Prologue

In ancient times, Azeroth was the name bestowed by the Titans upon a tiny plane amid the boundless darkness. The world's only continent was named Kalimdor by the Titans—the "Land of Everlasting Starlight." With the explosion of the Well of Eternity, it split into several major landmasses: Kalimdor, the Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend, and Pandaria.

On Kalimdor, Night Elf sentinels rode black panthers as they patrolled the forests. Druids sometimes transformed into immensely powerful bears, sometimes into swift cheetahs, and sometimes into small ravens circling above the woods. After their crash, the Draenei made an emergency landing on Azuremyst Isle, and the Exodar was damaged as a result. Fortunately, after arriving on Azeroth, they hit it off with the Alliance and gained dependable allies. Orcs rode giant wolves and wielded iron axes as they defended the Iron Horde—Orgrimmar. Darkspear Trolls rode raptors and studied witchcraft, contributing their strength to the Horde. The Tauren ended their nomadic lives and settled in Mulgore, joining the Horde through their loyalty and bravery. Goblins brought advanced power to the Horde through their greed for wealth and their inventions. Rustbolt in particular possessed a massive cannon that was always aimed at Stormwind. Their destruction of nature undoubtedly deepened the Night Elves' hatred for the Horde.

In the Eastern Kingdoms, Varian Wrynn reclaimed Stormwind with the help of Lord Lothar, developing it into the human capital and the Alliance's primary gathering place. The Dwarves hollowed out a mountain to build Ironforge, forging without pause and supplying weapons to the Alliance. Gnomes could rival Goblins in invention. Though Gnomeregan was filled with crazed leper Gnomes, that could not dampen their passion for invention, further strengthening the Alliance. The Blood Elves still could not abandon the arcane, believing it to be an innate talent they were born with. In the ruined Silvermoon City, they not only had to remain constantly wary of Scourge remnants and the deranged, but also had to contend with their own magic addiction. Their study of the arcane conflicted with the Night Elves' beliefs, so they joined the Horde to prove to the Night Elves that the arcane was powerful. Under the leadership of the Banshee Queen Sylvanas, the Forsaken betrayed Arthas and continued expanding upon the ruins of Lordaeron, building the enormous underground city of Undercity. They then reached an understanding with the Orcs and joined the Horde.

Azeroth also contained many other races: dragons soaring through the skies; centaurs, ogres, thunder lizards, owlbeasts, and undead walking the land; Naga, lobster men, and murlocs in the waters; spiders and primitive troggs beneath the earth; as well as the elements left behind from ancient times—wind: Al'Akir, fire: Ragnaros, earth: Therazane, water: Neptulon—and followers of the Old Gods...