Stormwind

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This article is about the kingdom & region. For other uses see Stormwind (disambiguation).

Stormwind

Capital	Stormwind City (200,000)
Population	200,000
Races	Human (140,000) Ironforge dwarf (28,000) High elf (20,000) Half-elf (8,000) Night elf (4,000) Half-orc Gnome Harpy * Ogre * Forest troll *
Government	Hereditary monarchy
Ruler	King Varian Wrynn (current) Anduin Wrynn (former) Bolvar Fordragon (former regent)
Affiliation	Alliance
Location	North of Elwynn Forest
Sources: [1][2]

Stormwind is both the name of a region and a human kingdom (aka Azeroth) on the southern continent of the Eastern Kingdoms — with its capital at Stormwind City. Originally settled by descendants of the Arathi, Stormwind flourished until the First War when it was conquered and laid waste by the Orcish Horde. The survivors of that conflict, led by Anduin Lothar, sought refuge in Lordaeron, but were able to reclaim their homeland at the end of the Second War with the aid of the Alliance of Lordaeron. Today, with the collapse of Lordaeron and Stromgarde, Stormwind is the brightest bastion of humanity on Azeroth.

Stormwind is ruled by the House of Wrynn from their court at Stormwind Keep. Presently, the throne is occupied by King Varian Wrynn, father of Anduin Wrynn - who reigned in the absence of his father for a few years. Anduin was governed by his co-regents, Lady Katrana Prestor and Highlord Bolvar Fordragon. He was also aided and advised by the House of Nobles.

The kingdom is a city-state nation within the continent of Azeroth. The Stormwind region itself does not go much beyond the boundaries of Stormwind City; it begins at the Valley of Heroes and extends into the mountains north of Stormwind City.^[1] Stormwind City stands firm on Azeroth's northwest coast and is the capital of both the Stormwind region and kingdom, and one of the few remaining great human cities. Stormwind firmly backs the Alliance; its knights, priests, paladins, and mages served in the three wars against the Horde. Primarily a human settlement, a fair number of high elves, Ironforge dwarves, and even a few night elves and gnomes dwell here as well. Stormwind still exists as the strongest unified human force in the world, but enemies and wilderness now surround it. Stormwind holds out on the west coast.^[2] Stormwind's control and influence extends to other regions including Elwynn Forest (including Northshire Valley), the Redridge Mountains, and Duskwood (though they each have their own democratic governments, but ultimately answer to Stormwind's monarchy). Westfall is currently independent,^[3] although it was once part of Stormwind's territory.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 History 3 People and culture 4 Geography 4.1 Known information and speculation 5 Territory and outposts of Stormwind 5.1 Azeroth 5.2 Northrend (outposts) 6 References

Introduction

Stormwind is the jewel of the Alliance in Azeroth. The oldest and grandest human city, it has weathered three wars, ransacking by the orcs, and invasions by the Alliance to take it back. Although mostly a human city, Stormwind does house a respectable dwarven and a less respectable elven population. It opens its gates to all Alliance members to participate in trade within the city limits. Most of the city’s coffers are filled with the taxes taken from the merchants in the busy market. Stormwind’s climate is warm, the skies clear and the seasons generally temperate.^[4]

Stormwind is ruled by kings of the House of Wrynn.

History

The city-state nation of Stormwind was originally founded approximately a millennium before the First War by the descendants of the Arathi bloodline, who had migrated south from the nation of Arathor. It had a long and peaceful history, with the king served loyally by the knights of the Brotherhood of the Horse and the clerics of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics. Prior to the First War, the Wrynn dynasty ruled over the entire kingdom.

Azeroth's idyllic existence was shattered with the opening of the Dark Portal and the invasion of the Orcish Horde. After a long and bloody war, which cost the lives of both King Wrynn III and his son King Llane Wrynn, the orcs overran the entire kingdom, forcing the survivors to flee to the shores of Lordaeron. Anduin Lothar became regent lord, guiding the refugee nation in the name of the young Varian Wrynn.

Stormwind was the first kingdom invaded by the Horde during the First War. Beloved King Llane was killed in the attacks, and it was in his name that Sir Lothar led the Alliance forces to take the city back. With Stormwind under its control once again and serving as a strong base of operations, the Alliance eventually wrested most of Azeroth from the Horde’s grip. The Alliance set to rebuilding, calling on whoever could spare artisans. Now it is one of the few remaining great human cities. It boasts a powerful city guard and a strong army, and it is a base of magical/divine study and contemplation in Azeroth.^[5]

With the fall of the northern kingdoms, Stormwind is by far the most populated city in the world. Boasting a population of two-hundred thousand people (predominantly human), it serves in many ways as the cultural and trade center of the Alliance, even with remote access to the sea. The humans living in the city are generally carefree and artistic, favoring light and colorful clothes, cuisine, and art.

