Shadow Council The Shadow Council is a group of mortal warlocks that serve the demon s 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 . 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 . The Shadow Council plays a significant role in the events of " " . 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 . Note that most Shadow Council members are orcs ; although they worship demons , they are not fel orcs . Connection to the Council of the Black Harvest . 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 .