Part 18: Who is this Blackhand guy?

Who is this Blackhand guy?

Let's start this lore session off right, with a visit from our kindly narrator. Clearly we need to name this man, and if anyone has any suggestions...

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Anyway, since there isn't much in this mission to talk about lore-wise, we're going to look at the orc side of things. We know how Medivh opened the portal from Azeroth, but what of our green companions?

Let's begin once more with the true source of Azeroth's troubles: Demons!

Taking another look at Sargeras, you have to wonder who took control of the Burning Legion after Sargeras was trapped between portals and "destroyed." However, Sargeras had lieutenants: Archimonde and Kil'jaeden, two Eredar leaders who succumbed to the temptation of Sargeras's power. The only leader who rejected the proposal was Velen, who ran off with his like-minded kin to a distant world.

Despite having one less lieutenant than he wanted, Sargeras went forward in his plans, assigning Kil'jaeden to convert more and more races to the Burning Legion and for Archimonde to spearhead his armies.


Kil'jaeden: Rockin' the demonic look for millenniums.

So while Archimonde went stomping around, Kil'jaeden began to convert creatures into the demonic fold. His quest for the perfect soldiers seemed to stretch on forever, until his servant Talgath pointed out a world that seemed teeming with Velen's (and the draenei) magic. Curious, Kil'jaeden inspected the world to discover a number of interesting things.

1) Velen and his followers, the draenei, had indeed fled to this world and set up a permanent settlement there. They named the world Draenor, "Exiled Ones" in their language.

2) Draenor was also inhabited by a race of shamanic warriors known as the orcs, and their most powerful shaman was known as Ner'zhul. (This guy doesn't get enough screen time for all the impact he has on lore.)


Ner'zhul gets to wear make-up to work everyday.

Kil'jaeden, truly earning his title as the Deceiver, tricks the shaman Ner'zhul into believing the draenei were plotting against the orcs. He then began to teach his warlock powers to the shamans of the orcs. Soon, the dark magic completely took the place of all other magics, and the orcs were changed forever.

However, Ner'zhul was no fool, and after a trip to Oshu'gun, discovered the truth behind Kil'jaeden and attempted to put an end to what he had begun. The demon already anticipated this, however, and stripped the shaman of all his remaining power and gave it in his most enterprising student, Gul'dan.

From there, Gul'dan established the Shadow Council, which began to control nearly aspect of orc life. The Burning Legion took this as an opportunity to gain further control over the orcs. Mannoroth, a lieutenant to Kil'jaeden, allowed the Shadow Council to taste of his blood, filling them with rage and corruption that spread to the rest of orcs. The orcs, in their new found bloodlust launched a massive assault against the draenei, beating them back once and for all. Well, not really.


Gul'dan doesn't take shit.

Eventually, Gul'dan was contacted by Medivh, who was possessed by Sargeras at the time. The sorcerer told the warlock of his plan to conquer Azeroth, and of the Tomb of Sargeras (if you recall Aegwynn hurled Sargeras's body deep into the sea) where Gul'dan could attain godhood. Seeing the possibilities, and the growing restlessness of the blood-crazed orcs, Gul'dan agreed to help Medivh open a portal.

Now Gul'dan needed a leader, and he found that in Blackhand, a sound tactician and brutal warrior. He was also oblivious enough that he could be easily manipulated. However, Blackhand's first, brutal assault was held back at Stormwind Keep, and the warlord needed someone else to stand on the front lines...

Oh, god, ow, lore. Who believes they have the ability to earn themselves a medal?