Warcraft

Rise of the Horde (Novel) 

Sargeras travels to the planet Argus, approaches the leaders of the Eredar and offers them power as part of the Burning Legion. Kil’Jaeden and Archimonde agree, but Velen has a vision of the destruction of the Eredar race and refuses. The Naruu arrive on a spaceship and rescue Velen and his allies. Kil’Jaeden vows to destroy Velen.

The escapees call themselves Draenei. They flee to a world they call Draenor, which is inhabited by a shamanistic race known as orcs. A demon discovers Velen’s hiding place and reports back to Kil’jaeden, who decides to use the orcs to kill the draenei instead of a direct attack.

He influences the orc shaman Ner’zhul, with visions of his dead wife. She tells him to wage war with the Draenei. Ner’zhul unites the orc clans to form an army, but then he realizes that he’s been decieved. His apprentice Guldan takes his place by offering his loyalty to Kil’jaeden.

The elements abandon the shamans, who turn to demons for power and become warlocks. Gul’dan forces the orcs to drink demon blood, causing them to become frenzied killers. The orcs destroy Shattrath City and the surviving Draenei flee into Zangarmarsh where they hide. Abandoned by Kil’jaeden, the orcs turn on one another.

Guldan gets a vision from Sargeras of a new land to conquer. The warlocks build the Dark Portal, Gul’dan reunites the Horde under the Warchief Blackhand, and the invasion of Azeroth begins.

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans

The Horde invades Azeroth and attacks the human capital of Stormwind, but they are defeated. Orgrim Doomhammer kills Blackhand and replaces him as Warchief of the Horde. Stormwind is attacked again and this time it falls. King Llane is killed during the assault.

Durotan, chief of the Frostwolves, tells Doomhammer that Gul’dan has a secret ruling body called the Shadow Council, who manipulate and control the Horde in secret. Durotan is ambushed and slain by orcs loyal to Gul'dan. Doomhammer slays most of Gul'dan’s warlocks and disbands the Shadow Council. Gul'dan pleads for mercy from Doomhammer, offering complete submission. Doomhammer accepts and grants him mercy.

Lord Anduin Lothar rallies his countrymen and leads them north across the great sea to Lordaeron, where they hope to find aid against the Horde.

The Last Guardian (Novel)

In an attempt to learn more about the mysterious Wizard Medivh, the mages of Dalaran send the young mage Khadgar to Karazhan, to become Medivh’s apprentice. Medivh accepts and puts Khadgar to work.

While investigating the orcs appearing in the Black Morass, Khadgar is introduced to Anduin Lothar, a friend of Medivh’s, and leader of the King’s Guard. Lothar mentions that Medivh is friends with king Wrynn as well. Khadgar also learns that Medivh has the title Guardian, and was in a coma for 20 years.

While attempting to conjure a vision of Medivh’s youth, Khadgar instead is shown a vision of Aegwynn, Medivh's mother and abattle she fought eight centuries ago where she seemingly defeated Sargeras, Lord of the Burning Legion. Later, Medivh explains that the Guardian is the most powerful member of the Order of Tirisfal, charged with protecting Azeroth from the Burning Legion. His mother refused to give up the power, but instead gave it to Medivh, who fell into a coma for 20 years when the power awoke within him.

The Horde sends an emissary to Karazhan named Garona, a half orc. Khadgar suspects she is a spy. While working together, they have a vision of Garona’s master, Gul’dan, being visited by Sargeras. Sargeras shows Gul’dan a vision of Medivh, and promises that Medivh will help him open the Dark Portal, allowing the Horde into Azeroth and revealing to Gul’dan the location of the Tomb of Sargeras. A futher vision reveals that Medivh is possessed by the spirit of Sargeras, and seeks to reopen the way for the Burning Legion to invade Azeroth.

Khadgar and Garona flee to Stormwind to speak with King Llane and Anduin Lothar. As the war with the Horde heats up, Lothar leads a troop of human forces, including Khadgar and Garona, to confront Medivh. Medivh confirms the vision and magically ages Khadgar, who runs a sword through Medivh's heart. Sargeras reveals himself, but Lothar decapitates the Guardian. Garona is mind controlled by Gul’dan, and sent to assassinate King Llane.

