Kul Tiras

Kul Tiras (also spelled as Kul'Tiras, pronounced KOOL-teer-AHS) is an island chain located in the Great Sea, west of the Eastern Kingdoms. The islands are home to the human nation of the same name, having originally been discovered and colonized by Gilnean sailors from the mainland Eastern Kingdoms.

Kul Tiras has played host to a mighty naval tradition ever since its first settling by humans. During the Second War, it was the largest maritime force in Azeroth and a major center for the war effort against the Orcish Horde. Since then, and with the eventual disintegration of the Alliance of Lordaeron, Kul Tiras became significantly more isolated and less involved on the world stage.

Kul Tiras would once again return to prominence at the time of the Fourth War, when the Alliance ventured to the island to enlist the aid of the potent Kul Tiran navy in their new war against the Horde.

Background
There is archaeological evidence demonstrating that the islands were once part of the Kaldorei Empire. Likewise, Xal'atath makes mention that the area currently known as the Shrine of the Storm is a place of ancient power with countless names over the ages.

2,700 years BDP, after the Troll Wars, the humans of Arathor traveled to various regions. Some human sailors left Gilneas and found a large island full of metal ores and other resources. Following their arrival in Kul Tiras, the human colonists were attacked by the native Drust. The war that ensued led the large and hardy race, who lived in Drustvar, to extinction.

The sailors then founded a mighty maritime outpost named Kul Tiras and in time it became a city-state that developed a thriving economy based on fishing and exports. Over the years, mighty fleets of merchant vessels were built and they sailed throughout the seas in search of exotic goods to trade and sell.

Battle for Azeroth
Sometime after the third invasion of the Burning Legion, the Alliance came to the island seeking the powerful navy of Kul Tiras to aid in their new war against the Horde.

The Alliance untangled a web of betrayal and dark magic as they encountered power-hungry pirates, witches wielding death magic, mystical tidesages, and more. Lady Jaina Proudmoore became Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras and Kul Tiras rejoined the Alliance. Kul Tiras took part in the faction war with the Horde, including the Horde establishing outposts on Kul Tiras and Kul Tiras facing Faction Assaults by the Horde.

Geography
Kul Tiras is located west of Baradin Bay and Dun Morogh, and southeast of the Broken Isles. It is cold, mountainous, and rich with metal ores and other valuable natural resources. Its inner bay is protected by three great seagates.

Zones
Kul Tiras is separated into four zones, three of which are scaled to the player's level up to 50.


 * Drustvar (10 - 50)
 * Stormsong Valley (25 - 50)
 * Tiragarde Sound (35 - 50)
 * Mechagon Island (50)

Other areas

 * Crestfall

Lore locations

 * Mowbry's Tavern

In the RPG
Kul Tiras is a large island off Khaz Modan's west coast, between Azeroth and Lordaeron, though is considered a land of this last continent. The unsettled areas are covered with rolling hills and sparse evergreen woods. Kul Tiras is temperate, though subject to sudden ocean storms. The nation is also very windy, which makes zeppelin rides perilous. Kul Tiras' greatest asset is also its greatest danger. Murlocs and naga crawl from the sea to torment sailors and fishermen. Pirates roam the waters preying on merchant vessels.

The nearby islands of Crestfall, immediately off the northeast coast, and farther Tol Barad, in the same direction, are also parts of Kul Tiras. Wild game includes a few forest creatures such as foxes, squirrels, and the occasional black bear. Kul Tiras' shores possess good fishing and provide ample seafood. There are excellent lobster and king crab in Kul Tiras.

The city of Boralus, the town of Drisburg, and the former estate of Duke Falrevere are also found on the island.

Notes and trivia

 * On maps from Warcraft II and early maps of World of Warcraft, Kul Tiras was located further east, southeast of Gilneas and north of Stormwind City, possibly within Baradin Bay, along with Zul'Dare and Crestfall in its vicinity. To explain its absence in Cataclysm, it was stated that the island was pushed out to sea by the Cataclysm. However, Chronicle Volume 3 retroactively placed Kul Tiras closer to the Broken Isles, in its Battle for Azeroth location.
 * Since Kul Tiras retroactively had its location changed, the current locations of the islands of Crestfall and Zul'Dare which were near Kul Tiras are unknown, though on the Chronicle maps they remained at their original locations.
 * Two boat lanes pointed towards Kul Tiras in a very early concept map for World of Warcraft, although the island itself didn't appear on the map.
 * The Undermine map contains a naval route to Kul Tiras.
 * The Visitor's Guide called Kul Tiras a "subcontinent".

Speculation
Kul Tiras may have been mentioned in Blood of Our Fathers as Aldous Lescovar said that Jaina Proudmoore's homeland burned in slag.