I hope that if there’s even a single Alterac lore enthusiast like me who just sees this and enjoys the passion and drive I’ve put into this, then thank you for your time and for letting me service you. <3
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Alterac Roleplaying Guide is to provide roleplayers and lore buffs with a more comprehensive depiction of Alteraci history and culture as well as potential facets of RP! The focus of the Altearci Compendium is on human Alteraci culture, but it will delve into how the events of Cataclsym and following have changed Alteraci culture. This will include the history and nature of the Syndicate. The Compendium is a work of fanon. This Compendium draws heavily upon canonical lore and in-game evidence - and I provide my sources where they are available - but the work nevertheless requires many assumptions, educated guesses, and presuppositions to fill in these many gaps in evidence. As such, the Compendium is not intended to be an authoritative (i.e. canonical) guide to Alterac. I will update the Alterac Compendium as new lore becomes available and when I find time in my schedule.Contributions and constructive feedback are always welcomed. Also please share this Compendium among your various lore and RP communities, as this Compendium is meant for them.
No one can tell you exactly how to roleplay anything, so take below as a helping hand and a guide - not a rulebook.
The real question is; what kind of ALTEARACI are you? Is your character a seedy Alteraci human who was there in the Second War iwth Aiden Perenolde’s betrayal? Or a loyalist of the Syndicate? There’s endless possibilities!
ABBREVIATION KEY
1. * WC2 - *WC2 Game Manual* (1995)
2. * WC3 - *WC3 Game Manual* (2002)
3. * DF - *Dark Factions* (2008)
4. * WOWCV1 - *WoW Chronicles Vol 1* (2016)
5. * A:RotLK - *Arthas: Rise of the Lich King* (2009)
7. * BtDP - *Beyond the Dark Portal* (2008)
8. * CotW - *Curse of the Worgen* , Vol.1-5 (2010-2011)
9. * DG - World of Warcraft Dungeon Guide (N/A)
10. * DotD - *Day of the Dragon* (2001)
11. * HoW - History of Warcraft (2004)
12. * EoN - "Edge of Night" - (2012)
13. * LoHP - "Lord of His Pack" (2011)
14. * ToD - *Tides of Darkness* (2007)
15. * ToW - *Tides of War* (2012)
16. * WH - *Wolfheart* (2011)
17. *STROM -*Strom'kar, the Warbreaker* [in-game]
18. *WoW2 - *World of Warcraft - The RP Game By Azamor* [2005]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
[I. Geography]
a. Climate and Weather
b. Geographic Features
i. Coasts
ii. Rivers
iii. Wetlands
iv. Mountains
v. Forests
vi. Arable Land
vii. Foothills
vii. Plains
vii. Foothills
c. Biodiversity
i. Flora
ii. Fauna
d. Urbanization[II. History]
a. Chronological Timeline
i. Arathorian Imperial Period
ii. Seven Kingdoms Period
iii. Reign of Chaos[III. Government]
a. General
i. Capital
ii. Government
iii. Anthem
iv. Flag
v. Crest
vi. Battle Cry
b. Population and Demographics
c. Feudal Government
i. King
ii. Nobles
iii. Royal Court Officials
d. Municipal Government
i. Mayor
ii. Town Council
e. Civil Law and Order
i. Law Enforcement
ii. Criminal Punishment
1. Household Arrest
2. Caged-Wagons
3. Pillory
4. Guillotine
5. Iron Maiden
6. Gibbet
7. Gallows(?)
f. Military
i. Militia
ii. Royal and City Guards
iii. Knights[IV. Foreign Relations]
a. Stormwind
b. Lordaeron
c. Dalaran
d. Kul Tiras
e. Stromgarde
f. Alterac
g. Theramore
h. Ironforge
i. Gnomeregan
j. Quel�Thalas
k. The Horde
l. Darnassus
m. Exodar[V. Economy]
a. Currency
b. Economic Policy
c. Natural Resources
i. Precious Metals & Minerals
ii. Lumber
iii. Agriculture
iv. Fishing
v. Livestock
d. Maritime Trade
e. Industrial Capital
i. Water
ii. Transportation
iii. Coal and Iron
iv. Chemistry
v. Tar and Pitch
vi. Textiles
vii. Firearms and Artillery[IV. Science & Technology]
a. Arcane Arts
b. Medicine and Alchemical Science
i. Hospitals
ii. Alchemy
iii. Folk Medicine
c. Engineering[VII. Culture]
a. Architecture and Housing
i. Architectural Style
ii. Building Materials
b. Class
c. Clothing & Fashions
d. Cuisine
e. Education
f. Gender
g. Language
i. Alphabet
ii. Dialects
iii. Secondary Languages
h. Literary Arts
i. Poetry
i. Media
j. Names
k. National Symbols
i. Wolves
ii. Roses
iii. Light
l. Performing Arts
i. Theatre
ii. Music
m. Recreation
i. Dancing
ii. Fishing
iii. Fortune Telling
iv. Gambling
v. Gardening
vi. Hunting
vii. Music
viii. Natural History
ix. Parks & Hiking
x. Reading
xi. Sewing
xii. Toys
n. Visual Arts
i. Painting
ii. Sculpture
iii. Textiles[VIII. Rituals & Festivals]
a. Death and Burial Practices
i. Burial Practices
ii. Grave Markers
b. Festivals and Holidays
i. Hallow’s End
ii. Midsummer Fire Festival
iii. Noblegarden
c. Marriage Practices[IX. Religions & Spirituality]
a. Church of the Holy Light
i. Clergy
1. Known Priests
ii. Religious Sites
1. Alterac City Chapel
iii. Paladins?
b. Alterac Druids & Shamans(?)
i. Druidism in the Arathorian Age
ii. Unconfirmed Druids
iii. Unconfirmed Shamans
c. Ancestral Veneration(?) (STROM’KAR)
d. Cult of the Damned
i. Membership & Rites
X. Worgen Curse (?)
X. Undeath (?)XII. People of Alterac
I. Geography
The Kingdom of Alterac occupies the centermost of the Lordaeronian continent.
