Race and class stories
Timeline
The major events the stories tell, in order. Pick an event on the timeline; the map moves to where it happened and the details open below.
Key
Ancient Times
The Curse of Flesh
Uldaman
The Old Gods’ curse turns the Titans’ workers of stone and metal into flesh. The earthen wake in vaults such as Uldaman as dwarves, Mimiron’s mechagnomes become gnomes, and the hidden children of Northrend’s vrykul become the first humans.
Realms and cities
Ancient Times
The first troll empires
Ahn’Qiraj
While Kalimdor is still a single continent, the troll tribes, the Zandalari oldest among them, unite against the insect people of the aqir and drive them back. The aqir’s descendants will return centuries later as the qiraji of Ahn’Qiraj.
WarRealms and cities
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Ancient Times
Children of the stars
Well of Eternity
A tribe of dark trolls settles on the shores of the Well of Eternity. Over generations its power changes them into the kaldorei, the night elves, who worship Elune and build Zin-Azshari under Queen Azshara.
MagicFaith
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Ancient Times
The Shu’halo and Cenarius
The Barrens
The tauren wander the plains of Kalimdor in the steps of the kodo herds and the Earth Mother. Cenarius, demigod of the forests, teaches their first mystics the ways of nature.
Nature and druidsFaith
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War of the Ancients · ≈ −10,000
Azshara opens the gate
Well of Eternity
Queen Azshara and the Highborne draw ever more power from the Well. Sargeras promises them more, and they open a gate inside the Well for the Burning Legion: the War of the Ancients begins.
MagicDemons and felBetrayal
War of the Ancients · ≈ −10,000
The first druid
Mount Hyjal
Malfurion Stormrage learns the ways of nature from Cenarius and becomes the first druid. With Tyrande, Illidan, the dragons and the forest spirits he leads the resistance; tauren warriors fight beside them.
Nature and druidsWar
War of the Ancients · ≈ −10,000
Broxigar strikes Sargeras
Well of Eternity
The orc warrior Broxigar the Red leaps into the rift at the Well of Eternity and strikes the dark titan Sargeras himself: the only wound a mortal ever dealt him.
WarDemons and fel
War of the Ancients · ≈ 10,000 years before the Dark Portal
The Great Sundering
Well of Eternity
To close the Legion’s gate, Malfurion destroys the Well of Eternity. It collapses; Azshara and her palace sink beneath the waves, the single continent breaks apart and the Maelstrom churns where the Well stood.
MagicWar
The Long Vigil
Nordrassil and the long sleep
Mount Hyjal
Illidan pours vials he filled at the Well into a lake on Mount Hyjal. The druids plant the World Tree Nordrassil over the new Well, and it grants the night elves immortality. Illidan is imprisoned; the druids sleep in the Emerald Dream while Tyrande’s Sentinels keep watch.
Nature and druidsMagic
The Long Vigil
The Highborne go east
Quel’Thalas
The Highborne who will not give up arcane magic are sent into exile. They cross the sea, found Quel’Thalas and raise the Sunwell; the high elves are their descendants.
Exodus and exileMagicRealms and cities
The Long Vigil · After the War of the Ancients
Revolt in Eldre’Thalas
Dire Maul
Prince Tortheldrin means to drain the demon Immol’thar to keep the city alive. Rebels led by the masked Shal’nan rise against him; by one account they flee to the port of Eldre’narr and sail west.
WarExodus and exile
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The Long Vigil · Disputed: “thousands of years ago”
A pact with the winds
Zephras Isle · SkywallNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
The fugitives strike a bargain with the wind spirits, who lift a piece of land into the sky, anchor it in Skywall and hide them from Azeroth. That land becomes Zephras Isle, home of the shen’dorei.
ElementsRealms and cities
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Age of Kingdoms · ≈ 2,800 years before the Dark Portal
Thoradin founds Arathor
Strom · Arathi Highlands
Thoradin, chieftain of the Arathi, unites the human tribes, builds Strom in the Arathi Highlands and declares the first human nation: Arathor.
