Stranglethorn Vale
- "Stranglethorn" redirects here. For the pre-Cataclysm zone, see Stranglethorn Vale (Classic). For other uses, see Stranglethorn (disambiguation).
 Stranglethorn Vale | |
|---|---|
| Level: 10-30 Battle Pet Level: 7 - 10 | |
 | |
| Capital(s) |
 Zul'Gurub Booty Bay |
| Races |
  Jungle troll  Goblin  Human  Orc  Dwarf Dire troll  Wild God |
| Ruler(s) |
Trade-Prince Revilgaz |
| Former ruler(s) |
Jin'do † Bloodlord Mandokir † |
| Major settlements |
 Grom'gol Base Camp Hardwrench Hideaway Fort Livingston Ruins of Zul'Mamwe Ruins of Zul'Kunda |
| Minor settlements |
Bambala Rebel Camp Nesingwary's Expedition |
| Location | Southern Eastern Kingdoms |
Stranglethorn Vale (also called Stranglethorn Valley[1] or simply Stranglethorn), sometimes spelled Stranglethorne,[2] is a vast jungle at the southern tip of the Eastern Kingdoms, south of Duskwood. After the Cataclysm, the vale was split by a large sinkhole called the Sundering and is now divided into two halves: Northern Stranglethorn (aka Stranglethorn Jungle) and the Cape of Stranglethorn.
Stranglethorn is noteworthy for three things: its dangerous jungles, which require preparations of antidotes against its deadly wildlife and diseases such as Stranglethorn Fever; its jungle trolls, as Stranglethorn was once the center of the mighty Gurubashi Empire; and its pirates, primarily the Blackwater Raiders of Booty Bay and their archenemies the Bloodsail Buccaneers.[3]
History
Ancient history
- Main article: Gurubashi Empire
The Vale was the primary center of the trolls of the Gurubashi Empire, and their cities were dotted all over the region.
In troll legends, it is said that the Stone of the Tides first made its appearance on the coast of Stranglethorn. It was found and picked up by a wandering troll warrior. Intrigued by the blue stone he found, he took it with him on his journey. As time passed, the troll discovered that the stone gave him control over water. He could summon water elementals, manipulate the tides, and accomplish feats that only the powerful mages of the Kirin Tor were able to manifest. The warrior traveled back to Zul'Gurub to show his newfound abilities to the Emperor. He gained the court's audience easily with his powers and gained the title "Tidebearer", leaving his old name behind. The troll also received a place of honor in the Court of Gurubashi. Tidebearer served the Gurubashi Empire for years, but as time wore on, he became more reclusive. The Stone of Tides carried a curse as well. The Bearer of the stone would start to fade over time until he would disappear from the physical world forever. Keeping this secret from the Empire, the Tidebearer went to the beach where he found the stone and walked into the water, where he disappeared. Many generations later, the stone would wash upon the Vale and be picked up by a new Tidebearer. This process would continue, and Tidebearers would come and go just as the last before them.[4]
Gurubashi civil war
1,500 years before the opening of the Dark Portal,[5] the powerful Gurubashi Empire was torn apart by a massive civil war. An influential group of Gurubashi priests called forth the avatar of an ancient and terrible blood god named Hakkar the Soulflayer and named themselves the Hakkari, soon a large amount of Gurubashi joined and became devout followers of Hakkar. With their newfound power, the Gurubashi Empire began to soundly defeat nearby gnoll clans, murloc tribes as well as trolls who opposed Hakkar. Under Hakkar, the Gurubashi and Hakkari began conquering large swaths of land as well as outlying islands around the South Seas, achieving all that they had hoped for.
The Zandalari began to observe the events from afar, at first pleased with how the Gurubashi had begun to return to conquest and traditional worship. Though it soon became clear that Hakkar's bloodlust would never be sated, the fiendish god would drive not only the troll race to destruction but the entire world as well. It did not take long before the Zandalari rallied their forces and set sail towards the Eastern Kingdoms where they met with Gurubashi trolls who had hidden their dissent from the Hakkari. The Zandalari and their new Gurubashi allies quickly learned that a faction of Hakkar's most zealous priests, the Atal'ai, were attempting to summon the loa's spirit into a living form. This would awaken terrible new dimensions of his power and spell certain doom for the troll race.[5]
Horrified by the plans, the Zandalari hosts stormed the Gurubashi capital of Zul'Gurub. Battles raged among the vine-covered ziggurats of the temple city day and night. Finally, atop of Hakkar's bloodstained shrine, the Zandalari defeated Hakkar and most of his crazed followers. A number of his fanatical Atal'ai priests had escaped into the jungles surrounding Zul'Gurub. In time, these trolls finally settled in the Swamp of Sorrows north of the Gurubashi capital. In the heart of the wild marshland, they secretly constructed a great temple to their bloodthirsty loa: the Temple of Atal'Hakkar.[5]
The last emperor of the Gurubashi was Var'gazul. From his capital, he prepared plans of war, an invasion on an unknown enemy. However, his plans were thwarted by the appearance of Neptulon and his kraken, which destroyed the land west of Zul'Gurub and sank the city of I'lalai.[6] After the Empire's fall, the cities of the troll empire fell into ruin, although they are still populated by trolls.