“To the south are the Hillsbrad Foothills, east is the Hinterlands, west is Lordamere Lake and north are the Plaguelands. Alterac shares its northern border with the Western Plaguelands.”(LoC)
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
“The Alterac Mountains are cold and misty, thick with rain and gray clouds. Huge pine trees tower over the temperate landscape. Alterac reminds you a bit of Loch Modan, but warmer. Occasional green meadows and tenacious shrubs can be found amid the gray, rocky peaks…”** *LoC (pg 85) “The Alterac Mountains are high and temperate. Few fertile valleys lie within the peaks, and those that do are fallow. Rainfall is high and the sky is often overcast, making the region drear. The Crushridge ogres and the Syndicate have driven away most nativwildlife, but yetis still inhabit the deeper caves.” (LoC, pg 86) Alterac is also “a high, woody region” that “sees much rainfall and its skies are constantly overcast.” (WoW 2 pg 20)
Shore: A surprisingly long coastline surrounds the seemingly “landlocked” nation of Alterac. Much of the Alteraci shoreline, however, consists of rolling hills, a plethora of pine trees which eke out an existence on the fringe of the towering bases that lead to the Alterac Mountains above. These mountains have provided the Alterac shoreline with a natural defense moreso than the otherway around as these mountains they border were the mountains the Orcs were able to easily pass through because only two carts abreast could fit through [ToD] compared to the openness of the shoreline and aquatic attacks on Alterac’s shores.
Rivers: Rivers are what bind Alterac’s waterways together. The longest and widest river in Alterac is the Darrowmere River. It starts all the way in the Darrowmere Lake north where Caer Darrow is, goes between the Eastern and Western Plaguelands, and continues through the Hillsbrad Foothills west of Durnholde Keep where it filters out into the Baradin Bay and Great Sea. Although not so easily accessible in game, it says **“[u]pon receiving the orders Proudmoore had dispatched his ships down the [Darrowmere] river. They had met up with Turalyon and the army just below Stromgarde and ferried the soldiers on board. They had then sailed upriver past the [Alterac] mountains, instead of going over them as the Horde had done. It had saved them considerable time… Alleria assured them sailing straight to Quel’Thalas was impossible as her kin would not allow them on their portion of the river.” [ToD]
Mountains: The Alterac Mountains are massive and visible across the continent of Lordaeron. Tirion Fordring could “from the Hearthglen Keep balcony see a breathtaking view of the mighty snow-capped Alterac peaks in the distance”; he also saw these peaks from Stratholme. [OB&H] It iss said that, “[f]rom Silvermoon, which stood at the northern tip of Quel’Thalas, the orcs could march over the [Alterac] mountains and directly into Lordaeron, emerging not far from Lordamere Lake and Capital City itself." [ToD]
This would mean that the mountains of Lordaeron stretch to the Alterac Mountains which is evident between the Western Plaguelands border that Chillwind Camp and Andorhal are just north of all the way up to the northern mountains that Hearthglen is nestled within.
Lakes: Tirion recalled “Hearthglen is nestled at the crossroads between the towering Alterac Mountains and the mist-shrouded shores of Darrowmere Lake” [OB&H] The Darrowmere is a freshwater lake that lies to the north of Alterac and is “home to many battles from the Second War” [LoC]. There is also the Lordamere Lake. This "freshwater lake is enormous, occupying a great fraction of Lordaeron’s midwest. In years past, the lake served as a source of fresh water and fish for Lordaeron’s kingdoms. Now, Lordamere’s isles are infested with monsters and its shores polluted with undead filth. The lake borders five separate regions and provides an untapped means of transport between these areas. May the Light help Hillsbrad if the Scourge sends ships across Lordamere.”[LoC]
Mines: (Irondeep, Coldtooth)
Canyons: [LoC]
Ridges: (Wildpaw)
Hollows (Slaughter)
Hills [Alterac] [RPG Books]
Valleys (Alterac)
Caves (Growless, Winterax, )
Headlands (The Headlands)
Nazes (Gavin’s)
Clefs (Veiled Cleft)
Lakes (Lordamere)
Shores (Misty)
Uplands (The Uplands)
Rivers (Darrowmere, Thondroril)
Caverns (Foothill) [RPG Books], Icewing, Wildpaw
Plains (WC3) “the Alliance constructed new camps in the plains of south of the Alterac Mountains” [WC3 Game Manual]
Language(s)
Common, Low Common *LoC, pg 85
In-Game Leader(s)
HUMANS
Aiden Perenolde (the deceased traitorous King of Alterac) (WC2)
Aliden Perenolde (the deceased Syndicate kingpin and Aiden’s successor as his son) (ToD) , in-game Vanilla WoW
Isiden Perenolde (the rightful king and last potentially living Perenolde; presumably missing after he fled to Gilneas after the Second War) (ToD)In-Game First Names
M: Aiden, Aliden, Daval, Ignaeus, Fahrad, Verand, Trand, Kavdan, Aedelas, Benedict, Timmy, Menag, Dean, Joe, MIke, Scott, Thornby, Phillip, Gravis, Travey, Bob, Jimmy, Aretain, Otto
F: Valea, Singer, Elysa, Taretha, Kris, Darbel, Beve, Isolde, Pai,
In-Game Surnames
Perenolde (royal family), Falconcrest, Ravenholdt, Trollbane (ancient chieftain line), Wolfe,
Monikers/Nicknames:
Singer, “the Bleeder”,
Titles
Baron, Lord, King, Queen, Princess, Kingpin, Syndicate Master, Your Majesty (ToD) [the title of the King]
Capital
None, formerly Alterac City; now the Ruins of ALterac
Official Denonnym
“Alteraci” (“alterackee”) [1], Northlander (WC2) (WoWCV1 pg 120)
In-Game & Lore Classes
Brigand, Conjuror, Highwayman, Magus, Mercenary, Pathstalker, Prowler, Spy, Thief, Wizard, Assassin, Enforcer, Footpad, Rogue, Saboteur, Sentry, Shadow Mage, Watchman, Agent, Brigand, Footman, Knight, Peasant, Paladin,
II. History
The history of Alterac is split between Ancient Alterac (known as the Alteraci Tribe (STROM)) [2800 years ago], the Arathorian era known as the City-State of Alterac (WoWCV1) [1800 years ago], and the successive state that would become the Kingdom of Alterac (WoWCV1)(WC2) until it was put under martial law and Aiden Perenolde under house arrest after the Second War (ToD).
The history of Alterac is shrouded in the mystery of huge chronological gaps in the historical record, as is the case with all the human Seven Kingdoms. Though much of Alteraci history is hinted, little is actually known apart from a few scattered fragments of knowledge separated by hundreds, if not thousands, of years in an indeterminate chronological timeline of events.
Chronological Timeline of Gilnean History
Arathorian Period (~2800-1200 BDP)
~2800 BDP: King Thoradin of the human Arathi Tribe establishes the Arathor Empire and defeats the Amani Trolls in the Troll Wars alongside the high elves of Quel’thalas.
~2800 BDP-27AD: Winterax Trolls that descend from the Drakkari Trolls (The Troll Compendium) become “indigenous to Alterac” (Quest:Korrak the Bloodrager) which is home to “artifacts”, “a leadership heirarchy”, and “tomes” - or Troll Literature.
~2700-2500 BDP: Arathorian colonists establish the city-state of Alterac.
