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{{Stub/Location}}
<B style="font-weight:normal;background-color:#2b2b2b;">[ [[WoWWiki:Article_type|Source Text]] ]</B>
 
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{{about||the zone after worgen starting experience|Ruins of Gilneas|the reputation faction|Gilneas (faction)}}
[[Category:Lore|Titans and the Shaping of the Universe]]
 
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{{Infobox zone
[[Category:History of Warcraft|Titans and the Shaping of the Universe]]
 
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|name = Gilneas
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|ss = Cataclysm Gilneas - Lighthouse.jpg
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|caption =
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|capital = [[Gilneas City]]
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|pop = Unknown
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|popref =
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|faction = Alliance
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|loc = South of [[Silverpine Forest]]
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|races = {{Race|Human}}<br/>{{Race|Worgen}}<br/>{{Race|Forsaken}}<br/>{{Race|Night Elf}}<br/>{{Race|Ogre}}<br/>{{RaceIconExt|Ettin}} [[Ettin]]<br/> {{Race|Orc}}
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|languages = [[Common (language)|Common]]
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|faiths = [[Light|Holy Light]]
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|government = Hereditary monarchy
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|affiliation = [[Alliance]], Independent (formerly)
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|resources = Unknown
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|rulers = [[Genn Greymane|King Genn Greymane]]
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|level = 1 - 12
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|source = ''[[Lands of Conflict]]'', 96 <br />''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]''
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}}
   
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'''Gilneas''' (pronounced Gil-NEIGH-uhs) is a [[human nation]] and [[kingdom]]<ref name="LoC 97">''[[Lands of Conflict]]'', 97</ref> located in the peninsula south-west of [[Silverpine Forest]] on the continent of [[Lordaeron (continent) |Lordaeron]]. The kingdom was founded following the splitting of [[Arathor]] and is ruled by the [[House of Greymane]]. Besides the peninsula, the kingdom also included the island of [[Zul'Dare]], and formerly held lands in Silverpine Forest including [[Pyrewood Village]] and [[Ambermill]]<ref name="lohp">[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/features/genngreymane.html Lord of His Pack]</ref>.
''The Titans and the Shaping of the Universe'' is a section of the [[History of Warcraft]], Chapter I.
 
   
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Gilneas is a large peninsula that juts into the sea south of western Lordaeron. Silverpine Forest lies to the north-east and [[Kul Tiras]] awaits across the sea to the south. Lord Genn Greymane never supported the Lordaeron Alliance in the Second War. Thus, after the war, he constructed the Greymane Wall: a massive barrier spanning the entire northern border. The enormous wall barricades Gilneas from Lordaeron. For around two decades<ref>Infered from timeline from official site, 2007.[http://web.archive.org/web/20070116010622/http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/timeline.html Timeline snapshot from web.archive.org]</ref> Gilneas had not allowed anyone in or out, and no one knew what has been transpiring there since the end of the Second War.<ref name="LoC 96">''[[Lands of Conflict]]'', 96</ref>
==Text==
 
No one knows exactly how the universe began. Some theorize that a catastrophic cosmic explosion sent the infinite worlds spinning out into the vastness of the Great Dark - worlds that would one day bear life forms of wondrous and terrible diversity. Others believe that the universe was created as a whole by a single all-powerful entity. Though the exact origins of the chaotic universe remain uncertain, it is clear that a race of powerful beings arose to bring stability to the various worlds and ensure a safe future for the beings that would follow in their footsteps.
 
   
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It was later found that the '[[Worgen]] Curse' has swept mercilessly across the nation, turning nearly all of its inhabitants to savage beasts. Escalating tensions among the survivors escalated into bloody [[Northgate rebellion|civil war]] that all but wrecked the whole nation. Following the ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm|Cataclysm]]'' and an [[Invasion of Gilneas|invasion]] by the [[Forsaken]], some of these [[Worgen (playable)|Gilnean worgen]] have regained their freewill, Gilneas has rejoined the [[Alliance]].<ref name="cataclysm">http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/features/worgen.html</ref>
The Titans, colossal, metallic-skinned gods from the far reaches of the cosmos, explored the newborn universe and set to work on the worlds they encountered. They shaped the worlds by raising mighty mountains and dredging out vast seas. They breathed skies and raging atmospheres into being. It was all part of their unfathomable, far-sighted plan to create order out of chaos. They even empowered primitive races to tend to their works and maintain the integrity of their respective worlds.
 
   
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==History==
Ruled by an elite sect known as the Pantheon, the Titans brought order to a hundred million worlds scattered throughout the Great Dark Beyond during the first ages of creation. The benevolent Pantheon, which sought to safeguard these structured worlds, was ever vigilant against the threat of attack from the vile extra-dimensional entities of the Twisting Nether. The Nether, an ethereal dimension of chaotic magics that connected the myriad worlds of the universe, was home to an infinite number of malefic, demonic beings who sought only to destroy life and devour the energies of the living universe. Unable to conceive of evil or wickedness in any form, the Titans struggled to find a way to end the demons' constant threat.
 
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[[File:Gilneas flag.jpg|thumb|The Gilnean flag.]]
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Following their victory in [[Troll Wars|their war against the trolls]], the empire of [[Arathor]] entered into a period of prosperity and growth. After the death of King [[Thoradin]] the empire began to expand, founding new city states in the wilderness - including Gilneas. Each city grew and prospered, Gilneas and [[Alterac]] developed strong armies which explored the world. Over time the power of Gilneas and the other city states grew as that of [[Strom]] waned, eventually they developed their own customs and beliefs and the empire splintered into [[Seven Kingdoms|independent kingdoms]].<ref>{{elink|type=wowus|link=http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter2.html#16|desc=Chapter II: The New World - The Seven Kingdoms}}</ref> Under the rule of [[Archibald Greymane|King Archibald]], Gilneas prospered even further eventually rivaling the kingdoms of [[Stormwind]] and [[Lordaeron]].
   
