The release date of World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is almost here, and it will see the champions of Azeroth take up arms once again against a new foe. After spending the last couple of years in the Shadowlands, players will be returning to a world seeping with classic World of Warcraft lore. They will be reunited with the powerful factions of the Horde and Alliance, but the version that they will be fighting alongside may not be the same after the events of Shadowlands.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands saw some of the most popular Horde characters fight alongside the players against the Jailer. Not only did characters like Thrall assist players in the Shadowlands, but they were also forced to combat their old Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner as she tried to break the cycle of life and death. These events had a significant impact on the entire Horde, and the ramification of these choices will most likely be revealed as players begin their adventure in the Dragon Isles.
What Happened to The Horde During Shadowlands
The story of Shadowlands was less focused on the intricacies of the factions and more focused on specific characters from these factions. One of the major driving forces behind the story was the Horde's ex-Warchief and leader of the Forsaken Sylvanas Windrunner. After killing Saurfang and fleeing Orgrimmar at the end of Battle for Azeroth, Sylvanas shattered the Helm of Domination and broke the veil between Azeroth and the Shadowlands. She then spent much of the expansion as the Jailer's main ally until she turned on him at the end of the Sanctum of Domination raid. In response, the Jailer returned the missing half of her soul to her and abandoned her to the judgment of those she was willing to condemn.
After coming back from retirement at the end of Battle for Azeroth, Thrall was abducted by the Jailer's forces at the beginning of Shadowlands. The champions of Azeroth would end up freeing him, and he would lend his aid during the majority of the expansion. While in the Shadowlands, Thrall was also able to reconnect with his deceased mother Draka. He would learn much about his past and prepare himself for the future as a member of the new Horde Council.
The Tauren Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof would also be dragged to the Shadowlands by the Jailer's forces, but he spent much of the expansion sitting in Oribos. He assisted the forces of the Shadowlands in stopping the Jailer, but there was very little story that involved him. One of the biggest things that Baine did was reveal that his deceased father Cairne Bloodhoof guided him through life, and he had no need to seek him out in the Shadowlands.
How The Horde Looks Going Into Dragonflight
Not much is known about what happened on Azeroth during Shadowlands, and the state of the greater Horde is very much a mystery. The epilogue of Shadowlands did reveal that the Forsaken were attempting to clean up the Ruins of Lordaeron after Sylvanas Windrunner blighted it during Battle for Azeroth. Without their leader, the Forsaken formed a new Desolate Council that will act as the governing body for the foreseeable future. The members consist of Lilian Voss, Calia Menethil, Deathstalker Commander Belmont, Dark Ranger Velonara, and Master Apothecary Faranell. One of the first things that the Council is going to look into is the withdrawal of troops from Gilneas after occupying it since Cataclysm.
After beating the Jailer, Tyrande Whisperwind passed judgment of Sylvanas Windrunner and banished her to the Maw. After being a major player for the last three expansions, Sylvanas is now working to free every soul that she condemned. It seems like her story is over for now and the Horde will have to evolve without her, but that may all change in Dragonflight. Lor'Themar Theron and First Arcanist Thalyssra also got married, and that could mark a new beginning for their two kingdoms. The time of Warchiefs has also ended as the Horde will now be governed by a new council dubbed the Horde Council with representatives from every race that is in the Horde.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight will most likely shed more light on what this all means for the future of the Horde, and show what the other leaders went through during Shadowlands. The new expansion will probably lead to even more shakeups within the faction and this version of the Horde may be very different from the post-Dragonflight version. Players will just have to wait and see what Blizzard has in store.
World of Warcraft is available now on PC with Dragonflight launching on November 28.