Northern Barrens storyline
Northern Barrens is a zone for Horde players. Since the Cataclysm, the zone has been thrown into disarray with floods, earthquakes and a Quilboar invasion. Players travel around the zone trying to create stability and preserve the connection between Orgrimmar and Thunder Bluff.
The progress of the storyline is tracked in the achievement
[Northern Barrens Quests].
Caravan Run
After following one of three breadcrumb quests to the Northern Barrens, players find themselves at Far Watch Post where they are thrust into battle with the Razormane quilboar. Kargal Battlescar and Halga Bloodeye have players beat back the Quilboar and retrieve stolen supplies from their cave. After retrieving the supplies, Halga tasks players with escorting a vital supply caravan all the way to Crossroads in [5-30] Crossroads Caravan Pickup.
- Optional breadcrumbs:
[5-30] Preserving the Barrens
[5-30] Conscript of the Horde
[5-30] Warchief's Command: Northern Barrens!
[5-30] In Defense of Far Watch
- Side quests:
[5-30] Through Fire and Flames,
[5-30] Plainstrider Menace
- Side quests:
[5-30] The Far Watch Offensive
- Side quest:
[5-30] Supplies for the Crossroads
- Side quest:
[5-30] Crossroads Caravan Pickup
After a difficult journey, the caravan stops for supplies at Grol'dom Farm where they are having their own problems with the Quilboar. The Orc Togrik has players capture one of the Quilboar for questioning in [5-30] Drag it Out of Them. The captured Quilboar reveals that they are being led by a Quilboar named Tortusk. After eliminating Tortusk in
[5-30] The Tortusk Takedown, the remaining Quilboar scatter and the caravan can continue all the way to Crossroads.
[5-30] Drag it Out of Them
- Side quests:
[5-30] The Grol'dom Militia,
[5-30] Consumed by Hatred
- Side quests:
[5-30] By Hook Or By Crook
[5-30] The Tortusk Takedown
[5-30] Grol'dom's Missing Kodo
[5-30] Animal Services
[5-30] The Kodo's Return
- To the Crossroads:
[5-30] Crossroads Caravan Delivery
Crossroads
In the Crossroads there are several quest chains that can be followed:
- The Sergra Darkthorn line, starting with
[5-30] The Zhevra
- The Oasis line, starting with
[5-30] The Forgotten Pools
- The Fungal Spores line, starting with
[5-30] Fungal Spores
The Sergra Darkthorn line has players doing quests for Sergra Darkthorn around Crossroads. To begin with, she has players test their mettle by hunting various beasts around the town before giving them a mission in [5-30] The Purloined Payroll. A caravan with silver wages went missing on the road to Ratchet and she sends players to investigate. It is soon found that the caravan was attacked by Raptors who were attracted to the shiny metal. The silver is recovered in
[5-30] The Stolen Silver and delivered to Gazrog in Ratchet.
-
[5-30] The Zhevra
[5-30] Hunting the Huntress
[5-30] Echeyakee
[5-30] Into the Raptor's Den
[5-30] The Purloined Payroll
[5-30] Investigate the Wreckage
[5-30] To Track a Thief
[5-30] The Stolen Silver
- Side quest:
[5-30] Waptor Twapping
- Side quest:
The Oasis line is started by the concerned Tauren druid Tonga Runetotem, who has felt a disturbance in the land. Additionally, the once-barren oases of the land are blooming with life again. He sends players to the Forgotten Pools to investigate where this power is coming from in The Forgotten Pools. Players discover that there are fissures in the ground from which power is emanating. Tonga then sends players to investigate the Stagnant Oasis before thanking them and continuing his research. While at these two oases, players can accept side quests which involve the Kolkar Centaurs who have grown in power recently. These quests involve taking down Kolkar warriors and leaders before eventually taking out Verog the Dervish in the quest of the same name and putting a large setback in the Centaur expansion.