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By the start of the [[Second War]] Gilneas was one of the most powerful human nations, and because of this, the kingdom's ruler, [[Genn Greymane]], was not a strong supporter of the [[Alliance of Lordaeron|Alliance]], believing that his own armies would be more than enough to deal with any threat. Despite this, Gilneas was not neutral towards the [[Horde]], and did join the Alliance late in the Second War, although Lord Greymane constantly argued against its existence from beginning to end. He never actually supported the Lordaeron Alliance in the Second War.<ref name="LoC 96" /> Shortly after the Horde was defeated, Greymane pulled his nation's "support" from the Alliance, refusing to spend his nation's resources on keeping the orcs alive in internment camps or in rebuilding other nations devastated by the war. Greymane's isolationism may have been influenced by [[Deathwing|Daval Prestor]], secretly the black dragon [[Deathwing]] in [[human]] form, who Greymane had supported to the throne of [[Alterac]].
   
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===The Greymane Wall and the Third War===
==Source==
 
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Some time after the Second War, Greymane constructed the [[Greymane Wall]] — an enormous stone barrier that now separates Gilneas from Lordaeron.<ref name="WoWRPG 20">''[[World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]'', 20</ref> Attempting to forever remove his nation from what he considered "other people's troubles", he barricaded Gilneas behind the wall. No one, not even other humans were allowed to enter Gilneas. Even during the [[Scourge|Scourge's]] invasion of Lordaeron, while human refugees came begging to be allowed in, the Greymane Wall remained closed.
[[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter1.html#1 Worldofwarcraft.com]]
 