~2500-1200 BDP: The armies of Alterac and Gilneas explore Khaz Modan and make first contact with the dwarves of Ironforge and Gnomes of Gnomeregan.
~1200 BDP: The Arathor Empire dissolves. Alterac becomes independent by this time as the Seven Kingdoms period begins.
Seven Kingdoms Period (~1200-1 BDP)
~40 BDP: King Archibald of Gilneas begins a series of sweeping reforms that industrialize Gilneas.
~40 BDP-6 ADP: Genn Greymane, son of Archibald, ascends the throne of Gilneas
~1 BDP (Novel) Rise of the Horde (Christie Golden)
Age of Chaos (1 ADP to present)
~0-1 BDP: (PC Game) Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
~0-1 BDP: (Novel) The Last Guardian (Jeff Grubb)
“Caravan traders, mercenaries, and adventurers that come into the city often find a receptive ear with old Lothar. Word comes from Ironforge and Alterac, and even from Lordaeron itself”
The Second War (6 BDP)
- Alterac joins the Alliance of Lordaeron for the Second War but only provides token forces [WC2 Manual].
- The Orcish Horde invades Greater Lordaeron.
- Aiden Perenolde forms a “non-aggression pact” with the Orcish Horde [ToD]
- The Alliance of Lordaeron defeats the Horde.
~6-8 ADP: The Alliance constructs Nethergarde Keep with funds from Alterac and the other Seven Kingdoms because "the Alliance added Alterac’s treasuries to the
Alliance’s once it took control of the kingdom" and King Terenas II put it under martial law. [BtDP]
~8-10 ADP : Isiden Perenolde is put under house arrest and put into custody in the aftermath of his betrayal being found. [BtDP]
~8-10 ADP : Isiden Perenolde of Alterac flees to Gilneas for political asylum. [BtDP]
~10 ADP: Deathwing, secretly disguised as the Alteraci nobleman Daval Prestor attempts to become King of Alterac, and the “Crisis of Alterac” [DotD]
~10-18 ADP: Gilneas, Strom, and Quel’Thalas secedes from the Alliance of Lordaeron. Alterac becomes occupied by Alliance forces during this martial law including Strahnbrad.
The Third War (~20-21 ADP)
- The Blackrock Orcs show up to Strahnbrad, Alterac and are defended by Arthas, Uther, and the Silver Hand Knights.
- Genn Greymane denies aid to Lordaeron against the Scourge and refuses admission of refugees.
- Lord Darius Crowley sends the Gilneas Brigade to Jaina Proudmoore and the Alliance Expedition.
- The Scourge besiege the Greymane Wall of Gilneas.
- Archmage Arugal, in consultation with King Genn, summons the worgen against the Scourge. Gilnean soldiers are infected by worgen.
- The Scourge withdraw their forces due to the civil war in the Plaguelands against the Alliance, Dreadlords, and Forsaken.
- Archmage Arugal and the worgen Alpha Prime claim Shadowfang Keep and Pyrewood Village.
Northgate Rebellion and the Wolf Cult (~22-27 ADP)
- King Genn permanently closes the Greymane Wall.
- Infected Gilnean soldiers escape.
- King Genn and the other Gilnean nobles begin monthly worgen hunts.
- Lord Crowley rebels against King Genn starting the Northgate Rebellion. Rebels besiege Gilneas City.
- King Genn and the Royalists defeat the Northgate rebels and imprison its leaders.
~25 ADP: Horde adventures slay Archmage Arugal in Shadowfang Keep. - Alpha Prime infiltrates Gilneas and establishes the Wolf Cult.
- The Starlight Slasher? serial killer begins targeting royalists.?
- King Genn becomes infected on a worgen hunt.
- Night elves infiltrate Gilneas and work in secrecy with King Genn.
~27 ADP: Forsaken besiege the Greymane Wall. - Alpha Prime forms an alliance with the Forsaken to obtain the Scythe of Elune.
~28 ADP: Alpha Prime, the Wolf Cult, and the Bloodfang Pack strike Gilneas City and other towns, spreading the worgen curse. - King Genn evacuates the Gilneas City survivors to Duskhaven while Lord Darius and volunteers make a last stand at Light’s Hope Cathedral.
- Night elf druids begin capturing and curing feral worgen.
- King Genn sends hunters to capture feral worgen to cure.
0 (PC Game) Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
- (Novel) The Last Guardian (Jeff Grubb)
6 (PC Game) Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness
8 (PC Game) Warcraft 2X: Beyond the Dark Portal
10 - (Novel) Day of the Dragon (Richard A. Knaak)
18 - (Novel) Lord of the Clans (Christie Golden)
19 - (Novel) Of Blood and Honor (Chris Metzen)
20 (PC Game) Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos
21 (PC Game) Warcraft 3X: The Frozen Throne
23 (Manga) The Sunwell Trilogy
-
The Sunwell Trilogy: Dragon Hunt (Richard A. Knaak & Jae-Hwan Kim)
-
The Sunwell Trilogy: Shadows of Ice (Richard A. Knaak & Jae-Hwan Kim)
-
The Sunwell Trilogy: Ghostlands (Richard A. Knaak & Jae-Hwan Kim)
24 (Novel) Cycle of Hatred (Keith R. A. DeCandido)
25 (PC Game) World of Warcraft Begins
26 (PC Game) World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
That is why it is interesting to see that historically, when we get to the Second War, Alterac was the “weakest of the human nations and only a minor contributor” (WC@), but in the ancient days of Alterac some 1800 years ago, it had great ties to Gilneas that we see extend into the modern timeframe of the game and a STRONG military presence. “Gilneas and Alterac often combined their forces and led grand expeditions to secure the borders of Arathor… The military of Gilneas became one of the most powerful in Arathor, equaled only by the city-state of Alterac, which held dominion over much of the northlands.” (WoWCV1, pg 141)
“I want your word, as a warrior and a leader, that you will keep your warriors in check,” [Aiden Perenolde] answered [to Orgrim Doomhammer, Warchief of the Old Horde]. “No killing, raiding, razing, or other atrocities here in the mountains. Leave our cities and villages intact and do not hound or hunt our people.” - Aiden Perenolde’s request to Orgrim Doomhammer (so that the Horde was able to pass through the mountains quickly and unopposed) (ToD, pg 79)
Background (during Warcraft 2/the Second War, or Years 7-9 ADP aka After the Dark Portal): Alterac was the weakest of the Human nations and is only a minor contributor of troops and equipment to the Alliance. Although Lord Perenolde praised Lothar and Terenas for their ongoing efforts, he was beset by the fear that when the Horde came, the Alliance will fail, and only the surrender of his forces and his sovereignty could save the lives of his subjects. Perenolde knew - when the final call to arms was sounded - that Alterac would not fight for its freedom alongside the other nations of the Alliance. (WC2 Game Manual, pg 41)
III. Governent
Capital: Alterac City
Government: Hereditary Monarchy
Flag: The Alteraci flag is described as the color of the “orange of Alterac” [ToD][WC2]. It is depicted with what is either a eagle, or some suggest it is a Falcon after the Syndicate NPC Lord Falconcrest.
