Azeroth: a world with old wounds
Azeroth is the world where most of WoW takes place. Long before today’s peoples, powerful Titans shaped its order. The Old Gods bring corruption and the influence of the Void. This ancient conflict leaves ruins, mysteries and dangers that endure into the present. [1]
Magic draws the Burning Legion
The Burning Legion is an army of demons. Roughly 10,000 years ago, Queen Azshara’s Highborne opened a gateway for it into Azeroth. The War of the Ancients ended in the Great Sundering, breaking the ancient continent apart. Many places are remnants of that lost world. [2]
The Dark Portal and the orc wars
Orcs originally came from Draenor. Their armies crossed the Dark Portal into Azeroth, bringing war to its kingdoms. Draenor later shattered under the strain of portal magic. Outland is its damaged remnant: another world, rather than a continent of Azeroth. [3]
Arthas, the Scourge and a fragile alliance
The Scourge is an undead army. Prince Arthas tried to save his kingdom from it, but fell under the Lich King’s influence himself. Meanwhile, Thrall led his reformed Horde to Kalimdor. Humans, orcs and night elves eventually fought the Legion together at Mount Hyjal. [4]
Alliance and Horde: beyond good versus evil
The Alliance and Horde are coalitions with their own homelands, traditions and interests. Past wars fuel mistrust, while shared enemies sometimes require cooperation. A useful reading approach is to judge individual characters and decisions: a faction’s color alone does not explain motives or responsibility. [4]
Where do you fit into the story?
You begin as an adventurer in an already wounded world. Small tasks lead into larger conflicts: ruins, cults and fallen kingdoms have a past. This background is enough to start exploring Forever. Later expansions tell further chapters; they do not automatically describe the current state of every game version.