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In order to keep the Scourge out, Greymane ordered his court archmage, [[Arugal]], to unleash a "secret weapon" against the Scourge &mdash; the [[worgen]], who had been contained for millennia. Unfortunately, after attacking the Scourge, the worgen began attacking humans living in [[Silverpine Forest]] and infecting Gilnean soldiers beyond the wall. Before long the affliction had advanced through the legendary barrier and was gradually eating away at Gilneas’ humanity.
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A small group of soldiers known as the [[Gilneas Brigade]] joined the [[Human Expedition]] led by [[Jaina Proudmoore]] during the [[Third War]], but these were actually sent by [[Darius Crowley|Lord Crowley]] as an act of defiance against Genn.
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The worgen threat was contained for millennia, until Archmage [[Arugal]] managed to pull the wolf-beasts from the [[Emerald Dream]]. Summoned by order of King Genn Greymane, the worgen were used to battle [[Scourge]] forces encroaching on the kingdom of Gilneas. Yet the feral creatures soon spread their curse throughout the human population of [[Silverpine Forest]], infecting Gilnean soldiers stationed beyond the Greymane Wall. Before long the affliction had advanced through the legendary barrier and was gradually eating away at Gilneas’ humanity. As reports of strange attacks and disappearances rose, fear took root in the hearts of Genn’s people.
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Refugees and other nations have entreated Gilneas for aid. These unfortunates never see a Gilnean and are easy prey for the [[worgen]] that occasionally stray south from [[Shadowfang Keep]]. Gilneas was not affected by the Scourge. Although the land connection to Gilneas is closed, ships from this self-isolated nation have been spotted throughout the world, such as the pirate ship ''Heedless'' of captain [[Baron Longshore]].
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===Civil War===
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{{Main|Northgate rebellion}}
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{{Main|Gilneas civil war}}
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Lord Darius Crowley, upset about Greymane's isolationism, launched the [[Northgate rebellion]] and later on the [[Gilneas civil war]]. Lord Crowley was eventually captured by Greymane's forces. However, as wild [[worgen]] spread and attacked [[Gilneas City]], causing massive harm, Crowley was released by Gilnean adventurers and convinced to give aid to Greymane, who had ordered the evacuation of Gilneas to lands controlled by the [[night elves]]. In order to divert the worgen's attention from the fleeing citizens, Crowley led a group of sane Gilneans to stand against them at Light's Dawn Cathedral. Crowley and his followers were overwhelmed, and became worgen themselves.
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===Cataclysm===
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Unbeknownst to many of the kingdom’s citizens, a war between beast and man is rages within the worgen themselves. Whether or not balance can be restored to these cursed Gilneans before the entirety of Genn’s kingdom loses its humanity is uncertain.<ref>{{elink|type=wowus|link=http://us.battle.net/wow/en/game/race/worgen}}</ref>
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While Greymane's efforts to stem the tide of the Scourge kept Gilneas from the grasp of the undead, the Greymane Wall inadvertently subjected the Gilneans to a dark fate all the same. Many fell under the worgen curse, as it did with their neighbors to the north in [[Silverpine Forest|Silverpine]] before them. However, with the aid of a Night Elf priestess, [[Belrysa]], the Gilneans were shown a way to retain control of their human minds when transformed into the worgen form.
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To compound the worgen threat, the [[Forsaken]] have started battering at the nation’s gates in a bid to conquer Gilneas. Under orders from [[Garrosh Hellscream]], now Warchief of the [[Horde]], the Forsaken were ordered to conquer the lands of Gilneas for the Horde. The [[Cataclysm]] breached the [[Greymane Wall]] and weakened Gilneas' defenses, leaving Gilneas open to the invasion. As the [[Invasion of Gilneas|Forsaken invasion]] went on, [[Genn Greymane]] and Lord Godfrey traveled to [[Tal'doren]] to ask Crowley to help unite Gilneas against the [[Forsaken]]. Due to [[Lord Godfrey]]'s tyrannical command, Darius was hesitant to accept. Greymane tells Darius that he is asking him as a friend and not as a king and after revealing that he too had succumbed to the worgen curse, Darius agreed to join forces. Though the Gilneans led a valiant attempt at driving off the Forsaken, their Horde reinforcements and use of the [[Forsaken Blight]] would soon overwhelm them. Genn decided to seek sanctuary in the [[Alliance]] and one day return to fight for Gilneas with Alliance reinforcements.
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No one had seen a Gilnean for more than ten years<ref name="WoWRPG 20" /> until the [[Cataclysm]], which destroyed the Wall. Driven by their curse and [[Invasion of Gilneas|threat]] from the [[Forsaken]], Gilneas was finally driven into the [[Alliance]]'s fold.
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Lord Crowley led the [[Gilneas Liberation Front]] against the Forsaken in [[Silverpine Forest]]. With help from the 7th Legion, who used a submarine to pass the enemy lines, the Alliance gained the upper hand in Gilneas. However, agents of the Horde ended up destroying some the reinforcements and enabled the Forsaken to resurrect Lord Godfrey as one of their own, a fact that none of the Gilneans were aware of. Crowley later surrendered to [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] after she had taken his daughter hostage. Meanwhile Lord Godfrey rebelled against Sylvanas and "killed" her, although she was quickly resurrected.
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Sylvanas returned to [[Undercity]] to recover, enabling the [[Alliance]] to retake Gilneas.
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==In World of Warcraft==
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{{Cata-section}}
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The Greymane Wall, in the south of Silverpine Forest, has been in the game since release, but Gilneas itself remained a closed zone. With the ''Cataclysm'' expansion, Gilneas was finally opened to players as the heavily-phased level 1-12 [[starting area]] of the new playable [[Worgen (playable)|worgen]] race. Players enter the story as a human. The level 1-5 quests take place a year before the Cataclysm, and will teach them how the worgen curse came to be, how the humans of Gilneas came to be affected by it and lastly with the player him/herself being infected with the worgen curse.<ref>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/04/blizzard-interview-j-allen-brack-on-world-of-warcraft/</ref> After a cutscene, players will be in worgen form and the game time skips to just before the Cataclysm. For the remainder of the starting experience, players will experience the dual threats of the effects of the Shattering upon Gilneas and the Forsaken siege. An offer of aid from a [[night elves|night elven]] [[druid]]ic sect brings Gilneas into the [[Alliance]], which serves as a counterpart to the introduction of the [[Horde]]-allied [[Goblin (playable)|Goblins]] of [[Kezan]]. In-game, Gilneas appears to be a dreary and rainy territory, reflecting the cursed nation itself. The Greymane Wall received a graphical update to match the new style of Gilneas (a Victorian style).
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It must also be mentioned that, much like when [[Quel'Thalas]] was introduced in ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'', the Peninsula of Gilneas has a considerably different landmass than it does on pre-''Cataclysm'' maps. Prior to the Cataclysm Gilneas appeared as a small, thin peninsula roughly the same size and shape as Silverpine Forest to the north. After the Cataclysm the Gilnean peninsula appears slightly shorter but significantly wider (even accounting for the land that sinks into the ocean during the Worgen starting experience).
