Elwynn Forest

Elwynn Forest is a vast woodland of stately hardwoods nestled just below the foothills of the Blackrock Mountains to the north. It is the heartland of the Human Kingdom of Stormwind and is the starting place of all human characters.

Unlike Duskwood, Elwynn Forest is close enough to Stormwind to enjoy considerable Alliance guardianship. If one sticks to the main roads, the forest is a mostly-tranquil region with several safe and friendly locations for players to visit. However, kobolds infiltrate some mines in the region, and murlocs have moved inland to reside in some lakes and rivers. The forest is also home to many fearsome and territorial animals. The Defias Brotherhood, a group of robbers and bandits wearing red masks, has also recently become a growing menace in the region.

Elwynn forest is under guardianship of the kingdom of Stormwind, but has its own democratic government. Marshal Dughan is the elected ruler. Northshire Abbey is the recruiting center of sorts for the Stormwind army. Goldshire and its famous Lion's Pride Inn is a bustling hub of activity. Today, the only reminders of the Horde's occupation are a few scattered orcish catapults, broken and rotting.

Geography
Elwynn lies below the southern foothills of the Blackrock Mountains. It contains rich farmland, rushing rivers, and lakes. Stormwind City sits proudly in the northwestern hills of the region, its gates opening down onto the Forest. East of Stormwind, behind a thick wall lies the peaceful Northshire Valley, the pride of Stormwind's vineyards.

Bears, wolves, spiders and boars constitute the bulk of the region's large wildlife. The creatures are hostile everywhere except for Northshire. The roads leading from Stormwind and Northshire converge to the southeast just north of Goldshire. Goldshire is Elwynn's largest settlement besides Stormwind itself. Second to Goldshire is the Eastvale Logging Camp in the east near the border with Redridge Mountains. Eastvale is the center of Elwynn's lumber industry. On the road from Goldshire to Eastvale is the Tower of Azora where mages conduct arcane experiments in seclusion. On the road to Westfall from Goldshire is the imposing Westbrook Garrison. This barracks and surrounding grounds house a number of the Stormwind Guard, and protects Elwynn's western border. Dotted throughout the forest are small farmsteads growing crops such as wheat, pumpkins, melons and grapes.

Kobolds have infested the Jasperlode Mine and Fargodeep Mine. Gnolls have erected camps in the Forest's Edge region and the northern rim of Stone Cairn Lake. It is rumored that both the kobolds and gnolls are somehow associated with the Defias Brotherhood. Defias presence in the region has been growing and their people have holdings at Mirror Lake Orchard, Northshire Vineyards, the Brackwell Pumpkin Patch, Jerod's Landing and Stone Cairn Lake.

Maps and subregions



 * Topographic map of Elwynn Forest

Flight paths from Stormwind City

 * Ironforge, Dun Morogh
 * Sentinel Hill, Westfall
 * Lakeshire, Redridge Mountains
 * Darkshire, Duskwood
 * Rebel Camp, Stranglethorn Vale
 * Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale
 * Nethergarde Keep, Blasted Lands
 * Morgan's Vigil, Burning Steppes
 * Thorium Point, Searing Gorge

Notable characters
Elwynn Forest is home to several humans of status. From the base camp in Northshire, Marshal McBride sends promising young humans out into the world. In Goldshire, Marshal Dughan leads the effort to reclaim Elwynn from the kobolds, and from his post outside Eastvale Logging Camp, Guard Thomas seeks to eradicate the foothold the murlocs have established in the forest.

Quests
Elwynn Forest is the starting zone for humans. The quest range here runs from level 1 to 10 with the earliest quests concentrated in Northshire Valley. Quests in Elwynn Forest can visit many of the farms in the area, including The Stonefield Farm in the southwest, the The Maclure Vineyards in the south, and the Brackwell Pumpkin Patch in the southeast. There are battles with kobolds in the Jasperlode Mine and murlocs near Stone Cairn Lake, but a strong recurring threat is established early with the Defias Brotherhood in several locations and even leading into the adjacent region of Westfall.

Two quest chains run the adventurer back and forth between the rival farms of the Maclure and Stonefield families. Although not a quest chain, Red Linen Goods sets the Defias threat early. Meanwhile, the drop quest The Collector could help link the gnolls near Ridgepoint Tower to the Defias.

Northshire Valley is the starting subzone with the level 1-5 quests. Goldshire is the central village for those following most zone quests and suggested home inn for levels 6-10. Stormwind City is the capital, with quests geared to quests that draw adventurers to other zones.

Resources

 * Cloth
 * Linen Cloth
 * Wool Cloth (from Sheep)
 * Herbs
 * Peacebloom
 * Silverleaf
 * Earthroot
 * Leather
 * Ruined Leather Scraps
 * Light Leather
 * Ore
 * Copper Vein

Wild creatures

 * Bears
 * Boars
 * Gnolls
 * Kobolds
 * Murlocs
 * Spiders
 * Wolves

Notes, Tips, & Additional Info

 * The Horde enjoy attacking Goldshire, Northshire and Tower of Azora. It won't be surprising if you see a huge battle going on in either of these places.
 * The two rival farmsteads, The Stonefield Farm and Maclure Vineyards, may be a reference to the real-world Hatfield/McCoy feud.
 * Elwynn Forest is one of the locations featured in South Park ' s "Make Love, Not Warcraft" episode.

Gallery
Elwynn Forest Forêt d'Elwynn