Invasion of Durotar

Invasion of Durotar
Location	Durotar, Echo Isles, Barrens (including Northwatch Hold), and Dustwallow Marsh
Result	Decisive Horde victory Lord Admiral Proudmoore is killed by Rexxar in Theramore Kul Tiras forces driven out of Durotar and Horde territories Peace between Orgrimmar and Theramore re-established Secession of the Admirality of Kul Tiras from the Alliance
Belligerents   Horde Nation of Durotar Darkspear tribe Bloodhoof tribe Stonemaul clan   Admiralty of Kul Tiras Kul Tiras Navy Kul Tiran fleet Human Settlers Nation of Theramore (usurped)
Commanders and leaders   Horde Rexxar Rokhan Chen Stormstout Cairne Bloodhoof Thrall  Drek'Thar  Nazgrel Gar'Thok Samuro Vol'jin Gazlowe   Admiralty of Kul Tiras Daelin Proudmoore † Chief Petty Officer † Chief of Chaplains Dagren the Orcslayer Captain Thornby Emissary † Lord Ashvane †
Casualties and losses   Horde Heavy   Admiralty of Kul Tiras Very heavy
Previous	Ascension of the Lich King
Next	First Battle for Hillsbrad

“You have always been naive, my daughter. You aren't old enough to remember what these monsters did to our homeland. The orcs and their kin cannot be trusted. They must be exterminated like the mongrels they are!”

— Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore

The invasion of Durotar was a conflict between the Horde and the Admirality of Kul Tiras a few months after the end of the Third War.

The peace between the orcs and humans in Kalimdor was shattered by the arrival of a massive Alliance fleet under the command of Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore. The armada posed a serious threat to the stability of the region, as Daelin was a staunch enemy of the Horde, and was determined to destroy the orcs before they could create their nation in Durotar. Consequently, Warchief Thrall ordered the union of the forces and allies of the Horde to repel the human invaders and prevent their extermination.

After he took over Theramore with his troops, the Grand Admiral forced his daughter Jaina Proudmoore to make a terrible decision: support him in battle against the orcs and betray her newfound allies, or fight her own father to maintain the fragile peace that the Alliance and the Horde had finally attained. In the end, Jaina chose the latter and helped Thrall defeat her crazed father. Unfortunately, Admiral Proudmoore died in battle against Rexxar, before Jaina could reconcile with him or prove that orcs were no longer bloodthirsty monsters.

The invasion is chronicled in The Founding of Durotar campaign in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.

History

Background

The Champion of the Horde Rexxar in Durotar.

Following the victory at Mount Hyjal and the defeat of the Burning Legion, Warchief Thrall gathered his people and resolved to find a place for them in the rugged, beautiful lands of the Barrens. Thrall led his orcs into the battle against the Razormane quilboar and claimed much of the land, founding Durotar, named after his heroic father. Its capital city was Orgrimmar, named for Orgrim Doomhammer. Now that the demon curse was ended, the Horde changed from a warlike juggernaut into more of a loose coalition, dedicated to survival and prosperity rather than conquest. After many months, things began to pull together. The orcs were fleshing out Durotar, the tauren had gone into Mulgore, and the trolls had settled on the Echo Isles off the coast.

As the Horde built its nations, some of their former allies in the Third War moved farther south. The Alliance refugees and the Human Expedition, led by Jaina Proudmoore, settled in Dustwallow Marsh and established their new nation Theramore. Jaina and Thrall continued to communicate, and their uneasy truce developed into something more permanent. Both leaders declared that they would respect the other's territory and refrain from any acts of aggression.

Though the Horde and the humans of Theramore Isle maintained peace for years, it did not last. Yet it was not Warchief Thrall or Jaina Proudmoore who reignited war.

Unbeknownst to Jaina, her father Grand Admiral Proudmoore was leading the Kul Tiran fleet on an expedition, in order to search for his daughter and the survivors that fled there after Lordaeron fell to the Scourge. A massive Alliance naval armada arrived on the shores of Kalimdor, and unaware of his daughter's nonaggression with the Horde, Daelin discovered the orcs. The fleet immediately launched attacks against the orcs and nearby troll settlements. Admiral Proudmoore had fought in the Second War, and he had even lost his son Derek Proudmoore to the Old Horde. He had no intention of letting the creatures who had nearly destroyed the human kingdoms regain their strength. His goal was nothing less than extermination.

