The elemental lords reveled in the primordial chaos they themselves had created—until one day, a group of Old Gods fell from the Great Dark. Their bodies slammed into Azeroth's surface with world-shaking force, scattering across various locations and forming grotesque centers of corruption. These Old Gods towered over the land, their forms resembling writhing mountains of flesh, covered in hundreds of gnashing jaws and soulless black eyes. A mist of despair quickly enveloped all who stood in their shadow, crushing hope and dulling the spirits of living beings.
Like giant cancerous growths spreading out of control, the Old Gods unleashed their corrosive influence across the landscape. The ground around them boiled and withered, blackened and lifeless for miles in every direction. Meanwhile, their repulsive tendrils crept slowly, gnawing at the crust of the earth and burrowing ever deeper toward the helpless heart of Azeroth.
From the rotting, corrupted bodies of the Old Gods, organic matter seeped and gave birth to two distinct races. The first were the n'raqi—cunning, intelligent creatures known as the "faceless ones," masters of illusion and manipulation. The second were the aqir, an insectoid race of immense resilience and strength. As physical manifestations of the Old Gods' will, both races served their masters with unwavering, fanatical loyalty.
Through these new servants, the Old Gods expanded the borders of their once-isolated dominion. The n'raqi acted as cruel overseers, directing the construction of towering fortresses and temple-cities around the massive bodies of their masters. The aqir were used as laborers—digging, building, and defending their territory. The largest of all these fortresses was built around Y'Shaarj, the most powerful and malevolent of the Old Gods. The civilization that grew around him was located near the center of Azeroth's largest continent. Y'Shaarj's domain, along with those of the other Old Gods, soon spread across the world and became known as the Black Empire.
The rise of the Black Empire did not go unnoticed by the elementals. Viewing the Old Gods as a direct threat to their power, the elemental lords united for the first time in Azeroth's history. The native spirits of the world, who had once fought each other for elemental dominance, now joined forces against a far more dangerous common enemy.
Al'Akir's storms joined with Ragnaros's fiery minions, creating devastating, uncontrollable fire cyclones. These flaming tempests rampaged across the world, reducing Black Empire strongholds to ash. Elsewhere, Therazane raised jagged stone walls that towered high, encircling her enemies and crushing their temple-cities with unyielding earth.
Neptulon, the Tidehunter, led his water elementals in an assault on enemy territory. Massive tidal waves obliterated n'raqi and aqir alike, smashing them between boulders and the wrath of the relentless sea.
Yet despite their spirit and strength, the elementals could not topple the Black Empire. No matter how many n'raqi and aqir they destroyed, more emerged from the rotting bodies of the Old Gods—like larvae endlessly spilling from a decaying nest. The n'raqi and aqir devoured the land like an unstoppable plague, destroying elemental forms and enslaving the native spirits of the world.
In the end, the Old Gods succeeded in enslaving the elementals and their lords. With no native spirits left to resist the Void's servants, the borders of the Black Empire crept across most of the barren world. Eternal twilight blanketed Azeroth, and the world plunged into a chasm of suffering and death.
But the Old Gods did not stop there. After establishing the Black Empire on the continent of Kalimdor, the four turned their gaze toward a new continent across the sea. They sought to erode the life energy that existed there, but all their efforts failed. The life force born from the musical themes of Ilúvatar and the Ainur was still too new and pure, making it difficult for the Old Gods to penetrate.
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Not long after, the Valar descended upon the planet Azeroth—a world ravaged by elemental war, the result of chaos sown by the Old Gods. The skies were torn by storms, the land blackened by corruption, and the seas churned without direction. Though the Valar's desire to aid this world burned with unstoppable force, Ilúvatar's sacred mandate remained clear and inviolable: to guard and reshape the order of the continents of Valinor and Middle-earth—lands they had created as bastions of light, meant to shield against the ruin and destruction wrought by the vile creatures of the Void.