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness

Summary based on novelization

Lord Aduin Lothar leads the refugees of Stormwind to the Nations of Lordaeron seeking help. Alterac, Stromgarde, Lordaeron, Gilneas, Kul Tiras, the Mage of Dalaran, and the refugees of Azeroth form the Alliance, dedicated to stopping the Horde.

Ogres and the Goblins join the Horde. Doomhammer also recuits the forest trolls, led by Zul’jin, who wants to regain former troll lands currently occupied by the elves. Gul'dan creates Death Knights, a fusion of the souls of deceased warlocks and the corpses of humans. The Dragonmaw Clan discovers a Talisman beneath Blackrock Mountain that enables them to subvert and control the Red Dragonflight.

The Horde Conquers Khaz Modan, and builds ships to sail to Lordaeron. They march north, through the Hinterlands, engaging the Wildhammer Dwarves, as they move into elvish territories. As a result, the Wildhammers and the Elves join the Alliance.

Doomhammer doubles back, passing through the Alterac Mountains. The Alliance is betrayed by Lord Perenolde of Alterac, who negotiates safe passage for the Horde if Alterac is not attacked. The Horde arrives at Capital City and lays siege to the city.

Gul'dan and Cho'gall betray the Horde by stealing ships reinforcements, then heading for the Tomb of Sargeras. They hope to find powerful artifacts that will allow Gul’dan to retake control of the Horde. Demons within the Tomb kill Gul’dan and his followers.

Without his reinforcements, Doomhammer is forced to retreat. The Horde is pushed back to Blackrock Spire, the dwarves and gnomes of Khaz Modan are liberated and join the Alliance.

During the siege of Blackrock Spire Lord Lothar is killed. Turalyon, his right hand, keeps the command, and defeats Doomhammer in battle, capturing him. The Horde is forced to retreat back to the Dark Portal. The Portal is destroyed by Khadgar, and many remaining orcs are captured.

Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal

Summary based on novelization

Khadgar discovers that the rift which led the Orcs into their world still exists. The Alliance establishes a fortress to watch over the rift. On Draenor, the death knight Teron Gorefiend approaches Ner’zhul with a plan to open portals to new worlds for the Horde to conquer, as Dreanor is dying. Ner’zhul sees this as a chance redeem himself in the eyes of the Horde. Ner'zhul sends Gorefiend with a small army to Azeroth once more to steal the Book of Medivh, which will allow him to open new portals.

The Black Dragon Aspect, Deathwing, offers aid to the Horde once they arrive in Azeroth, in exchange for passage to Dreanor. Several artifacts are stolen during their raids, including the Eye of Dalaran and the Scepter of Sargeras. Gorefiend also retrieves the Skull of Gul'dan, which is given to Ner'zhul, who then offers it to Deathwing as a gift.

The Alliance quickly recover from the raids, and organize an expedition led by Alleria Windrunner, Khadgar, Turalyon, Kurdran Wildhammer, and Danath Trollbane. They follow the orcs through the Dark Portal to stop them from ever returning. There, they find out that Ner’zhul seeks to open new portals to new worlds which may be undefended. The Expedition attacks the Horde forces in Hellfire Peninsula.

The Horde flees south with Danath and Kurdran in persuit. Khadgar assembles a group to chase the Skull of Gul’dan which has gone to the north. In the Blades edge Mountains, Khadgar discovers that Deathwing has brought a large portion of his Dragonflight with him, and seeks to conquer Draenor. A lucky blow damages Deathwing, causing him to flee as the rest of his forces are exterminated.

The Horde attempts to hide within Auchindoun, but get chased out by Dreanei spirits. They continue to Shadowmoon Valley, where Ner’zhul begins his ritual, high atop the Black Temple. The alliance persues but cannot stop him from opening portals all over Dreanor, tearing the world apart. Ner'zhul enters a portal, only to come face to face with Kil'jaeden once again. Khadgar and his allies make the decision to destroy the Dark Portal there on Draenor. This leaves the Alliance Expedition trapped on Draenor.