Clashes in Durotar

The Kul Tiras Navy attacking the Echo Isles.

Kul Tiras forces ended up driving the local thunder lizards out of Thunder Ridge with their lumber operations and, upon being discovered, reported the Horde presence to the Admiral. Unaware that the forces they encountered did not belong with Jaina, Rexxar the mok'nathal, Rokhan the Darkspear troll shadow hunter, Chen Stormstout the pandaren brewmaster, and far seer Drek'Thar were forced to cull the thunder lizard population in accordance as destroying the lumber mill would break their nonaggression pact with the humans. After their task was done, they reported the incident to Warchief Thrall who ordered them to investigate sightings of humans on Durotar coast and confessed that he was unsure as to what Jaina was doing.

Rexxar and his companions discovered that an invasion force was in place and thus hurried to Orgrimmar to report their findings to Thrall. Even as Thrall requested Rexxar and his companions to deal with the humans, Kul Tiras forces launched a devastating attack on an orc outpost leaving Gar'Thok the only known survivor. Upon finding the outpost destroyed the Horde force were able to use the humans' tracks back to the coast and slew them. After reporting to Thrall, the Warchief remarked that he recognized the anchor symbol displayed by the Alliance forces but was unable to place it. Both Thrall and Rohkan recognized that the Kul Tiras fleet would target the Darkspear Trolls, and thus Rexxar and his companions journeyed to the Echo Isles. The Horde rallied under Rexxar and Darkspear Chieftain Vol'jin and evacuated the Darkspear tribe to the mainland.

Returning to Thrall, Rexxar and the others learned that the human leader had invited Thrall to meet in Razor Hill for parlay. Distrustful of the humans, Rexxar convinced Thrall to let him go in his place. Rexxar's hunch was indeed right, as Admiral Proudmoore dispatched assassins disguised as "emissaries" from Theramore to lure Thrall into a trap and end his life. During the parlay, the Kul Tiras Emissary recognized that Rexxar was not the Warchief and seemed to be mystified as to why they would think that Jaina would be involved. Before Rexxar could question him, the trap was sprung. Though the group was victorious, the Emissary ominously reported that the Horde had no idea what was coming for them.

The Lord Admiral

Jaina Proudmoore and Rexxar outside Theramore.

The ruse failed, and war became inevitable. Thrall suspected that deceit was afoot and prepared a letter for Jaina in the hopes of mending the problem, then sent Rexxar to meet with her on Theramore Island. Rexxar and his party asked Samuro, a blademaster, to plant explosives to distract the guards of the human coastal settlement on Dustwallow Marsh long enough for Rexxar to slip by. However, Samuro remembered his previous mission to eliminate an enraged wildkin named Bloodbeak who was hiding nearby, and thus had to complete it before going for the humans. Rexxar then met with Jaina, who denied any knowledge of this force and condemned any attack on Thrall. She demanded to see these soldiers for herself.

Rexxar brought Jaina back to the camp only to find it destroyed by the naga. Rexxar and Jaina fought through the force of snake-people looking for any survivors. After finally defeating the naga, led by the naga sea witches Lady Darkscale and Scilla Murkshadow, they found a single human footman dying who said that the "Admiral" would be pleased to see Jaina safe. Rexxar was confused at Jaina's horror but trusted her enough to follow her back to Theramore quickly.

Daelin taking over Theramore Isle with his troops.

Unlike her father, Jaina knew that Thrall's Horde was different from its predecessor. She had seen proof of that with her own eyes. She had stood alongside the Horde against the Burning Legion and witnessed the valor and honor of its soldiers. They wanted the same thing she and many of her followers did: an end to the cycle of hatred between the Horde and the Alliance. Upon arriving, however, a fleet of ships arrived and Jaina's father, Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, arrived. The moment he saw Rexxar, he immediately ordered his capture, despite Jaina's pleas. Rexxar and his friends fled the city, fighting through the naval guards, and returned to the Darkspear village informing Vol'jin what had passed. Jaina had tried to convince her father, but he refused to listen.

After making landfall upon Kalimdor's shores, Daelin took over the Theramore-affiliated Northwatch Hold and started building a series of bases such as Tiragarde Keep and a port settlement. While expecting victory, the Grand Admiral still left orders for his remaining Kul Tiran fleet to keep attacking the orcs in case he failed to send words within 12 months' time.

Rallying the Horde

Rexxar challenges Warlord Kor'gall to battle for leadership over the Stonemaul clan.

