History of Warcraft #6: the four years

September 22, 2026•Lore•Brendo Arruda

"The History of Warcraft" series — Episode 6 of 8. In the previous episode, Arthas became the Lich King and went to sleep on the Frozen Throne. Between that moment and the opening of World of Warcraft, about four years go by.

What happened between Warcraft 3 and WoW explains almost everything you find when you create a character: why Sylvanas rules Undercity, why Theramore is Orgrimmar's neighbor, why Stormwind has a regent instead of a king and why the Defias Brotherhood hates the nobility. These are four years of rebuilding, and every kingdom came out of them with an open wound.

Sylvanas breaks free and founds the Forsaken

When Illidan's spell weakened the Lich King, some of the undead regained their own will. Sylvanas Windrunner was the first to notice. She gathered others like her and refused to obey Arthas again.

A three-sided war began in Lordaeron: Sylvanas's free undead, the Scourge loyal to Arthas and the dreadlords, who wanted control of the region for the Legion. Sylvanas defeated two of the dreadlords and spared the third, Varimathras, who became her servant. One of the defeated, Balnazzar, was thought dead but secretly survived. Along the way, she also finished off Grand Marshal Garithos and the last human soldiers in the region.

Her followers began calling themselves the Forsaken. They took over the crypts beneath the ruined capital and founded Undercity. The lands to the east, where the Scourge stayed strong, became the Plaguelands.

Durotar, Orgrimmar and Theramore

On the other side of the sea, Thrall founded the kingdom of Durotar, a red desert on the east coast of Kalimdor, and its capital Orgrimmar. The Horde now had orcs, Darkspear trolls and the tauren of Cairne Bloodhoof, who founded Thunder Bluff in Mulgore.

A few days' travel away, Jaina Proudmoore ruled Theramore, in Dustwallow Marsh. The two leaders kept a fragile peace that depended more on their friendship than on the will of their peoples.

Rexxar and the death of Daelin Proudmoore

The peace almost ended early. Jaina's father, Admiral Daelin Proudmoore of Kul Tiras, arrived in Kalimdor with a fleet to destroy the orcs, whom he blamed for his son's death in the Second War.

The hero of this story was Rexxar, a lone half-ogre of the Horde, with the bear Misha, the pandaren Chen Stormstout and the troll Rokhan. Rexxar uncovered the attack, united the peoples of Kalimdor and helped Thrall defeat Daelin, who died on the walls of Theramore. Jaina chose peace over her father, and that decision haunted her for years.

Stormwind without a king

Stormwind was rebuilt after the First War by a guild of stonemasons led by Edwin VanCleef. When the city was finished, the nobility refused to pay what it owed. The stonemasons were driven out, rebelled and became the Defias Brotherhood, which you face in Westfall and in the Deadmines.

Soon after, King Varian Wrynn left for Theramore to talk with Jaina about peace with the Horde. He never arrived. The king was kidnapped on the way and vanished. His son, Anduin, still a child, became king on paper, and Highlord Bolvar Fordragon took over as regent.

Beside Bolvar, always present at court, stood a noblewoman named Lady Katrana Prestor. Nobody noticed, but she was Onyxia, Deathwing's daughter, disguised as a human to control the kingdom from the inside.

The dwarves, the gnomes and Gilneas

Ironforge: King Magni Bronzebeard ruled the dwarves, who were locked in an old war with the Dark Iron dwarves of Blackrock.
Gnomeregan: the gnomes' city was invaded by troggs coming up from underground. To save it, the gnome Sicco Thermaplugg suggested flooding the city with radiation. More gnomes died than troggs, and the survivors went to live in Ironforge.
Gilneas: King Genn Greymane had closed off the kingdom behind a giant wall and cut himself off from the rest of the world. Nobody knew what was happening on the other side.

The night elves without the World Tree

After Hyjal, the night elves planted a new tree, Teldrassil, on the northern coast of Kalimdor, and built the city of Darnassus on top of it. The tree was planted without the blessing of the dragons, and something about it did not feel right.

Malfurion went back into the Emerald Dream and did not return. Archdruid Fandral Staghelm took over the leadership of the druids, and Tyrande ruled the people.

The Scarlet Crusade and the Argent Dawn

In Lordaeron, not every human fled. The most radical survivors of the Order of the Silver Hand formed the Scarlet Crusade, a fanatical army willing to burn anyone who looked sick. Others, more balanced, created the Argent Dawn to fight the Scourge without losing their minds.

Where to see it in WotLK

Undercity and Tirisfal Glades: the Forsaken capital and their starting zone.
Orgrimmar, Durotar and Thunder Bluff: the Horde of Thrall and Cairne.
Theramore, in Dustwallow Marsh: Jaina's city, with quests about Daelin Proudmoore.
Westfall and the Deadmines: the Defias Brotherhood and Edwin VanCleef.
Stormwind: the Onyxia quest unmasks Lady Katrana Prestor in the throne room.
Darnassus and Teldrassil: the city of the night elves.
Eastern and Western Plaguelands: the Scarlet Crusade, the Argent Dawn and the Scourge.

Frequently asked questions

What happened between Warcraft 3 and WoW?

Sylvanas founded the Forsaken in Undercity, Thrall created Durotar, Jaina founded Theramore, Admiral Proudmoore died attacking the orcs, Varian was kidnapped and Onyxia began controlling Stormwind in disguise.