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{{Battle
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{{Infobox zone
  
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|prev = [[Gilneas civil war]], [[Elemental Invasion]], [[Operation: Gnomeregan]], [[Zalazane's Fall]], [[War against the Nightmare]]
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|ss=Wintergrasp.jpg
  
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|conc = [[Elemental War]]
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|name=Wintergrasp
  
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|next = [[Battle for Gilneas]], [[Conflict in the Barrens]]
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|races={{Race|Elementals|notext}}{{RaceIconExt|Orchid}} [[Elemental]]s<br />{{RaceIconExt|RevenantAir}}{{RaceIconExt|RevenantEarth}}{{RaceIconExt|RevenantFire}}{{RaceIconExt|RevenantWater}}{{RaceIconExt|RevenantDeath}} [[Revenant]]s
  
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|name = Invasion of Gilneas
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|loc=Central [[Northrend]]
  
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|image = Invasion of Gilneas.jpg
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|level=75 - 80 PvP
  
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|place = [[Gilneas]], [[Silverpine Forest]]
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}}
  
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|conflict= [[Alliance-Horde War]]
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{{tocright}}
  
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|result =<br\>
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*Tactical [[Alliance]] victory
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**[[Forsaken]] forces driven back to [[Silverpine Forest]] and the Gilneas peninsula.
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**[[Gilneas]] city retaken by the [[Alliance]].
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**[[Gilneas]] peninsula remains contested.
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|side1 = *[[Alliance]]
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**[[Gilneas|Kingdom of Gilneas]]
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***[[Gilneas Liberation Front]]
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**Expeditionary [[night Elves]] of [[Darnassus]]
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**[[7th Legion]]
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*[[Bloodfang pack]]
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|side2 = *[[Horde]]
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**[[Forsaken]]
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***[[Hand of Vengeance]] fleet
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**Expeditionary [[orcs]] of [[Durotar]]
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*** [[The Warchief's fleet]]&dagger;
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***[[Kor'kron]] forces
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|commanders1 = *{{NPC||Genn Greymane||King Genn Greymane}}
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**{{NPC||Liam Greymane||Prince Liam Greymane}}&dagger;
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**{{NPC||Darius Crowley||Lord Darius Crowley}}
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**{{NPC||Lorna Crowley}}
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**{{NPC||Krennan Aranas}}
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**{{NPC||Vincent Godfrey||Lord Vincent Godfrey}}&dagger;
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***{{NPC||Baron Ashbury}}&dagger;
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***{{NPC||Lord Walden}}&dagger;
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*{{NPC||Ivar Bloodfang}}
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*{{NPC||Belrysa Starbreeze}}
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**{{NPC||Vassandra Stormclaw}}
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**{{NPC||Lyros Swiftwind}}
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**{{NPC||Talran of the Wild}}
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*{{NPC||Pietro Zaren}}&dagger;
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|commanders2 = *{{NPC||Sylvanas Windrunner}}
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**{{NPC||Agatha}}&dagger;
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***{{NPC||Arthura}}&dagger;
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***{{NPC||Daschla}}&dagger;
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**{{NPC||Executor Cornell}}&dagger;
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**{{NPC||High Executor Crenshaw}}
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**{{NPC||Gorerot}}&dagger;
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**{{NPC||Dark Ranger Thyala}}&dagger;
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**{{NPC||Captain Rutsak}}
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**{{NPC||Valnov the Mad}}&dagger;
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**{{NPC||Forward Commander Onslaught}}&dagger;
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**{{NPC||Deathstalker Commander Belmont}}
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**Fallen {{NPC||Lord Vincent Godfrey}}
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***Fallen {{NPC||Lord Walden}}
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***Fallen {{NPC||Baron Ashbury}}
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*{{npc||High Warlord Cromush}}
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**{{npc||General Warhowl}}
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***{{npc||Korm Bonegrind}}&dagger;
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|forces1=*[[Gilneas]]:
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**10,000 [[Ginean]] troops
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**2,000 [[Gilneas Liberation Front]] [[Worgen]]s
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**25 Canons
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*The [[Bloodfang]]:
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**3,000 [[Bloodfang pack]] [[Worgen]]s
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*[[Darnassus]] expeditionary [[night elves]]:
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**2,000 Night elf troops
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**10 Ships
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**20 [[Hippogryph]]s
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**15 [[Ancient]]s
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*[[7th Legion]]
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**3,000 7th Legion marines
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**15 Ships
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**3 Gnomish submarines
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|forces2=*[[Forsaken]]
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**25,000 Forsaken troops
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**40 Forsaken ships
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**100 [[Abomination]]s
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**100 [[Forsaken catapult]]s
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*[[Durotar]] expeditionary [[orc]]s
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**5,000 [[Orc invader]]s
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**100 [[Orc sea dog]]s
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**10 [[Orc ship]]s
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**1 [[Orc air ship]]
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|casual1=*Heavy
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|casual2=*Heavy}}
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The '''Invasion of Gilneas''' is a battle between the [[Forsaken]] and the [[Worgen]] for control of [[Gilneas]]. It is an important part of the [[Alliance-Horde war]] and resulted in Gilneas remaining contested between the [[Alliance]] and the [[Horde]].
   
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The Invasion of Gilneas has two phases. The first was the Forsaken invasion into Gilneas that resulted in most of Gilneas civilians fleeing to Darnassus. And the second was the fighting between the joined forces of the [[Gilneas Liberation Front]], the [[Bloodfang pack]] and the [[7th Legion]] from one side, and the Forsaken from the other.
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'''Wintergrasp''' is a large [[zone]] located between the [[Sholazar Basin]], [[Borean Tundra]], [[Dragonblight]], and [[Icecrown]].
  
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==Causes of the invasion==
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Due to the events at the [[Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate]], the [[Forsaken]] are "in the dog house" with the rest of the [[Horde]] and the Horde leadership, now controlled by [[Garrosh Hellscream]], has ordered [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] to claim [[Gilneas]] so the Horde can have a port in southern [[Lordaeron]].<ref>http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/media/</ref>
   
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==Chronology==
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Wintergrasp appears in the [[World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King|second ''World of Warcraft'' expansion]] as the first non-battleground zone fully dedicated to world PvP, even on PvE servers. It focuses on [[siege weapon]] warfare.
  
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===The Invasion and the Exodus===
   
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Some time before the events of the [[Cataclysm]], the [[Gilneas|Kingdom of Gilneas]] was ravaged by the [[Worgen|Worgen Curse]], which transformed any human into a worgen, loosing their minds to bloodlust and desire to tear flesh. The Curse was rapidly spreading through Gilneas and eventually reached [[Gilneas City]], turning half of it's citizens into feral worgen. While the Gilneans did try to fight off the worgen, they however discovered that the numbers of the worgen were too great, and an evacuation was decided. Meanwhile, King [[Genn Greymane]] makes a desperate decision, and orders the release of [[Lord Darius Crowley]], a dissenter that led the [[Northgate rebellion]] against him. After Crowley is released, he is convinced that he and Greymane must unite their efforts for the sake of their people. Crowley, understanding that the only shot for the surviving Gilneans to reach [[Duskhaven]] is that the worgen attention must be kept on Gilneas City, decides to to remain behind with a group of his followers, and is eventually surrounded and overrun at [[Light's Dawn Cathedral]], and, as was later revealed, became a worgen himself. However, his sacrifice allowed the Gilnean refuugees to reach the safety of [[Duskhaven]]. [[Krennan Aranas]], the royal alchemist of King [[Genn Graymane]], created a special portion that, when drank by a worgen, helped him regain balance between human and beast, in other words, return him his mind. Thus a group of captured worgen returned their minds and joined the Gilneans.
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== History ==
  
   
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Meanwhile, the [[Forsaken]] started an assault on the [[Greymane Wall]], however, it's mighty defenses were easily driving the Forsaken back despite all their efforts and darting attacks. This situation continued for a time, until the [[Cataclysm (event)|Cataclysm]] started and shattered the Greymane Wall, destroying it's gates and allowing the Forsaken to invade Gilneas.
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Wintergrasp was once the location of a vast lake known as [[Lake Wintergrasp]]; the lake has shrunk since then, leaving the basin open to exploration. Wintergrasp contains a valuable mine, ownership of which is contested by the [[Horde]] and [[Alliance]] in order to reap its riches.<ref name="eurogamer">{{Ref web
  
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|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=138018&page=2
  
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|title=World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King: Hands On
  
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|author=[http://www.eurogamer.net/archive.php?author=256 Oli Welsh]
  
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|date=2008-05-28
  
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|accessdate=2009-05-25
  
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|publisher=Euro Gamer}}</ref>
  
   
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====The Attack on Duskhaven====
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== Geography ==
  
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Soon two ships of the Forsaken Navy arrived to [[Duskhaven]] and commenced a bombardment. At the same time the ships started landing Forsaken footsoldiers and [[abomination]]s. However, Duskhaven troops and newly-cured worgen met their enemy head-on, and, acting under the command of Prince [[Liam Greymane]], showed heavy resistance to the Forsaken invaders. [[Lord Vincent Godfrey]], a Gilnean nobleman, decided to use the worgen to destroy the Forsaken ships, and commanded them to capture the catapults that were bombarding Duskhaven and use them to catapult themselves into the ships and slay their captains - [[Captain Morris|Morris]] and [[Captain Anson|Anson]]. Lord Godfrey also commanded them to slay the Forsaken commander, [[Dark Ranger Thyala]], by using the [[Mastiff Whistle]] to call forth a pack of attack [[Mastiff]]s. But even with this victory, there came a price. The earth, already weakened from the bombardment, began to fragment and collapse as the Cataclysm continued, and an evacuation of Duskhaven was put together before the town was completely consumed. The survivors fled to [[Greymane Manor]], and then further inland - into the [[Blackwald]].
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[[Image:WorldMap-LakeWintergrasp.jpg|thumb|300px|Wintergrasp map]]
  
