Characters / Warcraft The Alliance Ironforge

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A character subpage for the WarCraft universe, including World of Warcraft. For the main character page, see here. For the Alliance character page, see here.

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Icon of the Forge

The dwarven kingdom of Ironforge, shared with their gnomish allies, is one of the fiercest supporters of the Alliance, ruled by King Magni Bronzebeard during much of World of Warcraft. However, a Succession Crisis following Magni sacrificing himself to save the city from the destruction of Deathwing's cataclysm resulted in political upheaval. In the end, the Council of Three Hammers was placed in command of Ironforge, led by a representative from each of the three, long divided dwarven clans. Muradin Bronzebeard, Magni's brother, represents the Bronzebeard clan; Moira Thaurissan, Magni's daughter, represents the Dark Iron clan; Falstad Wildhammer represents the Wildhammer clan.

Their races was originally a Titan construct, to help the Keepers take care of Azeroth, but were mutated by the Old Gods into their current state.

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General Tropes

• Adventurer Archaeologist: Dwarves survey faster and find more fragments in the Archaeology skill.
• Arch-Enemy: The Dark Iron dwarves have been this both to the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer dwarves for centuries after the Dark Irons attacked both of their cousin clans in revenge for their defeat in the original War of the Three Hammers and their enslavement at the hands of Ragnaros that they blamed their cousins for. It is only after the defeat of Ragnaros, Moira's return to Ironforge and the formation of the Council of Three Hammers that the three clans have started a process of reconciliation. Otherwise the Frostmane Trolls and Dragonmaw Clan are this to the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer clans respectively. The Dark Iron clan also has a bitter feud with the Blackrock Orcs due to years of fighting for control of Blackrock Mountain.
• Bears Are Bad News: Dwarf Hunters start off with a fearsome bear pet.
• The Beastmaster: Can apply to all three of the clans, but most notably to the Wildhammer clan due to their close connection with gryphons. To a lesser extent the Bronzebeard have it with their taming of rams and bears for battle whereas the Dark Iron have it with their houndmasters.
• The Blacksmith: Like most other modern depictions of Dwarves they are very good and famous metalsmiths, especially the Bronzebeard and Dark Irons who often smith extremely hard metals and produce weapons and armors of exceptional quality. Many of the Ultimate Blacksmith in Azeroth are dwarves.
• Boring, but Practical: The Bronzebeard Dwarves have not the Wildhammer's affinity with nature and bond with fantastic animals such as Grifons, nor the Dark Iron's gift for magic and use of Golems, but they are the largest of the dwarven clans and have the best martial tradition of the three clans, with the majority of the soldiers in Ironforge army being members of their clan. This is what eventually gave them the victory during the War of the Three Hammers.
• Casting a Shadow: As the more sorcery inclined of the dwarven Clans, the Dark Irons learned the harness the dark places in which they lived to master shadow magic. Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire, was once in the hands of the Dark Irons' empress during their attack on Grim Batol.
• Civil War: 430 years before the First War a war called the War of the Three Hammers erupted between the three main dwarven clans over who should rule Ironforge after the death of king Modimus Anvilmar and years of tensions. The war ended with the Bronzebeard victory and expulsion of the Wildhammer and Dark Irons. Years after the Dark Iron dwarves attacked both of the other dwarven clans in revenge for their defeat but their assaults on Ironforge and Grim Batol failed and led the Bronzebeard and Wildhammers to set their differences aside to beat the Dark Irons for good. Emperor Thaurissan's ill-fated attempt to get the power to beat his foes accidently released Ragnaros who proceeded in enslaving the Dark Irons and scarred the other dwarves from adventuring in the newly created Blackrock Mountains thus ending the war.
• Combat Pragmatist: The Dark Iron Dwarves have no issue using assassination, poison and dark magics such as Fel or Shadow magic if this help them to get an advantage over their foes.
• Cosmetic Award:
  • The dwarves' Heritage transmogrification armor is unlockable for any Ironforge dwarf character that's been levelled up to 50 through normal grinding (110 prior to the Shadowlands level squish) after getting exalted with Ironforge and accomplishing a quest series.
  • Dark Iron dwarf characters unlock their own Heritage transmogrification set once they're levelled up to 50 through normal grinding (110 prior to the Shadowlands level squish).
• Culture Clash: As of the forming of the Council of Three Hammers, this has inevitably happened within Khaz Modan. The clans really don’t respect each other and have several trust issues. It even leads to several fatal conflicts.
  • The Dark Irons are mistrusted (fully justified) for their penchant for warmongering, deceitful nature and general hostility towards the other clans, which at best comes off as rudeness. Even their choice of drink is considered an issue for the other clans.
  • The Wildhammers are viewed as savages by the two other clans and it’s believed that they feed humanoids (including other dwarves) to their gryphons. While that was untrue, the dislike for their nonconformist attitude is real enough, same with the disgust that the other clans have for the Wildhammers preferring to live on the surface, rather than within the mountains.
  • The Bronzebeards are viewed as thieves for holding onto Ironforge and its riches from the days before the civil war, while seemingly also looking down on the other clans for this reason.
• Dark Is Not Evil: The Dark Iron Dwarves, a formerly villainous clan of Dwarves that resemble an Evil Counterpart to the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer Dwarves. In Battle for Azeroth, the full might of their clan will be officially inducted into the Alliance, bringing their shadowy and grim tactics along with them.
• Drill Tank: The iconic transport of the Dark Irons are their mole machines, their inclusion in the Alliance brings the drills to the Alliance, and playable Dark Irons racial ability lets them use one.
• The Gunslinger: Dwarves are famously handy with rifles and make good riflemen. Naturally, they get the racial "Crack Shot".
• Elemental Shapeshifter: Stoneform turns their forms to stone for a short time. Dark Iron Dwarves get Fireblood, which turns their whole bodies into fire rather than stone.
• Evil Colonialist: The darker side of their Adventurer Archaeologist life style is they're not above murder to get what they want. They have constantly attacked the Tauren to get the artifacts they seeked, and Alterac Valley battle ground happens because they wanted to excavate the land and drive the Frostwolves out.
• Evil Is Not a Toy: The Dark Iron Dwarves paid a very heavy price for the use of dark magics by their leader Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan and his wife Mogdud during the War of the Three Hammers. At Grimm Batol Mogdgud used the dark blade Xal'atath to attack the Wildhammer Dwarves with shadow magic only for the blade to abandon her when the Thane Khardros Wildhammer counter-attacked and managed to reach Mogdud to kill her. Later upon seeing that the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer were coming to finish him and his people off in revenge for their attack Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan summoned Ragnaros in order to destroy the other dwarves only for the Firelord to effortlessly kill Thaurissan and his sorcerers and to reduce the Dark Irons into slavery.
