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For the original zone before the Cataclysm, see Alterac Mountains (Classic).
NeutralAlterac Mountains
Ruins of Alterac
The Ruins of Alterac within the mountains
Capital(s) Mob Ruins of Alterac
  Formerly Alliance Dalaran
Races OgreOgre Ogre
HumanHuman Human
OrcOrc Orc
ForsakenForsaken Forsaken
DwarfDwarf Dwarf
Kobold Kobold
Harpy Harpy
Gnoll Gnoll
Trogg Trogg
Ruler(s) Horde Unknown
Mob IconSmall Ogre Male Mug'thol
Former ruler(s) Mob IconSmall Human Male Aliden Perenolde †
Neutral IconSmall Human Male Aiden Perenolde †
Major settlements Neutral Dalaran Crater
Neutral Strahnbrad
Mob Crushridge Hold
Minor settlements Neutral Dandred's Fold (abandoned)
Neutral Ravenholdt Manor
Neutral Brazie Farmstead
Mob Slaughter Hollow
Affiliation Crushridge, Syndicate, Frostwolf clan, Forsaken, Horde, Stormpike Guard, Stormpike clan, Alliance, Dalaran, Ravenholdt
Former affiliation(s) Kingdom of Lordaeron, Alliance of Lordaeron, Kingdom of Alterac, Old Horde
Location North of Hillsbrad Foothills

The Alterac Mountains is a massive mountain range bordering the Hillsbrad Foothills and is also the location of the former nation of Alterac. Its chief settlements included Alterac City and Strahnbrad. It contains many areas and several ruins filled with Crushridge ogres and members of the Syndicate.

In the past years, little action has been seen in the mountains apart from the skirmishes in Alterac Valley, until the Fourth War, when the Horde took control of part of the region by reclaiming and fortifying the Ruins of Alterac and Strahnbrad, for their operations in Lordaeron.

History[]

The Troll Wars[]

The slopes of the Alterac Mountains were once home to the human Alteraci tribe, who became part of the Empire of Arathor after their leader Ignaeus was bested in a duel by King Thoradin.[1][2] During the Troll Wars, generals of Arathor established the stronghold of Alterac Fortress at the base of the mountains, and the final and most decisive battle between the Amani Empire and the combined human and high elven armies took place at the foot of the mountains.[3][4] As Arathor began fracturing in the centuries after the Troll Wars, the city-state of Alterac was established among the peaks and came to hold dominion over much of the northlands.[5][6]

Second War[]

WC2BnE-logo This section concerns content related to Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or its expansion Beyond the Dark Portal.

During the early days of the Second War, the high elves of Quel'Thalas sent a contingent of archers south to survey the supposed orcish threat for themselves. Shortly after passing through the Alterac Mountains the elves were ambushed by Horde troops and brought to a prison camp near Tarren Mill.[7]

Some time later, the treachery of the humans of Alterac was revealed by the Alliance of Lordaeron, and an army was sent to the Alterac Mountains to strike the traitors at their heart. An Alteraci prison camp was also situated near Alterac City, containing captured Dalaranian citizens.[8]

After the end of the war, military outposts maintained by Lordaeron and Stromgarde were built along the borders of the Mountains. The question of what to do with the mountains led to heated debates within the Alliance. These military outposts were later raided by the Horde of Draenor in order to get the Book of Medivh back from the Alteraci.[9]

At some point Lordaeron at least partially annexed the Alterac Mountains. At the outset of the Third War, Arthas Menethil traveled through the King's Road toward Strahnbrad, and its inhabitants considered him their lord, with the citizens also taking up arms for Lordaeron.[10] A new resistance against them had appeared, however, in the form of the Syndicate, led by former Alteraci prince Aliden Perenolde after he rose up in the Durnholde military under the teachings of his new mentor Aedelas Blackmoore.[11][12]

Third War[]

WC3RoC-logo This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

At some point, the mountains were invaded by gnolls. The dwarven mountain king Murgen Hammerfall used his abilities to decimate the gnolls. Kobolds also infested the deep tunnels of the mountains.[13]

The Alterac Mountains were home to a large portion of the demon-worshiping orcish Blackrock Clan and its allies. Though they regrouped after the Alliance's retribution for their attack on Strahnbrad, they were thoroughly defeated by the Scourge on its march to Dalaran. Other inhabitants included gnolls, the human Bloodhill Bandits, murlocs,[14] and ice trolls.[15]

After the fall of Quel'Thalas, the Scourge led by Arthas later returned and amassed at the Alterac Mountains,[16] setting out to wipe out the Blackrock clan villages when Kel'Thuzad communicated with Archimonde through their Demon Gate. Here, the orcs still controlled red dragons and were allied with ogres, forest trolls, and goblins.[17]

Kel'Thuzad opened a portal for the Burning Legion near Dalaran. After Archimonde was summoned he summoned a spell that destroyed Dalaran.

