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Stratholme

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For the level 80 wing of the Caverns of Time, see Culling of Stratholme.
Stratholme
Strat Live and Strat Undead, Scarlet Strat and Strat UD, Strat
Stratholme loading graphic
LocationPlaguewood, Eastern Plaguelands
Population25,000 (almost all undead)
Race(s)Cultist maleCultist female Cultist
Undead maleUndead female Scourge
End bossBaron Rivendare
Advised level56-61
Minimum level45
Player limit5
Key[Key to the City] (Eastwall Gate Service Entrance)
Bosses

The city of Stratholme[27, 8] was the northernmost city of the kingdom of Lordaeron, and is the city where the Order of the Silver Hand was founded.

The Scourge’s capital in Lordaeron, Stratholme is a city of evil and dark magic. Once a great human city, the mad Prince Arthas ravaged Stratholme in the Third War and the undead moved in soon after. Kel’Thuzad raised undead structures among the human ruins. Undead and necromancers control the city while gargoyles and frost wyrms patrol the sky. Noxious orange mist oozes from the buildings and poisons living creatures, transforming them into servants of the Scourge. Kel’Thuzad’s rule here is absolute, and from here he stretches his skeletal hands to control the surrounding plaguelands.WoWRPG 20

The largest city after Lordaeron's capital, Stratholme was destroyed by Arthas in the opening hours of the Third War, as he massacred the city's citizenry after they were infected by the Plague of Undeath. Stratholme burns to this day, and its districts have been split between the overzealous Scarlet Crusade led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, and the Scourge forces led by the death knight Baron Rivendare.

Contents

History

Old Stratholme
Old Stratholme
Stratholme in Warcraft III.
Stratholme burning
Stratholme in the Ashbringer comic.

Second War

This section concerns content exclusive to Warcraft II.

The second largest human city in Lordaeron, matched only by the capital. The original Stratholme was a port town built on the northeast edge of Darrowmere Lake. Stratholme was the chief source of Alliance Oil in the north. During the Second War, it was preparing to deliver massive amounts of Oil to the kingdoms in western Lordaeron. The Horde sabotaged its Refineries and Platforms to halt their shipment, and destroyed the city. With the destruction of Stratholme, the Alliance supply lines to Quel'thalas were severed.

At the beginning of the Second war, Stratholme, specifically Alonsus Chapel, was the location where the Archbishop Alonsus Faol founded the holy Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand, and indoctrinated its first five members, including Uther the Lightbringer and Saidan Dathrohan.

Afterwards

Stratholme was apparently rebuilt in landlocked northern Lordaeron after the Second War. In its glory days, this jewel of humanity's largest and proudest nation housed nearly 25,000 people,[1] and included many well known buildings, from the glorious keep to Fras Siabi's famous tobacco shop.

The city was also where the one of the original paladins, Tirion Fordring, was tried for treason against the Alliance for defending the orc Eitrigg. The trial was conducted by Uther the Lightbringer himself and overseen by various leaders of the Alliance. Tirion was found guilty, stripped of his powers (unsuccessfully), and was excommunicated from the Alliance lands. The following day the city came under attack by a small but well trained band of orcs under the command of the young warchief Thrall, determined to save Eitrigg. Admist the chaos Tirion and Eitrigg escaped into the countryside.

Third War

Just before the third war the city's population was almost completely massacred by Arthas, who thought the only way of keeping the plagued (but not yet turned) citizens out of the hands of Mal'Ganis was by purging (killing) them; the majority of the survivors left with Jaina Proudmoore.

When Arthas was called back to Northrend, the lich overlord Kel'Thuzad established Stratholme as his capital and positioned his fortress, the Necropolis Naxxramas, above the ruined city.

Today

Stratholme is quite possibly the largest stronghold held by the Scourge in all of Lordaeron. Leading Scourge forces in the city below is a former noble turned death knight by the name of Baron Rivendare, who coordinates the efforts of the Lich King in the Plaguelands, where he constantly battles the force of the Argent Dawn.

Some consider Stratholme to be one of the most dangerous places in Azeroth outside of Northrend. Today the city houses a few hundred Scarlet Crusade warriors from the Crimson Legion who fight valiantly (or fanatically, depending on who you ask) against the thousands of undead.

From Blizzard's Official World Dungeons site:

Once the jewel of northern Lordaeron, the city of Stratholme is where Prince Arthas turned against his mentor, Uther Lightbringer, and slaughtered hundreds of his own subjects who were believed to have contracted the dreaded plague of undeath. Arthas' downward spiral and ultimate surrender to the Lich King soon followed. The broken city is now inhabited by the undead Scourge -- led by the powerful lich, Kel'Thuzad. A contingent of Scarlet Crusaders, led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, also holds a portion of the ravaged city. The two sides are locked in constant, violent combat. Those adventurers brave (or foolish) enough to enter Stratholme will be forced to contend with both factions before long. It is said that the city is guarded by three massive watchtowers, as well as powerful necromancers, banshees and abominations. There have also been reports of a malefic Death Knight riding atop an unholy steed, dispensing indiscriminate wrath on all those who venture within the realm of the Scourge.

