Thunder Totem

Thunder Totem (or Thundertotem) is the capital city of the Highmountain tauren, located in the center of Highmountain on the Broken Isles. The city resembles a massive totem, towering into the sky. The totem overlooks the expansive and awe-insipring landscape of Highmountain. Much of the city stretches out beyond the totem, camps fabricated on cliff faces and bluffs are all connected by wooden bridges to the city center. Established hundreds of years ago, the city ties a coalition between the major factions of Highmountain. Mayla Highmountain just recently became leader of the Highmountain tauren due to her father's unexpected death when Dargrul struck him down with the mighty Hammer of Khaz'goroth and stole it.

History
Centuries ago, Highmountain was the home of four large tribes. The Rivermane, the Skyhorn, the Bloodtotem, and the Highmountain tribes. For ages they lived independently often with a quarrelsome relationship. However, when the Burning Legion invaded during the War of the Ancients, Huln Highmountain united these three tribes to fight a common enemy. This coalition would last for centuries, and for a long time Thunder Totem was the heart of the Highmountain tauren. All three tribes have lived in unity, each sharing a path into the Hall of Chieftains and each sharing an animal on the totem.

However, the third invasion of the Burning Legion has severed the salient pact between the Highmountain tauren. Dargrul, king of the Drogbar has stolen the Hammer of Khaz'goroth from the Hammer's Cradle in Thunder Totem and killed the Highmountain leader. The Bloodtotem tribe has joined the Burning Legion, and the Rivermane tribe has been driven from their home.

Following the end of the third invasion of the Burning Legion, parts of the city were turned into a small Horde capital, including pandaren monk trainers. Survivors of the Bloodtotem tribe who didn't chose to join the Legion also settled at Thunder Totem.

Geography
Thunder Totem is nestled against a large cliff face in the central valley of Highmountain. It is a large tent with a platform perched atop a great bluff, the totem being the crown jewel. The weather here is usually crisp and breezy, clouds are never in sight, even at night.

The entirety of Thunder Totem is comprised of many small camps and settlements all centered around the main bluff. A settlement to the north provides access to Thunder Totem from Pinerock Basin. A large path to the east connects directly to Snowblind Mesa. And a path to the south connects to the Path of Huln. The main platform is a large circle coverd by a tent. This is where most of the merchants set up shop and sell their goods. Thunder Totem, the bluff itself contains two central chambers, the Hammer's Cradle and the Hall of Chieftains. Two elevators travel down to the Hall of Cheftains from the platform and three halls link the Hall of Chieftains to the outside. The Path of Earth, the Path of Sky, and the Path of Water.

Points of interest

 * The inn can be found inside the Hammer's Cradle.
 * The mailbox can be found directly outside of the Hammer's Cradle.
 * The flight master can be found on the northern part of the main platform.
 * The Highmountain Emissary, Ransa Greyfeather, can be found on the northeastern edge of the main platform.
 * Many trainers and traders can be found on the inner wall of the Thunder Totem platform.

NPCs



 * Hall of Chieftains


 * Ring around The Hammer's Cradle


 * The Hammer's Cradle


 * Eastern settlement


 * Southern settlement


 * Platform on southern bluff


 * Post-Legion

Portals

 * Orgrimmar