[5-30] The Forgotten Pools
- Side quests:
[5-30] Kolkar Leaders,
[5-30] A Little Diversion
- Dungeon breadcrumb:
[8-30D] Disciples of Naralex
- Side quests:
[5-30] A Growing Problem
[5-30] The Stagnant Oasis &
[5-30] Altered Beings
- Side quests:
[5-30] King of Centaur Mountain
[5-30] Flushing Out Verog
[5-30] Verog the Dervish
The Fungal Spores line is started by the Fosaken Apothecary Helbrim who is trying to create a new biological weapon using the life energy of the oases. He has players use the power of the oases to create explosive spores that he tries to send back to Undercity. However before he can, the research is taken to Orgrimmar and players are warned to stay away from the Undead.
[5-30] Fungal Spores
[5-30] In Fungus We Trust
[5-30] Who's Shroomin' Who?
After spending some time in the zone and leveling up, another quest line opens up from Thork in Crossroads who sends players to Regthar Deathgate. Regthar is preparing to eliminate the Kolkar threat once and for all, starting by eliminating Hezrul Bloodmark. After this, the centaur are enraged and launch a full-scale attack on the Horde outpost in [5-30G] Counterattack! Players resist the attack and defeat Warlord Krom'zar, leader of the Kolkar, to end the Kolkar threat in the Northern Barrens once and for all.
[5-30] Deathgate's Reinforcements
[5-30] Centaur Bracers
[5-30] Hezrul Bloodmark
[5-30G] Counterattack!
Ratchet
The Sergra Darkthorn and Fungal Spores quest lines both lead players to Ratchet where more three short quest lines can be started.
The first quest chain is started by Gazlowe, who has players locate his lost treasure by speaking to the captured pirate Baron Longshore. After retrieving the treasure, Gazlowe sends the player to Nozzlepot's Outpost, up the river, to pay Nozzlepot for his help.
[5-30] Find Baron Longshore
[5-30] The Baron's Demands
[5-30] A Most Unusual Map
[5-30] Gazlowe's Fortune
[5-30] Raging River Ride
The second short quest line is also started by Gazlowe, who is annoyed at the constant interference of the Alliance in his city. He has players blow up the Alliance ships in his harbor to get them out.
[5-30] Club Foote
[5-30] Love it or Limpet
[5-30] Ammo Kerblammo
Side quest:
[5-30] A Captain's Vengeance
The final short quest line in Ratchet is started by Wharfmaster Dizzywig who is dealing with Southsea Freebooters on Fray Island. He supports Tony Two-Tusk with weapons and money (with players' help of course) and in return, Tony takes out Alicia Cuthbert and takes over the pirates himself. With Tony in charge, the attacks on Ratchet stop.
[5-30] Take it up with Tony
[5-30] Glomp is Sitting On It
[5-30] Guns. We Need Guns.
[5-30] Mutiny, Mon!
Side quests:
[5-30] Southsea Freebooters
[5-30] WANTED: Cap'n Garvey
[5-30] It's Gotta be the Horn
[5-30] Root Samples
Nozzlepot's Outpost
Nozzlepot's Outpost is the final questing location in the Northern Barrens. In the Outpost players help Sputtervalve steal a machine from the nearby Venture Co. camp known as the Samophlange. After retrieving it, the Goblins of the outpost work together to put it back together (with the help of the player) and it explodes triumphantly.
[5-30] Samophlange
[5-30] Samophlange
[5-30] Samophlange
[5-30] Samophlange
[5-30] Samophlange Repair
[5-30] Wenikee Boltbucket
[5-30] Nugget Slugs
- Side quest:
[5-30] A Burning Threat
- Side quest:
[5-30] Return to Samophlanger
[5-30] Read the Manual
- Side quest:
[5-30] Miner's Fortune
- Side quest:
A side quest in the Venture Co. camp has players steal a shredder to bring back to Nozzlepot's Outpost.
[5-30] Ignition
[5-30] The Escape
A couple of sidequests are also given by Nozzlepot himself.
