Kul Tiras (kingdom)

Kul Tiras, officially the Admiralty of Kul Tiras (also spelled Kul'Tiras, and pronounced KOOL-teer-AHS) is a maritime human kingdom   built on the island of the same name. It is known for its legendary fleet, and before the First War, its far-ranging merchant ships made it the most prosperous nation in the known world. During the Second War, Kul Tiras joined with the other human kingdoms in the Alliance of Lordaeron, and its ruler Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore was named Grand Admiral of the Alliance.

After the Third War, Daelin led Kul Tiras in an invasion of the orc nation of Durotar, a conflict that ended with the Lord Admiral's death in a Horde assault on the city of Theramore. With his death, Kul Tiras fell silent and withdrew from the Alliance. Its exact status remained a mystery until the Fourth War, by which point the isolated nation had begun falling prey to foes from both within and without. Members of the Alliance helped quell these threats and reunite the kingdom's various regions, prompting Kul Tiras to pledge its loyalty to the Alliance once more.

Kul Tiras is governed by four noble houses—House Waycrest, House Stormsong, House Ashvane, and House Proudmoore—and is ruled by Lord Admiral Jaina Proudmoore.

Founding
2,700 years BDP, after the Troll Wars, the humans of Arathor expanded the kingdom in size and power. Those who had settled in the coastal region known as Gilneas constructed a series of robust harbors. The boldest of the sailors eventually discovered a large island to the south that was rich with metal ores and other valuable natural resources. The first of them became the tidesages, and they guided others to the island soon after. Some of them stayed on this island and founded a mighty maritime outpost named Kul Tiras. Over the decades, these new cities continued to grow and develop their own unique customs.

Following their arrival in Kul Tiras, the human colonists encountered the native Drust. Despite the humans' intention of living in harmony with them, the large and hardy race did not welcome them amicably and would raid the human settlers for generations. Thus was born the Order of Embers, an organization dedicated to counter these attacks. Thornspeakers, a group of Drust that had kept to their druidic heritage, broke off from the rest and some eventually integrated into Kul Tiran society.

Many years later, Colonel Arom Waycrest decided the time had come to end the bloodshed. He organized a final assault against the Drust and their city of Gol Osigr, assisted by both Ulfar's Thornspeakers and Athair. Arom faced their leader Gorak Tul himself and valiantly gave him the final blow. The Drust King's armies and constructs all faltered at once. From this victory, Arom was promoted to Lord and became the patriarch and founder of House Waycrest. He would eventually pass on, but his descendants would live in fame and power for a thousand years to come.

Rise as a nation
1,200 years BDP, the kingdom of Arathor began to split apart. The once-small trading outposts and cities that had been established after the Troll Wars had grown into mighty city-states of their own. Eventually, Strom saw its influence over these regions slip away. Strom was left in the hands of a few ruling families too stubborn to abandon the old capital. It would eventually be renamed Stromgarde, and over generations, the various city-states became increasingly distant and insular.

The island bastion of Kul Tiras continued its traditions of trading and shipping. The city-state boasted a massive navy - the greatest in all of Arathor. Its mighty fleets of merchant vessels sailed throughout the seas, its most daring captains exploring the coasts of the Eastern Kingdoms and returning with exotic goods and tales of strange lands in the remote corners of the continent. Kul Tiras's shipping and fishing economy eclipsed the maritime power of its northern neighbor, Gilneas. Unable to compete with Kul Tiras' burgeoning navy, Gilneas instead focused on bolstering its land-based armies and mercantile capabilities.

The Second War
Kul Tiras was among the Council of Seven Nations and its leader Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, who was a long-time friend of Anduin Lothar, believed that vengeance on behalf of a destroyed nation was the correct course of action and was in favor of joining into an Alliance of human nations, that would eradicate the threat of the Horde and reclaim Stormwind for its survivors.

Under the control of the new Grand Admiral, the Alliance navy intercepted the Horde fleet near the island of Zul'Dare, before the Battle of Hillsbrad Foothills. Proudmoore's vessels finding the crude Horde ships was akin to a wolf crossing paths with an injured lamb. Proudmoore's seasoned maritime fleet was able to easily outmaneuver the less sea experienced orc navy sooner than he anticipated. Orcish ships were blown to pieces by Alliance cannon volley, and the crews of sunken transports were swallowed by the waves. Proudmoore soon realized that he could destroy the entire Horde army at sea and bring a quick end to the Second War.

However, the Horde fleet was not alone. Warchief Doomhammer, who had been wary of the humans' naval superiority, had ordered the Dragonmaw clan to supply the newly enslaved red dragonflight as support. Though reluctant to do so as battle mount training had not yet been completed, Nekros Skullcrusher sent three red dragons to protect the Horde fleet as it crossed to Lordaeron. He threatened to torture their mother Alexstrasza with the Demon Soul if they disobeyed.