Vol'jin made it out to inform Thrall of the imminent invasion and suggested that Rexxar go and enlist the aid of the tauren tribes along the mesas of the land of Mulgore to aid them in the coming battle. Rexxar traveled to Mulgore to meet with Cairne Bloodhoof. When he arrived, Cairne told him to return to Thrall and tell him that he had died of a broken heart. His second, Tagar, explained that Cairne's son, Baine Bloodhoof, had been kidnapped by Khiragg's band of centaurs and that Cairne had since grown depressed and lethargic. Rexxar led an expedition to rescue Baine with the help of the tauren spirit walker leader, Bovan Windtotem. Upon returning, Cairne was re-energized and agreed to pledge his people to the Horde and to personally return with Rexxar.

When they returned to the Darkspear village, Vol'jin showed them a tired ogre who had come from Dustwallow Marsh with news that a new warlord had taken over the Stonemaul clan of ogres, and that his cruelty and brutality were leading the ogres to ruin. Vol'jin and Rexxar agreed that this was an excellent opportunity to sway the ogres onto their side. Rexxar traveled to Dustwallow Marsh and found the Stonemaul clan. Though they initially rejected Rexxar because of his mixed blood, he proved himself by running a gauntlet and returning alive. Warlord Kor'gall was impressed and allowed Rexxar to join the clan.

Rexxar used his new position to ask the ogres for assistance. Kor'gall mockingly reminded him that they were no longer friends to the orcs. Rexxar was forced to fight Kor'gall for the leadership of the clan. Kor'gall proved to be a powerful foe, and Rexxar had to rely heavily on his beast friends to defeat him. Finally, Kor'gall fell, and Rexxar assumed the position of chieftain. He then led the Stonemaul ogres back to Northwatch Hold where Thrall was assembling the Horde. Thrall named Rexxar Champion of the Horde and gave him the honor of leading the Horde against Proudmoore's forces. After a difficult battle, they razed Proudmoore's stronghold and sent the Admiral into a retreat. Yet, Thrall knew that Proudmoore would not stop there.

Seas of blood

Thrall leads his troops to Theramore for the final battle.

With his companions Rokhan the troll shadow hunter, Chen Stormstout the pandaren brewmaster, and Cairne Bloodhoof the tauren chieftain, Rexxar landed on the outlying island and defeated the Kul Tiras forces who were occupying the island. Having gained the shipyard, the orcs quickly put the goblins to constructing juggernaughts and frigates, with which they then engaged the Kul Tiras armada. A furious battle on the waves ensued. The Kul Tiras forces used their fortifications and siege weaponry to shell the orc ships as they traded cannon fire with the human fleet. Although they were successful in destroying a good many of the goblin-made ships, Rexxar's forces were eventually able to sink all six of the Kul Tiras battleships, forcing the remains of the fleet into disarrayed retreat. With the blockade broken, Thrall quickly ordered his troops onto waiting transports, and began the invasion of Theramore Isle.

Time was not on their side. Despite the impassioned urging of his daughter, Jaina, Admiral Proudmoore had taken over Theramore and now had control of both the sea and a defensible city. If given time to fortify his position, he would be able to launch strikes across Kalimdor with impunity. The Horde's armies traveled to Theramore and quietly reached out to Jaina. Thrall asked her to do the impossible: let the Horde into Theramore so they could kill her father. Otherwise, Daelin Proudmoore would extinguish the Horde forevermore.

Battle in Theramore

The death of Daelin Proudmoore at the hands of Rexxar, as remembered by Jaina years later.

Devastated by the seemingly impossible choice, Jaina stood aside, asking only that the Horde spare as many of her people as they could.

The end of Admiral Proudmoore in Theramore.

The gathered armies of the Horde, led by Thrall and Rexxar, landed upon Theramore Isle and unleashed their full fury upon the walls of the city. The Horde launched a three-pronged attack: the trolls and ogres attacked from the west, the tauren attacked from the south, and the orcs attacked from the southwest. They met stiff resistance in the form of Admiral Proudmoore's elite guard, Theramore's powerful automated defense towers, and Jaina Proudmoore's own forces. The Kul Tiran forces defended the Citadel fiercely, fighting with an intense hatred for the Horde whom they believed to be the same as the one that ravaged their homelands and many warriors on both sides perished. Their counter-attacks overran several Horde landing sites but finally, Rexxar and his companions were able to fight their way through the heavy melee, defeating the Admiral's personal guard before engaging Daelin Proudmoore himself.

