Shadow Council

The Shadow Council is a group of mortal warlocks that serve the demons of the Burning Legion. The Shadow Council was formed by orcs as a clandestine council of the Old Horde. In the aftermath of many wars, the Shadow Council has somehow continued and has expanded to include many races with cults of the Shadow Council existing in different parts of the world.
==History==
===Formation===
When Gul'dan supplanted Ner'zhul as spiritual leader of the nascent Horde, he began to reorganize the clans into a single engine of destruction in the name of Kil'jaeden. To this end, he promoted a public figurehead, Blackhand of the Blackrock clan to the new position of Warchief. Gul'dan also brought together a collection of warlocks, necrolytes, chieftains, and even the occasional ogre into a clandestine council — the Shadow Council. Gul'dan stroked Blackhand's ego by telling him he would rule both the Horde and the Council, but actually intended to manipulate him and the whole orcish people through the Warchief instead.Rise of the Horde, chapter 13
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. Not all orc warlocks joined the Shadow Council, however. Some, such as Drek'Thar and Nekros Skullcrusher stayed loyal to their clans instead.Tides of Darkness, chapter 9
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.
To test the potential of the daggers :Anguish and :Sorrow, Gul'dan gave them to his assassin Garona Halforcen and ordered her to use them against an unfortunate Shadow Council acolyte. The acolyte had no chance to defend himself before she tore open his throat with one slash. When the orc took his last breath, the wound that killed him became irregular. Nobody would be able to tell whether he had died to a knife, an axe, or a spear. Gul'dan saw the possibilities immediately. A mysterious death could be used to sow confusion and redirect suspicion wherever he pleased.Blood Ledger#The Kingslayers
===The First War===
The Shadow Council operated a number of the Horde's workings during the war effort against the Kingdom of Stormwind.
When the Shadow Council moved into Blackrock Mountain, they were confronted by the fire elemental and Dark Iron dwarf minions of Ragnaros. Cho'gall used his fledgling connection to the Old Gods to convince the dwarves and Ragnaros's lieutenants, who also served the Old Gods, to let the Shadow Council stay in the upper reaches of the mountain, Blackrock Spire. If the warlocks remained there, they would not be disturbed by Ragnaros or his followers. Gul'dan was angered that he could not have the whole mountain, but was pleased by Cho'gall's effective diplomacy. However, he was unaware of the true reason it had worked.World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 131-132
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. King Llane Wrynn was assassinated by one of the Shadow Council's finest killers, Garona. Orgrim captured and had Garona tortured to learn of the location of the Shadow Council's secret refuge. Sensing it threatened his position and that it was the root of the Horde's corruption, Orgrim launched an attack on Blackrock Spire, annihilating most of the warlocks of the Council. Their spirits were subsequently imbued into the death knights,Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Ground Units of the Orcish Horde, Death Knight while the magical energies of other long-dead warlocks were infused into the bodies of the ogre magi.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Ground Units of the Orcish Horde, Ogre-MageWarcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Orc Buildings, Altar of Storms
===World of Warcraft===
Even in the aftermath of the second invasion of the Burning Legion, the Shadow Council still remained. It is not clear how the Council was reformed after the death of most of their members, including Gul'dan. The current Shadow Council included members of all races, provided they possess the ideology of acceptance of the tenets of the Burning Legion.
The Shadow Council set up its main base in Shadow Hold in Felwood, where they reigned with massive force and numbers. The Burning Blade was also active in Desolace, the Barrens, and Durotar, and even had a spy in Orgrimmar, while the Searing Blade dwelled beneath the orcish capital in the Ragefire Chasm. The Cult of the Dark Strand operated in Darkshore and Ashenvale, while the mysterious Argus Wake manipulated the Syndicate in Alterac and the Arathi Highlands.
===The Burning Crusade===
At the time of the invasion of Outland, it was discovered that some members of the Council, including Vorpil and Blackheart, survived by hiding in Auchindoun. The Cabal operated from within Auchindoun, while members of the Shadow Council were widespread all over Outland.
During the Opening of the Dark Portal in the Caverns of Time, members of the original Council could be seen.