   
  +
While moving into the Blackwald, two Gilnean stagecoachs were ambushed by [[ogre]]s, servants of the ettin [[Koroth the Hillbreaker]] and crashed, including one of Prince Liam Greymane himself. Meanwhile, a squadron of Forsaken also arrived under the command of [[Captain Asther]]. Liam Greymane decided to make the two forces fight each other by ordering the worgen to steal [[Koroth's Banner]] and plant it before the Forsaken. Soon Koroth himself arrived and, thinking that the Forsaken stole his favorite banner, enraged and attacked them, giving enough time for Liam and the other survivors to escape.
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The Wintergrasp zone in ''World of Warcraft'' is about the size of [[Westfall]].<ref name="cavg178462">{{ref web
  
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|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=178462
  
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|title=Blizzard expands on Lich King's PvP warfare
  
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|author=[mailto:stuart.bishop@futurenet.co.uk Stuart Bishop]
  
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|date=2008-01-03
  
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|accessdate=2009-05-25
  
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|publisher=CVG}}</ref> Wintergrasp can be reached via portals from Dalaran, one portal for each faction. It can also be reached on foot, details of which can be found in [[Getting_to_Wintergrasp_and_Dalaran#Getting_to_Wintergrasp_through_Icecrown|getting to Wintergrasp through Icecrown]] (you generally have to die at least once, this way, though). The most convenient method is simply to fly into the zone. Entering the zone on a taxi (flying mount from a flight master NPC) lets you stay in WG even if it is full; you will NOT be ported out.
  
   
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====Origins of the Worgen Curse====
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Players can fly in to or out of Wintergrasp via the flight master near the attackers' rally point. The Horde rally point is on the west side beyond the western goblin workshop (also known as the [[Broken Temple]]), and the Alliance rally point is north-east of the eastern goblin workshop (also known as the [[Sunken Ring]]). There are several other methods to leave Wintergrasp, as well. A player can right-click the PvP icon on the minimap (that looks as if you are queued up for a battleground) and clicking Leave Wintergrasp (using your hearthstone), or flying out at one of the edges of the zone's borders. Also, there is a portal inside the Relic Chamber that can be used by anyone who can get to it, which teleports you to the Violet Citadel.
 
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Upon arriving to [[Stormglen Village]], the Gilnean refugees discover that the village is completely deserted, and part of it is even overrun by giant spiders. After fighting off the spiders and slaying the giant spider Rygna, the worgen decide to enter Blackwald itself in search for any survivors.
   
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Within this dark forest, the Gilneans met the [[night elf|night elves]] led by [[Belrysa Starbreeze]], who told them of the origins of the Worgen Curse - that long ago, there was a group of [[druid]]s known [[Druids of the Scythe]], who were practicing the ability to shape-shift into a wolf form and worshiped the wolf [[Ancient]] [[Goldrinn]]. However, the wolf form eventually proved to be too ferocious to control, and eventually these druids were consumed by the form's bestial nature and started attacking their brother druids. Eventually, the night elves, led by Archdruid [[Malfurion Stormrage]], were forced to banish them to the [[Emerald Dream]] to sleep for eternity under [[Tal'doren]], the wild tree in Blackwald... Until many of them were released by [[Archmage Arugal]], and their curse started spreading across the human lands. They also met [[Lord Darius Crowley]], who had also been transformed into a worgen and, with the aid of the night elves, had managed to regain the balance between man and beast, and was curing other feral worgen. Crowley then revealed that the Forsaken were trying to find a special artifact that would bring the worgen to their control - the [[Scythe of Elune]]. A group of worgen was sent by Crowley to attack Sylvanas's [[dark ranger]]s that held the Scythe at Woods' End Cabin, led by [[Tobias Mistmantle]], a former follower of Lord Crowley who also became a worgen. While Tobias and his trackers were keeping the dark rangers occupied, another worgen sneaked by and stole the Scyth before it could reach Sylvanas.
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=== Maps and subregions ===
  
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{| class="darktable nowraplinks"
  
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|-
  
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| [[Broken Temple|The Broken Temple]]{{·}} [[Cauldron of Flames]]{{·}} [[Central Bridge]]{{·}} [[Chilled Quagmire|The Chilled Quagmire]]{{·}} [[Eastern Bridge]]{{·}} [[Flamewatch Tower]]{{·}} [[Forest of Shadows|The Forest of Shadows]]{{·}} [[Shadowsight Tower]]{{·}} [[Glacial Falls]] {{·}} [[Steppe of Life|The Steppe of Life]]{{·}} [[Sunken Ring|The Sunken Ring]]{{·}} [[Western Bridge]]{{·}} [[Winter's Edge Tower]]{{·}} [[Wintergrasp Fortress]]
  
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|}
  
   
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The worgen, knowing that the alchemy that had returned their minds to them would not last long, drank of the waters of Tal'doren, and restored the balance between human and beast. [[Genn Greymane|King Genn Greymane]] himself came to the Blackwald and revealed that he too had been affected by the curse, and joined with all of his people to drive the Forsaken from their lands.
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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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| [[Borean Tundra]] || {{Alliance Icon Small}}{{Horde Icon Small}} || 68-72
  
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| SouthWest || By flying mount
  
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|-
  
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| [[Dragonblight]] || {{Alliance Icon Small}}{{Horde Icon Small}} || 71-75
  
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| East || By flying mount
  
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|-
  
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| [[Sholazar Basin]] || {{Alliance Icon Small}}{{Horde Icon Small}} || 75-78
  
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| Northwest || By flying mount
  
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|-
  
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| [[Icecrown]] || {{Alliance Icon Small}}{{Horde Icon Small}} || 78-80
  
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| NorthEast|| By flying mount
  
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|}
  
   
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====Godfrey's Treason====
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== Notable characters ==
  
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[[Lord Godfrey]] was an unaffected nobleman who condemned the transformed Gilneans as monsters. Upon learning that Greymane himself had been cursed, Godfrey put a plan into motion that he believed would save Gilneas. Joined by two eastern lords, [[Baron Ashbury]] and [[Lord Walden]], Godfrey captured Greymane and held him prisoner. He hoped that by turning the king over to the Forsaken, Gilneas would be spared.
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{{main|Wintergrasp NPCs}}
  
   
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The Gilnean worgen struck back, tracking down and assassinating both Ashbury and Walden, and cornered Godfrey at [[Tempest's Reach]]. With his support gone and his plan defeated, Godfrey committed suicide rather than acknowledge a [[worgen]] as his king.
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Wintergrasp is home to several characters of status. Many of the commanding officers from both sides hail from the early days of [[Alterac Valley]], including [[Lieutenant Murp]] and [[Primalist Mulfort]]. [[Senior Demolitionist Legoso]] and [[Tactical Officer Kilrath]] also make a reappearance from their first trials in the Burning Crusade, hailing from [[Bloodmyst Isle]] and [[Terokkar Forest]], respectively.
  
   
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====The Battle for Gilneas City====
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;Horde
  
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With the dissent from within crushed, Genn Greymane sent his loyal supporters to aid in liberating the mining town of [[Emberstone]] from Forsaken control. Prince Liam and [[Lorna Crowley]], the daughter of Lord Darius Crowley, led the troop, making headquarters in the livery stables. After freeing the enslaved Gilneans, they aimed at the Forsaken leader, [[Executor Cornell]], known for his unbound ruthlessness, and [[Valnov the Mad]], the so-called scientist who carried out inhuman experiments on the villagers too old to work the mines.
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* {{NPC|Horde|Commander Dardosh}}
  
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* {{NPC|Horde|Hoodoo Master Fu'jin|db=wotlk}}
  
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* {{NPC|Horde|Lieutenant Murp}}
  
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* {{NPC|Horde|Primalist Mulfort|db=wotlk}}
  
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* {{NPC|Horde|Siegesmith Stronghoof|db=wotlk}}
  
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* {{NPC|Horde|Tactical Officer Kilrath}}
  
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* {{NPC|Horde|Vieron Blazefeather}}
  
   
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Having assembled an army composed of every available Gilnean, the army was split around [[Gilneas City]], Liam heading the assault on the [[Merchant Square]], while King Greymane and Lord Crowley handled the assault on the other districts. Before entering Gilneas City and starting the battle for it, Liam made an inspiring speech:
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;Alliance
  
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* {{NPC|Alliance|Anchorite Tessa|db=wotlk}}
  
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* {{NPC|Alliance|Bowyer Randolph|db=wotlk}}
  
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* {{NPC|Alliance|Commander Zanneth}}
  
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* {{NPC|Alliance|Siege Master Stouthandle|db=wotlk}}
  
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* {{NPC|Alliance|Senior Demolitionist Legoso}}
  
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* {{NPC|Alliance|Sorceress Kaylana}}
  
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* {{NPC|Alliance|Tactical Officer Ahbramis|db=wotlk}}
  
   
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''The Forsaken think we're weak, a broken people. They think we'll roll over like a scared dog... how wrong they are. We will fight them in the fields until the last trench collapses and the last cannon is silenced. We will fight them on the streets until the last shot is fired, and when there is no more ammunition, we'll crush their skulls with the stones that pave our city. We will fight them in the alleys until our knuckles are skinned and bloodied, and our rapiers lay on the ground, shattered. And if we find ourselves surrounded and disarmed, wounded and without hope; we will lift our heads in defiance and spit in their faces. But we will never surrender! FOR GILNEAS!''
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== Quests ==
  
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{{main|Wintergrasp quests}}
  
   
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The Gilnean forces under the command of Liam Greymane were fighting their way through Gilneas City, destroying Forsaken forces positioned there. Soon they were attacked by a large number of [[abomination]]s, however, the villagers of Emberstone brought powder cannons that helped in defeating them.
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The PvP quests in Wintergrasp yield money, honor, and one or more {{item|icon=|Stone Keeper's Shard}} for completing them.
  
