The creatures known as Worgen physically resemble folkloric werewolves. The Worgen are savage and animalistic, slaughtering all they encounter save for other Worgen. They appear to have some rudimentary intelligence, as displayed by their use of magic and primitive armor. But they are very paranoid and distrustful, making contact with them extremely dangerous and difficult.

They were first summoned into the world of Azeroth by a Night Elf known as Valinda Starsong, after discovering an artifact called the Scythe of Elune. With it she was shown the Worgen battling the Burning Legion on their home planet. They were somewhat primitive and certainly aggressive in their own world, so she called the Worgen into the world under her command. She used them to fight the corruption of the Burning Legion in Felwood, but, eventually, the Scythe worked on its own, calling more and more Worgen to Azeroth. Without the control of the scythe, the Worgen quickly overwhelmed Valinda and began lashing out at all but other Worgen. Valinda lost the Scythe, and it was eventually rediscovered in a cave called Roland’s Doom, in Duskwood, by a Defias worker known as Jitters. This discovery summoned the Worgen into the area, creating one of the area’s major troubles. Jitters also witnessed the butchering of Sven Yorgen’s farming family by creatures known as Dark Riders, who are rumored to live and be controlled by a dark master in the ruined tower of Karazhan. This master is seeking the Scythe, no doubt to call forth an army of the Wolfmen.

A second influx of Worgen was summoned by the archmage Arugal during the beginnings of the Scourge in Lordaeron. Arugal intended to use the Worgen as a tool to fight the Scourge, which proved to be successful, for a time. Ultimately, Arugal’s magic was far too weak to control the Worgen fully, causing them to break free and wildly kill his countrymen. Arugal’s failure and guilt over the death of his friends led to madness, as he began to think of himself as the “father” of the Worgen. His most recent experimentation has led to a town near to Shadowfang Keep to become infected with a curse that causes the human residents of the town to change into deadly Worgen at night. Even though they are human half the time, even these Worgen descend into animalistic savagery when transformed.