Barrow Deeps

This article contains lore taken from Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, the manuals, and/or official bonus maps.

The Barrow Deeps

Barrow Deeps was an ancient cave system beneath Mount Hyjal in Warcraft III. It was the sleeping place of the Druids of the Claw for thousands of years until the return of the Burning Legion and the Third War. After awakening the Druids of the Talon from their slumber, Malfurion Stormrage and Tyrande Whisperwind entered the Barrow Deeps in search of the remaining Druids.

Deep in the caves, the Night Elves discovered giant spiders which were mutated by corruption in the roots of Hyjal, and Tyrande saved a Furbolg Shaman after he had been bitten by the creature. They also came across the dwelling of The Largest Panda Ever, which would attack if disturbed.

Having nearly forgotten after all the years, Malfurion and Tyrande found the gates to the prison of Illidan Stormrage, Malfurion's brother. Despite adamant protests from Malfurion, Tyrande entered the prison. She believed that Illidan would be a powerful ally against the Legion so she split off from Malfurion and went in search of his imprisoned brother.

Malfurion continued on in search of the Druids of the Claw. He soon found them but they were lost and feral, their minds gone into atrophy. The Druids had slept for so long in their bear forms that they remained as such and even began to believe that they were bears. Malfurion freed them from their hibernation with the Horn of Cenarius. Grateful to be awake and in their right minds once more, the Druids of the Claw agreed to follow Malfurion in the fight against the demonic Legion.

Meanwhile, Tyrande had freed Illidan from his prison. When reunited with his brother, Malfurion refused to trust Illidan after his betrayal long ago but accepted the aid offered.

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

It is possible that the Barrow Deeps are only a small part of a vast cave network extending across most of Northern Kalimdor, connecting Felwood, Azshara, Moonglade, Winterspring, Mount Hyjal and even Ashenvale. In fact, the uncorrupted furbolgs of the Timbermaw Hold have a side tunnel, currently blocked by a door, which leads down to the Barrow Deeps.

The Barrow Deeps, still a closed zone in game, has significant potential for being a furbolg dominated zone, perhaps even a starting area, because it is supposed that a small proportion of the furbolg race that had managed to escape the corruption, had taken refuge within the vast network of caverns and tunnels known as the Barrow Deeps, which explains why Tyrande found uncorrupted furbolgs down there. So maybe, the Barrow Deeps was colonized later by at least one tribe of uncorrupted furbolgs in order to avoid the corruption, as furbolgs are well known for constructing their most sizable dwellings underground (a good example is Thistlefur Hold in Ashenvale). In addition, many underground instances are filled with plant and animal life, so it is perfectly possible that an inhabitable cave could be used by a furbolg tribe without it ever having to visit the surface.

Since the arrival of the Cataclysm to Azeroth, Mount Hyjal is going to be under heavy siege by Ragnaros and his armies who are attempting to burn the now-regrowing World Tree. It not sure what will happen with the Barrow Deeps, as being located in the interior of Mount Hyjal, are expected to be destroyed.

See also

• Mount Hyjal (mountain)