Unbroken (Short Story)
On Dreanor, the Draenei have been divided. In the final siege of Shattrath, many of the surviving defenders were warped and disfigured by a gas attack during the final moments of the siege. Called Broken by the Dreanei who were not affected, they have been outcasted out of fear.

One such Broken, named Nobundo, has discovered himself cut off from the Light. He continues to seek something to help the plight of those like him. The Elements of Draenor, traumatized by the recent cataclysm reach out to Nobundo, teaching him the ways of the shaman. A young Broken named Akama witnesses Nobundo’s transformation and finds hope.

Nobundo travels to Zangermarsh to find the unaffected Dreanei. He discovers the settlement of Telredor, led by the Prophet Velen. Velen listens to Nobundo, and accepts him, inviting him to teach the other Dreanei the ways of the Shaman.

Day of the Dragon (Novel)
Rhonin of Dalaran, is asked by Krasus to do a reconnaissance mission to Khaz Modan, the last front in the second war. The Dragonmaw Orcs still have the Red Dragonflight Queen, Alexstrasza, imprisoned and are forcing the Red Dragons to fight for the remnants of the Horde. Krasus is actually Korialstrasz, a red dragon who is desparate to free his queen.

The Dragonmaw are using an Artifact known as the Demon Soul to control the Red Dragonflight. This artifact was created by Deathwing, who deceived the other Dragon Aspects into lending their power to it to stop a demonic invasion in the distant past.
Korialstrasz seeks help from the other Aspects, Nozdormu, Malygos and Ysera, but is ignored. Meanwhile, Deathwing is masquerading as Lord Davel Prestor, endearing himself - through sorcery - to the leaders of the Alliance. He is attempting to be declared King of Alterac, at which point he would seek to marry into the Royal family of Lordaeron, making himself King.

Futher, Deathwing lends unexpected aid to Rhonin, helping him to get into the Orc fortress of Khaz Modan. Seperated from his companions, Rhonin agrees, although he is skeptical of Deathwings claim of seeking reparations with Alexstrasza. Rhonins companions, Veressa Windrunner and Falstad Wildhammer follow his trail in an attempt to rescue him.
Rhonin is discovered within Grim Batol by Nekros Skullcrusher who believes Rhonin to be a precursor to a larger Alliance assault. Nekros packs up Alexstrasza’s eggs, and moves his forces north. With the eggs exposed, Deathwing's real Purpose is revealed. He is after the eggs to replenish his flight.

Korialstrasz finally manages to rally the other three Aspects to help free Alexstrasza. Deathwing, however, is far too much for even their combined might. With a good portion of their power still invested in the Demon Soul, they are powerless before him. Rhonin uses one of Deathwing’s scales to destroy the Demon Soul, and the Aspects are restored to full power. Deathwing is defeated, and horribly wounded.

The Road to Damnation (Short Story)

The Archmage Kel’thuzad is in trouble, after the mages of Dalaran discover he is tampering with the magic that the Hordes warlocks used during the wars. His research is confiscated.

Kel’thuzad travels to Northreand, following a voice in his head. He discovers undead Nerubians, bug like creatures who serve the fearsome Lich King. Anubarak, the leader of the Nerubians, leads Kel’thuzad to the Frozen Throne, where he bows to his new master, realizing he has traveled to far down this path to turn back.

Lord of the Clans (Novel)

In the final days of the first war, Durotan, chief of the Frostwolf clan, is slain by Gul’dan’s assassins. Orgrim Doomhammer overthrows Gul’dan and his Shadow Council for this act, and Aedelas Blackmoore, a human general, finds Durotan’s orphaned son, who he raises for his own amusement and greed.  He names him Thrall, with means slave.

