Stormwind City

Stormwind City (a.k.a. New Stormwind or simply Stormwind), located north of Elwynn Forest on Azeroth region's northwest coast, is the capital city of the kingdom of Stormwind and the largest human city on Azeroth. After the Third War, it has become one of the last great human cities, and embodies the heart of the Alliance. Stormwind's willingness to work with others to find diplomatic solutions stands out as one of its true strengths. Its citizens hold fast to the principles of honor and justice as they defend their settlements, and the Alliance, against any aggressors.

No city better demonstrates human determination than Stormwind. Destroyed during the Horde's initial invasion of Azeroth, Stormwind was painstakingly reconstructed by the Stonemasons' Guild after the Second War. Parts of the city were razed again when Deathwing, the corrupted black Dragon Aspect, brutally attacked Stormwind, but the other undamaged districts are more beautiful than ever thanks to their hardworking inhabitants. From the magnificent Cathedral of Light, which serves as a major spiritual hub, to the awe-inspiring Valley of Heroes, which commemorates the sacrifices of Stormwind's loyal champions, the city truly represents the courageous heart of humanity, and serves as a bastion of the Holy Light.

The Stormwind City Guard are the law enforcement and protectors of Stormwind City, keeping the peace within the city's walls.

Early history
The kingdom of Stormwind was originally founded 1,200 years before the First War by the descendants of the Arathi bloodline, who had migrated south from the nation of Arathor. Traveling past the rocky mountains of Khaz Modan, their journey finally ended after many long seasons, and they settled in the northern region of the continent they would name Azeroth. In a fertile valley, they founded the kingdom of Stormwind, which quickly became a self-sufficient power in its own right. It had a long and prosperous history, with the king served loyally by the knights of the Brotherhood of the Horse and the clerics of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics. Secretive conjurers also served the kingdom, and as such Stormwind Keep had its own court conjurer. The Kirin Tor was also present in the kingdom, as Anduin Lothar was acquainted with their fellow wizards in the realm.

The constant bickering and infighting that marred the rules of the former kings of Arathor had no place in the court of Wrynn, and all had been peaceful for many generations in the kingdom until the Gnoll War. King Barathen Wrynn ended the conflict by scattering the unified gnoll packs and bringing back peace, solidifying the rule of the Wrynn dynasty over the entire kingdom.

Following the Gnoll War, the Kingdom of Stormwind began expanding its borders, much to the displeasure of the Gurubashi jungle troll tribes. A series of smaller conflicts between the two factions erupted over time, largely over the territories bordering Stranglethorn Vale that Stormwindian settlers began expanding into. Though initially isolated, the conflict quickly escalated out of control, despite the best efforts of Stormwind's King Barathen Wrynn. The final provocation came when Prince Llane Wrynn personally led a small party to strike at the Gurubashi leadership in central Stranglethorn, which succeeded in uniting the trolls against Stormwind. Though costly and close-run, the human kingdom eventually emerged victorious, largely due to the intervention of the Guardian Medivh. With the entire troll army completely destroyed or routed at the gates of Stormwind City, the jungle trolls of the south would never succeed in threatening the kingdom again. This bloody conflict was known as the Gurubashi War, and the Stormwindians enjoyed nearly two decades of relative peace after emerging victorious. King Barathen was one of the casualties of the Gurubashi War, and Llane succeeded him as king in the aftermath of the war.

Before the First War started, Stormwind was a city of considerable size, greater in spread than Dalaran. Three full sets of walls ribboned around Stormwind Keep, with lesser barriers separating the different wards. Great towers sprung from the streets and a surging river cascade had been harnessed by massive waterwheels.

First War
When reports of mysterious creatures lurking around the Black Morass reached Stormwind, rumors spread through the streets that they were either vengeful spirits, trolls armed with some new breed of power, or a strange race from across the Great Sea. King Llane dispatched Sir Anduin Lothar to uncover what these new creatures were. Lothar led a small force of the Knights of Stormwind to scout the Black Morass, resulting in their first clash with the orcs in a series of bloody skirmishes. He informed King Llane that the invaders were bringing in reinforcements from somewhere, and the kingdom readied itself for a full-scale war that became known as the First War. Llane had named Lothar the "King's Champion", the highest military rank in the kingdom, and entrusted him to end the orcish threat.

