Second War #7: The Blackrock invasion

July 28, 2026•Lore•Brendo Arruda

"Second War" series — Second War #7. 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.

The Horde's first great offensive in the Second War went north, over land. Blackrock Mountain, in the Burning Steppes, became the Horde's fortress, and from there the orcs invaded Khaz Modan, the land of the dwarves and gnomes. It was the gateway to the north, and whoever controlled it would control the road to Lordaeron.

Blackrock Mountain

Blackrock Mountain was the old capital of the Dark Iron dwarves, destroyed when Ragnaros was summoned in the War of the Three Hammers. For the Horde, it was the perfect place: fortified, full of tunnels and only a few days from Khaz Modan.

The top of the mountain, Blackrock Spire, became the center of orc power on the continent. That is where the war will end, years later.

The invasion of Khaz Modan

From Blackrock, the Horde marched north, into Khaz Modan, the mountains of the dwarves of Ironforge and the gnomes of Gnomeregan. The orcs took the region's mines, roads and forests.

Khaz Modan had what the Horde needed: iron, timber and passes to the north. Whoever held the region would have the resources for a long war.

The dwarves and gnomes resist

The dwarves and gnomes did not surrender. They shut themselves inside their cities and turned every tunnel into a defense. The siege of the two cities is the subject of episode 9.

What this changes in the story

Blackrock Mountain became one of the most important places in Warcraft because of the Second War. It is the Horde's base during the war, the site of the final battle and, later, the refuge of the orcs who did not surrender.

In WoW Classic, the mountain has four instances: Blackrock Depths, the city of the Dark Iron; Blackrock Spire, the fortress of Rend's orcs; Molten Core, the realm of Ragnaros; and Blackwing Lair, Nefarian's lair. Almost everything there has its roots in this war or in the War of the Three Hammers.

The invasion of Khaz Modan also explains the old hatred between dwarves and orcs, and why the dwarves of Ironforge found it so hard to accept peace with Thrall's Horde.

Episode timeline

The Horde occupies Blackrock Mountain.
Blackrock Spire becomes the orc fortress.
The Horde advances north, into Khaz Modan.
The orcs take the region's mines and roads.
Ironforge and Gnomeregan close their gates to resist.

Who's who in this episode

| Name | Who they are | |------|--------| | Orgrim Doomhammer | The Warchief who led the invasion. | | Blackrock Mountain | The old Dark Iron capital, which became the Horde's base. | | Khaz Modan | The land of the dwarves and gnomes. | | Ironforge | The dwarven city, inside the mountain. | | Gnomeregan | The gnome city, near Ironforge. |

Where to see it in WotLK

Blackrock Spire and Blackrock Depths: the mountain's dungeons, still occupied by orcs and Dark Iron dwarves.
Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge: the lands around the mountain.
Dun Morogh and Loch Modan: the lands of Khaz Modan invaded by the Horde.