Pyrewood Village
 Pyrewood Village | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Town[1] |
| Leader(s) | None |
| Formerly |
 Lord Mayor Morrison † |
| Government | Pyrewood Council † |
| Race(s) | None |
| Formerly |
  Forsaken  Worgen Human |
| Language(s) | Common, Gutterspeak |
| Faith(s) | Holy Light |
| Affiliation(s) | None |
| Formerly | 7th Legion (Alliance), Forsaken (Horde), Wolf Cult, Kingdom of Gilneas, Alliance of Lordaeron |
| Location | Southwestern Silverpine Forest |
| Status | In ruins |
Pyrewood Village (or simply Pyrewood) was an Alliance-friendly Gilnean village within the Silverpine Forest. The village was a settlement, with a town hall, a blacksmith and a chapel, inhabited by a group of humans who had survived the coming of the Scourge during the Third War. However, they were later cursed by the maddened Arugal, who turned the townsfolk into rampaging worgen at night.
Following the Cataclysm, the Moonrage pack was eradicated and the town fell into the hands of the Forsaken, but quickly became the center of a struggle with the Alliance to gain its control during the invasion of Gilneas. It was finally being burned down by agents of the Horde on the orders of Lord Vincent Godfrey. During the Fourth War, the ruined town was seemingly under the control of the 7th Legion, in conflict with the Forsaken who gained control over Shadowfang Keep to plague Gilneas, until the Bloodfang pack regained control of the keep at the end of the war.
A few years later, by the time of the Reclamation of Gilneas, the ruins of Pyrewood Village were deserted, most likely abandoned after the end of the Fourth War.
History
Origins
The village, along with Ambermill,[2] was originally a part of the kingdom of Gilneas before the Greymane Wall was erected.[3]
Following the liberation of the orcs from internment camps by Thrall and the splitting of the Alliance, King Greymane started the construction of the Wall. Lord Darius Crowley, who was the landholder of both Pyrewood and Ambermill, was displeased by King Greymane's decision to cut off his holdings from the rest of Gilneas and disagreed with Greymane on the rationale of seceding Gilneas from the Alliance of Lordaeron.
Jordan Stilwell and his wife Daphne once resided in the village and the keep above it.[4]
Third War and aftermath
At the time of the Third War, the gates of the Wall were closed, cutting off Pyrewood from any support from Gilneas, and leaving its people to their own means while the Scourge drew closer.
Some of the citizens of Pyrewood did not stay during the fall of Lordaeron. After finding the Greymane Wall would not open for them, they departed on a ship called the Sea Wolf, headed for Stormwind. After a severe storm that blew them off course, they landed on the western shores of Val'sharah, where they founded Bradensbrook.[5]
Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider and his caravan, escorted by Tyrande Whisperwind, Maiev Shadowsong and their night elves, made it to Pyrewood Village as their last stop on their travel before River Arevass. The village was mostly intact and was built right on the edge of the river. Numerous Scourge forces however started converging toward Pyrewood in a massive ambush against the living. While holding the bridge that led out of the town and across the river against the undead, Tyrande fell into the river due to the bridge collapsing.[6]
It is unknown what happened to the village after that, but Tyrande's Starfall may have successfully driven off the undead, as the village was still inhabited by humans in its later appearances.
After the war, still unable to persuade Greymane to change his mind and upset by being cut off from his holdings and his people, Crowley and his rebels instigated the Northgate Rebellion.[2]
The worgen curse
To the north, overlooking the village, there was a keep owned by Baron Silverlaine. Silverlaine, his servants, and his forces led by the paladin of the Silver Hand Commander Springvale, were slain by Archmage Arugal's worgen, who then took residence in the keep renaming it Shadowfang Keep. From there, Arugal cursed the inhabitants of Pyrewood, so that they underwent a nightly transformation into the bestial Moonrage worgen, then returned to their human forms upon the arrival of dawn.[7] It was during this time that they became hostile to all regardless of faction. Despite all its hardships, however, the village continued to service Alliance travelers by selling cloth, leather, and mail armor to customers.
During the efforts to eradicate the worgen from Silverpine Forest, the Forsaken eventually disposed of Pyrewood Village, which was under the control of Arugal. Deathstalker Faerleia enlisted Horde adventurers aid to bring down the ruling council of Pyrewood, hoping that without their guidance the other villagers would turn against Arugal.[8] The mad archmage himself was later defeated and beheaded by agents of the Horde, and buried in an unmarked grave just south of the village.[9]
Wrath of the Lich King
During the Scourgewar, the Lich King sent the San'layn princes Keleseth, Valanar, Theraldis and Atherann to raise Arugal as a ghost in the service of the Scourge. He was then tasked to subvert the trapper communities in the Grizzly Hills.[10]
Cataclysm
During the invasion of Gilneas, the Forsaken managed to take control of the town (which was half-ruined) for a period of time. However, Pyrewood was attacked by Alliance forces supporting the Gilneas Liberation Front, who defeated most of the Forsaken stationed there. The Forsaken were able to retake the village one last time, but on the orders of Godfrey they also burned it to the ground, leaving only ruins behind.[11] A squad of Forsaken Troopers could later be seen patrolling the ruins.
