Warcraft History

10,000 - The Night Elves awaken in the world and found a great society in the heart of Kalimdor. They tinker with primitive magic and inadvertently set it loose throughout the world of Azeroth. The demonic Burning Legion, lured by the resultant energies, launches a massive invasion in order to drain the world of its innate magic. The Night Elves, unable to defeat the raging Demons, are forced to ally themselves with the ancient Dragons in order to banish the Legion from the world. The ensuing conflict is so apocalyptic, that the great landmass of Kalimdor is broken apart and smashed beneath the sea. The Night Elves vow to never use magic again, for fear that the Legion would return.

6,000 - Unwilling to give up its previous magic, a small band of Night Elves is exiled from Kalimdor. Travelling to the newly formed eastern lands, they found the kingdom of Quel-Thalas and begin to refer to themselves as High Elves. The High Elves are continually besieged by the native Troll warbands.

2,900 - The Human Empire of Arathor is founded in Lordaeron.

2,700 - The High Elves, on the verge of losing their continuing war against the Trolls, seek the aid of the Humans of Arathor. In exchange for their help against the Trolls, the High Elves agree to teach men in the ways of magic. The combined army of Elves and Humans wipes out the majority of Trolls in Lordaeron.

2,600 - Due to the Humans' reckless use of magic, agents of the Burning Legion find their way back into the world. The Order of the Tirisfal is founded. The powerful Guardians of Tirisfal are charged with fighting a secret war against the agents of the Legion, unbeknown to the general populace.

1,200 - Due to internal struggles and the pressures of over-expansion, the Human Empire of Arathor fragments into seven autonomous nations.

45 - The Guardian, Aegwynn, defeats Sargeras, the Lord of the Burning Legion in single combat. Sargeras' malevolent spirit bonds with the soul of Aegwynn's unborn child.

40 - Though banished from Azeroth, the Burning Legion corrupts the Orcish clans of the world of Draenor. The once noble, shamanistic Orc clans unite and become a rampaging Horde under the rule of the malevolent Shadow Council.

37 - Aegwynn gives birth to her son, Medivh, who is destined to become the Last Guardian.

1 - Medivh, driven made by the spirit of Sargeras, opens the Dark Portal and the Orcish Horde begins its invasion of Azeroth

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans

5 - Medivh is killed by his friend, Lord Lothar, and his own apprentice, Khadgar. After five grueling years of attrition, the Horde finally conquers the nations of Azeroth and Khaz Modan and claims Blackrock Spire as its base of operations. Lord Lothar leads an exodus of refugees to the northern nation o Lordaeron. Once there, he convinces the leaders of the seven human nations to unite in arms against the Horde. The separate nations of the Arathorian empire are reunited as the Alliance of Lordaeron.

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness

6 - Orgrim Doomhammer, the Warchief of the Horde, launches his mighty fleets to invade the shores of Lordaeron. The unstoppable Horde pushes its way into the heartland of Lordaeron and succeeds in destroying the High Elves' ancient kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

The Alliance forces push back, but Lord Lothar is killed during the siege of Blackrock Spire. Spurred by the death of their beloved leader, the Alliance armies crush Blackrock Spire and push the Horde back to the threshold of the Dark Portal. The Dark Portal is destroyed and the Horde is defeated.

7 - The Renegade Orcs are rounded up and placed in internment camps by the Alliance.

Beyond the Dark Portal

8 - The ancient Orc Shaman, Ner'zhul, rallies the few clans still left on Draenor and reopens the Dark Portal. He orders his clans to steal a number of artifacts from Azeroth that will allow him to open multiple Portals in Draenor. The Alliance sends its armies, led by the wizard Khadgar, through the Dark Portal in order to stop Ner'zhul's schemes. The two armies clash throughout the world of Draenor for months.

Empowered by the stolen artifacts, Ner'zhul opens a number of Portals in Draenor. Yet, before he can lead his clans through them, their energies spiral out of control and begin to destroy the very fabric of that world. The Alliance heroes, knowing that they would be trapped forever, destroy the Dark Portal so that Azeroth is not consumed by the raging energies.

The blasted world of Draenor tears itself apart.

9 - The Alliance grows uneasy as the Orcish internment camps are reopened. Only a few, scattered Orc clans evade the Alliance's wrath and eke out a living in the harsh wilderness.

Thrall's Tale: Lord of the Clans

22 - Thrall, a young Orc raised as a Human slave and gladiator, escapes from bondage and sets off on a quest to discover his stolen heritage. Thrall succeeds in reuniting a number of renegade Orc clans and leads them to revolt against the Alliance Regional Wardens.

23 - With the threat of a new Horde, the Alliance nations begin to bicker and quarrel. Tensions run high amongst the Human leaders. Thrall becomes the new Warchief of the Horde and helps to reintroduce his people to their abandoned shamanistic culture.

The reinvigorated Horde begins to lose the last traces of the Legion's demonic corruption. Civil strife rages through the nations of the Alliance as threat of a new, unseen foe draws near. The Burning Legion has returned.