Menethil Harbor

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AllianceMenethil Harbor
Menethil Harbor after Cataclysm.jpg
Type Small city, Port
Leader(s) IconSmall Adventurer.gif Governing council[1]
IconSmall Dwarf Male.gif Captain Stoutfist
Race(s) HumanHuman Human
DwarfDwarf Dwarf
Night elfNight elf Night elf
GnomeGnome Gnome
Affiliation(s) Kingdom of Ironforge,[2] Grand Alliance
  Formerly Alliance of Lordaeron
Organizations Merchant Marines[3]
Location Western Wetlands[11, 52]
Status Active, partially flooded
Characteristics
Facilities

Yes Inn          Yes Mailbox

Yes Stables

Yes Anvil & Forge

No Bank       No Auctions
Trainers No Class
Yes Profession
Travel Yes Flight Master(s)
Yes Mass-transit
No Portal(s)

Menethil Harbor is a dwarven[4] port town located on a small island on the western shore of the Wetlands. A rough place that plays host to sailors, travelers, smugglers, and pirates,[2] it's also a good place to purchase goods and even have a pint and relax.[5] An Alliance stronghold, the most prominent shape here is the thick, stone wall which protects most of the town from inland incursions. Rising above all else, the four towers of Menethil Keep watch over the settlement like stern guardians.[6] Except for the bridge, the only other ways of entering the town are by sea or by a secret underground path leading from the town to the mainland.[7]

Despite the floods caused by the Cataclysm, the town still includes vendors, trainers, a blacksmith, the Deepwater Tavern, and a gryphon flight master. It has also The Lady Mehley boat that sails to the Ruins of Theramore in Dustwallow Marsh, on the continent of Kalimdor, and the Northspear icebreaker that goes to Valgarde in the Howling Fjord, on the continent of Northrend.

History

The Great Wars

Menethil Harbor in the Trading Card Game.

Following the First War in 5 ADP, this location was originally chosen by Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer to be the place where his invasion fleet would be built. Sailing straight to the Hillsbrad Foothills would let the Orcish Horde avoid the ground defenses of the Alliance of Lordaeron.[8] To build the fleet, the orcs used iron and timber pilfered from their recent conquest of Khaz Modan and its dwarven mines.[9]

After the Second War in 6 ADP, the area was conquered and rebuilt as an Alliance harbor town under the direction of Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, named Menethil Harbor in honor of the king of Lordaeron, Terenas Menethil II. In Year 8 ADP, the forces of the Horde of Draenor attacked the harbor in order to steal ships and set sail for the Tomb of Sargeras.[10] The war party was made up of Ragnok Bloodreaver, Tagar Spinebreaker and Fenris Wolfbrother alongside their respective troops, and a flight of black dragons led by Sabellian. After the orcs' escape, the Alliance sent the Kul Tiran fleet in pursuit, but they were repelled after losing three ships to the dragons.[11]

In the following years, the harbor was attacked several times by raptor packs, but never in large numbers.[4]

World of Warcraft

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

Four years after the Third War, Menethil Harbor served as a link between the old nations of Khaz Modan and Stormwind, and the relatively new Alliance settlements of Theramore Isle and Auberdine.

At the beginning of every month, the Kul Tiran marines of the Theramore Guard all got paid and would usually leave Theramore for somewhere else. A lot of them came to Menethil Harbor to womanize, carouse, and just have a good time.[12] Some of their men were also assigned to guard the passengers of the Lady Mehley, the boat traveling between Theramore and Menethil Harbor.[13]

While the Dragonmaw clan normally hid in the hills, a group of their orcs expanded into Dun Algaz, threatening to cut off Loch Modan from Menethil Harbor.[14] Meanwhile, their leader Nek'rosh Skullcrusher aimed to lay siege to the harbor itself — which would have been effectively blocked from reinforcements due to the fighting in Algaz — and ordered the construction of several catapults.[15] He was ultimately defeated by Alliance adventurers and his head was brought to Captain Stoutfist, thus ending the Dragonmaw threat to Menethil Harbor.[16]

When Dun Modr fell to the Dark Iron dwarves, Harlo Barnaby was gravely wounded and awake in Menethil Harbor, where he eventually tasked adventurers to find his leader, Longbraid the Grim.[17]

The Comic

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

The town docks during a storm in The Comic.

Concurrently with the invasion of Outland in 26 ADP, "Lo'Gosh" (the gladiator-half of King Varian Wrynn) traveled to Menethil Harbor along with his companions, Broll Bearmantle and Valeera Sanguinar. The group eventually encountered Tapoke "Slim" Jahn who ran away after realizing that Varian was still alive. In their pursuit, they entered a bar filled with Defias agents, resulting in a chaotic bar brawl.[2] They later allied with the dwarf Thargas Anvilmar sent by King Magni Bronzebeard to escort them back to Ironforge. Though the drunkard escaped, Lo'Gosh interrogated a dying Defias mage who did not reveal the culprit behind the assassination attempts, but still mentioned that their employer had paid in Stormwind gold.[2] The group then left the harbor and continued on their way to Ironforge.[18]

Wrath of the Lich King

Wrath of the Lich King This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Since the Northrend campaign in 27 ADP, the Northspear icebreaker under the command of Captain John Brookman provides transport between Menethil Harbor and Valgarde in the Howling Fjord.

