit world that exists outside the boundaries of the mortal plane. Ysera is the younger sister of Alexstrasza. She lent her power to the Dragon Soul, unaware of Neltharion's plan to betray the other Aspects. After the War of the Ancients, Ysera enchanted the world tree Nordrassil and bound it to the Emerald Dream. After giving her power to the Dragon Soul, along with the other aspects, she, like the rest of them, lost their powers. In World of Warcraft: Legion, Ysera was corrupted by Xavius and turned into a nightmare drake, and she was slain and freed from her corruption by Tyrande and adventurers.

Ysera also appears in Hearthstone.

Y'Shaarj

Y'Shaarj (voiced by Frank Welker) was the strongest of the four Old Gods on Azeroth.

When the titan-forged approached the heart of Y'Shaarj's empire, they felt negative emotions blur their minds and darken their thoughts. The head of the titan Pantheon, Aman'Thul, decided to take direct action. His hand reached down through Azeroth's skies and took hold of Y'Shaarj's body, ripping it from the surface of Azeroth. The Old God's death rattle destroyed mountains and obliterated hundreds of titan-forged. With his dying breath, he cursed Azeroth with the ghostly beings that would be later known as the Sha. These Sha would feed on the negative emotions of living creatures: anger, despair, doubt, fear, hatred, pride, and violence.

The titans realized that killing the Old Gods would not only harm the titan world-soul inside the planet, but destroy Azeroth itself. A gigantic wound had appeared on the planet's surface, from which the lifeblood of the nascent titan erupted. The wound would be healed by the keepers in time, and it become known as the Well of Eternity, the greatest source of magic on Azeroth.

All that remained of Y'Shaarj was his heart. It was later found by Garrosh Hellscream, who became corrupted by its power.

Y'Shaarj also appears in Hearthstone.

Yogg-Saron

Yogg-Saron (voiced by Jamieson Price) is one of the four Old Gods that inhabit the planet of Azeroth. His prison, Ulduar, is located in Northrend.

When the Sundering tore the continent of Kalimdor apart, the tectonic devastation weakened the prisons of the Old Gods. When Yogg-Saron awoke from his slumber, he started corrupting the land of Northrend with his ore-blood, saronite. Upon discovering the mineral, a small group of druids from the Cenarion Circle decided to eradicate it by planting a great tree called Andrassil ("Crown of the Snow"). The saronite started to disappear from Northrend's surface, but the roots of Andrassil touched the prison of Yogg-Saron and he began to corrupt the tree. The Cenarion Circle was forced to destroy Andrassil, which would be later known as Vordrassil ("Broken Crown"). Yogg-Saron ultimately corrupted the denizens of Ulduar, and in World of Warcraft he is the final boss of the Ulduar raid.

Yogg-Saron also appears in Hearthstone.

See also

• Characters of Diablo, one of the four primary Blizzard Entertainment franchises
• Characters of Overwatch, one of the four primary Blizzard Entertainment franchises
• Characters of StarCraft, one of the four primary Blizzard Entertainment franchises

References

1. ↑ perculia (2015-07-28). "Legion Artifacts: What We Know - Wowhead News". Wowhead.com. Retrieved 2015-08-10. 
2. ↑ Vejvoda, Jim (May 30, 2014). "Ben Foster Reveals His Character in the Warcraft Movie". IGN. Retrieved May 31, 2014. 
3. ↑ http://wow.gamepedia.com/Pandaria#Mists_of_Pandaria

External links

• Major characters at WoWWiki