   
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After Liam's forces met and united with [[Darius Crowley|Lord Crowley's]] worgen forces around [[Stoneward Prison]], the Forsaken unleashed upon the Gilneans one of their most powerful creations - the [[flesh beast]] known as [[Gorerot]]. However, the worgen take control of [[Forsaken catapult]]s and use them to take down Gorerot quickly.
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== NPCs and monsters ==
  
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Level 80 elementals of all known kinds (earth, fire, water, air, shadow, life) wander in various areas. The side that controls Wintergrasp Keep will be able to see elemental Revenants, with roughly twice as much health as the regular elementals and a guaranteed droprate for crystallized elements. Each side also has level 76 NPC guards, which can be found near the vehicle shops, attacker's towers, inside the Keep, and at various points along the roadways. Killing the guards will reward credit for your faction's 'Kill Players' quest, as well as up your count for the rank.
  
   
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Liam and Crowley caught Sylvanas herself at [[Greymane Court]], while his father came and attacked from the other side. As the tide was turning against Sylvanas, she used her dark powers to stun every one in the immediate area and aimed a poisoned arrow at Genn Greymane. Liam jumped in front of the bowshot, saving his father from certain doom. As Sylvanas fled the scene, Liam died with the knowledge that the city had been freed from Forsaken control.
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== Wintergrasp as a PvP zone ==
  
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Approximately every 2 hours 30 minutes, Wintergrasp becomes a unique type of PvP battleground, and anyone in the zone will be prompted to join the battle. The faction that won the last Wintergrasp battle must defend Wintergrasp Keep for 30 minutes, while the opposing faction attacks the keep.
  
   
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====Escape from Gilneas: The Endgame====
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Both factions can take control of Goblin workshops scattered around the zone. To take the keep, the attacking faction must break down walls by causing siege damage with [[Siege weapon|siege engines]] and items that cause siege damage, ultimately entering the Relic Chamber in the keep's innermost area to claim victory.
  
  +
Later on, Sylvanas met with [[General Warhowl]], envoy of [[Garrosh Hellscream|Warchief Garrosh Hellscream]], telling him that [[Gilneas]] was under control and agreeing not to use the [[New Plague|Forsaken Blight]], as its development had been banned after the incident at the Wrathgate. As the emissary left, Sylvanas told [[High Executor Crenshaw]] to deploy the new plague as planned, despite Garrosh's command.
   
  +
At the dawn of the next day, despite the wishes of Garrosh Hellscream, the Forsaken used their Blight on Gilneas, what the Forsaken didn't know however is that the population was being evacuated through a secret passage to Aderic's Repose due to [[Tobias Mistmantle]] and an Adventurer discovering the plot. While worgens distracted the Forsaken using bombing bats they had recovered destroying some of their Blight deployers and thinned out the forsaken ranks, the rest of the city populace escaped.
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Three towers in the southern part of the zone provide an additional objective: Destroying a tower grants a damage buff, and destruction of all three towers shortens the battle's time by 10 minutes.
  
  +
[[File:Showdown between Lorna Crowley and Korm Bonegrind.jpg|thumb|270px|Lorna Crowley facing Korm Bonegrind.]]
  +
The night elves, led by the [[priestess of the moon]] [[Belrysa Starbreeze]], made good on their promise and brought ships at [[Keel Harbor]], as well as an offer of sanctuary in [[Teldrassil|their lands]]. Unfortunately, the Forsaken's allies, the Horde, arrived as well. An orcish [[gunship]], similar to ''[[Orgrim's Hammer]]'', which had fought in Northrend, entered the field, preventing the transport ships from taking the Gilneans to safety. Meanwhile another force of orcish invaders attacked Keel Harbor. While the [[druid]]s were holding the enemy back, the siege weapons carried by the elven ships were deployed and met their enemy head-on. As a result, the orcish attack was successfully repelled.
   
  +
However, the gunship was still a threat to the ships. A [[hippogryph]]-mounted party boarded the gunship to place explosives in the engineering room below deck. As they proceeded, the gunship's captain, [[Korm Bonegrind]], appeared and the party fled on wyverns roosting on the lower deck. With its engines destroyed, the explosives detonated, destroying the gunship at the Greymane Wall.
−
After Wintergrasp Keep has been captured, or successfully defended, it will be controlled by that faction for approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. The status of Wintergrasp and whether or not it is contested can be seen on the Northrend map by the appearance or absence of a faction symbol (or a PvP symbol indicating control of the keep is being contested) over the zone.
  
   
  +
===The Fight Continues===
−
To find out when the next battle is starting you can go to the Portal Mage in Dalaran, visit the Zone itself, or view the World Map, which (as of patch 3.1) now displays a countdown timer for the next battle when viewing the Wintergrasp zone. As of [[patch 3.3.3]], this timer is always accessible, whether your character is in one of the Northrend zones or not. Formerly, it would not display if you hadn't been to Northrend since logging in and would display the last known time if you traveled to an area outside of Northrend.
  
  +
====The Battles in Silverpine====
  +
[[File:silverpine_06.jpg|thumb|300px|A [[Worgen Renegade]] and a [[Forsaken Trooper]] in Silverpine Forest]]Although most of the Gilneans were evacuated to [[Darnassus]], a group of [[Worgen (playable)|Gilnean worgen]] (and some humans, perhaps) remained behind and formed the [[Gilneas Liberation Front]], and organization with the goal of driving the [[Forsaken]] from [[Gilneas]]. Under the leadership of [[Lord Darius Crowley]], the GLF forces started operating not only in Gilneas, but also in [[Silverpine Forest]] as well, and soon had a few minor victories. Due to the GLF having much less numbers than the Forsaken, they used guerilla and ambush tactics against the Forsaken, making attacks of opportunity.
  +
  +
Soon after, Darius Crowley formed an alliance with the [[Bloodfang pack]] lead by [[Ivar Bloodfang]]. Sylvanas discovered it through her deathstalkers and agents led by [[Deathstalker Commander Belmont]] who were operating in Silverpine. The Bloodfang worgen started constantly ambushing and destroying Forsaken forces in Silverpine Forest. One of their most successful operation was the attack on three Orc [[ship]]s, commanded by [[Admiral Hatchet]], that arrived from [[Kalimdor]] to reinforce the [[Forsaken]], full of supplies, weapons, and soldiers. A small band of Bloodfang worgen attacked it, while the [[Orc Sea Dog]]s, led by [[Warlord Torok]], were too drunk to be able to show any resistance. The ships were destroyed, although many Sea Dogs managed to survive and retreated to the [[Forsaken Rear Guard]]. Soon the Orcs were brought to order by a Forsaken [[adventurer]] send by [[Sylvanas Windrunner]], and later took part in the fight for Silverpine Forest.
   
  +
The Forsaken, understanding that this new threat must be dealt with, started bolstering their numbers by slaying the human refugees that have settled in [[Fenris Isle]] and rising them as Forsaken using the new servants of Sylvanas - the [[val'kyr]]. However, Lord Crowley and Ivar Bloodfang used this to offer the humans of Fenris Isle their blood - by drinking it they would become worgen, thus becoming immune to the val'kyr magic while also getting the power to have their revenge. This single act bolstered the Worgen numbers greatly, and although around fifty were slain by artillery fire when trying to cross [[Lordamere Lake]], it barely made a scratch in their numbers. [[Warlord Torok]] sent his [[Orc Sea Dog|Sea Dogs]] to fight the [[Hillsbrad Worgen]] swimming to the [[Decrepit Fields]] however, without the adequate alcohol, the Sea Dogs were defeated and mostly slain.
−
== Ranks ==
  
−
After killing five enemy players, defensive cannons or NPC guards during a Wintergrasp match, you are given the rank of Corporal.<ref>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/12/14/wrath-101-wintergrasp-zone-overview/</ref> This allows you to create [[Wintergrasp Catapult]]s at Goblin Workshops. Ten enemy kills after your field promotion, you are given the rank of First Lieutenant, which allows you to create [[Wintergrasp Demolisher]]s and [[Wintergrasp Siege Engine]]s.
  
   
  +
As the fighting for Silverpine continues, the Forsaken discover that Crowley and Bloodfang are having a meeting in the [[Deep Elem Mine]]. Sylvanas sends one of her best warriors under the command of [[Master Forteski]] to trap and corner the worgen leaders in the mine, which had only one entrance. However, the Forsaken soon discovered that it was a trap, and a whole squadron of [[Veteran Forsaken Trooper]]s was destroyed. At the same time another group of Veteran Forsaken Troopers and Forsaken catapults were crossing [[Olsen's Farthing]], where they were ambushed by the Bloodfang pack, resulting in all the Forsaken troopers slain and catapults destroyed.
−
Receiving [[Wintergrasp Mark of Honor|Wintergrasp Marks of Honor]] at the end of a match is dependent on reaching the rank of First Lieutenant or higher. This is intended to encourage players to participate in PvP combat and not merely idle in the zone during a match in order to receive "free" Marks of Honor.
  
   
  +
====The Liberation of Gilneas====
−
As of [[patch 3.0.8]], players will receive the rank of [[Recruit]] upon entering the zone during a match. At the end of a match that results in a win for your side, players will be awarded 1 Mark for being a Recruit, 2 Marks for being a [[Corporal]], and 3 Marks for being a [[First Lieutenant]].<ref>http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=13832765384&sid=1</ref> Players of all ranks will earn just 1 Mark if their side loses the battle.
  
  +
[[File:Worgen Rebel and Forsaken Vanguard.jpg|thumb|250px|A [[Worgen Rebel]] and [[Forsaken Vanguard]] in combat]]At the same time King [[Genn Graymane]] traveled to Stormwind and asked king [[Varian Wrynn]] to aid the Gilneas Liberation Front in their fight for Gilneas. King Varian, understanding that aiding the GLF and driving the Forsaken from Gilneas will give the [[Alliance]] potential foothold and allies in Lordaeron against the Forsaken, sent his most elite force to Gilneas to ensure victory - the [[7th Legion]].
   
