Horde

Alliance | Horde



The Horde is one of the two major political factions of the mortal races in Azeroth, it's counterpart being the Alliance.

Members
Major member races include:


 * The orcs
 * Led by Warchief Thrall.
 * Capital is Orgrimmar in Durotar. They also have camps in the Barrens, Ashenvale, Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Badlands, Swamp of Sorrows and Azshara.
 * Attempting to embrace their once honorable, shamanistic ways and control the corruption of demonic magic.
 * The island trolls of the Darkspear tribe
 * Led by Shadowhunter Vol'jin.
 * Share a capital with the orcs in Orgrimmar. They also have camps in Durotar, Ashenvale, Stonetalon Mountains and Desolace.
 * Indebted to the orcs for saving their clan and giving them a home.
 * The tauren
 * Led by Chieftan Cairne Bloodhoof.
 * Capital is Thunder Bluff in Mulgore. They also have camps in the Barrens, Thousand Needles, Stonetalon Mountains, Desolace and Feralas.
 * A race of noble creatures who offered spiritual guidance to the orcs in exchange for their military aid.
 * The undead Forsaken
 * Led by the Banshee Queen Sylvanas Windrunner.
 * Capital is the Undercity in Tirisfal Glades. They also have holdings in Silverpine Forest and the Hillsbrad Foothills.
 * A group of undead released from the control of the Lich King who have set up a shaky truce with the other members of the Horde.
 * The blood elves (coming with Burning Crusade expansion)
 * The blood elves on Azeroth are being led by Lor'themar Theron
 * Capital will be Silvermoon
 * A group of former high elves shunned by the Alliance for their embrace of demonic magics, they turned to the Horde to help them reach Outland and achieve their dark destiny (in the upcoming Burning Crusade expansion).
 * Those on Outland are led by Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider,

The Stonemaul ogres of Dustwallow Marsh are also members of the Horde, as well as the forest trolls of the Revantusk tribe and a few goblins.

History
In the past, the Horde referred to the orcs and their battle thralls from both Draenor and Azeroth, such as trolls and ogres (see more about the old Horde). Following its utter defeat at the end of the Second War, the old Horde's power was forever broken, allowing Thrall to awaken the dormant spirituality of his people and free them from the Burning Legion's control.

During the events of the Third War, Thrall has made lasting bonds with the tauren chief Cairne Bloodhoof and the troll shadowhunter Vol'jin of the Darkspear clan. The ties between the three races is very close, as both share many similar cultural views. With the help of the tauren, both the orcs and the tribe of trolls have established a place for themselves in Kalimdor. Since then, certain ogre tribes, as well as the Forsaken and blood elves (both due to their lack of other options), have chosen to affiliate themselves with the Horde.

Organization
The Horde may be viewed as a more centralized body than the Alliance, as Orgimmar is the obivious center and Thrall the undisputed leader. Like the old Alliance of Lordaeron, Thrall accepts ambassadors and advisors from all the different tribes and members of the Horde and makes sure their voice is heard in the running of the fledgling empire. Although unavoidably posessing the characteristic militarism of the Orcs, Thrall has also proven himself to be a compassionate, idealistic, and enlightened individual, and commands a great deal of respect within the Horde.

In the Third War, and before the liberation of the Forsaken from the Scourge, the Horde allied themselves with the Alliance to rid Azeroth of the Burning Legion. Since then old animosity has risen again, resulting in open conflict on several battlefields.

Despite their somewhat monstrous appearance, the majority of the Horde is not evil; much like the Alliance, it is comprised of diverse factions and individuals who possess a wide range of values and virtues.