• Fire-Forged Friends :
  • While they were enemies during the first phase of the War of the Three Hammers the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer Dwarves overcame their differences after both clans were attacked by the vengeful Dark Iron Dwarves and united their forces to end Thaurissan's threat. While the Wildhammers refused to rejoin the kingdom of Ironforge after they never had any conflict with the Bronzebeards ever since.
  • The two clans became this with humans and the other races of the Alliance after they saved both clans from the Horde during the Second War and they have remained strong and loyal allies ever since. Similarly the Dark Iron Dwarves eventually became true and respected members of the Alliance after fighting alongside its other races over the expansions following Cataclysm.
• Foil : The Wildhammer and Dark Iron Dwarves are this to their respective Arch-Enemy and counterparts in the Horde, the Dragonmaw and Blackrock clans :
  • Both the Wildhammer Dwarves and the Dragonmaw Orcs tame and ride flying animals that they use in battle and are very different culturally from the rest of their races, however while the Wildhammer live in harmony with nature and bond with the Griffons by befriending them and treating them as equals the Dragonmaws use dark magics and enslave their draconic mounts by force or with magical artifacts such as the Demon Soul.
  • The Dark Iron Dwarves and Blackrock Orcs have both dark skins, both clans live underground in volcanic environments, are specialized in smithery and use extremely hard black ores (Blackrock ore and Dark iron respectively) found in volcanic environments, are associated with fire and are the Token Evil Teammate to their respective races and factions with their ruthless attitude and use of dark magics. However while the majority of the Dark Iron Dwarves eventually mellowed out after being freed from Ragnaros and joining the Alliance, most of the Blackrock orcs remained steadfast to the ideals of the Old Horde even long after being freed of the Burning Legion's clutches and when they rejoined the Horde they became Garrosh Hellscream's most fervent partisans.
• Flaming Hair: Dark Iron Dwarves have the ends of their hair light with perpetual embers.
• Golem: Dark Iron Dwarves use giant Golems made of stone or metal in order to help them do construction or demolition task or to fight with them in battle.
• Improperly Paranoid: Dark Iron Dwarves generally distrust food and drinks offered by strangers and prefer to bring their own as poisonings are recurrent in their society, even when they are invited to reunions and feasts by other Alliance races which have no ill-will toward them and do not share their scheming and in-fighting tendencies.
• In Harmony with Nature: Wildhammer Dwarves revere nature and the Earth Mother, allowing playable Dwarf Shamans. They are also noted to have druids, though few in number.
• Mountain Man: The Dwarven Mountaineers, serving as the rangers of the mountain, defending the mountain passes. Although most are from Ironforge, the Wildhammer in particular are noted to be skilled Mountaineers, and Mists of Pandaria show that Dark Irons have become accepted too.
• Not-So-Omniscient Council of Bickering: The Council of Three Hammers was until Mists of Pandaria too occupied with keeping each other in check to fully dedicate themselves to the war.
• Our Dwarves Are All the Same: While the dwarves, for the most part, fit the mold, especially the dwarves under the Bronzebeard leadership, they are surprisingly a lot more varied.
  • Even among the Bronzebeard dwarves you will find just as many sophisticated scholars and archaeologists as you will find the typical short-statured vikings with fondness of ale.
  • The Dark Iron dwarves are an evil bend of this mold with an added penchant for sorcery compared to their cousins (player dwarves couldn't be mages or warlocks before Cataclysm, when the Council was formed).
  • The Wildhammer outright defy it by being nature-loving people who live outdoors and ride gryphons (thereby allowing players to create dwarf shamans in Cataclysm). In addition, they have a strong friendship with the high elves and a good working relationship with the night elves.
• Our Gryphons Are Different: Riding and breeding gryphons is the Wildhammer dwarves' schtick.
• Playing with Fire: Thanks to their bond and prior enslavement to Ragnaros, Dark Iron dwarves have great affinity for fire magic, including becoming giants of burning flame.
• Promoted to Playable:
  • Dark Iron dwarves became playable in 2018 with Battle for Azeroth, 14 years after the original World of Warcraft introduced them.
  • In Shadowlands, extra cosmetic options for dwarf player characters were added that give the appearance of a Wildhammer dwarf.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: All Dark Iron Dwarves have burning red eyes, a leftover from being enslaved and empowered by Ragnaros the Firelord.
• Reformed, but Rejected: Downplayed with the Dark Iron dwarves. While they have been accepted back in Ironforge the other dwarven clans are understandably still wary of them given the very long feud they had with their cousins and the Dark Irons' reputation for treachery and dark magic. The rest of the Alliance, due to not have the same past history and conflicts, is generally far more trusting of the Dark Irons and they are now considered to be true members of the Alliance.
• Standard Royal Court: When Magni still seated the throne, he kept a court like this.
• Token Evil Teammate: Despite turning good after joining the Alliance, the Dark Iron Dwarves have not fully given up their more ruthless and cruel methods of dealing with those who oppose them, with the exception of a few like Thaelin Darkanvil.
• True Companions: The dwarves of Ironforge share a close bond with the gnomes that they consider to be their cousins in large part due to their shared titan-forged ancestry. They helped the gnomes to build Gnomeregan by teaching them stoneworking and construction while in return the gnomes taught them engineering and science. The two races have constantly helped each other since with the dwarves going as far as welcoming the gnomes into Ironforge after the invasion of Gnomeregan by Troggs and Sicco Thermaplug's treachery.
• Underground City: Standard for Dwarves, with Ironforge for the Bronzebeards and Shadowforge City for the Dark Iron. Grim Batol WAS an example for the Wildhammers, but their current capital of Aerie Peak is atop the mountain instead of living inside it.
• Undying Loyalty: The dwarves of Ironforge are very loyal to those who helped them and fought by their side in the past. After meeting and befriending the Gnomes and Humans the dwarves became strong and reliable allies to them, in particular to the Gnomes that they consider to be their cousins and helped them after the loss of Gnomeregan. After the Alliance of Lordaeron saved Ironforge from the Horde Magni Bronzebeard, in great contrast to the ungrateful Anasterian Sunstrider, stated that the dwarves owed the Alliance a debt that could never be repaid and faithfully continued to support it. This is this action that saved the Alliance from crumbling apart after the High Elves, Gilneans, and Stromgarde's departures.

