Wildhammer clan

The Wildhammer clan (or clan Wildhammer) is a dwarf clan currently centered mainly in the Hinterlands and the Twilight Highlands; although members can be found in Kalimdor and Outland as well. Now part of the Alliance, they hold the Horde as enemies. They are renowned gryphon riders, and lead the Wildhammer dwarves as a whole. The clan is led by High Thane Falstad Wildhammer, who represents the Wildhammer people on the Council of Three Hammers within Ironforge.

Early history
Like all dwarves, the Wildhammer are descendants of the earthen.

War of the Three Hammers
Just prior to the War of the Three Hammers, the Wildhammer clan, ruled by Thane Khardros Wildhammer, inhabited the foothills and crags around the base of Ironforge. They were one of the three great factions of dwarves under High King Modimus Anvilmar, controlling the strongest mountaineers that Khaz Modan had to offer. After Modimus died, a civil war broke out between the Bronzebeard clan, the Wildhammer clan, and the Dark Iron clan for control of the kingdom. The Wildhammer clan was unsuccessful in wresting control of Ironforge, with Madoran Bronzebeard and his clan claiming the city as their own and declaring himself king. Khardros and his Wildhammer warriors traveled north and founded their own kingdom within the distant peak of Grim Batol, establishing a holdfast that would come to rival even Ironforge.

Thaurissan, leader of the Dark Iron clan, and his Dark Irons vowed revenge against Ironforge, founding their own kingdom, named for the Sorcerer-Thane, Thaurissan, in the northern Redridge Mountains. Thaurissan and his Dark Irons vowed revenge against the Ironforge dwarves and Wildhammers. Thaurissan and his sorceress wife, Modgud, launched a two-pronged assault against both Ironforge and Grim Batol. As Modgud confronted the enemy warriors, she used her powers to strike fear into their hearts. Shadows moved at her command, and dark things crawled up from the depths of the earth to stalk the Wildhammers in their own halls. Eventually, Modgud broke through the gates and laid siege to the fortress itself. The Wildhammers fought desperately, Khardros himself wading through the roiling masses to slay the sorceress queen. With their queen lost, the Dark Irons fled before the fury of the Wildhammers. Uniting with the Ironforge dwarves, Khardros and Madoran put their differences aside to make Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan answer for his crimes, though they were ultimately unable to do so as the dark Thane summoned Ragnaros with his hatred, destroying the northern half of the Redridge Mountains with his magic. Horrified, the two dwarven leaders fell back. While the Wildhammers were invited back into Ironforge, Khardros' pride prevented him from accepting the offer. Instead, the Valley of Kings was erected as a monument to Wildhammer and Ironforge friendship, and while rivalries would continue, the two did not raise arms against one another ever again.

Once the immediate Dark Iron threat was eliminated, the Wildhammers returned home to Grim Batol. However, the death of the Modgud had left an evil stain on the mountain fortress, and the Wildhammers found it uninhabitable. Khardros took his people north towards the lands of Lordaeron, settling within in a mountainous region of Northeron and in the lush forests of the Hinterlands. Later, the Wildhammers crafted the city of Aerie Peak in the Hinterlands, where the Wildhammers grew closer to nature and even bonded with the mighty gryphons of the area. Some of the Wildhammer clans settled closer to Grim Batol, in the area later known as the Twilight Highlands.

Second War


Following the ravaging of Khaz Modan during the Second War, the Horde pushed farther north into the Wetlands, taking Dun Algaz, Dun Modr, and Grim Batol and converting them into fortresses for the Horde. Grim Batol became the primary base for the land offensive and was also converted into a hatchery for the enslaved red dragonflight. Thandol Span was a pivotal battleground in the Second War, constantly shifting in possession between the two factions.

From the ominous and foreboding peaks of the Hinterlands and Northeron came the dwarven gryphon riders. Mounted upon their legendary beasts and wielding the mystic stormhammers forged deep within the secret chambers of their aviaries, these feral dwarves feared no enemy - and relied upon no friend. They had allied themselves only with the elves of Quel'Thalas at the time, distrusting both their dwarven cousins and the humans alike. Located to the southeast of the Capital City, the Hinterlands are home to the Wildhammer clan, renowned for their use of gryphons. Led at that time by Kurdran Wildhammer, the Wildhammer clan came under attack by what ultimately proved to be a diversionary tactic by Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer. The Warchief deduced that if he sent a force to attack the Hinterlands, the Alliance of Lordaeron would respond, allowing him to take the remainder of his forces into Quel'Thalas with the aid of Zul'jin and the Amani tribe. With their only battle ready dragons having been sent off to guide the orcish fleet north, the orcs were incapable of defeating the dwarves' hit and run tactics, leading to Doomhammer assailing Aerie Peak itself in an effort to subjugate the Wildhammer. As this went on, Orgrim split his forces and headed north, realizing that the dwarves were only concerned with defending their home. The Alliance soon arrived, aiding the Wildhammers in defeating the orcs and forest trolls; the attack having changed the Wildhammer isolationist point of view, leading to them joining the Alliance as well. The Wildhammers informed the Alliance that the Horde had slipped to the north, evading their army, and Lothar continued to pursue them.