However, the people of Stormwind find it difficult to accept Theramore's role as the home of the eastern Alliance, convinced not only that Stormwind should be the legitimate heir of Lordaeron's role in the past, but also that Theramore is doing little against the worsening situation within the Eastern Kingdoms.

People and culture

Stormwind is a human city. Sure, the residents claim they are an Alliance city, and high elves, dwarves, and even some of those mysterious night elves from the west do live here, but it is by and large a human city. The climate being what it is, clothes in the city are composed of light fabric for the most part. Color choices usually are bold: whites, reds, blues, oranges, and yellows. Although one might assume the climate would call for as little clothing as possible, the inhabitants of Stormwind prefer light fabric, but lots of it. Humans usually wear long-sleeved tunics, billowy trousers, leather boots, and sometimes even ridiculously large, floppy hats for excessively sunny days.

The high elves generally copy the humans’ fashions here, though some high elves who prefer to set themselves apart. Although Stormwind is well-defended, the city guard usually wears only light armor to handle the occasional thief or bandit. The paladins will don their full plate during ceremonies and when they ride out of the city on business defending Elwynn Forest or the surrounding areas, but around the city they wear nothing more than the breastplate that identifies them as paladins. A third force in the city is dedicated to maintaining the peace. Assassins are usually evil folk who worked their will outside the law, but apparently they’re different here. A guild of assassins works behind the scenes with the blessings of the king and the Stormwind ruling council. When solving an “inconvenient” problem would go against the tenets of the Holy Light, the Stormwind Assassins are called. They deal with matters quickly and efficiently, and few questions are asked.

Stormwind is a human city, but it honors its non-human citizens well. Every night at sunset, the Cathedral of Light rings a solitary bell whose sweet pitch reaches the entire city. This is for the night elves, who are unaccustomed to living within cities. A day of mourning is set aside for the high elves, remembering Dalaran’s destruction. The ale pours free for every dwarf in the city during the holy birthday of Anvil Stormglaive. It also holds celebrations for the Third War veterans, to honor the citizens of all Alliance races who fought in the war.

The city's nobility strive for power, while manipulating others with power and shrouding their sins in secrecy. A few exceptional nobles, however, do try to tend to the city the best they can. The priests, meanwhile, uphold the tenets of the Holy Light, although some have become more political than religious. The guard is generally uncorrupted and has a close relationship to the carefree citizens of Stormwind.

Opposition to the Horde, Scourge, Burning Legion, and Shadow are near requirements to live in the city. Anyone who speaks out in support of these groups, of even suggests it, is likely to be hanged or driven out, for these beliefs are enforced like law by the will of the common man.

Most citizens of the city are practitioners of the Holy Light, and nearly all at least respect it. The religion is tied in closely to the government, for the church has enough political influence to directly impact the actions the King decides to take.

Those criminals who survive arrest and trial reside in one of the city’s two prisons. Common criminals from pickpockets to murderers stay in the Stockade. More dangerous types — demons, rogue mages ,and the like — are left to rot in the Vault. It’s surrounded on all sides by water.^[1]

Geography

The region is known as Stormwind and is the location of Stormwind City, as established in Lands of Conflict^[4] and World of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game. Standing firm on Azeroth’s northwest coast is Stormwind City, capital of Stormwind and one of the few remaining great human cities.^[2] The mountains around the glorious city of Stormwind Keep have an impressive ley line pattern that is responsible for the occasional sudden squalls that give Stormwind its name. Wild beasts including harpies and dire wolves inhabit this area.^[6]

A grand city with new construction that still gives a nod to human and dwarven architecture of old, one can move about Stormwind on foot, rent one of many mounts or even have a small boat take them through the several canals that bisect the city. The mountains north hold some nastier sorts of beasts that will sometimes venture south to see what they can pick from the road. The passage is no stranger to harpy attacks, and even dire wolves are spotted north of the city. The locals assume the creatures have escaped from the Blackrock orcs in the Burning Steppes.^[7]

Aside from the rebuilt settlements lay evidence of the constant warring of recent years. Hard-edged debris of wartime fortresses stand softened by wind and rain. Grapevines entwine abandoned siege machines, and battlefields are carpeted in wildflowers. Wolves stalk herds of wild pigs around the stumps produced by decades of harvesting and among the saplings that now grow to take their place.

Even as the humans rebuilt, much of Stormwind reverted to wilderness, closer to the world's natural state than in a thousand years. The tribes of forest trolls and the ogre lords emerge to stake claims on the wild lands, resulting in rising clashes between all races.^[8]

A reasonably large shipyard lies on the northwestern part of the city and provides the Alliance with naval craft.^{[citation needed]} The lush valley of heroes lies south of the city and all visitors must pass through it, as it is the only entrance to Stormwind on foot. With all the rebuilding efforts in the past thirty years, the city has several notable structures. These include: the Academy of Arcane Sciences, Cathedral of Light, Pig and Whistle, Stockade and Vault, and Stormwind Keep. The mighty walls surrounding Stormwind are somewhat invulnerable to small scale attacks. Crossbowmen can be stationed upon the ramparts, heavy ballistae keep watch for enemy artillery, and of course waves of guards are willing to sacrifice their lives to defend the city.^[7]

Known information and 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!

