One of the core themes of Warcraft III is the transformation of the Orcs' society . From our knowledge from warcraft I and II, Orcs are brutal, depraved creatures who serve only to cause chaos amongst other 'enlightened' societies. But Warcraft III will show that the Orcs not only came from a noble, highly spiritual culture, but that they are actively returning to it.

Essentially, the Orcs once cultivated a quiet, shamanistic culture upon the world of Draenor. The clans were loose-knit groups of proud hunters who fought only to survive in their treacherous world. However, the demonic Burning Legion corrupted the noble Orc clans to serve its own purposes, and united them into an insatiable Horde.

The Legion, in preparation for its own invasion of Azeroth, hoped that the corrupted Orcs would sew chaos and disorder throughout the unsuspecting world. Once the Orcs had 'shaken up' the mortal defenders of the world, the Legion would then commence its primary invasion. The rampaging Horde did its job well shown in both Warcraft I and II show.

Many years after Warcraft II, a young Orc named Thrall was captured and raised as a slave by treacherous Humans. Combining both 'Human' reason and wit with his own 'Orcish' strength and courage, Thrall worked to escape his wicked masters. Once free, Thrall sought out the enslaved Orc clans and rallied them against the Human Wardens. Under Thrall's energetic leadership, the Horde rediscovered its shamanistic roots and finally escaped the effects of the Legion's demonic corruption.

Now, in the face of an even greater invasion, the reunited Horde has shifted its focus from random conquest and treachery to basic survival and honor.

This entire shift is countered by the fact that the 'goody-goody' Human Alliance has fallen apart due to incessant in-fighting and pettiness. The two races are evening out, as it were...

Demons are certainly not new to the world of Warcraft, but their true origins and motivations are. As in most fantasy settings, demons are typically just servants of a greater evil power, and this holds true for the Demons in Warcraft as well. The difference is, Warcraft Demons are not spawned from some infernal Hell, but are part of a vast, mobile, extra-dimensional army known as the Burning Legion.

The Legion itself, which began its cursed existence when the universe was young, is comprised of countless creatures, horrors and dread monsters from beyond the worlds of men. Cursed to roam forever, consuming primal magic wherever it be found, the Legion has raped world after world in its mad lust for magical power.

Nearly ten thousand years before Warcraft I, the Legion attempted to drain Azeroth of its primal magic. Though the Legion was defeated by a mysterious race, it never lost its hunger for the world's magic or forgot its terrible vow to someday return and take its revenge.

Warcraft III brings the Burning Legion to the forefront as Azeroth's newest enemy. Cunning, sinister in the extreme and seemingly unstoppable, the Legion stands to not only drain the world of its magic, but eradicate all life upon it as well.