Battle Cry: While it doesn’t say if Alterac has a particular battle cry, Vanndar does say: *“We, the Alliance, will prevail!” -
Population and Demographics
Although not as populated as either Lordaeron or the various other kingdoms, Alterac nevertheless boasted a strong military leading up to the Second War [WoWCV1] despite being described as the smallest kingdom of the Alliance [LoC]. The kingdom’s population was composed of almost entirely humans, though there may have been a few non-human residents. In WC2 in the Destruction of Alterac map, it depicts Elven Rangers, Peasants, Elven Transport Ships, Goblin Zeppelins, and of course with the Stormpikes ever present in the Alterac Valley, one could say that humans make up the majority of the population but are not the only ones present.
Feudal Government
Monarchy: Alterac possesses a hereditary monarchy with the title of “king” as the head of state. Styled as “Your Majesty” [ToD] or “His Royal Majesty” [DoTD], he is considered the “Ruler of Alterac” [DF], or “Master of Alterac” [ToD] House Perenolde was “the ruling family of Alterac” (quest:The Perenolde Tiara) and likely had the Perenolde Tiara that was described as an “old family heirloom” (quest:The Perenolde Tiara) as if it had been in the family a long time, so this Tiara would have been passed down generationally. This may have involved a “coronation” ceremony like Daval Prestor’s to be King of Alterac [DoTD]. The Crown Prince was the heir and the crown would fall to the prince if the king after abdicated [BtDP]. Isiden Perenolde was the nephew of Aiden Perenolde [BtDP] suggesting he might have had a nameless father and mother and therefore the Perenolde Family in Alterac could be large including the albeit falsely forged House Prestor that claimed the "distant bloodlines of the royal house of Alterac" [BtDP]. Before House Perenolde, it is known that Ignaeus Trollbane was the Chief of the Alteraci Tribe that became the founders of the Kingdom of Stromgarde’s Trollbane dynasty thousands of years later [STROM] and would have been the first leader of a more organized and cohesive Alteraci people. The Alteraci monarch wields supreme executive and autocratic power of the state. The king holds executive power over the nobles, the treasury, the military, laws and administration. The Perenolde’s primary estate was Dandred’s Fold in the Uplands bordering Lordaeron City and the Tirisfal Glades.
Nobles: Alterac also has an influential noble class, who are responsible for holding tracts of territorial land for the Alteraci crown. Noble land is typically held and inherited within families. Most Alteraci nobles are addressed by the title “lord” (NPC:Lord Falconcrest)? affixed to their surnames, though a few nobles use the title “baron.” (NPC:Baron Vardus) ? Alteraci nobles usually dress in fine black clothes lined with yellow. Gilneas does not appear to have a formal governing body of nobles, much like Stormwind has the House of Nobles. Nevertheless, the Gilnean nobility hold tremendous political clout with the monarchical king and are often found in close company.
Sourced Peerage Titles: King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Lord, and Baron
Royal Court Officials: King Genn Greymane also employed a series of other close royal advisers and court officials: a royal chemist (i.e. Krennan Aranas), a royal mage (i.e. Archmage Arugal), and other aides-de-camp (i.e. Eadrik).
Municipal Government
Gilnean municipalities are organized into governing townships (CotW, Vol.3). Gilnean townships are composed of a variety of administrative officials and magistrates: mayor, lord mayor, and town councils. Membership of these local government offices is drawn almost entirely from the common citizenry through municipal elections. Both women and men were eligible for the various offices. The requirements for voting in municipal elections are unknown. Town halls function as the civil administrative buildings for townships.
Mayor: Mayors are the chief magistrates responsible for the daily governing of municipal townships. Mayors also exercised some control over the mobilization of the local militia (Quest: Kill or Be Killed). Mayors also represented the townships and reported to the nobility and kings. The citizen Gwen Armstead later becomes the Mayor of Duskhaven following the fall of Gilneas City. Charlton Connisport serves as the Mayor of Surwich in the Blasted Lands. Some townships may also have deputy mayors to assist with the duties. Some Gilnean townships, such as Pyrewood Village, have an official referred as the “lord mayor.” It is unclear how this position compares with a “mayor.” The lord mayor is the head of the town council. Lord Mayor Morrison served in Pyrewood Village in the times when Arugal controlled Shadowfang Keep.
Town Council: Some Gilnean townships, such as Pyrewood Village, had town councils. The Pyrewood town council was composed of nine councilmen, including the lord mayor as the executive head of the Pyrewood town council. Councilmen likely had a variety of different administrative roles depending on the needs of the township.
Civil Law and Order
The laws of the kingdom of Gilneas are unknown. Lord Godfrey alludes to the existence of a Gilnean law that binds all of its citizens: “Cursed or not, you are still bound by Gilnean law!”? (Quest: Neither Human Nor Beast). Godfrey’s off-hand comment is the only reference to Gilnean law. Nobles and townships are likely responsible for administering the law and justice with the assistance of local magistrates. There is no evidence for judicial courts or a legislative body.
Law Enforcement: The city guards help preserve the civil order of Gilneas City. The city guards maintain a station house in Gilneas City, which was probably in the Military District of the city (CotW, Vol.1). The city guards work closely in association with criminal investigators and detectives such as Halford Ramsey and Cox. The various Gilnean town watches may share similar responsibilities in the townships outside of Gilneas City.
Criminal Punishment: There are a variety of different punishments Gilneas used for its criminals, though it is unknown how frequently these punishments were administered. Many leading Northgate Rebels, for example, were only held in Stoneward Prison despite having commit treason against the crown. Gilneas may have been transitioning towards using imprisonment as the primary form of punishment. The use of torture is a relatively common practice, though infrequent in use, among human civilizations. Gilneas likely practiced torture as well. Ana Halford commits suicide by hanging herself with a rope noose, which may point to hangings being practiced in some form as capital punishment (CotW, ch.2).
Stoneward Prison: The multistory Stoneward Prison complex that sits in the Military District is one of the largest buildings in Gilneas City. The prison also likely extends below ground. The inner courtyard may have served as the grounds for public executions. Gilneas does not appear to have a prison for containing magical threats like those possessed by Dalaran, Stormwind, or Tol Barad. It is possible that some of the unreachable areas have magical prison cells. Considering Dalaran’s relatively close geographic proximity, Dalaran may have dealt with the more dangerous magical prisoners. Many of the Northgate Rebels, including Lord Darius Crowley, were contained at the Stoneward Prison.
