Second War #15: the betrayal of Gul'dan

August 4, 2026•Lore•Brendo Arruda

"Second War" series — Second War #15. The story of Warcraft II, from the exodus of Stormwind to the destruction of the Dark Portal. The episodes are listed in order at the end of the post.

Gul'dan reached the place he had been looking for for years: the Tomb of Sargeras, in the Broken Isles. He believed that inside he would find the power of a god. He found death. Meanwhile, Orgrim sent the orcs of the Black Tooth Grin clan after the traitors, and Gul'dan's followers were destroyed. The betrayal cost the Horde the war, and the warlock his life.

The Tomb of Sargeras

The Tomb of Sargeras was the sunken temple where the Guardian Aegwynn had locked away the body of Sargeras's avatar, centuries earlier. Gul'dan believed the source of the fallen titan's power lay there, and that whoever took it would become a god.

With the Stormreaver and the Twilight's Hammer, he raised the tomb from the bottom of the sea with magic and went inside.

The death of Gul'dan

Inside the tomb, Gul'dan did not find the power he expected. He found demons guarding the place, and they tore him to pieces. The warlock who had manipulated the Horde for so long died by his own ambition.

His skull survived. The Skull of Gul'dan became a powerful artifact, coveted by many, and it shows up again in Warcraft 3, when Illidan absorbs it.

Punishing the traitors

Orgrim did not forgive the betrayal. He sent the Black Tooth Grin clan, led by Maim and Dal'rend Blackhand, sons of Blackhand, after Gul'dan's followers. The Stormreaver and the Twilight's Hammer were destroyed.

But revenge did not give the Horde back what it had lost. With half its forces spent on the hunt, the Horde was in retreat, and the Alliance was advancing.

The Alliance strikes back

While the Horde was divided, the Alliance chased the orcs, retook the Thandol Span and freed Khaz Modan. Ironforge and Gnomeregan, which had held out against the sieges, were free.

What this changes in the story

Gul'dan's death did not end his influence. The Skull of Gul'dan became one of the most fought-over artifacts in Warcraft: Ner'zhul uses it to reopen the Dark Portal in Beyond the Dark Portal, Khadgar recovers it from Deathwing, and Illidan absorbs it in Warcraft 3, taking on a demon form.

The Black Tooth Grin clan, which hunted the traitors, also stays important. After the war, Blackhand's sons return to Blackrock Mountain and call themselves the true Horde. Rend Blackhand is a boss of Blackrock Spire in WoW Classic.

Finally, the Tomb of Sargeras is only opened again in Legion, when the Gul'dan from another timeline uses it to bring the Burning Legion to Azeroth.

Episode timeline

Gul'dan reaches the Broken Isles with the Stormreaver and the Twilight's Hammer.
He raises the Tomb of Sargeras from the bottom of the sea.
Inside the tomb, Gul'dan is killed by the demons.
The Black Tooth Grin clan destroys his followers.
The Alliance retakes the Thandol Span and frees Khaz Modan.

Who's who in this episode

| Name | Who they are | |------|--------| | Gul'dan | The warlock who died in the Tomb of Sargeras. | | Skull of Gul'dan | The artifact left of him, absorbed by Illidan in Warcraft 3. | | Maim and Dal'rend Blackhand | Blackhand's sons, leaders of the Black Tooth Grin clan. | | Black Tooth Grin | The clan that hunted the traitors on Orgrim's orders. | | Tomb of Sargeras | The temple in the Broken Isles that held the body of Sargeras's avatar. |

Where to see it in WotLK

Blackrock Spire: Rend Blackhand, Dal'rend himself, is a boss in the upper part of the dungeon.
Felwood: where Illidan finds the Skull of Gul'dan in Warcraft 3.
Wetlands: the Thandol Span, which links Khaz Modan to Arathi.