Reluctantly following the orcs from behind, the enslaved red dragons appeared after Proudmoore's navy attacked and had bathed several of the Alliance vessels in fire. Though the dragons were few in number, Proudmoore had no means to combat them at the time and was forced to call a retreat. As the Alliance fleet scattered, the Horde ships continued their advance toward Lordaeron.

Kul Tiras forces were later stationed along the northern border of Khaz Modan, fighting to keep the orcs from advancing into southern Lordaeron.

After the Horde was completely driven from Lordaeron and Khaz Modan was liberated, the Black Tooth Grin clan with the Horde fleet had been sailing towards the Horde-controlled Stormwind when they were attacked near the island of Crestfall by the Alliance navy under the command of Grand Admiral Proudmoore. The battle had begun similar to the one near Zul'Dare, Proudmoore outmaneuvered his foes and hammered them with cannon fire. And just as before, the Horde had dragons. The beasts swooped down from the skies and engulfed the Alliance ships in sheets of fire.

Admiral Proudmoore's ships were able to easily outflank the lumbering and crude orc vessels, wracking them with cannon fire and inflicting casualties. The Horde ships were guarded by red dragon riders, which dove from the sky and burned Alliance vessels. This time, however, the Alliance fleet was accompanied by Wildhammer dwarf gryphon riders led by Kurdran Wildhammer. The gryphon riders had learned from their battles against the dragons across the high elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas to use their mobility against their larger adversaries. They attacked the dragons in a flurry of movement, drawing their attention away from the ships below. The lightning-infused stormhammers of gryphon riders were wielded with deadly efficiency against the formidable flames of their scaled enemies. Without the dragons, the Horde fleet stood little chance and continued to suffer disastrous losses at the hands of the Alliance navy. The sea itself was painted red with the blood of the countless individuals drowning or being killed outright in the struggle.

Eventually, the majority of the Horde fleet was left in ruins by Proudmoore's superior forces. Only a handful of vessels escaped being sunk, including Dal'rend and Maim's ship. Above, the dwarves' fearless efforts were enough to ultimately drive the dragon riders to flight, and they subsequently scattered in all directions. Among the losses suffered by Proudmoore's navy was the loss of the Third Fleet to the dragon-riders of the Dragonmaw orcs, taking with it Derek Proudmoore, eldest son of the Grand Admiral.

Beyond the Dark Portal
As a member of the Alliance Kul Tiras reported the Horde's movements. A portion of their fleet was attacked by black dragons in or near Baradin Bay.

Following the splintering of the Alliance, Kul Tiras was one of the nations that remained an ally with King Terenas. Admiral Proudmoore, whose mighty fleets patrolled the trade lanes hunting pirates and marauders, maintained order on the high seas.

The Third War
The base of the Kul Tiras Marines on the Darkspear islands, which were hostile to the trolls, was destroyed by Thrall's New Horde as it made its way across the Great Sea to Kalimdor, coinciding with an attack by the naga sea witch Zar'jira and her murloc minions.

Jaina Proudmoore, a powerful sorceress of Dalaran and the dear daughter of Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, had been convinced by the mysterious Prophet that sailing west to Kalimdor with refugees from Lordaeron was the only course to save humanity. She commandeered the Kul Tiras fleet and took them immediately across the Great Sea, in her haste apparently leaving her father uninformed. This "Human Expedition" comprised members of most Alliance-aligned nations and races as well as many of Kul Tiras' finest soldiers.

Jaina's goal was to reach the Oracle at Stonetalon Peak, which Thrall and the Horde also sought. The two factions warred across the Stonetalon Mountains until the two leaders simultaneously stumbled upon the Prophet who had sent them both to Kalimdor, imploring them to unite against the arrival of the Burning Legion. The two unlikely allies ultimately agreed to put aside their history of conflict, and worked together to defeat the corrupted Warsong clan of Grom Hellscream in the Barrens. Moving their forces into Ashenvale Forest, the humans and orcs battled with the invading Legion's demons and their Scourge minions, as well as the xenophobic night elf Sentinels. Jaina was able to help in the Legion's defeat at Mount Hyjal with another desperate alliance with the night elves, and eventually decided to stay in Kalimdor with the people that had traveled with her, founding Theramore Isle. Her unlikely treaty with Thrall and the orcs, who settled in nearby Durotar, remained inviolate.