Realms and cities
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Age of Kingdoms · ≈ 2,800 years before the Dark Portal
The Troll Wars
Alterac Mountains
The Amani besiege Quel’Thalas. In return for help, the elves teach magic to one hundred humans; at the foot of the Alterac Mountains the magi’s fire breaks the trolls, and the elves swear to aid Arathor’s bloodline forever.
WarMagic
Age of Kingdoms · ≈ −2,800 … −230
Dalaran and the seven kingdoms
Dalaran
Human magi found Dalaran on Lordamere Lake, ruled by the Kirin Tor. Arathor drifts apart into seven kingdoms: Stromgarde, Lordaeron, Dalaran, Alterac, Gilneas, Kul Tiras and Stormwind.
MagicRealms and cities
Age of Kingdoms · ≈ −2,800 … −230
The Guardians of Tirisfal
Dalaran
Careless magic draws demons to Azeroth. Human and elven magi secretly found the Council of Tirisfal and entrust their power to a single protector each generation: the Guardian.
MagicDemons and fel
Age of Kingdoms · ≈ −2,800 … −230
The blood god
Zul’Gurub
As the Gurubashi empire weakens, the Atal’ai priests summon Hakkar the Soulflayer. The tribes rise against his daily sacrifices and exile the Atal’ai; the empire splits, and the weak Darkspear are driven out of the jungle.
FaithWarExodus and exile
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Age of Kingdoms · ≈ 1,100 years before the Dark Portal
The birth of the centaurs
Maraudon · Desolace
Tauren shamans wake not the Earth Mother but Princess Theradras. From her union with Zaetar, son of Cenarius, the centaurs are born; Desolace withers, and the centaur clans hunt the tauren across the plains for centuries.
ElementsNature and druidsWar
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Age of Kingdoms · ≈ 1,000 years ago
The War of the Shifting Sands
Ahn’Qiraj
Qiraji armies pour out of Ahn’Qiraj. Helped by the bronze dragons, the night elves seal them behind the Scarab Wall; Fandral Staghelm’s son Valstann dies in the war.
War
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Age of Kingdoms · ≈ 230 years before the Dark Portal
The War of the Three Hammers
Ironforge
High King Anvilmar dies and Ironforge’s three clans fight for the throne. The Bronzebeards keep the city; the Wildhammers go to Grim Batol and the Dark Irons are driven south.
WarBetrayal
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Age of Kingdoms · ≈ −2,800 … −230
Ragnaros wakes
Blackrock Mountain
Facing defeat, Thaurissan summons the Firelord Ragnaros. Thaurissan dies, the peaks shatter into Blackrock Mountain, Searing Gorge and the Burning Steppes burn, and the Dark Irons become the Firelord’s slaves.
ElementsWar
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Age of Kingdoms · ≈ −2,800 … −230
Aegwynn and the hidden seed
NorthrendNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
The Guardian Magna Aegwynn defeats the avatar of Sargeras in Northrend and passes her power to her son Medivh. She does not know that Sargeras’s spirit has hidden in the unborn child.
MagicDemons and fel
Draenor
Kil’jaeden’s lie
DraenorNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
On Draenor, Kil’jaeden whispers to the shaman Ner’zhul in the voice of the ancestors. Ner’zhul sees through him in the end, but his apprentice Gul’dan founds the Shadow Council and teaches the orcs fel; the elements fall silent and the orcs’ skin turns green.
Demons and felBetrayalElements
Draenor
The blood of Mannoroth
DraenorNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
The clan chieftains drink the blood of the pit lord Mannoroth; Grom Hellscream drinks first, Durotan refuses. The clans become the Horde, its rage does not cool, and the draenei cities fall one by one.
Demons and felWar
First War · Year 0
The Dark Portal opens
Dark Portal
Medivh, under the sway of Sargeras, opens a gate between the worlds with Gul’dan’s warlocks. The Horde comes out in the swamp of the Black Morass and marches on the kingdom of Stormwind.
Demons and felWarMagic
First War · 0
Medivh falls in Karazhan
Karazhan
Anduin Lothar, the young mage Khadgar and the half-orc Garona slay the last Guardian in his own tower. The age of the Guardians ends with him.