[5-30] Sludge Investigation
[5-30] Sludge Beast!
[5-30] Hyena Extermination
Also at Nozzlepot's Outpost, Sputtervalve gives players the option to take his new invention back to Crossroads. Needless to say, it goes badly and players end up near the Forgotten Pools where Darsok Swiftdagger is dealing with the Witchwing Harpies. He enlists players to help take down the Harpies and eventually their leader Serena Bloodfeather.
[5-30] The Short Way Home
[5-30] Harpy Raiders &
[5-30] Harpy Lieutenants
[5-30] Serena Bloodfeather
Finally, once the player deals with the harpies, they are directed back to Crossroads for one final questline that eventually leads to Ashenvale.
[5-30] Report to Thork
[5-30] Mor'shan Caravan Pick-Up
[5-30] Mor'shan Caravan Rescue
[5-30] Demon Seed
[5-30] Mor'shan Caravan Delivery
Full Quest List
Quest Name | Start | End | XP | Reputation | Reward | Description |
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Gotura Fourwinds | Kargal Battlescar | 1,075 | +75 Orgrimmar | 2![]() ![]() |
Report to Kargal Battlescar in the Northern Barrens to preserve the vital territory. |
![]() Northern Barrens! |
Warchief's Command Board | Kargal Battlescar | 85 | +10 Orgrimmar | -- | Travel to the Northern Barrens where Centaur and Quilboar are harrying the Horde. |
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Kargal Battlescar | Kargal Battlescar | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | -- | Defend Far Watch Post by driving back the Razormane Quilboar back from the river. |
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Dorak | Dorak | 880 | -- | ![]() ![]() |
Free the wolves trapped in a burning barn. |
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Kargal Battlescar | Kargal Battlescar | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Launch a tactical strike on Kreenig Snarlsnout, who is leading the Quilboar incursions on Far Watch Post. |
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Halga Bloodeye | Halga Bloodeye | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | 5![]() |
Clear out the plainstriders that get in the way of caravans crossing the Barrens. |
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Halga Bloodeye | Halga Bloodeye | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | 5![]() |
Retrieve the shipment of supplies meant for the Crossroads from the Quilboar camp. |
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Halga Bloodeye | Kranal Fiss | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() ![]() 5 ![]() |
Escort the caravan as it travels from Far Watch Post to Grol'dom Farm, defending it from Quilboar attackers. |
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Togrik | Togrik | 910 | -- | 5![]() |
Capture a Quilboar in a net and bring him back to Togrik. |
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Togrik | Togrik | 680 | -- | 3![]() ![]() |
Question the captured Quilboar to see what he reveals about the Quilboar attacks. |
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Togrik | Togrik | 1,150 | -- | ![]() ![]() ![]() 10 ![]() |
Slay Tortusk, the Quilboar who has united the Razormane and coordinated their assault against Horde caravans and stop the attacks forever. |
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Una Wolfclaw | Una Wolfclaw | 910 | -- | 5![]() |
Defend Grol'dom Farm from Quilboar attacks until help can arrive. |
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Mankrik | Mankrik | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slay droves of Quilboar to ease Mankrik's pain after they murdered his wife and destroyed his home. |
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Kranal Fiss | Grol'dom Kodo | 680 | -- | -- | Find the missing Kodo belonging to Grol'dom Farm. |
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Grol'dom Kodo | Grol'dom Kodo | 910 | -- | -- | Use grain to restore strength to the missing Kodo so it can return to the farm. |
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Grol'dom Kodo | Kranal Fiss | 225 | -- | ![]() ![]() 10 ![]() |
Check with Kranal Fiss to make sure the Kodo returned to the farm. |
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Rocco Whipshank | Thork | 910 | -- | 6![]() |
Finish the journey to the Crossroads, defending the caravan from any Quilboar attacks along the way. |
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Tonga Runetotem | Tonga Runetotem | 680 | +150 Thunder Bluff | -- | Head to the Forgotten Pools and find the source of the mysterious change in the natural energy of the Barrens. |