After the Third War, the area near Dalaran was a battlefield between the night elves, blood elves, Scourge and Illidan's naga. Illidan later used Kel'Thuzad's rift to open a portal to Outland.

The Sunwell Trilogy[]

Comics title This section concerns content related to the Warcraft manga or comics.

Barony Mordis is located somewhere in the mountains. It was ruled by Valimar Mordis until the Scourge invaded and destroyed it. The undead were led by the ghoul Ichor, who wanted to use the Orb of Ner'zhul to raise dead beasts in the area, including frost wyrms and behemoths.[18]

World of Warcraft[]

WoW Icon update This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

In the years that followed, the ruins of the city of Alterac were claimed by the ogres of the Crushridge clan, led by warlord Mug'thol. What little Alliance activity was left in the region was centered around the entrances to Alterac Valley, where the dwarven Stormpike Guard and the orcish Frostwolf clan vie for supremacy. The Syndicate also have control in the area.

Dorgar Stoenbrow, a warrior of the Scarlet Crusade and the Lord of the Red Caverns, was last seen in the Alterac Mountains.[19]

Cataclysm[]

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

The area remained mostly unchanged with the Cataclysm. Its fingers, originally controlled by the Syndicate, turned into Alliance camps, were sabotaged by the Forsaken.[20]

Battle for Azeroth[]

Battle for Azeroth This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

During the Fourth War, the Horde claimed the Ruins of Alterac and Strahnbrad,[21][22] fortifying them as defensible base for their operations in Lordaeron,[23] and to fight Alliance forces from the Western Plaguelands.[24]

Geography[]

The Alterac Mountains are high peaks rising up north of the Hillsbrad Foothills, and spreading to the border of the Western Plaguelands in the north and The Hinterlands in the east. Covered with snow at their highest point, these mountains were once the location of some major human settlements. Now these settlements lie in ruins and are controlled by hostile forces. The mountains themselves are home to several kinds of high-altitude flora and fauna, such as yeti and mountain lions. The rare herb Inv misc flower 03 [Wintersbite] was found here.

The mountains are surrounded by green lands having the Lordamere Lake and the Dalaran Crater to the west, Chillwind Point to the east and the Forsaken settlements of Tarren Mill and Sludge Fields to the south.

The farmlands of the kingdom of Alterac were located in the Uplands.

Maps and subregions[]

WorldMap-Alterac-old

Map of the Alterac Mountains prior to Cataclysm, before being merged with the Hillsbrad Foothills.


Undisplayed locations

Lore locations

WC3RoC-logo Warcraft III

Icon-RPG Warcraft RPG

In the RPG[]

Icon-RPG This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

The Alterac Mountains have traditionally been a home for the humans of Dalaran and Alterac, members of the Alliance of Lordaeron. The settlements were all bases of peaceful activity, and were in the beginning at peace with each other.[citation needed] 

Once inhabited by noble humans, Alterac is a shattered realm struggling to survive the wars' carnage. An organization called the Syndicate is strong in this region. They are a group of thieves who were once Alterac nobles and now seek to reclaim their lands — and any other lands they can lay their hands on — by any means necessary. They battle for control with the huge Crushridge clan of ogres that has taken over Alterac City.[25]

Hostile factions control the few settlements that remain in the mountains.[26]

History[]

During the Second War, the Horde attempted to conscript some Alliance nobles to help them in their campaign, and the weak-willed nobles of Alterac readily agreed to help the orcs overthrow the Alliance leaders and take Lordaeron. With the defeat of the Horde came the punishment for these traitors: exile from their former holdings. These exiles would eventually form the Syndicate and take back the Alterac Mountains from the Alliance.[27]

Like all of Lordaeron's regions, Alterac suffered horrendously when the Scourge blazed through the continent. The Perenolde family's current scion, Lord Aiden Perenolde, is a high-ranking Syndicate member who resides in the Uplands. The Syndicate struggles to regain control of this wild land, while ruins dot the mountainsides and Crushridge ogres patrol their territory.

The Syndicate kidnapped a wealthy dwarf merchant's son and they didn't want ransom but help in driving the ogres from Alterac City. Murrik Doubletoe, the captured dwarf's father, hired outside help to advise him and either rescue his son or defeat the ogres.[28]

People and culture[]

Two major factions control the Alterac Mountains: the Syndicate and the Crushridge ogres. The Syndicate is a complicated network of bandits who were once Alterac nobles. These men and women operate mainly in the Alterac Mountains and the surrounding area, but fight, murder, lie and steal to reclaim their ancient lands. They are out for themselves, though it would work with others if doing so helped them meet its ultimate goal. Syndicate agents dress in brown and black when on the prowl, but don their aristocratic finery in their holds.[25]

The Crushridge ogres are cunning, massive, and strong. Leftovers from the Second War, these ogres have thrown off orc rule for their own primitive ways. They live in Alterac City and kill whatever they can. The ogres and the Syndicate fight a continuous guerilla war.

