Shadow Council

This article is about the main timeline organization before Warlords of Draenor. For lore on the alternate timeline version, see Shadow Council (alternate).

Shadow Council
Leader	Gul'dan (deceased in prime timeline), Gul'dan , Grandmaster Vorpil , Fel'dan (Azeroth)
Secondary leaders	Cho'gall (Apprentice of Gul'dan), Blackhand (Gul'dan's puppet), Lord Banehollow (Inner Circle), Athrikus Narassin (Cult of the Dark Strand), Nagaz (Argus Wake, closest known member to a secondary leader), Neeru Fireblade (Burning Blade), Jergosh the Invoker (Searing Blade), Taragaman the Hungerer (Searing Blade), Bazzalan (Searing Blade)
Races	Orcs (majority), Broken, Ogre mages, various Legion races and those who serve them
Capital	Black Temple (lost), Shadow Labyrinth (Outland)
Other major cities	Jaedenar (Azeroth), Shadow Hold(Azeroth)
Theater of operations	N/A
Main language	Orcish
Secondary languages	Eredun (presumed)
Affiliation	Burning Legion

The Shadow Council is a group of mortal warlocks that serve the demons of the Burning Legion.

History

Formation

When Gul'dan supplanted Ner'zhul as Kil'jaeden's favorite pawn, he began to reorganize the clans into a single engine of destruction. To this end, he promoted a public figurehead, Blackhand of the Blackrock clan to the new position of Warchief. Though Blackhand was cunning, he lacked the loyalty to Kil'jaeden and deviousness needed to drive the Horde. Thus, Gul'dan secretly brought together a collection of warlocks, necrolytes, chieftains, and even the occasional ogre into a clandestine council — the Shadow Council.

The original purpose of the Council was to ensure the stability of the Horde in their quest to destroy the draenei, manipulate the clans and spread the use of warlock magics. When the time came, the Shadow Council fed the blood of Mannoroth to the clans, apart from the Frostwolf clan (whose chieftain, Durotan, forbade them from partaking) and a few other individuals.

The Council made their headquarters at the Black Temple and oversaw the destruction of the draenei until Kil'jaeden mysteriously vanished. As the Horde began to fragment, the Shadow Council was contacted by Medivh, who offered a new world to plunder.

The First War

The Shadow Council operated a number of the Horde's workings during the war effort against the Kingdom of Azeroth. But their time was near.

King Llane Wrynn was assassinated by one of the Shadow Council's finest killers: the half-orc, Garona. Following the death of Medivh, Gul'dan was incapacitated for several weeks. During this time, Orgrim Doomhammer killed Blackhand the Destroyer and seized the mantle of Warchief. He captured and tortured Garona to learn of the existence of the Shadow Council, and sensing it threatened his position, launched an attack on Gul'dan's citadel near the ruins of Azeroth, annihilating most of the warlocks of the Council. Their spirits were subsequently imbued into the death knights.

Beyond the Second Invasion

Even in the aftermath of the second invasion of the Burning Legion, the Shadow Council still remains. It is not clear how the Council was reformed after the death of most of their members, including Gul'dan. It is known that some of its members, including Vorpil and Blackheart, survived by hiding in Auchindoun. The current Shadow Council now includes members of all races, provided they possess the ideology of acceptance of the tenets of the Burning Legion.

Sometime after the battle at Mount Hyjal, Maiev Shadowsong discovered ten shattered pieces of the Council's mythical Shadow Orb in the Tomb of Sargeras while on the hunt for Illidan Stormrage. She continually employed the artifact's powers in her fight against him at Lordaeron, aided by Malfurion and Tyrande.

In the Burning Crusade

This section concerns content exclusive to The Burning Crusade.

It appears a group of Shadow Council operatives has been operating in the relative open areas of Grangol'var Village, Terokkar Forest and Deathforge, Shadowmoon Valley. They have been discovered by both Alliance and Horde forces who have sent adventurers to help clear them out.

In Warlords of Draenor

This section concerns content exclusive to Warlords of Draenor.

Main article: Shadow Council (alternate)

The Shadow Council plays a significant role in the events of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. Players encounter members of this faction throughout Shadowmoon Valley, Talador, various dungeons and the main quest storyline of the expansion. Several notable members of the council make appearances, such as Gul'dan, Cho'gall and Garona.

Structure and operations

The shape of the original Shadow Council is unclear. Gul'dan is described as a "warlock of the Inner Circle" (also an "initiate of the Seventh Circle") and Cho'Gall as an "initiate of the Fifth." This means that there are at least five circles of the Shadow Council, the Inner Circle being the Seventh.

The hold of the current Shadow Council is extensive; they control cell-based organizations throughout Kalimdor including the Burning Blade and Searing Blade cults, which utilize the powers of the Demon Seed. Agents of the Council have even infiltrated areas of the Orcish capital city of Orgrimmar. It is also revealed from a questline in Darkshore that the Cult of the Dark Strand is another branch of the Shadow Council, and certain clues, like Argus Wake members they employ, Marez Cowl, and Darbel Montrose, lead some to believe that the Syndicate may be affiliated, if maybe loosely, with the Council. The Shadow Council is also present at Jaedenar in Felwood, Grangol'var Village in Terokkar Forest, and Kil'sorrow Fortress in Nagrand. Its headquarters are in the Shadow Labyrinth of Auchindoun.