Realizing their plans, Anduin Lothar dispatched Turalyon and Khadgar, along with half the Alliance forces, to travel north to Quel'Thalas and come to the aid of the elves, while he aided Kurdran in clearing out the remaining Horde forces in the Hinterlands. Afterwards, he and his gryphon riders flew north to aid the Alliance in Quel'Thalas. Kurdran and his Wildhammers later came to the aid of Daelin Proudmoore's forces in the Great Sea, allowing the Admiral's ships to focus on the ships while the gryphon riders battled the dragon riders of the Horde.

Battle for Grim Batol
Falstad Wildhammer, a noble gryphon rider of the Wildhammer clan of Hinterlands, commanded a small flight of such riders who patrolled the shores of Lordaeron for any hostile draconic activity after the Second War. Falstad and his comrades protected the town of Hasic from certain doom and then transported human mage Rhonin and his companions across the Great Sea to Khaz Modan. During the journey, however, the group was ambushed and Falstad's kinsmen were killed. Nevertheless, at the incentive of Vereesa Windrunner, Falstad continued to Khaz Modan. Later, with the help of a clan of Ironforge dwarves, Falstad reached Grim Batol and fought in the final battle there to free the Red Dragon Queen Alexstrasza.

When Kurdran Wildhammer, ruler of Aerie Peak and the Wildhammer clan, went to Draenor as part of the Alliance Expedition, Falstad stayed in Aerie Peak to succeed him as the High Thane to rule the Wildhammer clan. Kurdran and his gryphon riders participated in the Invasion of Draenor and were one of the heroes willing to sacrifice their lives to safeguard Azeroth. Kurdran Wildhammer would later have a statue in his likeness built in the Valley of Heroes to honor him for his heroic deeds.

With the turmoils between the Alliance nations, the Wildhammer dwarves remained in the Alliance of Lordaeron.

Third War
The daring dwarves of the Wildhammer responded once again to answer the call to war during the Third War. They brought the mighty gryphons of the Aerie Peak to aid the Alliance in its time of need. Armed with their trusty, lightning-powered stormhammers, the fearless wild dwarves sought to keep the skies of Lordaeron free from enemy forces. The proud gryphons share their riders' implacable resolve and stand as noble symbols of the Alliance's fortitude.

The Alliance seemed to have crumbled following Terenas Menethil's death at the hands of his son, Arthas. Arthas, now the head of the undead Scourge, destroyed his own kingdom in the name of the Lich King and left Lordaeron in shambles. Othmar Garithos tried to rally what remained in his Alliance resistance, though his terrible leadership led to his undoing and all who followed him.

World of Warcraft
Unlike many of the other former-Alliance races, the Wildhammer dwarves continued to prosper in their home of Aerie Peak in the Hinterlands. The most immediate threat to their security came from the east in the form of the Witherbark tribe, Vilebranch trolls, and the Horde-aligned Revantusk trolls. The rugged terrain of the Hinterlands was not only home to the Wildhammer dwarves and their gryphons, but also to these hostile forest troll tribes. The trolls viewed the Wildhammers as squatters on their ancestral lands and spare no opportunity to accost the dwarves by attacking the gryphon aeries.

The Wildhammers of Aerie Peak were not part of the reformed Alliance after the Third War, but were still friendly and helpful to Alliance adventurers that have proven their worth to them. However, the Wildhammer Dwarves of Aerie Peak did strike an alliance with the high elves of Quel'Danil, much to the ire of their common enemy, the Revantusk trolls.

Considering the presence of Aerie Gryphons in Alterac Valley, it seems an expedition from the Wildhammer clan of Aerie Peak participated in the battle or lent aid in some capacity.

Outland
In Outland's Shadowmoon Valley, Kurdran Wildhammer, chief thane during the Second War and commander of the gryphon riders of the Alliance Expedition to Draenor, founded Wildhammer Stronghold as part of the bulwark against the Burning Legion. Kurdran is thane of the Wildhammer dwarves in Outland. They seek to push back the encroaching of demons on their territory.

Another contingent of Wildhammers also set up a base at Shatter Point, a giant floating rock in northern Hellfire Peninsula. As these dwarves were cut off from the rest of their kin, they retained their Alliance loyalties.

Cataclysm
''Since they were driven from the keep of Grim Batol, the nature-dwelling Wildhammer dwarves have resided in isolated territories and prized their independence above all else. Yet, when their Bronzebeard cousins and their Alliance allies have found themselves threatened by orcs or undead, the gruff and free-willed Wildhammers have stepped in to help out.''