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Telar Highstrider | Telar Highstrider | 980 | +150 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() ![]() 6 ![]() |
Slay Barak Kodobane, one of the Kolkar Centaurs who had rallied the others behind him. |
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Ta'jari | Ta'jari | 910 | -- | 6![]() |
Slay Kolkar centaur so Ta'jari can escape from the Forgotten Pools. |
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Tonga Runetotem | Jerrik Highmountain | 910 | -- | 4![]() |
Travel south through the Stagnant Oasis with Tonga's eagle aide and find Jerrik Highmountain. |
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Jerrik Highmountain | Tonga Runetotem | 1,150 | +250 Thunder Bluff | -- | Experiment with the life energy emanating from the oases by planting dry seeds in the Stagnant Oasis. |
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Tonga Runetotem | Tonga Runetotem | 980 | +250 Thunder Bluff | 6![]() |
Investigate the altered animals of the oases of the Northern Barrens. |
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Gorgal Angerscar | Shoe | 980 | -- | 6![]() |
Slay the strongest Centaur warrior in the Stangant Oasis, Kurak. |
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Shoe | Shoe | 1,050 | -- | 3![]() ![]() |
Search for clues as to who Verog the Dervish could be. |
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Shoe | Shoe | 880 | +150 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() 8 ![]() |
Lure Verog the Dervish out by killing his mate, then slay him as well to disrupt the Kolkar in the Stagnant Oasis. |
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Sergra Darkthorn | Sergra Darkthorn | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | 6![]() |
Prove your strength to Sergra by hunting the Zhevra of the plains. |
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Sergra Darkthorn | Sergra Darkthorn | 910 | +250 Orgrimmar | 6![]() |
Take it a step forward by hunting the Savannah Huntresses that terrorize the plains. |
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Sergra Darkthorn | Sergra Darkthorn | 1,150 | +350 Orgrimmar | -- | Take the ultimate challenge by hunting the Savannah king Echeyakee. |
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Sergra Darkthorn | Sergra Darkthorn | 980 | +250 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() 6 ![]() |
Hunt the Sunscale raptors at their nests South of the Crossroads. |
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Sergra Darkthorn | Gazrog | 540 | -- | -- | Find Gazrog in Ratchet and help investigate the case of the missing silver. |
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Gazrog | Automatic | 800 | -- | -- | Go find the caravan crash site somewhere along the road from the Crossroads to Ratchet. |
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Automatic | Automatic | 270 | -- | -- | Find the source of the animal tracks around the crash site. |
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Automatic | Gazrog | 1,350 | -- | ![]() ![]() 14 ![]() |
Teach the raptors a lesson for stealing the Horde's silver. |
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Kala'ma | Kala'ma | 1,150 | -- | ![]() ![]() ![]() 8 ![]() |
Help Kala'ma set up his waptor twaps so that he can twap the waptors for the Horde. |
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Mebok Mizzyrix | Mebok Mizzyrix | 1,350 | +250 Ratchet | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Find the smartest raptor in the Barrens, King Reaperclaw, and bring back his horn for Mebok. |
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Apothecary Helbrim | Apothecary Helbrim | 1,050 | +250 Undercity | 14![]() |
Travel to the Forgotten Pools and collect fungal spores from the mushrooms that grow there. |
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Apothecary Helbrim | Apothecary Helbrim | 980 | -- | ![]() ![]() 13 ![]() |
Plant a fungal culture in the Stagnant Oasis to test it out for Apothecary Helbrim. |
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Apothecary Helbrim | Sashya | 980 | -- | 6![]() |
Stealthily deliver the results of Apothecary Helbrim's research to Sashya in Ratchet, so she can bring them to Undercity. |
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Gazlowe | Gazlowe | 580 | -- | 4![]() |