After Brightwood, Westfall, and the Redridge Mountains had eventually fallen, the Horde marched onto Stormwind City. Thousands of Horde soldiers marched through Elwynn Forest and encircled Stormwind, cutting off all access except for the sea. Warchief Blackhand had ordered Kilrogg Deadeye and Cho'gall to lead their Bleeding Hollow and Twilight's Hammer clans in the assault on Stormwind. To weaken the city's defenses, siege engines bombarded the city walls through the night, and at dawn Kilrogg and Cho'gall launched their attack. While orcs charged the battlements, warlocks engulfed Stormwind's soldiers in fel fire, resulting in staggering losses. As it seemed Stormwind would fall that day, there were suddenly cries of an attack from the Horde's rear lines. Lothar and the majority of Stormwind's knights had moved around the Horde by sea. The King's Commander was now leading a charge through Elwynn Forest, catching the orcs in the rearguard completely by surprise as the knights cut through their lines. As the Bleeding Hollow and Twilight's Hammer tried to push back the knights, Stormwind's large gates opened and soldiers poured out of the city to flank the orcs in a counterattack. Outflanked on both sides and suffering many casualties, the orcs were left with no choice but to flee.

Around the year 3 or 4, King Llane was assassinated by Garona Halforcen in the keep. After his death, the city was overrun, razing it to ashes.

Anduin Lothar took what was left of the people and led their exodus to Lordaeron. While there, Alonsus Faol told him that he had started to raise funds to rebuilt Stormwind once they reclaimed it.

Second War and reconstruction
Following the Old Horde's defeat during the Second War, men returned to the ruins of Stormwind City and began to rebuild the once great city as a testament to their own survival. As the Supreme commander of the Alliance of Lordaeron, Turalyon helped Prince Varian Wrynn secure his place as Stormwind's next king by providing him with experienced ministers and advisors. He also oversaw the repatriation of the citizens of Stormwind, and the construction of the Deeprun Tram between Stormwind City and Ironforge with the help of Gelbin Mekkatorque. In time, Stormwind City was painstakingly reconstructed by the Stonemasons Guild, who were contracted by Stormwind's House of Nobles. They restored Stormwind to its former majesty, with white stone being used for its exterior. The city was renamed New Stormwind, rebuilt on the same location as the original capital, though after that the city came to be simply called Stormwind City once again.

The internment camps' authorities were based at first in New Stormwind under Danath Trollbane. Two years after the end of the Second War, the orcs reopened the Dark Portal and a small group led by Teron Gorefiend entered the city's library to steal the Book of Medivh. The book, however, had been at that point already stolen by Alterac soldiers and securely placed in the mountainous country.

During the early days of the Invasion of Draenor, Danath gathered all the mercenaries of Stormwind together and marched them to fight at Nethergarde Keep. After the Sons of Lothar destroyed the Dark Portal, five statues in the likeness of Turalyon, Alleria Windrunner, Khadgar, Kurdran Wildhammer, and Danath Trollbane were placed within Stormwind's Valley of Heroes, in order to commemorate their heroic deeds and to honor their ultimate sacrifice for the safety of Azeroth.

Political unrest
Though Stormwind offered what support and resources they could to Lordaeron, they were also beset by their own internal problems. After the Stonemasons Guild spent years toiling to rebuild the glorious city, they were left broke, as their fees and salaries were left unpaid and unspoken for by the city's officials. When the time of the rightful payment came, the nobles of Stormwind couldn't because they ran up a huge debt by expanding the kingdom's military presence through Elwynn and into Stranglethorn, and the massive debt crippled the kingdom's economy. In the shadow, Lady Katrana Prestor manipulated both sides with the Drakefire Amulet - her meddling in the rebuilding of Stormwind left the nobility unsatisfied with the craftsmanship of the guild, while the workers were enraged that the nobility despised them and were threatening to withhold payment. When the Guildmaster of the Stonemasons Edwin VanCleef spoke out, demanding restitution for their works, the Stormwind House of Nobles ordered the Stonemasons' Guild disbanded, and it turned into a heated dispute, which resulted in riots that led to the murder of Queen Tiffin.

In response, King Varian Wrynn vowed to punish those responsible and dealt with the rioters more severely. The Stonemasons, fleeing the city, hid in the rural areas of Westfall to escape prosecution. Knowing Varian's anger would never fade, many were forced to remain in hiding. The Stonemasons became the terrorist organization known as the Defias Brotherhood and sowed anarchy and terror in the lands of Stormwind for the next decade. King Varian, shaken by his wife's death, fell into a great depression. Lady Katrana Prestor took advantage of this opportunity and used politics and sorcery to politically outmaneuver the king in the coming years. Yet in time, King Varian slowly regained his political clout, with his son Anduin Wrynn being his primary inspiration.

