Warcraft Race Origins: Worgen

In today's exploration of the lore behind World of Warcraft's playable races, we will be looking ahead towards one of the two races which will be made playable in the games next expansion, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the Worgen of the Alliance. Since the tale of the playable Worgen still largely remains to be told, keep in mind that much of the following information is speculation.

The distant origins of the Worgen race are a bit convoluted in that they are simultaneously the victims of a potent curse and beings from another world. The Worgen hail from a dark and violent world where they are constantly at war with an enemy thus far known only as the Lords of the Emerald Flame. Some have speculated that their ancestral enemy might be the Burning Legion while others entertain the idea that the Lords of the Emerald Flame are members of the Green Dragonflight and that the Worgen's home world is actually the Emerald Dream. Regardless of who their enemy might be, the Worgen fight tirelessly, their aggression fueled by the blood lust which accompanies their curse.

Worgen first appeared in Azeroth after being summoned by the Human Archmage Arugal. Using research from a Dalaran magician called Ur, Arugal was able to portal an army of Worgen from their home world to Azeroth. Arugal had planned to use the monsters in the ongoing battle with the Scourge, but they proved impossible to control and killed both friend and foe alike. Driven mad by his failure, Arugal began to see the Worgen as his children and started living amongst them in Shadowfang Keep.

Ultimately, Arugal uncovered the secrets of the curse which generated the Worgen and began to spread it amongst the Humans living near his keep. The nearby Human kingdom of Gilneas, which had already been rather isolationist, sealed itself off behind the massive Greymane Wall in an effort to avoid the curse. Unfortunately, their efforts were to no avail and the Worgen curse ravaged Gilneas' people. Ultimately, however, the people in Gilneas proved stronger than the dark magic and developed a means of controlling their Worgen ferocity. Still being Humans at heart, the Worgen of Gilneas make natural bedfellows for the Alliance following the opening of the Greymane Wall when Cataclysm is released.

There is still a great deal of mystery to the Worgen's origin and it is almost certain that their history will play a large part in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Perhaps, as many speculate, some tie between the Worgen and Night Elf Druidism will be uncovered. Here is hoping the newest members of the Alliance have as rich a back story as their other companions.

Warcraft Race Origins: Gnomes
Warcraft Race Origins: Trolls
Warcraft Race Origins: Night Elves
Warcraft Race Origins: Tauren
Warcraft Race Origins: Humans
Warcraft Race Origins: Orcs
Warcraft Race Origins: Dwarves
Warcraft Race Origins: Forsaken
Warcraft Race Origins: Draenei
Warcraft Race Origins: Blood Elves
Warcraft Race Origins: Goblins