After the second war, many of the orcs stranded on Azeroth by the destruction of the Dark Portal are rounded up and placed in internment camps run by Blackmoore. Blackmoore plans to use Thrall to command an orcish army under his control to conquer the Alliance.

Thrall is trained in weaponry and battle tactics, and also studies writing and history. Thrall is forced to compete in gladiator tournaments, and hates it. Thrall escapes Durnholde with the help of a human girl named Taretha, a childhood friend.

Thrall sets out to find the Warsong Clan, a group of orcs led by Grom Hellscream. Grom befriends Thrall, and teaches him the history of the Orcs, and of Thrall’s clan, the Frostwolves. Thrall travels to the Alterac Mountains to find them. Drek'Thar, the Frostwolf elder, teaches Thrall the ways of Shamanism. Thrall also meets with the exiled Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer, who had escaped the Alliance some years earlier and had lived in hiding ever since.

Orgrim tells Thrall more of his past and of his parents' death. Thrall decides to raise an army by freeing his people from the prison camps, with the goal of returning to the orcish way of life before the Horde was created. Doomhammer is killed during a raid on one of the camps, and in his final moments, he names Thrall the new Warchief.

Thrall then decides to attack Durnholde, to cut off any reinforcements to the camps. He takes Durnholde and kills Blackmoore, but is too late to save Taretha, who was beheaded by Blackmoore for helping Thrall escape. Thrall rallies the Horde and sets out to liberate the remaining orcs.

Of Blood and Honor (Novella)

Tirion discovers the orc Eitrigg in a crumbling tower in the woods near Hearthglen. The two engage in combat and find they are both evenly matched. The tower collapses on Tirion and Eitrigg pulls him out. For his mercy, Tirion vows to let Eitrigg live in peace, but Eitrigg is captured days later and Tirion is accused of treason for trying to hide him. Tirion is banished from the Silver Hand and Eitrigg is to be hung, but Tirion liberates him during and orcish raid and delivers him to Thrall, the new Warchief of the Horde.

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos  

Exodus of the Horde
After a visit from a Mysterious Prophet, Thrall gathers the Horde and leads them out of Lordaeron across the sea to Kalimdor, sailing on ships stolen from Southshore. On an island near the Maelstrom they befriend the Darkspear Trolls and liberate them from a Naga Sea Witch. Lead by Vol’jin, the Darkspear become a part of the Horde.

The Scourge of Lordaeron
Prince Arthas is trying to stop a plague that is spreading across Lordaeron, which turns people into Undead. The plagueis being spread by tainted food, delivered to major cities by Kel’Thuzad and the Cult of the Damned. Arthas kills Kel’Thuzad, but is too late to stop the tainted food. Arthas turns to extreme measures to stop the plague by murdering everyone in Stratholme. The dreadlord Mal’Ganis reveals himself to Arthas, and takes credit for the Plague. Mal'Ganis travels to Northrend; Arthas follows. Muradin Bronzebeard tells him of a sword called Frostmourne. Arthas obtains Frostmourne, at the cost of Muradin's life. He then defeats Mal'Ganis. Frostmourne steals Arthas' soul and he becomes a death knight. He returns home and murders his father.

Path of the Damned
Under the command of Arthas, the undead scourge move to complete their purpose in Lordaeron; destroy the last of the Alliance and aid the Burning Legion in a new invasion. Arthas invades Quel'thalas, destroying the lands of the High Elves, and uses the magical Sunwell, source of the High Elves magic, to revive his former adversary, Kel'Thuzad, as a Lich. Together they open a dimensional portal for the true masters of the undead scourge, the Burning Legion, to once again enter Azeroth.

The Invasion of Kalimdor
Thrall leads his Horde in Kalimdor. They befriend Cairne Bloodhoof and the Tauren. The Burning Legion makes its way to Kalimdor and Grom Hellscream is demonically corrupted by Mannoroth, the Pit Lord who corrupted the orcs back on Dreanor. Thrall allies the Horde with Jaina Proudmore, leader of the survivors of Lordearon, who have also travelled to Kalimdor to escape the Scourge. Thrall, Cairne, and Jaina repel the Burning Legion, and also save Hellscream. Grom insists upon battling Mannoroth, and Thrall agrees. Together, they face and kill Mannoroth but Grom is mortally wounded during the battle and dies.

