Magius is one of the most gifted and influential wizards in Krynn’s history, known for his striking appearance, sharp intellect, and hidden insecurities. A human from Solamnia, he was tall, handsome, and recognizable by his long blond hair and blue eyes. His lifelong friendship with the knight Huma shaped both their destinies, especially during the Third Dragon War, where Magius played a crucial role.

Digital sketch, reworked as a pencil and paper sketch, and colored again in digital with Cintiq and Photoshop. Painted between January and March 2026, published in April 2026.

1) Chronicles

After Thrall had departed, Garrosh turned his gaze northwest, to the lush forests of Ashenvale. It was a land of plenty, and it was well within the Horde’s reach. Most of the region belonged to the night elves, but that did not stop Garrosh from sending troops into the woodlands. He was not interested in asking the Alliance for resources or trading for them. Why would he do that, when he could simply take what he wanted by force?

The Horde’s new incursions into Ashenvale enraged the Alliance. Tensions between the factions flared, and open war seemed inevitable.

Meanwhile, Garrosh Hellscream continued his encroachment on Ashenvale and launched the Horde deeper into the woodlands. His troops besieged the night elves’ strongholds, but their brutal offensive was short-lived

Following the events in Ashenvale, sporadic battles erupted between the Horde and the Alliance in other regions. With the factions spread thin, Deathwing unleashed the Old Gods’ minions on the world.

2) Books and game

In "Wolfheart", Garrosh chose the time when most of the Alliance leaders would be in Darnassus to attack Ashenvale. Shortly before that, the Horde invaded Gilneas, and after there was also a clash between the Alliance and the Horde, in which the goblins also fell. Before, the Horde, despite the agreement between the Horde and the Alliance, attacked Warsong Gulch again.

"A force you put together for just such an occasion," Tyrande said with pride. Months prior to the cataclysm*, Shandris had proposed the prepared and prearranged force in view of elements of the Horde already battling with the night elves in Warsong Gulch"

*I think this is typical 'Knaaked' misteke. This moment is fixed in the Chronicles Vol.3

Jaina could not attend this event, and instead sent her assistant Tervosh.

“With the troubles brewing all around us, she chose to stay in order to continue organizing Alliance forces. You can trust that she would rather be here, High Priestess.”

"Her martial knowledge has been invaluable during these dark days,” Malfurion put in.

There was no open war between the factions at that time. Shortly before that, the leaders gathered in their capitals in order to decide how to deal with the elementals that appear all over Azeroth and cultists. Jaina didn't believe it was possible to organize all the people to move to some place just because the elementals were everywhere. Either she stayed in Theramore to organize forces to continue fighting them, since she has good military experience, as Malfurion says, who is interested in the cataclysm much more than war, or she stayed to prepare people for a possible upcoming war with the horde, since Garrosh has already expressed his intentions, and if he attacks the elves, you need to be ready. Jaina didn't attack first. Yes, in the Barrens there is an orc who says that the alliance attacked first before the cataclysm. However, as we can see, this is a lie. Horde characters very often have an "alternative" vision of events that are not true: The Cataclysm happened when Thrall came back from Outland to attend Cairne's funeral. And there's no war between the Horde and the Alliance at that time - as we read this from The Shattering.

+ToW

“My lady,” said Pained, “let us strike now! Surely Garrosh is not sending only a few ships. Remember the numbers gathered, waiting, at Northwatch! It will cost lives, but at least—”

“No,” Jaina said firmly. “They are not in Alliance waters. I will defend Theramore, but I cannot condone being the aggressor. We’ll just have to wait.”

So, no, Jaina (the alliance) did not attack first. After the Horde invaded the Ashenvale, the Alliance invaded the Barrens to go into the Stonetalon and open up a supply line to the night elves.

Some quests:

1)The allance: The purpose of this base was to establish a foothold in Stonetalon for Theramore and to open up a supply line to the night elves. The Horde, unfortunately, has given us one hell of a fight. Hellscream's armies are mighty and unrelenting. I haven't seen this type of ferocity from the Horde since the second war.

2) Our policy of conscripting non-violent criminals from the Stormwind Stockades has come back to haunt us, <name>. Some of my less-scrupulous soldiers broke ranks after our victory in Taurajo and are looting the remains of the city. This is a breakdown in discipline. Worse, the desecration of their homes only spurs the enemy to fight harder when our ultimate goal should be peace. Take these manacles and bring the Taurajo looters to justice. Speak to them first, but you may need force to subdue them.

So why would the alliance attacked first, if their ultimate goal should be peace?

3)The Horde: This way, <class>! I see you've discovered the high road. The Alliance hopes to sever our ties with Stonetalon, but they forget that we tauren have hunted across these lands for generations. We know every hillside switchback and game trail from here to Thousand Needles.

4) (Ashenvale) You're in Hellscream's army now, <name>, and in Hellscream's army we kick butt and take names. Gone are the days of our people starving in the streets of Orgrimmar as we sign treaties with elves. We take what we need now. Kalimdor belongs to the Horde! The Alliance attempts to stop our expansion every chance they get. Unsatisfied with owning most of the Eastern Kingdoms, those pig-lickers want it all! Overlord Krom'gar has called for more troops in Stonetalon. Get on the caravan west of here and go!

In conclusion, I want to cite a text from the manual of the cataclysm:

In light of all that has transpired, the wise shaman Thrall has chosen to investigate the world's growing elemental instability. Thus he has temporarily relinquished his title of Horde warchief and passed in on to Garrosh Hellscream, son of the legendary orc hero Grom. Under Garrosh's command, the Horde belligerence toward the Alliance is growing. Most recently the headstrong new warchief led his forces on a rampage through neighboring Ashenvale, claiming much of what was once night elf land.

King Varian Wrynn has not backed down from Garrosh's aggression, nor has the rest of the Alliance. Offensives into the Southern Barrens have secured territory once belonging to the Horde for Varian and his allies, who are also working to retake portions of Ashenvale. With tensions rising, both factions are on the brink of all-out warfare.