Clan
Clans are groups of individuals of the same race united by bloodline, tradition, or shared purpose. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with the term tribe.
Centaur clans
Clan and tribe appear to be interchangeable terms when referring to centaur groups. Centaur clans are led by khans both in Kalimdor and on the Dragon Isles.
The Marauders and Stonetalon groups may be other unnamed clans or tribes. Conversely, they may be part of one of the aforementioned clans.
| |||||||||||
Drogbar clans
Dwarven clans
Dwarves count their blood connections in many ways. The most prominent of ties is the clan.[2] The main dwarven clans are the Bronzebeard clan, the Wildhammer clan, and the Dark Iron clan. Each of them have smaller clans, like Rom's clan,[3] the clans of the Twilight Highlands, and the Shadowforge clan, respectively. Each main clan is ruled by a thane.[4]
- Lesser clans
- Doyle clan
- Dunwald clan
- Firebeard clan
- MacDuff clan
- Moore clan
- Mullan clan
- Shadowforge clan
- Stormpike clan
- Thundermar clan
- Rom also mentioned the existence of three other clans, two of which had more members.[3]
- Stonefist clan
Dwarven culture is made up of a clan-like caste system, such as the Dark Iron clan and the Wildhammer clan, but many lesser clans exist as well.[5][6]
Family names often indicate clan names as well and are the lesser clans within one of the three main dwarven cultures. Some family names are names of honor earned through some feat, which replace the family's true name. For example, Falstad Dragonreaver's real name is Falstad Wildhammer. In which case the new name may be passed on to their descendants or not, depending on the choice of the individual.[7] Another example are some of the members of the "Thunderaxe" family who joined the Dark Iron clan during the War of the Three Hammers, taking on the name "Pikesplitter".[8]
Yulanini Hammersmith was said to have spent most of his life in a small clanhold on the shores of Loch Modan.[9]
| |||||||||||||||||
Fungarian clans
Gnoll clans
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Mogu clans
The mogu use a clan-based system led by powerful warlords.[11][12] For a time, Xin the Weaponmaster was king of the clans. As a part of their culture, when a clan's leader is killed, it is customary for rivals to immediately murder his family and thus exterminate the clan lineage forever.[13]
Murloc clans
Murlocs congregate in tribes and villages[14], but the Squigglefin tribe is also referred to as a clan.[15]
A murloc clan is organized from multiple tribes in an area. Each tribe to its own village of usually six to twelve individuals.[16][17] Every so often a clan meets to discuss issues of importance.[18] However, keeping a large group of murlocs coordinated and in agreement for any significant length of time is difficult.[17]
The Warcraft RPG books describe the organization of murloc clans as being larger than murloc tribes.[16][18]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Orcish clan system
The orcs originally lived a hidden, underground life on Draenor in fear of the ruling gronn and ogron. After the ogres rebelled against them and overthrew their order, the hierarchy of survival on Draenor was dramatically altered and the two greatest threats to Gorgrond's orcs were eliminated. By the time of 800 years before the Dark Portal, the orcs, no longer confined to their underground caverns, began forging permanent settlements on Draenor's surface for the first time in generations. The orc population exploded, and overpopulation and lack of prey to hunt became a serious issue. Tensions between families simmered, but before war erupted many orcs migrated out of Gorgrond in search of new land to settle. Those who remained in Gorgrond formed the Blackrock, Laughing Skull, Lightning's Blade, and Dragonmaw clans. Those who migrated east found themselves drawn to Tanaan Jungle, where they adopted a savage, superstitious mindset. Those who kept their sanity became the Bleeding Hollow clan, while those who lost themselves to dark impulses were exiled and over time formed another, smaller clan known as the Bonechewers. The orcs who journeyed west of Gorgrond settled in the icy Frostfire Ridge. The Frostwolves and Whiteclaws learned to adapt to the environment, while the Thunderlord clan instead sought to dominate the land. In the south, three clans settled in the mountains and plains of fertile Talador: the Burning Blade, Redwalkers and Bladewinds. Finally, the Warsong clan migrated farther southwest and roamed the plains of Nagrand, while to the southeast the peaceful Shadowmoon clan formed in Shadowmoon Valley.[19]
These new orcish clans gradually isolated themselves from each other, only meeting up on special occasions like the Kosh'harg festivals. This is what kept peace between them, but also at a cost: individual friendship between orcs of different clans became gradually seen as an anomaly, something almost impossible, like friendship between a wolf and a talbuk.[20] The clans were content ruling their own huge swaths of lands, including much of Draenor, somewhat similar to a human nation.