Bronzebeard Clan

King Magni Bronzebeard

The Speaker

Class: Warrior

Voiced by: Carlos Larkin (English), Viktor Rudnichenko (Russian)

Azeroth's biggest stoner

"Strength. Honor. I see them in you. Why have you come?"

King of Khaz Modan and ruler of the Bronzebeard clan. During the Third War, when he heard of the death of his brother Muradin, who turned out to be alive, he personally forged Ashbringer for Alexandros Mograine to fight against the Scourge. In Cataclysm, he is turned to stone in an attempt to save Ironforge from the earthquakes by activating a tablet recovered from Ulduar.

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• Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: Implied in the short story Charge of the Aspects. Thrall feels a presence in the mountains of Khaz Modan that is repeating the Earthen phrase Magni said before he was turned to diamond. Outright confirmed in Legion: Magni was turned into the messenger of Azeroth herself.
• Bling of War: The armor he's portrayed as wearing in artwork certainly qualifies.
• Big Damn Heroes: In the comic, where he at the head of a group of mountaineers saves Lo'Gosh and his companions at the Thandol Span.
• Cool Crown: As king of the dwarves, Magni wears a decorated crown with a ruby in front.
• Dual Wielding: Brings twin hammers to the fight.
• Genius Bruiser: He's a bruiser, no doubts about that. While he's not a book genius, his Ultimate Blacksmith feat mentioned below does indicate that he has a gift for crafting.
• The Good King: Fondly remembered as a wise and beloved ruler.
• Greater-Scope Villain: For the Horde storylines in the Barrens and Alterac Valley in Classic. Magni shifting Ironforge's industries from mining to archaeology in search of the origins of the dwarves and claiming a sovereign imperialistic initiative has resulted in the conflict in Alterac Valley with the Stormpike clan trying to displace the orcish Frostwolf clan from their home, and has led to the near-extinction of the tauren Stonespire tribe in the Barrens at the hands of the Bael'dun expedition.
• Heir Club for Men: He was disappointed that Moira wasn't a male child, causing them to have a strained relationship.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Attempts a ritual in Cataclysm to halt the destruction it causes and is turned into a diamond statue because of it. Ultimately, the ritual fails to accomplish the intended purpose. It does, however, give him insight into another looming threat that he goes to warn the races of Azeroth about when he reawakens.
• Honorary Uncle: To Anduin. While Anduin admires Magni's many good qualities, he points out that the dwarf was not a good father to Moira.
• I Have No Son!: Averted. The fact that he never formally disinherited Moira in spite of her refusal to return, and still hoped that she would do so, leads to the Succession Crisis. After his awakening, he acknowledges Moira for her hard work as part of the council.
• Mouth of Sauron: He has become the Speaker for Azeroth, interpreting her messages and relaying them to the world's champions.
• Noble Bigot: Even though he was never particularly mean about it, he had a sexist streak and believed that a woman could not rule with the same ability as a man. This drove a massive wedge between him and Moira, which he regretted immensely and caused him to grow out of it. By the time he's freed from his petrification, he tells Moira he couldn't be prouder of her leadership over the dwarves.
• Not Quite Dead: Seems to run in the family. It turns out his frozen state was only temporary, as he wakes up in Legion after having spoken with the planet itself and become its messenger.
• Oh, Crap!: In a nightmare he has in the Legends manga, he kills Thaurissan, and meets with Moira, regretfully telling her that her baby will have to be banished. He has one Oh, Crap! reaction when she stabs him, and another, much larger, one when she reveals that she had a child with Ragnaros.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: He takes on an uncharacteristically serious demeanor when he meets with Anduin after the earthquake in Kharanos in "The Shattering". He took the disaster fairly hard, and decides to go with the risky ritual in the hopes of averting future crises.
• Parents as People: Loves Moira, but pushed her too harshly to be something that she was not, and admits to those closest to him that he was not the best father for her.
• Rank Scales with Asskicking: King of Ironforge, and can easily tear you a new one if you challenge him in combat.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Was a just ruler of Ironforge during his reign. After his re-awakening, he acknowledges the hard work Moira has put in to become a leader to all dwarfs, and swiftly banishes the notion that he's returned to rule.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: He's not above going around to deal with problems within his kingdom personally and is also a master blacksmith, having forged the Ashbringer himself.
• Shoulders of Doom: Wears a quite impressive pair of pauldrons in artwork.
• So Proud of You: Says this to Moira before he heads off to Ulduar.
• Super Mode: As a Mountain King, he possesses the ability which turns him into a huge and much more powerful warrior.
• Taken for Granite: Turned into a diamond statue in Cataclysm. He is treated very much as if he had been Killed Off for Real by the other characters though, since no one knows of any possible way to reverse this. In Legion, it turns out that he's very much alive and sentient, and the ritual enabled him to commune with the planet herself; he is also revealed to be mobile and departs to Ulduar to receive instructions from her.
• Ultimate Blacksmith: He forged the Ashbringer himself, harnessing all of his rage, fury and desire of vengeance against Arthas into the blade. Ultimately his brother turns out to be alive, but the sword still gets used for the purpose it was forged: Shattering Frostmourne and ending Arthas' reign by the hands of Tirion Fordring.