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Genn Greymane is still alive, being among the first NPCs encountered by [[worgen (playable)|worgen players]]. After the player's transformation into a worgen, Greymane is seen advising Krennan to give the player a treatment for the worgen curse.<ref name="Wow.com live blog">[http://www.wow.com/2009/08/21/blizzcon-2009-live-blogging-the-cataclysm-new-starter-zones/ BlizzCon 2009: Live blogging the Cataclysm new starter zones]</ref> However, [[Brann Bronzebeard]]'s rumors about the [[Naga]]<ref name="LoC 97" /> have not been proven true.
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One of the new battlegrounds in Cataclysm is called [[Battle for Gilneas]], and features the ongoing siege of Gilneas by the Forsaken. Outside the battleground, Horde players are sent into a phased version of Gilneas from quests in Silverpine to stop the worgen and fortify their hold on the kingdom.
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The unphased version of Gilneas, [[Ruins of Gilneas]], is devoid of any life except for a few critters.
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====Description====
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''Gilneas is located on the peninsula south of Silverpine Forest.''
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''The human kingdom had supported the Alliance during the Second War, but King Greymane had no qualms about severing all ties to the outside world when it became clear that the Alliance needed Gilneas more than Gilneas needed the Alliance. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, darkness fell on Gilneas after the Greymane Wall's gates had been closed, and the worgen curse ravaged the nation. Before long, Gilneans were fighting against Gilneans in a bloody civil war that left the kingdom in tatters. Remarkably, the people of Gilneas have somehow managed to hold on to the last vestiges of their humanity... for now.''
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==People and culture==
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[[File:Gilneans.jpg|thumb|Two human Gilneans in conversation.]]
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A person from Gilneas is referred to as Gilnean.<ref name="LoC 97" />
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Like their leader, Gilneas' people are burly and gruff. Extremely isolationist, they supported the Greymane Wall's construction. They speak common, and have their faith in the Holy Light. Their resources are unknown.<ref name="LoC 96"/>
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Moreover, their costumes, weapons, architecture and accents have great Victorian connotations, which along with the cold and rainy weather of the peninsula, give the feeling of being in the London of the nineteenth century.
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[[File:greymane.JPG|thumb|The Greymane Wall in World of Warcraft as seen prior to patch 4.0]]
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Lord Genn Greymane, a brawny warrior who is in his seventies, has ruled Gilneas for decades.
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==Geography==
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Gilneas is a large peninsula that juts into the sea south of the western regions of Lordaeron. Silverpine Forest lies to the north-east and [[Kul Tiras]] and [[Crestfall]] await across the sea to the south and Tol'Barad stands to the east. Because of its nearness, [[Zul'Dare]] is considered part of Gilneas.
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Gilneas is a cold, rainy place, mainly because The [[Great Sea]] surrounds the peninsula on three sides, making sea storms common. High cliffs on the shores protect Gilneas from sailors’ curious eyes. The Greymane Wall is the only evident site in Gilneas.<ref name="LoC 97" /><ref name="LoC 96" />
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===Maps and subregions===
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<gallery>
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File:Gn.PNG|Initial concept layout (seen at Blizzcon 2009)
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File:Gilneas concept art.jpg|Gilneas concept art
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File:Gilneas Peninsula Landscape.jpg|Layout of the Gilneas Peninsula (as of Blizzcon 2009)
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File:WorldMap-Gilneas.jpg|Gilneas before phasing
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File:WorldMap-Gilneas terrain1.jpg|First phase: Erosion of the southwestern coast near Duskhaven
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File:WorldMap-RuinsOfGilneas.jpg|Second phase: Duskhaven is consumed by the crumbling earth
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</gallery>
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{| class="darktable"
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|[[Aderic's Repose]]{{·}} [[Allen Farmstead]]{{·}} [[The Bite]]{{·}} [[Blackwald|The Blackwald]]{{·}} [[Bradshaw Mill|The Bradshaw Mill]]{{·}} [[Crowley Orchard]]{{·}} [[Crowley Stable Grounds]]{{·}}[[Duskhaven]]{{·}} [[Duskmist Shore]] {{·}} [[Emberstone Mine]]{{·}} [[Emberstone Village]]{{·}} [[Galewatch Lighthouse]] {{·}}[[Gilneas City]] ([[Cathedral Quarter]] {{·}} [[Greymane Court]] {{·}} [[Light's Dawn Cathedral]] {{·}} [[Merchant Square]]{{·}}[[Military District]]{{·}}[[Stoneward Prison]]){{·}} [[Greymane Manor]]{{·}} [[Greymane Wall|The Greymane Wall]]{{·}} [[Hammond Farmstead]] {{·}} [[Hayward Fishery]]{{·}} [[Headlands|The Headlands]]{{·}} [[Keel Harbor]]{{·}} [[King's Gate]]{{·}} [[Koroth's Den]]{{·}} [[Livery Outpost]]{{·}} [[Northern Headlands]]{{·}} [[Northgate River]]{{·}} [[Northgate Woods]]{{·}} [[Queen's Gate]]{{·}} [[Rygna's Lair]]{{·}} [[Stagecoach Crash Site]]{{·}} [[Stormglen Village]]{{·}} [[Tal'doren]]{{·}} [[Tempest's Reach]]{{·}} [[Wahl Cottage]]
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|}
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{{clrl}}
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===Adjacent regions===
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{| class="darktable"
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|-
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! Zone Name
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! Faction
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! Level Range
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! Direction
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! Access
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|-
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| [[Teldrassil]] || {{Alliance Icon Small}}
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| 1-10 || Northwest across the sea
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| Via evacuation
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|}
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===Battlegrounds===
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*[[Battle for Gilneas]]
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==Resources==
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Resources found in Gilneas are similar to other starting zones in ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' and include:
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*Herbalism
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**[[Peacebloom]]
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**[[Silverleaf]]
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**[[Earthroot]]
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*Mining
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**[[Copper Ore]]
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==Post-Cataclysm==
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The [[worgen]] curse that started from Shadowfang Keep and swept across Gilneas left its people irrevocably transformed. Almost the entire human population has been turned to the beastly [[worgen]], a humbling failure for Genn Greymane in his efforts to keep his people safe. The reaction of the people to this change will likely be greatly varied, and has yet to be revealed. Preliminary dialogue from [[Cataclysm]] has revealed that Gilnean mages and healers went to great strides to fight the affliction.
