Plaguewood



The Plaguewood is a large area directly south of Stratholme and stretching all the way to Terrordale within the Eastern Plaguelands. It is heavily occupied by the Scourge and contains large amounts of infrastructure, including ziggurats and slaughterhouses.

Despite (or perhaps because of) the prevalence of the Scourge, representatives of the Scarlet Crusade routinely patrol the road leading to and from Stratholme. They attack any undead that they encounter — as well as any other travelers that these fanatics chance upon. All those journeying along the forest's road should be on the lookout for them, as they present as much of a danger as the ravening Scourge.

Third War
Before the coming of the Plague, this woodland was a beautiful place similar to Elwynn Forest. It had a small village around the area of the arch, near the forest's entrance. When Kel'Thuzad began his work, the poisoned grain from Andorhal reached this area as well. Sergeant Morigan, a Lordaeronian soldier from the village here, was the first soldier to realize that something was wrong. Prince Arthas crossed the woodland in order to reach the city of Stratholme.

After the events of the Culling and the Scourging of Lordaeron, the woods were already drastically altered by the Blight, completely changing the landscape. The soil itself resembled a sponge in appearance, and the ecology of the area was dramatically altered. Fungus grew to amazing proportions, predominantly in the form of large mushrooms or toadstools, dwarfing nearby trees. They often belch out dark brown gas, looking similar in appearance to the gas that spews from plague cauldrons; whether or not these fungi are a tool used by the Scourge to spread clouds of noxious plague gas is not clear. With this transformation, the forest came to be known as the Plaguewood instead.

World of Warcraft
The Plaguewood was the home to an imposing structure that opened a portal to Naxxramas, the enormous necropolis of Kel'Thuzad that once floated above the forest. Access to this portal was controlled by the Argent Dawn and only those who were exalted with them could enter free of cost, while others had to pay a hefty fee (the quest in question, The Dread Citadel - Naxxramas, remained in the game until Cataclysm).

Wrath of the Lich King
With the war in Northernd, Naxxramas left the Plaguelands after being summoned to the Dragonblight. The teleport device to the necropolis was since replaced by a different structure.



Cataclysm
After the Cataclysm, the Argent Crusade extended its presence in the area after rebuilding the Plaguewood Tower.

NPCs

 * Crusader Kevin Frost

Named

 * Omasum Blighthoof
 * Karthis Darkrune

Unnamed

 * Plaguewood Reanimator
 * Carrion Devourer
 * Bat
 * Monstrous Plaguebat
 * Cannibal Ghoul
 * Infected Deer
 * Scourge Soldier
 * Putrid Shrieker
 * Cursed Mage
 * Overstuffed Golem
 * Death Cultist
 * Necromancer
 * Skeletal Servant


 * Frenzied Plaguehound
 * Hate Shrieker
 * Putrid Gargoyle
 * Slaughterhouse Protector
 * Scourge Warder
 * Stitched Horror
 * Torn Screamer
 * Ziggurat Protector

Plaguewood Digsite
The Plaguewood is a nerubian archaeology dig site.

Speculation
Its original name might have been "Greenwood", as the Thalassian Pass that connects the Ghostlands and the Eastern Plaguelands (that is in close proximity to the forest) could have been the Greenwood Pass seen in Warcraft III.