  +
Led by [[High Commander Halford Wyrmbane]], the 7th Legion fleet arrived to the shores of [[Gilneas]], where they discovered a large [[Horde]] fleet. To clear a way for landing troops, the 7th Legion used [[Gnomish submarine]]s to blow up the enemy ships. Meanwhile [[Forward Commander Onslaught]], commander of the Forsaken forces in Gilneas, sent an Horde agent to restore communications between the outposts in the land. He soon discovered that the outposts in Gilneas were lost, and that a massive Alliance fleet was on it's way. It was revealed that a vanguard force of 7th Legion submariners, who, acting under the command of [[Master Sergeant Pietro Zaren]], attacked [[Rutsak's Guard]] and [[Dreadwatch Outpost]], slaughtering all the Forsaken troops, leaving alive only [[Captain Rutsak]] so he may witness their strength. This resulted in the Forsaken loosing control of [[Gilneas City]], and Pietro Zaren occupied the [[Cathedral Quarter]] of Gilneas City and made it his headquarters. And although the Forsaken stroke back and assassinated Pietro and many of his submariners, however, the joined forces of the Bloodfang pack and the Gilneas Liberation Front, now with the aid of the 7th Legion, started an offensive, attacking and eventually overrunning the [[Forsaken Forward Command]], the enemy's main base in the land.
−
==Queuing==
  
−
Since patch 3.2.0 you have to queue to join the battle of Wintergrasp. To join the queue, you can either talk to Wintergrasp battlemaster in any of the major cities or just simply enter the zone. You also need to be at least Level 75 to join. The queue will accept 120 players from each faction, so a total of 240 players can join the battle. Level 80 players have a higher probability to join the queue than lower level players.
  
   
  +
Thus the Forsaken were driven back into [[Silverpine Forest]] and Gilneas was at last liberated. However, adventurers, with the aid of the [[val'kyr]], [[Arthura]], and [[Deathstalker Commander Belmont]], managed to recover the corpse of [[Lord Vincent Godfrey]], despite all the efforts of the Gilneas Liberation Front to destroy them, and brought it to Sylvanas, while Belmont's deathstalker recovered the corpses of two of Godfrey's lieutenants - [[Lord Walden]] and [[Baron Ashbury]].
−
If you want to join the Wintergrasp battle and are queued but are not called to join, there is a bypass to this. Simply take a taxi from Dalaran or some other Flightpath in Northrend to your faction's landing camp in Wintergrasp. You won't earn any rank or honor from PVP kills unless you inflict at least some damage to the target.
  
   
  +
====The Fall of Ambermill====
−
If you are in the zone, but not in queue when the battle starts, you will be teleported away to a "safe" area of Icecrown just north of Wintergrasp. But be warned, all players ported out will be sent to the same location, Horde and Alliance alike. Since you will still be flagged as PvP, be prepared to fight.
  
  +
[[File:Ambermill residents undead.jpg|thumb|250px|Ataeric and his fellow mages, now as Forsaken]]
  +
Now that Gilneas was secure the the GLF and the Bloodfang pack started concentrating their forces at the [[Greymane Wall]] for the grand offensive into Silverpine. Meanwhile [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] had [[Arthura]] bring back Godfrey, Walden and Ashbury in service to the Forsaken. After the ritual was complete, Sylvanas, with the aid of Godfrey, started preparing her own forces for battle. She orders the Forsaken adventurer to lead an important assault upon [[Ambermill]], where the surviving mages of [[Dalaran]] have settled.
   
  +
Out of survival, the [[Kirin Tor]] mages of Ambermill and [[Dalaran Crater]] (left behind to protect the land for the day when Dalaran would return), made a pact with the [[Alliance]] to protect themselves from the [[Forsaken]] who in the past years had been attacked by them. They agreed to summon in the [[Stormwind army]] when the time was right to repel the Forsaken. To protect themselves till then, they phased the entire of Ambermill out of their reality so they could not be attacked.
−
== Player-held weapons ==
  
−
Players are able to inflict damage to vehicles and turrets with spells and weapons; players cannot damage a wall, tower, or [[Goblin Workshop]]s without a vehicle or weapon that deals siege damage.
  
   
  +
However, the Forsaken [[adventurer]], with the aid of [[Dalar Dawnweaver]], a former [[archmage]] of Kirin Tor who became a Forsaken, found the portal into that dimension in [[Beren's Peril]]. The adventurer entered it using the [[Dalaran Archmage's Signet Ring]] and brought it back into the original state by overloading the arcane powers of [[Archmage Ataeric]], who was responsible for the phasing. At this point the Forsaken army, already amassed at the border ready to strike, invaded Ambermill and slayed the [[Kirin Tor]] mages, while the val'kyr Daschla immediately rose them as New Forsaken.
−
Goblin Workshops inside the keep and on the southern half of the map spawn multiple copies of [[The RP-GG]], which can be fired at enemy vehicles.
  
   
  +
====The Alliance Counteroffensive====
−
Engineers have access to two schematics for explosives that deal siege damage to vehicles, walls, and towers. Goblin Engineers and Gnome Engineers can both learn to make and use [[Saronite Bomb]] at 405 Engineering, and Goblin Engineers can learn to make and use [[Global Thermal Sapper Charge]] at 425 Engineering.
  
  +
[[File:Commander Lorna Crowley.jpg|thumb|150px|Lorna Crowley, daughter of Lord Darius Crowley]]
  +
Sylvanas Windrunner sends [[Lord Godfrey]], [[Lord Walden]], [[Baron Ashbury]] and the Forsaken adventurer to operate in Southern Silverpine. First of all, the group retakes [[Pyrewood Village]] for the Forsaken, which was attacked by [[7th Legion Scout]]s, after which they set it ablaze. Their next move was attacking the [[7th Legion Base Camp]], assassinating [[General Marstone]] and recovering the [[7th Legion Battle Plan]]. Meanwhile, the [[7th Legion]] fleet reached the shores of Gilneas and started landing forces for the assault into Silverpine Forest, while the combined force of the [[Bloodfang pack]] and the [[Gilneas Liberation Front]] attacked the main Forsaken army positioned at the [[Forsaken Front]]. As the battle went on, Godfrey and his entourage move to the [[Gilneas Liberation Front Base Camp]] to capture [[Lorna Crowley]], Lord Crowley's daughter, who had not became a [[worgen]] and thus could be slain and risen as a [[Forsaken]]. She was overpowered and kidnapped by the traitor Godfrey and brought back to Sylvanas, who planned to use her to force Lord Crowley to surrender before the arrival of the [[Stormwind army]].
   
  +
Accompanied by [[High Warlord Cromush]], her val'kyr trio and her most trusted soldier, [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] went to meet [[Darius Crowley]] and [[Ivar Bloodfang]] at the shattered gates of [[Greymane Wall]]. There she offered Crowley a choice, either he surrenders and sounds his forces immediate retreat into Gilneas, or his daughter would be slain and risen as Forsaken to serve the Banshee Queen forever. Godfrey, Walden and Ashbury then appeared with his daughter. Unable to allow such a horrifying fate happen to his daughter, Crowley agreed to retreat back to Gilneas, to which Ivar reacted as a betrayal, and made a howl before running away. Lorna was released, and Crowley leaved with his daughter as well.
−
== Vehicles ==
  
−
The defining feature of Wintergrasp is the use of vehicles to assault buildings and towers.
  
   
  +
As the three fled back to the safety of Gilneas, Godfrey did the unthinkable and assassinated [[Sylvanas Windrunner]]. In shock the Horde group had a short duel with Godfrey's trio until they were overpowered and forced to fall back to [[Shadowfang Keep]]. Cromush ordered the [[val'kyr]] to "fix" the Banshee Queen, and the val'kyr sacrificed their lives to bring her back. The Dark Lady rose again furious with rage at Godfrey's betrayal and stating that he will pay for this, while also losing any shadow of doubt that val'kyr are indeed the future of the [[Forsaken]]. After this the Banshee Queen returned to the [[Undercity]] to recover. The [[Gilneas Liberation Front]] fell back to [[Gilneas]], which became a warzone between the [[Alliance]] and the [[Horde]], where members of both faction [[Battle for Gilneas|battle]] for it's control.
−
In order to create vehicles in Wintergrasp, you must attain a rank of Corporal or better during a Wintergrasp match by killing enemy players or NPC guards. Once a vehicle has been created, any player can pilot or operate a turret on one. Vehicles are created at Goblin Workshops under your faction's control. These factories can be captured by the opposing team.
  
   
  +
==Aftermath==
−
As of patch 3.2, factories can no longer be destroyed.
  
  +
Gilneas was left in ruins, both by the Forsaken invasion and by the very land ripping itself apart. While their soldiers in the front, the surviving Gilnean civiliences fled to Teldrassil and other Alliance strongholds, where they offered their services to the Alliance. With his homeland turning in to a war zone and his heir slain, Genn Greymane journeyed to Stormwind, political and military capital of the Alliance, where he stands at the side of Stormwind's master, King [[Varian Wrynn]].
   
  +
Though Gilneas is free of the Forsaken for the moment, the border remains a hot spot between the [[Horde]] and [[Alliance]] where both sides fight for control in the [[Battle for Gilneas]].
   
  +
==References==
−
{| class="darktable"
  
  +
{{Reflist}}
−
|-
  
−
! Name
 
−
! Seats
 
−
! Rank Req.
 
