First War #7: Meeting Medivh

July 18, 2026•Lore•Brendo Arruda

"First War" series — First War #7. The story of Warcraft I, from the clans of Draenor to the fall of Stormwind. The episodes are listed in order at the end of the post.

The relationship between Medivh and the orcs is the central secret of the First War. The Guardian of Tirisfal, who was supposed to protect Azeroth from demons, was helping the Horde from the inside. He did not do it of his own free will: the spirit of Sargeras had lived hidden in him since before he was born. At the same time, Gul'dan had his own plans for the mage. This episode shows how the two used each other.

Medivh, a divided man

Medivh was not an ordinary villain. Most of the time, he was the brilliant and slightly eccentric mage his friends knew. But there were moments when something else spoke through him.

Those moments became more frequent over the years. Medivh would vanish for days, come back tired and irritable, and sometimes not remember where he had been. Those who knew him noticed the change, but no one imagined the cause.

What Sargeras wanted

For Sargeras, Medivh was a path. The fallen titan wanted the Burning Legion to reach Azeroth, and the Horde was the army that could prepare the ground. Medivh, guided by him, helped the orcs get in and, at several moments, push forward.

Sargeras's final goal was not the kingdom of Stormwind. It was his own body, the body of the avatar that Aegwynn had locked away centuries earlier in the Tomb of Sargeras.

What Gul'dan wanted

Gul'dan also had a target, and it was the same place. Through Medivh's visions, the warlock had learned that the Tomb of Sargeras existed and believed it held a power that would make him a god.

To reach it, Gul'dan needed what was in Medivh's mind. The two used each other: Medivh opened paths for the Horde, and Gul'dan waited for the chance to pull the secret of the tomb out of the mage.

The double game

The strangest thing about the First War is that Medivh sometimes seemed to fight against the Horde. He was still the friend of Llane and Lothar, he went to court and he was seen as an ally. No one in Stormwind knew that the invasion had been opened by his hands.

This double game is what makes Medivh so tragic. One part of him fought for his friends, and another part handed them over to the enemy.

Gul'dan's eyes in Karazhan

To keep an eye on Medivh, Gul'dan sent someone to Karazhan, the Guardian's tower. This person was half orc and half draenei, raised to serve the Horde as a spy: Garona. Her arrival at the tower is the subject of episode 9.

Episode timeline

The spirit of Sargeras, hidden in Medivh, guides the Guardian.
Medivh and Gul'dan connect through visions.
Gul'dan learns that the Tomb of Sargeras exists.
Medivh helps the Horde and, at the same time, stays friends with Llane and Lothar.
Gul'dan sends Garona to Karazhan to watch Medivh.

Who's who in this episode

| Name | Who they are | |------|--------| | Medivh | The Guardian of Tirisfal, with the spirit of Sargeras hidden in him. | | Sargeras | The fallen titan who commanded the Legion and wanted to reach Azeroth. | | Gul'dan | The warlock who wanted the power of the Tomb of Sargeras. | | Tomb of Sargeras | The temple on the Broken Isles where Aegwynn locked away the body of Sargeras's avatar. | | Karazhan | Medivh's tower, in Deadwind Pass. |

Where to see it in WotLK

Karazhan, in Deadwind Pass: Medivh's tower, now a TBC raid full of echoes of the past.
The Black Morass, in the Caverns of Time: Medivh opening the Dark Portal, protected by the players.
Blasted Lands: the Portal that Medivh helped open.

Frequently asked questions

Was Medivh a villain?

He was used. The spirit of Sargeras had lived in him since before he was born and led him to help the Horde, but part of him stayed loyal to his friends.