• In the Warcraft II maps, this area seems to be an unmarked forest.
• In the official two sided map released by BradyGames, it is shown to be a mountainous region.
• North of this area, on the other side of Coldridge Valley in Dun Morogh, there is a long valley that continues northward behind the mountain entrance of Gnomeregan. Under normal circumstances, it also is inaccessible.
• The coastline belongs to Stormwind according to World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game.
• This area is said to be part of the Stormwind region in the RPG. Some people previously speculated that this area was Old Stormwind, which was destroyed by the orcs in the Second War; however, most lore sources state that Stormwind was built on the same spot, falsifying this speculation.
• In the human campaign of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the humans eventually won the First War. In the orc campaign, the orcs eventually won the First War. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness shows that the orc campaign is the true outcome.

Territory and outposts of Stormwind

Following the victory of the Alliance of Lordaeron over the Horde, Stormwind was reclaimed and rebuilt as New Stormwind.^{[citation needed]} The kingdom is currently split into several smaller territories, including the region of Stormwind^[9]

During the absence of King Varian Wrynn, co-regent Lady Katrana Prestor managed to sow discord among the various regions of Azeroth. In World of Warcraft, her true identity is revealed and her hold over Highlord Bolvar Fordragon is broken. Recent events have led to the eventual return of Varian to his homeland and rightful throne. Now that the source of corruption is gone from within the nation, order can once again be restored to the surrounding lands.

Azeroth

Note: References below represent a period of time prior to the return of King Varian Wrynn. The current situation in Azeroth is likely different.

• Stormwind - full control; a kingdom;^[5] ruled by the monarchy.
• Elwynn Forest - Alliance; close enough to Stormwind to enjoy considerable Alliance guardianship; sends its criminals to Stormwind; its own democratic government.^[10]
• Redridge Mountains - Alliance; under Stormwind's control;^[11] the Stormwind army maintains a token presence here and handles Redridge's few crime problems, its people discuss Stormwind and believe if the people up there would just relax then their problems would solve themselves; it is the last true area wholly under Alliance influence in Azeroth.^[12]
• Duskwood - Technically part of the Alliance and under Stormwind's protection;^[13] it stands within Stormwind's territory but profits little from the fact;^[11] has its own democratic government; it has undead, ogre, and worgen problems.
• Westfall - Independent; formerly controlled by Stormwind but currently in a state of chaos ruled by Edwin VanCleef through the Defias Brotherhood.^[3]
• Nethergarde Keep - A Stormwind fortress of dour mages and paladins, keeps watch over the Dark Portal, and the demons and ogres that would abuse its power.^[2] Nethergarde is a heavily defended Alliance town located in the Blasted Lands. The stronghold is home to about 300 members of the Alliance.

Region	Before First War	First War	Second War	Interim	Invasion of Draenor	Interim	Third War	Post-Third War	Current Status	Main threats
Stormwind	Azeroth Capital	razed	Horde	contested	Alliance	rebuilt	monarchy	corruption within	monarchy	Black Dragonflight
Elwynn Forest	part of Azeroth	Horde	Horde	contested	Alliance	Stormwind	Stormwind	independence	democracy	Defias Brotherhood
Redridge Mountains	part of Azeroth	Horde	Horde	contested	Alliance	Stormwind	Stormwind	Stormwind	Stormwind[12]	gnolls, orcs, trolls
Duskwood	part of Azeroth	Horde	Horde	contested	Alliance	Stormwind	Stormwind	independence	democracy	undead, ogre, worgen
Westfall	part of Azeroth	Horde	Horde	contested	Alliance	Stormwind	Stormwind	independence	N/A	Defias Brotherhood
Nethergarde Keep	-	-	-	constructed	razed	rebuilt	Stormwind	Stormwind	Stormwind	Burning Legion

Northrend (outposts)

• Valiance Keep - One of the two primary ports of entry for the Alliance in Northrend. It serves as the headquarters for the Valiance Expedition.
• Valgarde - An early established seaport, this rough settlement sits on the shores of Daggercap Bay.
• Westguard Keep - A well-fortified base of operations situated atop the Howling Fjord cliffs.
• Fordragon Hold - The front-line stronghold, spearheading the war at Icecrown Glacier.
• Wintergarde Keep - Used as base of operations for the 7th Legion veteran forces. The lower half of this tiered city is taken over by the Scourge.

References

v • d • e Regions of the Kingdom of Stormwind Capital: Stormwind City · Regions: Duskwood · Elwynn Forest · Redridge Mountains

v • d • e Human nations The Seven Kingdoms Alterac · Dalaran · Gilneas · Kul Tiras · Lordaeron · Azeroth/Stormwind · Stromgarde Others Arathor · Theramore