Geography

Maps

Atlas map showing various shops that were in Stratholme.

Fan-created Stratholme map by Kanaru.

Subregions

Alonsus Chapel • The Crimson Throne • Crusaders' Square • Elders' Square • Festival Lane • The Gauntlet • The Hall of Lights • The Hoard • King's Square • Market Row • The Scarlet Bastion • The Slaughter House • Slaughter Square

Dungeon Denizens

Encounters

Bosses Monsters
  • The Hall of Lights

Summary

The gates of Stratholme.

On first entering Stratholme, the gate closes. Therefore, the only way out is to fight your way to the service entrance (the key to which is held by Magistrate Barthilas), also known as the "back door", or use a hearthstone or mage portal to get out. If someone is already at the service entrance, they can use the lever to open the gate and let others in. Another way to do this is duel, then aggro nearby hostiles (or just aggro monsters from the start), and slip through the door in ghost from, and resurrect on the other side.

Stratholme is basically divided into two parts, at least in the minds of players. Scarlet Side or "Live Side", which goes from the main entrance into the Scarlet Crusade-controlled citadel, and Scourge Side or "Undead Side", which can also be accessed from the main entrance, but more commonly through the Service Entrance (which requires a key or Lockpicking 300) to the Scourge slaughterhouse. However, both "sides" are part of the same instance and players can complete both tracks.

Engineers can blast their way through the Service Entrance using a Powerful Seaforium Charge. However, if you do, remember to take two charges with you, as there are two doors to open.

Scarlet side

The Scarlet Bastion

Mobs

Scarlet Crusaders

Undead

Neutral Undead

Quests

Undead side

The Slaughterhouse — where Baron Rivendare dwells.

Mobs

Festival Lane

Mindless Undead (Ghouls, Skeletons and Zombies)

Undead (Spiders, Banshees and Gargoyles)

Thuzadin Wizards

  • Thuzadin Necromancer: Casts Soul Tap (drains 350 health and mana every 2secs for 12 secs), Summon Skeleton, Bone Armor (shields the target for a srt amount of damage)
  • Thuzadin Shadowcaster: Casts Shadowbolt, Piercing Shadow (reduces the target's shadow resistance), Cripple
  • Thuzadin Acolytes (non-elite): Melees

The Baron's Bodyguards

Quests

The streets of Stratholme.

Loot

See Stratholme loot.

Caverns of Time: Old Stratholme

The city's main cathedral, now called the Scarlet Bastion.
WotLK This section concerns content exclusive to Wrath of the Lich King.

Stratholme is the premise of the fourth wing of the Caverns of Time, set approximately six years from the present in World of Warcraft. This is actually the setting of a Warcraft III Human campaign mission. In this instance, players are part of Prince Arthas' forces as they arrive in Stratholme, shortly before the purging of the city that led - eventually - to Arthas' descent into madness.

Culling of Stratholme is a level 80, 5-man wing, and the players will aid Arthas in destroying the town and killing its plagued denizens.[2] This makes it in the storyline as if it were the players who were to blame of the downfall of Stratholme.

Lore

This article or section contains lore taken from Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, the manuals, and official bonus maps.

A map called Ruins of Stratholme exists for Warcraft III. Stratholme was once a bastion of Alliance power, but now it stands as a burning testament to the evil of the Scourge. Only the bravest of heroes would dare enter this ruined city, for the undead armies of Kel'Thuzad still hold sway over the haunted capital.

Trivia

It is interesting to note that there is a raid Instance portal at the end of the instance, outside the Slaughter Square. This cannot lead to Naxxramas, as it used to be floating above the city, though the teleporter may have once been meant to be inside the ruins. There are ruined flags carrying the insignia of Lordaeron inside the tunnel, which are not seen anywhere else inside Stratholme.

The Ghostly Citizens in the instance will emote back things like /wave and /dance.

It should be noted that [Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape] drops in this instance. This particular item is white and longer than your Averagecloak.

Videos



Stratholme mount run explained by Wilcuss (Anachronos EU)

References

  1. ^ Baxter, Rob; Tim Campbell, Bob Fitch, Luke Johnson, Seth Johnson, Mur Lafferty, Andrew J. Scott. in Ellen P. Kiley: Lands of Conflict, 188. ISBN 978-1-5884-6960-1. 
  2. ^ http://www.mmo-champion.com/index.php?topic=736.0

External links

v • d • e
Subzones of Stratholme
v • d • e
Subzones of Eastern Plaguelands
Map of Eastern Plaguelands
v • d • e
Instanced dungeon locations
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