Destruction of the Dark Portal

For the mission from Warcraft II, see The Great Portal (WC2 Human).

Destruction of the Dark Portal
Location	Dark Portal, Black Morass
Result	Alliance of Lordaeron victory Physical destruction of the Dark Portal Marked the end of the Second War
Belligerents   Alliance of Lordaeron Kingdom of Stormwind Kingdom of Lordaeron Kingdom of Ironforge Magocracy of Dalaran Knights of the Silver Hand   Orcish Horde Black Tooth Grin clan Burning Blade clan Dragonmaw clan Blackrock clan
Commanders and leaders   Alliance of Lordaeron Turalyon Uther the Lightbringer Khadgar Muradin Bronzebeard Brann Bronzebeard Milan   Orcish Horde Teron Gorefiend Rend Blackhand Maim Blackhand
Casualties and losses   Alliance of Lordaeron Heavy   Orcish Horde Massive
Previous	Siege of Blackrock Spire
Next	Invasion of Draenor

The Destruction of the Dark Portal, also known as the Final Battle at the Portal was the last battle of the Second War.

Battle

Though many orcs were killed or captured in the Siege of Blackrock Spire, more than four hundred also managed to flee the field. The vast majority of these made haste for the Dark Portal in the south, slipping away through the Redridge Mountains. A pursuit was immediately organized by Turalyon, who had now assumed command of the united Alliance army after Anduin Lothar's demise. Their goal, however, was not necessarily to catch these stragglers. The exact location of the portal to Draenor (from which the Horde had launched its invasion seven years ago) still remained unknown to the Alliance's leadership. Thus, Turalyon hoped to follow the fleeing remnants of Doomhammer's army right to the unholy gateway itself.

The death knight known as Teron Gorefiend largely took command of the shattered Horde remnants following the defeat at Blackrock Mountain. He and his forces eventually reached the Dark Portal, where the Black Tooth Grin clan was already waiting, the protection and preservation of the gateway having been given to them before the war started. But with Doomhammer's defeat, the orcs were milling about before the portal, separated in their own small warbands and clans instead of acting like an organized army.

The pursuing Alliance eventually fell upon them. It was a bloody battle. The Burning Blade clan was routed and ultimately destroyed by troops under the command of Uther the Lightbringer, while Turalyon led the charge to the stairs leading to the Dark Portal, dueling Rend and Maim Blackhand there.

The Alliance finally succeeded in destroying the dark gateway, with the remaining orcs and death knights fleeing into the wilds of Azeroth or slipping back to Draenor. The destruction of the Dark Portal would mark the end of the Second War in Azeroth.

Forces

Alliance of Lordaeron

• Human and dwarf soldiers, outnumbering those of the Horde
• Knights
• Fourteen paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand, including all five originals
• Twelve magi, including Khadgar

Orcish Horde

• Orc warriors
• Ogres
• Death knights
• Rexxar and Haratha

On Draenor

Back on Draenor, the Dark Portal was watched over by orc guards among which Brodog and Gratar. Since nothing ever happened besides couriers and messengers sometimes passing news back to their homeworld, such as about Orgrim Doomhammer's victory against Blackhand and Gul'dan's Shadow Council, the post was considered boring and the guards spent their days playing dices. But as the Alliance launched its assault against the Azerothian portal, it shimmered and became more translucent, allowing the Draenic orcs to witness the battle. They rushed to call their leaders, and Ner'zhul and Dentarg themselves arrived to witness the last moments of the human assault.

As orc grunts, ogre warriors and death knights began retreating through the portal, Ner'zhul interrogated one of them, who revealed himself as Teron Gorefiend. The Elder Shaman was baffled to learn of everything that had happened during the Second War, and cried out when he realized Khadgar was about to destroy the Dark Portal. Ner'zhul rushed toward the gateway, before getting caught in its destruction. He was wounded, but Dentarg saved him and brought him back for healing.

One of the retreating orcs, presumably a member of the Black Tooth Grin clan returning from the Broken Isles, carried the Skull of Gul'dan with him, after having taken it from a Stormreaver warlock who had himself escaped from the Tomb of Sargeras. The warrior was later in turn killed by Hurkan Skullsplinter, the Bonechewer chieftain.

Gallery

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  Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness human victory over the ruined Dark Portal.

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  After Khadgar destroyed the Dark Portal, a rift remained.