Fans of Warcraft's Azeroth often look at the Horde and think of chaos and brutality. However, World of Warcraft players know that the Horde tends to seem like a misunderstood faction - far more misunderstood than the Alliance and other villainous forces they face throughout the Blizzard MMO's expansions. At first glance, the Horde appears as a loosely-connected and hastily-formed alliance of races and cultures in a harsh world they can't immediately call their own.
However, it seems the Horde has its own share of history that made its leaders bond over war and battle - to value honor, strength, hope, and freedom despite trying times. Sadly, as with the Alliance, the Horde always finds its peace tested by betrayals and civil wars. However, players might find it interesting to learn more about exactly what other secrets the Horde may hold for them and their characters as they play the MMO. Just why do members of the Horde proudly yell: Lok'tar Ogar - for the Horde!
10 A History In Corruption
Lore fans will remember that the Orcs had originally come from Draenor. Back then, Sargeras and the Burning Legion had corrupted the Orcs into becoming bloodthirsty and war-like, forming the original Horde in the first RTS games. Meanwhile, their appearance also prompted the formation of the Grand Alliance. Moreover, the Grand Alliance's victory over the Old Horde will soon pave the way for the New Horde.
Unfortunately, despite the New Horde discarding its bloodthirsty ways, they still appear misunderstood by the people of Azeroth. As a result, much of the Alliance and other neutral factions remain untrustworthy of the Horde.
9 A Deep Philosophical Difference
While both today's Horde and Alliance strive for the greater good in their own way, the Old Horde and Grand Alliance had vastly different philosophical views. In the original games, both sides only had different aesthetics and spellcaster abilities. However, habits shared by their healing units actually showed quite a difference between Old Horde and Grand Alliance philosophies.
For instance, Clerics and Paladins of the Grand Alliance strove to heal and resurrect their wounded allies. However, Death Knights and Necrolytes among the Orcs of the Old Horde refused to do so. Instead, they would only heal and raise their fallen brethren if they were going to become their thralls in the form of the undead.
8 They Come By Many Names
Given the volatile nature of the Horde, people both inside and outside the faction have come to know them by many names. Whereas the corrupted Horde became known as the Old Horde, Thrall's Horde became the New Horde. Meanwhile, other "Hordes" have formed throughout the course of Azeroth's history.
For instance, the Fel Horde served under Magtheridon the pit lord before allying with the Illidari Demon Hunters. Meanwhile, Rend Blackhand's Dark Horde rejected Thrall's leadership and had his Horde go back to their ways of demonic bloodlust. Garrosh Hellscream's Horde proclaimed themselves the True Horde. Meanwhile, the uncorrupted Old Horde from Alternate Draenor became the Iron Horde.
7 Expanding Alliances
Thanks to their connections with various races, the Horde has grown to have quite a vast network of allies. Outside their primary races, the Horde also welcomed new races among their ranks. As of the Fourth War, the Horde welcomed the Vulpera fox people, the Zandalari Trolls, the Highmountain Tauren, Alternate Draenor's Mag'har Orcs, and the Nightborne Elves into their ranks.
Meanwhile, the smaller factions that allied with these races became Horde allies as well. These included Northrend's Taunka, the monkey-like Hozen of Pandaria, and the Stonemaul Ogres, to name a few.
6 Blood Oath Of The Horde
Unlike the Alliance's reliance on diplomacy, the Horde upholds tradition and honor among its members. As such, structures enforcing such beliefs remain intact - and sometimes a source of conflict among the faction's members. Interestingly, it seems even the Horde ascribed to some form of bloodletting before being inducted into their ranks. In the quest "All Hail Roanauk!" and "Blood Oath of the Horde," it seems new members have to pledge allegiance to the Warchief and to come to the faction's aid should they be needed.
After foregoing the Warchief title, the Horde Council now requires all Horde races to have a leader to represent them within its ranks. Similar to the Alliance, the Horde Council now has all the responsibilities of the Warchief.
5 Victory Or Death
Despite appearing as brutal and merciless, the Horde actually has a set of strict laws and a strict code of honor among their brethren. What appears as "savage" and "bloodlust" is simply the Horde's philosophy of everyone carrying their own weight. Everyone in the Horde is expected to be able to defend themselves and strive to use their talents for the better of the Horde. For the Horde, weakness can endanger the rest of the faction, and in turn prowess in combat and other talents remain a must among their members.
Interestingly, the Tauren and Orcs among the Horde were the ones who strongly believe in ideas of redemption. After all, the Orcs who were previously corrupted by the Burning Legion also strove to redeem themselves and prove their changed ways to Azeroth.
4 Duel Of Honor
Alongside bloodletting traditions, the Horde seems to have a form of special ritualistic duel to settle challenges. Called Mak'gora or "Duel of Honor," these duels often settled huge disputes. Refusing a Mak'gora meant dishonor and insulting the orcs. And Mak'gora was often used to fight for leadership positions, even as high as the Horde Warchief.
Back then, Mak'gora used to be a fight to the death. However, Thrall banished this system. However, Mak'gora seems to have common rules. These often included the use of only one weapon, wearing only a loincloth, each participant having a witness, and fighting until someone is defeated.
3 The Origin Of The Horde Symbol
Whereas the Lion of Stormwind served as the symbol for the Alliance, some fans may wonder about the true meaning of the Horde's tribal symbol. However, Chris Metzen seemed to close the subject by agreeing to an elaborate theory from a fan via Twitter. It seems the Horde symbol can be representative of how orc spiritual leaders viewed visions of K'ure, the naaru who crash-landed into Draenor after escaping the Burning Legion.
As fans can recall, it was K'ure's relationship with the orc's spirits that led to the formation of spiritual tribes. Unfortunately, K'ure's finite divine energy led these shamans to attract void forces as well.
2 Thrall Championed Equality, Fairness
Thanks to World of Warcraft's expansion of Warcraft lore, it seems Thrall's leadership of the Horde brought about many fundamental changes to how members of the Horde treated one another. For instance, it seems the Old Horde treated males as higher in stature than females. Moreover, peons were looked down upon by their peers.
However, since Thrall's arrival, females are now on equal footing with females. Players see this firsthand when they talk to the Shaman Sergra Darkthorn about their membership within the Horde ("Crossroads Conscription"). Sergra will welcome female characters and express her happiness about more females stepping up on the Horde. Meanwhile, Sergra will give a stern warning to male characters not to disrespect women in the Horde.
1 Thrall Left Standing
Due to differing philosophies and life events, it's natural for various leaders of the Horde to come and go. For instance, Thrall, who himself united the Orcish clans and joined with the Trolls under Vol'jin and the Tauren under Cairne Bloodhoof, left his role as leader to pursue his connection with the spirits. In turn, leadership of the Horde passed down to Vol'jin, and even Sylvanas Windrunner.
Sadly, after Cairne Bloodhoof and Voljin's passing, only Sylvanas was left to command the Horde. Rising tensions would force Sylvanas to defect, leaving others to clamor for Thrall to take up the mantle once more. At the end of the day, the Horde opted for a Council of leaders instead of a council. However, Thrall's presence in the council means he's the only character from the original World of Warcraft to be both alive and still affiliated with the Horde.