After the dust had settled from the Third War, Varian journeyed to Theramore Isle to speak with Lady Jaina Proudmoore regarding the Horde and Alliance relations. En route, he was abducted by the Defias who had been told of his diplomatic trip through a spy rumored to live within the Kingdom of Stormwind itself. Rumors circulated that he was taken to Alcaz Island and was held captive there. These rumors were true, yet they were also false, for Varian was split into two people after a botched ritual to subdue Varians' will conducted by Onyxia. While one of the twins retained all of his wits, charm, and patience, the other retained his will, ferocity, and skills in battle, where the latter escaped his captivity. For the past two years following his abduction, Varian was robbed of his memories and enslaved by a Horde gladiatorial trainer called Rehgar Earthfury in Kalimdor.

As King Varian Wrynn went missing under suspicious circumstances, Stormwind was believed to be going through a state of disarray. Young Anduin was given the crown so that order could be preserved within the kingdom of Stormwind, at the behest of the royal councilor, Lady Prestor. Highlord Bolvar Fordragon acted as the Regent of Stormwind and the Supreme Commander of Stormwind's forces on behalf of King Anduin, with Lady Prestor advising Bolvar on the proper use of Stormwind's resources. While Lord Bolvar did his best to aid King Anduin with ruling the kingdom, Lady Prestor secretly worked to sow chaos and discord within the kingdom behind the scenes, while pretending to aid the young king in public.

World of Warcraft
With the recent invasion of the Burning Legion, which left the northern Kingdom of Lordaeron in ruins, the Kingdom of Stormwind stood as the strongest bastion of human civilization. The Alliance since then has been reorganized and gained new allies in the following years, with the humans of Stormwind standing resolute in their charge to maintain the honor and might of humanity. Stormwind firmly backs the Alliance with its knights, priests, paladins and mages; many of whom served in the three wars against the Horde and the Scourge.

Stormwind City is a marvel of human design and engineering. From the magnificent Cathedral of Light, which serves as a major spiritual hub, to the awe-inspiring Valley of Heroes, which commemorates the sacrifices of Stormwind's loyal champions, the city truly represents the courageous heart of humanity. The Trade District bustles with trade from across the continent and beyond, while adventurers of every sort can be found wandering the streets of Old Town. Some merchants can be found carting their exotic wares on the cobblestone streets, such as those found in the Dwarven District. Another area of note is Stormwind Harbor, which acts as a dock for transport ships and a shipyard for the Alliance navy. Though the city is bustling with trade and business, Alliance citizens can also find peace and relaxation in the preserved natural local attractions of the city and the recreational activities available there. Tourists and children can be found playing and fishing around the various canals, docks, and lakes throughout the city. Many have even found tranquility outside the metropolitan districts in the more rural city outskirts. Racially diverse, heavily populated, an epicenter of culture and trade, Stormwind is acknowledged by many to be the very heart of the Alliance.

Primarily a human settlement, a fair number of high elves, Ironforge dwarves, and even a few night elves and gnomes dwell here as well. Stormwind City is the home of the Academy of Arcane Sciences, the only remaining school of wizardry in the east, and the Cathedral of Light, the philosophical capital for those who follow the Holy Light and the base of operations of the Order of the Silver Hand in the kingdom. These edifices draw healers, priests, paladins, and mages to the city, all of whom bolster Stormwind's vast military. Its vigilant City Guard keep the peace within the city's towering stone walls and the elite Stormwind Royal Guard protect the monarchy and patrol the outlying region of Elwynn Forest on horseback. The House of Wrynn rules the city and kingdom from Stormwind Keep. Rumor has it that Wrynn employs a secret society of rogues known as SI:7, who are spies, assassins, and saboteurs wielding royal carte blanche."

After Azeroth had been victim to massive mystic struggles, which tore magic currents from once stable channels, the mages of the Wizard's Sanctum struggled to determine the effects these changes had caused, and some of them feared the worst. When the flow of magic in Stormwind City and Elwynn Forest was somehow altered, they sent a mage adventurer to Mirror Lake, in order to test its water for magical properties before those who drank from it would be adversely affected.

During the first Scourge Invasion, the Scourge attacked Stormwind City. Bolvar Fordragon later led an Alliance counterattack and recruited heroes who raided Naxxramas and defeated Kel'Thuzad.

Mysteries of Azeroth
Seven years after the Third War, several changes have occurred in the city, the High Elves, after the fall of Quel'thalas and the departure and apparent betrayal of Kael'thas, have arrived in Stormwind and have settled as a refugees in the old Cut-throat Alley.

A port has been built to facilitate travel between Darnassus and the Alliance Capital, the Kingdom of Kul'tiras has established an embassy there to begin diplomatic relations with Stormwind and the rest of the Alliance.

The City continues to prosper as new threats emerge across Azeroth...