Old Gods' forces

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NeutralOld Gods' forces
Old Gods' Forces.jpg
Main leader Unknown
  Formerly

Old Gods:

Secondary leaders See below
  Formerly See below
Membership Claimed to "Number in the millions" prior to the invasion on Pandaria[1]
Race(s) See below
Capital Ny'alotha †
  Formerly Y'Shaarj's temple city[2]
Other major settlements Ahn'Qiraj: The Fallen Kingdom, Heart of Fear, Rift of Aln
  Formerly Nazjatar, Ulduar
Base of operations Twilight Citadel, Darkwhisper Gorge, Twilight Realm, Grim Batol, Klaxxi'vess
  Formerly Blackrock Spire, Skywall, Firelands, Stonecore, Neferset City, Zul'Farrak, Blackfathom Deeps
Theater of operations Azeroth, Elemental Plane, Twilight Realm, Outland, Great Dark Beyond
Language(s) Shath'Yar, Nazja, Qiraji, Kalimag, Common, Draconic, Orcish, various others
Affiliation Void lords
Status Unknown (presumed defunct)

“It is a small matter to control the mind of the weak... for I bear allegiance to powers untouched by time, unmoved by fate. No force on this world or beyond harbors the strength to bend our knee... not even the mighty Legion!”

Harbinger Skyriss

The forces of the Old Gods, known in ancient times as the Black Empire,[3] are a vaguely united faction of all the entities and organizations that serve the Old Gods. Although they suffered a crushing defeat long ago at the hands of the Pantheon of Order, having been imprisoned with the majority of their minions by the titan-forged, the Old Gods' activities on Azeroth have been steadily increasing since the opening of the Dark Portal. Among their recent attempts to escape their prisons and restore the Black Empire, there are those of C'Thun during the Ahn'Qiraj War, followed by Yogg-Saron's corruption of Ulduar and its Keepers, and culminating in Deathwing's major offensive orchestrated by N'Zoth during the Cataclysm. Nevertheless, the Old Gods' forces were eventually being pushed back by Horde and Alliance repeatedly, until their final defeat in the aftermath of the Fourth War, with the death of N'Zoth and the destruction of Ny'alotha at the end of the Black Empire Campaign.

Membership

Major members

Old Gods' creations

Ny'alotha, capital city of the Empire.

The Old Gods have spawned and favored many creatures throughout the ages for their servitude:

  • IconSmall FacelessOne.gifIconSmall FacelessoftheDeep.gifIconSmall FacelessShadoweaver.gifIconSmall K'thir.gifIconSmall FacelessGeneral.gifIconSmall FacelessGeneral2.gif N'raqi - A monstrous race that arose from the organic matter that seeped from the Old Gods' blighted forms during the primordial era of Azeroth, commonly known as the faceless ones. They are divided into three major types: regular n'raqi, smaller ones called k'thir, and C'Thraxxi, monstrous warbringers far larger and more resilient than other lesser n'raqi. Erudax, Uul'gyneth, General Vezax and Warlord Zon'ozz are notable C'Thraxxi, while Soggoth the Slitherer is a very huge regular n'raqi.
  • AqirAqirAqirAqir Aqir - Insectoids of incredible resilience and strength sharing the same origin with the n'raqi. After millennia, they evolved into three distinct races: the nerubians of Azjol-Nerub, the qiraji of Ahn'Qiraj, and the mantid of Manti'vess. Armies of the original aqir race still exist today and are loyal to N'Zoth.
  • IconSmall MercilessOne.gif Merciless ones - Aquatic parasitic aberrations that appear with other servants.
  • IconSmall Leviathan.gifIconSmall Leviathan2.gif Leviathan kraken - Some of them serve the Old Gods, controlled by the naga. Ozumat is their patriarch.
  • Maw creatures - Beings bound to the Old Gods with a giant maw. Their name may be "forgotten ones".
  • IconSmall Hydra.gif Azerothian hydras - Hydras in Azeroth are found along the coasts of Darkshore, Ashenvale, and Dustwallow Marsh, and were also found in Azshara before the Shattering. Some seem to be intelligent and might be the favored pets or servants of the Old Gods. Aku'mai carries within him a small measure of the Old Gods' power.[4] Another notable example is Kai'ju Gahz'rilla.