MagicWar
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First War · 0
Stormwind falls
Stormwind
Garona kills King Llane for the Horde, and the city is burned to the ground; Orgrim Doomhammer takes the Horde from Blackhand. The unarmoured clerics of Northshire are slaughtered, and the gnomes watch from afar.
WarBetrayal
First War · 0
The refugees sail north
Lordaeron
Lothar takes the survivors and young Prince Varian by ship to Lordaeron. Archbishop Alonsus Faol resolves that the Holy Light must take up plate and hammer: the idea of the paladin is born.
Exodus and exileFaith
Second War
The Alliance of Lordaeron
Lordaeron
King Terenas Menethil II gathers the human kingdoms and gives Lothar command. Because Lothar is the last of the Arathi line, the high elves keep their old oath; the dwarves and gnomes join the ranks too.
Realms and citiesWar
Second War
The Knights of the Silver Hand
Stratholme
In Stratholme, Faol anoints the first five paladins: Uther, Turalyon, Tirion Fordring, Saidan Dathrohan and Gavinrad. Their Light lifts the Alliance’s armies in the Second War.
FaithRealms and cities
Second War
The mountain holds
Ironforge
The Horde overruns Khaz Modan and besieges Ironforge, but the fortress in the mountain never falls. Magni Bronzebeard leads the defence, Wildhammer gryphons strike from the sky, and Doomhammer finally marches on.
War
Second War
The Dragonqueen in chains
Grim Batol
The Dragonmaw take Grim Batol, abandoned by the Wildhammers, and hold the Dragonqueen Alexstrasza captive there. Her young become the Horde’s war dragons.
War
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Second War
Quel’Thalas burns
Quel’Thalas
Zul’jin’s Amani join the Horde for revenge on the elves and set the forests of Quel’Thalas on fire. The Farstriders of the Windrunner sisters strike back from the trees.
War
Second War
Gul’dan’s betrayal
Tomb of SargerasNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
With Lordaeron’s capital under siege and victory close, Gul’dan abandons the Horde with his clans to seize the power of the Tomb of Sargeras. He dies there, and the divided Horde falls back.
BetrayalDemons and fel
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Second War
Victory at Blackrock Spire
Blackrock Mountain
Lothar falls before Blackrock Spire fighting Orgrim Doomhammer. Turalyon raises his broken sword, routs the Horde and wins the war; the Dark Portal is destroyed.
WarFaith
Between the Wars
The internment camps
Durnholde Keep
The captured orcs are locked in camps run from Durnholde Keep, sunk in a deep lethargy as the demon blood wears off. The camps’ cost falls on the kingdoms as taxes: Gilneas leaves the Alliance, and the Alliance begins to crack.
WarRealms and cities
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Between the Wars
The Lich King
NorthrendNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
Kil’jaeden binds the spirit of Ner’zhul to a suit of armour and the runeblade Frostmourne and locks it in the Frozen Throne on the glaciers of Icecrown. From the ice the Lich King reaches Kel’Thuzad, who founds the Cult of the Damned.
UndeathDemons and fel
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Between the Wars
Thrall breaks free
Alterac Mountains
Raised as a gladiator at Durnholde, Thrall escapes with Taretha Foxton’s help. In the Alterac Mountains Drek’Thar teaches him shamanism; with Doomhammer he frees the camps, and the dying warchief leaves him the Horde.
ElementsWar
Between the Wars
Stormwind rises again
Stormwind
With Lordaeron’s help the Stonemasons’ Guild rebuilds Stormwind and Varian Wrynn takes his father’s throne. The nobles refuse to pay the masons; Edwin VanCleef leads them to Westfall and founds the Defias Brotherhood.
Realms and citiesBetrayal
Between the Wars
The fall of Gnomeregan
Gnomeregan
Troggs pour up from the deep into Gnomeregan. On Sicco Thermaplugg’s advice Mekkatorque floods the city with radiation; about 80% of the gnomes die or lose their minds, and the survivors take refuge in Ironforge.