Eternity's End
Kalimdor is inhabited by another kind of elf, the Night Elves. Their leader,Tyrande Whisperwind and her Sentinels, fight to save Kalimdor from the Burning Legion. She reawakens Malfurion Stormrage, the Druids of the Talon, and the Druids of the Claw. She also frees Illidan Stormrage, Malfurion’s brother, against Malfurions will. Illidan meets Arthas, who tells him the location of the Skull of Gul'dan. Illidan retrieves the Skull and becomes infused with fel magic, then he kills Tichondrius, another Dread Lord. Illidan is banished from the forest as he is now demonically corrupted. The Mysterious Prophet summons Thrall, Jaina, Tyrande and Malfurion, and reveals that he is Medivh, here to redeem himself and get revenge upon the Burning Legion for what they did to him.. The Humans, Orcs, Tauren, and Night Elves combine forces to spring a trap on the Burning Legion. The ancestral spirits of the Night Elves are summoned and destroy Archimonde at Mount Hyjal, but the World Tree granting the Night Elves immortality is lost.

Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne  

Terror of the Tides
The Sentinel Warden Maiev Shadowsong pursues Illidan Stormrage across Azeroth. Illidan befriends Lady Vashj and gains the allegiance of the Naga. Illidan travels to the Tomb of Sargeras to retrieve the Eye of Sargeras. He wants to use the Eye to destroy the Frozen Throne. Maiev and Malfurion prevent Illidan from using the Eye with the help of Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider. Maiev destroys the Eye, believing Illidan wants to destroy the planet. Tyrande is attacked by Maiev for freeing Illidan and the Stormrage brothers join forces to save her. Malfurion pardons Illidan but doesn’t revoke his exile. Illidan flees, opening a portal to Dreanor, and Maiev follows, still in persuit.

Curse of the Blood Elves

The High Elves of Quel'thalas that survived the invasion of the Scourge have adopted the name Blood Elves. Distrustful humans imprison their leader, Prince Kael'thas. He is liberated by Lady Vashj and her Naga. Vashj takes Kael'thas and his Blood Elves to Draenor, now called Outland. Illidan Stormrage has begun a campaign to remove the Legion from Outland. He closes many of the open portals the legion is using and conquers the fel orcs. Illidan gains the allegiance of the Broken Draenei, and conquers Outland. The demon lord Kil'jaeden finds him at the Black Temple and forces Illidan to renew his vow to destroy the Lich King.

Legacy of the Damned
Within the Plaguelands, the Scourge shatters into factions. Following Illidans interrupted attack on the Frozen Throne with the Eye of Sargeras, The Lich King’s hold on the undead is weakened. Some follow Arthas and Kel'Thuzad, and are loyal to the Lich King. Some follow Banshee Queen Sylvanas Windrunner and are called the Forsaken. Some follow the Burning Legion, and are not aware of the Legions defeat in Kalimdor. Arthas' is called to Northrend to assist the Lich King, and prevent Illidan from destroying the Frozen Throne. Arthas befriends the Nerubian race, and defeats Illidan in a race to the Throne. Sylvanas wages war against the Dread Lords and emerges as ruler of the Plaguelands. Arthas ascends the Frozen Throne and becomes one with the Lich King.
 

The Founding of Durotar
Rexxar the beastmaster befriends Thrall and rejoins the Horde in Durotar. Rexxar learns that humans from the island of Theramore, led by Daelin Proudmoore, plan to invade Durotar. Daelin doesn't accept the truce between the Horde and the Alliance despite the events at Mt Hyjal. The orcs invade Theramore and slay Daelin, replacing him with Jaina Proudmoore.