Twilight's Hammer

Cho'gall, leader of the Twilight's Hammer.

The Twilight's Hammer Cult was originally a clan composed of the pale orcs of the planet Draenor founded by the ogre-mage Cho'gall as a destructive cult hell-bent on bringing about the apocalypse. Based in Silithus since the defeat of the Horde during the Second War, in the midst of the cataclysm they have been found recruiting members of both the Alliance and the Horde with doomsayers proclaiming the imminent destruction of the world itself and promising its members glory and power. Other than the Horde and Alliance they have influenced weaker or desperate factions, including the almost extinct sand trolls and the rebellious Dark Iron dwarves. Led by Cho'gall and the Twilight Council, they attempt to claim the Twilight Highlands for the Old Gods who they believe to be the world's true masters, and eventually all of Azeroth itself.[5] More recently with the fall of Cho'gall at the hands of Azeroth's champions Archbishop Benedictus, now dubbing himself the "Twilight Father", and later the "Twilight Prophet", has risen to guide the remains of the cult but eventually he is taken down as well, and the clan was splintered. Some have traveled to the tomb of the heroic titanic watcher Tyr, hidden beneath the Whispering Forest in Tirisfal Glades. There, led by an former Alliance bishop and now traitor, they attempt to resurrect a C'Thrax named Zakajz the Corruptor using  [Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire]. Another branch was found attacking Deepholm alongside the remnants of the twilight dragonflight, led by Zeryxia, who heard the whispers of Sintharia.

Y'Shaarj's forces

The Mantid Empire

Living in what is now called Pandaria, the mantid are the oldest inhabitants of the western part of the continent and followers of a dead Old God Y'Shaarj. Throughout countless millennia, they awaited for his return, until his heart was discovered and subsequently revived by Garrosh Hellscream.

N'Zoth's forces

Countless ages ago, N'Zoth's armies waged endless war against the forces of C'Thun and Yogg-Saron. They still serve N'Zoth after millennia have passed.[10]

Deathwing Dragonkin
Deathwing, herald of the Old Gods

Neltharion the Earthwarder was corrupted during the War of the Ancients into the service of the Old Gods with his dragonflight and renamed himself Deathwing.[11] However he suffered wounds too great in the events of the Day of the Dragon and had to retreat into Deepholm to heal himself,[12] where he beat the stone dragons into submission to serve him.[13] In his absence, his mate Sintharia and their children Onyxia and Nefarian took over his dragonflight. With the Cataclysm, Deathwing and his flight returned and resurrected Sinestra and Nefarian as undead, the latter which resurrected his sister Onyxia. Reinforced by Sinestra's creation of the twilight dragonflight, they allied with the elemental lords Ragnaros of the Firelands and Al'akir of the Skywall, and together with the Twilight's Hammer they worked to bring the Hour of Twilight.
Many other dragonkin have been corrupted and changed by the Old Gods.

The Dark Horde

The Dark Horde is a renegade group of various races made of troops from the Old Horde that managed to avoid capture and reject the leadership of the Horde. Now under the control of Nefarian and the Black Dragonflight, they are based around Blackrock Mountain and have forces from Elwynn Forest to the Wetlands, though they are stronger in the Burning Steppes. The Dark Horde wages war against both the Alliance and the Horde, and used to fight the Dark Iron clan and its master Ragnaros until the return of Deathwing and his alliance with the elemental Lord of Fire.

The Nazjatar Empire
The naga, deep sea servants of the Old Gods

At the end of the War of the Ancients, after the Shattering happened, Queen Azshara and the Highborne tried their best to keep the waters at bay but struck a pact with a mysterious power that turned them into the reptile Naga.[18] Now as underwater inhabitants in a sunken city they worked their way into shaping an underwater empire, enslaving many aquatic races like murlocs, and taming many beasts like tube wyrms, couatl, dragon turtles and snapdragons, with Azshara leading them and against beings like Leviroth and the Kvaldir.[19] The empire's capital city is known as Nazjatar.