Caged-Wagons: Wooden wagons with steel cages are also common across Gilneas. These caged-wagons were likely used for the transportation of prisoners across the countryside. The Duskhaven worgen-hunters would later utilize these caged-wagons to transport captured worgen.
Pillory: Wooden Pillories are located outside of Stoneward Prison and its inner courtyard. Pillories serve as a form of lesser punishment through public humiliation and generally only lasted a few hours. Pillories are later used in Duskhaven to restrain feral worgen being administered Krennan’s potion.
Guillotine: A bloodied guillotine lies within the Stoneward Prison square. Oliver Harris at Raven Hill uses a guillotine to serve doubly as stocks for administering the feral worgen antidote and for beheading feral worgen who cannot be saved. The guillotine may have served as Gilneas’s primary means of public execution.
Iron Maiden: The Stoneward Prison also has an iron maiden torture device, which was likely not commonly used given its poor condition and the fact that it is lying in the prison courtyard.
Gibbet: Hanging gibbet cages are a common sight across Gilneas. Hanging gibbet cages are found in Stoneward Prison, Duskhaven, Emberstone, Keel Harbor, and along the Pyrewood Bridge. Many gibbets also have parchment hanging underneath, likely with warnings or the list of criminal offenses perpetrated by the victim. All the hanging gibbets are empty with no signs of either the criminal occupants or their remains. Gilneas may have used gibbets simply as temporary holding cells to publically exhibit criminals until they are transported elsewhere. The gibbets of Stoneward may have been used as a form of punishment for prisoners. Given that the Horde is known to have attacked the borders of Gilneas during the Second War, the gibbets along Pyrewood Bridge may have been further used on orcs as a warning display against further Horde incursions (DotD, ch.1).
Military
Although Alterac apparently had an army of some sort, the kingdom appears at the time of its downfall instead rely mostly on maintaining a standing militia and other localized armed forces in modern times such as the Regional Defenders [WC3].
This is a great difference from how things began. When it was a City-State under Arathor some 1200 years before, “Alterac became strong supporters of Strom and developed a mighty army that explored the mountainous southern lands of Khaz Modan.”
There appear to be at least four divisions: the Gilnean army, the Gilnean royal guards, the Gilneas city guards, and the Gilnean militia. Prince Liam Greymane also mentions the existence of a “town watch” during Duskhaven questing, which may be another name for the local Duskhaven militia (Quest: Gasping for Breath). Much of the Gilnean military forces were presumably reformed into the Gilnean Liberation Front led by Lord Darius Crowley. Across all levels of organization, the Gilnean military is noteworthy for its widespread use of mechanized firearms and artillery (CotW; LoHP; EoN).
Army: Gilneas had an army, though it receives little attention (Quest: Neither Human Nor Beast). Much of the Gilnean army was likely stationed on the Greymane Wall. King Genn Greymane references the existence of generals who warned him about the recklessness and uncontrollability of the worgen initially summed by Arugal (CotW, Vol.5). Soldiers appear to have been armed much like the royal and city guards: chainmail, helm, broadsword, shields, and rifles. He also claims that the Scourge had cost the life of many Gilnean soldiers (CotW, Vol.5). When the worgen turned against the Gilnean army, the bitten Gilnean soldiers brought inside the gates of the Wall turned into worgen who would escape into the wilds (CotW, Vol.5).
Militia: The militia appears to be composed of common citizens. The militiamen are lightly armored, but are equipped with rapiers and blunderbuss rifles. The standing militia was used to “assault peripheral enemies”? of Gilneas during the Seven Kingdoms period. Lord Vincent Godfrey commanded the militia as a “token force” during the Second War and until presumably the Cataclysm (LoHP). The Gilnean militia fought in the Second War though the results are ambiguous. King Greymane angrily comments how Gilnean participation in the war resulted in “dead Gilneans, torn apart by those green scoundrels”? (LoHP), but then he later boasts about the military success of Gilneas against the Horde to the other Alliance officials at a feast held in Darnassus (WH, ch.10). Prince Liam Greymane references the existence of a “town watch” of Duskhaven, which had to be saved from drowning (Quest: Gasping for Breath). The town watch may also be another name for the local militia forces.
Royal and City Guards: The “royal guard”? is further referenced in several quests (Quest: Safety in Numbers; Quest: Time to Regroup). Apart from their label, there is no noticeable difference in appearance of these two forces, but both the city guard and royal guard are apparently far more heavily equipped and trained than the militia. The Gilnean guard forces are identified by their use of the Gilnean tabards. They are ecquipped in chainmail and a face-covering helmet. They are also armed with a broadsword, shield, and a blunderbuss rifle.
Sourced Ranks: Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant
Knights (?): Knights, or any armored gentry, are conspicuously absent in Gilneas. While it is certainly possible that Gilneas had knights at one point in their history, there is scarcely any evidence for their continued presence in the contemporary era. Commander Springvale of Shadowfang Keep is the most knight-like possible Gilnean due to his heavy plate armor, which is a rarity among Gilneans. Springvale, however, is not described as a knight, but simply as a loyal soldier of Baron Silverlaine and the head of his personal guard (DG: Shadowfang Keep). Springvale also lacks a peered title. There may have also been knights among the Gilneas Brigade in the Third War (WC3: Cry of the Warsong). A dwarf mountain king also leads the brigade, which suggests that it either may have been a mixed-nationality brigade and not reflective of the Gilnean military even if its core came from Lord Crowley (WC3: Cry of the Warsong; LoHP). There may be a number of diverse reasons, and not necessarily contradictory, for the lack of knights in Gilneas. King Archibald Greymane may have abolished knights during his modernization reforms. Gilnean developments in firearms and artillery would also render the knight profession and their armor fairly obsolete. This development can be seen particularly in how comparatively light Gilnean armor is for both the guards and militia, who are all armed with firearms. Another possibility is that the noble lords themselves may have transitioned from being armored knights of peerage into being a part of a rising industrial (i.e. bourgeoisie) class, with professional guards replacing the knights of lower peerage.
Relationships With Other Kingdoms/Factions
It is interesting to note the deep connection that Alterac has to some of the kingdoms involved.
