The Dark Portal and the First Two Wars
Demon-corrupted orcs pour through a portal between worlds, and the human kingdoms nearly fall.
On the distant world of Draenor, the shaman orc clans were manipulated by the warlock Gul'dan and drank the blood of the demon Mannoroth, binding their whole race to the Legion's bloodlust. Gul'dan opened the Dark Portal, a gateway to Azeroth, and the First War saw the orcish Horde burn the human kingdom of Stormwind to the ground.
The survivors fled north and rallied the human, dwarf, elf, and gnome nations into the Alliance of Lordaeron. The Second War pushed the Horde back, the Portal was destroyed, and the orcs were herded into internment camps. On the orcs' own side, the reckless reopening of portals tore Draenor apart, leaving the shattered ruin later known as Outland.
Key figures
- Gul'dan
- Warlock who damned the orcs
- Anduin Lothar
- Champion of the Alliance
- Orgrim Doomhammer
- Warchief of the old Horde