Before the Great Wars
At some point after the Guardian Aegwynn went rogue, she was found and confronted by Tarthen of the Tirisgarde in Stranglethorn Vale. In terms of the power used by the two magi, the duel that ensued was one of the greatest to have ever occurred between a Tirisgarde and the renegade Guardian. But it was also one of the shortest. Tarthen bore Ebonchill in battle--the greatstaff reported stolen some months ago. When he unleashed the weapon's stored power on Aegwynn, she immediately turned the energies back on him with a counterspell. A storm of frost magic surged over Tarthen, encasing him in a layer of diamond-hard ice. Despite the hot weather in the region, Tarthen was still frozen solid when the members of the Council of Tirisfal found him. It took considerable effort to thaw his corpse and free Ebonchill from his lifeless hand.[7]
Booty Bay was originally a former small port town inhabited by humans which was overrun by trolls.[8][9] Eventually, the goblins of the Steamwheedle Cartel managed to drive out the trolls from the immediate area to claim the shores of the cove for their new center for operations in the Eastern Kingdoms — Booty Bay.[10][11][12] This happened prior to the First War, as Booty Bay was already territory of the Steamwheedle Cartel by then.[13]
First War and aftermath
When the Orcish Horde invaded Azeroth, most of their forces waged war against the humans of Stormwind. However, Kilrogg Deadeye led his Bleeding Hollow clan into Stranglethorn Vale, which reminded them of their ancestral home of Tanaan Jungle. The clan was determined to claim Stranglethorn for themselves, however the Gurubashi refused to share their lands with outsiders, and the two forces would clash in battle. Though the Gurubashi were weakened by the Gurubashi War, their knowledge of the land allowed for them to launch a guerrilla campaign to drive the invading Bleeding Hollow out of the region. The clan was eventually ordered to retreat by Warchief Blackhand after he learned of the conflict and concluded that too many orcs were dying for no apparent gain.[14]
After the Second War in 6 ADP, and its reconstruction, the kingdom of Stormwind ran up a huge debt by expanding its military presence through Elwynn and into Stranglethorn, and the massive debt crippled the kingdom's economy.[15]
As tribal rivalries erupted throughout the former Gurubashi Empire, the Darkspear tribe found themselves driven from their homeland. This occurred at some point after the Dark Portal opened, as the tribe was familiar with the ogre mage Mai'Zoth and ogres only came to Azeroth with the portal.[16]
World of Warcraft
By the Year 25 ADP, the crafty goblin trade princes set up their mining and deforesting operations here. The goblins have maintained a tenuous hold over these remote facilities, but they remain threatened by the jungle trolls' growing obsession with purging their ancient lands of any and all foreign invaders.[17] The Venture Company eventually set up Venture Co. Base Camp near Lake Nazferiti, where a logging operation was underway under the command of Foreman Cozzle.[18] They were also mining near the Crystalvein Mine, where they dug up the surrounding hills for singing crystals,[19] which are unique to Stranglethorn and very valuable to certain parties.[20]
After they arrived in the vale, the Kurzen's Expedition established Kurzen's Compound as their new base of operations.[21] However, an ogre mage named Mai'Zoth soon possessed the mind of Colonel Kurzen, using an artifact known as the Mind's Eye.[22] The ogre used him to control his men for his own purposes, while a small group rebelled and left to the west where they formed the Rebel Camp.
In order to plunder and cripple Booty Bay, the Bloodsail Buccaneers took up positions with three ships anchored along the coastline south of Booty Bay, while a scouting party landed just west of the entrance to the city. Both the pirates and Blackwater Cartel sought to achieve their goals without having their forces engaged in battle; to this end, each side sought the aid of adventurers sympathetic to their cause.
At some point, the Naga explorers traveled to the vale, where they advanced upon the Nek'mani Wellspring, a Holy Spring high above the bluffs, subject of great conflict amongst religious and mystical scholars, every race in Azeroth claiming that the spring waters were made divine for their people.[23]
When the Atal'ai tribe managed to summon Hakkar the Soulflayer's physical form in Zul'Gurub, the Zandalari Empire arrived on the shores of Stranglethorn Vale to battle the dark loa once again. With the tribes splintered, the Zandalarians have been forced to recruit champions from Azeroth's varied and disparate races to battle, and hopefully once again defeat, the Soulflayer.[24]
During Season of Discovery, Stranglethorn Vale was home to the Blood Moon event.
The Burning Crusade
Prior to the start of the invasion of Outland, Stranglethorn Vale was invaded by a group of Burning Legion demons led by Highlord Kruul.[25]
Cataclysm
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This section is a lore stub. |
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Following the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, Stranglethorn Vale was split by a large sinkhole containing a raging whirlpool called The Sundering at its center. Meanwhile, the Explorers' League set up the Explorers' League Dig Site, while the goblins built massive oil pipes in the valley's water, as well as a port called Hardwrench Hideaway. Another Alliance camp called Fort Livingston was also erected while the Zandalari moved from Yojamba Isle along with their structures.
