History

The humans of Azeroth have been through many hardships in the past decade. When Medivh opened the portal between the Orcish world of Draenor and the human Kingdom of Azeroth, they were the first race to battle the vicious Horde. Under the leadership of King Llane, they fought valiantly, but in the end the Orcish Horde routed the human armies and killed the King, forcing them to flee their homeland.

Defeated, the humans escaped across the Great Sea under the leadership of Lothar, to the Kingdom of Lordaeron, seeking help. An Alliance was formed between the humans of Azeroth and Lordaeron, as well as the Dwarves of Khaz-Modan, and the Elves of Quel'Thalas. Six years later, the Orcish Hordes, bent on conquest, built ships of war and sailed to Lordaeron seeking battle.

With their new allies, the humans won victory after victory, driving the Orcish Hordes back from whence they came. Reaching the shores of Azeroth, they decimated the Orcish ranks and destroyed the Dark Portal that led the Orcs to their world.

Soon after, Ner'zhul, a powerful Orcish Shaman united the remaining Orcish clans on Draenor and managed to open another Dark Portal, sending his troops to Azeroth in search of powerful magical artifacts to power the opening of more portals. Once again, the Alliance set fourth to stop the Orcish threat. Venturing into the dark world of the Orcs itself, a group of heroes stopped Ner'zhul, but not before he managed to open several smaller portals. However, he could not control their energies, and the raw power of the portals tore Draenor apart. Knowing that if they did not sever Draenor's link to Azeroth that it would be destroyed as well, the heroes sealed the rift, protecting Azeroth. At the last minute, it's speculated that they escaped into another smaller portal, but no one knows for sure. Where the portal that they entered led, if they entered it at all, no one knows either.

Many years later, the people of Azeroth find themselves up against a new enemy: the Burning Legion. Cursed to wander the realms, these unholy demons seek to consume magic in order to survive, including the lives that wield it and those around them.

Humankind faces its most dangerous adversary yet, but will it be enough for the Alliance and the Hordes to forget their struggle and fight together?

Unfortunately, the announcement of World of WarCraft comes at an awkward time for us. Its story line is set four years after WarCraft III, so you can see the predicament that we're in! How does one finish the history of a race when one cannot predict the result of what is to come? I suppose we'll have to wait a little while longer to see what happens in WarCraft III.

Characteristics

Humans are by far the most diverse race, coming in all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds. In their short lives (compared to Dwarves and Elves), humans strive to achieve much in the way of learning, technology, and magic.

Lifestyle

Humans will live generally anywhere that is suitable to them, from mountains to the plains, and work a wide range of occupations such as warriors, mages, blacksmiths, carpenters, and miners across both sexes.

Technology

Technologically the humans are just behind the Dwarves and Gnomes. (They've borrowed some from their mountain-dwelling allies here and there as well, such as cannons.) Humans can craft weapons and armor will skill and efficiency as well as construct magnificent stone and wooden buildings - castles are not an uncommon sight.

The Art of War

In battle, humans tend to lean more toward the defensive, rather than the offensive, constructing great stone barricades around fortifications and deep moats around castles. When necessary, humans ride into battle with courage to match any other race.