Although Proudmoore was a ferociously powerful warrior and sorcerer, he was finally slain in the epic battle with Rexxar's party. Rexxar himself inflicted the mortal blow on Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore. He was no stranger to how blind prejudice and hatred could darken the hearts of good soldiers. He had seen that fate befall many members of the old Horde.

With the Admiral's death, Rexxar ordered the rest of the Kul Tiran forces to stand down. Jaina Proudmoore materialized, to mourn over the body of her proud, stubborn father. Rexxar urged Jaina Proudmoore to remember her father for the proud warrior he had been, not for the person he had become.

Aftermath

Daelin's grave in Boralus.

Having no quarrel with the remaining humans, the Horde returned to Durotar, leaving Jaina Proudmoore and her isle in peace. Thrall offered Rexxar a champion's welcome at Orgrimmar, which Rexxar refused, he had grown accustomed to hunting alone, and he returned to the wilds, where he felt at peace. However, the half-ogre considered himself as part of the Horde ever after and is at Thrall's service should the Warchief ever call upon the beastmaster's considerable talents again.

After the battle, Cairne Bloodhoof returned to Mulgore to rule over his own people, while Chen Stormstout spent some time in Durotar teaching the brewmaster ways to the mentor of Brewmaster Drohn before traveling on.

Most of the survivors of Daelin's fleet eventually sailed back to the Eastern Kingdoms. When the people of Kul Tiras learned of their Lord Admiral's death, they cried out for vengeance, but the other nations of the Alliance were not interested. Ordeals caused by the plague in Lordaeron were more immediate concerns, and the other allied leaders also had little pity for Daelin, who had launched a war of aggression on his own authority. The people of Kul Tiras furiously isolated themselves from the rest of the Alliance but were not angry with all of the Alliance leaders. They instead nursed a bitter hatred only towards Jaina for betraying her family. Later, Daelin's wife, Katherine Proudmoore, would succeed him as Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras.

Participants

• Briln
• Karrig
• Lord Ashvane
• Tyrathan Khort, a man from Stormwind, was a part of Daelin's forces.
• Lieutenant Cole recognized Rexxar as Daelin's killer, implying he participated in the events.

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Rufus Montaine, a servant of the Proudmoore family participated in the event and died. Following the battle, Jaina and Thrall went into the city and found the deceased soldiers, one of them being Rufus who Thrall remembered from Durnholde Keep. Although Jaina and her loyalists were spared, much of Theramore was left in ruins.

Notes

• The original timeline placed these events in year 21, months after the Battle of Mount Hyjal, when Orgrimmar was still being built. Manual for The Burning Crusade expansion mentions that from then-current point in history (year 25 or 26), two years have passed since the founding of Durotar which would be year 23 or 24. The Ultimate Visual Guides placed Durotar's establishment in year 21 but before the Battle of Mount Hyjal and the clash of orc and human armies in Stonetalon Mountains. World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3 described the founding of Durotar between years 21 and 25 with a mention that since the establishment and the Kul Tiras attack, there was a peace between Durotar and Theramore for years.
• The Kul Tiras expedition had two other fleets that didn't participate in the war: one led by Lieutenant Benedict and which had orders to lead a second wave to hold Tiragarde Keep, and another led by Lieutenant Alverold that was ordered to scout out the coasts of Kalimdor during this time.
• In Battle for Azeroth, Jaina's story picks up from these events and Katherine Proudmoore experienced this in a vision during her rescue of her daughter.
• Cyrus Crestfall, one of Daelin's most trusted knights, would have been part of the invasion if he had not been forced by Daelin to take a desk job and become Taelia's guardian.

Gallery

Warcraft III

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  The Kul Tiran navy attacking the Echo Isles.

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  Murder attempt at Razor Hill.

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  Kul Tiran marines landing in Theramore.

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  Daelin's coup against Jaina.

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  Rexxar taking over the Stonemauls.

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  The orcs preparing to attack Northwatch Hold.

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  The Kul Tiran base at Northwatch Hold.

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  The Horde assembled.

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  The orcish fleet departing.

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  Storming the shores.

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  The end of Admiral Proudmoore.

Reforged

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  Kul Tiran marines landing in Theramore.

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  The Kul Tiran base at Northwatch Hold.

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  Rexxar taking over the Stonemauls.

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  The orcish fleet departing.