Orc

Biodata

Background / History

Orcs came from Draenor to Azeroth through the Dark Portal. Malone learns about the crossing partly through the memories of Maicomarlon, an orc warlock involved in it 4 22. On Draenor, orcs used shamans as spellcasters before Gul'dan taught many of them demonic magic, turning them into warlocks 7.

After conquering Stormwind, the Horde gathers near Blackrock Mountain and prepares to march north. Its alliance with Zul'jin's Amani trolls is strained by fights in the camp, including the killing and scalping of a Bloodfang orc. The dispute prompts calls for retaliation from other orc leaders 4 27 28.

Appearance

Orcs are portrayed as large, powerfully built combatants, though individuals vary in build and role 2 29 32.

• Green skin — visible among the orcs in Orgrim Doomhammer's camp 29.
• Heavy build — Orgrim selects particularly robust orcs for his personal guard 29.

Culture & Combat

• Clans and leadership — the Horde contains distinct clans with their own loyalties and rivalries. Orgrim Doomhammer is its Warchief, but leaders such as Kilrogg Deadeye retain influence over their clans 29 31 40.
• Combat as dispute resolution — Kaldara invokes an orc tradition under which the stronger fighter sets the rules, offering Malone a one-on-one duel over a human captive 13.
• Blademasters — Burning Blade Blademasters earn their title through demanding training. Kaldara's technique lets him evade Malone's stronger blows and defeat him 14 15 49.
• Magic — orc warlocks tattoo runes, chiefly on their hands and faces, to aid spellcasting. Shamans practiced among orcs before warlocks emerged 7.
• Worgs — orcs on Draenor tamed wild wolves and used them as mounts 6.

Relationships

• Amani trolls — Horde allies whose camp disputes with the orcs escalate into a killing and a threat to their alliance 4 27 28.
• Humans — enemies in the war; the orcs conquer Stormwind and prepare to attack northern human kingdoms 4 11.
• Death Knights — Horde allies created by placing orc warlocks' souls into human corpses. Tension with orc soldiers leads Orgrim to summon Teron Gorefiend and Malone 4 27 28.