Searing Gorge

The Searing Gorge is a contested region in southern Khaz Modan. It is home to a group of exceptionally stout Dark Iron dwarves called the Thorium Brotherhood, who have split from the Dark Iron clan.

History


Just as Blackrock orcs and their allies dominate Burning Steppes in modern day, so Dark Iron dwarves dominate this dark, mountainous area, alongside their war golems and their elemental masters.

The Searing Gorge was presumably once a verdant valley, but the landscape was obliterated in a massive explosion over 200 years ago. In the War of the Three Hammers, the leader of the Dark Iron dwarves, Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan, sought to summon a supernatural minion that would turn the tide of the war back to his favor. He and seven of his most trusted and powerful dwarves called upon the ancient powers sleeping beneath the world. To their surprise, the creature that emerged was more terrible than any nightmare they could have imagined: The ancient Firelord Ragnaros.

With the Firelord's awakening a new volcano, Blackrock Mountain, erupted out of the mountain ridge, forever blackening the surrounding lands and reducing the Dark Iron capital of Thaurissan to rubble. The steppes to the south came to be known as the Burning Steppes, and the ravaged valley to the north the Searing Gorge.

Upon completion of their new capital city, the Dark Iron sought control of land for their filthy, industrious works. They looked directly to the gorge north of their mountain: The Bronzebeard clan's low military presence, scarce population, few settlements, and high vulnerability made the valley a clear choice. The Dark Iron army soon invaded the Searing Gorge, overrunning the Bronzebeard's garrisons and forcing them to retreat to Loch Modan and seal the Stonewrought Pass behind them. The Dark Iron turned their focus to a very large scale digging operation at the bottom of the blackened valley. The giant excavation site came to be known as the Cauldron. Within the Cauldron is the Slag Pit, an underground mining site rich with multiple ores. The labor is mainly done by slaves, who are for the most part of captured enemies.

The Stonewrought Pass remained locked down for many years, guarded by one Mountaineer Pebblebitty in recent days. The mountaineers turned away anyone seeking passage, so adventurers trying to enter the gorge could only come by way of either the Blackrock Spire or the Badlands trail south of Kargath. Records show that one adventurer was indirectly rewarded a Key to Searing Gorge by Curator Thorius of Ironforge for killing a kodo named Margol the Rager, the bane of every archaeologist that ever set foot in the Searing Gorge.

More recently, the events of the Cataclysm prompted the mountaineers to unlock the passage and begin allowing adventurers to travel at their own risk... Mountaineer Pebblebitty remains, still trying to turn adventurers away.

Prior to the start of the invasion of Outland, the Searing Gorge was invaded by a group of Burning Legion demons led by Highlord Kruul.

Dungeons and raids
There are actually no instances in the Searing Gorge. However, Blackrock Mountain lies between it and the Burning Steppes. It is home to Blackrock Depths (level 52-60 dungeon), Blackrock Spire (level 54-60 dungeon), Molten Core (level 60 raid), Blackwing Lair (level 60 raid), Blackrock Caverns (level 80-83 dungeon), and Blackwing Descent (level 85 raid).

Flight paths from Thorium Point

 * Stormwind, Elwynn Forest
 * Ironforge, Dun Morogh
 * Thelsamar, Loch Modan
 * New Kargath, Badlands
 * Iron Summit, Searing Gorge
 * Morgan's Vigil, Burning Steppes
 * Flame Crest, Burning Steppes

Flight paths from Iron Summit

 * Thorium Point, Searing Gorge
 * Flamestar Post, Burning Steppes

Notable characters


Searing Gorge is home to several characters of note. At Thorium Point, Hansel Heavyhands seeks aid in the battle against the golems, spiders, and incendosaurs of the region. Master Smith Burninate attempts to create fiery flux with the help of trustworthy individuals. And from his guarded spot nearby, Kalaran Windblade sends bold adventurers into the holdings of the Dark Irons in an attempt to burn down all of their sentry towers.

Cataclysm
The storyline covers the Dark Irons' involvement with the Twilight's Hammer.