The founding of Durotar
Admiral Daelin Proudmoore's fleet eventually reached Kalimdor after some time to reestablish contact with the missing Human Expedition that escaped the destruction of Lordaeron and search for his missing daughter. Yet when they discovered the fugitive orcs and Darkspear trolls had established a foothold on the land, Admiral Proudmoore launched an invasion on the resurgent Horde's new kingdom.

At first, the location of Jaina and the survivors of Lordaeron was unknown - Lieutenant Alverold was dispatched to scout the whole coastline of Kalimdor, while Proudmoore ordered various forces to head inland (such as Captain Thornby). Camps and fortifications soon sprung up across the eastern coast of Kalimdor. Unwilling to even parlay with the orcs that were his daughter's allies, the Grand Admiral relentlessly attacked the Horde in Durotar. Thrall ultimately ordered retaliation against the humans responsible, although he was unable to conclude them a separate force from Jaina's Theramore. The Kul Tiras fleet began attacking the Horde settlements on the Echo Isles, forcing the Darkspear trolls to relocate to the mainland. Kul Tiras forces even attempted to assassinate Thrall by trying to lure him to a parlay. Finally, Rexxar and his companions were sent by Thrall to Theramore to deliver a personal plea to explain the spate of human aggression, bypassing Coastal Base. Jaina met with Thrall's emissaries and was bewildered by their accusations. Demanding to see proof, they journeyed back to mainland to discover the Coastal Base destroyed by naga. Finding survivors, Jaina recognized them as her countrymen. Teleporting back to Theramore Isle, Jaina was helpless to explain as her father arrived dramatically. Initially overjoyed, Admiral Proudmoore was incensed by his daughter's alliance with the Horde and ordered her and the emissaries to be seized, taking over Theramore's military and defenses. He returned to his main base at Tidefury Cove in Dustwallow Marsh. Rexxar managed to rouse the trolls, tauren and even Stonemaul ogres to the Horde's banner, and the two factions battled in Tidefury Cove.

Thrall and his armies marched towards Theramore where he was advised by a renegade Jaina Proudmoore to hire goblin shipbuilders to construct warships capable of breaking the blockade of Theramore, on the condition that Thrall attempt to spare the lives of her soldiers. After a long and climactic battle within Theramore itself, Daelin Proudmoore lay dead. The remaining humans stood down, and a devastated Jaina ran to her father's side. Thrall left the city intact, and understanding this had been an incident out of Jaina's control, he maintained his treaty with Theramore Isle.

A sizeable, second wave of Kul Tiras sailors and marines from the Grand Admiral's expedition, led by Lieutenant Benedict, established themselves in Tiragarde Keep sometime later, continuing to fight the Horde as per Admiral Proudmoore's orders. Even though the Horde was unable to expel them for many years, the Keep and its sailors were finally destroyed by the Cataclysm. By then most of the other survivors of Daelin's fleet had already sailed back to the Eastern Kingdoms. The fate of Lieutenant Alverold's expedition around Kalimdor is still unknown.

When the people of Kul Tiras learned of their Lord Admiral's fate, they cried out for vengeance for his death, but the rest of the Alliance did not seek it. The plague of undeath in Lordaeron had already left the Alliance reeling, and its other leaders had little pity for Daelin Proudmoore, who had launched a war of aggression on his own authority. In fury, the people of Kul Tiras isolated themselves from the Alliance. But their anger was not focused on King Varian Wrynn or any of the other Alliance leaders. Instead, they grew to hate Jaina Proudmoore, the daughter who had betrayed her family.

Battle for Azeroth
As the Horde made allies of the Zandalari, the Alliance reached out to Kul Tiras in order to gain their support and access to their powerful navy. However, they first needed to prove their worth to the nation's ruling houses. Kul Tiras has degenerated severely in contemporary times; it is plagued with crime, piracy, corruption, a missing Kul Tiran fleet, Drust incursions, Old Gods radicalization of the tidesages, a burgeoning Kul Tiran civil war, and to compound further their problems, the Horde had recently raided Brennadam and invaded Stormsong Valley.

After reconciling the estranged Proudmoore family and stabilizing Kul Tiras' troubled territories, the Alliance had once again regained the Kul Tirans' trust and unified the maritime nation. Lady Ashvane secretly plotted to usurp Katherine Proudmoore's rule over the island kingdom, but her attempt was ultimately thwarted by Alliance adventurers. Lady Jaina Proudmoore's success in foiling House Ashvane's coup d'état and recovering Kul Tiras' missing fleet had also restored faith in Proudmoore leadership and she was subsequently named Lord Admiral for her accomplishments. Faced with the threat of the Horde, Kul Tiras rejoined the Alliance. The Kul Tirans then retaliated against the Horde by joining the Alliance during their invasion of Zuldazar.