Muradin Bronzebeard

Class: Warrior

Voiced by: Carlos Larkin (English), Julien Balmasov (Russian/Warcraft III), Stanislav Strelkov (Russian/''World of Warcraft)

Invalidating important character deaths since 2008

"My older brother Magni is king of the dwarves. My younger brother Brann is a renowned explorer. If I didn't kick so much ass, I'd feel a tad awkward."

Second of the Bronzebeard brothers and a combat instructor and friend of Prince Arthas Menethil. In Warcraft III, he arrived in Northrend with an expedition to search for the mythical blade Frostmourne and ended up meeting up with Arthas, seeking the same sword for the sake of getting revenge on Mal'ganis. Muradin accompanied him, but grew increasingly disturbed with his twisted change. When they came upon Frostmourne, Muradin realized that the blade was evil and cursed and opted to abandon it. But Arthas, already insane, pulled out the sword, supposedly sacrificing Muradin as the ice blocks surrounding it crushed him. Muradin was presumed dead...

Turns out it wasn't quite the case. Unfortunately, he suffered amnesia from the blow given to him by the ice blocks, and was found by the Frostborn dwarves. Despite being amnesiac, Muradin helped them out by slaying a jormungar that assaulted their home. Grateful, they adopted him as their leader (despite their skin color difference) and gave him the name 'Yorg Stormheart'. He led the Frostborn dwarves until he eventually reunited with his brothers and resolved to fix his mistake by opposing Arthas, leading the Alliance forces in Icecrown Citadel.

After the Shattering, with Magni being a bit preoccupied, Muradin serves as the leader of Ironforge and represents the Bronzebeard dwarves on the Council of Three Hammers in Magni's place.

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• Ambadassador: Served as the ambassador of Ironforge in Lordaeron for several years. It didn't hinder his martial skills at all and it was during this time that he trained Arthas.
• Asskicking Leads to Leadership: As Yorg Stormheart he was made leader of the Frostborn Dwarves because of his ability to kick ass—giant, rock-eating, acid-spewing worm ass.
• Bash Brothers: Was this with Arthas who he personally trained in combat and with who he had many adventures. After a player gives him Arthas' old training sword he laments his inability to stop him from touching Frostmourne and even calls him his brother while biding farewell to him.
• Berserk Button: In Legion, he's outraged to find out that Frostmourne was reforged, if a Frost Death Knight wields the Blades of the Fallen Prince in front of him. Given how it is this blade that is responsible for his amnesia and the atrocities that Arthas would commit after his reaction is perfectly natural.
• Cool Helmet: Has worn two different but cool helmets over the years, both horned in their own ways.
• Dual Wielding: Axe in one hand, hammer in the other.
• Frontline General: Personally leads his troops in war and participates in battle during the Second War, Third and Fourth Wars and the wars against the Lich King and the Burning Legion.
• Handicapped Badass: Slays a giant freaking monster worm while being amnesiac.
• Laser-Guided Amnesia: He completely forgot who he was after being hit by those blocks of ice.
• Left for Dead: What Arthas did to him after taking Frostmourne.
• Mentor Archetype: During his time as the dwarves ambassador in Lordaeron he became a mentor and close friend to Arthas that he personally trained to fight. It is in great part thanks to him that Arthas became such a powerful paladin and then death knight.
• My Greatest Failure: Being unable to stop Arthas from touching and being cursed by Frostmourne is this to him.
• Not Quite Dead: Infamously so. He was quite heavily implied (if not outright shown) to have died when Arthas claimed Frostmourne, only for his survival to be revealed much later in Wrath of the Lich King.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: As part of the Council of Three Hammers.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Brother of the king and very active as not only an ambassador to the rest of the Alliance, but also as an archaeologist himself... while still kicking a lot of ass. He was already this during the Second War where he helped Magni lead the dwarven armies during the Second War and became a commander under Anduin Lothar and Turalyon after they broke the siege of Ironforge and the dwarves formally joined the Alliance of Lordaeron.
• Super Mode: As a Mountain King he possesses the ability which turns him into a huge and much more powerful warrior.
• Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Storm Bolt, where he throws a magic hammer at someone, stunning them and letting him beat on them, usually stunning them again thanks to bash.
• Warrior Prince: Qualifies as both a capable warrior and a member of the ruling dwarven family.
• Wolfpack Boss: In Cataclysm he fights alongside Falstad and Moira.

Brann Bronzebeard

Class: Warrior

Voiced by: Carlos Larkin (English), Alexey Aptovtsev (Russian)

"Inquiring minds just got to know!"

The youngest of the Bronzebeard brothers, he lives a life of adventure, exploring the world and chronicling his journeys. Although mentioned in various parts of Warcraft lore, he did not make his first appearance until Wrath of the Lich King.

Brann is renowned as the greatest adventurer in the Warcraft universe. Many of the expanded unvierse reference materials, such as the RPG books and the original previews of the zones prior to the game's launch, were done from his perspective. Expect him to show up in places involving ancient ruins, Titan artifacts, and Old Gods.

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• Adventurer Archaeologist: An archaeologist by trade, Brann has been involved in some intense adventures in World of Warcraft.
• Badass Bookworm: He has disappeared many times and seemingly lost in seemingly dangerous locations(such as Silithid hives and Yogg Saron's lair) only to be found alive and well days later with new discoveries. He said he never considered himself lost.
• Only Sane Man: Seems to be one of the few in the Warcraft universe. In several of his books he points out many of the more questionable things that the Alliance and Horde do, or don't do. Such as the perpetuating of their pointless conflicts when the Scourge and Burning Legion still had strong presences in many areas, questionable people within the both factions themselves, and suggestions that would make things way easier for both factions both in relations to each other and for solving internal issues.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Brother of the former king and a very active Adventurer Archaeologist. He also served as a military leader under Anduin Lothar and Turalyon's orders alongside Muradin during the Second War.
• The Smart Guy: Even though he's (presumably) never worked with Titan technology before, he is able to help adventurers on two fights using said technology in the Halls of Stone dungeon.
• Warrior Prince: Qualifies as both a capable warrior and a member of the ruling dwarven family.

