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It is a small matter to control the mind of the weak... for I bear allegiance to powers untouched by time, unmoved by fate. No force on this world or beyond harbors the strength to bend our knee... not even the mighty Legion!
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~ Harbinger Skyriss
The Black Empire was the nightmarish and twisted ancient civilization of Azeroth's primordial evils, The Old Gods. Chronologically, it is Warcraft's very first antagonistic faction, and were the original enemies of the Titans.
After plummeting through the void of space, the parasitic horrors later known as the Old Gods found the planet Azeroth, and more importantly, its dormant world soul within. Their arrival began to spread their darkness and corruption across the globe, defeating and enslaving the primal elemental forces while beginning the long process of corrupting the titan soul. If they succeeded, it would have unleashed a cosmic monstrosity so powerful and fearsome it could have destroyed reality. With the Elemental Lords enslaved, and their various eldritch and insectoid servants arising from their wicked taint, The Black Empire would dominate primordial Azeroth for eons, and would have a lasting and terrible influence even several more eons later, even long after their leaders' fall.
From within the darkness of The Void, The Voidlords watched the Titans bring life and order to the cosmos. Infuriated and jealous of their power, they created the eldritch horrors the Old Gods. Created for the sole purpose of corrupting dormant World Souls into a being of unfathomable power and evil, the Void Lords sent their twisted creations out into the universe. Four of them, Y'Shaarj, Yogg-Saron, C'thun, and N'Zoth, made their way to primordial Azeroth, and slammed into the planet. Spreading their tentacles, horrors, and corruption deep into the world and across the globe. As time progressed and their power grew ever more, from the Old Gods very corruption arose the Faceless Ones the N'raqi, and the insectoid Aqir. These wretched abominations and their endless hordes soundly defeated Azeroth's first rulers, the primordial incarnations of the very elements themselves, the Elemental Lords, then enslaved them to their cruel will. This gave rise to their official domain, The Black Empire. With their forces numbering in the millions, the Old Gods themselves reached the peak of their might; Titanic sized monstrosities with nigh endless power. Over millennia the four would wage endless war against one another, their armies slaughtering each other and decimating everything around them, the chaos and ruin they wrought helping the ancient horrors drive their evil further and further into the world and bringing them closer to achieving their goal.
It wasn't until the arrival of the seemingly divine Titans that the world could finally have hope. Aghast and mortified by what they saw, the Titans waged war on the Old Gods, beginning a conflict that lasted an unknown but extensive amount of time. With the Titans and their creations doing battle against the Shath'Yar and their minions, one Old God in particular, Y'Shaarj, the most powerful of the four, proved to be far too much for even the Titan's mightiest followers. This prompted Highfather Aman'Thul to reach down from the heavens themselves and rip this atrocious blight from the world, slaying it. From this however the Titans learned a terrible truth; The Old Gods had grown too strong and their touch had reached too deep. If they destroyed the remaining three, Azeroth would be destroyed. Instead, they chose to imprison the lovecraftian nightmares in facilities of their design for all eternity, unaware that even while sealed away, both their wickedness, and remnants of the Black Empire would remain for ages to come.
Sub-Factions[]
In the expansive lore of World of Warcraft, the enigmatic Old Gods have influenced numerous factions and beings to serve their dark purposes. Key factions and their notable members include:
Originally an orcish clan, the Twilight's Hammer evolved into a cult devoted to the Old Gods, aiming to bring about the world's end. Founded by the ogre-mage Cho'gall, the cult has recruited members from various races, including humans, dwarves, and trolls. Following Cho'gall's demise, Archbishop Benedictus, also known as the "Twilight Father," assumed leadership, furthering the cult's apocalyptic agenda.
Once noble dragons, the Black Dragonflight fell under the corruption of the Old Gods, particularly through their aspect, Deathwing (formerly Neltharion). This corruption led them to serve the Old Gods' interests, spreading chaos across Azeroth.
Originally bronze dragons who succumbed to the whispers of the Old Gods, manipulating time to serve their masters. Notable members: Murozond (the corrupted Nozdormu), Epoch Hunter, and Chromie’s darker counterpart.
After the Great Sundering, Queen Azshara and her Highborne were transformed into the naga by the Old God N'Zoth. They established the underwater empire of Nazjatar, enslaving various aquatic races and taming formidable sea creatures to expand their dominion.
The Emerald Nightmare represents the corruption of the Emerald Dream by the Old Gods, notably through the satyr Xavius, who became the Nightmare Lord. This malevolent force has tainted various beings connected to the Dream, including members of the green dragonflight and other denizens of Azeroth's mystical realms.
Historically, the mantid revered the Old God Y'Shaarj. Upon N'Zoth's resurgence, the new mantid queen pledged her swarm to this Old God, leading assaults on regions like the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. The Klaxxi, the mantid's paragons, were notably empowered by the Void during this period.
Deep within the fortress city of Ahn'Qiraj in southern Silithus, the qiraji served the Old God C'Thun. Their initial threat during the War of the Shifting Sands was thwarted, but subsequent efforts saw them attempting to unleash their master's influence upon Azeroth once more.
During the events of Battle for Azeroth, the Iron Army faction of Mechagon became susceptible to the Old Gods’ whispers. Several mechanized gnomes and units fell under N’Zoth’s corruption.
Deepholm (Elemental Plane of Earth)[]
While home to the elemental Therazane, it was also the base of Deathwing’s forces before Cataclysm. Some of Therazane’s children and servants fell to the Old Gods’ corruption, causing fractures in the Plane of Earth.
Firelands (Elemental Plane of Fire)[]
The Firelord Ragnaros was one of the Elemental Lords originally enslaved by the Old Gods. During Cataclysm, Ragnaros was summoned to Azeroth, attempting to burn Hyjal in service of Deathwing.
Skywall (Elemental Plane of Air)[]
While Al’Akir, the Windlord, initially served the Old Gods, he was slain in Cataclysm. His lieutenants, such as Asaad, continued acting in the interests of the Void.
Abyssal Maw (Elemental Plane of Water)[]
The Old Gods have attempted to corrupt Neptulon, the Tidehunter, numerous times. The Naga and their allies launched multiple invasions, seeking to drag Neptulon into the abyss for N’Zoth.
Villains