The Syndicate's private war and the ogres' mindless slaughter are foolishness. Alterac shares its northern border with the Western Plaguelands, so a Scourge invasion is only a matter of time. Such an attack would spur the Syndicate to battle against the undead, and the ogres would fight to stay alive. Their numbers, however, are too few.[29]

The Stormpike clan have taken a liking to the Alterac Mountains and defend them fiercely against the trolls and orcs invading the area.[30]

Geography[]

The Alterac Mountains are not only high and temperate but also cold and misty. Few fertile valleys lie within the peaks, and those that do are fallow. Rainfall is high and the sky is often overcast with gray clouds, making the region drear. The Crushridge ogres and the Syndicate have driven away most native wildlife, but yetis still inhabit the deeper caves.[29] Alterac resembles Loch Modan, but warmer. Huge pine trees tower over the landscape and occasional green meadows and tenacious shrubs can be found amid the gray, rocky peaks.[25]

To the south are the Hillsbrad Foothills, east is the Hinterlands, west is Lordamere Lake and north are the Plaguelands.[25] A magic field closes off Dalaran, to the southwest. Its wizards patrol the local surroundings, but wisely do not concern themselves with Alterac's affairs.[26]

In the RPG book Lands of Conflict, Durnholde Keep is labelled as part of the Alterac Mountains and Hillsbrad Foothills.[31]

The ice trolls of the Winterax tribe dwell in the mountains and valleys of Alterac, and are hated foes of the Frostwolf clan orcs and both the Stormpike and Wildhammer dwarves.[32]

Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans[]

WarcraftAdventures-Logo This section concerns content related to the canceled game Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans and is therefore non-canon.

In the canceled Warcraft Adventures, much of the story takes place here. Along with familiar locations like the home of the Frostwolf clan, Alterac is home to snowy deciduous forests[33] and an insolated gnomish workshop.[34] It is also inhabited by a number of species not found here in World of Warcraft or Warcraft III:

Notes and trivia[]

Gallery[]

Fan art

Speculation[]

Questionmark-medium
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.

Patch changes[]

References[]

 
  1. ^ Saga of the Valarjar: Strom'kar, the Warbreaker
  2. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 126
  3. ^ Achievement zone arathihighlands 01 [Arathor and the Troll Wars]
  4. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 131 - 132
  5. ^ The Seven Kingdoms
  6. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 141
  7. ^ a b Ambush at Tarren Mill (WC2 Human)
  8. ^ Betrayal and the Destruction of Alterac (WC2 Human)
  9. ^ Alterac (WC2 Orc)
  10. ^ The Defense of Strahnbrad (WC3 Human)
  11. ^ Captain Skarloc#Adventure Guide
  12. ^ H [36] Blackmoore's Legacy
  13. ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual
  14. ^ "The Scourge of Lordaeron: Blackrock & Roll", Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Blizzard Entertainment.
  15. ^ "Path of the Damned: Blackrock & Roll, Too!", Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Blizzard Entertainment.
  16. ^ The Revelation (WC3 Undead)
  17. ^ Blackrock & Roll, Too! (WC3 Undead)
  18. ^ Shadows of Ice
  19. ^ Dorgar Stoenbrow
  20. ^ H [7-30] Stormpike Apocalypse
  21. ^ War Campaign Generic Rebuilding Alterac
  22. ^ Generic Dancing with the Dark Rangers
  23. ^ War Campaign Generic Alterac Scouting
  24. ^ Stealth Dancing with Dark Rangers
  25. ^ a b c d Lands of Conflict, pg. 85
  26. ^ a b Lands of Conflict, pg. 87
  27. ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 171
  28. ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 88
  29. ^ a b Lands of Conflict, pg. 86
  30. ^ Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 166
  31. ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 87, 98
  32. ^ Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 166
  33. ^ a b c d Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans unreleased BETA, seen on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN_7_pXeuwI
  34. ^ a b Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans unreleased BETA, seen on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IumBxZ-thzQ
  35. ^ a b c Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans unreleased BETA, seen on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzLhbcFTpcI
  36. ^ The Fate of Apprentice Argoly
  37. ^ Tides of Darkness, chapter 15
  38. ^ Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Nations of the Alliance, Stromgarde
  39. ^ File:Chronicle2 Eastern Kingdoms Before the First War.jpg
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