Stromgarde: Stromgarde and Alterac have close ties for 2800+ years. It says that Strom was “situated amongst the foothills of the Alterac Mountains” [WC2], indicating Arathi’s close border to Alterac; this would make great sense too as Ravenholdt is on this border. Ignaeus TROLLBANE’s family lineage was the founders of the Kingdom of Stromgarde [STROM] and is where Danath Trollbane and the other Stromic kings trace their ancestry to; but Ignaeus Trollbane was also the Alteraci Tribe’s Chieftain [STROM]. The red color that is Stromgarde’s national color [WC2] also comes from Ignaeus Trollbane, who wore an ancient Alteraci tribal pattern that was red [WoWCV1][STROM] and predates Alterac orange [WC2] which could have been the color of House Perenolde (orange masks worn by the Syndicate). Historically and in the modern day leading up to the Second War, they would become like cousins that squabbled over their territories. Thoras Trollbane recalls “[he] had always disliked fighting [General Hath] and hoped that wouldn’t be necessary this time” [ToD] indicating that the Alteraci and Stromics could have had a skirmish or border feuds leading up to Warcraft 2 (the Second War) and before agreeing to aid them in pushing back the Orcs that Aiden Perenolde allowed through their northern Alterac mountain passes [ToD]. Thoras Trollbane also wanted some of Alterac and King Terenas choosing to occupy it with Lordaeron’s forces was likely a key reason Strom seceded from the Alliance after they felt they had been bled dry. [DotD]
Quel’Thalas: Quel’Thalas has strong ties to the lands of Alterac. Although this was 2800 years ago and during the Troll Wars, the first One Hundred Magi who were taught magic defended the Alterac Fortress (which is speculation but could have become Alterac City) they created with the elves who taught them magic in order to repulse the Amani Empire back. [WoWCV1]
Gnomeregan: Historically, Alteraci and Gilneans were the first to discover the Dwarves of Khaz Modan and the Gnomes of Gnomeregan. “**The expeditionary forces marveled at the wondrous feats of construction and engineering that were Ironforge and Gnomeregan. The humans became quick friends with both races… who also shared their love of battle, storytelling, and strong ale. The three cultures engaged in rigorous trade, exchanging knowledge of smithing, mining, engineering, and even arcane magic.” (1200 years ago). [WoWCV1, pg 141] Nothing suggests that this ever changed despite Gnomeregan suffering a civil war during these times which would have limited their capacity to help in the Second and Third War.
Khaz Modan: The Kingdom of Khaz Modan made contact with the Alteraci humans for the first time some 1200 years ago and became friends ever since. [WoWCv1, pg 141] At some point, they craeted the [Perenolde Tiara] which is “an old heirloom of the Perenolde nobles - the ruling family of Alterac before that kingdom fell to ruin. It is said to have been crated by master jewelers in Ironforge, and fitted with the finest of emeralds.” (Quest:The Perenolde Tiara) This is likely due to the great relations the Alteraci would have had with the Dwarves as the first humans to make contact with them but would have been relatively more closer than their Gilnean counterparts in their Arathorian days when they both discovered the Khaz Modan Dwarves and Gnomes [WoWCv1, pg 141] Hypothetically too, the Tiara could be as old as 1200 years ago when they first made contact because that was the beginning of the Kingdom of Alterac shortly thereafter as it is mentioned as an old family heirloom as if it’s been in their family for many generations. In more recent times, a Bronzebeard hero was commissioned by King Mangi Bronzebeard when he passed in the Thandol Span event to have a memorial built in honor of Sully Balloo. His Grand Mason suggested that to build “a truly epic and lasting piece, it would require one of the finest stones available in the Darrow Hill… and gather some ‘Alterac Granite’.” He also said “such fine stone comes from Lordaeron (the continent). Such a shame the land is in such shambles.” (Quest:A King’s Tribute) This also goes to show that the dwarves have a great sympathy with how Alterac and the other lands like it in Lordaeron are in “such shambles”.
Gilneas: Gilneas and Alterac were historically hand-in-hand throughout the days of Ancient Arathor, and had a great relationship of some 1,200 years before the opening of the Dark Portal. "Gilneas and Alterac often combined their forces… led grand expeditions… made contact with the Dwarves of Khaz Modan and Gnomes of Gnomregan." So if you look at it from this perspective, Alteraci and Gilneans are the cataclyst for Humans making contact with Gnomeregan and Dwarves.
In more modern times, “One of Lord Perenolde’s nephews, [Isiden Perenolde], had fled to that land after the treachery… and Greymane supported his claim as successor. A base in Alterac would [have given] Gilneas access to resources the southern kingdom did not have, and the excuse to send its mighty ships across the Great Sea.” [Day of the Dragon, pg 2] This took a sharp turn during the Alterac Crisis, [DoTD pg 3] because in the aftermath of Isiden Perenolde fleeing, Daval Prestor came to rise and attempted to take over the Alliance and become King of Alterac. Daval Prestor made “[p]romises to the [Kul Tiras] Admiral about his continued sovereignty of the seas, even if it meant sending in a force to take control of Gilneas; to Greymane about future naval colonies near the coastal edge of Alterac; and Thoras Trollbane thinks that he’ll be ceded the eastern half of that region… all when I become its legitimate ruler.” [DotD, pg 42] This would have essentially of torn the Alliance a part.
At the first Alliance summit, King Genn Greymane felt that Alterac joining the Alliance was not a legitimate reason for Gilneas to do likewise [ToD]. According to Genn, King Archibald felt that Gilnean policy should not just follow the leanings of Alterac [LoHP]. It is unclear what became of Lord Isiden Perenolde after the Crisis of Alterac Succession, as he cannot be found among either the Syndicate or in Gilneas. Gilneas’s failure to place Isiden Perenolde on the Alterac throne likely contributed to Genn Greymane’s decision to secede from the Alliance.