The fourteen Valar stepped resolutely into Valinor, the sacred land they now tended with gentleness, vigilance, and unwavering resolve. There, they began planting the seeds of the World Tree—a source of light and soul granted directly by Ilúvatar. This tree was not merely a symbol, but a beacon of new hope for a world in flux, a central point of harmony that rejected darkness and stood as proof that Ilúvatar's will still reigned.
These Valar were:
Manwë, King of the Valar, ruler of wind and the wide skies
Ulmo, lord of the seas and all waters, singer of the ocean's song
Aulë, the great smith and craftsman, shaper of the world's matter
Oromë, the tireless hunter and lover of forests
Mandos (Námo), keeper of fate, overseer of death and destiny
Lórien (Irmo), master of dreams and serenity
Tulkas, the strongest and fastest warrior, bringer of courage
Varda, Queen of the Stars, banisher of night's darkness, wife of Manwë
Yavanna, mistress of plants and nature, wife of Aulë
Nienna, Valier of compassion and sorrow that nurtures hope
Estë, healer and bringer of peace, wife of Lórien
Vairë, weaver of the world's history, wife of Mandos
Vána, goddess of spring who awakens new life
Nessa, graceful dancer and protector of wild beasts, wife of Tulkas
They arrived in Valinor, paying no heed to the elemental warstorms raging across the other parts of the world. The Old Gods—ancient beings steeped in hatred and corruption—watched the arrival of foreign entities from another realm: the Valar, guardians of light and order. With festering malice, they sought to erode and defile the sanctity of the Valar, hoping to bend them to the destruction they had spread across all corners of Azeroth.
But the Valar stood firm. They fought with power not drawn from the elements, but from the will of Ilúvatar himself. In a battle unseen by mortal eyes, light and darkness collided in song and echo that shook the foundations of the world.
Manwë, the highest of the Valar and leader after the fall of Melkor—who would later be known as Morgoth—raised his voice in a great magical song that shook Arda. This song was no mere spell, but pure power manifesting Ilúvatar's will, flowing from sky to earth, from wind to soul, piercing the boundaries of reality and driving out the Void's intent.
With a graceful yet commanding gesture, Manwë ordered the gathering dark clouds to transform into shimmering white waves, radiating pure light as a declaration of defiance against evil. That light was not just brightness—it was a reminder of the order that could not be undone by the will of emptiness.
He thundered with a voice full of authority and holy wrath, chanting words of banishment:
"You hold no power here, servants of the Void Lord!"
"Faceless!"
"Formless!"
"Return to the void, vile beings known as the Old Gods!"
"Return to your original form in the continent of Kalimdor, wretched creatures!"
Manwë's roar echoed across the skies of Valinor, as if piercing space and time. The magic of his song surged forth, forcing back the Old Gods who had tried to infiltrate the sacred order of Arda. The sky shifted into waves of shimmering white light, sweeping away every lurking shadow of darkness, sealing the breach that had briefly opened and locking the gates of the void.
In the trembling silence that followed the storm, the Valar stood unshaken. They had not only triumphed, but reaffirmed that Ilúvatar's order remained intact. The world they tended continued to shine with renewed hope, and Valinor stood as a bastion of light that could not be pierced by the will of emptiness.
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The Valar who descended to the planet Azeroth were tasked with perfecting the shape of Arda—the continents of Valinor and Middle-earth—by creating mountains, dense forests, and various other living creatures. In carrying out this sacred duty, the Valar were granted memories by Eru Ilúvatar, who had previously spoken with a human from another world. These memories contained tales and images of unique fauna and flora, which then became their source of inspiration in building new ecosystems across Valinor and Middle-earth.
Among these inspirations, Ilúvatar drew flora and fauna from the fictional world of Avatar: The Way of Water. He was deeply fascinated by the diversity and beauty of the creatures and plants depicted in that work. Although the Valar did not fully understand the reason behind Ilúvatar's command to create these beings, they remained faithful in fulfilling the Creator's mandate. Additionally, they incorporated various flora and fauna from Tolkien's universe, harmoniously blending elements from both worlds.
