Refugee
A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their home in order to escape one of the many wars, persecutions, or natural disasters constantly happening on Azeroth, Outland and beyond.
Background
 |
This section is a lore stub. |
Exodus of Stormwind
The First War transformed the prosperous and idyllic kingdom of Stormwind into a field of smoking ruins. The cities of Grand Hamlet, Moonbrook and Goldshire all got sacked by the Orcish Horde on their path of destruction to Stormwind City, and when King Llane fell sir Anduin Lothar had no other choice than to declare the war lost.[1] He saved what remained by gathering the tattered remnants of the army and as many civilians as he could to lead them in a desperate retreat across the Great Sea aboard thousands of boats.[2] While battling through the overrun streets to reach the city's harbor many lives were lost, including Queen Taria Wrynn. Dozens of refugees also managed to hide in the vast rooms and catacombs of the Cathedral of Light.[3]
Among the fleeing refugees were the young Prince Varian Wrynn, heir to the throne of Stormwind, Lady Mara Fordragon, the High Clerist that would become the patron of the displaced people of the kingdom, knight Gavinrad and the mage Khadgar. After their tumultuous escape by boats, the Stormwind refugees eventually landed on the coast of Lordaeron, near the village of Southshore. Marshal Marcus Redpath greeted them and sent a rider to alert King Terenas Menethil II of their arrival.[4]
Many refugees successfully fled to Lordaeron, but many more survivors were also left to wander Azeroth on their own, confused and unguided.[5] The orcish hunter called Zigris became infamous for tracking down and slaughtering them for sport.[6]
In Warcraft II.
Path of the Damned
During the Third War, the citizens of Lordaeron who survived the loss of their kingdom at the hands of the Scourge and Burning Legion fled for their lives. Most of them were personally slaughtered by the corrupted Arthas Menethil.[7] Meanwhile, Jaina Proudmoore rallied as many refugees as she could to leave Lordaeron for Kalimdor. Not everyone she met agreed to go with her, but many did,[8] and they would eventually become citizens of Theramore after the defeat of the Legion.
World of Warcraft
A few years later, Haggard and sickly refugees from the rest of Lordaeron were stopped from going into Gilneas due to the Greymane Wall. Among them, Dalin Forgewright had dedicated himself to the care of the refugees.[9] They were presumably killed by the Forsaken and the worgen of Shadowfang Keep before the invasion of Gilneas.
The Burning Crusade
The destruction of Draenor years ago displaced a lot of people. Since Shattrath was one of the few safe places of Outland, refugees arrived here in great number, mostly dwelling within the Lower City.[10] Under the naaru A'dal's leadership, these people would unite to rebuild Shattrath as a beacon of hope.[11] A Refugee Caravan also encountered troubles while trying to cross the Bone Wastes.
Wrath of the Lich King
During the events of the war against the Lich King, the Horde helped the Taunka of Westwind Refugee Camp. It was the spot where the villagers of Taunka'le Village would go to after finding out Icemist Village was taken over by the Scourge. The tauren Emissary Brighthoof became the leader of the refugees; and the latters think of her as a village elder.[12]
Not too long after, the battle for the Undercity forced many Forsaken to flee to Orgrimmar for their lives.[13]
Cataclysm
The natural disasters of the Cataclysm destroyed several coastal cities, and the people of Gilneas had to seek refuge in the territories of their kaldorei allies due to the Forsaken invasion.[14] The people of the Hillsbrad Foothills also had to leave their plagued homes,[15] and the people of Auberdine regrouped themselves in a refugee camp just outside the ruins of their city.[16]
Some time after the Cataclysm, rumors had spread that the draenei withstood the breaking of the world, and as such, desperate humans thought that refuge could be found on Azuremyst Isle.[17]
Mists of Pandaria
Pandaren of Kun-Lai Summit also became refugees because of the enraged yaungol tribes. They sought refuge in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.[18]
Some Horde civilians had to leave their capital city because of the civil war and the consequent Siege of Orgrimmar.
Battle for Azeroth
Following the Burning of Teldrassil, the night elves and Gilneans became refugees that were evacuated to Stormwind City[19] and Azuremyst Isle.[20]
After the Battle for Lordaeron, Horde refugees from the Undercity were teleported out of the city to Orgrimmar,[21] while others were moved from Tirisfal across Lordamere Lake.[22]
Notable
- Main article: Refugee NPCs
Felix Whindlebolt - Dun Morogh
Falfindel Waywarder - Feralas
Kirrik the Awakened - Terokkar Forest 
Mekeda - Terokkar Forest - Soolaveen - Terokkar Forest
Ethan - Terokkar Forest 
Miihi - Terokkar Forest 
Miiji - Terokkar Forest - Aimi - Terokkar Forest
- Skraa - Terokkar Forest
Ruogo - Terokkar Forest 
Morula - Terokkar Forest 
Siflaed Coldhammer - Terokkar Forest 
Elder Tsulan - Kun-Lai Summit - Elder Shiao - Kun-Lai Summit
- Clog Den - Vale of Eternal Blossoms
Chan Hoi-San - Vale of Eternal Blossoms - Jong Ming-Yiu - Vale of Eternal Blossoms
Refugee Lo'nash - Frostwall 
- Karius[23]
- Buwei[24]
References
- ^ Loreology on Twitter (dead link)
- ^ Tides of Darkness, first prologue
- ^ Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 5
- ^ Tides of Darkness, chapter 1
- ^ Tides of Darkness, chapter 3
- ^ Quartermaster Zigris's Adventure Guide description
- ^ King Arthas (WC3 Undead)
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 64 - 65
- ^
[20] Hearts of the Pure
- ^
[15-30] City of Light
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 141
- ^ [15-30] A Tauren Among Taunka
- ^ [74] Herald of War
- ^
[1-30] Rut'theran Village
- ^
[The Battle for Hillsbrad]
- ^ [5-30] In Aid of the Refugees
- ^ Prophet's Lesson
- ^
[20-35] A Witness to History
- ^ Elegy
- ^
Teldrassil Evacuation
- ^ [10-50] The Battle for Lordaeron
- ^
Lordamere Lake
- ^ The Demon Soul, chapter 9
- ^ Li Li's Travel Journal
