History Main / TheHorde

Human Hordes will resemble the Vikings, Mongols, Huns, and other so-called [[BarbarianTribe "barbarian" tribes]] of history (the word even comes from the Mongolian/Turkic "orda", which originally referred to military encampments). The Horde is also the most common depiction of [[TheUsualAdversaries orcs]], regardless of any other [[OurOrcsAreDifferent differences]]. Any "sub-human" or monstrous race will do, though, be they [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblins]], [[OurOgresAreDifferent ogres]], LizardFolk, {{beastm|an}}en or any other "barbaric" StandardFantasyRaces -- a coalition is even possible since [[EqualOpportunityEvil evil is an equal opportunity employer]]. In some settings TheLegionsOfHell or TheUndead may serve as the Horde. In science fiction, the local SpaceOrcs are the likeliest culprits. In a pinch you could even have large bandit gangs filling this role.

* ''Wiki/TheWanderersLibrary'': In ''[[http://wanderers-library.wikidot.com/the-floating-armada The Floating Armada]]'', a vast tide of human, demihuman and monstrous peoples is coming out of the land of Yagron, crushing all resistance in its path, mounted on [[FloatingContinent floating islands]] and assembled by an orc warlord out of every tribe and band of monsters and barbarians in his land.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': [[http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Robots Gray Mann's robots]] spawn in large swarms in the [[ManVersusMachine Mann Vs Machine]] game mode. Taken UpToEleven (or should we say, Up To 666) with the Ghost Town Halloween Event, where the aptly named [[NumberOfTheBeast Wave 666]] consists of 911 robots and 9 tanks, and additional Spies and Snipers which spawn for as long as you play, potentially bringing the total to well over a thousand.

[[folder:Fan works]]

** The ancient Atmorans, [[{{Precursors}} ancestors to the Nords]], also fit the trope. It is said that they had no knowledge of agriculture and survived off of hunting, a way of life which likely encouraged their ceaseless warfare. They also did not have a written language until they came to Tamriel (where they adopted one from the elves, blending it with Atmoran language principles). From the perspective of the Elves (who settled Tamriel long before the Atmorans cross the sea), the Atmorans really were illiterate, elf-hating barbarians who swept in from their [[GrimUpNorth frozen homeland]] hell bent to RapePillageAndBurn everything the Elves had built.

They come sweeping down from [[DeathMountain the mountains]] like an avalanche, or surging from [[TheLostWoods the deep forest]] like a tide of vermin. They come from across the sea in their [[HornyVikings dragon-prowed ships]], or storming from the [[{{Mordor}} forsaken wastes]] that no other men can dwell in. They come to RapePillageAndBurn, [[ScreamingWarrior howling like death itself]], and leave only destruction and despair in their wake. They waylay travelers, ransack peasant villages, and even lay siege to the bastions of civilization. They take only what {{plunder}} and [[MadeASlave slaves]] they can carry, and torch and butcher the rest.

In some cases, the Horde may have some specific goal in mind in its rampage, typically focusing on conquering and subjugating the lands they're overrunning. Others don't have any aim beyond battle itself, and simply throw themselves at target after target [[MyopicConqueror without giving any particular thought to what they'll do after they've crushed all opposition]]. In these latter cases, a victorious Horde will typically find itself losing the drive that held it together, and will either gradually lose steam and dissolve or destroy itself in infighting. Other Hordes don't actually reach this point, and simply move from target to target until they find one too strong to overwhelm and are themselves destroyed.

** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Horde]] used to be a straight example of the trope during the first two games, when they were pawns of the [[TheLegionsOfHell demonic Burning Legion]]. But by ''Warcraft III'', Warchief Thrall helped the orcs rediscover their shamanistic heritage, and they become more of a NobleSavage race, then went on to incorporate the [[AllTrollsAreDifferent Darkspear Trolls]] and [[ALoadOfBull Tauren]] into the Horde, turning it into TheAlliance (not to be confused with the Horde's old enemies, the human-led Alliance of the Eastern Kingdoms). By ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the Horde has become an AntiHeroTeam of imperiled or outcast races, including free-willed undead, magic-addicted elves shunned by their former allies, goblin refugees, and more.

* ''WebOriginal/HamstersParadise'': During the second harmster world war, the Bruteriders -- a loose coalition of barbarian tribes who specialize in warring from the backs of powerful animals -- are forced into a united force by a powerful warlord and begin a campaign of conquest and destruction against the other harmster civilizations. They are, however, entirely dependent on their leader for unity, and when she dies in battle they quickly fragment into a chaotic jumble of warring splinter factions.

* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', ''four'' demon hordes, led by their respective dukes and duchesses, settle into Yamato after the Cataclysm and scheme against one another.

