Barrens

The Barrens is a large zone in central Kalimdor, controlled by the Horde. Before the upheaval, several large Kaldorei cities stood here. Now, those brave few willing to scrape out a life on the arid plains inevitably run afoul of centaur warbands or quilboar raiding parties. Despite its often uninviting terrain and hostile inhabitants, the Barrens receive a good deal of interest from Alliance and Horde alike, as well as races native to Kalimdor. Trade routes crisscross the landscape leading to and from more inviting regions, and the most notable route is the Gold Road that runs north-to-south through the Barrens and beyond. Rumors suggest that precious minerals and treasure-filled ruins await those with the courage to investigate.

History
The Barrens was once a thriving forest under the protection of the night elves and their kind. Several Kaldorei settlements dotted the land, and there was no ocean for miles. Then came the Burning Legion and the Great Sundering, which shook ancient Kalimdor to the bedrock. Kalimdor broke apart into many smaller continents and islands, and the forested landscape of what would become the Barrens was transformed into a scorched plain battered each day by the sun's rays. As the trees withered everwhere except near hidden pools of water, the night elves withdrew from their former homeland, heading north into Ashenvale or west into Feralas.

Thousands of years later, after the orcs under the new Warchief Thrall had landed on Durotar, the Barrens saw civilization anew. The Horde built new settlements among the dry grasses and arid hills, and placed the Barrens solidly into the heart of Horde territory.

The Horde has set up numerous outposts in this barren land, the largest being the Crossroads at the intersection of two major roads, and Camp Taurajo, a tauren outpost near the border to Mulgore. The Barrens are also dotted with numerous farms populated by orcs and their families, and guard towers manned by orcish and tauren guards.

Centaur warbands are most often seen in the Barrens' canyons, though they roam as far as the Southfury River, which forms the region's eastern border with Durotar. Fearlessly aggressive, the centaur are known for their savagery, especially against tauren and night elves. They are not above attacking trade caravans for the goods or just for the sake of violence. Travelers who survive the centaurs' attacks are taken prisoner and used as slave labor in the hardscrabble mines the centaur carve into the hard-baked earth.

Displaced from Durotar by orcs, the quilboar have built crude villages along the Gold Road. From there, they strike out to raid caravans, or venture deeper into the Barrens to attack settlements. The quilboar have also erected a fortress called Razorfen Kraul in the southeastern Barrens. Razorfen is a sprawling mass of giant, twisting thorns and crude mud huts. It serves as the center of quilboar society. Razorfen Downs lies just opposite the road, but this dungeon has been infested by agents of the Scourge, and poses great threat to anyone who is travelling to or from the Thousand Needles.

Other dangers include harpies who watch from perches atop mesas in the northern Barrens, and large beasts such as lions, hyenas, raptors, and Thunder Lizards - though these creatures tend to avoid the Gold Road.

Native dangers have not stopped the Ironforge dwarves from establishing a stronghold near the titan excavation site of Bael Modan. The centaur have made forays against it, but are repelled decisively each time. Scouts claim that the centaur are amassing other tribes to launch a major attack, but the dwarves are unconcerned. Each day that passes sees Bael Modan grow stronger as the inhabitants build up its defenses.

Getting There
An alternative method is to travel to Darkshore, then to Ashenvale. Walk all the way to the Mor'Shan Rampart without getting close to the guards. To the left there is a small entrance, free of Horde guards, that Alliance can go through.
 * Horde:From Mulgore, follow the main road east out of the zone, then continue though Camp Taurajo (there is a Wind Rider Master in Camp Taurajo) and turn north through the Gold Road to get to the Crossroads. Get the flight path there too. If you are Orc or Troll go to Razor Hill (The small orc town south of Ogrimmar in Durotar and go through the road west, then continue south through the Gold Road. If you are Undead Take the Goblin Zeppelin to Ogrimmar, the Zeppelin Tower is just north of the Undercity, then go down to Razor Hill and use the same route as orcs and trolls.
 * Alliance:Catch a boat to Ratchet from Booty Bay. Once there, get the flight path.