Areas affected:


 * The Thorium Brotherhood has built a settlement in this area called Thorium Point.
 * Badlands border - a new camp has been established by the Thorium Brotherhood called Thorium Advance
 * Blackrock Mountain – northeast of Blackrock is a new neutral encampment, Iron Summit, headed by a dwarf whose allegiances are questionable, to say the least; the camp of Nilith Lokrav is now populated by Dark Iron dwarves
 * Dustfire Valley - the camp formerly run by Dark Iron dwarves has been abandoned
 * Kalaran's camp, near Thorium Point, is now home to the Dark Irons
 * Tanner Camp - now empty
 * The Slag Pit - the lowest reaches are now inhabited by Searing Flamewraiths led by a level 50 elite flamewaker, Archduke Calcinder
 * Magma Elementals are new mobs added to the area; Incendosaurs now live above ground, in and around the new camp of Iron Summit (see above)
 * Other – the area between Searing Gorge and Dun Morogh is now a deep chasm; the wandering Shadowsilk Poachers of the Undermarket don't appear to roam through the gorge any longer

Resources

 * Herbs
 * Firebloom
 * Sungrass
 * Ore
 * Gold Vein
 * Mithril Deposit
 * Truesilver Deposit

Wild creatures

 * Fire elementals
 * Golems
 * Incendosaurs
 * Lava elementals
 * Felsteeds
 * Spiders
 * Thunder lizards

Before Cataclysm
Prior to Cataclysm, the Alliance entrance to the Searing Gorge in Loch Modan was locked. Players had to obtain the Key to Searing Gorge via a questline culminating in At Last!, although rogues with lockpicking of 225 could simply pick the doors, and players (especially Horde) could always enter through the Badlands. With the Cataclysm, the key and the quest to obtain it have been removed, and the entrance is now unlocked.

The zone was also changed from a level 43 - 52 zone to one suited to level 47 - 51 characters.

In the RPG
The Searing Gorge might be a poor first sight for visitors to Khaz Modan. A shattered, desolate area, the Searing Gorge is the northern equivalent of the Burning Steppes. The only road connecting Khaz Modan and Azeroth passes through here, so those wishing to make the journey must trek across this barren landscape.

No government holds sway in the Searing Gorge and no settlements exist within its confines. The area has no resources, so no armies have bothered with it. Nevertheless, the land can be interesting for an explorer who leaves the road. Many beasts hide in the surrounding rocks and crags, waiting to ambush the unwary traveler. The weary traveler can instead ambush them.

Desolate but not lifeless, the Searing Gorge hosts dangers and secrets aplenty.

History
300 years ago when the Dark Irons summoned Ragnaros it caused a volcanic explosion that devastated the surrounding land, including the Burning Steppes to the south. Since that time, the region has been the wasteland that it is today.

No people call the Searing Gorge home, though the land falls within Khaz Modan and therefore is under the purview of the Ironforge dwarves. The dwarves have many other worries at the moment, so odds are the Searing Gorge will remain untamed for years to come, especially since there is little to no reason to reclaim it.

A group of Stonegullet ogres barricades the road leading south to Blackrock Spire, demanding tribute from all wishing to pass — and the three black drakes with them ensure that all travelers pay the toll.

Geography
The Searing Gorge is barren and hot. The ground is scarred with fissures and dotted with broken rock, the weather hot and dry. It lies south of Dun Morogh, west of the Badlands, and immediately north of Blackrock Spire and the Burning Steppes. Shattered crags and jagged chasms are the only features of note, and few landmarks exist off the road to guide a straying traveler. Rock golems and Dark Iron dwarves roam it.

No settlements stand here, and few important sites exist. The journey from Khaz Modan to Azeroth (and vice versa) is long and dangerous.

Notes and trivia

 * Players taking the flight to Ironforge from Stormwind can observe many subzones of this area.
 * If you were to die in one of the Blackrock Mountain instances, it would take you to the Thorium Point graveyard. It is convenient as it is not far from the flight point.
 * The Charred Oak was once located here, overlooking the Cauldron.