Many of these ancestral clans united in the Old Horde and invaded Azeroth at the behest of their new demonic masters. New clans arose after the throes of the First War, such as the Black Tooth Grin clan and Stormreaver clan. After the orcs' defeat in the Second War, the humans of the Alliance of Lordaeron took most of them to prison, with the Horde's unity shattered.
When Thrall brought about the new Horde, the clan system was largely abolished. Although many orcs still proudly carry the name of their clan, the clans themselves are all united under the banner of one Horde.[21] The orc Urtrun Clanbringer is the guild master of Orgrimmar and describes many clans fighting beneath the banner of the warchief. When a new guild is created, the guild master there refers to it as adding a new clan to the Horde. Orgrimmar itself is said to be home to many of the orc clans of Durotar;[22] and orc adventurers are said to belong to a clan.[23] The Warsong, Frostwolf, Blackrock, Shattered Hand, Twilight's Hammer, and Dragonmaw clans all retain some individualism, with some of them even evolving greatly over time and now accepting members of other races. The Shattered Hand clan is now more of a rogue's guild, while the Twilight's Hammer and Burning Blade clans are now global doomsday cults. The recent Kosh'harg festival let many clanless orcs join back the traditions of their ancestors.[24]
Orc clan leaders are referred to as chieftains, while the leader of all clans is called a warchief. Thrall used to be the Warchief of the New Horde. The chieftain is usually the strongest member of the clan and, according to the old orcish hierarchy, to become one you must first fight the old chieftain to the death. Alternatively, you can inherit the status of chieftain.
There have been mentions of orcs being able to change from one clan to another. In Warcraft II, Orgrim Doomhammer was said to have risen to power through the Thunderlord clan before joining with the Blackrocks,[25] even though that isn't canon anymore. Fenris Wolfbrother was a Frostwolf before ending up as chieftain of the Thunderlords. Mankrik might have been a Frostwolf child before ending up a blademaster of the Burning Blade. Jubei'Thos was seemingly a Burning Blade before joining the Blackrocks.
Main timeline
- Main clans
Black Tooth Grin clan - A splinter group of the Blackrock clan created by Rend, and Maim. Later merged into the Blackrock clan under Nefarian.- Blackrock clan - An industrial clan that was, and is still one of the largest orc clans.
- Bladewind clan - A clan that resisted Kil'jaeden's commands.
- Bleeding Hollow clan - A large, and resilient clan that fought in almost every incarnation of the Horde.
- Bonechewer clan - A clan that decorated its warriors with the bones of their enemies. Supposedly all known members have been forcibly turned into fel orcs.
- Burning Blade clan - A wild clan. Some of its warriors were recruited into the Horde, forming the Blademasters.
- Dragonmaw clan - A clan known for taming Dragons. Some rejoined the Horde in the Twilight Highlands. Later, some of the clan loyal to Garrosh joined the Iron Horde.
- Frostwolf clan - A shamanistic clan that rejected demon blood.
- Laughing Skull clan - An ogre-led clan known for its underhandedness.
- Lightning's Blade clan - Known for its harsh initiation rights, and ties to the Thunderlord clan.
- Mok'Nathal clan - A clan made up of mostly half-ogres, but also includes orcs.[26]
- Redwalker clan - A clan that opposed Warlock magic.
- Shadowmoon clan - One of the largest clans, and known for heavy spiritualism. Survivors remain in Shadowmoon Village.
- Shattered Hand clan - A rogue-ish clan where grunts cut off their hand, and replaced it with a weapon.
- Stormreaver clan - A small clan created by Gul'dan to help in his pursuit of power.
- Thunderlord clan - A clan known for wolfriders. Supposedly all known members have been forcibly turned into fel orcs.
- Twilight's Hammer clan - An ogre-led clan that believes in the apocalypse. Later recruited members from all races.
- Warsong clan - A clan of warriors known for its battlecries.
- Whiteclaw clan - A clan that opposed fighting the draenei.
- Other clans
- Dark Scar clan - An orc or ogre clan defeated by Kash'drakor.
- Flowerpicker clan - An obscure clan.
- Necrolyte clan - A clan of necrolytes.
- Rageroar clan - A recent clan known for attacking Northwatch Hold.
- Warlock clan - A clan of warlocks, connected to the Shadow Council.
