Beyond the Dark Portal #3: new plans

August 11, 2026•Lore•Brendo Arruda

"Beyond the Dark Portal" series — Beyond the Dark Portal #3. The story of Beyond the Dark Portal, from the internment camps to the end of Draenor. The episodes are listed in order at the end of the post.

In Draenor, Ner'zhul looked at the dying world and saw a way out. If the Horde could no longer live there, it would look for other worlds. To do that, he needed to open new portals, and he could only do it with artifacts that were in Azeroth. The old shaman deceived by Kil'jaeden was back at the center of the story with a plan of his own.

A world with no future

Draenor was coming to an end. The warlocks' fel magic had dried up the land, and the orcs who stayed on the planet lived on scraps. Ner'zhul, who had been pushed aside by Gul'dan, saw the chance to take back his place as leader.

The portal plan

Ner'zhul's idea was to use a spell, the Spell of Conjuration, to open several portals from Draenor to other worlds. The Horde would cross over and start again in living lands.

The spell required powerful artifacts. The main ones were the Book of Medivh, the Eye of Dalaran and the Jeweled Scepter of Sargeras. All of them were in Azeroth.

The Skull of Gul'dan

To reach Azeroth, Ner'zhul needed to reopen the Dark Portal. The key to that was the Skull of Gul'dan, what was left of the warlock after his death in the Tomb of Sargeras. The skull had made its way back to Draenor and was in the hands of a rival clan.

What this changes in the story

Ner'zhul's plan shows a different character from the one at the start of the First War. The shaman deceived by Kil'jaeden now wants to save his own people, even if it means abandoning Draenor. But the means he chooses, the magic of artifacts and portals, are the same ones that destroyed the planet.

It is a tragedy that repeats itself: Ner'zhul tries to escape the Legion and ends up in its hands. His spell tears Draenor apart, and he is captured by Kil'jaeden and turned into the Lich King.

The Lich King that Arthas faces in Warcraft 3 and that players face in WotLK therefore begins with this escape plan.

Episode timeline

Draenor keeps dying after the Second War.
Ner'zhul takes the lead of the orcs who stayed behind.
He plans to open portals to other worlds.
The plan requires artifacts that are in Azeroth.
To reach Azeroth, he needs the Skull of Gul'dan.

Who's who in this episode

| Name | Who they are | |------|--------| | Ner'zhul | The old shaman who plans to save the Horde by opening portals. | | Book of Medivh | The book with the spells of the last Guardian. | | Eye of Dalaran | An artifact of the Kirin Tor. | | Jeweled Scepter of Sargeras | An artifact kept in the Tomb of Sargeras. | | Skull of Gul'dan | The warlock's skull, used to reopen the Dark Portal. |

Where to see it in WotLK

Shadowmoon Valley, in Outland: the land of the Shadowmoon clan and of Ner'zhul.
Black Temple: the fortress where Ner'zhul casts the spell at the end of the story.
Icecrown: Ner'zhul's final destination as the Lich King.