Horde Council

The Horde Council is the ruling body of the Horde. The council members each hold a position of power over the Horde; acting in the place of the retired position of Warchief. Each is considered a representative of their people, if not the racial leader in some cases.

In the aftermath of the end of the Fourth War and the defeat of N'Zoth, various leaders of the Horde gathered together at the Orgrimmar Embassy where they received the terms for an armistice from the Grand Alliance, putting the Fourth War on hold indefinitely, if not permanently. With that matter settled, Lor'themar Theron addressed the absence of a Warchief. Despite support for Thrall to take the mantle on again, he refused, citing that he had promised Varok Saurfang he would not take on the role once more. Instead, he brought up the notion of the Warchief being unnecessary, bringing in the belief that a change was needed for the Horde's leadership. With this, instead of a singular dictator, the Horde would be led by a conglomerate of leaders who would represent their people's interests.

At the time of its creation, the council was composed of Thrall, Rokhan, Baine Bloodhoof, Lilian Voss, Lor'themar Theron, Monte Gazlowe, Ji Firepaw, Thalyssra, and Geya'rah. At some point afterwards, Chieftain Mayla Highmountain and Voldunai vulpera caravan leader Kiro joined the council.

Sometime after the death of N'Zoth, the Horde Council convened with Queen Talanji of the Zandalari and a key ally. The Horde leaders sought to have Talanji take a place on the council with them, however, this meeting was derailed by a failed assassination attempt on the Queen's life. Forced into action by this, the Horde Council empowered the young troll shaman Zekhan, still grieving the loss of Varok, with a critical mission to aid Talanji and help uncover the rising threat against her.

After the Earthen Ring shaman Yukha warned Thrall that something was terribly wrong in the spirit world, Thrall informed the council. Despite their misgivings and fears of an ambush, the council voted in favor of Thrall's decision to go to Nordrassil, in order to find a way to help the spirit world. Thrall later informed the council of how his meeting with the kaldorei leadership went down.

Upon learning that the Alliance was aware of the unrest in Zandalar, their belief that Talanji was working with Sylvanas, and that they had requested to speak with the council, another meeting was held. The council unanimously voted in favor of Thrall and Ji Firepaw meeting with Jaina Proudmoore and Anduin Wrynn in the hopes that the meeting would aid in the hunt and capture of Sylvanas Windrunner.

After the threat against her was ultimately removed by the combined Horde and Zandalari forces, Talanji joined the council.

The Horde Council was made aware of Mathias Shaw's and Flynn Fairwind's mission across the Eastern Kingdoms and allowed them to travel across Horde territories. At some point following the end of the Fourth War, the council sent Belgrom Rockmaul to Feralas to answer the calls for help from Camp Ataya and Camp Mojache, which were being raided by the Gordunni ogres and Woodpaw gnolls. The council also ordered for Rexxar and Zekhan to look over the Horde holdings within Kalimdor, in order to assess the needs and statuses of the people, how the wounds from the Fourth War were healing, and where there were still aches within the Horde. Thus they later received word from Zekhan about what he learned: that war took from all and how he found hope in seeing their Horde brothers and sisters rebuilding their outposts and homes, the hope in the songs and stories booming from their hearths, and ultimately hope in the Horde's future in every corner of Kalimdor.

The council, along with Aggra, Calia Menethil, Nazgrim, and Valeera Sanguinar, convened atop of Grommash Hold where they informed Horde champions of the return of the Scourge and the abduction of Thrall and Baine. They also learned from Valeera Sanguinar that Jaina Proudmoore and Anduin Wrynn had also been abducted, and that an attempt was made on Tyrande Whisperwind, who neutralized her attackers. These champions were subsequently sent to unite with the Knights of the Ebon Blade and the Argent Crusade in order to combat the returning enemy. Following the death of Herald Dalora, they returned to Orgrimmar to inform the council about the events that occurred in Icecrown and the dark powers that Sylvanas had allied with.

The council, alongside leaders of the Alliance and Calia, convened with Bolvar Fordragon at the Frozen Throne within Icecrown Citadel. Though desiring to rescue their comrades the council knew that they couldn't risk the stability of the Horde and send their fellow leaders on what might well be a suicide mission. To that end, Lor'themar encouraged the Alliance to do the same by pointing out that even their captured friends would offer the same counsel. However, this earned the hostility of Tyrande, which caused the council to prepare themselves for battle before Bolvar convinced the Horde and Alliance leaders to stand down.

The council, and the others, then witnessed the ritual to open the doorway to the Maw. Once the ritual was complete the council witnessed champions of Azeroth, the Knights of the Ebon Blade, and even Tyrande Whisperwind enter to rescue their comrades and seek out Sylvanas. The council subsequently departed from Icecrown.

Calia, who had gone to Oribos within the Shadowlands, later sent word of Thrall's and Baine's recovery to Lor'themar Theron, who presumably informed his fellow council members.

Following Zovaal's defeat, members of the Horde Council reunited with Thrall and Baine within Oribos, and then attended the judgment of Sylvanas Windrunner. After the Banshee Queen submitted to the judgment of Tyrande Whisperwind, the night elf matriarch ordered that her penance was to scour the Maw for every soul lost in its depths, betrayed or condemned and to send them forth to the Arbiter. While Voss and Thalyssra departed soon after, Lor'themar joined Thrall and Baine in witnessing Sylvanas entering the Maw to begin said penance.

After the Forsaken reclaimed the Ruins of Lordaeron, they established a new Desolate Council to govern them. As the members of the Desolate Council have equal authority, it is likely that they each can speak for the Forsaken on the Horde Council.

Various members of the Horde Council were among those who attended the wedding between fellow council members Lor'themar Theron and Thalyssra.

Soon after the Dragon Isles were revealed to Azeroth, the Horde Council was approached by Ebyssian who introduced them to the dracthyr led by Scalecommander Cindrethresh and an invitation to explore the islands from the dragon aspects. The council subsequently accepted the Dark Talons into the Horde and then turned to the Reliquary and instructed them to work with the Explorers' League as a joint expedition to investigate. After the council, Cindrethresh and Ebyssian discussed the mission logistics, members of the council then ventured to the zeppelin tower at the Dranosh'ar Blockade near the port, where they were seemingly prepared to witness the expedition depart.

Various members of the council were amongst those who entered the Emerald Dream in order to help Alexstrasza defend the growing Amirdrassil from Fyrakk the Blazing.

• Not every member of the council is going to be in Orgrimmar all the time, with dignitaries and/or ambassadors serving as their representatives, such as in the case of Mayla Highmountain remaining in Highmountain during the events of Shadows Rising.
• Prior to becoming leaders of their people and serving on the Horde Council, Gazlowe and Rokhan served under Horde adventurers in the Garrison of Frostwall, while Lilian Voss served as a champion.
• Ji is the only member of the council introduced after Warchief of the Horde that does not have a triggered conversation with another member of the council at the Orgrimmar Embassy.
• Overlord Geya'rah and Mayla Highmountain are the only members of the Horde Council not mentioned in Shadows Rising.
• According to Lor'themar Theron, Calia Menethil has been a voice of wisdom to the council.
• As of Shadows Rising every playable Horde race is represented on the council.
• It is currently unknown if the other/future playable races (such as the dracthyr) would be immediately granted a seat on the council or if the council seat would need to be earned in some manner.
• It is currently unknown if non-playable races (such as the Stonemaul ogres) would one day have a seat on the council.