Moira Thaurissan

Class: Priest

Voiced by: Elle Newlands (English), Ramilya Iskander (Russian)

The only time you don't want to see someone in a Slave Leia outfit

"In time, my son shall rule the Dark Irons, and perhaps all of Ironforge as well."

The daughter of Magni Bronzebeard, she was abducted by Dagran Thaurissan. Before adventurers killed her husband, she fell in love with him and became pregnant with his child. Angry with them for the death of her husband, she refused to return to Ironforge until her father was petrified, at which point she returned to claim her throne. Varian arrived to unseat her, but spared her at Anduin's request and established the Council of Three Hammers to rule until her son comes of age.

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• A Day in the Limelight: In the "Blood in the Snow" scenario in patch 5.3, Moira leads a squad of Dark Irons against the Frostmane trolls in Dun Morogh which have been rallied by the Zandalari. Falstad and Muradin didn't do it because they were worried she'd take over Ironforge while they had their backs turned.
• Beauty Equals Goodness: As one can see from the image above, official Blizz art of Moira (when she was portrayed as somewhat less friendly than your average Old God) was...not exactly easy on the eyes. Three expansions and several levels in kindness and competence later she seems to have become about as attractive as a dwarf can be as shown in this pre-legion comic. (Though to be fair, she's making a really weird face in the above picture, biting her lip and glaring at the viewer while scowling)
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: She almost comes across as Affably Evil, but Anduin realizes that much of her politeness toward him is a facade to hide her bitterness. Much of this stemmed from believing no one ever appreciated her growing up, especially her warrior king father. It isn't until much and quite a few doses of Character Development later she finally drops the bitchy attitude.
• Casting a Shadow: Harnesses the power of Shadow on certain occasions. Being that she's the Queen of the Dark Iron clan, this is all too fitting.
• Character Development: Originally a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing, as of the scenario "Blood in the Snow", Moira's come around to being a responsible leader, taking the Dark Irons into battle against the Zandalari trolls when the Wildhammer and Bronzebeards wouldn't (for fear of another Dark Iron coup). After the problem is resolved, Varian says, "They should be envious they missed this battle", Moira responds, "I didn't intend to make them jealous or ashamed. I was merely looking out for my people, all of them." Needless to say, the other two council members are stunned and humbled. In Legion, she finally gets the chip off her shoulder, as her father awakens and acknowledges her worth and hard work. Come Battle for Azeroth, she's more than willing to have Dark Irons serve alongside the 7th Legion, and comes to respect the Adventurer personally for the lengths they go to in order to help mend a great cultural artifact, to the point where it doesn't seem her politeness to Anduin is anything other than sincere.
• The Chessmaster: The Chronicles: Volume 3 reveals that Moira is the reason that Nefarian and Ragnaros were defeated. She heard from her late husband how he wanted to see the Dark Irons freed from the Firelord or any other threat in Blackrock Mountain and so she worked in secret to spread the word far and wide about the Fire Lord and the black dragon, the dangers they represent, and the rare treasures they were guarding. Even before the Alliance or Horde could make a proper effort against the threats when word reached them, brave and/or greedy adventurers overcame both Ragnaros and Nefarian, freeing Blackrock Mountain for Moira and her people. The one thing she didn't foresee though, is adventurers breaking into Black Rock Depths and slaying her husband on the way.
• Dark Is Not Evil: Is well adept at shadow magic, wears a black robe that would make a Warlock jealous, is sometimes shady from the perspective of her allies, and leads an entire clan called the Dark Iron. Despite all of this, Moira has proven a worthy ally to the Alliance cause and to the Priest order she fought alongside with in Legion.
• Didn't Think This Through: Pre Character Development, Moira played very fast and loose with everyone's patience, knowing they couldn't just kill her given she was a legit heir to Ironforge, so she was quick to push and shove as she liked. However, holding Anduin hostage, the son of a hair-trigger tempered King, almost ended up deadly for her if not for Anduin's intervention. Needless to say, after being dragged out of her beg and nearly gutted by Varian, Moira was taken down a few pegs and realized she wasn't as untouchable as she liked to believe.
• Fire-Forged Friends: Despite a somewhat rocky start with Varian, the two develop a mutual respect in Mists of Pandaria while fighting off a Troll invasion, and upon Varian's death she is as distraught as the other alliance leaders.
• Going Native: Despite being an Ironforge Dwarf, all three clans treat her as though she may as well have been born a Dark Iron, and though there are pockets that contest her claim as Queen of the Dark Irons, it's pretty unambiguous where she stands when it comes to leadership of the greater majority of them.
• Healing Hands: Has very few offensive abilities in her arsenal, but is a quite capable healer instead.
• Light 'em Up: Utilizes spells of the Light.
• Light Is Not Good: At first, due to her being bitter and power-hungry despite being a user of the Holy Light as a priestess
• Mama Bear: Much of her motivation comes from her desire to keep Ironforge around for her son to rule.
• A Match Made in Stockholm: Falls in love with Dagran Thaurissan after being abducted, believing he respected her in ways her father did not.
• Moral Myopia: She'll do anything for her son and the Dark Iron Dwarves. Everyone else can go jump in a lake.
• No, Mister Bond, I Expect You To Dine: Has dinner with Anduin, enabling him to learn much about her true personality and motivations.
• Not Brainwashed: The big twist at the end of the storyline where you're supposed to rescue her: Thaurissan never mind controlled her and she really did love him. She elaborates, saying that her father never respected her because he wanted a son as an heir. She fell in love with Thaurissan because he respected her.
• Odd Friendship: With Anduin, which started when he was able to empathize with her during the Cataclysm pre-launch book. In Battle for Azeroth, after the Alliance champion helps restore Ironfoe and unlocks Dark Irons as a playable race, both Anduin and Moira playfully joke to each other that the invitation and her accepting it is just a formality after all she and her people have done for the Alliance.
• Smug Snake: Her success has less to do with her being an effective schemer, and more to do with the fact that as the legitimate heir of Ironforge, she can't just be killed or imprisoned like any other threat to the city. When she's faced with actual danger, such as Varian holding her at swordpoint, she completely crumbles. As of Mist of Pandaria, she's moving away from this. Come Legion, due to her receiving her father's approval, she's unlikely to be this anymore.
• Someone to Remember Him By: Has a son by Dagran Thaurissan, who share his name. Said son is due to become an actual charcter come War Within.
• Star-Crossed Lovers: Magni does his best to save Moira from the merciless evil Dark Dwarf Emperor. This, of course, is to send adventurers to assassinate him. Only to find that she was Happily Married to the tyrant and just PLAYING at being his slave girl.
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: After her quest is complete, a Priestess of Thaurissan replaces her in the Thaurissan encounter.
• Too Dumb to Live: Almost literally pre Character Development, Moira took Anduin, the son of Varian, hostage in her play to take over Ironforge. Needless to say, Varian made her realize how stupid of a mistake that was...with his sword at her throat.
• Took a Level in Kindness: Seems to have inexplicably mellowed out come Mists of Pandaria. Probably has something to do with the realization that she does not have the complete loyalty of her own Dark Iron dwarves, never mind the other clans' loyalty.
• Tyrant Takes the Helm: In The Shattering, as a result of her father being petrified. Varian arrives to depose her, but when Anduin convinces him it would be a bad idea, he forms the Council of Three Hammers so she can rule responsibly.
• Villainous Breakdown: Has a short one when Anduin escapes, but regains her composure and decides to search for him.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: Underneath it all, everything she had done was out of trying to gain the respect of her father, Magni. When he proved to be a bit distant, she ended up turning to the one dwarf that actually respected her... which happened to be Emperor Thaurissan. In the wake of Moira's own administration of Ironforge after the Cataclysm, Magni (who had watched everything despite being frozen into a statue) finally gives her the respect that was due, and they reconcile upon his reawakening in Legion.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Anduin ultimately reaches this conclusion regarding her, indicating that for all her misrule of Ironforge, the Dark Iron Dwarves should unite with the Bronzebeards and Wildhammers.
• Wham Line: Her line after turning in her quest indicates that she was not brainwashed, and is not at all pleased at what you have done.
• Wolfpack Boss: She fights alongside Muradin and Falstad Wildhammer in the Ironforge throne room.