Battle for Azeroth
Following the destruction of the Undercity, the 7th Legion led by Captain Tobias Zaren surrounded Shadowfang Keep, taking control of the areas immediately around it as the Forsaken gained control over Shadowfang Keep, turning it into a bio-weapons facility to develop a new bio-weapon to unleash against Gilneas.[12] Given that Pyrewood is the most immediate area that surrounds the keep, it likely refers to this location. Captain Tobias Zaren was later encountered by the Horde champions, while his forces were targeted by Chief Plaguebringer Harris' plague.[13]
Dragonflight
Shortly after the war against the Primalists, Calia Menethil and Lilian Voss requested the presence of the Horde adventurer for a clandestine operation involving Gilneas, and arranged to meet them in the abandoned town hall of Pyrewood Village. They explained the offensive about to take place to reconquer Gilneas, and that the Desolate Council wished to help the Gilneans to defeat the Scarlet Crusade who had taken control of Gilneas City. The trio then left the ruins to join Princess Tess Greymane, waiting for them with a boat on the coast.[14] Following the Reclamation of Gilneas, Calia and Lilian kept their word and withdrew the Forsaken troops from Gilneas, before leaving the celebrations. In Pyrewood Village, they thanked the Horde adventurer for their help, hoping that Queen Tess would be more diplomatic in the future than her father, and that relations between Forsaken and Gilneans would improve. They then left the place and returned to the Ruins of Lordaeron in Tirisfal Glades.[15]
Buildings
Quests
[5-30] Pyrewood's Fall- [5-30] Lessons in Fear
- [5-30] Of No Consequence
- [15] Pyrewood Ambush
- [15] A Recipe For Death
- [15] Arugal's Folly
NPCs
- During the invasion of Gilneas
At daytime, the inhabitants of Pyrewood were human, but by night fall, they would have transformed into worgen (measured at 8:59PM–9:00PM server time).
- Quest givers
- During [15] Pyrewood Ambush
- Daytime
- Goods and services
- Nighttime
Moonrage Armorer- Moonrage Elder
- Moonrage Leatherworker
- Moonrage Sentry
- Moonrage Tailor
- Moonrage Watcher
- Additional characters
Love is in the Air
The remains of Pyrewood are claimed by the Crown Chemical Company. They are performing experiments that turns a host into a Plague eruptor.[citation needed]
During the Gala of Gifts in Dragonflight, the Crown Chemical Company returned and made the previously empty village and Shadowfang Keep their base of operations, yet again before having their plans foiled by the adventurer.[16][17][18]
In the RPG
Pyrewood, at Shadowfang Keep's threshold, is afflicted with the Worgen Curse. Its inhabitants transform into lycanthropic worgen when the moon rises, and the worgen stalk through the forests and slay anything they encounter. One excellent lesson Brann Bronzebeard learned is never go outside at night in Silverpine Forest. The place is dangerous enough during the day.[19]
Notes
- During the development of World of Warcraft, the developers initially wanted the entire game world to change and become more dangerous at night. Pyrewood and its shapeshifting inhabitants were the only part of this idea that made it into the game.[20]
- Pyrewood's original version can be seen outside of the Ruins of Lordaeron arena as part of the backdrop, alongside a portion of Tirisfal Glades. The area stretches out a substantial distance.
- Once the quest [5-30] Cities in Dust is completed, this area will be empty of Alliance troops.
- Another Gilnean community is named similarly, Havenswood.
- Unlike the citizens of Pyrewood, the Bradensbrook villagers are neutral to both factions.
Gallery
Pyrewood in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
Pyrewood and militia in the Townhall.
Pyrewood beneath Shadowfang Keep in the Trading Card Game.
Patch changes
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Updated with new Gilnean architecture. Worgen removed.
Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): No longer an elite area.
References
- ^ [5-30] Lessons in Fear
- ^ a b Lord of His Pack
- ^
[1-30] Old Divisions
- ^
[Jordan's Weapon Notes]
- ^ Ledger of the Sea Wolf
- ^ Shards of the Alliance (WC3 NightElf)
- ^ [15] Arugal's Folly
- ^ [15] Pyrewood Ambush
- ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 99
- ^
[15-30] Out of Body Experience
- ^ [5-30] Pyrewood's Fall
- ^
Shadowfang Plague
- ^ Shadowfang Plague
- ^ [70] To Gilneas
- ^ [70] The Wall Between Us
- ^ [1-70] Raising a Stink
- ^ [1-70] I Smell Trouble
- ^ [1-70] Crushing the Crown
- ^ Lands of Conflict, pg. 104
- ^ Spencer Downey 2018-03-30. Episode #249: Gary Platner! (34:40 - 39:00). The Starting Zone. Retrieved on 2020-09-12.
