The cosmology of the universe is central to understanding both the origins and the subsequent history of all worlds, including Azeroth. In this framework the universe is not an undifferentiated void but a structured cosmos defined by interacting and opposing forces. These forces underlie the physical reality of stars, planets, and life, and they give shape to the metaphysical hierarchies and powers that influence the unfolding history of sentient beings and divine entities alike.
The fundamental structure of the cosmos is conceived as a series of interlocking planes of existence and governing forces. These forces, often referred to as the cosmic forces, exist as abstract, overarching principles that shape the behavior of energy, matter, and life across the universe. The primary forces recognized in this framework are Light, Void (or Shadow), Order, Disorder, Life, and Death. Each force represents an aspect of reality that cannot fully exist independently; they are defined through their interaction with one another. For example, Light and Void are considered complementary opposites whose coexistence and tension preceded the creation of the physical universe.
Cosmological interpretation holds that these six forces were present at or before the universe’s formation and that their dynamic interplay gave rise to the Great Dark Beyond — the boundless domain of stars, planets, and the physical worlds. Within this domain, cosmic forces both manifest as observable phenomena and infuse the fabric of reality with magical and metaphysical potential.
Planes of existence are the primary structural units of this cosmology. Each plane, or dimension, corresponds to particular aspects of the cosmos and serves as the realm in which specific forces predominate or interact in characteristic ways. The Great Dark Beyond is the material plane where mortal life arises and persists. Adjacent to it is the Twisting Nether, an unstable astral realm where arcane and chaotic energies intermingle. Other planes, such as the Emerald Dream — an ethereal representation of life’s potential — and the Shadowlands — a domain shaped by the force of Death and the afterlives of sentient beings — form part of the broader multiverse.
The six recognized forces are:
Light and Void: Considered the most fundamental pair, Light embodies creative and sustaining energies, whereas Void (also referred to as Shadow in some contexts) represents the consuming and entropic counterpart. The interplay between Light and Void is foundational to existence itself; neither force can be fully comprehended without reference to the other.
Order and Disorder: These forces govern the structural integrity of the cosmos. Order manifests in patterns, laws, and forms that resist dissolution, commonly associated with arcane energies. Disorder represents disruptive, chaotic energies that resist structure and convention.
Life and Death: Life denotes the force that fosters growth, evolution, and the continuation of biological processes. Death counterbalances Life by enabling transitions, cessation, and the release of energies from organized forms. The cycle of life and death is viewed as a central axis around which many cosmic interactions revolve.
These forces do not operate in isolation. The balance among them ensures that no single force dominates to the detriment of the cosmos; if one fell into unchecked prominence, the resulting imbalance could lead to universal instability or even collapse.
While the forces are metaphysical in nature, their influence has discernible effects in both the physical world and the numerous extra-cosmic realms. The elemental energies — the building blocks of matter such as fire, air, earth, and water — are understood as derivative structures that emerge under the influence of cosmic forces, shaped by the interplay of Order and Disorder, Life and Death. Similarly, entities tied to these forces frequently manifest as powerful beings or pantheons associated with specific aspects of reality; interpretations of these entities vary across cultures and epochs.
Because the true origins of the cosmic forces predate recorded history, much of the foundational cosmology remains subject to interpretation and debate. Some traditions suggest that an even more primal set of creators — often referred to in esoteric texts — preceded the known forces and imbued them with structure. These enigmatic entities and their workings lie beyond direct empirical observation and remain partially obscured in myth and arcane scholarship.
Nevertheless, the conceptual model of six forces and their associated planes has persisted within scholarly and arcane circles as a coherent explanation for the observable features of the universe, including the existence of sentient life, cyclical patterns of creation and destruction, and the emergence of powerful beings capable of manipulating cosmic energies.
This conceptual framework of cosmic forces serves as the backdrop for subsequent events in the world’s history. It provides the ontological basis upon which entities such as the Titans and the Old Gods — themselves embodiments or agents of specific forces — exert influence. The ongoing interaction of these forces, and the attempts by powerful beings to impose their own interpretation of cosmic order or chaos, drives many of the epochal conflicts recorded in ancient annals.
With this understanding of the primordial forces and cosmic structure established, the narrative turns toward the first major agents to interact with and shape a nascent world: the Titans and their discovery of Azeroth.