Thargas Anvilmar

Class: Warrior

"GET OFF MY BRIDGE!"

Thargas Anvilmar is the last descendant of the former High King of the dwarves, Modimus Anvilmar, who once ruled all of the dwarven clans. He accompanied the missing King Varian Wrynn on his journey to reclaim his throne, during which he himself was given the Crown of the Anvilmar from his dying brother and saved the Thandol Span from Dark Iron dwarves.

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• Carry a Big Stick: Wields a huge two-handed mace in his hands.
• Cool Helmet: Was given the Helm of the Anvilmars, a close-faced and horned helmet that resembles the warrior tier 5 raid helmet.
• Heroic Lineage: One of his claims to fame is that he is descended from Modimus Anvilmar, last High King of Ironforge.
• Last of His Kind: He is the last of the Anvilmar line which was ruling Ironforge when the Wildhammer and Dark Iron Dwarves were still part of the kingdom before the War of the Three Hammers.
• Mounted Combat: Frequently shown riding into combat on his ram in the comic.
• Rightful King Returns: Subverted. He is the heir to the Anvilmar clan, which once ruled over Ironforge, and wears the Helm of the Anvilmars, but he appears to have no interest in uniting the clans under his rule.
• Royal Blood: He has the blood and lineage of the old High King of the dwarves, but it is never factored into the reunification of the clans.
• Shoulders of Doom: Based on the Tier 5 "Destroyer" Warrior Pauldrons.
• Tank Goodness: Briefly rams a worn down siege engine into a golem in the comic.

Twinbraid

Class: Warrior

A dwarven general of the Alliance who represents Ironforge and Bael'dun. He is later promoted to High Marshal in Pandaria and placed in charge of the Alliance offensive in Krasarang Wilds.

