Western Plaguelands

The Western Plaguelands are located in northern Lordaeron, wedged between Tirisfal Glades to the west, the Eastern Plaguelands to the east, and the Alterac Mountains to the south. It is a reclaimed portion of the tainted lands of the former Kingdom of Lordaeron, predominately held by the Argent Crusade, though the land is still haunted by the remnants of the undead Scourge.

Despite being where the Plague took hold in Lordaeron, the Western Plaguelands were in surprisingly better condition, though still quite dead, than the Eastern Plaguelands. During the Cataclysm, the Cenarion Circle nursed the majority of the land, bringing it back to its former state.

The region was spared by the conflicts of the Fourth War, despite Alliance troops crossing it to reach the Hillsbrad Foothills.

The largest Scourge-controlled area left here is Caer Darrow, beneath which is an underground complex housing the undead's Scholomance. The Argent Crusade is based in their leader's home town, Hearthglen, which was reclaimed from the hands of now fallen Scarlet Crusade.

One of the most notable places in this region is Uther's Tomb.

History


The area now called the Western Plaguelands was a beautiful forested farmland east of Tirisfal Glades stretching from Lordaeron in the west to the Eastweald in the east. The town of Hearthglen was the seat of the regional administration, while the town of Andorhal was the center of grain distribution in Lordaeron's northern provinces.

Knowing that the quickest way to spread the Plague of Undeath would be via the grain exported from Andorhal, the necromancer Kel'Thuzad and his Cult of the Damned infected the grain with the Plague, and set up four massive plague cauldrons in the fields of the area's four largest farmsteads. As Lordaeron collapsed, the farmlands and the forests began to die. The trees in the Plaguelands pulsate with tumor-like growths, and the needles of the pines are a sickly brown.

With the kingdom collapsed, the Scarlet Crusade attempted to salvage what little of their lands remained, taking possession of Mardenholde Keep in Hearthglen as a regional headquarters. In Year 24, the crusade invaded an unnamed settlement, killing its living inhabitants.

Some time later after the fall of the Scarlet Crusade and the war in Outland, the fight against the Scourge was brought to Northrend and victory claimed by the Ashen Verdict, the town of Hearthglen was reclaimed by its former lord and the leader of Argent Crusade, Tirion Fordring; it now serves as a main base of operations and training ground for the Argent Crusaders in Lordaeron.

The plague covering the region was mostly dispelled during the Cataclysm, thanks to the efforts of the Cenarion Circle. Although life started to emerge once again, war still raged places as Andorhal and Gahrron's Withering. After the Battle for Andorhal between the Alliance forces, commanded by the death knight Thassarian, and the Horde Forsaken, commanded by Sylvanas Windrunner and the death knight Koltira Deathweaver, the Forsaken manage to gain control over the city of Andorhal casting out the Alliance and ending any Scourge presence.

During the Fourth War, Commander Ashlam Valorfist led an Alliance army from the region towards Hillsbrad and the abandoned town of Strahnbrad, where Horde forces were waging a guerilla campaign in an effort to slow their advance.

Following the War, the Argent Crusade is still active in the Plaguelands. At Hearthglen, Mardenholde Keep has become a training ground for new recruits. The Crusade's reports that Caer Darrow and Scholomance were still active and in operation as a school of necromancy, under the control of Darkmaster Gandling.

Getting there
There are several ways to get there on foot (or mounted):
 * From Tirisfal Glades: Follow the main road east of the Undercity, passing through the Bulwark. Alliance players beware: Though there are Argent Dawn NPCs there, the Bulwark is a Horde encampment. Stay on the main road, do not pass into any of the camps.
 * From the Hinterlands: Between Aerie Peak and the Quel'Danil Lodge is a narrow pass known as the Plaguemist Ravine. It runs through the mountains and comes out along Darrowmere Lake, not far from the gates of Caer Darrow. Horde players beware: Aerie Peak is an Alliance town, and the high elves of the Quel'Danil Lodge are hostile to Horde players (though if you are high enough level to enter the Plaguelands, these elves should not pose much of a threat).
 * From the Hillsbrad Foothills: The main road leading north from the west of Tarren Mill splits once inside Alterac; one road leading west to the Ruins of Alterac, the other east to Strahnbrad. Take the east road through Strahnbrad, and follow it as it curves north, through Chillwind Point. Follow it north until you enter the Western Plaguelands. Horde players beware: Though there are Argent Dawn NPCs there, Chillwind Camp (located almost on the border between WPL and Alterac) is an Alliance encampment. It is advised to remain on the far right side of the road (the camp is on the left), to avoid aggroing any Alliance-flagged NPCs.
 * An alternate path through the Hillsbrad Foothills is to follow the river north from Sludge Fields to Chillwind Point, then go north to the road leading to Chillwind Camp, or follow the river all the way to Darrowmere Lake in the south part of the zone.
 * The Flight-master in Aerie Peak offers a one-way trip to Andorhal even for those who have never been to Western Plaguelands before.
 * The quest The Battle for Andorhal allows the player to be teleported to Andorhal once, from Booty Bay.

Geography
The Western Plaguelands contain the instanced dungeon Scholomance, aimed towards level 40 players. There are no other dungeons or battlegrounds in this area.