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Gilneas has undergone deep changes in the wake of its cursing, and while the people maintain their free will, the impact of the curse remains to be seen.
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The [[forsaken]], led by [[Dark Ranger Thyala]], have begun the [[Invasion of Gilneas]].
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==Gilneas in Warcraft II==
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[[File:Gineas.jpg|thumb|Gilneas' flag from Warcraft II]]
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{{WC2-section}}
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'''Leader:''' ''Genn Greymane''
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'''Nation Color:''' ''Black''
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'''Background:''' ''Despite the impending Orcish invasion, Gilneas has remained separate from the [[Alliance of Lordaeron]]. As ruler of one of the strongest human nations, Genn Greymane is convinced that his own armies can deal with any threat, and has therefore remained unmoved by Lord Lothar's pleas for unity. Despite this apparent disdain for the Alliance, the denizens of Gilneas harbor no fondness for the orcs or their allies and are prepared to meet them blade for blade.<ref>''[[Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness|Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual]]'', 43</ref>''
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==Gilneas in Warcraft III==
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{{WC3-section}}
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In the ''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'' [[The Invasion of Kalimdor|Orc Campaign: The Invasion of Kalimdor]] in [[Cry of the Warsong|Chapter Three: Cry of the Warsong]], one of the human factions you face has the force name [[Gilneas Brigade]], implying that people from Gilneas travelled to Kalimdor with Jaina and are very likely still with her now. It was later revealed that they were sent by [[Darius Crowley|Lord Crowley]].<ref>[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/features/genngreymane.html#11]</ref>
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==Videos==
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<youtube>uV168oMfPgg</youtube>
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<youtube>K261YVTxvmA</youtube>
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<youtube>QTHIicgpzTc</youtube>
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==Gallery==
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<gallery widths="120">
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File:Artpanel 099.jpg
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File:Cataclysm Gilneas.jpg
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File:Cataclysm Gilneas - City Streets.jpg
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File:Cataclysm Gilneas - House.jpg
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File:Cataclysm Gilneas - Windmills.jpg
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File:Cataclysm Worgen.jpg
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File:Gilneas ss1.jpg
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File:Gilneas ss2.jpg
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File:Gilneas_ss3.jpg
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File:Gilneas ss4.jpg
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File:Gilneas Flag.jpg
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File:Worgen-Icon.jpg
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</gallery>
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==Trivia==
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*It is said that at one time the kingdom of Gilneas had land only at the tip of the peninsula that bears its name<ref>''[[Day of the Dragon]]'', 5</ref> (however, its said elsewhere that Genn Greymane owned the entire peninsula even back then).<ref name="WoWRPG 20" /><ref>''[[Alliance Player's Guide]]'', 158</ref>
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*The [[ruins of Gilneas]] were added as an accessable zone in [[patch 4.0.3a]], two weeks before the release of ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]''; it will be what remains of Gilneas after the worgen starting area (similar to the [[Ruins of the Scarlet Enclave]] in [[Eastern Plaguelands]]). Prior to patch 4.0.3a, on the other side of the Greymane Wall there was only a small, flat area, bordered by the ocean. This is the only brand new zone that can be accessed without first having ''Cataclysm''. Horde players questing in nearby [[Silverpine Forest]] will have a small quest chain that involves venturing through the ruins.
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*If you get a view of the inner side of the wall you may see that the inner gate is broken down from the inside.
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*Before the announcement of the [[draenei]] as the Alliance race in ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'', there was speculation that the worgen and Gilneas would enter the game at this stage. The rumour again came out in July 2009 with the revelation of worgen [[Hallow's End]] masks. It was finally confirmed at [[BlizzCon 2009]].
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*In response to a question at [[BlizzCon]], [[Metzen]] mentioned that they had "forgotten" about Gilneas. Later, in an interview at 2009 New York Comic Con, he mentioned that Blizzard has some "very, very, very interesting plans for Gilneas", but he would not reveal any further details.<ref>http://www.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/chris_metzen_micky_neilson_pocket_star_books_lore_qa_video_interview</ref> It was revealed to be that the Gilneans had turned into worgen and have now joined the Alliance.<ref name="cataclysm" />
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*After [[Patch 3.1.0]], the loading screen/ship route from [[Menethil Harbor|Menethil]] to [[Theramore]] no longer crosses Gilneas.
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*A coin fished from Dalaran's fountain called [[Genn's Copper Coin]] reads "Pah, the fountains in Gilneas could grant ten times as many wishes as Dalaran's!"
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*[[Gilneas Sparkling Water]] can be purchased in the [[Old Hillsbrad Foothills]] section of the [[Caverns of Time]] instance. This water replaces [[Purified Draenic Water]], which wouldn't have been found on [[Azeroth (world)|Azeroth]] at the time the instance takes place.
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*The [[:File:Gilneas brand.png|tents in Warcraft III]] have the same symbol that [[:File:Gineas.jpg|banner of Gilneas from Warcraft II]] had.
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*Gilneans' clothes appear to be Victorian in style. This, combined with the cold, gloomy and rainy atmosphere of Gilneas, would appear to indicate that Gilneas is based on nineteenth century England. Some Gilnean buildings, such as [[Greymane Manor]] and in [[Greymane City]], have "onion domes" on them, possibly indicating a Russian influence in elements of their architecture.
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==See also==
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*[[Worgen (playable)]]
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*[[Gilneas NPCs]]
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*[[User:Sl2059/Gilneas|Gilneas Gallery]]
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==References==
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{{Reflist}}
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==External links==
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{{Gilneas}}
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{{Lordaeron}}
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{{Eastern Kingdoms}}
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{{Humans}}
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[[Category:Gilneas| ]]
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[[Category:Eastern Kingdoms]]
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[[Category:Cataclysm]]
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[[Category:Worgen territories]]
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[[es:Gilneas]]
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[[ru:Гилнеас]]