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• Adventurer Archaeologist: With a side of Evil Colonialist; the Bael'dun forces under his command drove out the Stonespire tribe from their lands as they were undertaking excavation operations in the Barrens following Magni shifting Ironforge's industries from mining to archaeology in search of artifacts related to the titans and the origins of the dwarves.
• Ascended Extra: He started out as a minor NPC in Classic before getting a bigger role in Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria.
• Fantastic Racism: Towards the Horde races but primarily goblins, whom he dismisses as insects.
• Four-Star Badass: He originally required a raid group to kill him in Mists of Pandaria before being nerfed to only needing a few helpers.
• Freudian Excuse: His increased aggression towards the Horde takes place after his son gets killed, which becomes a driving motivation for Twinbraid. Even in Pandaria, he continues seeking vengeance against the Horde for his son's death.
• Frontline General: Twinbraid went on patrols against the Horde in the Barrens, and in Pandaria he served on the main front in Krasarang Wilds and personally takes to the field when Lion's Landing is attacked in the scenario.
• General Ripper: Following his son Marley's death he becomes far more obsessed with vanquishing the Horde to get revenge for his son's death, leading him to give orders to destroy a nearby Horde mine unrelated to the incident. His zealous drive to defeat the Horde results in him being promoted by Varian to the rank of High Marshal and placed in charge of Lion's Landing during the Pandaria campaign.
• Kick the Dog: Following the death of his son Marley, he sends Alliance players to destroy a nearby Bilgewater Cartel-ran mine as revenge. Said mine is a strategic target due to it supplying the ongoing Horde war effort, but it is unrelated to the destruction of Bael'dun Keep and Marley's death, and Twinbraid acknowledges that he was more interested in striking back against the Bilgewater Cartel than any strategic victory.
• Killed Off for Real: Wrathion sends Horde players to kill him in Mists of Pandaria as part of his scheme to play both sides to have the victor take them over and unite the two factions under one banner, as he also gives a similar quest to the Alliance to kill Warlord Bloodhilt, Twinbraid's counterpart in Krasarang Wilds.
• Knight Templar: He’s self-righteous, zealous, and believes he can’t do no wrong in spite of his crimes.
• Laser-Guided Karma: His expedition drove out the tauren from their lands and destroyed almost the entire Stonespire tribe in search of artifacts. Gann Stonespire, one of the tauren originally from the lands wrested by the Bael'dun forces, plots the destruction of Bael'dun Keep, which directly leads to the loss of many of Twinbraid's troops and also kills his son Marley.
• Misplaced Retribution:
  • While he acknowledges that the mine he ordered destroyed was a strategic target for the Alliance due to it supplying the Horde war effort, he takes more stock in it being an act of retribution against the Bilgewater Cartel for their involvement in the destruction of Bael Modan and the death of his son Marley even though the mine itself and its occupants were uninvolved in the attack.
  • In his journal he blames Warlord Bloodhilt for the actions that led to his son's death. Bloodhilt was uninvolved in the destruction of Bael'dun Keep, which was orchestrated by Gann Stonespire, a tauren of the tribe that was driven off from their lands by the Bael'dun expedition.
• Moral Myopia: In his journal he claims that crushing the Horde could save a pandaren from knowing the pain of outliving their child. He himself likely caused that pain to the tauren of the Stonespire tribe when the Bael'dun expedition killed them and drove them off their land. When Bael'dun Keep is destroyed and his son Marley is killed in the explosion, he declares that It's Personal and never connects the Bael'dun expedition's actions to the Horde's retaliation.
• Outliving One's Offspring: His son Marley is killed during a Horde attack on Bael Modan.
• Politically Incorrect Villain: He derides goblins as "insects" and "little green monstrosities".
• Rank Scales with Asskicking: The General is the highest-ranked NPC in Bael'dun in Classic and the toughest one. As High Marshal and leader of the Alliance forces fighting the Horde in Krasarang Wilds, he originally required a raid group to kill him.
• Rank Up: Gets promoted to High Marshal in Mists of Pandaria.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: After finding out that a member of the Bilgewater Cartel was involved in the death of his son, he orders an attack on a nearby goblin mine primarily as a way to attain revenge for his son's death.
• Villainous Breakdown: Goes through one after learning his fortress was destroyed and his son was killed. He grabs Alliance players by their collar and raves about how he wants dead Goblins.

Wildhammer Clan

Falstad Wildhammer

Class: Warrior

Voiced by: Michael Sorich (English)

Despite persistent rumors, not dead.

"It'd take a hands-worth of these hill dwarves to take one from the Aerie down!"

High Thane of the Wildhammer clan and currently the Wildhammer representative on the Council of Three Hammers. Formerly went by the name Falstad Dragonreaver for his slaying of dragons prior to gaining leadership of the clan.

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• Action Politician: Despite his service on the Council, he serves as an Alliance War Campaign follower.
• Boisterous Bruiser: As shown by his quote, he's a rather boisterous fellow who enjoys a good scrap. He is however, more grounded than Kurdan, who ultimately admits he is a better High Thane and Representative than him.
• The Dragonslayer: He used to be called Dragonreaver with good reason.
• Frontline General: Like Muradin Bronzebeard and Kurdran he prefers to lead his men personally in battle.
• Helmets Are Hardly Heroic: Despite the metal armor that he wears, he doesn't wear a helmet. Ironically, he did wear a metal faceguard back in classic when his armor looked more like leather, but it disappeared when he got new armor in Cataclysm.
• Mounted Combat: He prefers to fly into combat on a gryphon, throwing stormhammers at enemies from above
• Same Surname Means Related: Downplayed,despite he and Kurdran both being High Thane and of the Wildhammer Clan, they are not brothers as commonly assumed, though they are friends and instead brother-in-arms.
• Shock and Awe: Uses lightning against his foes through his stormhammer.
• Wolfpack Boss: Now fights alongside Moira and Muradin.
• You Are in Command Now: Following Kurdran Wildhammer going missing in Outland and he stays in command following the latter's return.

Kurdran Wildhammer

Class: Warrior

Voiced by: Michael Sorich (English)

His warhammers cost $40,000, it costs $200,000 to throw them, for twelve seconds.

Former High Thane of the Wildhammer clan, Kurdran joined the Alliance Expedition to Outland and was thought to have died. He turns out to have survived and returns to Azeroth in Cataclysm, helping to unite the independent Wildhammer clans of the Twilight Highlands.

As seen in Fire and Iron, Kurdran was briefly the Wildhammer representative of the Council of Three Hammers, but gave up the position to Falstad, the current High Thane of the Wildhammer clan.