The Emerald Nightmare

Although the Old Gods created the Emerald Nightmare and transformed Xavius, first of the satyrs, into the Nightmare Lord, Xavius was defeated. Now revived, he has rejoined his former allies and spreads the Nightmare in their name.[25] But his true loyalties still remain with the Old Gods.[26]

The Mantid Empire

When N'Zoth was freed from his prison, the new queen of the mantid pledged her swarm to the Old God, making raids into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.

The Cult of the Void

The Cult of the Void is a cult of worshipers who covet the gifts of the Void.

Yogg-Saron's forces

Keeper Loken under the control of Yogg-Saron.

Ulduar is where Yogg-Saron was sealed, but it wasn't strong enough to stop his influence from spreading over the millenniums, corrupting the Prime-designate Loken,[29] the other Titanic watchers (Frejya, Hodir, Mimiron and Thorim),[30][31] and other titanic constructs, like giants[32] and mechagnomes and their creations.[33] With control over the Forge of Wills, the corrupted Loken started creating a new army like many others of the titan's creation's (earthen, giants and vrykul) but made of iron instead of stone and empowered by runes.[34] However the Explorers' League together with the Kirin Tor and the Horde mounted an offensive against Yogg-Saron's forces and managed to kill him and save the corrupted watchers, except for Loken which was killed earlier by heroes in the Halls of Lightning, and with the death of the Prime designate, Algalon the observer came to Azeroth to judge its corruption in order to re-originate it.

C'Thun's forces

Kingdom of Ahn'Qiraj
The Prophet Skeram leading a host of Silithid

Ahn'Qiraj is a fortress city in southern Silithus, and it's the home of the qiraji. They first threatened the world with the War of the Shifting Sands, where they were sealed inside their own fortress city.[40] They tried a new offensive but utterly failed against the Might of Kalimdor, ending with the death of the Twin Emperors, rulers of the qiraji, and with them their master C'thun.[41] Cho'gall and the Twilight Hammer took over Ahn'Qiraj while he mutated, and tried using C'thun's corpse to corrupt the Med'an the soon-to-be Guardian.[42]

G'huun's forces

A coalition of disparate factions in Zandalar, spearheaded by the Dark Prophet Zul. The prophet has pledged his allegiance to G'huun, seeking to break the entity out of its prison beneath the titan research facility of Uldir alongside the blood trolls of Nazmir, known as the children of G'huun.

  •  Mythrax is a C'Thrax that descended upon Zandalar in the past, but was defeated by the loa Sethraliss. His objective was to destroy the titan discs serving as seals of G'huun's prison. He was later resurrected by General Jakra'zet, and Mythrax retreated towards Uldir to await further orders from G'huun.
  •  Zul is the leader of the Atal'zul faction, spearheading efforts across the entirety of Zandalar to free his master.
    •  Yazma is a former priestess of Shadra whose power she had stolen, serving as Zul's lieutenant. She works to maintain control over the tombs of Atal'Dazar.
    •  General Jakra'zet is a Sandfury troll that rose to prominence in the Zanchuli Council before Zul's coup, using his position to scheme alongside the sethrak Emperor Korthek to resurrect Mythrax the Unraveler.
  •  Ateena is the matriarch of the blood troll tribes in Nazmir.
  •  Emperor Korthek is the leader of the Faithless, a faction of sethrak who had betrayed the loa Sethraliss and decided to revive Mythrax.

Infinite dragonflight

Infinite dragon Infinite dragon - The meddlesome force focused on destroying the true timeway. They helped the Old Gods to bring about the Hour of Twilight,[49] though their reasons for doing so are not entirely clear.