These flora and fauna would later become deeply connected with the human soul-seed now embodied in the World Tree. Until Arda was truly perfected—with all the creatures from these two universes dwelling within—it was forbidden for the Valar to leave the place. They had to continuously guard and nurture the World Tree seed in both Valinor and Middle-earth.
To prepare for the future and maintain balance in the Warcraft universe, Ilúvatar also began creating new Valar and Maiar—holy beings who would assist the Tolkien Valar in safeguarding the World Tree. These new Valar and Maiar would eventually take over the duties of the original Tolkien Valar, especially after Arda reached its perfection on the planet Azeroth.
Meanwhile, Ilúvatar continued sorting through the memories from that human of another world, selecting creatures best suited to appear and adapt to Azeroth's conditions within the Warcraft universe. The task of the new Valar and Maiar was to guide and protect the races that would be born from the World Tree—the human soul now inhabiting the planet.
As the Tolkien Valar observed Azeroth, they saw a world still shrouded in darkness and rampant corruption caused by the influence of the Void Lords' servants, the disgusting beings known as the Old Gods. They were the primary source of destruction and imbalance on this planet.
To mark the presence of new light and hope, the Valar built two great lamps atop tall towers—Illuin and Ormal. The beams of Illuin and Ormal illuminated all of Arda, pushing back the darkness and sowing courage in all living beings beneath their glow.
As the center of their governance and sacred ground, they established a new capital on the continent of Valinor, now located on planet Azeroth, named Aman—a place destined to become the final bastion of light and guardian of harmony in this newly born world.
The Valar were busy building their capital, Eldamar, as both a temporary residence and the center of governance and protection on planet Azeroth. While beautifying the city, they continued to carry out their respective duties with full dedication.
Amidst this flurry of activity, Yavanna—one of the Valar—sang a sacred song that awakened miracles. From her song were born two great trees: Telperion, the silver tree, and Laurelin, the golden tree. From the dew that dripped from the leaves of these two trees, the Valar created stars to illuminate Arda. These stars were not merely beacons of hope but also guides for the future—a light that would lead the children of the World Tree in times to come.
Surrounding the two trees created by Yavanna lay a lake encircling them, becoming a sacred place and a source of energy for the balance of nature in Valinor.
While the Valar busied themselves building and maintaining balance in their new continent, Arda, war still raged on the continent of Kalimdor. The conflict between elemental races enslaved by the Old Gods continued without pause, making Kalimdor a chaotic battlefield filled with suffering.
Thousands of years had passed, and the power of the Old Gods nearly ruled over the entire continent of Kalimdor, deepening the wounds and destruction upon the land.
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Meanwhile, in the silent and endless depths of the Great Dark Beyond, Aggramar continued his heavy mission: to eradicate every trace of demonic influence still lingering in the cosmos. His battles took him from one world to another, from one civilization besieged by evil forces to the next, teetering on collapse. Though he bore the full weight of this task alone, his resolve never wavered. He believed with all his heart that one day Sargeras would return, and together they would ensure the Pantheon's purpose was fulfilled.
It was during this long and lonely journey that Aggramar sensed something extraordinary: peaceful dreams from a slumbering world-soul, rolling across the cosmos like gentle waves of light. A faint yet powerful song of life led him to a world never before discovered by the Pantheon—a world they would later name "Azeroth."
Within the core of that world dwelled one of Aggramar's kin—a titan far stronger than any he had ever encountered. Its spirit was so mighty and pure that Aggramar could feel the vibrations of its dreams even amid the destructive chaos shaking the surface.
