Looking at feedback I took and slightly rejiggered the map, further breaking it down also into the geopolitically dominant powers across Azeroth. Some of them I had to sort of just… work out a name for as Blizzard never bothered to formally give one; they tend to ignore things like that sadly. A few are based on logical results of certain established relationships between leaders carrying out into marriage.
I then took and wrote descriptions for both Factions in a manner that does not use coding words like “Savage” and “Noble” that Blizzard loves so much.
- Kingdom of Stormwind (and protectorates) (A)
- Union of the Three Hammers (A)
- Kingdom of Gilneas (A)
- Commonwealth of Gnomanity (A)
- Kingdom of Kul Tiras (A)
- Forsaken Dominion (H)
- United Highborne Kingdoms (H)
- Tauren Tribal Confederation (H)
- Zuldazar Empire (H)
- Sovereign Territories of New Darnassus (A)
- Independent state of the Azuremyst Isles (A)
- Nation of Durotar (H)
- Bilgewater Cartel Holdings (H)
- Darkspear Chiefdom (H)
- Horde Allied Territories (H)
Major Geopolitical Powers of Azeroth
The New Horde (“The Horde”): The Horde began as an unlikely alliance of races seen as monstrous outcasts by the races of the Alliance, based in a mutual need for cooperation for survival. At first led in a form of “benevolent dictatorship” by its founder, the former Orc slave turned revolutionary Thrall (born Go’el of clan Frostwolf). As founder of the free orcish nation of Duotar, Thrall was seen as a wise and just leader who would listen to the leaders of the peoples under his command. Sadly, after Thrall abdicated his position, with no constitutional system or formal treaties in place to limit the power of the Warchief, it rapidly devolved into a form of military junta with client member states lacking any true representation.
The abuse of the office began with Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, who led the Horde into a war with itself over the ideals of purity and the Old Horde that resulted in revolt. The second abuse came when Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner led the Horde into the senseless and bloody Forth War for her own personal machinations, which resulted in another revolt, this time backed by the Alliance. Ultimately, Sylvanas abandoned the horde after a fateful duel with the revolt leader, High Overlord Saurfang.
With full backing of Thrall himself, the races of the Horde have recently overthrown the office of Warchief after these repeated and gratuitous abuses of absolute authority, becoming an intergovernmental organization led by a council of co-equal member nations known as the Horde Council. Merely months old now, the Council is young and untested, with many in the Horde unsure if this new form of leadership will truly be effective.
The Grand Alliance (“The Alliance”): The Alliance was born out of the ashes of the Alliance of Lordaeron, which collapsed during the Third War with the murder of its de facto leader, king Terenas Menethil II, and the following sacking of much of the eastern kingdoms by the undead Scourge. The Grand Alliance was built on the same basic foundations of its predecessor, anchored in a complex series of treaties, mutual defense pacts, and trade agreements aiming for the common good of all member nations.
While it is designed as a council of co-equals, The Human Kingdom of Stormwind has been a dominant force since its founding, along with the Dwarves who remain a close and long time geopolitical ally. The legendary Stormwind King Varian Wrynn led the Alliance as both Lord Commander of the Alliance joint forces and High King, the Leader of the Alliance. It is worth noting that the mantle of High King, while granting vast political clout, did not confer the sort of absolute power as that of Warchief—Rights granted by the treaties which bind it together mean all member nations retain sovereignty and the certain rights such as the ability to refuse admission of a new member nation into the alliance.
After the death of Varian on the Broken Shore his son, Anduin Wrynn, took up the mantles of King of Stormwind, Lord Commander of the Alliance joint forces, and High King of the Alliance. Young and inexperienced, he managed to lead the Alliance through the Fourth War, but not without mistakes resulting in fractures forming between Stormwind, the Darnassian Leadership, and the Gilneans who went with their king to the aid of the Kaldorei when Anduin refused to send Alliance joint troops to aid in the reclaiming of Darkshore—His focus was instead on retaking and holding traditionally human lands such as Southshore, and the long fallen kingdom of Strom, which now exists as a protectorate of Stormwind.
Recently, Anduin handed over the authority of the Lord Commander to the legendary High Exarch Turalyon. Following the abduction of High King Anduin, Turalyon additionally became Regent in Absentia of Stormwind. The future of the Alliance is uncertain, with much unresolved tension after the Forth War and its new Lord Commander remembering the Alliance of Lordaeron and considering the idea of reclaiming old lands now under control by the Horde.