Stormwind City

 

Stormwind City (a.k.a. New Stormwind or simply Stormwind), located north of Elwynn Forest on Azeroth region's northwest coast, is the capital city of the kingdom of Stormwind and the largest human city on Azeroth. After the Third War, it has become one of the last great human cities, and embodies the heart of the Alliance.

No city better demonstrates human determination than Stormwind. Destroyed during the Horde's initial invasion of Azeroth, Stormwind was painstakingly reconstructed by the Stonemasons' Guild after the Second War. Parts of the city were razed again when Deathwing, the corrupted black Dragon Aspect, brutally attacked Stormwind, but the other undamaged districts are more beautiful than ever thanks to their hardworking inhabitants. From the magnificent Cathedral of Light, which serves as a major spiritual hub, to the awe-inspiring Valley of Heroes, which commemorates the sacrifices of Stormwind's loyal champions, the city truly represents the courageous heart of humanity.

Early history

The kingdom of Stormwind was originally founded 1,200 years before the First War by the descendants of the Arathi bloodline, who had migrated south from the nation of Arathor. Traveling past the rocky mountains of Khaz Modan, their journey finally ended after many long seasons, and they settled in the northern region of the continent they would name Azeroth. In a fertile valley, they founded the kingdom of Stormwind, which quickly became a self-sufficient power in its own right. It had a long and prosperous history, with the king served loyally by the knights of the Brotherhood of the Horse and the clerics of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics. Secretive conjurers also served the kingdom, and as such Stormwind Keep had its own court conjurer. The Kirin Tor was also present in the kingdom, as Anduin Lothar was acquainted with their fellow wizards in the realm.

The constant bickering and infighting that marred the rules of the former kings of Arathor had no place in the court of Wrynn, and all had been peaceful for many generations in the kingdom until the Gnoll War. King Barathen Wrynn ended the conflict by scattering the unified gnoll packs and bringing back peace, solidifying the rule of the Wrynn dynasty over the entire kingdom.

Following the Gnoll War, the Kingdom of Stormwind began expanding its borders, much to the displeasure of the Gurubashi jungle troll tribes. A series of smaller conflicts between the two factions erupted over time, largely over the territories bordering Stranglethorn Vale that Stormwindian settlers began expanding into. Though initially isolated, the conflict quickly escalated out of control, despite the best efforts of Stormwind's King Barathen Wrynn. The final provocation came when Prince Llane Wrynn personally led a small party to strike at the Gurubashi leadership in central Stranglethorn, which succeeded in uniting the trolls against Stormwind. Though costly and close-run, the human kingdom eventually emerged victorious, largely due to the intervention of the Guardian Medivh. With the entire troll army completely destroyed or routed at the gates of Stormwind City, the jungle trolls of the south would never succeed in threatening the kingdom again. This bloody conflict was known as the Gurubashi War, and the Stormwindians enjoyed nearly two decades of relative peace after emerging victorious. King Barathen was one of the casualties of the Gurubashi War, and Llane succeeded him as king in the aftermath of the war.

First War

When reports of mysterious creatures lurking around the Black Morass reached Stormwind, rumors spread through the streets that they were either vengeful spirits, trolls armed with some new breed of power, or a strange race from across the Great Sea. King Llane dispatched Sir Anduin Lothar to uncover what these new creatures were. Lothar led a small force of knights to scout the Black Morass, resulting in the Knights of Stormwind clashing with orcs for the first time in a series of bloody skirmishes. He informed King Llane the invaders were bringing in reinforcements from somewhere, and the kingdom readied itself for a full-scale war that became known as the First War. Llane had named Lothar the "King's Champion", the highest military rank in the kingdom, and entrusted him to end the orcish threat.

After Brightwood, Westfall, and the Redridge Mountains had eventually fallen, the Horde marched onto Stormwind City. Thousands of Horde soldiers marched through Elwynn Forest and encircled Stormwind, cutting off all access except for the sea. Warchief Blackhand had ordered Kilrogg Deadeye and Cho'gall to lead their Bleeding Hollow and Twilight's Hammer clans in the assault on Stormwind. To weaken the city's defenses, siege engines bombarded the city walls through the night, and at dawn Kilrogg and Cho'gall launched their attack. While orcs charged the battlements, warlocks engulfed Stormwind's soldiers in fel fire, resulting in staggering losses. As it seemed Stormwind would fall that day, there were suddenly cries of an attack from the Horde's rear lines. Lothar and the majority of Stormwind's knights had moved around the Horde by sea. The King's Commander was now leading a charge through Elwynn Forest, catching the orcs in the rearguard completely by surprise as the knights cut through their lines. As the Bleeding Hollow and Twilight's Hammer tried to push back the knights, Stormwind's large gates opened and soldiers poured out of the city to flank the orcs in a counterattack. Outflanked on both sides and suffering many casualties, the orcs were left with no choice but to flee.

Around the year 3 or 4, King Llane was assassinated by Garona Halforcen in the keep.After his death, the city was overrun, razing it to ashes.

Anduin Lothar took what was left of the people and led their exodus to Lordaeron. While there, Alonsus Faol told him that he had started to raise funds to rebuilt Stormwind once they reclaimed it.

Second War

 The ruins of Stormwind City were lorded over by the orcs of the Stormreaver clan.

Reconstruction

Following the Old Horde's defeat during the Second War, men returned to the ruins of Stormwind City and began to rebuild the once great city as a testament to their own survival. In time, Stormwind City was painstakingly reconstructed by the Stonemasons Guild, who were contracted by Stormwind's House of Nobles.They restored Stormwind to its former majesty, with white stone being used for its exterior. The city was renamed New Stormwind, rebuilt on the same location as the original capital, though after that the city came to be simply called Stormwind City once again.

The internment camps' authorities were based at first in New Stormwind under Danath Trollbane.Two years after the end of the Second War, the orcs reopened the Dark Portal and a small group led by Teron Gorefiend entered the city's library to steal the Book of Medivh. The book, however, had been at that point already stolen by Alterac soldiers and securely placed in the mountainous country.

During the early days of the Invasion of Draenor, Danath gathered all the mercenaries of Stormwind together and marched them to fight at Nethergarde Keep.