Shadowmoon clan

{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:{{{2}}}|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:neutral|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]]Shadowmoon clan
{{#if:Shadowmoon flag WCII.png|}} Shadowmoon flag, circa Second War
Main leader	Unknown
Formerly	[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:orc |night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Orc}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Ner'zhul
Race(s)	[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:orc |night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Orc}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]][[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:orc |night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Orc}}{{#if:Female|_Female}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Orc
Capital	Fortress Shadowmoon
Language(s)	Orcish
Affiliation	Horde of Draenor
Formerly	Orcish Horde
Status	Unknown
{{#if:|Reputation}}
Tabard	{{#if:|[[File:{{{tabard}}}|90px]]}}

The Shadowmoon clan, also spelled Shadow Moon clan,<ref name="WC2 Manual">Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal manual, Clans of Draenor, Shadow Moon Clan</ref> is an orcish clan that was led by the orc shaman Ner'zhul, and was the most powerful clan on Draenor prior to the world's destruction.

History

Much like all orcish clans at that time, the clan was very heavily influenced by shamanistic traditions. Although the Shadowmoon clan practiced traditional orc shamanism, their leader, Ner'zhul practiced a much darker version of shamanism, that was heavily influenced by Warlock magic, a result of Ner'zhul's trafficking with Kil'jaeden, a demon of immense power. Kil'jaeden had the objective of turning the orcs into a Horde of blood-thirsty creatures to satisfy the Burning Legion, a powerful force bent on the destruction of various worlds in the Great Dark Beyond. Ner'zhul later realized what Kil'jaeden was doing, and attempted to halt the orcs' corruption. His efforts were in vain, as his own student, Gul'dan, continued Kil'jaeden's schemes to horrifying success.<ref>Kil'jaeden and the Shadow Pact</ref>

Following the Horde's defeat on Azeroth at the end of the Second War, Ner'zhul rallied the clans still left on Draenor under his new banner. Aided by the Shadowmoon clan, he planned to open portals to new worlds for the orcs to conquer using four artifacts: the Skull of Gul'dan, the Jeweled Scepter of Sargeras, the Eye of Dalaran and the Book of Medivh.<ref name="The Invasion of Draenor">The Invasion of Draenor</ref> During this time, the Shadowmoon ruled over the scattered orcish clans, and Ner'zhul kept the other clans subjugated through fear and brute force.<ref name="WC2 Manual" />

After many battles with the Alliance Expedition, Ner'zhul gathered some of the death knights and a number of Shadowmoon orcs to begin the Spell of Conjuration. Ner'zhul finally opened his portals to other worlds, but he did not foresee the terrible price he would pay. The portals' tremendous energies began to tear the very fabric of Draenor apart. Ner'zhul and his loyal Shadowmoon clan passed through the largest of the newly created portals, and shortly thereafter the world ripped apart.<ref name="The Invasion of Draenor" />

On the other side of the portal, Ner'zhul and his companions entered the Twisting Nether, where they were captured by Kil'jaeden. Kil'jaeden gruesomely tortured Ner'zhul for some time before remaking him into the spectral Lich King. His loyal death knights and Shadowmoon followers were also transformed by the demon's chaotic energies, being ripped apart and remade into skeletal liches to ensure that even in death, they would serve Ner'zhul unquestioningly.<ref>The Birth of the Lich King</ref><ref>Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Undead Hero Units, Lich</ref>