** The wildlings -- a number of disparate barbarian cultures from the far north that regularly raid their southern neighbors for tools, wealth and women, and who periodically form large armies to try and conquer the south -- are perceived thus by those in the Seven Kingdoms, though there might be [[TheUndead something else]] [[HumanoidAbomination they should be fearing more...]]
** The series also has the Dothraki, generally well done {{Expy}}s of the Mongols.

In battle itself, Hordes rarely go in for the finer points of strategy. Some may use more complex tactics, sometimes making use of their disorganized structures to engage in guerrilla combat with their foes, but most just rely in the trie-and-true method of throwing a great big tide of screaming warriors at the enemy army and winning battles through sheer berserk momentum. Their gear can vary more significantly -- some will wear nothing but [[PeltsOfTheBarbarian animal pelts]] and warpaint, [[SkeletonsInTheCoatCloset perhaps incorporating the bones of animals or people]], while [[TinTyrant others will be clad in heavy plate from head to toe]]. Weaponry is almost invariably of the melee kind, and will usually be some form of SavageSpikedWeapons. It's also fairly common for Hordes to bring along [[BeastOfBattle Beasts of Battle]], WarElephants and the like, in contrast to civilized armies that are more likely to use mechanical contrivances, to emphasize their bestial, primal and technologically backwards natures.

* ''FanFic/ABriefHistoryOfEquestria'':

* ''FanFic/TheDifferenceOneManCanMake'': The Wildling alliance that attacks First Forge.
* ''FanFic/ThePalaververse'': The great and savage Corvid armies that overran much of Ungula at numerous points in the past, driven from their homelands by overpopulation and lack of food in much the same way as real life hordes often were.
* ''FanFic/WhatLiesBeyondTheWalls'': Krassak Ralfur's [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent monitors]]. While every faction in the story has some kind of goal, Krassak and his crew have done nothing but slaughter anyone in their paths [[ForTheEvulz for the sake of invoking fear around Mossflower]].

** The Greenskins (a.k.a. {{O|urOrcsAreDifferent}}rcs and [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Goblins]]) take to this trope more than any other race. They're an entire species of vicious {{Blood Knight}}s who live only to fight and are just barely advanced enough to fashion crude weapons and "tame" large, nasty animals for war. The closest to organized they get is when a particularly nasty warlord can force a bunch of tribes together into a giant Waaagh! and head on a bloodthirsty rampage towards the nearest civilization.

** The [[XtremeKoolLetterz Orks]], who are ''Warhammer''[='=]s Greenskins InSpace, just with more guns, stolen tanks, badly controlled {{psychic|Powers}}s and crude approximations of starships and HumongousMecha. They were originally created as living weapons for an ancient war, and as a result live for nothing but fighting -- the conquer, raze and rampage their way through the galaxy because it quite literally never occurs to them to do anything else.

* ''Franchise/DragonAge'': The Darkspawn come swooping down on the human kingdoms every few centuries.

* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has a neat {{Reconstruction}} of this idea with the armies of [[TheEmpire Noxus]]. One of the core pillars of Noxus is [[TheSocialDarwinist dominance through individualism and personal glory]], and as such their armies lack uniformity, both in tactics (at most arranging attacks in rough squares before devolving into one-on-one skirmishes) and [[NonUniformUniform in actual uniform]] (aside from [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver the empire's red and black colors]], it's all fair game for what any soldier will choose to fight with). This gives the empire its immeasurably expansive dominance, but this also puts them in direct disadvantage to [[ArchEnemy their neighboring rival]] of [[TheGoodKingdom Demacia]], who in turn are established as having [[BadassArmy the best army in all Runeterra]], [[ForceAndFinesse not through numbers, but incredible coordination and tactical knowledge]].

* The Infection in ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'' turns the animals of Ixatan Forest into thousands of mutated, mindless beasts hellbent on killing everyone. [[spoiler:They're later revealed not to be quite so mindless.]]

* The Infection in ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'' turns the animals of Ixatan Forest in thousands of mutated, mindless beasts hellbent on killing everyone. [[spoiler:Later revealed not to be quite so mindless.]]

Human Hordes will resemble the Vikings, Mongols, Huns, and other so-called [[BarbarianTribe "barbarian" tribes]] of history. The Horde is also the most common depiction of [[TheUsualAdversaries orcs]], regardless of any other [[OurOrcsAreDifferent differences]]. Any "sub-human" or monstrous race will do, though, be they [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblins]], [[OurOgresAreDifferent ogres]], LizardFolk, {{beastm|an}}en or any other "barbaric" StandardFantasyRaces -- a coalition is even possible since [[EqualOpportunityEvil evil is an equal opportunity employer]]. In some settings TheLegionsOfHell or TheUndead may serve as the Horde. In science fiction, the local SpaceOrcs are the likeliest culprits. In a pinch you could even have large bandit gangs filling this role.

* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has a neat {{Reconstruction}} of this idea with the armies of [[TheEmpire Noxus]]. One of the core pillars of Noxus is [[TheSocialDarwinist dominance through individualism and personal glory]], and as such lack uniformity, both in tactics (at most arranging attacks in rough squares) and [[NonUniformUniform in actual uniform]] (aside from [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver the empire's red and black colors]], it's all fair game for what any soldier will choose to fight with). This gives the empire its immeasurably expansive dominance, but this also puts them in direct disadvantage to [[ArchEnemy their neighboring rival]] of [[TheGoodKingdom Demacia]], who in turn are established as having [[BadassArmy the best army in all Runeterra]], [[ForceAndFinesse not through numbers, but incredible coordination and tactical knowledge]].

* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has a neat {{Reconstruction}} of this idea with the armies of [[TheEmpire Noxus]]. One of the core pillars of Noxus is [[TheSocialDarwinist dominance through individualism and personal glory]], and as such lack uniformity, both in actual tactics (at most arranging attacks in rough squares) and [[NonUniformUniform in actual uniform]] (aside from [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver the empire's red and black colors]], it's all fair game for what any soldier will use to fight with). This gives the empire its immeasurably expansive dominance, but this also puts them in direct disadvantage to [[ArchEnemy their neighboring rival]] of [[TheGoodKingdom Demacia]], who in turn are established as having [[BadassArmy the best army in all Runeterra]] not [[ForceAndFinesse through numbers, but through incredible coordination and tactical knowledge]].

Human Hordes will resemble the Vikings, Mongols, Huns, and other so-called [[BarbarianTribe "barbarian" tribes]] of history. The Horde is also the most common depiction of [[TheUsualAdversaries orcs]], regardless of any other [[OurOrcsAreDifferent differences]]. Any "sub-human" or monstrous race will do, though, be they [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblins]], [[OurOgresAreDifferent ogres]], LizardFolk, {{beastm|an}}en or whatever else -- a coalition is even possible since [[EqualOpportunityEvil evil is an equal opportunity employer]]. In some settings TheLegionsOfHell or TheUndead may serve as the Horde. In science fiction, the local SpaceOrcs are the likeliest culprits. In a pinch you could even have large bandit gangs filling this role.

** The Easterling nations, especially the Balchoth and the Wainriders, are largely inspired by the HordesFromTheEast variant and invade Middle-Earth in alliance with Sauron.

** The [[XtremeKoolLetterz Orks]], who are ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'''’s Greenskins InSpace, just with more guns, stolen tanks, badly controlled {{psychic|Powers}}s and crude approximations of starships and HumongousMecha.

** This is a common depiction of the [[HornyVikings Nords]] by their enemies (''especially'' the [[OurElvesAreBetter races of Mer (Elves)]], who have been at constant odds with the Nords since time immemorial), along with being a BarbarianTribe. The truth is somewhere in the middle, however, as the Nords do [[ProudWarriorRace love to battle]] and can be viewed as uncultured by the CrystalSpiresAndTogas Altmer or AncientRome-inspired Imperials, but they are also lovers of [[WarriorPoet music and mead with a strong bardic tradition]] and a deeply [[RealMenLoveJesus spiritual]] and traditional people with a strong sense of honor ([[HonorBeforeReason too strong]], in some cases). The Nords themselves [[InsultBackfire don't seem particularly offended by this image]] and are even known to play it up for intimidation.

Human Hordes will resemble the Vikings, Mongols, Huns, and other so-called [[BarbarianTribe "Barbarian" tribes]] of history. The Horde is also the most common depiction of [[TheUsualAdversaries Orcs]], regardless of any other [[OurOrcsAreDifferent differences]]. Any "sub-human" or monstrous race will do, though, be they [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Goblins]], [[OurOgresAreDifferent Ogres]], LizardFolk, {{Beastm|an}}en or whatever else -- a coalition is even possible since [[EqualOpportunityEvil evil is an equal opportunity employer]]. In some settings TheLegionsOfHell or TheUndead may serve as the Horde. In science fiction, the local SpaceOrcs are the likeliest culprits. In a pinch you could even have large bandit gangs filling this role.

Human Hordes will resemble the Vikings, Mongols, Huns, and other so-called [[BarbarianTribe "Barbarian" tribes]] of history. The Horde is also the most common depiction of [[TheUsualAdversaries Orcs]], regardless of any other [[OurOrcsAreDifferent differences]]. Any "sub-human" or monstrous race will do, though, be they [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Goblins]], LizardFolk, or {{Beastm|an}}en -- a coalition is even possible since [[EqualOpportunityEvil evil is an equal opportunity employer]]. In some settings TheLegionsOfHell or TheUndead may serve as the Horde. In a pinch you could even have large bandit gangs filling this role.