Revision as of 03:45, 3 May 2011

For the zone after worgen starting experience, see Ruins of Gilneas. For the reputation faction, see Gilneas (faction).
AllianceGilneas
Level: 1 - 12
Cataclysm Gilneas - Lighthouse
Capital(s) Gilneas City
Population Unknown
Races HumanHuman Human
WorgenWorgen Worgen
ForsakenForsaken Forsaken
Night elfNight elf Night elf
OgreOgre Ogre
IconSmall Ettin Ettin
OrcOrc Orc
Government Hereditary monarchy
Ruler(s) King Genn Greymane
Languages Common
Faiths Holy Light
Resources Unknown
Affiliation Alliance, Independent (formerly)
Location South of Silverpine Forest

Gilneas (pronounced Gil-NEIGH-uhs) is a human nation and kingdom[1] located in the peninsula south-west of Silverpine Forest on the continent of Lordaeron. The kingdom was founded following the splitting of Arathor and is ruled by the House of Greymane. Besides the peninsula, the kingdom also included the island of Zul'Dare, and formerly held lands in Silverpine Forest including Pyrewood Village and Ambermill[2].

Gilneas is a large peninsula that juts into the sea south of western Lordaeron. Silverpine Forest lies to the north-east and Kul Tiras awaits across the sea to the south. Lord Genn Greymane never supported the Lordaeron Alliance in the Second War. Thus, after the war, he constructed the Greymane Wall: a massive barrier spanning the entire northern border. The enormous wall barricades Gilneas from Lordaeron. For around two decades[3] Gilneas had not allowed anyone in or out, and no one knew what has been transpiring there since the end of the Second War.[4]

It was later found that the 'Worgen Curse' has swept mercilessly across the nation, turning nearly all of its inhabitants to savage beasts. Escalating tensions among the survivors escalated into bloody civil war that all but wrecked the whole nation. Following the Cataclysm and an invasion by the Forsaken, some of these Gilnean worgen have regained their freewill, Gilneas has rejoined the Alliance.[5]

History

Gilneas flag

The Gilnean flag.

Following their victory in their war against the trolls, the empire of Arathor entered into a period of prosperity and growth. After the death of King Thoradin the empire began to expand, founding new city states in the wilderness - including Gilneas. Each city grew and prospered, Gilneas and Alterac developed strong armies which explored the world. Over time the power of Gilneas and the other city states grew as that of Strom waned, eventually they developed their own customs and beliefs and the empire splintered into independent kingdoms.[6] Under the rule of King Archibald, Gilneas prospered even further eventually rivaling the kingdoms of Stormwind and Lordaeron.

By the start of the Second War Gilneas was one of the most powerful human nations, and because of this, the kingdom's ruler, Genn Greymane, was not a strong supporter of the Alliance, believing that his own armies would be more than enough to deal with any threat. Despite this, Gilneas was not neutral towards the Horde, and did join the Alliance late in the Second War, although Lord Greymane constantly argued against its existence from beginning to end. He never actually supported the Lordaeron Alliance in the Second War.[4] Shortly after the Horde was defeated, Greymane pulled his nation's "support" from the Alliance, refusing to spend his nation's resources on keeping the orcs alive in internment camps or in rebuilding other nations devastated by the war. Greymane's isolationism may have been influenced by Daval Prestor, secretly the black dragon Deathwing in human form, who Greymane had supported to the throne of Alterac.

The Greymane Wall and the Third War

Some time after the Second War, Greymane constructed the Greymane Wall — an enormous stone barrier that now separates Gilneas from Lordaeron.[7] Attempting to forever remove his nation from what he considered "other people's troubles", he barricaded Gilneas behind the wall. No one, not even other humans were allowed to enter Gilneas. Even during the Scourge's invasion of Lordaeron, while human refugees came begging to be allowed in, the Greymane Wall remained closed.

In order to keep the Scourge out, Greymane ordered his court archmage, Arugal, to unleash a "secret weapon" against the Scourge — the worgen, who had been contained for millennia. Unfortunately, after attacking the Scourge, the worgen began attacking humans living in Silverpine Forest and infecting Gilnean soldiers beyond the wall. Before long the affliction had advanced through the legendary barrier and was gradually eating away at Gilneas’ humanity.

A small group of soldiers known as the Gilneas Brigade joined the Human Expedition led by Jaina Proudmoore during the Third War, but these were actually sent by Lord Crowley as an act of defiance against Genn.

The worgen threat was contained for millennia, until Archmage Arugal managed to pull the wolf-beasts from the Emerald Dream. Summoned by order of King Genn Greymane, the worgen were used to battle Scourge forces encroaching on the kingdom of Gilneas. Yet the feral creatures soon spread their curse throughout the human population of Silverpine Forest, infecting Gilnean soldiers stationed beyond the Greymane Wall. Before long the affliction had advanced through the legendary barrier and was gradually eating away at Gilneas’ humanity. As reports of strange attacks and disappearances rose, fear took root in the hearts of Genn’s people.


Refugees and other nations have entreated Gilneas for aid. These unfortunates never see a Gilnean and are easy prey for the worgen that occasionally stray south from Shadowfang Keep. Gilneas was not affected by the Scourge. Although the land connection to Gilneas is closed, ships from this self-isolated nation have been spotted throughout the world, such as the pirate ship Heedless of captain Baron Longshore.

Civil War

Main article: Northgate rebellion
Main article: Gilneas civil war

Lord Darius Crowley, upset about Greymane's isolationism, launched the Northgate rebellion and later on the Gilneas civil war. Lord Crowley was eventually captured by Greymane's forces. However, as wild worgen spread and attacked Gilneas City, causing massive harm, Crowley was released by Gilnean adventurers and convinced to give aid to Greymane, who had ordered the evacuation of Gilneas to lands controlled by the night elves. In order to divert the worgen's attention from the fleeing citizens, Crowley led a group of sane Gilneans to stand against them at Light's Dawn Cathedral. Crowley and his followers were overwhelmed, and became worgen themselves.

Cataclysm

Unbeknownst to many of the kingdom’s citizens, a war between beast and man is rages within the worgen themselves. Whether or not balance can be restored to these cursed Gilneans before the entirety of Genn’s kingdom loses its humanity is uncertain.[8]

While Greymane's efforts to stem the tide of the Scourge kept Gilneas from the grasp of the undead, the Greymane Wall inadvertently subjected the Gilneans to a dark fate all the same. Many fell under the worgen curse, as it did with their neighbors to the north in Silverpine before them. However, with the aid of a Night Elf priestess, Belrysa, the Gilneans were shown a way to retain control of their human minds when transformed into the worgen form.