−
|-
  
−
| [[Wintergrasp Catapult]] || One || Corporal
  
−
|-
  
−
| [[Wintergrasp Siege Engine]] || Driver, turret gunner, 2 passengers || First Lieutenant
  
−
|-
  
−
| [[Wintergrasp Demolisher]] || Driver/gunner, 2 passengers || First Lieutenant
  
−
|}
  
   
  +
[[pl:Invasion of Gilneas]]
−
Catapults are capable of throwing plague barrels along ballistic trajectories which cause small amounts of AoE damage to players, vehicles, and structures. They also can create a flame jet which does a cone damage in the front of the catapult to enemy players and enemy vehicles, but not buildings.
  
  +
{{Wars}}
−  
  +
[[Category:Cataclysm]]
−
Demolishers are capable of throwing burning boulders along a ballistic trajectory which cause medium amounts of damage to players, vehicles, and structures. They also can ram which does cone damage in front of them, and is particularly damaging to structures. Passengers are vulnerable to attack in the Demolisher but can cast offensive and defensive spells.
  
  +
[[Category:Wars]]
−  
−
Siege Engines are capable of ramming which also does cone damage in front of them and is the highest damage to structures available. They also have a cannon that can shoot boulders which do high damage along a ballistic path; the cannon requires a second player to operate. Passengers are protected from harm but cannot attack or cast spells.
  
−  
−
A Beta version of Wrath of the lich king included a [[shredder]], a fighter (one seat flying vehicle), and a bomber (two seat flier), but these were apparently dropped before release.
  
−  
−
== Achievements ==
  
−
{{:Player vs. Player achievements/Wintergrasp}}
  
−  
−
== Strategy ==
  
−
Wintergrasp is a classic "assault"-style gameplay. The objective of the attackers is to capture the keep before time runs out. The objective of the defenders is to keep them from doing so. Should the attackers capture the keep, the battle ends immediately and they gain control.
  
−  
−
[[File:Titan Relic.jpg|thumb|The [[Titan Relic]]]]
  
−  
−
The objective in Wintergrasp is a large orange sphere located inside the keep itself. The Orb is instantly clickable (as of Patch 3.0.8). If this is done successfully, the attackers win.
  
−  
−
To reach the relic, three levels of walls must be breached. First, the outer perimeter of the keep must be breached. This can be done in any of three different courtyards. The front courtyard is empty, other than NPCs, and the east and west courtyard contain Goblin Workshops for the defenders. The inner keep walls then must be breached which leads to a courtyard with higher level NPC defenders. The final barrier is the door to the keep itself. Once that is down, the attackers have access to the relic inside.
  
−  
−
=== Goblin Workshops ===
  
−
The defenders have two Goblin workshops that cannot be captured, located in the keep itself; portals nearby teleport vehicles right outside the wall directly in front of the workshop they spawned at.
  
−  
−
Currently (3.2), attackers are not given Goblin Workshops that cannot be captured. The southern workshops are vunerable to assault leading to attackers having zero allowed vehicles with defense access to 24. Obviously, this scenario leads to almost certain victory for the defending side. It does not appear that the workshops inside the keep are vunerable to capture by the attackers.
  
−  
−
Two other Goblin Workshops are located nearer to the keep. They start out under the control of the defenders, but the attackers can capture them. Capturing is done in a manner similar to the towers in [[Hellfire Peninsula]] or [[Eye of the Storm]]; the side with more players near the workshop will eventually capture it. Holding these factories has the dual advantage of allowing vehicles to be built closer to the keep and increasing the total number of vehicles a side is allowed to control. Factories cannot be destroyed.
  
−  
−
=== Towers ===
  
−
The keep has four towers as part of its design, at the corners of walls. The attackers have three towers at the southern end of the map. For each of the attacking team's towers that the defenders manage to destroy, the defenders will be rewarded with bonus honor.<ref>http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/features/pvp/wintergrasp.xml</ref>
  
−  
−
Towers feature defensive turrets which players can use to fire at enemy players and vehicles. These towers do high AoE damage (up to 5000 for a well-aimed shot) and fire quite quickly, thus are quite useful in defense. Turrets can be destroyed with vehicles or by being directly attacked by players; they respawn after some time.
  
−  
−
As of [[patch 3.0.8]], each of the attacking team's towers provide a Tower Control buff, which is a 5% bonus to damage; this buff can stack up to 3 times for a maximum 15% bonus. If the defenders destroy a tower, that tower's bonus will be transferred to the defending team. This is intended to assist the attacking team in taking the keep, and provide a reason for defenders to leave the protection of the keep during a siege.<ref>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/12/18/wrath-101-the-battle-for-wintergrasp-continued/</ref>
  
−  
−
If all three towers are destroyed the duration of the battle is shortened by 15 minutes (as of Patch 3.3). This will in most cases end the battle since there are seldom more than 15 minutes left when the last tower falls. As the game starts with a 30 minute countdown, this could mean the difference between defeat or victory.
  
−  
−
=== Vehicles ===
  
−
The primary purpose of vehicles is to attack structures such walls, towers, and Goblin Workshops; they can also be used to attack other vehicles. Vehicles have a large amount of health, but are not particularly armored and thus are vulnerable to basic infantry attack. A player doing a concerted attack on a vehicle can often destroy it quicker than the same player attacking from another vehicle.
  
−  
−
=== Attacker basic strategy ===
  
−
If you are on offense, your first goal is to take the factories near to the keep. If you have to buy vehicles from the factories in the south, it will take a very long time to reach the keep (vehicles move around regular character running speed). Once you have one or both factories, you want to concentrate on breaching the outer wall. You also may wish to fire at the cannons on the wall, as they will do a lot of damage to your vehicle if well aimed. Once you begin to have higher rank players, you should split forces between attacking the keep and attacking players. Siege Engines are the most useful against the keep, and demolishers as well. If you are using a catapult, focus on enemy players and NPCs to try and keep them off your heavier vehicles. Also you can ride along on the vehicles and if they fall under attack, hop off and kill the attacker.
  
−  
−
Once the inner keep is breached, all focus needs to go to the relic. Get in there and take it. AoE fears and such to get rid of defenders are useful in here. It is just like a base capture situation in [[Arathi Basin]].
  
−  
−
=== Defender basic strategy ===
  
−
As defenders you need to divide your forces. It is tempting to simply sit in the keep and repel attackers from behind the walls but this is almost certainly doomed to failure. The keep walls aren't that sturdy so even with a heavy defense, you are likely to get breached. Part of the force should stay in the keep and defend it, in particular by manning cannons, the others should go out and assault. If you can keep the attackers from capturing and holding the nearby vehicle factories, you gain a huge strategic advantage. They either need to spend a lot of forces capturing them, or drive vehicles up from the south which is slow.
  
−  
−
When you get rank 1 or 2 it can be useful to get a vehicle and try to strike at the defender's towers. As of patch 3.0.8 when the towers are destroyed not only does it transfer their buff to the defending team, but when all 3 towers fall the attackers lose 15 minutes off the time they have to take the keep.
  
−  
−
If the attackers have breached the inner keep, you need to fall back as that's all that matters. It is then just a fight to keep them off it. If you see someone trying to capture it, hit them, and damage will break their attempt. AoEs are extremely useful. You must keep them off until the time expires to win the battle.
  
−  
−
=== Quickly changing graveyards ===
  
−  
−
An important tactic for both Defenders and Attackers is to quickly get to the key battle point (southern towers, inner keep). Dead players who are waiting for the Spirit Healer to bring them back can ask the [[spirit healer]] to have their ghost transferred to any other graveyard currently in control of their own team. Efficient use of Graveyard teleporting can help save areas in danger of being overrun.
  
−  
−
=== Team balance and tenacity ===
  
−
Being a world PvP zone, it is possible to have grossly unbalanced teams in a Wintergrasp match. This is addressed by granting the smaller team a buff called [[Tenacity (Wintergrasp)|Tenacity]]. The greater the difference in the number of players, the more stacks of Tenacity the smaller team gets. Tenacity also applies to vehicles the team controls. However, vehicles only get a health increase with tenacity not a damage bonus.
  
−  
−
If you have Tenacity, use it to your advantage; you and your vehicles are more powerful than normal. Acting as basic infantry and attacking enemy vehicles will lead to it being destroyed very quickly. Deploying siege engines while your team has Tenacity will allow you to batter walls down quickly.
  
−  
−
If you are facing a team with Tenacity, you want to avoid direct conflict with enemy players when possible. Use your numbers to your advantage and focus fire; it will take multiple people to take enemy players and vehicles out.
  
−  
−
Tenacity also affects the number of kills needed to advance rank. In extreme situations a single kill can advance a player from Recruit to First Lieutenant allowing the side to begin building siege vehicles from the very beginning of the battle.
  
−  
−
Tenacity does not appear to have any effect on the capturing Goblin Workshops. A team that is significantly outnumbered may be able to survive longer and damage harder, but will still lose a workshop due to overwhelming numbers of the opposition.
  
−  
−
As of March 14, 2009, "Only players level 70 or higher can count towards the tenacity tally or obtain the tenacity buff and get credit for victory or defeat. In addition, only players level 50 or higher will be able to use the portal to Wintergrasp."<ref name="Hotfix 2009-03-14">{{ref web
  
−
|title=Recent In-Game Fixes - 3/14/09
  
−
|author=[[Image:Blizz.gif]] [[Bornakk]]
  
−
|url=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=15668071374&sid=1
  
−
|date=2009-03-14
  
−
|archiveurl=http://blue.mmo-champion.com/23/15668071374-recent-ingame-fixes--31409.html
  
−
|archivedate=2009-03-14}}</ref>
  
−  
−
== Wintergrasp and PvE ==
  
−
Control of Wintergrasp affects non-PvP play as well.
  
−  
−
=== Instances and raids ===
  
−
When a faction controls Wintergrasp, bosses in Northrend will drop a {{item|icon=|Stone Keeper's Shard}} for that faction only. These are used to buy certain PvP gear and Jewelcrafting recipes. The controlling faction will also have access to a raid instance, the [[Vault of Archavon]], within the fortress of Wintergrasp. Like other raid instances, the vault is available in both twenty-five player and ten player versions on separate raid lockouts.
  
