Hearthglen
 Hearthglen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Fortified town |
| Leader(s) | Unknown |
| Formerly |
 Tirion Fordring † Taelan Fordring † Magistrate Barthilas † |
| Race(s) |
  Human  Dwarf  Gnome  Night elf  Orc  Tauren  Blood elf |
| Faith(s) | Holy light |
| Affiliation(s) | Argent Crusade |
| Formerly | Scarlet Crusade, Knights of the Silver Hand, Kingdom of Lordaeron |
| Location | Northern Western Plaguelands |
| Status | Active |
| Characteristics | |
| Facilities |
 Bank Auctions |
| Travel |
 Flight Master(s) Mass-transit Portal(s) |
Hearthglen is a fortified town and former principality[1] in the northern area of the former kingdom of Lordaeron, located north of Andorhal, in an area now known as the Western Plaguelands. It is a sturdy fortress, its walls encircling a town hall, a mage tower, a lumber mill, a blacksmith, stables, a scout tower and a mine besides its keep. The road to the town is called Hearthglen Pass,[2] and a forest near Hearthglen is called the Hearthglen Woods.[3]
The town stands out from the rest of the region for its peaceful appearance, although it has not been spared from the attacks of the Scourge.[4] The town and formerly the region, was controlled from Mardenholde Keep. It fell under the control of the Scarlet Crusade until Tirion Fordring returned and resumed control. It now serves as a training ground and headquarters[5] for the Argent Crusade.
History
During the Second War, the keep never fell to the Orcish Horde. Some time before the Third War, traveling dignitaries and representatives from the various nations of the Alliance passed through Hearthglen on their secret diplomatic errands.[6]
Before the Third War, Hearthglen was ruled by the paladin Tirion Fordring, Lord of Mardenholde. He was, however, excommunicated and exiled for treason, for giving aid to an orc found in his lands, Eitrigg. The paladin Barthilas was temporarily given command of the province, but he was wounded during an orc assault on Stratholme, and was not able to make his command effective. Some years later, Tirion's son Taelan Fordring was given control of the keep.[7]
Third War
In the beginnings of the Third War, Hearthglen was a target of the Scourge. The Plague of Undeath arrived there in a grain shipment from Andorhal. The city was about to be attacked by an army of undead, and the defenders had just baked and eaten the grain before the attack started. Meanwhile, Prince Arthas had tracked the shipment of grain to Hearthglen. He, along with soldiers of Lordaeron's army, were able to slay those infected by the shipment before they could spread the disease to the entire town. Shortly thereafter the large undead army laid siege to the town. Reinforced by Prince Arthas and his armies, the town held off the undead long enough for the arrival of Uther and his knights. Ironically, it was the efforts of the future Lich King that saved Hearthglen and ultimately allowed it to survive uncontrolled by the Undead Scourge.[4]
Ashbringer
Following the Scourging of Lordaeron, Hearthglen was used as a rallying point by the remains of the Order of the Silver Hand led by High Alexandros Mograine, due to Taelan Fordring's offer for refuge. The town was later appropriated by the Scarlet Crusade, who turned it into a major base of operations. During a Scourge attack, High General Abbendis died here.[8]
Light's Wrath
At some point, the Scarlet Crusade set out to create a staff of unparalleled holy might, a weapon that would rival even the legendary Ashbringer in righteous fury. Ten of the Scarlet Crusade's learned priests gathered in Hearthglen to create 
[Light's Wrath]. For weeks, they practiced a ritual that would purify the dark jewel they found in the war-torn Plaguelands and bind it to the staff. However, Balnazzar learned of their plans and feared that such a weapon could unmask his deception and shatter his hold over the Crusade. The nathrezim disrupted the cleansing ritual, and the crusaders lost control of their delicate spellwork. A storm of holy energy ripped through the meeting place, instantly killing the ten priests. Yet Light's Wrath was left intact. The blast had purified the jewel and affixed it to the staff. Upon close inspection, Balnazzar found that the staff trembled with unstable energies. Wielding it with any reliability would be near impossible. Rather than destroy the weapon, the demon allowed the Scarlet Crusade to keep it. He looked forward to the mayhem it would cause in the years to come.[9]
World of Warcraft
At some point, Kirsta Deepshadow was sent by the Kingdom of Stormwind to gauge the strength of Hearthglen's defenses. She was to infiltrate the town but was injured, so she accepted the help of Alliance adventurers to assist her at Hearthglen Pass and inside Hearthglen as well.[10][2][11]