The Venture Company continued the logging outfit around Lake Nazferiti, and had also expanded operations to the Crystal Shore, where they had built three oil platforms. The oil rigs eventually came under attack by the Bloodsail Buccaneers, who sought to plunder the "Black Gold" the company was harvesting there.[26]
Stranglethorn later came under attack by a renewed Zul'Gurub under the command of the Zandalari.
Mists of Pandaria
The Silvershard Mines battleground introduced during the Alliance-Horde war was set in Stranglethorn Vale.
Legion
Following the Argus Campaign in 32 ADP, the blue dragon Kirygosa was known to be quietly living here, enjoying a permanent summer.[27]
Geography
Maps and subregions
Topographic map of Stranglethorn
Notable characters
Stranglethorn Vale is home to several characters of note. In Booty Bay, Baron Revilgaz and Fleet Master Seahorn seek aid in the battle against the Bloodsail Buccaneers. In Grom'gol Base Camp, Kin'weelay attempts to rid the jungle of the bloodthirsty Bloodscalp and Skullsplitter Tribe. In the Rebel Camp, Lieutenant Doren and his men seek to usurp the choke hold the evil Colonel Kurzen has put on the northern forest, and at his expedition camp, Hemet Nesingwary Jr. sends bold hunters into the deepest parts of the vale in search of rare and exotic animals. Gnaz and Knaz Blunderflame have a small gnome house in the mountains above the Mosh'ogg ogre mound. They both sell engineering supplies to those who can find them.
Inhabitants
- Humanoids
- Beasts
- Giants
- Elementals
- Undead
Warcraft III
A Warcraft III map exists called Stranglethorn Vale.
In the RPG
Jungle trolls patrol this steaming rainforest. Ancient Gurubashi trolls once ruled the region, and the ruins of their great cities crumble in the jungle's heat and growth. Naga hunt along the coast and vicious animals and plants, including the eponymous strangle-thorns, make travel dangerous. The Arena, a center for gladiatorial games set in a ruined Gurubashi fighting stadium, draws shady characters of all races. The Blackwater Raiders, a vile group of pirates, make their home in Booty Bay, on the Stranglethorn's southern coast.[28]
Notes and trivia
- There is a group of humans living in the Vale, namely from Booty Bay, such as Makasa Flintwill.[29] The humans of Stranglethorn have a tradition where they carefully remove weapons from a corpse before burial. After all, how could a soul rest if he must carry the cause of his death with him forever?[30] They are also honorbound to repay someone who has saved their life, a tradition shared with the Stromic people.[31]
- Stranglethorn was one of the first locations conceptualized for World of Warcraft. The artwork acted as a keystone piece for the game.[32]
- One of the classic game boards in Hearthstone is themed around Stranglethorn Vale.
Speculation
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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.
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The southern part of the vale could be Ulmat Thondr.
Gallery
Stranglethorn on a The World of Warcraft Townhall map.
Patch changes
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Removed as a single zone, separated into Northern Stranglethorn and the Cape of Stranglethorn.
- Patch 1.3.0 (2005-03-07): The bridges in northern Stranglethorn Vale are now fixed so they will not dismount you when you ride across them.
See also
References
- ^ [40] Botani Invasion!
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Orc Units, Wyvern Rider
- ^ Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 34
- ^
[Legends of the Gurubashi, Volume 3]
- ^ a b c World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 138 - 139
- ^ The Fall of Gurubashi
- ^ Archive of the Tirisgarde#Ebonchill, Greatstaff of Alodi
- ^ Original Stranglethorn Vale description
- ^ The Artistry of World of Warcraft: Stranglethorn Vale (PC)
- ^ [11] Wharfmaster Dizzywig
- ^ [30] The Barrens Port: Most likely Velinde found a trading vessel in Ratchet to take her to Blackwater Cove in Azeroth.
- ^ [30] Passage to Booty Bay: Velinde. Booked passage to Booty Bay on the Black Osprey.
- ^ File:Chronicle2 Eastern Kingdoms Before the First War.jpg
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 125
- ^
[Shaw's Report]
- ^ [10-30] The Mind's Eye
- ^ Original Stranglethorn Vale description
- ^ [36] Hostile Takeover
- ^ [41] Venture Company Mining
- ^ [35] Singing Blue Shards
- ^ [33] Jungle Secrets
- ^ [46] Mai'Zoth
- ^ [44] Mok'thardin's Enchantment
- ^ Zandalar Tribe. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved on 2011-10-28.
- ^ Dark Portal Opens
- ^ [10-30] Drive-By Piracy
- ^ Before the Storm, chapter 10
- ^ World of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 16
- ^ World of Warcraft: Traveler, chapter 12
- ^ World of Warcraft: Traveler, pg. 355
- ^ World of Warcraft: Traveler, pg. ??
- ^ Forging Worlds: Stories Behind the Art of Blizzard Entertainment, pg. 120, 121
External links
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