First Light

Having done all (or all necessary) the Hillsbrad Foothills zone has to offer, Dragast had now reached a level of around 40 or so. The next zone up is The Western Plaguelands in the north of Foothills.

Dragast had been coming from the south, battled his way through the Alterac region and arrived in Chillwind Camp safely (and more or less without loosing too many lifes along the way).

Like so many other areas, the Western Plaguelands did see some significant changes in teh Cataclysm Add-On.But while zones like Hillsbrad Foothills have changed to the worse, the Plaguelands actually improved: the Alliance is making progress in regaining lost territories.

The area around Uther’s Tomb, situated just east of Chillwind Camp, gad been a dark an sinister cemetery area in the past, haunted by the lost souls of the dead. Now, restauration is in effect and even those souls that remain have turned a friendly eye on the passing traveler.

I very well remember the endless fights with the souls of the dead in the old days – Dragast had to make for quite a few escape runs here.

The ruined city of Andorhal is still a battleground, but even here the advance of the Alliance troops is visible – things are improving. Fighting is still going on, the Undead are holding their grounds and the brave defenders of Andorhal as still taking massive losses. But soon, the battle will be over here as well. For the time being, the fighting character just needs to be careful to not attract too many opponents at the same time – with caution, experience and quest rewards can be farmed pretty easily within the city.

Having cleared the smoke and fires of Andorhal, the newly returned life shows all around.

The Felstone Field farmstead is in full blossom again, workers on teh fields and the windmill operating. This had been different in the past when the field was taken by the Scourge ad a large cauldron placed in its mid was spraying dead and decay.

But the Scourge is gone – defeated and thrown back and it is time for humanity to reclaim what once was lost.

A bit further to the east, the same change can be seen on the Dalson’s Farm: although currently deserted, plants are freshly growing on the fields and the houses have been restored to their old beauty.

Just on the edge of the farm sits a neutral questing place, The Menders’ Stead. It is these days offering a Flight Master and a variety of quests linked to the Cenarion Circle.

The two other farmsteads, The Writhing Haunt and Garron’s Withering, have not yet been liberated – one is deserted (or almost), the other one is still under control of the Scourge.

Leaving the Menders’ Stead towards the north, trying to approach Hearthglen will take you into Gnoll country these days – and the bastards are even sitting on the roads… so you need to watch out a bit. The lads a all around level 36 upwards…

The other possibility is to keep west of the road and walk up the meadows to the Northridge Lumber Camp. There are still some Gnolls roaming the valley but it will also bring you to a set of quests around the lumber camp. And don’t fear the spiders – they are neutral…

Finally, in the northern section of the zone you will find Hearthglen, controlled by the Argent Crusade these days. When I took Dragast there, he was way up beyond the quests levels but I had some other characters questing here and I have to admit: I did not really enjoy the quests.

Personal taste but I always tried to move on as quickly as possible.

Last to be mentioned, the zone also holds the dungeon of Scholomance – one of the classic dungeons Dragast never really spent much time in because his rise was after when the Burning Crusade came to its end and the Lich King was about to appear (meaning: my guild had the grace of leveling me without me having to go through the trenches)

In the east, a bridge over the Thondroril River marks the exit into the next zone, the Eastern Plaguelands.

Coming from the Arathi Highlands, Dragast had battled his way through dinosaurs and giant spiders, ogres and syndicate men. Passing through the gate in Thoradin’s Wall, a scenic landscape reveals itself – high trees, rolling hills – the area used to be one of my favorite places to be in prior to the Cataclysm Add-On.

Right after entering the area, to Dragast’s right, the ruins of Durnholde appear. The old fortress is now roamed by the Forsaken and not an easy battleground if you are alone and maybe of too low level.

A dungeon dealing with Durnholde – The Caverns of Time – can be found in Tanaris.

Continuing westward, travelers these days need to watch out around Eastpoint Tower – at least of they are Alliance characters: the tower is really close to the road and it is held by Horde units – which will engage on the careless passing by.