Cults and groups currently directed by the Shadow Council

"Many cults exist within the Council, but only to hide its actions against the foolish. Groups like the Burning Blade, the Argus Wake, and the Searing Blade are tools of the Council. Consider them one and the same."

—Thrall

• Burning Blade - Primarily orcs. Concerned with undermining Thrall's Horde. Based in Durotar, Orgrimmar, Desolace, the Barrens and elsewhere. Led by Neeru Fireblade.
• The Cabal, a faction in Outland consisting of Shadow Council remnants from the time before the First War.
• Searing Blade - Primarily orcs. Concerned with undermining Thrall's Horde. Based in Ragefire Chasm, beneath the city of Orgrimmar. Led by Bazzalan and Jergosh the Invoker.
• Argus Wake - Primarily humans. Concerned with sowing chaos among the areas of Lordaeron controlled by the Alliance and Horde. Allied with the Syndicate of the Alterac Mountains. The Wake's leader is unknown, but its members in Alterac are led by the orc Nagaz.
• Cult of the Dark Strand - Various mortal races. Concerned with cultivating an alliance between themselves and the foul satyrs. Based in Darkshore and Ashenvale. Led by Athrikus Narassin.

Note that most Shadow Council members are orcs; although they worship demons, they are not fel orcs.

Known members

Name	Location		Sub-Cult
Gul'dan (deceased) (alive in )	Spirit in Altar of Damnation Various locations throughout	Shadowmoon Valley Draenor
Teron Gorefiend	Black Temple	Shadowmoon Valley
Kargath Bladefist	Shattered Halls	Hellfire Citadel, Hellfire Peninsula
Cho'gall
Darbel Montrose	Stromgarde Keep	Arathi Highlands	Argus Wake
Marez Cowl	Stromgarde Keep	Arathi Highlands	Argus Wake
Tyranis Malem	Thunder Axe Fortress	Desolace
Garona Halforcen
Grandmaster Vorpil	Shadow Labyrinth	Auchindoun, Terokkar Forest	Cabal
Blackheart the Inciter	Shadow Labyrinth	Auchindoun, Terokkar Forest	Cabal
Lord Banehollow	Jaedenar	Felwood
Prince Xavalis	Shadow Hold	Felwood
Bazzalan	Ragefire Chasm	Orgrimmar	Searing Blade
Fizzle Darkstorm	Thunder Ridge	Durotar	Burning Blade
Delmanis the Hated	Tower of Althalaxx	Darkshore	Cult of the Dark Strand
Fel'dan	Jaedenar	Felwood
Moora	Jaedenar	Felwood
Salia	Jaedenar	Felwood
Rakaiah	Jaedenar	Felwood
Ulathek	Jaedenar	Felwood
Jugkar Grim'Rod	Mannoroc Coven	Desolace
Neeru Fireblade	Cleft of Shadow	Orgrimmar	Burning Blade
Braelyn Firehand	Sun Rock Retreat	Stonetalon Mountains
Gazz'uz	Skull Rock	Durotar	Burning Blade
Jergosh the Invoker	Ragefire Chasm	Orgrimmar	Searing Blade
Ilkrud Magthrull	Fire Scar Shrine	Ashenvale	Cult of the Dark Strand
Nagaz	Dandred's Fold	Alterac Mountains	Argus Wake
Athrikus Narassin	Tower of Althalaxx	Darkshore	Cult of the Dark Strand
Rathorian	Dreadmist Den	Dreadmist Peak, The Barrens	Burning Blade
Taragaman the Hungerer	Ragefire Chasm	Orgrimmar	Searing Blade
Sarilus Foulborne	Dreadmist Peak,	The Barrens	Burning Blade
Soulbinder Nyami	Various locations	Shadowmoon Valley, Auchindoun	Sargerei
Warbringer Razuun (named "Razuun" in )	Deathforge The Shadow Rise	Shadowmoon Valley Talador
Doctor Maleficus		Shadowmoon Valley
Yarrog Baneshadow	Valley of Trials	Durotar	Burning Blade
Doctor Gutrick		Shadowmoon Valley
Shadowmaster Grieve		Terokkar Forest
Jugkar Grim'rod	Mannoroc Coven	Desolace	Burning Blade
Giselda the Crone	Kil'sorrow Fortress	Nagrand

Races

•  Orc
•  Forsaken
•  Goblin
•  Night elf
•  Highborne
•  Ogre
•  Blood elf
•  Man'ari
•  Demon
•  Fel orc
•  Human
•  Satyr
• Succubus

Connection to the Council of the Black Harvest

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

After the Cataclysm, evidence and rumors of a new powerful warlock directed group have arisen from the ashes of Deathwing's defeat. This organization, known as the Council of the Black Harvest, currently has no known direct connections to the Shadow Council, but they have been known to have visited the Black Temple for some reason. Since the Black Temple was once the main headquarters of the Shadow Council in Outland, the connection is disturbing.

Media

Video

WoW Pro Lore Episode 15 Rise of the Horde

Gul'Dan, leader of the Shadow Council

See also

• Council of the Black Harvest
• Rise of the Horde, part of the History of Warcraft

External links

Lore

WoW Insider Know Your Lore: The Shadow Council by Anne Stickney Jun 15th 2014 8:00PM