People and culture
Kul Tiras is ruled by four houses: House Proudmoore, House Waycrest, House Stormsong, and House Ashvane. Each house has a seat on a council that rules the nation. The strength of each seat varies in terms of political power, which leads to political intrigue between the houses.

Something originating from Kul Tiras is known as "Tirasian", a term sometimes erroneously spelled as "Tirassian". In Battle for Azeroth, the term "Kul Tiran" is used.

While the crews of Tirasian ships are known to be easily amused, the nation's merchant lords are notorious for their bald pates.

Kul Tiras exports a type of wine known as Kul Tiras red.

The humans of Kul Tiras can have a more robust and rugged look than their continental brethren. Their clothing is made for harsh weather, with high collars. They have a pride and connection with ships, and as such their buildings are inspired by them. The Kul Tiran Outriggers fight and hunt the monsters of the Great Sea around their island.

The Kul Tirans created a song about Jaina and her role in Daelin's death.

Animal husbandry and horsemanship are important disciplines to the Kul Tirans, many of whom are skilled riders and falconers. Horses in the Kul Tiras military are bred from an early age not to fear the sea, and revel in galloping along the shoreline and through the spray. Combat prowess is an important requirement for Kul Tiran riders. The Norwington Equestrian and Hunt Festival draws equestrian riders and hunters from all over Kul Tiras for their competitions.

Kul Tirans worship a goddess called the Tidemother, and most people on Kul Tiras look to the seas for guidance the same way others look to the Light. The Kul Tirans have always survived primarily on their wits and bravery, for while the Light rewards conviction, the ocean demands activity. The order called tidesages have a much deeper connection with the water. All seaworthy Kul Tiran vessels are blessed by the tidesages, who commune with the sea to guide the nation's legendary fleet.

For the most part the people of Kul Tiras do not bury their dead, they send them to the sea. The tidesages can use a bell that calls the souls of the recently deceased to them, and release them through the Ritual of Release. The souls of the fallen are released into rivers that flow through the Shrine of the Storm and out into the open sea. Despite this there is a large cemetery in Drustvar, indicating that region has a different tradition and does bury their dead.

The Church of the Holy Light spread its faith in Kul Tiras, thus, the inhabitants of Drustvar worship the Holy Light. Among their priests, Mercy Fairwater was one of the champions known as the Defenders of Drustvar. In Corlain's cemetery, the tomb of a Kul Tiran paladin of the Silver Hand is present. During the Second War, the Third Fleet of Kul Tiras had at least two holy Eye of Paleth on board before being sunk. During the invasion of Durotar, the Kul Tiras navy deployed Light-wielding chaplains and their elites, under the guidance of a superior officer. The Chief Petty Officer, was a mighty Kul Tiran paladin and one of Admiral Daelin Proudmoore's most loyal officers. At least two members of the Order of Embers also wield the Light, and some Kul Tirans can be found among the Purified that defend Drustvar during Faction Assaults.

An expression of shock for Kul Tirans is "For tides' sake."

Kul Tirans have a druidic order known as the Thornspeakers. Most people seem to be wary of them.

Kul Tirans have a tradition where during a celebration, be it a funeral, wedding, or birthday, they incorporate Star Moss into the decorations. They do it so that those who are no longer among the living can be there in spirit. Star moss is magically sensitive to emotions: feelings of loss, reverence, and joy keep the blooms from wilting. Sailors will give their loved ones a Sea Stalk flower and keep the stalk itself on themselves. Because sea stalk has the magical ability to keep its flower watered even if they are disconnected, if the sailor falls overboard and the saltwater kills the stalk, the flower will also die. The flower wilting therefore signifies that your lover has died. Some sailors consider them bad luck, almost tempting fate. Others want their loved ones to not have to wait for bad news. Sea stalks are seen as not just a stick, but as a family member's life.

Kul Tiran folklore claims that beings called mermaids lived near Boralus early in its history. The humans viewed them as accursed creatures who portended storms and drowned sailors for amusement, until the mermaid Halia, her love, the tidesage Ery, and all of the other mermaids in the region helped save Boralus from a great storm by constructing the city's great seawall. Ery nearly died in the process, but Halia subsequently slit open the tidesage's feet and jumped with her into the harbor, prompting the mermaids' Mother to transform Ery into a mermaid as well. As long as Boralus' seawall has stood, its people now swear on mermaids as symbols of highest honor and good luck, as well as sacrifice, for no mermaids were ever seen in the harbor again after the storm. All of Kul Tiras knows Ery's story, and on certain calm sunsets when the red is deeply reflected in the surface of Boralus Harbor, old sailors call it "Ery's blood", which presages good weather, in remembrance of the dutiful tidesage and the mermaid who loved her.