−  
−
=== Crafting resources ===
  
−
Wintergrasp has the regular mineral nodes and herbs found in Northrend, but is also a prime source of crystallized elements. Elementals of all types can be found in Wintergrasp, which have a chance of dropping their respective crystallized element. More powerful elemental revenants exist that have a guaranteed droprate of 1 element and as many as 3 elements per mob. Revenants are visible only to the side that is currently in control of Wintergrasp. [[Mature Lasher]]s are the life element's revenant equivalent.
  
−  
−
{| class="sortable darktable"
  
−
|-
  
−
! Mob name
 
−
! Element
 
−
|-
  
−
| {{mob|Chilled Earth Elemental|smallicon=IconSmall Earth.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Earth}}
  
−
|- class="alt"
  
−
| {{mob|Earthbound Revenant|smallicon=IconSmall RevenantEarth.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Earth}}
  
−
|-
  
−
| {{mob|Flame Revenant|smallicon=IconSmall RevenantFire.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Fire}}
  
−
|- class="alt"
  
−
| {{mob|Raging Flame|smallicon=IconSmall Fire.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Fire}}
  
−
|-
  
−
| {{mob|Glacial Spirit|smallicon=IconSmall Water.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Water}}
  
−
|- class="alt"
  
−
| {{mob|Water Revenant|smallicon=IconSmall RevenantWater.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Water}}
  
−
|-
  
−
| {{mob|Shadow Revenant|smallicon=IconSmall RevenantDeath.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Shadow}}
  
−
|- class="alt"
  
−
| {{mob|Wandering Shadow|smallicon=IconSmall Shade.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Shadow}}
  
−
|-
  
−
| {{mob|Tempest Revenant|smallicon=IconSmall RevenantAir.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Air}}
  
−
|- class="alt"
  
−
| {{mob|Whispering Wind|smallicon=IconSmall Air.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Air}}
  
−
|-
  
−
| {{mob|Living Lasher|smallicon=IconSmall Orchid.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Life}}
  
−
|- class="alt"
  
−
| {{mob|Mature Lasher|smallicon=IconSmall Orchid.gif}} || {{item|icon=|Crystallized Life}}
  
−
|}
  
−  
−
Although {{item|icon=|Frost Lotus}} can be collected from other [[Herbalism]] nodes such as [[Icethorn]], Wintergrasp is the only zone that has Frost Lotus nodes.
  
−  
−
[[Cinder Cloud]]s can be found in the [[Cauldron of Flames]].
  
−  
−
== Gallery ==
  
−
<gallery>
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI1.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI2.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI3.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI4.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI5.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI6.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI7.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI8.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI9.jpg
  
−
Image:WintergraspWWI10.jpg
  
−
</gallery>
  
−  
−
== Notes ==
  
−
*Before patch [[3.2.0]] and the Queuing system, players had to make their own raid group.
  
−
*One of the fastest (Or the fastest?) Wintergrasp captures was by Goon Squad, with amazingly short 62 seconds. This was possible due a large amount of Engineers armed with [[Global Thermal Sapper Charge]]s and [[Saronite Bomb]]s. The video can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm03136FTI4 Here]
  
−
*Despite the fact that aerial combat was featured on the package for the retail game ("Engage in aerial dogfights with flying mounts and new, gnome-engineered planes."), and in the ''Wrath of the Lich King'' beta, it was not available at release and hasn't been since. It was later explained by [[Tom Chilton]] that "... ultimately it was a little goofy that you could crash your airplane into the ground and nothing bad would really happen. Then also the kinda of sense of flying really wasn’t there enough."<ref>{{ref web|url=http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/community/blizzcast/archive/episode8.html|title=BlizzCast Episode 8|accessdate=2010-07-09|date=2010-03-30}}</ref>
  
−  
−
==Patches changes ==
  
−
* {{Patch 3.3.3|note=
  
−
** The amount of Honor awarded for an Honorable Kill has been increased by 100% for characters of all levels. Since all Honor is awarded based on a conversion rate from Honorable Kills, this change will effectively double the amount of Honor received from Honorable Kills, or for completing Battleground and Wintergrasp objectives; however, the amount of experience gained from completing Battleground objectives and the amount of Honor rewarded for completing each Wintergrasp quest remain unchanged.
  
−
** Wintergrasp
  
−
***The internal balance system now only changes when a faction achieves 2 consecutive defenses after an initial capture of Wintergrasp, up from 1. More details can be found on our [http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=23329393344 PvP Discussion forum].}}
  
−
* {{Patch 3.3.0|note=
  
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** You must now have the following ranks to build or pilot [[siege weapon|siege vehicle]]s:
  
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*** Rank 2: Build/pilot {{NPC||Wintergrasp Catapult||Catapults}}.
  
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*** Rank 3: Build/pilot {{NPC||Wintergrasp Demolisher||Demolishers}}.
  
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*** Rank 3: Build/pilot {{NPC||Wintergrasp Siege Engine||Siege Engines}}.}}
  
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* {{Patch 3.2.2a|note=This is a minor patch to address specific issues relating to patch 3.2.2.
  
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** Fixed the Wintergrasp zone map so it now correctly shows the status of all keep walls.}}
  
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* {{Patch 3.2.0|note=
  
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** To provide players with a more transparent notification of when Wintergrasp battles occur, as well as better control zone population and stability, several changes have been made:
  
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***Players now have the option to queue for Wintergrasp from a Wintergrasp Battlemaster in any capital city or by simply entering the Wintergrasp zone.
  
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***Queuing will begin 15 minutes before each battle. If chosen, you will automatically be teleported to the zone. Any players in the zone who have not been chosen from the queue will be teleported out when the battle begins.
  
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***The queue system remains active for the entire battle. As soon as a player leaves, a new one will be chosen from the queue.
  
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***Trying to enter Wintergrasp during an active battle for which you have not been chosen will teleport you out. Please note that, as you are now able to fly over Wintergrasp, you will only be teleported out if you try to land and join the battle.
  
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***Level 80 players get higher priority in the queue than lower level players. In addition, a random selection of queued players will be taken from both the Battlemasters and the zone itself.
  
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***Level 75 is required to queue
  
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***The queue will accept up to 120 players from each faction, resulting in a maximum battle of 240 players at a time.
  
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**Wintergrasp factories can no longer be damaged or destroyed.}}
  
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* {{Patch 3.1.2|note=The Wintergrasp daily quests are now weekly, but has an increased gain of honor and {{item|Stone Keeper's Shard|Stone Keeper's Shards}}.}}
  
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* {{Patch 3.1.2|note=Honor gains in Wintergrasp has been slightly nerfed:
  
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:* [http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=56902 Wintergrasp Victory] now rewards 3000 Honor. (Down from 5000 Honor)
  
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:* [http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=58494 Wintergrasp Defeat] now rewards 1250 Honor. (Down from 3000 Honor)
  
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:* [http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=59135 Tower Damaged] now grants up to 750 Honor. (Down from 1250 Honor)
  
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:* [http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=59136 Tower Destroyed] now grants up to 750 Honor. (Down from 1250 Honor)
  
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:* [http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=59201 Damaged Building Reward] now grants up to 750 Honor. (Down from 1250 Honor)
  
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:* [http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=59203 Intact Building Defender] now grants up to 1500 Honor. (Down from 2500 Honor) (Note: Currently shown as 150 Honor but most likely a typo)}}
  
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* {{Patched|date=2009-04-21|bluenote=The buff players receive from Tenacity in Wintergrasp is now stronger.|link=http://blue.mmo-champion.com/23/16474158165-recent-ingame-fixes--41609.html}}
  
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* {{patched|date=2009-03-14|bluenote=Level restrictions have been applied to Lake Wintergrasp. Only players level 70 or higher can count towards the tenacity tally or obtain the tenacity buff and get credit for victory or defeat. In addition, only players level 75 or higher will be able to use the portal to Wintergrasp.|link=http://blue.mmo-champion.com/23/16101690805-recent-ingame-fixes--4109.html}}
  
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* {{Patch 3.0.8|note=
  
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:* Wintergrasp PvP vehicles have had their health increased.
  
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:* Wintergrasp Tower cannons have had their health increased.
  
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:* The Wintergrasp Fortress Exterior walls have had their health increased.
  
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:* The Fortress Keep door now has had its health decreased.
  
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:* The Orb is now instantly clickable.
  
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:* Elementals should now always despawn when the battle begins.
  
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:* Wintergrasp now extends farther south so that more revenants can be reached.
  
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:* There are now three ranks in Wintergrasp: [[Recruit]], [[Corporal]], and [[First Lieutenant]].
  
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:* Players will be eligible for participation rewards after two honorable kills.
  
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:* Players will receive increased honor with increased rank.
  
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:* Players will receive additional Marks of Honor at Corporal or higher rank.
  
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:* Players will receive corporal rank at 5 honorable kills instead of two.}}
  
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* {{Patch 3.0.2|note=Added}}
  
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== References ==
  
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{{reflist}}
  
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== External links ==
  
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{{Elinks-zone|4197}}
  
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{{Elink|site=Wintergrasp Guide|link=http://guidewiki.com/forums/battlegrounds/3448-wintergrasp-guide.html}}
  
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{{Wintergrasp}}
  
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{{Northrend}}
  
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[[fr:Joug d'Hiver]]
  
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[[Category:Wintergrasp| ]]
  

Revision as of 22:23, 11 March 2011

Template:Battle The Invasion of Gilneas is a battle between the Forsaken and the Worgen for control of Gilneas. It is an important part of the Alliance-Horde war and resulted in Gilneas remaining contested between the Alliance and the Horde.

The Invasion of Gilneas has two phases. The first was the Forsaken invasion into Gilneas that resulted in most of Gilneas civilians fleeing to Darnassus. And the second was the fighting between the joined forces of the Gilneas Liberation Front, the Bloodfang pack and the 7th Legion from one side, and the Forsaken from the other.

