Stromgarde

The Kingdom Stromgarde is a human nation in the Arathi Highlands, located on the site of the original capital of Arathor, Strom. During the Second War, Thoras Trollbane, Lord of Stromgarde, joined his kingdom with the Alliance of Lordaeron. The kingdom declined rapidly following the Third War, losing control of much of its territory and capital city. At the time of World of Warcraft, it is led by Prince Galen Trollbane. The national color of Stromgarde is red.

Arathor
The city of Stromgarde was founded as Strom, then the home of the Arathi tribe of humans living in what were later to be known as the Eastern Kingdoms. The city became the capital of the great empire of Arathor. Following the peak of that empire's power many of its citizens left to found other cities, including Dalaran, Lordaeron, and Stormwind. Many of these newer cities began to attract settlers at an astonishing rate, and it was only a matter of years before the once-powerful Arathi Empire was splintered into seven distinct human nations. Strom was no longer the center of the world, and it was during this time that its leaders changed its name to Stromgarde.

Second and Third Wars
By the time of the Second War, Stromgarde controlled the Arathi Highlands and the island-fortress of Tol Barad. It was quick to join the Alliance of Lordaeron under the leadership of King Terenas Menethil II, and was involved in the military effort to defeat the orcs and push them back to the Dark Portal.

During the events of the Third War, Stromgarde managed to prevent the undead Scourge from ravaging through her lands. Despite this, the darkest hour of Stromgarde was yet to come. Lord Thoras Trollbane was assassinated under mysterious circumstances, and Stormgarde came under siege by both the Syndicate and the Boulderfist ogres. The two forces won several victories against the now weakened kingdom, and managed to occupy much of its terrain, including most of the capital city.

Recent history
Stromgarde still exists, though much weaker than ever before, its population and territory being greatly diminished. Stromgarde's army, however, is far from defeated and still maintains a base of strategic operations at the crevasse known as Refuge Pointe in the Highlands, as well as portions of the devastated capital city itself. The citizens of Stormgarde formed the League of Arathor, which fights to free the rest of the Arathi Highland, the Arathi Basin, and its many resources, from the hands of the Forsaken Defilers and the forces of Hammerfall. Prince Galen Trollbane, recognizing the vastly changed circumstances since his father's time and also acknowledging the incredible odds he faced, agreed to rejoin the Alliance.



Stromgarde Keep
Level 30-45 Sub-Region.

Stromgarde Keep is the ruined capital city of Stromgarde, located on the southwest corner of the Arathi Highlands (location map). It is divided into three sections - one under the rule of the Syndicate, another largely under the control of the Boulderfist ogres (though the Witherbark trolls control small parts), while the last section remains under the control of the people of Stromgarde and serves as the headquarters of Prince Galen Trollbane.

Quests
One of the highest-ranking leaders of the Syndicate, Lord Falconcrest, commands Syndicate efforts in the Arathi Highlands from the ruined city. Alliance player characters are given a quest at Refuge Point to slay him, in an attempt to disrupt Syndicate efforts in the Arathi region.

Horde player characters, meanwhile, are given a quest to kill the leader of Stromgarde, Prince Galen Trollbane, leaving the future of the kingdom uncertain. It should be noted that as of time frame covered in Alliance Player's Guide between World of Warcraft and Burning Crusade he has not yet been killed, or somehow survived his wounds.

See goblinworkshop list of quests for Stromgarde.

Danath Trollbane
In The Burning Crusade, Thoras Trollbane's nephew, Danath Trollbane, can be found alive and well at Honor Hold in Outland. Danath says that he will one day return to Stromgarde and restore it to its greatness, but, for the time being, he is bound to his duties in Outland.

Trivia
Stromgarde is also the setting for the popular fan movie Return which won an award at BlizzCon.