Sorcerer-thane Thaurissan (aka Thaurisan) was the leader of the shadowy sorcerers of the Dark Iron clan during the dwarven civil war, when the three most powerful dwarven clans — the Dark Irons, Bronzebeards, and Wildhammers — battled for supremacy over the capital city of Ironforge. Having been defeated by the Bronzebeard clan, Thaurissan and his clan were cast out from Ironforge. Retreating to the beautiful Redridge Mountains, he declared himself Dark Iron emperor in a city he named for himself and plotted vengeance upon his brother dwarves.