===Cataclysm===
While some members were missing after the Cataclysm, such as the Cult of the Dark Strand which was wiped out by the Horde, the rest of the Council in Felwood appeared to be undamaged and active.
===Legion===
During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, an alternate rallied the members of the Shadow Council who have been in hiding on Azeroth, in order to help him retrieve the Book of Medivh and Eye of Dalaran. Jergosh the Invoker led a team to obtain the book from the Cult of the Damned at Caer Darrow, while Allaris Narassin and Nagaz traveled to Tol Barad for the eye. All three were later killed by the Netherlord of the Council of the Black Harvest.An Eye for a ScepterFinding the ScepterRitual Ruination
Lord Malgath, alongside several Shadow Council assassins and warlocks, assisted the demons in breaching the Violet Hold. Later, several of their warlocks were seen aboard Kil'jaeden's command ship.
==Structure and operations==
The shape of the original Shadow Council is unclear. Gul'dan is described as a "warlock of the Inner Circle"Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Legends of the Land, Gul'dan (also an "initiate of the Seventh Circle"Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, The History of Orcish Ascension, The Rise of the Shadow Council) and Cho'gall as an "initiate of the Fifth."Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Legends of the Land, Cho'gallSignet of the Fifth Circle This means that there are at least seven 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===
*Burning Blade - Primarily orcs. Concerned with undermining Thrall's Horde. Based in Durotar, Orgrimmar, Desolace, the Barrens and elsewhere. Led by Neeru Fireblade.
*The Cabal, a faction in Outland consisting of Shadow Council remnants from the time before the First War.
*Searing Blade - Primarily orcs. Concerned with undermining Thrall's Horde. Once based in Ragefire Chasm, beneath the city of Orgrimmar, they were driven out by the Dark Shaman. Led by Bazzalan and Jergosh the Invoker.
*Argus Wake - Primarily humans. Concerned with sowing chaos among the areas of Lordaeron controlled by the Alliance and Horde. Allied with the Syndicate of the Alterac Mountains. The Wake's leader is unknown, but its members in Alterac were once led by the orc Nagaz, who disappeared during the Cataclysm.
*Cult of the Dark Strand - Various mortal races. Concerned with cultivating an alliance between themselves and the foul satyrs. Based in Darkshore and Ashenvale, led by Athrikus Narassin. Since the Cataclysm, the Dark Strand has been annihilated.
*Sargerei - Currently known to exist only in the parallel timeline's , the Sargerei are draenei that have decided to side with the Shadow Council of that universe to further Burning Legion's agenda in that world in exchange for power.
Note that most Shadow Council members are orcs; although they worship demons, most of them are not fel orcs.
==Members==
===Named===
Name 	Location 	Location 	Sub-Cult 	Status
Gul'dan 	Spirit in Altar of Damnation	Shadowmoon Valley 	 	
Cho'gall 	Bastion of Twilight 	Twilight Highlands 	Now a leader of the Twilight's Hammer	
Garona Halforcen 	Bloodgulch 	Twilight Highlands 	Formerly mind-controlled 	
Blackhand 	likeness in Karazhan 	Deadwind Pass 	 	
Teron Gorefiend 	Black Temple 	Shadowmoon Valley 	 	
Grandmaster Vorpil 	Shadow Labyrinth 	Auchindoun, Terokkar Forest 	Cabal 	
Blackheart the Inciter 	Shadow Labyrinth 	Auchindoun, Terokkar Forest 	Cabal 	
