Internal and External Conflicts

In the twenty-eighth year after the Dark Portal opened, the Scourge, which had ravaged the world for nearly a decade, was finally subdued. Thanks to his contribution in driving the Scourge into the dream during the war, Zul'ra received a grand welcome upon returning to Orgrimmar.

While the Judgment Army had been on its northern campaign, Thrall had successfully established the Glory People's Congress. The moment Zul'ra returned to Orgrimmar, he was nominated as chairman of the Glory People's Congress. This came as no surprise—after all, he had sacrificed an eye in the fight against the Scourge. However, when Thrall recommended him as a candidate for Warchief, trouble arose.

Led by Magatha—or rather, it was Magatha alone—there was fierce opposition to Zul'ra becoming a Warchief candidate. She did not openly attack him. Instead, she declared that with the campaign against the Scourge over, the relationship between the Alliance and Horde would enter a sensitive period. If Thrall stepped down at such a time, it would shake everyone's morale. Was he trying to evade his responsibilities as Warchief?

At Magatha's prompting, Vol'jin, Cairne, and the others, who had not originally objected much to Zul'ra succeeding as Warchief, began to waver. They joined in urging Thrall not to step down during this period, lest the Alliance take advantage of the opening.

It was not that Zul'ra lacked prestige. Rather, Thrall's unique experiences—his aid to the Shu'halo and Darkspear, as well as his leadership of the Horde in the holy war at Mount Hyjal—had given him an irreplaceable standing within the Horde.

Vol'jin, Cairne, and the others believed that Thrall's departure might cause chaos within the Horde. Zul'ra, as his successor, might be unable to control the situation, or might need to spend a great deal of time settling it. In the end,