Maps and subregions




Travel hubs
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Flight paths from Chillwind Camp

 * Ironforge, Dun Morogh
 * Aerie Peak, The Hinterlands
 * Andorhal, Western Plaguelands
 * The Menders' Stead, Western Plaguelands
 * Thondroril River, Eastern Plaguelands
 * Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands

Flight paths from Andorhal (Alliance Side)

 * Aerie Peak, The Hinterlands
 * Chillwind Camp, Western Plaguelands
 * The Menders' Stead, Western Plaguelands

Flight paths from Andorhal (Horde Side)

 * The Bulwark, Tirisfal Glades
 * The Menders' Stead, Western Plaguelands

Flight paths from The Menders' Stead

 * Chillwind Camp, Western Plaguelands
 * Andorhal (Alliance Side), Western Plaguelands
 * Andorhal (Horde Side), Western Plaguelands
 * Hearthglen, Western Plaguelands
 * Thondroril River, Eastern Plaguelands

Flight paths from Hearthglen

 * The Menders' Stead, Western Plaguelands
 * Plaguewood Tower, Eastern Plaguelands
 * }

Notable characters




Quests
See Western Plaguelands storyline 

Aid the Argent Crusade and the Cenarion Circle as they work to further heal the land, but be warned that the Horde and Alliance conflict has reached the zone as adventures are tasked with aiding their faction in the Battle for Andorhal.

Resources
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Herbs

 * Arthas' Tears
 * Blindweed
 * Fadeleaf
 * Khadgar's Whisker
 * Kingsblood
 * Liferoot
 * Stranglekelp
 * Sungrass

Ore

 * Iron Ore
 * Gold Ore
 * }
 * }

In the RPG


The Western Plaguelands, like their eastern counterparts, were once fertile and beautiful but are now gray, blighted and noxious. Once at its border, you can see how the land itself grows darker, and a baleful shadow seems to engulf the horizon. There are a lot of terrible stories about these lands so it is advised to travelers to proceed with caution because even the air is an enemy in this accursed wasteland.

Undead wander the land and haunt the abandoned towns and farmsteads. The largest Scourge city here is Andorhall, beneath which is an underground complex housing the undead's School of Necromancy. The Scarlet Crusade strikes against the Scourge from Hearthglen. The only place of any sanity in the Western Plaguelands is Uther's Tomb, a consecrated monument to the fallen hero Uther Lightbringer. The tomb is tended by the priest Thel'danis and he needs all the help he can get.

History
Once Lordaeron's agricultural center, this region was one of the first to fall to the Scourge. Since that time, the land has wasted and blackened, the trees have fallen to corruption and the undead creatures have tightened their grasp. They wander the landscape and are under the command of Kel'Thuzad in the east and, ultimately, Arthas the Lich King. Scourge forces slay all living creatures within their realm.

The Scarlet Crusade also maintains a presence in the Western Plaguelands albeit they are just as nutty as their eastern counterparts. They struggle valiantly and foolishly against the Scourge and send occasional patrols into Tirisfal who end up killed by the Forsaken dreadlord Varimathras. The Western Crusade is led by Taelan Fordring and a human priest, High Inquisitor Isillien, who is completely insane, devoted to destroying all undead and anyone else who may carry the plague — evil or good. He is a thoroughly unpleasant individual wholly absorbed in his mad, vengeful campaign who is manipulating Taelin do fulfill his will.

Tirion Fordring, the former Paladin Governor of the region and father of Taelin, freed an orc prisoner some years ago and was banished for it. Since then he has been wandering the land lending help when he can. He is a seasoned warrior and is hoping to rescue his son before the Scarlet Crusade consumes him.

In an attempt to expand the Scarlet Crusade's influence, Taelan Fordring led an expedition to retake the small community of Cinderhome a dozen miles to Hearthglen's east. He and his men slew the undead, but before they could bring in settlers and reinforcements, a Scourge host arrived and laid siege to the village. Tirion Fordring, who observed this whole endeavor, is worried for his son. He desperately needs heroes to help him break through the undead line and save the Crusaders within. He hopes to use this situation as an opportunity to extirpate Taelan from the Crusade's grasp or, failing that, as a way to prove that not all those who wander the Plaguelands are evil.

Geography
The Western Plaguelands is a flat, gently rolling country dotted with abandoned farms and windmills that turn forlornly in the tainted air. Stands of enormous toadstools mark where trees once stood. Elevation rises in the south toward the Alterac Mountains, and the Western Plaguelands' northern border stretches across Lordaeron's coast.

The land resembles the Eastern Plaguelands in most respects. The earth is gray and sick with blight. The trees are corrupted and transformed into enormous, spotted mushrooms, and the same toxic mist that pervades the Eastern Plaguelands haunts this realm as well. Even the air seems darker. Though the Scourge capital of Stratholme is many miles away, you can still feel Kel'Thuzad's presence in the land. Undead monstrosities roam the land and infest the ruined farmsteads that dot this flat landscape. Scarlet Crusaders fight a hopeless war against the undead.

The Western Plaguelands is west of the Eastern Plaguelands, east of Tirisfal Glades and north of the Alterac Mountains. Lordamere Lake borders the region to the southwest.