Hinterlands

For the zone before the Cataclysm, see Hinterlands (Classic).

The Hinterlands
Level: 10-30 Battle Pet Level: 11 - 12
Capital(s)	Aerie Peak Jintha'Alor
Races	Forest troll  Dire troll  Wildhammer dwarf  High elf Green dragon  Gnome  Draenei  Orc  Forsaken  Goblin  Ogre
Ruler(s)	Falstad Wildhammer   Primal Torntusk   Elder Torntusk
Former ruler(s)	Vile Priestess Hexx †
Major settlements	Revantusk Village Seradane Shadra'Alor
Minor settlements	Quel'Danil Lodge Stormfeather Outpost Hiri'watha Research Station Shaol'watha Shindigger's Camp Altar of Zul Agol'watha
Affiliation	Wildhammer clan, Highvale, Alliance, Revantusk tribe, Forsaken, Horde, Vilebranch tribe, Amani Empire
Former affiliation(s)	Green dragonflight, Witherbark tribe, Old Horde
Location	Eastern Lordaeron
PvP status	Contested territory

The Hinterlands are a wooded and mountainous region located in the eastern part of Lordaeron, north of the Eastern Kingdoms. Notable for the Wildhammer dwarves who made their residence at Aerie Peak in the west, it is here that these dwarves find and tame their world-renowned gryphons. The Hinterlands are also home to a large population of forest trolls, which are divided into three separate tribes, including the Revantusk tribe, who pledged their allegiance to the Horde. In the northern part of the region is the ancient, massive tree Seradane, where the agents of the green dragonflight have once been corrupted by the Emerald Nightmare. A massive portal on the side of the tree connects the servants of nature to her own realm, the Emerald Dream. The Hinterlands are also home to the Highvale high elves of Quel'Danil Lodge.

History

Early history

The earliest inhabitants of the Hinterlands were the forest trolls of the Amani Empire. This ancient empire stretched across much of eastern Lordaeron, with the Hinterlands at its heart, where great troll cities were built and whose ruins still testify to the once-great empire.

Around 2,800 BDP, the forest trolls received aid from the Zandalari trolls who wanted to revitalize the Empire, in order to reassert troll dominance in the Eastern Kingdoms. During the Troll Wars, the trolls began their successful invasion of Quel'Thalas, until the high elves allied with the human of the Arathorian Empire, teaching them the secrets of the arcane arts in exchange for their support. The trolls were no match for the combined armies and were utterly defeated. The Amani Empire, which had previously lorded over most of northern Lordaeron, remained in existence but was ultimately reduced to small remnants in eastern Quel'Thalas and the southern Hinterlands.

Wildhammer arrival

The Hinterlands landscape in-game.

After the War of the Three Hammers in 230 BDP, the Wildhammer dwarves forsook their subterranean homes of Grim Batol and traveled north to the Hinterlands, where they built dwellings above the ground at the city of Aerie Peak. They adopted a society that focused less on metalworking and mining, and more on a closeness with nature, to the point they even bonded with the mighty gryphons of the area. So strong was the bond between them that the Wildhammer clan constructed an enormous monument in the likeness of a gryphon at Aerie Peak. Upon their arrival, the dwarves found themselves immediately at odds with the trolls of the Hinterlands. The trolls view the Wildhammers as squatters on their ancestral lands and spare no opportunity to accost the dwarves by attacking the gryphon aeries.

Meanwhile, the Hinterland trolls had recovered some of their numbers after the devastating Troll Wars, splitting themselves into three separate tribes. The Vilebranch tribe was the strongest and held the ancient Amani bastions of Jintha'Alor and the Altar of Zul. The Witherbark tribe was weaker than the Vilebranch, residing amongst the old temples of Shadra'Alor and the ruins of Hiri'Watha. The weakest of the three tribes was the Revantusk tribe, who were nomadic and called no place their home.

Second War

At the time of the Second War in 5 ADP, the Wildhammer clan was led by Thane Kurdran Wildhammer. Highly isolationist, they were virtually unaware of the Orcish Horde's existence, only discovering the orcish presence when they barreled into their territory. Based from Aerie Peak, the dwarves bombarded the Horde army with shaman-enchanted stormhammers from atop their mounts. Thane Kurdran and his forces ensured that the orcs were under constant harassment from the skies, viewing the invaders as a threat to the clan's safety. The Horde could field no reliable method to deal with the Wildhammers, all their dragons having remained behind with the ships. As a result, serious losses were suffered as the Horde's numbers were slowly whittled down.

Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer later deduced that if he sent a force to attack the Hinterlands, the Alliance of Lordaeron would respond, allowing him to take the remainder of his forces into Quel'Thalas with the aid of Zul'jin and the Amani tribe. Realizing their plans, Anduin Lothar dispatched Turalyon and Khadgar, along with half the Alliance forces, to travel north to Quel'Thalas and come to the aid of the elves, while he aided Kurdran in clearing out the remaining Horde forces in the Hinterlands. The Wildhammer Thane eventually pledged his kingdom's aid to the Alliance after they forced the invaders out of their homeland.

During the war, the orcs had a base at Skulk Rock. Elder Torntusk was there among the forest trolls when they were driven out by the Alliance and Wildhammers all the way back to the Alterac Mountains.

Third War

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

When the Scourge invaded Quel'Thalas in 20 ADP, the high elves of Quel'Thalas sent three ships with nearly one hundred children to the Hinterlands, with hopes to reach the Wildhammer dwarves. Despite the best efforts of the ships' guards, gargoyles soon reached the ships and destroyed them, killing almost every elf.

World of Warcraft

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

Aerie Peak, capital of the Wildhammer clan.

Following the Third War in 21 ADP, emissaries of the New Horde were sent to the Eastern Kingdoms seeking allies, eventually meeting the forest troll tribes of the Hinterlands. Among them, the Vilebranch and the Witherbark tribes refused outright, but the Revantusk tribe, seeking to raise their position, reluctantly agreed. Thereafter, the Horde aided the Revantusk in building their first settlement after centuries of wandering, Revantusk Village. Because of the aid they received, the Revantusk trolls became staunch allies of the Horde.

Though the Scourge did not reach the Hinterlands, the Wildhammer dwarves remained on the edge of this frontier and remained independent of the reformed Alliance. They eventually softened their isolationist stance when Alliance adventurers aided them and proved their worth to them. Meanwhile, Quel'Danil Lodge was used as a center of communication for the high elves of the Hinterlands. Their ambassadors were working to establish relationships with other races, with whom they shared their knowledge of the Witherbark trolls that inhabit the area in the southern Hinterlands. After the Third War, they struck an alliance with the Wildhammer dwarves, much to the ire of their common enemy, the Revantusk trolls.

In Year 25 ADP, the green dragon Ysondre was one of the first dragons to succumb to the Emerald Nightmare, and she emerged from the World Tree portal of Seradane to terrorize the local population of the Hinterlands. Adventurers eventually managed to defeat her

In Season of Discovery, Sagefeather was a wildkin with the title of "Guardian of the Hinterlands".

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

Prior to the invasion of Outland in 26 ADP, the Hinterlands were invaded by a group of Burning Legion demons led by Highlord Kruul.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Jintha'Alor, once the capital of the Vilebranch tribe.

In order to prevent political turmoil in Ironforge, Falstad Wildhammer joined the Council of Three Hammers, leading the Hinterland Wildhammer dwarves to pledge themselves to the Alliance.

After the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, the mainline Alliance and Horde forces turned their attention to this previously neglected region. The Wildhammer clan expanded eastward, setting up new camps such as Stormfeather Outpost in former Revantusk territory. The Horde presence was augmented with the Forsaken, who took over Hiri'watha, converting it into Hiri'watha Research Station, and the Revantusk trolls who had taken Shaol'watha from the Vilebranch tribe. Both factions also increased their pressure on the native unaligned trolls, driving them out of their former camps and setting up their own camps on the footsteps of Jintha'Alor. The Witherbark tribe was eventually driven from the Hinterlands by the Forsaken. Overall, however, the land suffered little from the Cataclysm, retaining its serene, peaceful green landscape of forests and grasslands. A new tunnel was carved into the southern mountains, connecting the Hinterlands with the Arathi Highlands.

At some point, a group of young draenei moved into the Hinterlands under the leadership of Ambassador Rualeth. While some of them are seen in Aerie Peak, others moved to the Quel'Danil Lodge. These draenei hope to act as Alliance emissaries and recruit the Highvale high elves and Wildhammers dwarves to the Alliance cause. As part of the Forsaken offensive in all the continent, the lodge came under attack. With the help of adventurers, the Highvale high elves and the draenei settlers were able to repel the invaders. The Highvale documents were also retrieved from the chaos by Alliance adventurers and safely delivered to Anchorite Traska.

Both the Wildhammer clan and Revantusk tribe eventually laid siege to Jintha'Alor, seeking to end the Vilebranch's incursions upon their land and claim vengeance for their fallen kindred. In the aftermath of this attack, the Revantusk took a step further and claimed the city for their tribe and the Horde.

