The founding of the New Horde marked a decisive rupture with the orcs’ recent past and represented an attempt to reconstruct their society after decades of demonic domination, military defeat, and cultural disintegration. This process unfolded during the final years of the Second War and the period that followed, culminating in the re-emergence of the orcs as a coherent political and cultural force distinct from the demonic-driven Horde of earlier conflicts.
The collapse of the original Horde left most surviving orcs confined within internment camps established by the victorious human kingdoms. Deprived of leadership, purpose, and access to traditional clan structures, the orcs experienced widespread lethargy, social fragmentation, and loss of cultural memory. Former warriors were reduced to prisoners, while shamanic traditions—already weakened by the earlier abandonment of elemental practices in favor of fel-based warlock magic—were nearly extinguished. This state of stagnation created the conditions for a fundamental reorientation rather than a simple restoration of past institutions.
The emergence of Thrall, later known as Go’el, proved central to this transformation. Born in captivity and raised among humans, Thrall was exposed to both the military discipline of his captors and fragmentary accounts of orcish history. His eventual escape from human control and subsequent travels brought him into contact with surviving orc elders, including former shamans and veterans of the old clans. Through these encounters, Thrall gained knowledge of the orcs’ pre-corruption culture and the causes of their downfall, particularly their pact with demonic forces and the resulting loss of autonomy.
A crucial step in the founding of the New Horde was the revival of shamanism. Thrall’s training under remaining shamanic practitioners re-established communication with the elements, symbolizing a rejection of demonic dependency and a return to older spiritual foundations. While sources differ on the extent to which shamanism was uniformly restored among all clans at this stage, there is broad agreement that its reintroduction provided an ideological framework for unity and moral renewal. This spiritual shift distinguished the emerging Horde from its predecessor and served as a legitimizing principle for new leadership.
Politically, the New Horde was conceived not as a loose confederation of conquest-driven clans but as a centralized entity oriented toward survival and self-determination. Thrall’s leadership combined elements of traditional clan authority with pragmatic adaptations learned from observing human governance. The liberation of orcs from internment camps was both a symbolic and practical act, reconstituting a population capable of collective action. These efforts were not universally uncontested: some orcs, particularly those more deeply shaped by demonic influence, resisted the abandonment of fel practices or questioned Thrall’s authority. Nonetheless, the momentum of liberation and renewal gradually consolidated support.
The migration westward from the Eastern Kingdoms represented another defining phase in the founding of the New Horde. Pressured by human hostility and seeking a homeland where orcs could exist without constant confinement or retribution, Thrall led his followers across the sea. This movement was not merely geographic but ideological, reinforcing the notion of a break from the past and the pursuit of a future shaped by choice rather than corruption. The destination of this migration, while initially uncertain, became central to the Horde’s redefinition as a people seeking balance between martial strength and sustainable existence.
The founding of the New Horde also involved a rearticulation of identity. Orcish society had previously been organized primarily around clan loyalty and conquest-based honor. In contrast, the New Horde emphasized collective responsibility, restraint, and the preservation of cultural memory. Warfare was no longer framed as an end in itself but as a means of defense and survival. This reframing did not eliminate internal tensions; debates persisted regarding the proper balance between strength and morality, and the legacy of past atrocities remained unresolved. However, these tensions were integral to the New Horde’s character rather than signs of immediate collapse.
By the eve of the Third War, the New Horde existed as a functioning political entity with restored leadership, a revitalized spiritual tradition, and a growing sense of shared purpose. While its institutions were still in formation and its future uncertain, the Horde had decisively moved away from demonic domination toward a model grounded in autonomy and cultural reconstruction. The founding of the New Horde thus stands as a pivotal moment in orcish history, redefining their role within the wider world and establishing the foundations for later alliances and conflicts.