In order to save his son from the Scarlet Crusade, Tirion Fordring asked the adventurers to meet Myranda the Hag at Uther's Tomb, so they could be disguised and infiltrate Hearthglen to deliver Tirion's Gift without being attacked by the Scarlet crusaders.[12] Upon receiving the box and its contents, Taelan Fordring agreed to leave the Scarlet Crusade and reunite with his father outside of town,[13] however, this betrayal triggered the Grand Crusader Dathrohan (possessed by Balnazzar), who sent Grand Inquisitor Isillien to kill the Fordrings. After he managed to defeat the assassins, Tirion rushed to Hearthglen, where he witnessed Isillien killing Taelan. Spurred by his son's death, Tirion avenged him and vowed over his son's body to reform the original Order of the Silver Hand as its Highlord, once more as a force of good dedicated to extinguishing the evil that plagued the world.[14]
Wrath of the Lich King
Prior to the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, High Commander Galvar Pureblood assembled a host of Scarlet armies in Hearthglen and the surrounding area to aid the Crusade at the Scarlet Enclave east of Tyr's Hand, along with crusaders from Tirisfal Glades; the combined Scarlet armies were destroyed by the Scourge shortly thereafter, after they were led into a trap by the Lich King and the death knights of Acherus.[15][16]
Cataclysm
When Tirion Fordring returned from Northrend after the end of the war against the Lich King, he resumed the command of Hearthglen. The area is now controlled by the Argent Crusade and serves as a training ground for its forces. The priest Daria L'Rayne was preserving the peace in the town.[17] Recently, supplies from the town went missing, and Daria along with an adventurer discovered them among the Redpine gnolls at Taelan's Tower. Eventually, they found out the culprit, Magus Bisp, one of the town's most preeminent arcanists.[18][19][20]
Legion
During the Burning Legion's third invasion, Hearthglen was attacked by a small demonic force. The town was successfully defended by the forces of the reborn Order of the Silver Hand,[21] who also recruited Sir Alamande Graythorn, a noted scholar from the Hearthglen archives.[22]
Exploring Azeroth
After the death of Tirion Fordring, it is unclear who governs the town. Following the Fourth War, the keep of the city served as a training ground for the troops of the Argent Crusade.[23]
Travel connections
Flight
The Menders' Stead, Western Plaguelands- Plaguewood Tower, Eastern Plaguelands
Location
To reach Hearthglen, follow the path north starting at [50, 42] in the Western Plaguelands. The gates of Hearthglen are at [48, 21].
NPCs
Current
Services
|
Former
|
In the RPG
Tirion Fordring once oversaw Hearthglen, a quiet rural community. Now the town is the Western Scarlet Crusade's military headquarters. Fanatical warriors and priests man Hearthglen's walls and patrol the nearby territory, so crazed in their beliefs that they attack anyone they think carries the plague — which is pretty much everyone. Tirion's son, Taelan Fordring, supposedly controls the town, but Grand Inquisitor Isillien manipulates him easily.[24]
Notes
- According Mathias Shaw, it's in the keep of Hearthglen that the book
[The Light and How to Swing It], written by Uther the Lightbringer, was kept for a time.[4] - The libram of Davil Lightfire was put by the Crusade in the town hall of Hearthglen.[25]
- A port city called New Hearthglen is located in the Dragonblight of Northrend. It is held by the Scarlet Onslaught, an offshoot of the Scarlet Crusade.
Gallery
Hearthglen seen on a Warcraft III map.
Patch changes
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Now under the control of the Argent Crusade.
Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): No longer an elite area. - Patch 1.8.0 (2005-10-10): Hearthglen now has the proper outdoor elite monster respawn time.
See also
References
- ^ Of Blood and Honor, pg. 3
- ^ a b [57] Unfinished Business
- ^ Of Blood and Honor, chapter 5
- ^ a b c World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 74
- ^ [15-30] Northridge Lumber Mill
- ^ Of Blood and Honor, chapter 1
- ^ Of Blood and Honor
- ^ World of Warcraft: Ashbringer, Issue 4 - Dust to Dust
- ^ Word of the Conclave#Light's Wrath
- ^ [56] Unfinished Business
- ^ [58] Unfinished Business
- ^ [60] Find Myranda
- ^ [60] Scarlet Subterfuge
- ^ [60G] In Dreams
- ^
[The Path of Redemption]
- ^
[8-30] The Scarlet Apocalypse
- ^ [15-30] Taelan Fordring's Legacy
- ^ [15-30] Unusual Behavior... Even For Gnolls
- ^ [15-30] The Good People of Hearthglen
- ^ [15-30] Bagging Bisp
- ^
Wrath and Justice
- ^
[10-45] Wrath and Justice
- ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 75
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 111
- ^ [56] Heroes of Darrowshire
External links
es:Vega del Amparo fr:Âtreval