Grim Batoledit
From WoWWiki
| Grim Batol | |
|---|---|
| Several instances | |
 | |
| The gates of Grim Batol. | |
| Location | Twilight Highlands |
| Population | Unknown (A mixture of Skardyn and the Red and Black dragonflights, including dragonspawn). |
| Affiliation | Black dragonflight, Twilight's Hammer (Cataclysm), Red dragonflight (Pre-cataclysm) |
| Race(s) |     Black dragonflight    Red dragonflight   Twilight dragonflight |
| Instance info | |
| Advised level | 85 |
| Player limit | 5-25? |
Grim Batol is a mountain fortress located in the eastern Wetlands. It has great walls and spires that reach toward a steel-gray sky, but the stronghold’s bulk is underground. Founded by Wildhammer dwarves and later captured by orcs, a flight of red dragons now command Grim Batol. The dragons guard a secret power within the fortress and let no one near.WoWRPG 17
The entrance is at [72, 47], where you follow a path curving south to get to it at [73, 70]. Do not try to enter from southeast Wetlands near its position on the map; you must take the north entrance.
Contents |
History
War of the Three Hammers
After losing in a three way civil war between themselves, the Bronzebeards, and Dark Irons, Khardros of the Wildhammer clan led his people north through the barrier gates of Dun Algaz. It was here that they founded their own kingdom within the mountain of Grim Batol.
After years of bitterness, Thaurissan, leader of the Dark Iron clan, launched a double-sided attack from his city in the Redridge Mountains against both Ironforge and Grim Batol in hopes of taking all of Khaz Modan. Thaurissan led his forces against Ironforge while his sorceress wife, Modgud, attacked Grim Batol.
The Bronzebeards were able to push back the Dark Iron assault which had been led by Thaurissan at Ironforge. As Thaurissan withdrew to Redridge, Modgud's forces began to break through the gates of Grim Batol. Modgud then used her sorceress powers to call for the shadows from the earth to attack the Wildhammers within their own fortress. The Wildhammers viciously fought back against the shadows and the Dark Iron forces. Finally, Khardros was able to push through the invading onslaught and slay Modgud.
Leaderless, the remaining Dark Irons began to hasty retreat to Redridge only to be intercepted by the Bronzebeard army which had come from Ironforge to assist Grim Batol. The remaining Dark Iron forces were crushed between the Wildhammer and Bronzebeard armies.
Following the total defeat of Thaurissan, the Wildhammers returned to their home in Grim Batol. What they had found was that the death of Modgud had left an evil taint in their fortress. The Wildhammers found Grim Batol uninhabitable and founded a new home in Aerie Peak.
Aftermath of the Second War
During the Second War, Grim Batol was the center of all refining operations for the Horde's navy. It was also the main base of the Horde's dragon breeding program, where Alexstrasza the Red was kept captive and forced to produce red dragons to be used as mounts for orc dragonriders. The Horde used the Demon Soul and Dark Iron chains to control the red brood. Grim Batol remained in orc hands long after the collapse of the Horde and the destruction of the Dark Portal, largely due to the power of their dragons. Eventually, thanks to the efforts of a band of unlikely heroes led by the mage Rhonin, Alexstrasza was freed. The dragon queen immediately set about incinerating every orc she could find, utterly destroying the power of the Dragonmaw clan (in Azeroth) and killing the orc warrior (former warlock/former shaman) Nekros Skullcrusher. The ruins of the orc caravan that tried to escape the fortress can still be seen strewn around the entrance.
Current Status
Grim Batol is currently being guarded by the red dragonflight. Something powerful is suspected of being inside, though whether the red dragons work to keep intruders out or whatever they are guarding in (or both), is unknown. The red wyrm Garshilan leads the fortress' defenses, aided by the young Acridistrasz and the Dragonspawn Baleflame.LoC 73, 74
In the novel Night of the Dragon, it is revealed that Deathwing, the insane Black Aspect and ancient enemy of Alexstrasza, resides deep inside Grim Batol.
It is possible, at level 70 (or higher), to ride past all of the dragons guarding Grim Batol (minus a few stationary ones by one of the gates, but an epic mount can easily outrun them). There is not much at the end, though. It eventually evens out into a cliff overlooking south-eastern Wetlands with a large, dwarven door that is very similar to Ironforge. The door is shut and apparently locked as there is no way to do anything to open or activate it; however any hunter or shaman can use the Eagle Eye/Farsight spell to view what is behind the gate. This reveals there is a large wooden door behind the main gate and behind the wooden door there is nothing but a hill.
Also, viewable on the highest peak at Grim Batol (by a shaman chain farshighting) one can see a burned down tent, a flag that appears to be an Ironforge crest, and the word "HELP" seemingly etched into the side of the rock.
 The first inner gate |
 Grim Batol in the noon sun |
 Grim Batol, behind the door |
 "HELP" |
 Grim Batol, Wide angle, night time (~23:00 hours) shot of mountain fortress |
Grim Batol (zone)
There is some implication in the novel Day of the Dragon that Grim Batol may be more than just the fortress in the Wetlands and may also include a zone (also known as Grim Batol) east of the fortress that the hill dwarves took back after the Second War. The hill dwarves were able to claim the mountain fortress and all of Grim Batol as theirs again.DotD 371 This area was known for its crags.DotD 164 It is also treated as its own zone in Lands of Conflict.LoC 73 In the Eastern Kingdom's map in World of Warcraft, there was an unfinished zone to the east of the Wetlands and Loch Modan. In BlizzCon 2009 it was revealed to be Twilight Highlands.
In Lands of Conflict, Grim Batol is listed as its own independent zone, lying in the eastern Wetlands, just below the great falls of Loch Modan (you have to travel through the Wetlands to get to it)LoC 73, and mentions that the bulk of Grim Batol is underground. More Magic & Mayhem discusses a mountain range near Grim Batol called the Great Bulwarks.
In World of Warcraft
Currently, the area in the Wetlands is populated by various elite level 60+ red dragonkin and Axtroz, a mighty red drake.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
According to Blizzard, Grim Batol will be a new instance hub in the upcoming Cataclysm expansion. The hub, which resides in the Twilight Highlands northeast of the Wetlands, will contain one 5-man dungeon encounter as well as a raid.
- Instances
- Level 85 Grim Batol (instance)[1]
- Level 85 Grim Batol (raid)[2]
Blizzard Quotes
Back before the closed Beta, Tigole mentioned interesting details about Grim Batol.
This is probably referring to the quest that Horde players must undertake to get their Onyxia keys.
Most recently, after BlizzCon 2007, Bornakk had this to say concerning future development of Grim Batol:
References
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