Kargath BladefistRise of the Horde, chapter 17	Shattered Halls 	Hellfire Citadel, Hellfire Peninsula	 	
Warbringer Razuun 	Deathforge 	Shadowmoon Valley 	 	
Summoner Skartax 	Deathforge 	Shadowmoon Valley 	 	
Doctor Maleficus 	Invasion Point: Cataclysm 	Shadowmoon Valley 	 	
Doctor Gutrick 	Invasion Point: Cataclysm 	Shadowmoon Valley 	 	
Shadowmaster Grieve 	Grangol'var Village 	Terokkar Forest 	 	
Giselda the Crone 	Kil'sorrow Fortress 	Nagrand 	 	
Fel'dan 	Jaedenar 	Felwood 	 	
Moora 	Jaedenar 	Felwood 	 	
Salia 	Jaedenar 	Felwood 	 	
Lord Banehollow 	Jaedenar 	Felwood 	 	
Ur'dan 	Caer Darrow 	Western Plaguelands 	 	
Ulathek 	Jaedenar 	Felwood 	 	
Rakaiah 	Jaedenar 	Felwood 	 	
Prince Xavalis 	Shadow Hold 	Felwood 	 	
Tyranis Malem 	Thunder Axe Fortress 	Desolace 	 	
Jugkar Grim'rod 	Mannoroc Coven 	Desolace 	Burning Blade 	
Kohor 	Thunder Axe Fortress 	Desolace 	Burning Blade 	
Rathorian 	Dreadmist Den 	The Barrens 	Burning Blade 	
Sarilus Foulborne 	Dreadmist Peak 	The Barrens 	Burning Blade 	
Yarrog Baneshadow 	Valley of Trials 	Durotar 	Burning Blade 	
Fizzle Darkstorm 	Thunder Ridge 	Durotar 	Burning Blade 	
Gazz'uz 	Skull Rock 	Durotar 	Burning Blade 	
Neeru Fireblade 	Cleft of Shadow 	Orgrimmar 	Burning Blade 	
Jergosh the Invoker 	Caer Darrow 	Western Plaguelands 	Searing Blade 	
Bazzalan 	Ragefire Chasm 	Orgrimmar 	Searing Blade 	
Taragaman the Hungerer 	Ragefire Chasm 	Orgrimmar 	Searing Blade 	
Nagaz 	D-Block 	Tol Barad 	Argus Wake 	
Darbel Montrose 	Stromgarde Keep 	Arathi Highlands 	Argus Wake 	
Marez Cowl 	Stromgarde Keep 	Arathi Highlands 	Argus Wake 	
Athrikus Narassin 	Tower of Althalaxx 	Darkshore 	Cult of the Dark Strand 	
Allaris Narassin 	Tomb of Sargeras 	Broken Shore 	 	
Delmanis the Hated 	Tower of Althalaxx 	Darkshore 	Cult of the Dark Strand 	
Ilkrud Magthrull 	Fire Scar Shrine 	Ashenvale 	Cult of the Dark Strand 	
Braelyn Firehand 	Caer Darrow 	Western Plaguelands 	 	
Staffron Lerent 	 	Alterac Mountains 	 	
===Unnamed===
*Dark-Sworn Enforcer
*Dark-Sworn Warlock
*Aspiring Shadow Council Enforcer
*Aspiring Shadow Council Warlock
*Fel Inciter
*Infiltrator Assassin
*Shadow Council Enforcer
*Shadow Council Felsworn
*Shadow Council Warlock
*Shadow Council Warlock (Violet Hold)
*Shadow Council Warlock (Tomb of Sargeras)
*Shadow Council Zealot
==Notes==
*The orcs of the Shadow Council empowered the Shadow Orb, Gul'dan's artifact, that was found by Maiev Shadowsong in the Tomb of Sargeras.The Tomb of Sargeras (Warcraft III)
*Not all the warlocks of the Old Horde were members of the Shadow Council, such as Ghun and Nekros Skullcrusher.
*Shadow Lord Fel'dan, the successor of Gul'dan, is stated before he is defeated to have become 'more demon than orc'. Similar monikers to this were given to Illidan and some of his demon hunters; meaning that he may possess an immortal demon soul as they do.
==Speculation==
While it may be a simple case of model reuse, the Founding of Durotar campaign shows some Stormreaver warlocks on the Echo Isles and Durotar. It is, therefore, possible that some Stormreaver survivors traveled to Kalimdor and founded the local branch of the Shadow Council.
==Gallery==
Shadow Council HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
==See also==
*Rise of the Horde, part of the History of Warcraft
*Demon cult
==References==
 
Category:Councils
Category:Religions
Category:Warlock organizations
Category:Burning Legion
es:Consejo de la Sombra