But as Aggramar drew closer to Azeroth and began observing the world from afar, horror gripped him. Void energy cloaked the planet's surface like a layer of diseased, rotting flesh. From the ruins of the shattered landscape, the Old Gods and their Black Empire had risen. Miraculously, the newborn titan's soul remained intact, but Aggramar knew it was only a matter of time before it succumbed to the will of the Void.
Aggramar immediately sought counsel from the entire Pantheon, delivering his discovery with urgency and deep concern. Clearly, this proved that Sargeras had been right about the Void Lords and their terrifying plans. Aggramar urged the other titans to act swiftly before Azeroth was lost forever.
Eonar instantly stood by Aggramar's side. She urged the Pantheon to consider the potential of this world. If nurtured properly, this new titan could even surpass the immense power of Sargeras, she said. In fact, it could become their greatest warrior—the only one capable of neutralizing the Void Lords once and for all. But more than that, Azeroth was one of their lost kin, and deeply vulnerable. The Pantheon could not allow their own sibling to fall into the clutches of the Void.
Eonar's words stirred the hearts of the entire Pantheon. They agreed to save Azeroth, no matter the cost.
Aggramar then revealed one more thing he had discovered: on one of Azeroth's continents, he sensed the presence of a soul so pure, guarded by beings radiating energy akin to the Song of Ilúvatar and the Ainur from millennia past. This energy did not come from the Void, nor from the elements, but from a will of creation older than time itself.
Aman'Thul asked for more details about these beings, and eventually realized they were the source of the mysterious Song of Creation he had once heard long ago—an echo that had once touched the skies of Arda and now resonated again in this distant world.
Aggramar then recounted his full vision: fourteen Valar alongside the Maiar, locked in battle against the Old Gods and the elementals. But surprisingly, they seemed focused only on protecting the seed of the World Tree, and did not intervene in the chaos engulfing the rest of Azeroth. They guarded their territory strictly, as if refusing interference with their own creation.
Aman'Thul was astonished, but began to understand. It seemed the Valar were deliberately holding back—shielding their creation from the corruption of the Old Gods, ensuring that the newborn world they had shaped remained untainted, at least in the regions they protected. They were not acting as saviors of the world, but as guardians of the order they had planted.
Aggramar then formulated a bold and calculated plan of attack: all members of the Pantheon would go to Azeroth and purge the Black Empire that had claimed it. However, they would not act directly. Because of their colossal forms and immeasurable power, Aggramar feared the Pantheon might permanently damage the world—or even kill the young titan soul by accident.
Even destroy the world-soul itself.
Instead, he proposed creating mighty constructs to act as the hands of the Pantheon and carry out their will against the Black Empire. These beings would be extensions of the titans' will, yet small and flexible enough to interact directly with the world's surface without endangering Azeroth's core soul.
Under the guidance of the great forger Khaz'goroth, the Pantheon created a massive army of servants from Azeroth's crust: the aesir and the vanir. The aesir were forged from metal, and they would wield the power of storms. The vanir were shaped from stone, and they would command the earth. Collectively, these mighty beings would be known as the titan-forged—a force crafted to battle the Void.
The members of the Pantheon bestowed a number of their servants with unique forms and powers to lead the rest of the titan-forged. These empowered beings were called the Keepers. Though they would develop their own personalities over time, they would forever bear the marks and abilities of their creators.
Aman'Thul granted part of his immense power to Highkeeper Ra and Keeper Odyn. Khaz'goroth bestowed his mastery of earth and forging upon Keeper Archaedas. Golganneth gave dominion over storms and the sky to Keeper Thorim and Hodir. Eonar gave Keeper Freya control over Azeroth's flora and fauna. Norgannon lent part of his intellect and mastery of magic to Keeper Loken and Mimiron. Lastly, Aggramar passed on his strength and courage to Keeper Tyr, who would become the greatest warrior in the titan-forged world.
With this new army forged from the crust of the earth, the Pantheon prepared for war. The time had come to destroy the Black Empire and free Azeroth from its evil grip. This world would not fall. Not while the will of the titans still burned.