Get Chief Engineer Foote's ship schematics from him in a bar fight. |
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Gazlowe | Automatic | 1,150 | -- | 16![]() |
Plant a limpet mine in the Bellipotent, an Alliance vessel, and set it off. |
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Automatic | Gazlowe | 1,150 | -- | ![]() ![]() 16 ![]() |
Burn Theramore's supply caches all around Ratchet. |
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Captain Thalo'thas Brightsun | Captain Thalo'thas Brightsun | 1,050 | +250 Ratchet | -- | Get revenge on the Alliance pillagers by executing their marines and deckhands. |
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Wharfmaster Dizzywig | Tony Two-Tusk | 880 | -- | -- | Help Tony Two-Tusk overthrow Cap'n Garvey to stop his attacks on Wharfmaster Dizzywig's ships. |
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Tony Two-Tusk | Tony Two-Tusk | 1,150 | -- | 16![]() |
Kill Glomp and grap Glomp's Booty to fund the revolt. |
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Tony Two-Tusk | Tony Two-Tusk | 1,150 | -- | -- | Steal guns from Cap'n Garvey's special cache. |
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Tony Two-Tusk | Wharfmaster Dizzywig | 1,600 | -- | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 18 ![]() |
Capture the flagship Maiden's Dagger to complete the mutiny, then report back to Wharfmaster Dizzywig. |
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Wharfmaster Dizzywig | Wharfmaster Dizzywig | 1,150 | +150 Ratchet | 16![]() |
Clear out the Southsea Freebooters from Frey Island so they can't do any more harm. |
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WANTED | Gazlowe | 1,150 | +250 Ratchet | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 8 ![]() |
Collect the bounty placed on Cap'n Garvey's head for his piracy. |
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Gazlowe | Baron Longshore | 880 | -- | -- | Speak to the captured Baron Longshore to find where he hid his stolen booty. |
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Baron Longshore | Baron Longshore | 290 | -- | -- | Free Baron Longshore from his bindings so he will reveal where he hid his booty. |
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Baron Longshore | Gazlowe | 880 | -- | -- | Get Baron Longshore's map from the head of his first mate, which is hung up in the camp. |
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Gazlowe | Gazlowe | 1,150 | -- | ![]() ![]() ![]() 16 ![]() |
Collect Gazlowe's treasure, dealing with anyone in the way. |
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Gazlowe | Nozzlepot | 580 | +75 Bilgewater Cartel | 8![]() |
Deliver a cut of Gazlowe's treasure to Nozzlepot, up the river at Nozzlepot's Outpost. |
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Nozzlepot | Nozzlepot | 1,150 | -- | 8![]() |
Thin out the number of hyenas around Nozzlepot's Outpost. |
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Nozzlepot | Nozzlepot | 1,150 | -- | 8![]() |
Investigate the mysterious tracks coming from the Sludge Fen to try to find their source. |
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Nozzlepot | Nozzlepot | 1,150 | -- | ![]() ![]() 8 ![]() |
Find the creature creating the tracks and slay it. |
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Sputtervalve | Control Console | 880 | +150 Bilgewater Cartel | -- | Access the Venture Co. Outpost Control Console to steal the Samophlange. |
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Control Console | Control Console | 580 | +75 Bilgewater Cartel | -- | Disengage the three valves to shut down the Samophlange. |
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Control Console | Control Console | 880 | +150 Bilgewater Cartel | -- | Acquire the console key from Tinkerer Sniggles. |
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Control Console | Sputtervalve | 1,150 | +250 Bilgewater Cartel | ![]() ![]() |
Remove the Samophlange and bring it back to Sputtervalve for "study". |
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Sputtervalve | Brak Blusterpipe | 115 | -- | -- | Head over to Brak Blusterpipe with the Broken Samophlange for repairs. |
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Brak Blusterpipe | Wenikee Boltbucket | 580 | +75 Bilgewater Cartel | -- | Port to Wenikee Boltbucket to see if she can fix the increasingly-broken Samophlange. |