- Kil'sorrow clan - A sect of the Shadow Council.
- Unnamed clans
- The many unnamed clans fighting for Orgrimmar mentioned by Urtrun Clanbringer.
- In the Second War one unnamed clan was left in the Hinterlands to distract the Alliance while the rest of the Horde marched to Quel'Thalas,[27][28] but the clan was annihilated by Lothar and his warriors.[29]
Alternate Draenor 
- Clans of the Iron Horde
Blackrock clan - Led by Blackhand.- Bleeding Hollow clan - Led by Kilrogg Deadeye.
- Burning Blade clan - Led by Azuka Bladefury.
- Shadowmoon clan - Led by Ner'zhul.
- Shattered Hand clan - Led by Kargath Bladefist.
- Thunderlord clan - Led by Fenris Wolfbrother.
- Warsong clan - Led by Garrosh Hellscream.
- Other clans
Frostwolf clan - Led by Durotan.- Laughing Skull clan - Led by Kaz the Shrieker.
Shadowmoon Exiles - Led by Rulkan.- The Gul'dan of alternate Draenor was born into an unnamed clan. The entire clan eventually was killed and their village destroyed by Gul'dan after Kil'jaeden[30] granted him power over the fel magics.[31] The only thing that remains of that clan is a ring, the
[Ring of the Scoured Clan].
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ogre tribes/clans
Ogre society is based on a clan structure, each clan acting independently of the others.[32] Some ogre groups however, such as the Ango'rosh, Boulderfist[33], the Gordunni[34] or the Warmaul[35] are also called tribes.
The Mok'Nathal are a clan consisting of mostly half-ogres.[26]
- Bladespire clan
- Bloodeye clan
- Bloodmaul clan
- Boulderfist clan
- Dunemaul clan
- Gordunni[36]
- Highmaul clan
- Mahrook clan
- Mok'Nathal Clan[37]
- Spirestone clan
- Stone Fist Clan[38]
- Stonemaul clan
- Warmaul clan[39]
- Alternate universe
- Bladespire clan
- Bloodmaul clan
- Gordunni clan
- Grimfrost clan
- Highmaul clan
- Kor'gall clan
- Stonemaul clan
- Warmaul
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saberon clans
Saurok clans
Tauren clans
Although tauren generally group together as tribes, some are still called clans.
Vrykul clans
| ||||||||||||||
Trivia
- The initial development of Pandaria's pandaren had them divided into their own clans, also known as Shao'din.[45] The concept didn't make it into the game.
See also
References
- ^ Shardmaster Ufrogg
- ^ Night of the Dragon, chapter 1
- ^ a b Day of the Dragon, chapter 15
- ^
[War of the Three Hammers]
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 67
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 98
- ^ Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 168
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 131
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 162
- ^ Traveler, chapter 4
- ^ Trial of the King#Adventure Guide
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 138
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 80
- ^ The Murlocs
- ^ Squirky
- ^ a b Manual of Monsters, pg. 63
- ^ a b Lands of Conflict, pg. 135
- ^ a b Dark Factions, pg. 10
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 39 - 44
- ^ Rise of the Horde, chapter 1
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 114
- ^ Orgrimmar faction description: Founded by Thrall, this Horde capital city is home to many of the proud orc clans of Durotar.
- ^ [12] Dark Storms: You do your clan proud, <name>.
- ^
[50-80] The Kosh'harg
- ^ Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal manual, Clans of Draenor, Thunderlord Clan
- ^ a b Cycle of Hatred, pg. 97
- ^ Tides of Darkness, pg. 166
- ^ Tides of Darkness, pg. 325
- ^ Tides of Darkness, pg. 332
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2
- ^ Harbingers - Gul'dan
- ^ World of Warcraft: Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 178
- ^ [32] The Hammer May Fall
- ^ [43] A Threat in Feralas
- ^
[15-30] The Twin Clefts of Nagrand
- ^ [15-30] Rulers of Dire Maul
- ^
[Mok'Nathal Clan Ring]
- ^ [10-30] Classy Glass
- ^ [15-30G] Corki's Ransom
- ^
Heart of the Sabermaw
- ^ High Oracle Asayza#Quotes
- ^
[15-35 Daily] Fishing for a Bruising
- ^ Hassan the Bloody Scale#Quotes
- ^ Horvuld Oceanscythe says: The clan will avenge me...
- ^ Warcraft III - Pandas (Pandaren (April Fools))