Ragnaros' forces

The Elemental Lords, lieutenants of the Old Gods

Ragnaros allied with Deathwing when he was promised to burn Azeroth together with his minions. Without Therazane or Neptulon interfering, he decided to start with the world tree of Nordrassil with the support of the Twilight Hammer, prompting the druids of the Cenarion Circle and the Ancient Guardians to oppose him. He was beaten back to the Firelands by Cenarius, Hamuul and Malfurion,[50] and after some days of preparations, the druids are prepared to invade the Firelands and kill Ragnaros forever.[51]

Al'Akir's forces

Free from the imprisonment of the Skywall, Al'Akir and his air elementals joined forces with Deathwing in an attempt to obtain the re-origination device the titans left in Uldum. To fight the Tol'vir, his ancient enemies, he called for the support of the Conclave of Wind and Skywall's many denizens.[53]

The Necrodark

Beyond Azeroth

More Old Gods exist beyond those four known on Azeroth, but it takes significant power to summon them.[47] Their influence can be seen mostly in Outland.

Former allies

Neptulon's servants

  • Abyssal Maw is their realm.
  • Elemental Lord is  Neptulon.
  • Neptulon was attacked by the naga backed by n'raqi in an attempt to conquer his realm. After a confrontation with Lady Nazjar and Ozumat he was beaten back to the Abyssal Maw, at which point heroes attempted to rescue him,[60] but ultimately failed as Neptulon was quickly taken away by Ozumat.

Therazane's followers

  • Deepholm is their realm.
  • Elemental Lord is  Therazane.
  • Therazane has taken no liking to the Old Gods' plans for Deepholm after Deathwing broke the World Pillar, endangering her plane and Azeroth.[61] After an invasion by the Twilight Hammer,[62] she and her kin made a temporary alliance with the Earthen Ring to solve those problems[63] that the Old Gods caused though their forces. After the pillar is rebuilt she requests the hero to help her rebuild Deepholm.[64]

Leadership

Known Old Gods

Clockwise from top left: C'Thun, N'Zoth, Yogg-Saron and Y'Shaarj, the Old Gods on Azeroth.

Secondary leaders

IconSmall BloodTroll Female.gif Ateena †
IconSmall FacelessGeneral2.gif Mythrax †
IconSmall Zul.gif Zul †
IconSmall K'thir.gif Lord Stormsong †
IconSmall Xavius.gif Xavius †
IconSmall Deathwing.gif Deathwing †

IconSmall OldCho'gall.gifIconSmall Cho'gall.gif Cho'gall †

IconSmall Ragnaros.gif Ragnaros †

IconSmall FacelessGeneral.gif General Vezax †
IconSmall FacelessGeneral.gif Warlord Zon'ozz †
IconSmall Al'Akir.gif Al'Akir †

IconSmall Loken.gif Loken †

IconSmall QirajiEmperor.gif Vek'nilash †
IconSmall QirajiEmperor.gif Vek'lor †
IconSmall Murozond.gif Murozond †