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Wenikee Boltbucket | Wenikee Boltbucket | 1,150 | +250 Bilgewater Cartel | -- | Search the Burning Blade farm for 17.5 gauge nugget slugs to repair the Samophlange. |
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Brogor | Brogor | 1,150 | -- | 8![]() |
Clear out the Burning Blade members gaining power in the Northern Barrens while the Horde is distracted. |
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Wenikee Boltbucket | Sputtervalve | 580 | -- | -- | Port back to Nozzlepot's Outpost and show Sputtervalve the destroyed Samophlange. |
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Sputtervalve | Sputtervalve | 1,450 | +350 Bilgewater Cartel | ![]() ![]() 8 ![]() |
"Retrieve" the Samophlange Manual from Boss Copperplug and fix up the Samophlange. |
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Brak Blusterpipe | Brak Blusterpipe | 1,450 | -- | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Steal the Cat's Eye Emerald from the Venture Co. to make a small fortune. |
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Wizzlecrank's Shredder | Wizzlecrank's Shredder | 1,350 | +250 Ratchet | -- | Take the Shredder's Ignition Key from Supervisor Lugwizzle. |
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Wizzlecrank's Shredder | Sputtervalve | 1,700 | +350 Ratchet | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Return the Shredder back to Nozzlepot's Outpost, hopefully in one piece. |
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Sputtervalve | Sputtervalve | -- | -- | -- | Retrieve Sputtervalve's stolen blueprints from the Venture Co. soldiers in the Sludge Fen. |
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Sputtervalve | Darsok Swiftdagger | -- | -- | ![]() ![]() |
Ride Sputtervalve's Silver Bullet X-831 back to Crossroads...or not. |
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Darsok Swiftdagger | Darsok Swiftdagger | 1,250 | +250 Orgrimmar | 9![]() |
Take out Witchwing Harpies and collect their talons. |
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Darsok Swiftdagger | Darsok Swiftdagger | 1,150 | +250 Orgrimmar | 8![]() |
Take out the Harpy Lieutenants, the Witchwing Slayers, to send a message to the harpies. |
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Darsok Swiftdagger | Darsok Swiftdagger | 1,700 | +350 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slay the Witchwing matron Serena Bloodfeather to stop any further attacks on the Horde. |
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Darsok Swiftdagger | Thork | 1,150 | -- | 8![]() |
Return to the Crossroads and speak to Thork, who has been looking for you. |
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Thork | Nagala Whipshank | 1,250 | -- | 9![]() |
Guard a caravan filled with vital supplies as it travels to the Mor'shan Ramparts in Ashenvale. |
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Nagala Whipshank | Balgor Whipshank | -- | -- | -- | Rescue the kidnapped Balgor Whipshank from the Burning Blade cultists. |
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Balgor Whipshank | Nagala Whipshank | 1,250 | -- | ![]() 9 ![]() |
Before leaving, steal the Demon Seed to disrupt the Burning Blade's plan to attack the Horde. |
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Nagala Whipshank | Kadrak | 1,250 | -- | ![]() ![]() ![]() 9 ![]() |
Finish the journey to Ashenvale and defend the caravan against Burning Blade attackers. |
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Thork | Regthar Deathgate | 680 | -- | -- | Find Regthar Deathgate's outpost and help him fight against the Kolkar Centaur. |
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Regthar Deathgate | Regthar Deathgate | 1,350 | +250 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() |
Slay elite centaur warriors to disrupt the formations and unity of the centaurs, and eventually defeat them. |
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Regthar Deathgate | Regthar Deathgate | 1,450 | +150 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() ![]() 11 ![]() |
Slay Hezrul Bloodmark to cause chaos throughout the ranks of the Kolkar. |
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Regthar Deathgate | Regthar Deathgate | 1,950 | +350 Orgrimmar | ![]() ![]() ![]() 25 ![]() |
Resist the Kolkar counterattack and defend the Northern Barrens from their onslaught, then slay the warlord Krom'zar. |