Thandol Span

Thandol Span.

The Thandol Span is a set of massive stone bridges connecting the Wetlands of northern Khaz Modan with the Arathi Highlands of southeastern Lordaeron. It is one of the greatest engineering projects ever completed by the dwarves, having been under the guard of the Anvilmars for at least three generations.^[1] The area where it is located was once known as the Thandol Valley.

History

Construction

After the War of the Three Hammers, the dwarves of Ironforge sought to retain relations and trade with their Wildhammer cousins in Aerie Peak. The two arches of the Thandol Span were built to bridge the gap between Khaz Modan and Lordaeron and to serve as both an economic and a symbolic bridge between the dwarven territories. Prosperity was gained by the two dwarven kingdoms as a result of mutual trade.^[2]^[3]

Second War

After the fall of Stormwind, the Alliance of Lordaeron expected the Horde to come through the Thandol Span,^[4] and Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer thought the humans would be prepared for them this way. So instead, Gul'dan and his Stormreaver clan persuaded the Horde to cross into Lordaeron by sea, with the Horde fleet being built by ogres, Amani trolls, and Steamwheedle goblins.^[5]

The bridges were capable of supporting the weight of entire armies and served as the main route of trade between the dwarves and humans. When the orcs lost the battle for Lordaeron, Anduin Lothar kept pushing the Old Horde out of the continent to Khaz Modan through the Thandol Span.^[6]^[7]

The broken part of the Thandol Span.

World of Warcraft

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

The mighty bridges recently suffered heavy damage due to a Dark Iron attack planned by Kam Deepfury and Balgaras the Foul. One of the two bridges was all but destroyed, and dwarven forces fought fiercely to defend the last remaining bridge and retake the nearby town of Dun Modr. During this assault many dwarves died, including Sully Balloo, Ebenezer Rustlocke, and the brother of Longbraid the Grim.^[8]^[9]

World of Warcraft: The Comic

Thandol Span in the comic.

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

Thargas Anvilmar, Varian Wrynn, Broll Bearmantle, and Valeera Sanguinar assaulted the Dark Iron dwarves of Thandol Span in order to rescue their captured comrade, Hjalmar Anvilmar. Though Hjalmar didn't survive, his sacrifice saved the last remaining bridge of the Span from annihilation. With King Magni's dwarven reinforcements and the death of the Dark Iron leader, Balgaras the Foul, the company of heroes were able to drive away the Dark Iron invaders from Thandol Span and reclaim it for the Alliance.^[10]

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

The Dark Iron dwarves abandoned their small encampment near the Span, which became home to a friendly Dark Iron Entrepreneur who sells uncommon quality items. In addition, the Dark Iron dwarves who were residing within the Span and Foggy MacKreel left. Alliance adventurers teamed up with Thargas Anvilmar in annihilating the Twilight Hammer threat of Dun Modr.

NPCs

On the intact bridge

Twilight Convert

Southern end of the bridge

Comar Villard

On the ruined bridge

The subject of this section was removed from World of Warcraft in patch 4.0.3a but is present in Classic Era.

Foggy MacKreel

In the RPG

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

This massive, dwarf-made bridge stretches across the natural canal that separates Lordaeron from Khaz Modan. The Thandol Span is solid and large, a blocky stone edifice with numerous thick support columns plunging into the water. Scourge forces damaged the bridge in the Third War. Great sections broke off and now lie beneath the waves, some visible at low tides. Nevertheless, the Thandol Span is still easily navigable and serves as the only land route between Lordaeron and the southern continents.^[11]

Notes

An alleged [Deed to Thandol Span] can be found in the Relic Coffers in Blackrock Depths, however, the legitimacy of this deed is questionable.
7th Legion Siege Engineers claim they were the ones that destroyed one of the bridges of Thandol Span, instead of the Dark Iron dwarves.
In this concept map for Warcraft II, it is indicated a dam was in the region of the Thandol Valley instead of a bridge. It may have inspired the Stonewrought Dam.