IconSmall Mantid.gifIconSmall MantidVizier.gif Paragons of the Klaxxi †

Former leaders

IconSmall AzsharaQ.gif Azshara
IconSmall Neptulon.gif Neptulon

IconSmall Therazane.gif Therazane

IconSmall Thunderaan2.gif Prince Thunderaan

Status of the factions

Known major factions

Faction Pre-titanic Azeroth Titanic ordering of Azeroth Post-titanic Azeroth to the War of the Ancients Post-WotA and Before Dark Portal After Dark Portal to the invasion of Outland War against the Lich King to the War Against the Nightmare Cataclysm to the third invasion Fourth War to war against the Primalists Current status
Yogg-Saron's forces Already existed; fighting against N'Zoth's forces. Afterwards established conjointly with other Old Gods the Black Empire. Defeated and imprisoned by the Pantheon. Still imprisoned, seeking freedom. Expanding their influence, boosted by Loken's betrayal. Silent. Seeking freedom; caused an uprising to escape imprisonment, but the plan was foiled when Loken and his iron army got defeated by heroes. Seeking resurgence. Silent. Defeated.
N'Zoth's forces Already existed; fighting against C'Thun's forces and Yogg-Saron's forces. Afterwards established conjointly with other Old Gods the Black Empire. Defeated and imprisoned by the Pantheon. Still imprisoned seeking freedom; helped to corrupt Neltharion into Deathwing. Expanding their influence, boosted by the creation of the Empire of Nazjatar. The naga emerged to the surface. Became a large threat for Azeroth through the Emerald Nightmare. Defeated afterwards. Resurfaced at large scales, declaring war to bring the Hour of Twilight, but defeated; Deathwing was killed, his mortal followers repelled, other servant organizations like Dark Horde and both chromatic and twilight dragonflights defeated as well. Freed N'Zoth and tried to completely transform Azeroth into the Black Empire, but was defeated; N'Zoth and Ny'alotha were destroyed. Defeated.
C'Thun's forces Already existed; fighting against N'Zoth's forces. Afterwards established conjointly with other Old Gods the Black Empire. Defeated and heavily weakened by the Pantheon. Trying to recover. Partially recovered, but sealed into the Scarab wall. Resurfaced declaring war, menacing Kalimdor and Azeroth as a whole but defeated by the Might of Kalimdor coalition. Ahn'Qiraj turned to a fallen kingdom. The Twilight's Hammer made Ahn'Qiraj as their base of operations seeking Med'an and his powers to resurrect an inanimate C'Thun, but they and their leader were defeated by the New Council of Tirisfal. Weakened/Demi-Active. Silent. Defeated.
Y'Shaarj's forces Already existed; unknown initial previous status. Established conjointly with other Old Gods the Black Empire. Defeated, beheaded, and heavily weakened shortly after; Y'Shaarj was effectively killed by Aman'Thul, cursing the land with sha, but the mantid and their empire were still loyal to him. The mantid waged many discontinuous wars against the mogu during the Age of a Hundred Kings. Silent, isolated by the effect of the Pandarian mists. Still silent. Still silent. The mantid allied with the True Horde to symbol their loyalty to Y'Shaarj's heart. The mantid joined N'Zoth's forces. Unknown.
G'huun's forces - G'huun was created by the titans for experimental purposes and sealed in Uldir. Silent. Blood trolls began to worship G'huun. Silent. Still silent. Blood trolls began assaulting Zuldazar. Attacked Zandalar Empire and freed G'huun, but was defeated; G'huun was destroyed. Defeated.

Affiliated members

Faction Titanic ordering of Azeroth Post-titanic Azeroth until War of the Ancients Post-WotA and Before Dark Portal After Dark Portal and before WoW Ahn'Qiraj War to War Against the Nightmare Cataclysm to war in Draenor Third invasion of the Burning Legion Fourth War to war against the Primalists Unknown future Current status
Black dragonflight - Created but corrupted by the Old Gods and joins N'Zoth's forces - - - Defeated and destroyed - Restored uncorrupt and defected - Rejoined the other original dragonflights
Empire of Nazjatar - - Created, joined N'Zoth, but remained silent Finally emerged to surface - Defeated, still active - Defeated again - Unknown
Emerald Nightmare - - - - Created, turned on a serious threat to Azeroth but defeated and sealed - Broke the seal, but defeated again - - Defeated
Kingdom of Ahn'Qiraj - Created and joined C'Thun's forces - Imprisoned Defeated and destroyed - - - - Fallen
Twilight's Hammer - - - - Operative Defeated, repelled and nearly destroyed - - - Weakened, defeated and repelled
Iron army - - - - Created and defeated - - - - Destroyed
Infinite Dragonflight - - - - - Rescued Garrosh from his trial in Pandaria - - Created Unknown
Deepholm - Defected after defeat - - - - Rejoined Azeroth against the Burning Legion - - Healthy
Firelands - Defected after defeat Rejoined after the WotTH - - - Defected, rejoined Azeroth against the Burning Legion - - Healthy
Skywall - Defected after defeat - - - Rejoined Defected, rejoined Azeroth against the Burning Legion - - Healthy
Abyssal Maw - Defected after defeat - - - - Rejoined Azeroth against the Burning Legion - - Healthy

Notes and trivia

  • Even though the sha are fragments of Y'Shaarj's power, they are aimless, not affiliated with the Old Gods' forces.
  • Shapeless were concepted as the "Play-Doh of the Old Gods" for Cataclysm but were eventually cut.