Not only once – with other characters than Dragast – I have been paying my tribute by passing too narrowly and attracting the attention of the guards…

Further to the west, a small creek is flowing, crossed by a tiny bridge. The creek used to be one of Dragast favorite fishing places when picking up that skill once. Giant turtles and horses roam the banks, a truly peaceful setting.

Prior to Cataclysm, the town of Southshore was a busy Alliance place in the area. Questgivers, resting places, local shops – all the traveler needed. In the post-Cataclysm world, however, Southshore is destroyed and taken by the Forsaken. A lovely place…gone!

The Murlocs, however, that Dragast spent a long time hunting for quests and experience, are still there, roaming the coast in their small encampments – these days, I guess, more or less left alone for there may not be many reasons to return here.

Continuing west along the coastline will take you to Azurelode Mine, also taken over by the undead. In the Cataclysm add-on, the mine has been taken by spiders, all humans are now trapped in spider webs and  the area now is a small quest-hub for Horde characters.

Dragast is flying north from there, approaching The Sludge Fields, formerly Hillsbrad Fields. The place has been taken over by the Forsaken in the Cataclysm Add-On – now Guard Towers with Searchlights govern the area and guards are roaming the grounds.

The hills east of The Sludge Fields are full of Alliance camps – the bandits and wild animals that roamed the area prior to the Cataclysm Add-On have given place to the Alliance refugees organizing their fighting.

A bit further east lies Tarren Mill – the Alliance outpost in the area and obviously off-limits to Alliance characters such as Dragast (or any of my other characters).

Prior to Cataclysm, the zone was divided into two areas – Foothills and Alterac Mountains – now joined into one zone.

Ogres roam the ruins of Alterac, situated in the snowy highlands of the mountains. The place is a Horde stronghold, nothing for Dragast to spend much time in.

One thing, however, easily done around the Alterac area is farming – Gold and Goldthorn spring to mind.

Following the road north, the village of Stahnbrad lies on the road to the Western Plaguelands. The syndicate mobs that used to roam the town in previous version of WoW seem to have gone – defeated or just tired of being in this forsaken place.

Bordering on Stahnbrad, The Uplands are a lovely mountain valley, infested with spiders and hostile encampments of the Syndicate (which possibly have com down from Stahnbrad here). They all are around the mid-20 levels to be careful to not pull too many of them if you are just about their level.

At the end of the valley, down by the shores of Lake Lordermere lies Dandred’s Fold. The place was once taken by the Syndicate but as of the Cataclysm Add-on is now deserted, fate of the original population unknown.

Following the coastline of Lake Lordermere towards the south-west, a small but deserted house with a boat landing comes into view – no trace of any inhabitant though, although the fire in the fireplace is on an burning brightly.

Last place to see in Hillsbrad Foothills is the Crater of Dalaran, the gaping hole left as the City of Dalaran was ported to its current location in Northend.

Oh, one more thing: down in the very south-eastern corner sits the ruined farmstead of Nethander, the place being run over by the Mudsnout Gnolls.

And finally, just a bit to the south-east, lies the former dwarf fortress of Dun Garok – also destroyed and bare of any living dwarf as of the Cataclysm Add-on.

I do have to admit it: Foothills – as the zone was named prior to the merger with Alterac Mountains in the Cataclysm Add-On, I always enjoyed coming there – especially Southend was a neat place to be in, graphically and from a mind-set (not having had a true place to be in Arathi). Now – after Cataclysm changed the entire area dramatically – I rarely return Dragast here… it is just not the same like in the old days…

Leaving Wetlands to the north, you are passing the bridge of the Thandol Span. This takes you right onto the small and winding road that runs along the hills and creeks of the Arathi Highlands.

The scenery is lovely – peaceful even, would it not be for the more carnivorous inhabitants of the area: Stalkers and gian Spiders, down here around level 29 upwards. Following the road north, a large basin is opening up to Dragast’s left – and with it a look on the walls of Stormgarde Keep.

