Lore · October 25, 2026

Worgen and Gilneas Explained: The Curse Behind the Greymane Wall

The worgen are cursed wolf-men that Archmage Arugal summoned during the Third War, and Gilneas is the walled human kingdom whose king shut the gates on the world. In World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), set in the first year of World of Warcraft, you meet them in Silverpine Forest, in Pyrewood Village and in Shadowfang Keep.

Quick answer: Arugal used the Book of Ur to summon worgen against the Scourge. They turned on the people around them, took over Baron Silverlaine's keep, and cursed Pyrewood's villagers to change at night. Gilneas had already walled itself in behind the Greymane Wall.

The worgen curse and the Greymane Wall — A diagram of the worgen story: Gilneas sits behind the Greymane Wall, Archmage Arugal summons worgen against the Scourge, they attack Baron Silverlaine's keep, Arugal takes it as Shadowfang Keep, Pyrewood Village is cursed to change at night, and Duskwood has the Nightbane pack. In WoW Forever, Silverpine Forest is for levels 10 to 20 and Shadowfang Keep for levels 20 to 26. Sources: Warcraft Wiki, Engadget and Warcraft Tavern.

Silverpine Forest at dusk is quiet for the wrong reasons. The pines stand close, the road narrows toward Pyrewood, and past the last lamp a wall of stone divides the forest from a kingdom that wants no visitors.

Key facts

Who summoned them: Archmage Arugal, using the Book of Ur (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
Keep: Baron Silverlaine's keep became Shadowfang Keep (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
Cursed village: Pyrewood, whose villagers change at night (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
Wall: built by Genn Greymane to isolate Gilneas (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
Forever: Shadowfang Keep, levels 20 to 26, Arugal as final boss (Warcraft Tavern)

What are the worgen?

Engadget's Know Your Lore column says the Book of Ur, written by a mage of Dalaran, describes worgen as savage creatures from another dimension that use dark shadow magic. Warcraft Wiki traces an older origin among night elf druids, and says some worgen were sealed in the Emerald Dream. Engadget also mentions a night elf, Velinde Starsong, who summoned worgen to Kalimdor with the Scythe of Elune. The accounts do not agree.

How did Arugal release the worgen?

Warcraft Wiki and Engadget agree that Arugal, a Dalaran archmage, summoned worgen to fight the Scourge, and that the worgen then attacked Baron Silverlaine's keep, which Arugal took over and named Shadowfang. The sources differ on whom he meant to protect. Warcraft Wiki says King Genn Greymane called on him to defend Gilneas, while also noting an older account of helping Dalaran. Warcraft Tavern's Forever guide says it was to protect Dalaran.

Both Warcraft Wiki and Engadget say he cursed the village of Pyrewood so that its people turn into worgen at night. Warcraft Wiki's Silverpine Forest page lists the Pyrewood worgen as level 13 to 15 elites that attack both factions at night. For the city he came from, read The City of Dalaran.

What is Gilneas and the Greymane Wall?

Gilneas is a human kingdom on a peninsula southwest of Silverpine Forest, according to Warcraft Wiki, ruled by the Greymane dynasty, according to Engadget. Warcraft Wiki says King Genn Greymane built the wall to isolate Gilneas, after disputes over the Alliance's costs, and Engadget says it cut off Gilnean estates in Silverpine Forest. Warcraft Wiki says the wall's route cut Pyrewood off from the rest of Gilneas. Both sources say Gilneas left the Alliance; for the kingdoms that stayed, read Stormwind's history.

Where do you meet worgen in WoW Forever?

Silverpine Forest. Warcraft Wiki's Silverpine Forest page says the zone remains in Classic and Forever, for levels 10 to 20, with Pyrewood Village, Ambermill and the Greymane Wall. Its quests are Horde-aligned and include the Arugal chain.

Shadowfang Keep. Warcraft Tavern lists the dungeon at levels 20 to 26 in the mountains north of Pyrewood, with Baron Silverlaine, Odo the Blindwatcher, Wolf Master Nandos and Archmage Arugal as final boss. Horde quests include The Book of Ur and Arugal Must Die. See the dungeons guide for where it fits.

Duskwood. Warcraft Wiki's Forever map comparison lists the zone, and its Duskwood page names the Nightbane pack. Which Duskwood worgen content reaches Forever is unconfirmed.

The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable background as you travel Silverpine, and the optional Willo voice companion can answer lore questions. Both are fan-made.

What is not confirmed yet

Blizzard has not published a worgen story for Forever, so this article describes the lore, not new content.
Sources disagree on the worgen's origin and on whom Arugal meant to protect.
Sources disagree on the dungeon's level range: Warcraft Wiki's Silverpine page lists 18 to 21, Warcraft Tavern's Forever guide 20 to 26.
Playable worgen and the fall of the Greymane Wall are later, outside WoW Forever.

Frequently asked questions

What are worgen in World of Warcraft?

Worgen are cursed wolf-like creatures. In the original game Archmage Arugal summoned them during the Third War and cursed Pyrewood Village so that its people turn into worgen at night.

Who is Archmage Arugal?

A Dalaran archmage who summoned worgen with the Book of Ur and took over Shadowfang Keep. He is the final boss of Shadowfang Keep in WoW Forever, according to Warcraft Tavern.

What is the Greymane Wall?

The wall King Genn Greymane built to isolate Gilneas from the world, according to Warcraft Wiki and Engadget. It cut off Pyrewood Village and Gilnean estates in Silverpine Forest.

Where is Shadowfang Keep in WoW Forever?

In Silverpine Forest, in the mountains just north of Pyrewood Village, according to Warcraft Tavern. The guide lists it for levels 20 to 26.

Are worgen playable in WoW Forever?

Blizzard has not announced worgen as a playable race for WoW Forever; see the race and class guide. Playable worgen belong to later in the timeline, outside Forever.

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.