Getting there

Horde

From Durnholde Keep in the Hillsbrad Foothills, head northeast. Eventually, you should come to a break in the mountains (^[84, 32] [1]). Head through the pass into the Hinterlands. The Horde flight path is in the far east of the zone, on the coast. Make your way across the country to the east until you find the road at Hiri'watha. Follow the road east almost all the way to the cliffs, then take the trail branching northeast (away from the troll city Jintha'Alor). The trail should take you to a path leading down the cliffs. Once on the beach, head to the south. You will find the Horde outpost, Revantusk Village.

Alliance

From Refuge Pointe, head northwest towards a tunnel connecting Arathi Highlands and the Hinterlands Head through the tunnel into the Hinterlands.^{[36.13, 30.23]} The Alliance outpost is very close to the entrance to the zone: just head straight northwest along the road and you will come to Aerie Peak. Going northeast will lead you to another Alliance settlement: the high elven Quel'Danil Lodge.

Geography

While there are no instanced dungeons in the Hinterlands, the zone is notable for its huge outdoor micro dungeon, Jintha'Alor.

The Hinterlands are the location of Seradane, one of the four Great Trees leading to the Emerald Dream and guarded by the four Emerald Dragons. The three others are in Ashenvale, Duskwood, and Feralas.

Maps and subregions

Map of the Hinterlands.

Map of the Hinterlands prior to Cataclysm.

Aerie Peak Wildhammer Keep Agol'watha The Altar of Zul Bogen's Ledge The Creeping Ruin Featherbeard's Hovel The Forbidding Sea Hiri'watha Research Station/Hiri'watha Jintha'Alor The Overlook Cliffs Plaguemist Ravine Quel'Danil Lodge Revantusk Village Seradane Shaol'watha Shadra'Alor Shindigger's Camp Skulk Rock Stormfeather Outpost Valorwind Lake Zun'watha

Lore locations Aerie Peaks

Warcraft RPG Chaos Cavern

• 

  Map of the Hinterlands prior to patch 1.5.

Topographic map of the Hinterlands

Travel hubs

Quel'Danil Lodge, base of the Highvale high elves.

Flight paths from Aerie Peak

• Ironforge, Dun Morogh
• Refuge Pointe, Arathi Highlands
• Stormfeather Outpost, The Hinterlands
• Chillwind Camp, Western Plaguelands
• Andorhal, Western Plaguelands
• Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands

Flight paths from Stormfeather Outpost

• Refuge Pointe, Arathi Highlands
• Aerie Peak, The Hinterlands
• Thondroril River, Eastern Plaguelands
• Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands

Revantusk Village, base of the Revantusk tribe.

Flight paths from Revantusk Village

• Undercity, Tirisfal Glades
• Tarren Mill, Hillsbrad Foothills
• Hammerfall, Arathi Highlands
• Hiri'watha Research Station, The Hinterlands
• Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands

Flight paths from Hiri'watha Research Station

• Tarren Mill, Hillsbrad Foothills
• Hammerfall, Arathi Highlands
• Revantusk Village, The Hinterlands
• Andorhal, Western Plaguelands
• Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands

Portal at Seradane

• Emerald Dreamway, a portal hub within the Emerald Dream.

Adjacent regions

Zone Name	Faction	Level Range	Direction	Access subzone	Access method
Hillsbrad Foothills		15 - 60	Southwest	Aerie Peak	By foot or flightpath from Revantusk to Tarren Mill
Eastern Plaguelands		40 - 60	Northeast		By flying mount or swimming through the eastern coast
Western Plaguelands		35 - 60	Northwest	Plaguemist Ravine	By foot or Alliance flightpath from Aerie Peak to Chillwind Camp
Arathi Highlands		25 - 60	South		By foot through tunnel South-west of Hira-watha Research Station South-east of Aerie Peak

Notable characters

Main article: Hinterlands NPCs

Quests

Main article: Hinterlands storyline

Resources

Shindigger's Camp

• Fishes
  •  [Raw Rockscale Cod]
• Herbs
  •  [Blindweed]
  •  [Bruiseweed]
  •  [Fadeleaf]
  •  [Goldthorn]
  •  [Khadgar's Whisker]
  •  [Kingsblood]
  •  [Liferoot]
  •  [Stranglekelp]
  •  [Wildvine] (Drops fairly often from Vilebranch and Witherbark trolls)
  •  [Wild Steelbloom]
• Leather
  •  [Medium Leather]
  •  [Heavy Leather]
• Ores
  •  [Silver Ore]
  •  [Iron Ore]
  •  [Gold Ore]

Wild creatures

Creeping Ruin

• Dragonspawn
• Gryphons
• Moonkin
• Mountain giant
• Oozes
• Sharks
• Spiders
• Turtles
• Wildkin
• Wolves

In the RPG

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

History

The Hinterlands have remained pristine for centuries. The hill dwarves of the Wildhammer Clan, the only dwarves in Lordaeron, moved their capital to Aerie Peak after losing Grim Batol in the Second War. Wildhammer gryphon riders are legendary and were a great boon to the Alliance in the Second and Third Wars.