WarExodus and exile
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Third War
The Plague of Undeath
Andorhal
Kel’Thuzad’s cult hands out tainted grain from the granaries of Andorhal; those who eat it die and rise as the Scourge. Arthas Menethil tracks the plague and kills Kel’Thuzad, and Lordaeron’s priesthoods face their darkest trial.
Undeath
Third War
The Culling of Stratholme
Stratholme
Seeing that the city has eaten the grain, Arthas puts Stratholme to the sword before its people can turn. Uther and Jaina turn their backs on him, and Arthas suspends the Silver Hand.
UndeathFaith
Third War
Out of the storm
Darkspear isle
Warned by a mysterious prophet, Thrall seizes ships and sails west. A storm throws the fleet onto the Darkspear isle; Sen’jin dies, and his son Vol’jin and the Darkspear join the Horde.
Exodus and exile
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Third War
Frostmourne
NorthrendNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
Hunting the source of the plague, Arthas reaches Northrend and takes up the cursed runeblade. He gives his soul to the Lich King; Muradin Bronzebeard is struck down at his side and believed dead.
UndeathBetrayal
Third War
The death of a king
Lordaeron
Lordaeron greets its returning prince with a victory celebration. Arthas kills his father, King Terenas, in the throne room and his mentor Uther after him; the greatest human kingdom falls to the Scourge.
UndeathBetrayal
Third War
The fall of Quel’Thalas
Quel’Thalas
Arthas marches on the high elves to raise Kel’Thuzad. Sylvanas Windrunner defends every gate and river; when she falls he makes her a banshee, and the Sunwell is defiled to raise Kel’Thuzad as a lich.
UndeathMagicWar
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Third War
Archimonde levels Dalaran
Dalaran
Kel’Thuzad summons Archimonde, commander of the Burning Legion, who reduces the city of magi to dust. Heeding the prophet’s warning, Jaina Proudmoore leads the survivors west across the sea to Kalimdor.
Demons and felExodus and exile
Third War
Thrall meets Cairne
The Barrens
On the plains of the Barrens the Horde finds the tauren fighting the Kolkar centaurs. Thrall defends Cairne Bloodhoof’s people, and a lasting friendship is born between the two peoples.
WarExodus and exile
Third War
Thunder Bluff is founded
Mulgore · Thunder Bluff
Guarded by the Horde, Cairne’s kodo caravan crosses the canyons to the green tablelands of Mulgore, and Thunder Bluff rises on the high mesas. Rexxar and Rokhan later rescue Cairne’s son Baine from the centaurs.
Realms and citiesExodus and exile
Third War
The Oracle of Stonetalon
Stonetalon Peak
Guided by Cairne, Thrall climbs Stonetalon Peak. The Oracle in the sacred cave is Medivh, who warns Thrall and Jaina Proudmoore of the Burning Legion’s coming.
Magic
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Third War
Cenarius falls
Ashenvale
Grom Hellscream’s Warsong cut down the sacred trees of Ashenvale. To win, Grom drinks from a spring poisoned with Mannoroth’s blood; he kills Cenarius but becomes the Legion’s slave once more.
Demons and felNature and druidsWar
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Third War
Illidan set free
Felwood
Tyrande frees Illidan from his ten-thousand-year prison. He drains the Skull of Gul’dan and kills Tichondrius, but the power changes him and Malfurion banishes him; the poisoned forest becomes Felwood.
Demons and felBetrayal
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Third War
The end of the blood curse
Demon Fall Canyon
With Jaina’s help Thrall captures Grom and cleanses him. At Demon Fall Canyon Grom buries his axe in Mannoroth and kills him, dying himself; the curse that bound the orcs ends with them.
Demons and felWar
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Third War
The Battle of Mount Hyjal
Mount Hyjal
At Medivh’s call, night elves, humans, orcs and tauren hold the passes before Archimonde. At the World Tree Malfurion sounds the Horn of Cenarius; wisps destroy Archimonde, Nordrassil is left half burned and the night elves lose their immortality.
