Shadowfang Keep is a haunted keep not far from the borders of Gilneas in southern Silverpine Forest, on a high bluff overlooking Pyrewood Village. It was named for the forces of its former master,[3] the demented Archmage Arugal, who wrested the keep from Baron Silverlaine with his worgen "children" and held it until he was defeated by a group of Horde heroes.[1][4] The keep was then occupied by the Scourge remnants and followers of the renegade Gilnean nobleman Vincent Godfrey, traitor to both his homeland and to the Forsaken who returned him from death.
During the Fourth War, the keep was taken by the Forsaken, who captured it and were using it as a bio-weapons facility to wage war against Gilneas. By the end of the war, the Bloodfang pack had taken control of the keep, moving most of its artifacts to Fenris Keep to be guarded closely.[1]
When the Scourge washed over Lordaeron, the Gilnean Royal Archmage, Arugal, investigated the research of the mage Ur. With the sorcerer's knowledge, Arugal summoned the worgen with the blessings of King Genn Greymane[6] and against the advice of the Kirin Tor.[7] The worgen successfully turned the tide against the Scourge, but became uncontrollable, attacking the Gilnean military at the Greymane Wall. After this, Arugal's worgen ran rampant through Silverpine Forest, where they eventually overwhelmed the keep, killing Baron Silverlaine and his family. Distraught and broken, Arugal accepted the worgen as his children and retreated into the keep, which he named Shadowfang Keep.[1] Communing with Alpha Prime, he became a key servant of the Wolf Cult, converting the humans of Silverpine into worgen, namely the Moonrage and Shadowfang packs. Protected by his worgen minions as well as the ghosts of the fallen Baron and his household, Arugal served his master in converting most of the forest's remaining denizens to the curse, with locations such as Deep Elem Mine falling as well as Pyrewood.[8]
After some time, the entire Pyrewood Village was turned to the worgen curse, turning into the beasts at night. During the day, they were human and willing to provide supplies to Alliance travelers, though the keep was never friendly to these adventurers. They were led by the Pyrewood Council, who were all servants of Arugal. The Forsaken became increasingly suspicious of their activities, especially after the disappearance of one of their apothecaries, Apothecary Berard. After it was discovered that Arugal had transformed him into a worgen, the Forsaken assassinated the council.[9]
Arugal was eventually defeated and beheaded by agents of the Horde.[1][10]
During the Scourgewar, the Lich King saw it fit to bring Arugal back as one of his puppets.[1] Several San'layn blood princes traveled at Shadowfang Keep, where they found Arugal's grave and raised him as a shade to serve the Scourge.[11] Continuing his work to create the Wolfcult, the undead archmage made his home in a tower built and named for the keep, Shadowfang Tower on Bloodmoon Isle.
Cataclysm
This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.
During the Fourth War, the Forsaken gained control over Shadowfang Keep, turning it into a bio-weapons facility where they began to produce plague to unleash against Gilneas. Meanwhile, the 7th Legion troops marched towards Shadowfang in order to prevent its deployment.[13]
Following the Fourth War, Mathias Shaw and Flynn Fairwind embarked on their journey to explore Azeroth as well as catalogue the locations of various artifacts, and eventually visited Silverpine Forest. Shaw noted his main contact in the area as Ivar Bloodfang, stating that the packleader was his contact within Shadowfang Keep. The pack had apparently claimed it, alongside Fenris Isle, and had taken most of the artifacts within the Shadowfang to Fenris Keep to be guarded closely.[1]
Dungeon Journals
Community site
This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.
During the Third War, the wizards of the Kirin Tor battled against the undead armies of the Scourge. When the wizards of Dalaran died in battle, they would rise soon after - adding their former might to the growing Scourge. Frustrated by their lack of progress (and against the advice of his peers) the Archmage, Arugal elected to summon extra-dimensional entities to bolster Dalaran's diminishing ranks. Arugal's summoning brought the ravenous worgen into the world of Azeroth. The feral wolf-men slaughtered not only the Scourge, but quickly turned on the wizards themselves. The worgen sieged the keep of the noble, Baron Silverlaine. Situated above the tiny hamlet of Pyrewood, the keep quickly fell into shadow and ruin. Driven mad with guilt, Arugal adopted the worgen as his children and retreated to the newly dubbed 'Shadowfang Keep'. It's said he still resides there, protected by his massive pet, Fenrus - and haunted by the vengeful ghost of Baron Silverlaine.[14]
Adventure Guide
This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.
Looming over Pyrewood Village from the southern bluffs of Silverpine Forest, Shadowfang Keep casts a shadow as dark as its legacy. Sinister forces occupy these ruins, formerly the dwelling of the mad archmage Arugal's worgen. The restless shade of Baron Silverlaine lingers while Lord Godfrey and his cabal of erstwhile Gilnean noblemen plot against their enemies both living and undead.
Overview
The quests and storyline for Alliance players and Horde players are different. The quest giver for Alliance players is Ivar Bloodfang, and the Horde quest giver is Deathstalker Commander Belmont. However, the quests for both factions are similar in that both are about the retaking of Shadowfang Keep from Vincent Godfrey. The quests for each faction ( [8-30D] Fury of the Pack and [8-30D] Sweet, Merciless Revenge) end with their respective faction taking Shadowfang Keep.
The subject of this article or section is part of Love is in the Air, a seasonal event that lasts two weeks. Once the event has run its course, this will no longer be available until next year, but there are no guarantees.
During the Gala of Gifts in Dragonflight, the Crown Chemical Company returned and once again made Shadowfang Keep and Pyrewood Village their base of operations, before being rooted out by the adventurers.[15][16][17]
In the RPG
This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.
The Worgen Curse afflicts the inhabitants of this dark castle. Unlike Pyrewood's good folk, Shadowfang's lords were bastards to begin with. They revel in their curse and eagerly lope into the moonlight to spill blood and rip warm flesh from living bones. Their howls can be heard as far away as Ambermill.[18]
Notes
At some point, Ashra Valandril was present to take care of the enemies of the keep.[19]
Speculation
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
Before being renamed Shadowfang Keep, it may have been called "Silverlaine Keep" or "Pyrewood Keep."
Forsaken
Worgen
Scourge
Ghost
Lord Godfrey
Shadowfang Keep
Packleader Ivar Bloodfang 
Chief Plaguebringer Harris
Archmage Arugal †
Baron Silverlaine †
Human
[8-30D] Fury of the Pack and 
[8-30D] Sweet, Merciless Revenge) end with their respective faction taking Shadowfang Keep.
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
[8-30D] 
Horses
Mastiffs
Mag'har orc (one, High Warlord Cromush)
Rats (critters)
[Shadowfang Keep]
[Bullet Time]
[Pardon Denied]
[To the Ground!]
[Tough Love].
Patch 7.3.5 (2018-01-16): Level scaling implemented, previous instance level: 16 - 26. 
[15-30] Out of Body Experience
Shadowfang Plague