Night of the Dragon

WoW-novel-logo-16x62.png This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

During her quest to rescue the nether dragon Zzeraku, the draenei Iridi made a stopover at Menethil Harbor, having been allowed to disembark after answering questions from one of the officers. During her visit, Iridi was accompanied by the dwarf Garthin Stoneguider, who revealed that "demon cries" had been heard across the Wetlands at night, and that on the council's orders, no one had the right to leave the town after several scouts failed to return. At the same time, a group of raptors attacked, allowing the draenei priestess to leave Menethil Harbor through a secret tunnel.[6]

It was later revealed by Rhonin that most of the raptors had moved toward the direction of Menethil Harbor because they sensed what was going on in Grim Batol. They had become so desperate, sensing what was happening beneath the cursed mountain, that they had begun launching attacks against the settlement.[4] After Sintharia was defeated, the human mage was positive that the raptors would remain in Raptor Ridge and no longer encroach on the harbor.[19]

Cataclysm

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Menethil Keep damaged by the Cataclysm.

Following the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, Menethil Harbor was partially flooded: a part of it now lay at the bottom of the ocean,[20] its docks are deteriorated, the Maiden's Virtue has sunk, Menethil Keep has been damaged, and the houses had to be evacuated. Most citizens were forced to settle in rowing boats or on small islands, while sandbags were set up to protect certain buildings, such as the Deepwater Tavern. When the flood occurred, it carried numerous ocean dwellers with it, filling the town and bay with crabs.[21]

While the town was still recovering from the floods, Dark Iron dwarves of the Twilight's Hammer led by Horghast Flarecrazed launched an attack, but when Captain Stoutfist and his men rushed to defend the townsfolk, they had to retreat within Menethil Keep. Unwilling to destroy the keep, and having suffered a wound in battle, Captain Stoutfist eventually enlisted Alliance adventurers to eliminate Horghast.[22]

Meanwhile, the Bluegill murlocs began to harass Menethil Harbor's fishers and merchants, until Karl Boran enlisted the heroes to reduce their number and kill their leader, Gobbler.[3] In order to protect her child, Derina Rumdnul also requested the elimination of several Harbor Shredfins in the bay, worried that the rising waters would give them a way into Menethil Harbor.[23]

Travel connections

Flightpaths
Boat

NPCs

In the RPG

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

Menethil Harbor in Lands of Conflict.

Menethil Harbor is the only stationary Alliance presence in the Wetlands, a small well-fortified city that numbers a little over ten thousand souls. This major port city represents the Alliance presence in the Wetlands. Alliance forces established the current Menethil Harbor at the end of the Third War as the main sea link between Khaz Modan and the kingdoms of Alliance, but the area is still wild and untamed.[24]

Murlocs and Dragonmaw orcs are a constant threat to its citizens, who are braver and sterner than their kin. Captain Stoutfist, the town's military leader, can be found in Menethil Keep working to repel the Dragonmaws. The captain is particularly concerned because the orcs seem to be preparing for a major assault.[24]

Notes and trivia

  • Aeonas liked to visit Menethil Harbor with his old skiff in order to trade for supplies and argue with the local fishermen.[25]
  • Menethil was home to Captain Placeholder who would instantly teleport players to Auberdine. He was a favorite of most players but was removed when the boats were added. Due to a glitch, they had to reinstate him until an April 2005 patch. He was so popular that fans made a petition to reinstate him, and others made a song called Lament of Captain Placeholder. While he has not appeared again in the game (and likely never will, if Blizzard can help it), he has appeared in the WotLK and MoP betas.

Gallery

  • Menethil Harbor in World of Warcraft.
    Menethil Harbor in World of Warcraft.
  • The town square before the flood.
    The town square before the flood.
  • In Cataclysm.
    In Cataclysm.
  • Menethil Harbor as seen in The Comic.
    Menethil Harbor as seen in The Comic.
  • Arriving in Menethil by JJcanvas.
    Arriving in Menethil by JJcanvas.

Patch changes

  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Flooded, Dark Iron dwarves added to keep, Maiden's Virtue destroyed.
  • Wrath of the Lich King Patch 3.0.3 (2008-11-04): Boat to Valgarde added.
  • Wrath of the Lich King Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Boat to Auberdine removed.
  • World of Warcraft Hotfix (2005-04-22): Captain Placeholder removed.
  • World of Warcraft Hotfix (2005-01-21): Captain Placeholder added, until the bugged boat to Auberdine is fixed.

References

 
  1. ^ Night of the Dragon, chapter 4: "We've got no reason to stop you from goin' beyond our walls, but the final word'll be decided by the governing council. You'll have to wait until nightfall to hear from them."
  2. ^ a b c d World of Warcraft: The Comic, Issue 8: The Return
  3. ^ a b A [10-30] Claws from the Deep
  4. ^ a b c Night of the Dragon, chapter 17
  5. ^ A [21] Daily Delivery
  6. ^ a b Night of the Dragon, chapter 4
  7. ^ Night of the Dragon, pg. 58
  8. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 151
  9. ^ Tides of Darkness, chapter 7
  10. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 188
  11. ^ Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 10
  12. ^ A [33] The Missing Diplomat
  13. ^ Marine Anderson#Quotes
  14. ^ A [21] The Algaz Gauntlet
  15. ^ A [26] Nek'rosh's Gambit
  16. ^ A [26] Defeat Nek'rosh
  17. ^ A [25] Fall of Dun Modr
  18. ^ World of Warcraft: The Comic, Issue 9: Through the Mirror Darkly
  19. ^ Night of the Dragon, chapter 24
  20. ^ The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm, chapter 14
  21. ^ A [10-30] When Life Gives You Crabs
  22. ^ A [10-30] Assault on Menethil Keep
  23. ^ A [10-30] A Mother's Worries
  24. ^ a b Lands of Conflict, pg. 80
  25. ^ Harold Riggs#Quotes

External links

The Wetlands is a contested territory
Map of the Wetlands - Cataclysm
Map of the Wetlands - Classic
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