Maps


Topographic map of the Barrens

Dungeons

 * The Wailing Caverns
 * Razorfen Kraul
 * Razorfen Downs

Raid Dungeons
None

Half-Dungeons/Elite Areas
None

Battlegrounds

 * Warsong Gulch (Horde Entrance)

Flight paths from the Crossroads

 * Orgrimmar
 * Thunder Bluff
 * Ratchet, The Barrens
 * Camp Taurajo, The Barrens
 * Sun Rock Retreat, Stonetalon Mountains
 * Splintertree Post, Ashenvale
 * Zoram'gar Outpost, Ashenvale
 * Freewind Post, Thousand Needles
 * Gadgetzan, Tanaris
 * Camp Mojache, Feralas
 * Bloodvenom Post, Felwood
 * Valormok, Azshara

Flight paths and boat from Ratchet

 * Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale (Boat)
 * The Crossroads, the Barrens (Flight Path)
 * Theramore, Dustwallow Marsh (Flight Path)
 * Talrendis Point, Azshara (Flight Path)

Flight paths from Camp Taurajo

 * Thunder Bluff
 * The Crossroads, the Barrens
 * Freewind Post, Thousand Needles

Notable Characters
The Barrens are home to several characters of note. At the Crossroads, Sergra Darkthorn sends promising young adventurers to prove their worth to the Horde by hunting local wild creatures. She assisted in her efforts by Jorn Skyseer in Camp Taurajo, who also refers them to continue their quests in Thunder Bluff. And at his fortified camp west of the Crossroads, the beleagured Regthar Deathgate fights a one-man battle to keep the savage centaur from breaking through the Horde defenses.

For a complete list of characters, see List of the Barrens NPCs.

Quest Guide
Many of the drop quests in the Barrens can be completed anywhere, so the progression is very non-linear.

Flying Around
Zargh wants to deliver his meats to Gryshka. These quests help players get acquainted with the flight path system.
 * - Zargh (Crossroads)

Running Around
Pick up and head to Ratchet. There, you can pick up the flight path and more quests. Afterwards, head northeast to Thorn Hill, collecting s and s along the way. Herbalists can collect s along the way. While fighting the quilboar, try to pick up.
 * - Apothecary Helbrim (Crossroads)
 * - Sergra Darkthorn (Crossroads)
 * - Thork (Crossroads)
 * - Gazrog (Crossroads)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)
 * - Thork (Crossroads)
 * - Gazrog (Crossroads)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)
 * - Gazrog (Crossroads)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)
 * - Mebok Mizzyrix (Ratchet)

Pool Party
Head northwest of the Crossroads to complete both and. For orcs and trolls, the quest will be your pull into Thunder Bluff.


 * - Tonga Runetotem
 * - Apothecary Helbrim
 * - Apothecary Helbrim

What the Heck is a Samophlange!?
Head north from the Crossroads, hanging a right before the mountains enclose the road. There lies a Venture Co. station. Although the quest level is 14, the mobs spawn frequently and are tightly packed together. Consider grouping up or bringing a friend.


 * - Sputtervalve (Ratchet)


 * [23] Gann's Reclamation
 * - the Runed Scroll is a level 15 drop that starts a quest, obtained by killing the Alliance Outrunners that roam the Southern Barrens, and completed at the Mor'shan Rampart
 * - a pull deep into Stonetalon Mountains
 * [23] Gann's Reclamation
 * - the Runed Scroll is a level 15 drop that starts a quest, obtained by killing the Alliance Outrunners that roam the Southern Barrens, and completed at the Mor'shan Rampart
 * - a pull deep into Stonetalon Mountains
 * - the Runed Scroll is a level 15 drop that starts a quest, obtained by killing the Alliance Outrunners that roam the Southern Barrens, and completed at the Mor'shan Rampart
 * - a pull deep into Stonetalon Mountains
 * - the Runed Scroll is a level 15 drop that starts a quest, obtained by killing the Alliance Outrunners that roam the Southern Barrens, and completed at the Mor'shan Rampart
 * - a pull deep into Stonetalon Mountains