It is customary to place swords on the grave or locations of the brave, fallen warriors of the nation. The swords are sometimes adorned with trinkets or jewelry. Some Kul Tirans speak of a boatman that calls them after death. Jaina Proudmoore saw and paid the obol with one of these trinkets to a hooded figure.

Because storm silver is lightweight and resists corrosion, Kul Tirans use it in their ships. They also use it for armor for their marines and even pirates, so that they can swim without sinking. Once this sacred material is blessed by a sea priest for use in shipbuilding, it is buried under water for a year.

When a Kul Tiran becomes captain of their own vessel, they are gifted a spyglass worked with precious gems.

Piracy is considered one of the most vile of crimes under Kul Tiran law. Those caught and charged with piracy are sentenced to death and publicly executed, the task being accomplished by an executioner. The death penalty by hanging can also be applied for thieves, it was notably the case of Flynn Fairwind's mother, Lyra Fairwind. In Drustvar, Lucille Waycrest narrowly escaped being hanged at Hangman's Point, after being falsely accused of being a witch.

Ruling houses of Kul Tiras
The four houses that rule Kul Tiras used to be unified under Daelin Proudmoore's leadership, but that gradually changed after his death.
 * House Proudmoore of Tiragarde Sound - Led by Katherine Proudmoore and Lord Admiral Jaina Proudmoore. House Proudmoore commands the military and the guard, with the Lord Admiral leading the entire nation.
 * House Waycrest of Drustvar - Led by Lady Lucille Waycrest. House Waycrest and Drustvar provide most of the kingdom's ore and many of its strongest warriors. They have been a loyal supporter of House Proudmoore's rule for centuries.
 * House Stormsong of Stormsong Valley - Formerly led by Lord Stormsong. House Stormsong builds and blesses the ships for the Kul Tiran navy.
 * House Ashvane - Formerly led by Priscilla Ashvane. House Ashvane controls the nation's wealth.

Notable leaders

 * (abdicated)
 * (Current)
 * (Current)

Military
The Admiralty of Kul Tiras possibly possesses the world's largest navy, rivaled only by the Zandalari's Golden Fleet. It also has a number of named military organizations:


 * Proudmoore Admiralty
 * Admiral's Elite Guard
 * Boralus Guard / Kul Tiras City Guard
 * Kul Tiras Irregulars
 * Kul Tiran fleet
 * Kul Tiras Third Fleet
 * Proudmoore Guard
 * Storm's Wake
 * Proudmoore Battalion
 * Waycrest Guard
 * Goodspeed's Guard (formerly)
 * Order of Embers


 * Other forces active during/after the Third War
 * Human Forces
 * Kul Tiras Elite Corps (disbanded; accompanied Jaina Proudmoore's forces to Kalimdor)
 * Kul Tiras Marines
 * Kul Tiras Navy


 * Alliance of Lordaeron forces under Daelin's command during the invasion of Durotar
 * Human Settlers (Human Armada)
 * Lordaeron Alliance

Along with the standard human, dwarven, gnomish and historically high elven soldiery of the Alliance, Kul Tiras has employed:
 * Chaplains
 * Crusaders
 * Hydromancers
 * Navy Snipers
 * Navy Swordsmen

Kul Tiran soldiers introduced before Battle for Azeroth bearing the Kul Tiran tabard include: Lieutenant Benedict, Watch Commander Zalaphil, Kul Tiras Marines, Kul Tiras Sailors, and Shipwrecked Captives. Except the last that were added in Legion, these are tagged with the Stormwind faction, but its story affiliation is unclear although it may be for gameplay purposes.

The Kul Tiran military prides itself on mastery of both sea, through a vast navy, and land, with armed cavalry.

Tiragarde Keep
Tiragarde Keep was the former citadel of Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore during his invasion of Durotar, the ruined fort was subsequently held by Lieutenant Benedict who wished to continue Daelin's campaign to vanquish the orcs from Durotar.

Tiragarde Keep and all its inhabitants were drowned by the tidal waves caused by the Cataclysm. The Northwatch Expeditionary Force led by Lieutenant Palliter then occupied the ruins of the keep.

Its treasures ended up in the hands of Gail Nozzywig.

Tidefury Cove
Admiral Proudmoore built a number of fortifications along the islands in Tidefury Cove to defend against Horde retaliation against Theramore. These were destroyed in a bitter battle by forces under command of Thrall and Rexxar, Champion of the Horde.

Darkspear Islands
The Kul Tiras Marines had a base on the Darkspear Islands. Led by an archmage, they frequently attacked the Darkspear tribe. The trolls enlisted the help of Thrall and the Horde to stop the settlement from attacking them. Near the end of the fight, Horde soldiers and Tirasian marines were captured by the Underworld Minions in order to be used as sacrifices to the sea witch Zar'jira. Despite sharing a common foe, the marines continued to attack the Horde. Unlike the Horde members, none appeared to make it out alive - many died in an attempt to break out, and the rest presumably drowned in the destruction of the islands.