War of the Ancients Trilogy (Novel)

The Well of Eternity

The Demon Soul

The Sundering

The Sunwell Trilogy (Manga)

Dragon Hunt

Kalecgos, a blue dragon, is shot down over southern Lordaeron by Harkyn Grymstone. Kalec transforms into a human to hide and is saved by a girl named Anveena, who takes Kalecgos to her parent’s farm. Harkyn uses magic to find them. Kalec attempts to flee with Anveena by shifting back to his dragon form, but is again shot down, into a lake. Anveena finds Kalec and they return to her home, but are ambushed by the Scourge. The undead are controlled by Dar'khan, an elven mage who betrayed the High Elves and searches for the Sunwell. Kalec and Anveena are saved by Tyrygosa, another blue dragon.

In the ruins of her house, Anveena finds an egg. It hatches into a tiny dragon named Raac. Tyri disguises herself as an elf and the group travels to Tarren Mill, searching for a friend of Anveena's family. At the inn, Kalec is ambushed by Harkyn, and Tyri is trapped by a magical net. Anveena runs to find help and meets a human Paladin named Jorad Mace.

Dar'khan and the Scourge appear and tell Harkyn he was hired to keep the dragons away. Faint Sunwell energies were attracting Blue Dragons, and Harkyn was to kill any who got close. Anveena returns and Dar'khan senses the power of the Sunwell in Raac. Dar'khan orders the dragons to be killed, but Harkyn shoots Dar'khan instead. Jorad frees Tyri who burns the undead. The group heads to Aerie Peak in search for allies.

Shadows of Ice

Over Alterac Mountains the group is attacked and split up by an undead Frostwyrm. Anveena wakes inside a castle, with Trag Highmountain, a Tauren adventurer. She wants to search for the others, but Trag warns of Undead nearby. She meets Trag’s friend Baron Valimar Mordis, a rebel Undead. The Baron was the lord of a kingdom that was ravaged by the undead. He was raised from death and forced to join them. He broke away, and Trag found and helped him recover. The Baron uses an Orb of Ner'zhul to take power from Anveena. He reveals he controls the Frost Wyrm and the nearby undead.

Kalec finds himself with Raac in a cave. A Dwarven team is digging away ice from a giant monster. The dwarves capture him, and Trag takes him to the castle as a prisoner, but promises to help. Trag wakes Anveena and brings her to Kalec. Jorad wakes up trapped in a block of ice. He breaks free and then frees Tyri. The dwarves capture them too.

Their leader explains that they came to Alterac for resources to fight the undead, found Baron Mordis, and worked for him after he promised to defeat the undead. The dwarves then attack the undead in the area, and are joined by Anveena and Kalec. The Baron sends the FrostWyrm after them. Tyri transforms into a dragon and fights the Wyrm. Trag attacks the Baron and stops his spell, which destroys the FrostWyrm. The massive Wyrm skeleton crashes on the castle, killing both of them. Dar'khan shows up and kidnaps Anveena.

Ghostlands

Dar'khan flies Anveena over to the ruins of Quel'thalas. Below, Kalecgos, Tyrygosa, Jorad Mace, and their hatchling Raac pursue Dar’khan. They are ambushed by a large Felhound. They defeat it with the help of a band of elves, led by Lor'themar, trying to reclaim Quel'thalas by ambushing groups of undead. The two groups band together to try to stop Dar'khan.

Dar'khan takes Anveena to the former sight of the Sunwell. Anveena slips off and is then confronted by a mysterious cloaked figure, who tells her she is the essence of the Sunwell itself. Dar'khan finds her again and prepares to cast his spell, but Lor'themar and his elves attack.

They are driven back, but he is delayed as Kalec, Tyri, and Jorad then arrive and attack. Dar’khan counterattacks with a massive dragon under his control. Raac frees the dragon from mind control and they manage to stop Dar'khan. The giant dragon transforms into the cloaked figure Anveena spoke to earlier. He is revealed as Korialstrasz, the consort of Alexstrasza the Life-Binder. Tyri flies Jorad North to confront the Lich King, and Anveena stays in Quel'thalas with Kalec and Lor'themar to hide her power.

Cycle of Hatred (Novel)