Gallery

References

 
  1. ^ Karsh Steelbender quotes
  2. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 29 - 37
  3. ^ Chris Metzen, Mists of Pandaria launch party, 2012
  4. ^ Aku'mai the Devourer#Adventure Guide
  5. ^ The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm, chapter ??
  6. ^ B [30-35] Ogres & Ettins
  7. ^ B [30-35] Skullcrusher the Mountain
  8. ^ B [80D] Water They Up To?
  9. ^ Ascendant Council#Adventure Guide
  10. ^ Warlord Zon'ozz#Adventure Guide
  11. ^  [The War of the Ancients]
  12. ^ Stonecore#Adventure Guide
  13. ^ N [30-35] Don't. Stop. Moving.
  14. ^ The Story of Warcraft#Assault on Blackwing Lair
  15. ^ A [7-30] They've Wised Up...
  16. ^ A [7-30] The Dark Tower
  17. ^ Burning demon mobs in Blackrock Spire
  18. ^ Warcraft Encyclopedia: Naga
  19. ^ N [10-30] The Emissary
  20. ^ The Sundering of the World
  21. ^ N [30-35] Slave Labor
  22. ^ N [15-30] Atrocities
  23. ^ Lady Naz'jar fight in Throne of Tides
  24. ^ Naga faction in Warcraft III
  25. ^ World of Warcraft: Legion
  26. ^ Emerald Nightmare raid: Malfurion Stormrage yells: No doubt Xavius and his ancient master delight that so much of our attention goes to fighting the Legion. Their insidious shadow seeps into our world, distracting us with whispers and doubts.
  27. ^ World of Warcraft: Stormrage, chapter 12
  28. ^ World of Warcraft: The Dragonflight Codex, pg. 92
  29. ^ Loken (tactics)#Adventure Guide
  30. ^ a b N [25-30] The Reckoning
  31. ^ a b A [25-30] Fate of the Titans
  32. ^ a b c N [25-30] Mending Fences
  33. ^ a b N [25-30] Slaves of the Stormforged
  34. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 163
  35. ^ a b c Underdev/Ulduar Bosstiary
  36. ^ N [20-30D] Diametrically Opposed
  37. ^ a b Brann's comments when Sjonnir The Ironshaper is slain
  38. ^ N [25-30] Facing the Storm
  39. ^ B [15-30G3] Ursoc, the Bear God
  40. ^ a b Prophecy of C'Thun
  41. ^ N [30R] C'Thun's Legacy
  42. ^ World of Warcraft: The Comic, Hard Choices
  43. ^ Twin Emperors
  44. ^  [Staff of the Qiraji Prophets]
  45. ^ Monsters of Ahn'Qiraj - Anubisath
  46. ^ Monsters of Ahn'Qiraj - Obsidian Destroyer
  47. ^ a b c Ask CDev 1
  48. ^ N [60G] The Calling
  49. ^ Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter ??
  50. ^ N [30-35] The Firelord
  51. ^ 4.2 preview
  52. ^ N [35] The Nordrassil Summit
  53. ^ Raid: Throne of the Four Winds
  54. ^ Vortex Pinnacle
  55. ^ Throne of the Four Winds
  56. ^ B [15-30] Go Blow that Horn
  57. ^ N [30-35] Traitors!
  58. ^ H [56] ... and a Batch of Ooze
  59. ^ N [70D] Harbinger of Doom
  60. ^ Dungeon: Throne of the Tides
  61. ^ N [30-35] Deepholm, Realm of Earth
  62. ^ Diamant the Patient in Deepholm
  63. ^ N [30-35] Audience with the Stonemother
  64. ^ N [30-35] The Stone Throne