Blackwald



The Blackwald is a forest in southern Gilneas, located south of Gilneas City and north of Stormglen Village. These woods were the home of the Druids of the Scythe, who eventually became the first worgen. Tal'doren - a tree identical to the one where the original worgen were imprisoned in the Emerald Dream - is in the forest's eastern section. The Woods' End Cabin can be found in the western part of the forest, while Bradshaw Mill and Rygna's Lair are in the south, near Stormglen Village.

During the invasion of Gilneas the Blackwald was full of Howling Banshees, Sylvanas Windrunner' scouts looking for an artifact capable of uncontrollably spreading the worgen curse to all humanity. This artifact had been moved to many locations by the Gilneans and the night elves, but was eventually found by Forsaken dark rangers. An adventurer, with the help of Tobias Mistmantle and his worgen, was able to retrieve the artifact from Woods' End Cabin.

It was at Tal'doren where Genn Greymane showed he had been transformed by the worgen curse, gaining the sympathy of Darius Crowley and finally uniting Gilneas after many years of conflict.

Mobs

 * Blackwald Foxes
 * Skunks
 * Howling Banshees
 * Veteran Dark Rangers
 * Vilebrood Skitterer
 * Rygna

Hearthstone
The Blackwald, recently being referred to as The Witchwood by the Gilneans, has recently become infected by a powerful witch, Hagatha.

Notes and trivia

 * Moonleaf only grows near Tal'doren, in the Blackwald.
 * Ana Ramsey's house is located somewhere in the Blackwald. Her two sons are buried there.
 * In the early alpha, the Blackwald was home of the Wolfheart clan of worgen.
 * "Blackwald" is a combination of the word "black" and the German word "wald", meaning forest - hence, "black forest". Thus, it is likely a reference to the (Schwarzwald in German) in southern.

Speculation
Much of the forest is covered in a reddish grass, and massive red thorns twist around the forest's trees, including Tal'doren. The southern and western sections though, (including Stormglen Village) show less of these signs but are still present. These traits seem to indicate the forest has been corrupted by the Emerald Nightmare to some extent. Since Tal'doren is connected to the Emerald Dream, this seems to be the case. Even though, the red color wasn't specifically used as Nightmare corruption until some years later. Albeit, it might be possible the Blackwald was used as inspiration to the corruption.