Alterac Fortress
Alterac Fortress was a stronghold built by the Empire of Arathor at the base of the Alterac Mountains during the Troll Wars. It was the site of the last and most decisive battle of the war.
History
During the Troll Wars, King Thoradin of Arathor allied with the high elves of Quel'Thalas against the Amani Empire, in exchange for the elves teaching one hundred humans arcane magic. While the magi trained, Thoradin had his generals establish a stronghold at the base of the Alterac Mountains as a staging point for their future offensive against the trolls. While the generals also created forts in the Eastweald further north, Alterac Fortress would remain the humans' most important northern holding.[1]
After the One Hundred finished their training months later, Thoradin led twenty thousand human soldiers to gather at Alterac Fortress before marching toward Quel'Thalas. The One Hundred stayed behind, hidden in the fortress. Thoradin's army attacked the Amani host in southern Quel'Thalas and then retreated back to Alterac with the trolls in pursuit. Upon reaching the Alterac foothills, the Amani besieged the stronghold while the humans defended it and the high elves attacked the trolls' rear guard. After days of battle, once the humans and elves had worn down the trolls, the One Hundred emerged from the fortress and combined their powers with the elves' sorcerers to create a firestorm that destroyed most of the Amani army, including their ruler Jintha. The surviving trolls fled and were easily defeated by the elves and humans, ending the war.[1][2]
After the Troll Wars, some humans migrated to Alterac Fortress and the smaller forts in the Eastweald and turned them into flourishing trading outposts.[3]
Speculation
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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.
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Alterac City presumably developed around the fortress. However, the fortress is described as having been located at the base of the mountain range,[1] whereas the city is high in the mountains. Furthermore, their locations on maps do not line up exactly; while the city is in the west-central part of the mountains, the fortress is depicted as having been further to the northeast,[4] loosely corresponding to the location of Crushridge Hold and Slaughter Hollow in World of Warcraft.
References
- ^ a b c World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 130 - 131
- ^ Saga of the Valarjar: Strom'kar, the Warbreaker
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 133
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 128