WarNature and druidsDemons and fel
After the War · Today
The Frozen Throne cracks
Dalaran
In the ruins of Dalaran, Illidan turns the Eye of Sargeras on Icecrown. Malfurion stops him, but the Frozen Throne cracks; the Lich King’s grip slackens, and Sylvanas and many undead win back their will: the Forsaken.
UndeathMagic
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After the War · Today
Undercity
Lordaeron
Sylvanas ambushes Arthas, defeats the three dreadlords one by one and turns on her ally Garithos. In the crypts beneath the ruined capital she proclaims her new capital: Undercity.
UndeathRealms and citiesBetrayal
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After the War · Today
Durotar and Orgrimmar
Orgrimmar
Thrall settles his people on Kalimdor’s red east coast and names it after his father, Durotar; Orgrimmar bears Doomhammer’s name. Daelin Proudmoore attacks with a fleet and dies, and Rexxar plays a decisive part in founding the new land.
Realms and citiesWar
After the War · Today
Theramore
Theramore
Jaina Proudmoore founds Theramore on the coast of Dustwallow Marsh. The refugees of Lordaeron find a new home, and the Alliance a stronghold in Kalimdor.
Realms and citiesExodus and exile
After the War · Today
Teldrassil
Teldrassil
To win back immortality, Fandral Staghelm plants a new World Tree off Darkshore without the Dragon Aspects’ blessing. Darnassus rises on its crown, Malfurion is lost in the Emerald Dream, and the night elves join the Alliance.
Nature and druidsRealms and cities
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After the War · Today
The first tauren druid
Moonglade
Malfurion trains Hamuul Runetotem, the first tauren archdruid of the new age. Tauren and night elf druids now share the Cenarion Circle in Moonglade.
Nature and druidsFaith
After the War · Today
The Forsaken join the Horde
Mulgore · Thunder Bluff
Sylvanas’s envoys are turned away at every gate until Hamuul Runetotem and Cairne Bloodhoof speak for them in Thunder Bluff. Thrall agrees, and Undercity becomes the Horde’s stronghold in the Eastern Kingdoms.
UndeathRealms and cities
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After the War · Today
The Silver Hand splits
Light’s Hope Chapel
With Lordaeron fallen, the paladins’ order breaks apart. The fanatical Scarlet Crusade wars on every undead, while the Argent Dawn fights a steadier fight from Light’s Hope Chapel.
FaithUndeath
After the War · Today
Zalazane takes the Echo Isles
Echo Isles
After the Third War the Darkspear settle on the Echo Isles off Durotar. The witch doctor Zalazane seizes them with dark magic; the survivors hold out in Sen’jin Village while Vol’jin stands at Thrall’s side.
FaithWar
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After the War · Today
A throne without a king
Stormwind
King Varian Wrynn vanishes on the road to peace talks in Theramore. His young son Anduin takes the throne, Bolvar Fordragon rules as regent, and Lady Katrana Prestor’s word carries more and more weight at court.
Realms and cities
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After the War · Today
Hakkar returns
Zul’Gurub
The blood god’s priests summon Hakkar again in Zul’Gurub. The Zandalar Tribe settles on Yojamba Isle and asks adventurers to stop him.
FaithWar
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After the War · The spirits’ vanishing is disputed: “a few centuries ago”
The silenced wind
Zephras Isle · SkywallNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
The wind spirits vanish and the pylons that tie Zephras to Skywall begin to fail. The High Order and the Windshapers drift apart; the Al’Aketh, a cult of Al’Akir, attack the pylons, and the truce at the Shrine of Akir meets Rohash’s threat.
ElementsWar
After the War · Today
The descent to Azeroth
Zephras Isle · SkywallNot on this map; the position is symbolic.
The two branches decide to leave Skywall and ask the Alliance and the Horde for help. Skyships sail from Valanaar: the High Order to Dalaran, the Windshapers to Skywatcher Plateau in Mulgore.
Exodus and exileElements
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Years count from the opening of the Dark Portal and are approximate, as far as the stories give them (−: before). Positions on the map are approximate; places off this map, such as Northrend, Draenor and Skywall, are drawn dashed at a symbolic spot.