Dalaran: Before Wrath of the Lich King, “a magic field closed off Dalaran, to the southwest. Dalaran wizards patrol the local surroundings, but wisely did not concern themselves with Alterac’s affairs.” [ToD] However, Dalaran was crucial friends of Alterac when Lordaeron occupied it. In the Third War, Antonidas sent Jaina Proudmoore and others to investigate the outbreak of the plague which almost begun in Alterac at King’s Road just a stone’s throw away from Andorhal. [WC3][A:RotLK]
Stormwind: Deathwing got Aiden Perenolde to get agents of Alterac to steal the Book of Medivh from Stormwind. [WC2] This likely soured their relations. However, Stormwind, or at least Count Ridgewell in the House of Nobles, has a great interest in the Tiara of Perenolde to retrieve and preserve it as a historic heirloom of House Perenolde. [quest:The Tiara Perenolde]
Kul Tiras: The Admiralty was staunch allies of the Alliance and would have likely of been disrespected by the fact that in the Second War, Alterac agents were captured on the waterways and the plot of Uther’s assassination was found. [WC2] Thus, they were key to finding Aiden Perenolde’s betrayal. However, some would have likely of came to Jaina’s expedition to found Theramore. The Admiralty had the “fiercest navy that made even Terenas treat [the Kul Tirans] as… equals” [ToD pg
Lordaeron: Occupied by Lordaeron in the aftermath of their falling out and Aiden Perenolde betraying the Alliance of Lordaeron, Lordaeron was crucial in Alterac’s politics in the post-Perenolde realm. Daval Prestor attempted to gain power to the Alterac Throne during the “Alterac Crisis” and marry Calia Menethil, [DotD] but this was thrawted because the Dragons got liberated at Grim Batol and Deathwind had to flee which made his human counterpart Daval Prestor disappear from the Lordaeronian courts. [DotD]
Theramore: Although we don’t see any proof of Alteraci actively being a part of Theramore, it could be greatly inferred that they were a part of it. The reasoning is that we saw that all the Human Kingdoms sent Brigades to assist Theramore (Stromgarde, Gilneas, Lordaeron). At this point however, Alterac was placed under martial law and was bound to Lordaeron and we see this in Warcraft 3 when Arthas and Uther bring the Knights of the Silver Hand and a Lordaeronian army to the defense of an very Alteraci Strahnbrad. [WC3: Defense of Strahnbrad] So it was more likely that Alteraci would have been a part of the Lordaeron Brigade sent.
Darnassus: While we don’t see Darnassus interact with Alterac in the kingdom sense, they are a heavy presence in the Alterac Valley and a Night Elf Arch Druid even summons Ivus the Forest Lord to aid the Alliance forces. Thus, wh
The Horde: It would be interesting to note the diverse relationship between the Syndicate and the Horde. Situationally, it would depend on who and what type of Alteraci is involved with the Horde. In terms of Jorach Ravenholdt, who is of obvious Alteraci blood, it is interesting to see that he despises the Syndicate and prioritizes the well being of the Ravenholdt Assassin League over the wellbeing of any loyalty to any kingdom like Alterac. Furthermore, even though Syndicate Master Ryson in the Alterac Valley was hypothetically hostile to both Alliance and Horde, he instead became a part of the Alliance or Horde’s forces for their aid and suggest that “[y]our war in the heart of Alterac means nothing to the [Alteraci]. We will do as we have always done: Wait until a clear victor rises from the ashes and rubble of this madness and then strike.”
However, in the RPG books, it states that Aiden Perenolde tried to reach out to the Horde and was shot down and thus is why he despises them. “The ousted nobles discovered, to their dismay, that the few bands of free orcs in Lordaeron wanted nothing to do with them and refused them sanctuary, so they began stealing to stay alive… [the Syndicate] also hate the Horde with a passion, as these orcs severed ties right when [they] needed them.” [Lands of Conflict] Because Orgrim Doomhammer promised the kingdom of Alterac’s protection for brokering the non-aggression pact between Alterac and the Horde [Tides of Darkness]. This promise was broken when the New Horde did not honor this and that is why you see Syndicate or Alteraci who have Orcish slaves and the like and promote the internment camp system returning like under the days of Aedelas Blackmoore at Durnholde.
"BE IT NOW KNOWN that the individual called Lord Aiden Perenolde and every known ally (see attached list), due to their association with the vile Horde during the war and their traitorous actions toward the Alliance and her citizens, shall be stripped of all land, holdings and wealth and known hereafter as traitors to the Alliance. They shall forfeit all rights to citizenry in the Alliance. Indeed, they are considered enemies of all citizens of Lordaeron. Let no good people of this land show them hospitality, mercy or sanctuary. Consider the honor they gave the Alliance and her citizens, and treat them no better. So said in this seventh year of the new Alliance.
Sir Uther Lightbringer of the Knights of the Silver Hand"
— Proclamation from Uther Lightbringer regarding the ousted noble traitors, known later as “The Syndicate” [LoC]
Culture
Alterac has rich culture and here are some of the various resources, inspirations, and so forth that can give you an idea of who the Alterac people are.
- Old Alterac saying: “A cat has nine lives, but needs only one.” (Black Tabby Cat Carrier Pet Journal text)
- Alterac Signet Rings are worn by Alterac’s nobility. “They may be hiding as normal Syndicate agents, but you’ll know you’ve killed a noble by the signet ring he wears.”- Magistrate Henry Maleb (Quest: Noble Deaths)
- Horomone Free - Alterac Swiss "was a favorite of the famed court of Alterac." (Item Flavor Text)
- Alterac was a part of a church of some kind, likely the Church of the Holy Light, indicated by the chapel in Alterac City.
- Alterac City had the “Alterac Palace” where Aiden Perenolde murdered an Alliance page sent by Lothar.
- Daval Prestor fled from a chateau; there is no description of what this means, but historically, this is a French for a “Castle”. [Day of the Dragon]
- Ancient Alteraci were called the ‘Alteraci Tribe’. [Strom’kar, Legion Artifact]
- Aiden Perenolde was addicted to the herb, Flushbloom; it doesn’t state what this does or what it is. [Dark Factions]
- Daval Prestor mentioned that Alterac had naval colonies to give to Genn Greymane if he was made the rightful leader of Alterac. [Day of the Dragon]
- The Alterac Palace had a garderobe (a medieval storeroom) that Aiden Perenolde murdered a messenger of the Alliance sent by Lothar and stashed him into it. [Tides of Darkness]
- Deathwing/Daval Prestor was as tall in his dragon form as the Alteac Palace was in height. [WC2]
I. Druidism in the Arathorian Era
“Humans gathered in… different tribes. Each one practiced animistic beliefs—mainly crude forms of druidism and elemental shamanism.” [WoWCv1 pg 126]
[IX. Religions & Spirituality]
a. Church of the Holy Light
i. Clergy
1. Known Priests
ii. Religious Sites
1. Light�s Dawn Cathedral
iii. Paladins?
b. Alterac Druids & Shamans(?)
i. Druidism in the Arathorian Age
ii. Unconfirmed Druids
iii. Unconfirmed Shamans
c. Ancestral Veneration(?) (STROM’KAR)
d. The Wolf Cult
i. Membership & Rites
e. Goldrinn, the Wolf Ancient
f. Elune, the Moon Goddess
IX. Religions and Spirituality
The religious practices and beliefs of Alterac are surprisingly syncretistic. Even prior to the Syndicate and their downfall in the Second War, Alteracshows some potential signs of preserving a diversity of older religious practices alongside variants to the Church of the Holy Light.