To compound the worgen threat, the Forsaken have started battering at the nation’s gates in a bid to conquer Gilneas. Under orders from Garrosh Hellscream, now Warchief of the Horde, the Forsaken were ordered to conquer the lands of Gilneas for the Horde. The Cataclysm breached the Greymane Wall and weakened Gilneas' defenses, leaving Gilneas open to the invasion. As the Forsaken invasion went on, Genn Greymane and Lord Godfrey traveled to Tal'doren to ask Crowley to help unite Gilneas against the Forsaken. Due to Lord Godfrey's tyrannical command, Darius was hesitant to accept. Greymane tells Darius that he is asking him as a friend and not as a king and after revealing that he too had succumbed to the worgen curse, Darius agreed to join forces. Though the Gilneans led a valiant attempt at driving off the Forsaken, their Horde reinforcements and use of the Forsaken Blight would soon overwhelm them. Genn decided to seek sanctuary in the Alliance and one day return to fight for Gilneas with Alliance reinforcements.

No one had seen a Gilnean for more than ten years[7] until the Cataclysm, which destroyed the Wall. Driven by their curse and threat from the Forsaken, Gilneas was finally driven into the Alliance's fold.

Lord Crowley led the Gilneas Liberation Front against the Forsaken in Silverpine Forest. With help from the 7th Legion, who used a submarine to pass the enemy lines, the Alliance gained the upper hand in Gilneas. However, agents of the Horde ended up destroying some the reinforcements and enabled the Forsaken to resurrect Lord Godfrey as one of their own, a fact that none of the Gilneans were aware of. Crowley later surrendered to Sylvanas Windrunner after she had taken his daughter hostage. Meanwhile Lord Godfrey rebelled against Sylvanas and "killed" her, although she was quickly resurrected.

Sylvanas returned to Undercity to recover, enabling the Alliance to retake Gilneas.

In World of Warcraft

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

The Greymane Wall, in the south of Silverpine Forest, has been in the game since release, but Gilneas itself remained a closed zone. With the Cataclysm expansion, Gilneas was finally opened to players as the heavily-phased level 1-12 starting area of the new playable worgen race. Players enter the story as a human. The level 1-5 quests take place a year before the Cataclysm, and will teach them how the worgen curse came to be, how the humans of Gilneas came to be affected by it and lastly with the player him/herself being infected with the worgen curse.[9] After a cutscene, players will be in worgen form and the game time skips to just before the Cataclysm. For the remainder of the starting experience, players will experience the dual threats of the effects of the Shattering upon Gilneas and the Forsaken siege. An offer of aid from a night elven druidic sect brings Gilneas into the Alliance, which serves as a counterpart to the introduction of the Horde-allied Goblins of Kezan. In-game, Gilneas appears to be a dreary and rainy territory, reflecting the cursed nation itself. The Greymane Wall received a graphical update to match the new style of Gilneas (a Victorian style).

It must also be mentioned that, much like when Quel'Thalas was introduced in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, the Peninsula of Gilneas has a considerably different landmass than it does on pre-Cataclysm maps. Prior to the Cataclysm Gilneas appeared as a small, thin peninsula roughly the same size and shape as Silverpine Forest to the north. After the Cataclysm the Gilnean peninsula appears slightly shorter but significantly wider (even accounting for the land that sinks into the ocean during the Worgen starting experience).

Genn Greymane is still alive, being among the first NPCs encountered by worgen players. After the player's transformation into a worgen, Greymane is seen advising Krennan to give the player a treatment for the worgen curse.[10] However, Brann Bronzebeard's rumors about the Naga[1] have not been proven true.

One of the new battlegrounds in Cataclysm is called Battle for Gilneas, and features the ongoing siege of Gilneas by the Forsaken. Outside the battleground, Horde players are sent into a phased version of Gilneas from quests in Silverpine to stop the worgen and fortify their hold on the kingdom.

The unphased version of Gilneas, Ruins of Gilneas, is devoid of any life except for a few critters.

Description

Gilneas is located on the peninsula south of Silverpine Forest.

The human kingdom had supported the Alliance during the Second War, but King Greymane had no qualms about severing all ties to the outside world when it became clear that the Alliance needed Gilneas more than Gilneas needed the Alliance. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, darkness fell on Gilneas after the Greymane Wall's gates had been closed, and the worgen curse ravaged the nation. Before long, Gilneans were fighting against Gilneans in a bloody civil war that left the kingdom in tatters. Remarkably, the people of Gilneas have somehow managed to hold on to the last vestiges of their humanity... for now.

People and culture

Gilneans

Two human Gilneans in conversation.

A person from Gilneas is referred to as Gilnean.[1] Like their leader, Gilneas' people are burly and gruff. Extremely isolationist, they supported the Greymane Wall's construction. They speak common, and have their faith in the Holy Light. Their resources are unknown.[4] Moreover, their costumes, weapons, architecture and accents have great Victorian connotations, which along with the cold and rainy weather of the peninsula, give the feeling of being in the London of the nineteenth century.

File:Greymane.JPG

The Greymane Wall in World of Warcraft as seen prior to patch 4.0

Lord Genn Greymane, a brawny warrior who is in his seventies, has ruled Gilneas for decades.

Geography

Gilneas is a large peninsula that juts into the sea south of the western regions of Lordaeron. Silverpine Forest lies to the north-east and Kul Tiras and Crestfall await across the sea to the south and Tol'Barad stands to the east. Because of its nearness, Zul'Dare is considered part of Gilneas.