For now, young Dragast has been clutching to the road, holding on for dear life and in hope to not cross the path with any of the creatures roaming. The goal is the camp at Refuge Pointe, this is where the Alliance gathers in the Highlands.

Refuge Pointe is a small valley which just holds a set of huts and tents with the most basic NPCs a player might need – vendors, repair smith, some crafters, etc. It also holds the entrance to the Arathi Highland Battleground (which Dragast never had a chance or urge to visit.

From Refuge Pointe, the first quest can be taken – they are taking Dragast around in Arathi. First, the Ogre population at Boulderfist Hall is receiving an unwelcomed visitor, then Dragast continues into the east, towards Witherbark Village where the Trolls are.

Boulderfist Hall is an Ogre Stronghold build into the hills in the south east.

It is located off the way, coming from Thandol Span so Dragast had to fight his way through the Creepers and Sneakers first before messing up the Ogre population. Not much of a challenge for a young adventurer.

Witherbark Village is situated around a small lake, again in the southeastern section of Arathi. The area consists of the village itself an a larger cave. As long as Dragast has been paying attention to roaming guards, it has never been an issue to “work” that tribe and get some bounty, glory and experience points.

On the edge of the ravine which surrounds Go’Shek’s Farm, two more quest givers can be found – Quae and Kinelory. Both require help in searching the Orc-infested remains for signs of a new plague.

One of the two – I cannot remember which one – gave Dragast a quest to guard and accompany the NPC into the camp itself.

The quest is not difficult – but it requires some discipline. But hey, both NPCs are well above the level of the average Orc that is roaming the compound so Dragast did not really have an issue keeping the chap alive.

The far north-east sees the old fortress of Hammerfall. Being a horde stronghold these days, there is not much Dragast has to do there – except risking a glance while exploring the world.

Halfway between Hammerfall and Dabyrie’s Farm lies the Circle of East Binding, a quest area, which has an equivalent far in the west of Arathi: the Circle of West Binding.

These two – together with the Circle of Outer Binding and the Circle of Inner Binding – form the four elemental circles the mountain giants created to bind Myzrael, an elemental princess.

Dragast must have skipped the quests around these circles – I remember having done them with another character of mine – but they will take you well through the Arathi section which in my eyes is still one or the more beautiful places to be in the old world.

Dabyrie’s Farmstead is inhabited by humans associated with the Alliance – and protected by it’s own Militia. A forlorn place in a forlorn world.

Traveling further west, Dragast came by the aforementioned Circle of Outer Binding – its counterpart, the Circle of Inner Binding lies next to the ruins of Stormgarde Keep.

Venturing further west, the Farmstead once owned by the Northfolds comes into view. Northfold Mannor these days is taken by the Syndicate. Remembering how Dragast got them out of nowhere is fun – they died without ever knowing what had hit them.

In the west, Thoradin’s Wall and its gate guard the entrance to Hillsbrad Foothills, the bordering area. But before we leave, Dragast is paying a final visit to Stormgarde Keep, the ruined capital of the Stormgarde tribe. Much blood has been flowing the streets of this old town, some added by Dragast in search of fame (or experience).

Stormgarde itself is a so called “micro dungeon” although it is an open world territory – other would call it a sub-region. It is entirely enclosed and there is only one way in (and out). The whole area is split into three pieces – one controlled by the Ogres, one controlled by the Syndicate and one controlled by the remains of the Stormgarde Military.

The last place to mention is Faldir’s Cove – a small bay in the southern part of Arathi. The story has  it that three ships entered the bay, two of which were sunk by the Naga. There are quests around this story that Dragast skipped but the undersea area is a neat example for the careful design Blizzard placed on reef areas in the early days, even when they had not been main battlegrounds then.

Dragast – after having skipped most of the adjourning areas like Wetlands and Dun Morogh for their lower level quests – enjoyed hunting in Arathi. Especially the beauty of the open landscape is something that occasionally brings me back here even today but compared to other places, it is more or less “upper third” of my favorite areas to be in.