Lore ·
The Twilight's Hammer Explained: Who Are the Cultists of Blackfathom Deeps?
The Twilight's Hammer is a doomsday cult that grew out of a clan of Pale orcs, believes the world is ending, and serves the Old Gods. In World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), set in the first year of World of Warcraft, players meet its cultists most clearly in Blackfathom Deeps, where Twilight Lord Kelris guards the way to Aku'mai.
Quick answer: Cho'gall, an ogre sent by Gul'dan, found the Pale orcs on Draenor and built a clan around their visions of the end of the world. By the original game's era the cult serves the Old Gods and allies with elemental powers. Blackfathom Deeps, Silithus and Blackrock Depths are where it shows itself in the original game.
Down in the dark water off the Ashenvale coast, the halls of Blackfathom Deeps are not empty. The cultists who wait there answer to something older than the temple, and the road to the Deeps is the clearest place to learn who they are.
Key facts
- Founder: Cho'gall, an ogre sent by Gul'dan (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Origin: the Pale orcs of Nagrand, warped by void magic (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Belief: the Hour of Twilight, the end of all things (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Master: the Old Gods (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Forever boss: Twilight Lord Kelris, in Blackfathom Deeps (Method, Warcraft Tavern)
- Other places: Silithus and Blackrock Depths, in the original game's era (Warcraft Wiki)
Who are the Twilight's Hammer?
Warcraft Wiki says Gul'dan's apprentice Cho'gall, an ogre mage, was sent to investigate the Pale, exiled orcs living beneath Oshu'gun in Nagrand, and that the Pale were warped by void magic. Blizzard Watch's Know Your Lore column agrees: an ogre from Highmaul, sent by Gul'dan, learned from the Pale orcs and returned with a band of them as the core of a new clan. Both sources say Warchief Blackhand considered wiping the clan out.
What does the Twilight's Hammer believe?
Both sources describe a belief that everything ends. Warcraft Wiki calls it the Hour of Twilight, an apocalypse that would end all life. Blizzard Watch says Cho'gall told the Pale that the Hour of Twilight was close and that serving the Horde would bring it about. On Azeroth the clan heard the Old Gods; Warcraft Wiki says the cult serves them. For the older war that shaped Kalimdor, read Night Elves History.
Where do you meet the Twilight's Hammer in WoW Forever?
Blackfathom Deeps. Method says the dungeon is in Ashenvale at Zoram Strand and lists Twilight Acolytes, Loreseekers, Elementalists and Shadowmages among its trash, with Twilight Lord Kelris guarding Aku'mai's quarters. Warcraft Wiki says Kelris led the cult in the Deeps. Warcraft Tavern's quests include the Horde's Allegiance to the Old Gods from Je'neu Sancrea at Zoram'gar Outpost. See the full Blackfathom Deeps guide.
Ironforge. Warcraft Tavern lists the Alliance quest Knowledge in the Deeps from Gerrig Bonegrip in the Forlorn Caverns. Warcraft Wiki says Bonegrip ran a cult shop called Bonegrip's Runes and Dooms.
Silithus and Blackrock Depths. Warcraft Wiki says that in the original game's era the largest cult groups waited outside Ahn'Qiraj in Silithus for C'Thun to awaken, and that the largest cult group in the Eastern Kingdoms served Ragnaros in Blackrock Depths. Blizzard has not announced either as launch content for Forever. See the dungeons guide for what is.
The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable background as you travel the Ashenvale coast, and the optional Willo voice companion can answer lore questions. Both are fan-made.
What is not confirmed yet
- Blizzard has not published a Twilight's Hammer story for Forever, so this article describes the cult, not new content.
- Method gives no cult lore for Blackfathom Deeps beyond naming its cultists, and Warcraft Tavern's quest page does not mention the cult at all.
- Whether Silithus or Blackrock Depths content that features the cult arrives in Forever's first year is unannounced.
- Later events, when the cult grows far more dangerous, are outside WoW Forever.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Twilight's Hammer in World of Warcraft?
The Twilight's Hammer is a doomsday cult that began as a clan of Pale orcs led by Cho'gall. It believes the world is ending and serves the Old Gods.
Who is Twilight Lord Kelris?
Twilight Lord Kelris is the boss who guards Aku'mai's quarters in Blackfathom Deeps, according to Method. Warcraft Wiki says he led the cult there.
Where is the Twilight's Hammer in WoW Forever?
Method places its cultists in Blackfathom Deeps in Ashenvale. Warcraft Tavern's Alliance quest Knowledge in the Deeps starts with Gerrig Bonegrip in Ironforge.
Who founded the Twilight's Hammer?
Cho'gall, an ogre sent by Gul'dan to investigate the Pale orcs of Nagrand, according to Warcraft Wiki and Blizzard Watch.
What is the Hour of Twilight?
It is the cult's name for the end of all things, according to Warcraft Wiki and Blizzard Watch.
Sources
Reviewed October 24, 2026. This article covers history before and during Forever's setting and does not treat later events as Forever canon. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.