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• Bash Brothers: With the other leaders of the Sons of Lothar, especially with Danath Trollbane.
• The Bus Came Back: Appears again in The Burning Crusade, then fully returns to Azeroth in Cataclysm.
• The Dragonslayer: Renowned for his slaying of many dragons during the Second War.
• Fish out of Water: In the Council of Three Hammers story Fire and Iron, in which he feels completely out of place in the city of Ironforge.
• Frontline General: When taking part in a battle he always lead his men in combat personally.
• Helmets Are Hardly Heroic: Wears a mix of mail and plate armor, but never wears a helmet.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Danath Trollbane who is his closest friend and with who he has fought together many times during the Second War and invasion of Draenor. When Kurdran was injured and captured by the orcs Danath made it his personal mission to rescue him.
• Hidden Depths: Despite his unfamiliarity with Ironforge politics and disdain to compromise his principles Kurdran can be surprisingly cunning and dangerous as a politician when he wants to. In the "Fire and Iron" short story Moira Thaurissan tries to use the reforging of a hammer supposed to have been fractured during the separation of the three clans as a symbol for the newfound unity between them, but also as a way to alienate the Wildhammer, since the pieces of the hammer turned out to be fake, in order to lessen the tensions between Bronzebeard and Dark Irons and dismisses Kurdran as someone who only knows how to use brute strength. Kurdran manages to foil her scheme during the reforging by smashing the handle to pieces arguing that something that was broken once can be fractured again and so that the dwarves should go through a fresh start instead of looking at the past, with Muradin gladly following him into breaking the fragments and thus forcing Moira to do the same.
• Honor Before Reason: A noted problem for him in Fire and Iron where despite Muradin and Moira's advice, he is unwilling to compromise his principles to work better for the council, earning him a backhand from Muradin. It is because of this that he realized Falstad is the better leader and gives up the position of representative.
• Innocently Insensitive: Towards Falstad when he returns to Azeroth and out of a desire to make up for being gone for twenty years believes he is the only dwarf for the job to serve as the Wildhammer Representative, hurting Kurdan's feelings.
• Manly Tears: In Fire and Iron, when he discovers one of Sky-Ree's eggs to have survived.
• Mounted Combat: Prefered to ride into battle on his legendary gryphon Sky-Ree. After Sky-Ree dies in a fire, he seems to have been stuck on the ground.
• Put on a Bus: Initially disappeared from the franchise after Beyond the Dark Portal when the Dark Portal was destroyed. Then he reappeared years later.
• Same Surname Means Related: Downplayed,despite he and Falstad both being High Thane and of the Wildhammer Clan, they are not brothers as commonly assumed, though they are friends.
• Shock and Awe: Uses lightning against his foes through his stormhammer.
• Shout-Out: Some believe the entire premise behind Fire and Iron is one big reference to the infamous Red Shirt Guy from Blizzcon 2010. Said Guy corrected a mistake in the Cataclysm beta, where Kudran was on the Council of Three Hammers instead of Falstad. Very soon after the event, Kudran was indeed replaced rightfully with Falstad.

Wildhammer Fact Checker

"I just finished reading The Shattering yesterday... and I noticed something."

"One of [the younger historians] was a short Wildhammer dwarf dressed in a bright red tunic — a very thorough fact checker by all accounts."

Class: N/A

A young Wildhammer dwarf who stands besides Falstad Wildhammer in the High Seat of Ironforge, distinguishable by his red tunic. According to him, the Ironforge Rams were the first type of ram domesticated by the dwarves when they settled in Dun Morogh.

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• Ascended Fanboy: He is based on Ian Bates, most known as the Red Shirt Guy, a fan who became notorious during BlizzCon 2010 for pointing out lore inconsistencies regarding Falstad Wildhammer which would be addressed during the Cataclysm beta. To make the point further, when killed by Horde players, he drops a Red Shirt as loot.
• The Cameo: Makes one in the short story Fire and Iron, where he's present when Kurdran Wildhammer gave the final piece of Modimus' hammer for reforging.
  • He makes an extended one in the Chilling Tales From the Tavern in Hearthstone, where he points out the lore inaccuracies in the stories told by the Pompous Thespian.
  • He occasionally shows up at the Darkmoon Faire to ‘check’ that everything is in order.
• Non-Standard Character Design: He's noticeably smaller than other dwarf NPCs, likely to indicate his young age.

Dark Iron Clan

Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Class: Unknown

Dagran Thaurissan was the Emperor of the Dark Iron Dwarves and ruler of the Blackrock Mountains, as well as the husband of Moira. Although never a member of the Alliance, his influence lasts long past his canonical demise in Blackrock Depths.

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• The Emperor: Of the Dark Iron Dwarves
• Hidden Depths: In his boss battle he acted like a typical Dark Iron leader and servant of Ragnaros, but in private he wished to free his people from Ragnaros even if he liked the power he gave him. He and Moira also genuinely fell in love with each other because he treated her with kindness and respect, something she felt her father didn't.
• Lima Syndrome: He kidnapped Moira intending to use her as a political pawn, but ended up falling in love with her.
• Magic Knight: Wields the hammer, Ironfore, alongside fire spells in his boss battle.
• Playing with Fire: As ruler of the Dark Iron dwarves, Dagran is able to envelop himself in flames and burn enemies in combat.
• Poor Communication Kills: In part due to retcon, Dagran and Moira intended to free his people from Ragnaros. However, he is killed by adventurers before this could happen. And in addition, not communicating properly with Ironforge that he and Moira had fallen in love might have avoided his demise as well.
• Small Role, Big Impact: Although dead in Classic Wow, his influence drives Moira's Character Arc and the Dark Irons.
• Someone to Remember Him By: Moira gave birth to his son, Dagran II, a Thaurissan and Bronzebeard heir.

Thaelin Darkanvil

Class: Warrior

Voiced by: Simon Templeman (English)

Thaelin is a young Dark Iron engineer who accompanies the mission to the past Draenor to stop the Iron Horde.

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• Demolitions Expert: Thaelin's initial task during the Attack on the Dark Portal and the push into Draenor was to blow enemy fortifications to smithereens.
• Drives Like Crazy: He is a reckless driver in his tank, and crashes in Gorgrond when the Alliance is making the outpost.
• Friendly Rivalry: He holds one with Gazlowe, the two working well together.
• The Engineer: He is the main engineer for the expedition during the Draenor expedition.
• Mook Horror Show: During a quest in Zuldazar, Thaelin sends the adventurer, in the shape of a huge unstoppable Lava Elemental, to kill no less than 200 Goblins. He plans to repeat it a few more times just to make sure they got the message.
• Non-Action Guy: Thaelin is initially just an engineer with little fighting ability, leaving it to you to protect him. In Battle For Azeroth however, he's become a warrior in full plate and mail.
• The Prankster: A quest in Nagrand has him prank Yrel by sending her a bunch of goren, who has the Commander prank him back in turn by releasing the goren on him.
• Tank Goodness: Drives a ram-headed Dark Iron tank. That he crashes... a lot
• Token Good Teammate: For the Dark Irons, he is the most heroic serving along side the alliance with the much more gruff and violent Hansel Heavyhands.
• Took a Level in Badass: Thaelin was initially a non-combatant in Warlords of Draenor, but in Battle for Azeroth he shows up having grown out his beard and has become a warrior in full plate.

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