The mogu are a race of tyrannical, stone-skinned beings inWorld of Warcraft. They value strength above all else and act as primary antagonists throughout much of Mists of Pandaria. The Mogu Empire lasted millennia, and its impact on the continent continues today. They feature in raids, dungeons, and quests, and their architecture found throughout the continent is a testament to their long-lasting might.
The most powerful mogu of all time was Lei Shen, the Thunder King, whom players battle in the Throne of Thunder raid. But the story of the mogu began long before the mortal races of Azeroth, in a similar manner toWorld of Warcraft’s dwarves, vrykul, tolvir and gnomes. Back then, they were all mere Titan constructs made of earth and metal, sworn to guard Azeroth from the Old Gods’ influence.
The Mogu’s Beginnings As Servants of WoW’s Titans
Azeroth is home to not only an infant Titanwithin its core, but also a multitude of facilities created by other Titans to monitor and protect Azeroth’s incubation. These are scattered across the planet, but wherever they exist, so too did legions of lifelike constructs. Many of those installed by the Titan Keepers were slowly corrupted with the Curse of Flesh by the Old God Yogg-Saron, leading to the birth of several mortal races, and the mogu were stationed in what would one day become Pandaria.
The mogu were loyal to their charge, endlessly patrolling the lands they inhabited and remaining ever-vigilant against Void corruption. But, as the millennia dragged on, seemingly without purpose, the mogu grew restless. They began to suspect that the Titans had abandoned them, and in some sense, they were right. As long as Azeroth’s fail-safes remained intact, the Titans had no intention of returning.
To make mattersworse, the Old God’s Curse of Fleshhad turned the mogu from stone to living, breathing creatures, ones vulnerable to injury and aging. This uncertainty threw them into chaos and bickering. One of the mogu leaders, called Lei Shen, was outraged by his people’s abandonment. He sought answers from the Keeper who had made them, an immensely powerful being called Ra, or as he was known to his subjects, Ra-Den.
The Rise of the Thunder King and the Birth of an Empire
The Keeper of Storms had nothing to say to Lei Shen about the future of his kind. Enraged by the Keeper’s indifference, the mogu warrior attacked the Keeper and stole his power over lightning and storms. When Lei Shen emerged, he was seen as a god by his people, who were eager to follow the newly crownedThunder King. The mogu, using their prowess for both magical and military endeavors, conquered the surrounding lands and enslaved all other races.
Eventually, the mogu would even find a way to reverse the Curse of Flesh, returning themselves to their former strength and longevity. Theyallied with the Zandalari trollsas well, since both cultures greatly respected each other’s power and cunning. Eventually, however, the Mogu Empire would crumble, as all empires do. Twelve thousand years ago, the pandaren revolted against their slavers and unseated the tyrants, establishing their own dynasty, one defined by peace and freedom.
Today’s Mogu Are a Shadow of Their Former Glory
To this day, mogu clans clash with one another for dominance, and it’s this pride that has prevented them from uniting in millennia since. One clan, however, the Rajani, has remained loyal to Ra, never forsaking their original charge. They feature in Battle for Azeroth, helping playerscombat the Old God N’Zoth. Overall, however, the mogu are innately hostile to all other races, viewing themselves as vastly superior.
Despite being astonishingly skillful warriors and sorcerers, cruelty and hate have defined the Mogu since the days of Lei Shen. Thus, it’s little surprise that they seek to reclaim their former glory as tyrants. No power is forbidden to them, no matter how dark or depraved, andplayers in Mists of Pandariawill have to face the Mogu head-on, along with the monstrous powers they have brought.
