- For the clan from the main universe, see Shadowmoon clan.
 Shadowmoon clan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Main leader | Unknown |
| Formerly |
 Ner'zhul |
| Secondary leaders | Unknown |
| Formerly |
 Keli'dan the Breaker  Sadana Bloodfury |
| Capital | Shaz'gul |
| Other major settlements | Anguish Fortress, Pillars of Fate |
| Base of operations |
Shadowmoon Burial Grounds Pillars of Fate Umbral Halls Shadowmoon Enclave Burial Fields |
| Theater of operations |
Shadowmoon Valley Spires of Arak |
| Language(s) | Orcish |
| Affiliation | Iron Horde |
| Status | Active |
The Shadowmoon clan, led by their chieftain Ner'zhul, were orcs that made their home within Shadowmoon Valley. The Shadowmoon had a history of astrology, they had always spoken the language of the stars and the earth, but now heard another - the voice of shadow.[1] A key source of the Shadowmoon clan's power came from their understanding of the stars and their omens. For centuries, they recorded the patterns of the stars and their interpretations.[2] They were profoundly linked to the spiritual world and had many seers, astrologers, and speakers of the dead among their ranks.
History
Several centuries ago, when the Genedar arrived on Draenor, the Shadowmoon clan witnessed the crash in the sky. A piece of the ship crashed down in Shadowmoon Valley, and soon afterward a shadow appeared in the sky that came to be known as the Dark Star by the orcs; in reality, the Dark Star was the naaru K'ara in a Void state, ejected from the Genedar during the crash.
By observing the Dark Star, the Shadowmoon clan discovered the powers of the Void. But when orcs began to use the shadow powers to defile the spirits of their sacred ancestors, the chieftain outlawed the shadows and the magic of the Dark Star.[3]
Centuries later, when the Iron Horde began its march across Draenor, the clan's chieftain Ner'zhul was given an ultimatum by Grom Hellscream: join or die. The Shadowmoon were not a war-like clan by tradition, but Ner'zhul joined with the Iron Horde in order to save the lives of his clansmen. Hellscream also ordered Ner'zhul to provide a worthy form of power or else he would kill the Shadowmoon anyway, as he lacked interest in their astrological and prophetic traditions. Ner'zhul, with the fate of his clan on the line, broke the ancient laws and called on the power of the Dark Star, gaining mastery over the Void.[4] Using the Void, the Shadowmoon clan raises undead and calls in creatures of shadow to battle their foes. Their nobility has been sacrificed for necromantic power, making them little different from the Scourge that a different version of Ner'zhul once commanded.
A faction of discontent orcs, led by Ner'zhul's mate Rulkan, still stands by the old laws that ban Void magic and have formed the Shadowmoon Exiles to combat Ner'zhul's followers.
Culture
- Bone ceremonial tattoo needles were taken from the corpses of fallen enemies and meticulously sharpened. The mystics of the Shadowmoon often inscribed secret runes into their flesh to more clearly speak to their ancestors and the elemental spirits.[5]
- Ivory idols were once used in the practiced worship of the Void but were eventually banned by the Shadowmoon Clan elders. Some idols were as dark as the night sky.[6]
- Consultation with the spirits of previous generations was considered essential to Shadowmoon shaman whenever an important decision was to be made. Talismans and other relics that were important to an ancestor during life provided a more clear spiritual conduit for shamans to speak to them in the afterlife.[7]
Known members
Outcast Members
| Name | Role | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dia Darkwhisper
|
Hellfire High Council Member | Killable | Hellfire Citadel, Tanaan Jungle |
| Rulkan
|
Former mate of Ner'zhul | Alive | Exile's Rise, Shadowmoon Valley |
Gallery
Anguish Fortress, home of the Shadowmoon clan.
Traditional armor worn by shamans of the clan.
References
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