"Coastal Base"
Settlers from Kul Tiras founded this unnamed coastal base on the shores of Dustwallow Marsh. Although defended by veteran soldiers, it fell to a surprise attack from the naga during Admiral Proudmoore's invasion of Kalimdor.

Tol Barad
Following the Second War, what remained of the blackened, derelict battlements in Tol Barad was left to languish until the wizards of Kul Tiras claimed the isle for a new purpose. Towering walls were again stacked high from the war-scarred stones, but in their cleverness, the arcanists turned the citadel's defenses inward, designing a mystical prison to hold the most powerful criminals. Serving the Tirasian magi, the Stromic population formed the Baradin's Wardens: charged with ensuring that the deadly prisoners locked away in the mystic Baradin Hold never again walk free on Azeroth.

The prison, and indeed the island in general, became a major site of conflict between the Alliance and the Horde after the Cataclysm.

Crestfall
Crestfall is an island off Kul Tiras' northeastern coast and was part of the nation's territory. Currently, the island is abandoned.



World of Warcraft
Even before the kingdom's debut in Battle for Azeroth, there were Tirasian settlements scattered across the eastern coast of Kalimdor, most notably at Tiragarde Keep in Durotar. The forces of Theramore Isle and Northwatch Hold wear the anchor of Kul Tiras on a white field instead of green, reflecting Theramore's semi-autonomy from Kul Tiras under Jaina Proudmoore's rule. Kul Tiras Marines are briefly mentioned in part of the Missing Diplomat quest chain. Kul Tiras Wine appears in Northrend for the quest In Wine, Truth.

The Lost Fleet in the Wetlands is the remnant of the Tirasian fleet destroyed by Horde-controlled red dragons in the Second War.

Cataclysm


According to Bornakk, Kul Tiras "will not be visible at the start of Cataclysm – something about tectonic plates shifting it out to sea... We may yet get to experience Kul Tiras in later patches". At Blizzcon 2010, Alex Afrasiabi responded to a questioner, "We have to save something for the future patches, not now. We will deal with Kul Tiras in the future."

The isle of Tol Barad, however, which used to belong to Kul Tiras, was added in Cataclysm. Baradin's Wardens, the Alliance faction on Tol Barad, were known to wear Kul Tiran tabards in an early beta screenshot of the Eastern Earthshrine, though it was changed. Later released info regarding Baradin's Wardens stated that many of them do indeed hail from Kul Tiras, suggesting the kingdom's continued involvement in Alliance affairs.

Despite what was said, the idea of including in Kul Tiras during Cataclysm did not come to fruition.

Legion
A number of humans wearing Kul Tiras tabards appear among the shipwrecked captives in Oceanus Cove, alongside Zandalari trolls and other sea-faring species.

Battle for Azeroth
Kul Tiras is one of two continents revealed in the Battle for Azeroth expansion and it is a major questing continent for the Alliance.

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
Leader: Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore

Nation Color: Green

Background: ''Before the First War, the far ranging merchant ships of Kul Tiras made it the most prosperous nation in the known world. When the Orcs began to raid the coastal settlements of Lordaeron, Admiral Proudmoore took it upon himself to construct an armada of warships. At the behest of his long time friend Anduin Lothar, Proudmoore has pledged the assistance of his merchant-nation to the Alliance.''

Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal

 * The following events were retconned by the novel Beyond the Dark Portal.

The Alliance claimed victory over the Orcish Horde in the Second War, and the Dark Portal was destroyed. With Sir Anduin Lothar's death at the siege of Blackrock Spire, Admiral Proudmoore pulled his nation from the Alliance, which had descended into chaotic bickering, especially on what should be done to the orcish clans taken prisoner in the war. Proudmoore objected to King Terenas II of Lordaeron's decision to inter the orcs in camps across Stromgarde and Lordaeron, as many other nations did, as they would all have to share the cost of keeping their former enemies alive, including Orgrim Doomhammer, Warchief of the Horde. Kul Tiras left the Alliance of Lordaeron sometime afterwards.

The island nation enjoyed a fleeting peace. With the reopening of the Dark Portal, Kul Tiras itself was attacked by a renewed Orcish offensive on the orders of Ner'zhul, spiritual leader of the orcs on their homeland of Draenor. Its fleet was assaulted both at sea and in port by the Shadowmoon clan, who laid waste at the very least to its harbor, ships and what armies were rallied against them in a pre-emptive strike in order to allow safe passage to Lordaeron. The carnage wrought upon his homeland left an indelible mark on Admiral Proudmoore's conscience. Kul Tiras rejoined the Alliance.