''It is only recently that the Wildhammer clan has found itself facing the same problems as the rest of Azeroth at precisely the same time. The rampaging of black dragons and maniacal cultists near the Wildhammers' homes in the Twilight Highlands is simply an echo of the devastation occurring in every other corner of the world. As Azeroth quakes, Magni Bronzebeard, the ruler of the mightiest dwarven city in the world, has been rendered unable to govern his people by an ancient ritual.''

''Not even the reclusive Wildhammers can ignore these signs. They have pledged themselves to the Alliance, and those who champion their cause can avail themselves of mighty enchanted armors and relics unlike any forged by city dwarves.''

In order to prevent political turmoil in Ironforge, Falstad Wildhammer helped govern Ironforge as part of the Council of Three Hammers. With Falstad's inclusion into Alliance affairs, the Hinterlands Wildhammer dwarves pledged themselves to the Alliance.

Members of the Wildhammer clan had also been admitted into the Earthen Ring. Among those members was Gavan Grayfeather, who helped advise Thrall on his path to aiding the world. The shaman of the Wildhammer became a great asset to the Alliance in their efforts to prevent the further shattering of Azeroth, training their Ironforge kin in the ways of shaman.

A few Wildhammer gryphon rider mercenaries were hired by the Alliance to participate in the battle in the Southern Barrens against the Horde in which they firebombed Camp Taurajo.

The Wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak have also recently been engaged in combat against the Horde-aligned trolls of the Revantusk tribe in the Hinterlands. Kerr Ironsight led Alliance adventurers in combating them.

The Wildhammer clan featured heavily in the Twilight Highlands as well as in the Twin Peaks; where they battled against their long-time enemy, the Dragonmaw clan, who has recently rejoined the Horde, Making matters worse, the natural upheaval of the Cataclysm had caused the decimation of the icy cliffs of Northeron.

An enslaved Wildhammer smith forged the Hammer of Twilight for Cho'gall.

After rallying the surviving Wildhammer dwarves of the Twilight Highlands and resolving the various clan rivalries, the Wildhammer dwarves have united under the Wildhammer clan once again, and with them, the Alliance to fend off the Twilight Hammer Cult and the Dragonmaw orcs. Notable clans include:
 * Firebeard clan led by Keegan Firebeard.
 * Thundermar clan led by Colin Thundermar.
 * Mullan clan led by Duglas Mullan.
 * Moore clan
 * Dunwald clan
 * Doyle clan (destroyed by Twilight drakes)

Aftermath
At least one Wildhammer shaman was captured by the True Horde in Orgrimmar.

At least one Wildhammer shaman and one Wildhammer blacksmith accompanied the Alliance on the alternate Draenor.

Legion
According to Stormcaller Mylra, as of the Burning Legion's latest invasion the Twilight Highlands are overrun and the Wildhammers have been scattered.

Several Wildhammer dwarf shaman were seen in the ranks of the Earthen Ring stationed in the Heart of Azeroth fighting the demons across Broken Isles and rest of Azeroth.

Wildhammer gryphon riders accompanied the Alliance into Stormheim to fight the Forsaken.

Battle for Azeroth
During the Fourth War, Wildhammer gryphon riders patrolled Darrowmere River, preventing Horde troop movements. Horde champions were sent to infiltrate their roost at Tarren Mill in Hillsbrad Foothills in order to kill their gryphons. Gryphon Master Talonaxe was encountered there by the enemy champions.

Thanks to Boss Tak, Kul Tirans were trained to become gryphon riders as Roughnecks.

Falstad Wildhammer took an important role in the Alliance's effort against the Horde as part of the war campaign. Several Wildhammer dwarves are seen on Kul Tiras and Zuldazar on Zandalar. They also participated in the Battle for Stromgarde in the Arathi Highlands.

Notable leaders

 * Kurdran Wildhammer
 * Falstad Wildhammer
 * Kurdran Wildhammer
 * Falstad Wildhammer

Reputation
Despite having their own in-game reputation, only the members of the clan in the Twilight Highlands are part of that faction. The Wildhammers in the rest of Azeroth and Outland are not tagged as such, though the Wildhammers of Aerie Peak were once tagged with the original Wildhammer faction.

Faction description
''The Wildhammer dwarves are known for their near-reckless courage as well as their unsurpassed gryphon-riding skills. After losing their home of Grim Batol to a Dark Iron Curse, they've spread their dwellings around the Twilight Highlands.''

Quests
Alliance players start out with Wildhammer Clan. Daily quests are only offered when the Twilight Highlands quests are done. Those quests give you a total of ca. 5000 rep, ending at first third of.

Original reputation
Until patch 2.0.3, Wildhammer Clan was a faction in World of Warcraft. Wildhammer dwarves featured in The Burning Crusade and while not tagged with any faction, as the original faction of Wildhammers had been removed by this point, they are all noted as part of the clan.