Camp Taurajo



 * (Quest item)
 * (Quest item)
 * (Quest item)
 * (Quest item, Rare spawn)
 * (Quest item)

Crossroads

 * [20] Lost in Battle
 * [20] Lost in Battle
 * [20] Lost in Battle
 * [20] Lost in Battle
 * [20] Lost in Battle
 * [20] Lost in Battle
 * [20] Lost in Battle

Far Watch Post

 * (after completing the Conscript of the Horde quest.)
 * (after completing the Ak'Zeloth quest.)

Shaman

 * [20] 1 Call of Water (Thunder Bluff)
 * [20] 1 Call of Water (Durotar)
 * [20] 1 Call of Water (Orgrimmar)
 * [22] 2 Call of Water
 * [22] 3 Call of Water
 * [22] 4 Call of Water barrens
 * [23] 5 Call of Water (Ashenvale) quest 4 is also in here.
 * [23] 6 Call of Water
 * [23] 7 Call of Water (Silverpine Forest)
 * [23] 8 Call of Water (Silverpine Forest)

Warrior

 * [10] Veteran Uzzek (Starts at Razor Hill in Durotar)
 * [10] Path of Defense
 * [10] Thun'grim Firegaze
 * [10] Forged Steel

Resources

 * Cloth
 * Linen Cloth
 * Wool Cloth
 * Silk Cloth
 * Herbs
 * Peacebloom
 * Silverleaf
 * Earthroot
 * Mageroyal
 * Swiftthistle
 * Briarthorn
 * Stranglekelp
 * Bruiseweed
 * Wild Steelbloom
 * Grave Moss
 * Kingsblood
 * Leather
 * Ruined Leather Scraps
 * Light Leather
 * Medium Leather
 * Thin Kodo Leather (Skinning level 10-20 kodos)
 * Deviate Scale (Skinning and looting level 15-22 beasts in and around the Wailing Caverns)
 * Perfect Deviate Scale (Skinning and looting level 15-22 beasts in and around the Wailing Caverns.)
 * Ore
 * Copper Vein
 * Tin Vein
 * Silver Vein

Wild Creatures

 * Centaurs
 * Cheetahs
 * Crocolisks
 * Frenzies
 * Giraffes
 * Goblins
 * Harpies
 * Hyenas
 * Lions
 * Kodos
 * Quilboar
 * Raptors
 * Scorpids
 * Silithid
 * Sharks
 * Tallstriders
 * Thunder Lizards
 * Turtles
 * Wind Serpents
 * Zhevras

Notes, Tips & Additional Info

 * The Barrens is decisively one of the largest zones in World of Warcraft, and running from Mor'shan Rampart near Ashenvale to the Great Lift near Thousand Needles can be daunting even for players with mounts.
 * The Barrens is home to arguably the most immature general chat channel in the game. Experiencing Barrens chat has been likened to "having a 14 year old saw off the top of your skull, and then urinate directly into your brainpan."
 * Since time spent in the Barrens is relatively low in the lifetime of a character, many people use the opportunity to craft their questionable humor skills. This chat is at least expected in the Barrens, and sometimes more tolerated than in other zones. It isn't uncommon for someone to state "take it to Barrens chat" on a city channel in response to "Barrens Chat" topics, which can range from Chuck Norris to Bad Cow Puns.
 * The Barrens is infamous as a very busy secondary zone shared by Tauren, Orcs and Trolls. Undead players also often come here between levels 10 to 25. With three instances and multiple travel hubs, it is a busy "in-between" area traversed by higher-level characters as well. This is a major contributing factor to the immaturity and high volume of the chat in this region.
 * Mankrik's Wife is located in one of the huts west of the bridge that divides the southern from the northern barrens. Now that you know, don't post about her on the barrens chat. Thank you.