In the RPG
Kul Tiras has always been a merchant nation. Historically, it has retained a powerful navy, and its fleets were invaluable in the Second War. Since that time, Kul Tiras has lost both Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore and his daughter Jaina to Kalimdor although their fates are not known. The only remaining Proudmoore, Tandred, now rules this realm.

Kul Tiras has remained inviolate from the Scourge, due mostly to its strategic positioning. An island nation between Azeroth and Lordaeron, Kul Tiras still possesses powerful warships that patrol the waters. Pirates, murlocs and naga pose a serious threat to the nation.

The islands of Crestfall and Tol Barad are part of the nation.

History
The nation-island of Kul Tiras was instrumental in the Second War. As one of the Alliance's staunchest supporters, Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore constructed a huge armada to battle the approaching Horde. Though the Alliance fleets triumphed, the Horde ships devastated the fleet and it never recovered.

When the Third War erupted, Kul Tiras sent its ships against the Scourge but could do little. Eventually, Jaina Proudmoore, a powerful sorceress and Grand Admiral Daelin's daughter, took half of the remaining fleet alongside refugees from Lordaeron and sailed west to Kalimdor. Several months later, Admiral Daelin, seeing that he could not prevent Lordaeron's fall and reasoning that his daughter might need help in the western lands, took the remaining ships and sailed to meet her. Neither has returned. Tandred Proudmoore now does his best to lead the nation with the few men and fewer allies he has left. With help from his lady friend Captain Mishan Waycrest they do their best to destroy the murlocs, naga, and pirates that threaten the coasts and vessels of Kul Tiras.

Captain Dannol Scurvgrin, a truly vile pirate lord, has ties to the Bloodsail Pirates of the South Seas and sees Kul Tiras as his next big prize.

At some point the naga attacked the prison located in Tol Barad and even though the wizards fought them off, Zae'Rathis the Mad, a dangerous blood elf evoker prisoner, escaped amid the confusion. Zae'Rathis is now at large and Kul Tiras' citizens are afraid. The wizards suspect that the naga attack was intended to free the blood elf and he may have joined them. Together they would make a powerful force so the wizards are in need of someone to track down Zae'Rathis and destroy him.

People and culture
Kul Tiras' people are wealthy, especially compared to the ravaged northern lands, and proud of their nation. They wear traditional green and fly flags with the Kul Tiras' anchor emblem. Like Hillsbrad's citizens, Kul Tiras' people celebrate Hordefall every year.

They hate the Scourge for wiping out the rest of the Lordaeron continent and also hate naga, murlocs, and pirates for sinking their ships and stealing their resources, as well as the orcs for decimating their fleets in the Second War. They are staunch members of the Alliance and friends of Ironforge.

Despite their resolve and experience, Kul Tiras' citizens possess a deep-seated anxiety. Their eyes dart about. Often looking to the west, where their greatest leaders and many of their warriors vanished, wondering if they will ever see their missing families again. They are glad to have a Proudmoore as their leader, but all know that Tandred is not the man his father was.


 * , captain and a friend of Tandred Proudmoore.
 * , Caretaker of the Chalice and Coin of Kul Tiras.
 * , ruler of the Bloodsail Buccaneers.

Kalimdor
Forces loyal to Admiral Daelin Proudmoore continued to man Tiragarde Keep in Durotar and Northwatch Hold in the Barrens. Being opposed by Jaina but still being accepted by the majority of the Alliance, these soldiers continued their crusade against the Horde.

Film universe


Kul Tiras is a human kingdom situated on the island with the same name located north of Dun Morogh. The city of Boralus is also located on the island.

Kul Tiras participated in the council that would eventually lead to the creation of the Alliance. They had two male and a female representatives sitting between the elven and Gilnean ambassadors. The people of Kul Tiras tasted the fury of the orcs, when they burned their ships at the harbor of the port city of Kul Tirin, and the representative was not about to let Llane forget it. He was also wondering where the Guardian was. Ultimately, the representatives were seen in the funeral ceremony for the deceased Llane.

