Warcraft Race Origins: Humans

For the next installment of our journey through the lore origins of World of Warcraft's playable races, it is time to look at Azeroth's human population.

The human race is believed to have evolved (or devolved) from the Vrykul. These large humanoids were directly created by the Titans and once existed all across Azeroth. For an unknown reason, however, the Vrykul population plummeted and now they are found exclusively on the continent of Northrend. It has been speculated that the Vrykul's disappearance and the first appearance of humans sprung from the same event as Vrykul history tells of a time when Vrykul women, presumably corrupted by the Old Gods' Curse of Flesh, began birthing "weak" children. It is assumed that these weak Vrykul offspring were the first humans.

As the outcast children of the Vrykul, early humans had a rough time. A young and disorganized race by comparison, ancient humans were ruthlessly hunted by Trolls and even enslaved by early Night Elves. Nomadic and divided, humans barely survived during most of their time in Azeroth's history. It was not until they learned magic from the High Elves, who would later become the Blood Elves, and bent it towards turning the tide against the Trolls that humanity finally started to get its act together.

The various human tribes began to organize, ultimately forming a central kingdom of Arathor which was later divided into seven seperate kingdoms. Unfortunately, the agents of the Burning Crusade and the Scourge set about dismantling those kingdoms and in modern Azeroth, only a select few survive. The kingdom of Stormwind has grown to be the most prominent, largely because of its role in forming and maintaining the Alliance. Other surviving human kingdom's include the now floating Mage kingdom of Dalaran, the island nation of Kul Tiras, Jaina Proudmore's Theramore, and the soon to be revealed Gilneas.

As the leaders of the Alliance, the human race is nearly always on the front lines ready to face any threat to Azeroth. That is unlikely to change. As the events of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm unfold, it is practically certain that humanity's destiny will continue to develop. Also, a missing bit of human history will finally be revealed as the Greymane Wall is opened and the human kingdom of Gilneas is revealed for the first time in more than a decade. Interesting changes are on the horizon for the humans of Azeroth, but if their history of resilience is any indication, they should be well equipped to weather the challenges ahead.


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