Gilneas is a cold, rainy place, mainly because The Great Sea surrounds the peninsula on three sides, making sea storms common. High cliffs on the shores protect Gilneas from sailors’ curious eyes. The Greymane Wall is the only evident site in Gilneas.[1][4]

Maps and subregions

Aderic's Repose · Allen Farmstead · The Bite · The Blackwald · The Bradshaw Mill · Crowley Orchard · Crowley Stable Grounds · Duskhaven · Duskmist Shore  · Emberstone Mine · Emberstone Village · Galewatch Lighthouse  · Gilneas City (Cathedral Quarter  · Greymane Court  · Light's Dawn Cathedral  · Merchant Square · Military District · Stoneward Prison) · Greymane Manor · The Greymane Wall · Hammond Farmstead  · Hayward Fishery · The Headlands · Keel Harbor · King's Gate · Koroth's Den · Livery Outpost · Northern Headlands · Northgate River · Northgate Woods · Queen's Gate · Rygna's Lair · Stagecoach Crash Site · Stormglen Village · Tal'doren · Tempest's Reach · Wahl Cottage

Adjacent regions

Zone Name Faction Level Range Direction Access
Teldrassil Alliance 1-10 Northwest across the sea Via evacuation

Battlegrounds

Resources

Resources found in Gilneas are similar to other starting zones in World of Warcraft and include:

Post-Cataclysm

The worgen curse that started from Shadowfang Keep and swept across Gilneas left its people irrevocably transformed. Almost the entire human population has been turned to the beastly worgen, a humbling failure for Genn Greymane in his efforts to keep his people safe. The reaction of the people to this change will likely be greatly varied, and has yet to be revealed. Preliminary dialogue from Cataclysm has revealed that Gilnean mages and healers went to great strides to fight the affliction.

Gilneas has undergone deep changes in the wake of its cursing, and while the people maintain their free will, the impact of the curse remains to be seen.

The forsaken, led by Dark Ranger Thyala, have begun the Invasion of Gilneas.

Gilneas in Warcraft II

Gineas

Gilneas' flag from Warcraft II

WC2BnE-logo This section concerns content related to Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or its expansion Beyond the Dark Portal.

Leader: Genn Greymane

Nation Color: Black

Background: Despite the impending Orcish invasion, Gilneas has remained separate from the Alliance of Lordaeron. As ruler of one of the strongest human nations, Genn Greymane is convinced that his own armies can deal with any threat, and has therefore remained unmoved by Lord Lothar's pleas for unity. Despite this apparent disdain for the Alliance, the denizens of Gilneas harbor no fondness for the orcs or their allies and are prepared to meet them blade for blade.[11]

Gilneas in Warcraft III

WC3RoC-logo This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

In the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Orc Campaign: The Invasion of Kalimdor in Chapter Three: Cry of the Warsong, one of the human factions you face has the force name Gilneas Brigade, implying that people from Gilneas travelled to Kalimdor with Jaina and are very likely still with her now. It was later revealed that they were sent by Lord Crowley.[12]

Videos

Gallery

Trivia

  • It is said that at one time the kingdom of Gilneas had land only at the tip of the peninsula that bears its name[13] (however, its said elsewhere that Genn Greymane owned the entire peninsula even back then).[7][14]
  • The ruins of Gilneas were added as an accessable zone in patch 4.0.3a, two weeks before the release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm; it will be what remains of Gilneas after the worgen starting area (similar to the Ruins of the Scarlet Enclave in Eastern Plaguelands). Prior to patch 4.0.3a, on the other side of the Greymane Wall there was only a small, flat area, bordered by the ocean. This is the only brand new zone that can be accessed without first having Cataclysm. Horde players questing in nearby Silverpine Forest will have a small quest chain that involves venturing through the ruins.
  • If you get a view of the inner side of the wall you may see that the inner gate is broken down from the inside.
  • Before the announcement of the draenei as the Alliance race in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, there was speculation that the worgen and Gilneas would enter the game at this stage. The rumour again came out in July 2009 with the revelation of worgen Hallow's End masks. It was finally confirmed at BlizzCon 2009.
  • In response to a question at BlizzCon, Metzen mentioned that they had "forgotten" about Gilneas. Later, in an interview at 2009 New York Comic Con, he mentioned that Blizzard has some "very, very, very interesting plans for Gilneas", but he would not reveal any further details.[15] It was revealed to be that the Gilneans had turned into worgen and have now joined the Alliance.[5]
  • After Patch 3.1.0, the loading screen/ship route from Menethil to Theramore no longer crosses Gilneas.
  • A coin fished from Dalaran's fountain called Inv misc coin 19 [Genn's Copper Coin] reads "Pah, the fountains in Gilneas could grant ten times as many wishes as Dalaran's!"
  • Inv drink waterskin 12 [Gilneas Sparkling Water] can be purchased in the Old Hillsbrad Foothills section of the Caverns of Time instance. This water replaces Inv drink waterskin 12 [Purified Draenic Water], which wouldn't have been found on Azeroth at the time the instance takes place.
  • The tents in Warcraft III have the same symbol that banner of Gilneas from Warcraft II had.
  • Gilneans' clothes appear to be Victorian in style. This, combined with the cold, gloomy and rainy atmosphere of Gilneas, would appear to indicate that Gilneas is based on nineteenth century England. Some Gilnean buildings, such as Greymane Manor and in Greymane City, have "onion domes" on them, possibly indicating a Russian influence in elements of their architecture.

See also

References

External links


Template:Lordaeron

ru:Гилнеас