Notes and trivia

 * Kul Tiras is the only human kingdom to have never been destroyed at some point. Stormwind was destroyed during the First War. Alterac was destroyed during the Second War. Lordaeron and Dalaran were destroyed during the Third War. Stromgarde was destroyed sometime after the Third War. Lastly, Gilneas was destroyed during the onset of the Alliance-Horde war.
 * It was previously stated that Kul Tiras was a city-state,  meaning that its capital should share the same name as the nation. Battle for Azeroth established that the name of the capital of Kul Tiras is Boralus.
 * It is still possible that capital was at one point known as Kul Tiras until its name changed to Boralus.
 * Kul Tiras was stated in Cycle of Hatred to be the former home of the Proudmoore family. In Battle for Azeroth, House Proudmoore is still present on the island.
 * During their invasion of Durotar, Rexxar found a Tirasian Shield of Honor.
 * The Kul Tiras architecture introduced in Battle for Azeroth is reminiscent of that of Tol Barad, especially in color scheme, which is fitting since Tol Barad was once Kul Tiran territory.
 * In The Frozen Throne, the Kul Tiras navy played a similar role as the United Earth Directorate did in StarCraft: Brood War: both were a powerful faction of human soldiers coming from a faraway land to take over the local human government and wage war over the populace of the region.
 * In previous maps, Kul Tiras was located in or near Baradin Bay. Crestfall and Zul'Dare were also near the island. To explain its absence in Cataclysm, it was stated that the island was pushed out to sea by the Cataclysm. However, World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3 retroactively placed Kul Tiras in its Battle for Azeroth location even before the Cataclysm.
 * Kul Tirans have different body types from other humans because Blizzard wanted bigger and smaller models to fit the various NPC roles and add more flavor to the world. They are not biologically different from other humans.
 * During the alpha, A Nation Divided originally said that House Ashvane controlled the nation's wealth and had steadily amassed power over the years since Daelin Proudmoore's passing, and that the Ashvane Trading Company held almost all of the official state contracts for trade and manufacturing.
 * Kul Tiran humans become a playable race in Battle for Azeroth.
 * In The Frozen Throne, the Kul Tiran forces include Light-using spellcasters called chaplains. These don't appear in Battle for Azeroth, which mostly depicts Kul Tiras as a nation that worships the sea rather than the Light, but they are referenced by the Hearthstone priest card HS Kul Tiran Chaplain.
 * In Heroes of the Storm, one of the skins for Varian Wrynn is "".

Inspirations

 * Kul Tiras (kingdom) cultural inspirations are derived from various European naval traditions and histories, piracy (particularly of the western hemisphere), the Salem witch trials, and Lovecraftian horror.
 * The government structure of Kul Tiras with one Lord Admiral and the heads of the three houses resembles a variation of the, where the (where Doge is derived from dux, meaning "military leader") was advised by the 3 leaders of the.
 * Drustvar and the Algerson Lumber Yard in Tiragarde Sound is heavily based on the, cultural products of this historical event, and both ancient and contemporary paganism of the British Isles. For example, during the witch trial of Lucille Waycrest, each method proposed in based on a historical method of testing a suspected witch, such as the method wherein a witch was put under water and if she survived, she was a witch, and if she didn't, she was innocent.
 * The way the leader of the "coven" is the wife of the leader of the area, as well as her council of hags whose power is rooted within an ancient tree is likely inspired by the where the protagonist Mary Sibley is the leader of both the witch and town and the coven's council of hags resides within their Witch Tree.
 * Many witch NPCs are seen holding certain objects that are also an off-hand object that resembles a.
 * Athair's role as a teacher of druidism and being another white stag gestures to specific mythology that involves the "Otherworld" in Celtic and Gaelic mythos.
 * Stormsong Valley and Anglepoint Wharf in Tiragarde Sound is generally based upon, in particular  for Anglepoint Wharf and its "Esoteric Order of the Dragon" worshipping the "Father Dagon and Mother Hydra" for the Tidesages and their corruption by N'zoth and Azshara.
 * The island has a combination of, , and.
 * Kul Tiran naval aesthetics (ships, clothing, etc.) resemble s, the UK, and the
 * The way the Kul Tiran navy is described in-game gestures to the legendary prowess of the.
 * The pirate motifs seen throughout the islands gesture to the.
 * Various could have served as inspiration for Lady Ashvane, who became a pirate after the death of her husband.
 * Flynn Fairwind's former pirate life and current service to Kul Tiras gestures to historical s.
 * The villainous Ashvane Trading Company is likely based on the infamous.
 * The use of anchors in heraldry, as seen on the Kul Tiran crest, is a based upon the  motif.
 * The sword style seen throughout Kul Tiras is primarily a, historically being the sword of choice for sailors in the Early Modern period.

Speculation

 * When Daelin found Jaina in Theramore he told her: "You aren't old enough to remember what these monsters did to our homeland...", implying that Kul Tiras was attacked during the Second War or its aftermath. Alternatively, he could also mean the whole of Lordaeron or Eastern Kingdoms. Jaina was 8 years old during the Second War.
 * Their druids could have some ties to the harvest-witches since Kul Tiras was founded by Gilneans.

Concept art

 * People