Humans: A Character Guide
This isn’t to try and tell you what to do and what not to do; this is for people who want more lore accurate characters and don’t know where to start.
Evolution (Year -15,000): The Curse of Flesh affects the ancestors of humans, the Dragonflayer clan of the vrykuls. This caused their children to be born weaker and therefore not as worthy to be part of the clan. Their leader, King Ymiron, ordered these young to be killed to keep the vrykul bloodline “pure” and strong. Some parents couldn’t bring themselves to obey the orders and instead opted to smuggle them far away to a land that would become Tirisfal Glades after hearing stories of followers of Tyr settling there. The fates of many of the disobedient parents would be to fall at the hands of Skadi, a vicious vrykul warrior. Eventually, most of these vrykul would died or become afflicted by the curse. Members of Tyr’s Guard took pity on the weaker race and inducted many into their ranks to keep them safe. These weak outcasts would later form their own cultures and branch out across the world, becoming known as humans.
The Kingdom of Arathor (Year -2,800): The Arathi humans, led by Thoradin, united many human tribes to aid the high elves of Quel’Thalas in defeating the growing Amani troll threat. In return, the elves taught humans arcane magic.
The Kingdom expands (Year -2,700): Settlements are founded in Alterac, Lordaeron, Gilneas, Kul Tiras, and Dalaran.
The Seven Kingdoms (-1,200)The human kingdoms of Lordaeron, Alterac, Gilneas, Dalaran, and Stromgarde are formed in Lordaeron. The kingdom of Stormwind is formed (also known as the Kingdom of Stormwind or Azeroth). The kingdom of Kul Tiras is formed.
The Gnoll Wars (Year -75): King Barathen Wrynn of Stormwind defeats Garfang and his gnoll armies.
Gurubashi conflict begins: (Year -21): Gurubashi trolls begin attacking human settlements in retaliation for them pushing into their lands.
Jok’non’s demise (Year -19): Gurubashi leader Jok’non is killed by Anduin Lothar, Prince Llane Wrynn and Medivh.
The Gurubashi War (Year -18): Gurubashi trolls rally Jok'non’s son, Zan'non, and launch an attack against Stormwind. Barathen dies during the battle.
The First War (Year 0): The Horde enter the Dark Portal and begin to attack human outposts and settlements, beginning the First War.
Stormwind City falls (Year 3): The Horde begin attack attempts against Stormwind. The first is a stalemate and the Horde retreat. Garona Halforcen, under the control of Gul’dan, assassinates Llane, making his son Varian the sole heir of Stormwind. Lothar is forced to gather as many refugees as he can and flee to Lordaeron. The Alliance of Lordaeron is formed.
The Second War (Year 4): The Alliance arrive in Lordaeron.
Quel’dorei aid (Year 5): Lothar calls on the ancient pact with the Quel’dorei for assistance in the war effort.
Capital City (Year 6): The Horde attempt to take the capital of Lordaeron but fail. Horde leader Orgrim Doomhammer kills Lothar but is captured.
Orc internment (Year 7): Following the Second War, humans construct internment camps to house captured orcs. The Stonemasons Guild, headed by Edwin VanCleef, begin rebuilding Stormwind.
Third War (Year 20): The undead plague begins spreading across the lands of Lordaeron. Prince Arthas Menethil elects to eradicate the populace of Stratholme after he discovers their wheat has been poisoned by it. He slays Kel’thuzad, a lich responsible for the plague, and follows his master Mal’Ganis to Northrend wherein he undercovers the cursed blade Frostmourne. The whispers lead him to kill his father, King Terenas II, upon returning to Lordaeron and allowing his kingdom to be overtaken by the dead. Edwin is killed in the Deadmines.
Defias Brotherhood (Year 25): After the kingdom is unable to pay them for their word, the Stonemason members rioted throughout Stormwind. Varian’s wife, Tiffin, is accidentally killed in the chaos. They are driven from the city and unite under the name of Defias Brotherhood, a bandit group who steal their payment from travellers.
Gilneas (Year 28): The human kingdom of Gilneas is assaulted by Forsaken and the worgen curse spreads even faster. They are forced to emerge from their isolationist culture and rejoin the Alliance. The Defias Brotherhood is reborn after five years of inactivity under Vanessa VanCleef, Edwin’s daughter.
A new king (Year 32): Varian falls on The Broken Shore and his son, Anduin Wrynn, succeeds him.
The spice of life: Alike all other races, humans’ natures are influenced by their environment, however humans are well spread out across all of Azeroth, more so than other races like night elves (who stayed around northern Kalimdor). Stormwind humans are known to be very proud of their monarchy, fiercely loyal to their kings and highly patriotic, mostly due to their leaders being remarkable warriors. Gilneans on the other hand may be more wary of strangers and other races after their long isolation. Kul Tiras humans are sea folk, therefore may be fond of shanties and sailing. It all really depends on where the human is from.
Other races: The Alliance began with humans and relies on good relations between humans and their various nations. However, ever since the Arathor Empire, they’ve had ties with dwarves and the quel’dorei people. They value gnomish ingenuity highly and night elf resilience. Orcs on the other hand have been responsible for the destruction of their lands for over 30 years, therefore ties are hostile and tense. Forsaken are also seen as abominations, nothing more than cheap imitations of dead loved ones and so many are appalled by them.
Other creatures: Humans don’t have particular animals they are too attached to, although they are fond of the gryphon that were introduced to them by Wildhammer dwarves and horses as sturdy mounts.
Languages: the main language of the humans is Common.
Government: Humans have 7 sovereign states. As for Lordaeron, it is currently in ruins previously ruled by Alliance Terenas II. His heir Arthas is deceased but never claimed him crown fully due to the Forsaken claiming it as their own, while his daughter and therefore sole heir Calia is in a state of Light-induced undeath. Alterac was run by Aiden Perenolde but is now leaderless and run by the Syndicate. Gilneas’ first recorded king was Archibald Greymane, father to current king Genn. Glenn’s daughter Tess is currently the sole heir to the throne after her brother Liam died. Dalaran is property of the Kirin Tor: its first leader being Ardogan, then Archmage Anondias, followed by Archmage Rhonin who was succeeded by Lady Jaina Proudmore. It is now under the leadership of The Council of Six, led by Archmage Khadgar. Stromgarde was first ruled by Ignaeus Trollbane after the Troll Wars. His ancestor Liam was the first to be documented between the gap of lineage of him and Ignaeus. His son Thoras succeeded him only to be killed by his own son, Galen, in order to take Stromgarde for himself. It is currently crippled but Alliance owned. Stormwind is run by a monarchy under the Wrynn line, currently headed by Anduin. The first Wrynn rule was his great-great grandfather Landan, followed by Barathen, succeeded by Llane and then Anduin’s father Varian. Lastly, Kul Tiras was ruled by Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore but his wife Katherine succeeded him after his death. Their daughter Jaina now rules as Lord Admiral.
Military: As the Seven Kingdoms have their own leadership, they also have their own military. As previously mentioned, The Syndicate occupies Alterac and is a criminal organisation. Gilneas’ primary source of defence lags with the Royal Guard. The mages of the Kirin Tor are responsible for its defences. Stormwind, along with its own city guards, has a secretive order of spies known as SI:7 who report delicate information to the monarch and carry out important assassinations. Kul Tiras is famed for its strong naval forces.
Religion: Faith differs across human nations. Gilneas still has harvest-witches ties to Druidism whereas Kul Tirans are known for their Tidesages and worship the Tidemother. The majority of other kingdoms such as Stormwind worship the Light and have many cathedrals to facilitate their practices.