When the ravenous Horde crashed through the Dark Portal and sacked Stormwind, the omens of hope began to glimmer for the trolls. When the orcs invaded a second time, they plowed through Khaz Modan and into Lordaeron. The three troll tribes saw the Horde as the means to their redemption. The Hinterlands forest troll tribes joined the Horde seeking to destroy their old enemies, the elves and the humans. They even managed to invade Quel'Thalas, but the Horde was ultimately defeated. Seeking to avoid the orcs' fate of imprisonment and slavery, the trolls abandoned their allies and returned to the Hinterlands, their dreams of former glory shattered. Even though the trolls were defeated in the war, their role in the greater scheme of things was not quite spent.

During the same war, the Wildhammer dwarves sided with the Alliance, horrified at the defeat of their ancestral homeland of Khaz Modan. They sent their powerful gryphon riders into battle against the Horde. Perhaps without them, the Alliance would not have won.

In the events that transpired in Lordaeron during the years to come, the Hinterlands were little affected. The Wildhammer dwarves took in some refugees fleeing the destruction wrought by the Scourge, and many forest trolls moved south as well.

Though largely peaceful, hostile trolls and dangerous creatures roam the wilderness. These daring trolls steal gryphon eggs from Aerie Peak and they have begun training their own gryphon riders. If they complete their training, they would seriously curtail the Wildhammers' dominance, that is why the dwarves ask heroes to rescue the fledgling gryphons and slay the trolls.

People and culture

The savage Wildhammer dwarves, based in Aerie Peak, control most of this territory. For some reason, Wildhammers like high elves. A connection formed between the two peoples, and seemingly it has something to do with nature and wildness. There are several high elves in Aerie Peak, and they have a hunting lodge nearby.

The Hinterlands also play home to two marauding forest troll tribes: the Vilebranch and the Witherbark. Like other forest trolls, these creatures are vile and sadistic. They harass the Wildhammers constantly and prey on lone travelers. They infect this beautiful land with their presence.

Geography

Making their home in Aerie Peak, the dwarves have made efforts to preserve this realm. In utter contrast to the Plaguelands, the Hinterlands are a verdant, green realm of majestic oaks and maples. No roads cross the region and the area is tranquil and calm. The northeastern portion is especially idyllic, with mild, pleasant weather and many natural splendors. To the southwest the land becomes a bit misty and forlorn, taking on tones of the Arathi Highlands and the Alterac Mountains. Vacant human farms and settlements are scattered across this area, but the only tangible forces that threaten the Hinterlands are two brutal forest troll tribes.

The Hinterlands border the Arathi Highlands to the south, the Hillsbrad Foothills to the southwest, the Alterac Mountains to the west and the Eastern Plaguelands to the north. Tyr's Hand in the Plaguelands is very near the border, which may help explain why that city remains relatively safe. It is amazing that the Hinterlands can thrive so near the wasted Plaguelands.

The Hinterlands are composed of lovely deciduous forest, primarily oaks and maples. Many of its trees are very old, and in some places branches block out the sun to create a world of perpetual twilight. Mossy beards hang from branches and streams rush over pebbles. The northeast is especially pristine, while the southwest is somewhat misty and eerie. Forest animals of all kinds live within the woods, and the Wildhammers tell explorers that dire bears, wildkin and similarly dangerous creatures are common.

Notes and trivia

• Akil'darah is the eagle spirit of the Hinterlands.
• Aerie Peaks was originally the name given to the Hinterlands during its development for World of Warcraft.

Patch changes

• Patch 7.3.5 (2018-01-16): Level scaling implemented, previous zone level: 30 - 35.
  
• Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Revamped with the Cataclysm.
  
• Patch 1.5.0 (2005-06-07):
  • The Hinterlands has a new Horde quest hub known as Revantusk Village, located on the eastern coastline.
  • A new graveyard has been added near the east coast of the Hinterlands at the Overlook Cliffs.
  • The two Hinterlands graveyards are now using a system that will ensure that the spirits of dead characters go to the closest graveyard.
    
• Patch 0.7 (2004-06-15): Opened and itemized.
  

See also

•  [The Aerie 8 Year, Hinterlands Malt]

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB
• Wago