Causes of the invasion

Due to the events at the Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, the Forsaken are "in the dog house" with the rest of the Horde and the Horde leadership, now controlled by Garrosh Hellscream, has ordered Sylvanas Windrunner to claim Gilneas so the Horde can have a port in southern Lordaeron.[1]

Chronology

The Invasion and the Exodus

Some time before the events of the Cataclysm, the Kingdom of Gilneas was ravaged by the Worgen Curse, which transformed any human into a worgen, loosing their minds to bloodlust and desire to tear flesh. The Curse was rapidly spreading through Gilneas and eventually reached Gilneas City, turning half of it's citizens into feral worgen. While the Gilneans did try to fight off the worgen, they however discovered that the numbers of the worgen were too great, and an evacuation was decided. Meanwhile, King Genn Greymane makes a desperate decision, and orders the release of Lord Darius Crowley, a dissenter that led the Northgate rebellion against him. After Crowley is released, he is convinced that he and Greymane must unite their efforts for the sake of their people. Crowley, understanding that the only shot for the surviving Gilneans to reach Duskhaven is that the worgen attention must be kept on Gilneas City, decides to to remain behind with a group of his followers, and is eventually surrounded and overrun at Light's Dawn Cathedral, and, as was later revealed, became a worgen himself. However, his sacrifice allowed the Gilnean refuugees to reach the safety of Duskhaven. Krennan Aranas, the royal alchemist of King Genn Graymane, created a special portion that, when drank by a worgen, helped him regain balance between human and beast, in other words, return him his mind. Thus a group of captured worgen returned their minds and joined the Gilneans.

Meanwhile, the Forsaken started an assault on the Greymane Wall, however, it's mighty defenses were easily driving the Forsaken back despite all their efforts and darting attacks. This situation continued for a time, until the Cataclysm started and shattered the Greymane Wall, destroying it's gates and allowing the Forsaken to invade Gilneas.

The Attack on Duskhaven

Soon two ships of the Forsaken Navy arrived to Duskhaven and commenced a bombardment. At the same time the ships started landing Forsaken footsoldiers and abominations. However, Duskhaven troops and newly-cured worgen met their enemy head-on, and, acting under the command of Prince Liam Greymane, showed heavy resistance to the Forsaken invaders. Lord Vincent Godfrey, a Gilnean nobleman, decided to use the worgen to destroy the Forsaken ships, and commanded them to capture the catapults that were bombarding Duskhaven and use them to catapult themselves into the ships and slay their captains - Morris and Anson. Lord Godfrey also commanded them to slay the Forsaken commander, Dark Ranger Thyala, by using the Ability hunter beastcall [Mastiff Whistle] to call forth a pack of attack Mastiffs. But even with this victory, there came a price. The earth, already weakened from the bombardment, began to fragment and collapse as the Cataclysm continued, and an evacuation of Duskhaven was put together before the town was completely consumed. The survivors fled to Greymane Manor, and then further inland - into the Blackwald.

While moving into the Blackwald, two Gilnean stagecoachs were ambushed by ogres, servants of the ettin Koroth the Hillbreaker and crashed, including one of Prince Liam Greymane himself. Meanwhile, a squadron of Forsaken also arrived under the command of Captain Asther. Liam Greymane decided to make the two forces fight each other by ordering the worgen to steal Inv misc pelt 04 [Koroth's Banner] and plant it before the Forsaken. Soon Koroth himself arrived and, thinking that the Forsaken stole his favorite banner, enraged and attacked them, giving enough time for Liam and the other survivors to escape.

Origins of the Worgen Curse

Upon arriving to Stormglen Village, the Gilnean refugees discover that the village is completely deserted, and part of it is even overrun by giant spiders. After fighting off the spiders and slaying the giant spider Rygna, the worgen decide to enter Blackwald itself in search for any survivors.

Within this dark forest, the Gilneans met the night elves led by Belrysa Starbreeze, who told them of the origins of the Worgen Curse - that long ago, there was a group of druids known Druids of the Scythe, who were practicing the ability to shape-shift into a wolf form and worshiped the wolf Ancient Goldrinn. However, the wolf form eventually proved to be too ferocious to control, and eventually these druids were consumed by the form's bestial nature and started attacking their brother druids. Eventually, the night elves, led by Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage, were forced to banish them to the Emerald Dream to sleep for eternity under Tal'doren, the wild tree in Blackwald... Until many of them were released by Archmage Arugal, and their curse started spreading across the human lands. They also met Lord Darius Crowley, who had also been transformed into a worgen and, with the aid of the night elves, had managed to regain the balance between man and beast, and was curing other feral worgen. Crowley then revealed that the Forsaken were trying to find a special artifact that would bring the worgen to their control - the Scythe of Elune. A group of worgen was sent by Crowley to attack Sylvanas's dark rangers that held the Scythe at Woods' End Cabin, led by Tobias Mistmantle, a former follower of Lord Crowley who also became a worgen. While Tobias and his trackers were keeping the dark rangers occupied, another worgen sneaked by and stole the Scyth before it could reach Sylvanas.

The worgen, knowing that the alchemy that had returned their minds to them would not last long, drank of the waters of Tal'doren, and restored the balance between human and beast. King Genn Greymane himself came to the Blackwald and revealed that he too had been affected by the curse, and joined with all of his people to drive the Forsaken from their lands.

Godfrey's Treason

Lord Godfrey was an unaffected nobleman who condemned the transformed Gilneans as monsters. Upon learning that Greymane himself had been cursed, Godfrey put a plan into motion that he believed would save Gilneas. Joined by two eastern lords, Baron Ashbury and Lord Walden, Godfrey captured Greymane and held him prisoner. He hoped that by turning the king over to the Forsaken, Gilneas would be spared.

The Gilnean worgen struck back, tracking down and assassinating both Ashbury and Walden, and cornered Godfrey at Tempest's Reach. With his support gone and his plan defeated, Godfrey committed suicide rather than acknowledge a worgen as his king.

The Battle for Gilneas City

With the dissent from within crushed, Genn Greymane sent his loyal supporters to aid in liberating the mining town of Emberstone from Forsaken control. Prince Liam and Lorna Crowley, the daughter of Lord Darius Crowley, led the troop, making headquarters in the livery stables. After freeing the enslaved Gilneans, they aimed at the Forsaken leader, Executor Cornell, known for his unbound ruthlessness, and Valnov the Mad, the so-called scientist who carried out inhuman experiments on the villagers too old to work the mines.

Having assembled an army composed of every available Gilnean, the army was split around Gilneas City, Liam heading the assault on the Merchant Square, while King Greymane and Lord Crowley handled the assault on the other districts. Before entering Gilneas City and starting the battle for it, Liam made an inspiring speech:

The Forsaken think we're weak, a broken people. They think we'll roll over like a scared dog... how wrong they are. We will fight them in the fields until the last trench collapses and the last cannon is silenced. We will fight them on the streets until the last shot is fired, and when there is no more ammunition, we'll crush their skulls with the stones that pave our city. We will fight them in the alleys until our knuckles are skinned and bloodied, and our rapiers lay on the ground, shattered. And if we find ourselves surrounded and disarmed, wounded and without hope; we will lift our heads in defiance and spit in their faces. But we will never surrender! FOR GILNEAS!

The Gilnean forces under the command of Liam Greymane were fighting their way through Gilneas City, destroying Forsaken forces positioned there. Soon they were attacked by a large number of abominations, however, the villagers of Emberstone brought powder cannons that helped in defeating them.

After Liam's forces met and united with Lord Crowley's worgen forces around Stoneward Prison, the Forsaken unleashed upon the Gilneans one of their most powerful creations - the flesh beast known as Gorerot. However, the worgen take control of Forsaken catapults and use them to take down Gorerot quickly.

Liam and Crowley caught Sylvanas herself at Greymane Court, while his father came and attacked from the other side. As the tide was turning against Sylvanas, she used her dark powers to stun every one in the immediate area and aimed a poisoned arrow at Genn Greymane. Liam jumped in front of the bowshot, saving his father from certain doom. As Sylvanas fled the scene, Liam died with the knowledge that the city had been freed from Forsaken control.

Escape from Gilneas: The Endgame

Later on, Sylvanas met with General Warhowl, envoy of Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, telling him that Gilneas was under control and agreeing not to use the Forsaken Blight, as its development had been banned after the incident at the Wrathgate. As the emissary left, Sylvanas told High Executor Crenshaw to deploy the new plague as planned, despite Garrosh's command.

At the dawn of the next day, despite the wishes of Garrosh Hellscream, the Forsaken used their Blight on Gilneas, what the Forsaken didn't know however is that the population was being evacuated through a secret passage to Aderic's Repose due to Tobias Mistmantle and an Adventurer discovering the plot. While worgens distracted the Forsaken using bombing bats they had recovered destroying some of their Blight deployers and thinned out the forsaken ranks, the rest of the city populace escaped.

Showdown between Lorna Crowley and Korm Bonegrind

Lorna Crowley facing Korm Bonegrind.

The night elves, led by the priestess of the moon Belrysa Starbreeze, made good on their promise and brought ships at Keel Harbor, as well as an offer of sanctuary in their lands. Unfortunately, the Forsaken's allies, the Horde, arrived as well. An orcish gunship, similar to Orgrim's Hammer, which had fought in Northrend, entered the field, preventing the transport ships from taking the Gilneans to safety. Meanwhile another force of orcish invaders attacked Keel Harbor. While the druids were holding the enemy back, the siege weapons carried by the elven ships were deployed and met their enemy head-on. As a result, the orcish attack was successfully repelled.

