Timeline ( RPG Player ' s Guide Series ) This is a paraphrase of the timeline published in " Alliance Player ' s Guide " ( 2006 ) . Also contains miscellaneous dates listed in other sections of the book or in the companion books " Horde Player ' s Guide " ( 2006 ) and " Dark Factions " ( Independent Player ' s Guide , 2008 ) . Dates mentioned but not on the timeline pages . " Note : Most of these are given as estimates by Brann , or authors based off of " present time " rather than exact dates . They may not necessarily match up with specific timeline posted above " A couple of thousand years ago , the first humans appeared at the gates of Ironforge , and name the earthen , " dwarves " . Dwarves are taught how to write by human scholars . Night elves fight the silithid with some success a thousand years ago . Gnomes have not had Kings or Queens in at least 400 years . The three dwarven clans split , War of the Three Hammers occurs . The Dwarves first discovered the gnomes a little over 200 years ago , and became friends with them , allowing them to build Gnomeregan in their lands . Twenty years ago , the Church of the Light had few members , many had died in Lordaeron . Most temples had only a single priest or were shut . It is possible that half - blood elves will be seen 20 years into the future . Dates added by the Horde Player ' s Guide . " Note : Most of these are given as estimates by Brann , or the authors based off of " present time " rather than exact dates . They may not necessarily match up with specific timeline printed in the Alliance Player ' s Guide above . " Archeras serves as a laboratory assistant and information repository to Khaz ' Gorath in the Bael Modan titan facility . Library chamber in the Bael Modan titan facility was damaged by quakes . 3 , 000 years ago a violent earthquake shakes Stonetalon Mountains forming the bones of the Earth Mother . A thousand years ago , a being of unimaginable power is said to have unleashed an army from the southern sands of Kalimdor . Over 130 years ago Ner ' zhul makes a pact with Kil ' jaeden . 100 years ago the green witch , a voodoo priestess disappeared into a swamp . Nearly 50 years later Ner ' zhul realizes his mistake . Ogres crossed through the Dark Portal for the first time . Between the time the first ogres crossed into azeroth and 24 years ago , half - human half - ogre s may have been born . Thrall meets Cairne Bloodhoof for the first time . Dark Factions ( Independent Player ' s Guide ) . " Note : Most of these are given as estimates by Brann , or the authors based off of " present time " rather than exact dates . They may not necessarily match up with specific dates on the timeline printed in the Alliance Player ' s Guide above . " End of the Troll Wars around year - 2800 . First human nation of arathor formed , and the philosophy that created the Church of the Holy Light developed soon after . A thousand years ago , Keeper Remulos helps form the Cenarion Circle and War of the Shifting Sands begins . Goblins run out of kaja ' mite , and their intelligence starts to drop 500 years before the First War . Goblins create the beginnings of the Trade Fleets 200 years before the First War . High elven Farstriders organization is created 500 years ago . Night elves work to stop satyr attacks 200 years ago . The Earthen Ring is discovered 150 years ago . In the last five years , the Argent Dawn and the Scarlet crusade have both adapted the holy light philosophy to suit their own agendas and broken off from the Church of the Holy Light as splinter groups .