Mighty Cairne, powerful in war and strong in guile, soon found himself face to face with a people no shu'halo had even heard of before. Led by a strong shaman, mysterious in his command of the elements, these "orcs" soon proved themselves both fearsome warriors (well, as fearsome as any people so short could be) and honorable in their way, coming to the aid of a shu'halo under attack by many centaurs. Cairne saw a kinship between the green-skinned new people and the shu'halo. When Thrall, the shaman and Warchief of the orcs, told Cairne that they had come to the shores of our land seeking their destiny, our leader was quick to recognize the hand of the Earthmother in their fortuitous arrival.

Cairne agreed to show the orcs and their troll companions how to reach a mysterious oracle who had arrived recently in the Stonetalon Mountains. In return, Thrall and his orcs would assist Cairne as he led our people to a new home in Mulgore. The bargain was struck, and Thrall proved to be as good as his word. He and his people helped the shu'halo make the dangerous trek across The Barrens and into Mulgore, together fighting off many of the twisted ones.

You ask why we are Horde? This is why. In our moment of greatest need, the Earthmother sent us brothers from across the seas. We are shu'halo, ever obedient to our mother. Cairne knew in this moment that our people owed the orcs a great debt, aye, but he also knew that our fate was joined to theirs. As our people arrived in Mulgore, and the orcs departed for Stonetalon and the oracle, Cairne made a fateful decision.

We are Horde forever

Cairne sought out Thrall and his orcs and pledged his aid in their quest. In so doing, Cairne committed us all to aiding the young Warchief as he cleansed his lieutenant Grom Hellscream of a foul demonic influence, then stood alongside the orcs, the kaldorei of the north (we had long known them but found them to be good enough neighbors when avoided as much as possible) and even the strange pink ones from across the seas. If not for this choice, Hamuul Runetotem would never have received druidic training from the kaldorei Malfurion Stormrage. If not for this choice, it is possible Hellscream would never have been redeemed, the Burning Legion may well have triumphed, and all of the children of the Earthmother (not merely the shu'halo) would have been destroyed.

Cairne then returned to our new home in Mulgore. But events outside our control would push us inexorably and fully into the Horde, as the strange pinkskins would make war against our orcish brothers. Rexxar, the Champion of the Horde, would come to Mulgore to gain Cairne's assistance in battling this threat, but Cairne could not aid him. For mighty Cairne, great of heart, was stricken by despair. Centaurs had harried our people even into Mulgore itself, and Baine the chieftain's son was their captive, possibly even done to death by them. In his sorrow, Cairne could not understand how this could have happened, how on the verge of a new beginning for all shu'halo, his only son could be stolen from him. Even great Cairne was made of flesh and fragile as we all are, and his despair drove him to refuse to aid our brothers, to tell Rexxar that as far as the world was concerned, Cairne was dead with his son. Tagar, our chief's right hand, told Rexxar of Baine's plight and Cairne's grief, and again our orcish brothers showed us a friendship and honor that would stir our hearts.

Rexxar would rescue Baine and return alongside him to Cairne. And in his joy at the sight of his son, mighty Cairne was reborn and took his place alongside our Horde brothers in the defeat of the strange Admiral Proudmoore and his forces. It was this battle and its aftermath that convinced great and wise Cairne to build a city where shu'halo of all tribes could come together, for the betterment of all the people. If we could ally with orcs and trolls and other, stranger allies, could we do less for our own? Could the beloved children of the Earthmother turn forever our backs upon one another? Cairne saw that the answer was no, and so, Thunder Bluff came to be.

Throughout wars with demons and the Scourge, Cairne led our people. From chief of one tribe, he became chief of all shu'halo, leader of the tribes that met at Thunder Bluff, father to a new way of life for us all. Even beyond the shu'halo, Cairne came to see the Horde itself as our kin in honor and duty and never forsook it.

And now he is gone. Grief to the shu'halo that it happened, although we all knew one day it must. Shame to the shu'halo that it was the treachery of one of our own, the accursed Magatha Grimtotem (may never again her face be seen, lest death be her portion and her requital, so Baine has spoken) who encompassed it. Poison in the Mak'gora rite has taken from us the one who showed us the future and then brought us to it with the strength of his arm, the grace of his heart, and the friends his wisdom made for us.

We honor you, Cairne of the Bloodhoof. We mourn you. We will always remember you. May you even now sleep your deserved rest in the arms of the Earthmother.

For more information on the people, places and history mentioned here, check out other Know Your Lore columns, such as:

• Current Horde politics: The tauren
  
• An'she and the Holy Light
• Kalimdor
  
• The Ancients
  
• The Council of Tirisfal and the Last Guardian