Church of the Holy Light
The Church of the Holy Light forms the largest religious institution in the Kingdom of Alterac. A chapel is the only present religious building that is seen through out the ruins of Alterac. Alteraci on the whole, however, do not likely possess the same level of pious devotion as Lordaeron. There are many potential reasons why; firstly, in regards to King Aiden Perenolde’s treachery in the Second War, he caused peasant rebellions at Tyr’s Hand (a Silver Hand holy site) and attempted to hire pirates to assassinate Uther, the leader of the Silver Hand Knights [WC2]. While this doesn’t speak for all Alterac born individuals, you can see a pattern of seediness here. Furthermore, Wrathions’ egg was hid in Alterac at the Ravenholdt Manor meaning black dragons are in Alterac in hiding. However, the Silver Hand came to save Strahnbrad when the Blackrock Orcs took villagers hostage for demon sacrificing. Syndicate Bandit Lord Menag also tells Arthas to “say your prayers!” [WC3 Reforged] before being felled.
Clergy: Alteraci priests are followers of the Light. The Church of the Holy Light in Alterac presumably recognizes the ecclesiastical leadership and authority of the Archbishop who would have been Faol in their time. Other hierarchical positions or ecclesiastical figures within the Alterac Church are unknown. Alterac City’s chapel might have likely have a bishop, but no prominent ecclesiastical individuals have appeared.
Known Religious Sites: Alterac City Chapel
Alterac City Chapel: The only visible sign of the Church of the Light in Alterac, this would have been the staple of the spirituality of Alterac. The Alterac City Chapel in Alterac, like its Lordaeronian counterprats in the Second War, **"[was a] place of worship where the citizens… [sought] spiritual enlightenment, and mintering to the masses… to deepen their **
faith… through meditating, communing, and tithing". [WC2]
Holy Writs(?): Alonsus Faol had “holy writs [that] commandeth that the whole armor of rightousness be worn in the war against evil,”, and thus there could have been holy writs, or laws, of the Church of the Holy Light that the Alterac Priesthood would have adhered to.
Paladins (?): Alterac does not have any known paladins but that doesn’t mean they lack ANY affiliation with the Order of the Silver Hand as they were saved by the Paladins in the Defense of Strahnbrad; Thornby also pledged his allegiance who was an Alteraci farmer but he became a Silver Hand Footman instead of a Silver Hand Paladin [WC3]. There are, however, a few unconfirmed cases of either Alterac paladins or the possibilities that they might exist. Further down King’s Road (a road that stretched between Alterac and Andorhal) [WC3], the Defenders of Peace, Truth, and Light would have all of been a few months after Strahnbrad’s defense that fell to Arthas with Uther protecting King Terenas’s urn. [WC3]
All human paladins and their respective orders trace their historical lineage back to the Order of the Silver Hand. Archbishop Faol conceived and established the Silver Hand in Lordaeron at the advent of the Second War around 6 ADP (ToD, ch.1). Initially, Archbishop Faol drew most of the Silver Hand’s numbers from Lordaeron, which was one of Alterac’s chief political rivals at the time. During the Crisis of Alterac Succession (~8-10 ADP), the Order of the Silver Hand “owed its outward allegiance to Terenas,” and they were the only force the other kings trusted as guards in Alliance meetings (DotD, ch.6). Following the Second War, paladins were deployed wherever their abilities were needed, which were often places heavily affected by the damages of the Second War. As such, the Silver Hand’s members would have split their order’s efforts between the heavily affected war-torn kingdoms of the Alliance in the Second War: Lordaeron, Stormwind, Stromgarde, and Kul Tiras. Incidentally, these are the only human kingdoms with documented paladins.
Although other nations had paladins, paladin training was often closely tied to the Kingdom of Lordaeron. Before the fall of Lordaeron, the Scarlet Monastery served as a training ground for paladins of other nations. Captain Nials even mentions how the loss of the Scarlet Monastery prevents Stromgarde from training more soldiers/paladins to fight the Forsaken (Quest: The Scarlet Monastery).
The Scarlet Crusade:
Edicts: Lillian Voss was not above the edicts of the Crusade [quest: A Scarlet Letter] and thus the Scarlet Crusade could have had edicts which may have been separate from the writs of the Church of the Holy Light.
The Old Ways date to at least far back as early tribal human civilization, predating even the ancient human empire of Arathor (Ask CDev #3). The holiday of Noblegarden, which has been historically celebrated among the human kingdoms, has its origins steeped in druidic festivals from times long past,� which may corroborate this idea . The full nature and furthest origins of the Old Ways, however, still remains unclear and hotly debated among scholarly circles. Both the spread of the teachings of the Church of the Holy Light and arcane magic contributed to the rapid decline of followers of the Old Ways (Ask CDev #3).
Druidism in the Arathorian Age:
“Groups of hunter-gatherer humans proliferated throughout the forests and hillocks of the continent. As their society evolved and advanced, humans gathered in an array of different tribes. Each one practiced animistic beliefs—mainly crude forms of druidism.” (WoWCV1)
Shamanism in the Arathorian Age: Just like they were practicing druidism in these times, they were also practicing “crude forms of elemental shamanism” (WoWCV1). Thus, fragments of these Ancient Alteraci and their predecessors may be possibilities.
Druidism & Shamanism in the Modern Era (?):
“Though its origins are steeped in druidic festivals from times long past, the current incarnation of Noblegarden is a contrast between ancient traditions and modern interpretations; some races of Azeroth try to stay true to the original spirit of the holiday…” (Worldofwarcraft dot com)
In the face of external cultural pressures like the Second war, Alterac could have managed to retain religious followers of the Old Ways of the Alteraci Tribe. Alterac’s relative cultural isolation could have potentially contributed to the perserverence of the Old Ways, or primitive druidism and shamanism, among its people. Initially only Gilneas had Harvest Witches but the Kul Tirans introducted Thornspeakers, showing that some of the modern human kingdoms a part of the Alliance of today have druids. Thus, if Alterac were in tact, this could even be a possibility for a character avenue. This could also be the case for a Human Shaman if they practiced this crude elemental veneration that their ancestors did (WoWCV1).
Ancestral Veneration (?)
Despite the institutional hegemony of the Church of the Holy Light, Alteraci may have incorporated veneration for the spirits of the deceased based on what their Ancient Alteraci predecessors did. The spirits of the dead are implied to have been of great importance to the Ancient Alteraci 2800 years prior and thought to even have been imbued into the blade Strom’kar to ensure their loyalty to Thoradin. (STROM). Much like within shamanistic beliefs, a certain balance must be maintained with reverent respect to the ancestral spirits.
Cult of the Damned:
Membership & Rites:
MILITARY
Thoras could identify the Alterac military by the “orange of Alterac” [ToD]. The Regional Defenders were also the local defense force led by Dargal the Dwarf Cannonneer and Alteraci footmen. [WC3][A:RotLK] Hath told Thoras that King Perenolde’s personal guard, which are potentially the royal guard, only had 20 men. [ToD]