However, the gunship was still a threat to the ships. A hippogryph-mounted party boarded the gunship to place explosives in the engineering room below deck. As they proceeded, the gunship's captain, Korm Bonegrind, appeared and the party fled on wyverns roosting on the lower deck. With its engines destroyed, the explosives detonated, destroying the gunship at the Greymane Wall.

The Fight Continues

The Battles in Silverpine

File:Silverpine 06.jpg

A Worgen Renegade and a Forsaken Trooper in Silverpine Forest

Although most of the Gilneans were evacuated to Darnassus, a group of Gilnean worgen (and some humans, perhaps) remained behind and formed the Gilneas Liberation Front, and organization with the goal of driving the Forsaken from Gilneas. Under the leadership of Lord Darius Crowley, the GLF forces started operating not only in Gilneas, but also in Silverpine Forest as well, and soon had a few minor victories. Due to the GLF having much less numbers than the Forsaken, they used guerilla and ambush tactics against the Forsaken, making attacks of opportunity.

Soon after, Darius Crowley formed an alliance with the Bloodfang pack lead by Ivar Bloodfang. Sylvanas discovered it through her deathstalkers and agents led by Deathstalker Commander Belmont who were operating in Silverpine. The Bloodfang worgen started constantly ambushing and destroying Forsaken forces in Silverpine Forest. One of their most successful operation was the attack on three Orc ships, commanded by Admiral Hatchet, that arrived from Kalimdor to reinforce the Forsaken, full of supplies, weapons, and soldiers. A small band of Bloodfang worgen attacked it, while the Orc Sea Dogs, led by Warlord Torok, were too drunk to be able to show any resistance. The ships were destroyed, although many Sea Dogs managed to survive and retreated to the Forsaken Rear Guard. Soon the Orcs were brought to order by a Forsaken adventurer send by Sylvanas Windrunner, and later took part in the fight for Silverpine Forest.

The Forsaken, understanding that this new threat must be dealt with, started bolstering their numbers by slaying the human refugees that have settled in Fenris Isle and rising them as Forsaken using the new servants of Sylvanas - the val'kyr. However, Lord Crowley and Ivar Bloodfang used this to offer the humans of Fenris Isle their blood - by drinking it they would become worgen, thus becoming immune to the val'kyr magic while also getting the power to have their revenge. This single act bolstered the Worgen numbers greatly, and although around fifty were slain by artillery fire when trying to cross Lordamere Lake, it barely made a scratch in their numbers. Warlord Torok sent his Sea Dogs to fight the Hillsbrad Worgen swimming to the Decrepit Fields however, without the adequate alcohol, the Sea Dogs were defeated and mostly slain.

As the fighting for Silverpine continues, the Forsaken discover that Crowley and Bloodfang are having a meeting in the Deep Elem Mine. Sylvanas sends one of her best warriors under the command of Master Forteski to trap and corner the worgen leaders in the mine, which had only one entrance. However, the Forsaken soon discovered that it was a trap, and a whole squadron of Veteran Forsaken Troopers was destroyed. At the same time another group of Veteran Forsaken Troopers and Forsaken catapults were crossing Olsen's Farthing, where they were ambushed by the Bloodfang pack, resulting in all the Forsaken troopers slain and catapults destroyed.

The Liberation of Gilneas

Worgen Rebel and Forsaken Vanguard

A Worgen Rebel and Forsaken Vanguard in combat

At the same time King Genn Graymane traveled to Stormwind and asked king Varian Wrynn to aid the Gilneas Liberation Front in their fight for Gilneas. King Varian, understanding that aiding the GLF and driving the Forsaken from Gilneas will give the Alliance potential foothold and allies in Lordaeron against the Forsaken, sent his most elite force to Gilneas to ensure victory - the 7th Legion.

Led by High Commander Halford Wyrmbane, the 7th Legion fleet arrived to the shores of Gilneas, where they discovered a large Horde fleet. To clear a way for landing troops, the 7th Legion used Gnomish submarines to blow up the enemy ships. Meanwhile Forward Commander Onslaught, commander of the Forsaken forces in Gilneas, sent an Horde agent to restore communications between the outposts in the land. He soon discovered that the outposts in Gilneas were lost, and that a massive Alliance fleet was on it's way. It was revealed that a vanguard force of 7th Legion submariners, who, acting under the command of Master Sergeant Pietro Zaren, attacked Rutsak's Guard and Dreadwatch Outpost, slaughtering all the Forsaken troops, leaving alive only Captain Rutsak so he may witness their strength. This resulted in the Forsaken loosing control of Gilneas City, and Pietro Zaren occupied the Cathedral Quarter of Gilneas City and made it his headquarters. And although the Forsaken stroke back and assassinated Pietro and many of his submariners, however, the joined forces of the Bloodfang pack and the Gilneas Liberation Front, now with the aid of the 7th Legion, started an offensive, attacking and eventually overrunning the Forsaken Forward Command, the enemy's main base in the land.

Thus the Forsaken were driven back into Silverpine Forest and Gilneas was at last liberated. However, adventurers, with the aid of the val'kyr, Arthura, and Deathstalker Commander Belmont, managed to recover the corpse of Lord Vincent Godfrey, despite all the efforts of the Gilneas Liberation Front to destroy them, and brought it to Sylvanas, while Belmont's deathstalker recovered the corpses of two of Godfrey's lieutenants - Lord Walden and Baron Ashbury.

The Fall of Ambermill

Ambermill residents undead

Ataeric and his fellow mages, now as Forsaken

Now that Gilneas was secure the the GLF and the Bloodfang pack started concentrating their forces at the Greymane Wall for the grand offensive into Silverpine. Meanwhile Sylvanas Windrunner had Arthura bring back Godfrey, Walden and Ashbury in service to the Forsaken. After the ritual was complete, Sylvanas, with the aid of Godfrey, started preparing her own forces for battle. She orders the Forsaken adventurer to lead an important assault upon Ambermill, where the surviving mages of Dalaran have settled.

Out of survival, the Kirin Tor mages of Ambermill and Dalaran Crater (left behind to protect the land for the day when Dalaran would return), made a pact with the Alliance to protect themselves from the Forsaken who in the past years had been attacked by them. They agreed to summon in the Stormwind army when the time was right to repel the Forsaken. To protect themselves till then, they phased the entire of Ambermill out of their reality so they could not be attacked.

However, the Forsaken adventurer, with the aid of Dalar Dawnweaver, a former archmage of Kirin Tor who became a Forsaken, found the portal into that dimension in Beren's Peril. The adventurer entered it using the Inv jewelry ring 68 [Dalaran Archmage's Signet Ring] and brought it back into the original state by overloading the arcane powers of Archmage Ataeric, who was responsible for the phasing. At this point the Forsaken army, already amassed at the border ready to strike, invaded Ambermill and slayed the Kirin Tor mages, while the val'kyr Daschla immediately rose them as New Forsaken.

The Alliance Counteroffensive

Commander Lorna Crowley

Lorna Crowley, daughter of Lord Darius Crowley

Sylvanas Windrunner sends Lord Godfrey, Lord Walden, Baron Ashbury and the Forsaken adventurer to operate in Southern Silverpine. First of all, the group retakes Pyrewood Village for the Forsaken, which was attacked by 7th Legion Scouts, after which they set it ablaze. Their next move was attacking the 7th Legion Base Camp, assassinating General Marstone and recovering the Inv misc book 12 [7th Legion Battle Plan]. Meanwhile, the 7th Legion fleet reached the shores of Gilneas and started landing forces for the assault into Silverpine Forest, while the combined force of the Bloodfang pack and the Gilneas Liberation Front attacked the main Forsaken army positioned at the Forsaken Front. As the battle went on, Godfrey and his entourage move to the Gilneas Liberation Front Base Camp to capture Lorna Crowley, Lord Crowley's daughter, who had not became a worgen and thus could be slain and risen as a Forsaken. She was overpowered and kidnapped by the traitor Godfrey and brought back to Sylvanas, who planned to use her to force Lord Crowley to surrender before the arrival of the Stormwind army.

Accompanied by High Warlord Cromush, her val'kyr trio and her most trusted soldier, Sylvanas Windrunner went to meet Darius Crowley and Ivar Bloodfang at the shattered gates of Greymane Wall. There she offered Crowley a choice, either he surrenders and sounds his forces immediate retreat into Gilneas, or his daughter would be slain and risen as Forsaken to serve the Banshee Queen forever. Godfrey, Walden and Ashbury then appeared with his daughter. Unable to allow such a horrifying fate happen to his daughter, Crowley agreed to retreat back to Gilneas, to which Ivar reacted as a betrayal, and made a howl before running away. Lorna was released, and Crowley leaved with his daughter as well.

As the three fled back to the safety of Gilneas, Godfrey did the unthinkable and assassinated Sylvanas Windrunner. In shock the Horde group had a short duel with Godfrey's trio until they were overpowered and forced to fall back to Shadowfang Keep. Cromush ordered the val'kyr to "fix" the Banshee Queen, and the val'kyr sacrificed their lives to bring her back. The Dark Lady rose again furious with rage at Godfrey's betrayal and stating that he will pay for this, while also losing any shadow of doubt that val'kyr are indeed the future of the Forsaken. After this the Banshee Queen returned to the Undercity to recover. The Gilneas Liberation Front fell back to Gilneas, which became a warzone between the Alliance and the Horde, where members of both faction battle for it's control.

Aftermath

Gilneas was left in ruins, both by the Forsaken invasion and by the very land ripping itself apart. While their soldiers in the front, the surviving Gilnean civiliences fled to Teldrassil and other Alliance strongholds, where they offered their services to the Alliance. With his homeland turning in to a war zone and his heir slain, Genn Greymane journeyed to Stormwind, political and military capital of the Alliance, where he stands at the side of Stormwind's master, King Varian Wrynn.

Though Gilneas is free of the Forsaken for the moment, the border remains a hot spot between the Horde and Alliance where both sides fight for control in the Battle for Gilneas.

References

 
  1. ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/media/
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