During the Third War, Archimonde brought a pretty massive force to attack Mount Hyjal, perhaps one of the biggest forces seen on Azeroth, but do we know where he made landfall on Kalimdor?
From Arthas’ invasion of Quel’Thalas, his Scourge left a pretty obvious trail of destruction that we can see in-game, making it pretty clear which path he took. But where on Kalimdor did Archimonde make landfall with his huge Scourge and Legion forces?
Did his forces first land on Azshara?
Or did they invade through Durotar and the Barrens?
Did they sail the other way and invade through Darkshore and the western part of Ashenvale?
Or did they land in Desolace and make the long trek north up to Hyjal?
When leveling in those zones, while you may see signs of Legion and Scourge presence, it didn’t seem like there were any signs of a massive army having made landfall there. The portals in Desolace does suggest that there may have been some demonic summoning there, but we still don’t see where a massive Scourge army might have landed.
“He launched the rest of his forces into Ashenvale. As infernals rained from the sky, thousands of undead and demons appeared at the eastern edge of the region”
Chronicles 3.
3 Likes
A few key details…
Arthas heads to Northrend and returns in the Human Campaign. His ships were burned in Dragonblight. This means the Scourge in Northrend built new vessels. Remember they have Nerubians as well as undead from other species like Ice Trolls.
The Scourge Campaign ends with Archimonde being summoned and destroying Dalaran. Lordaeron has fallen. Gilneas is behind a wall. Jaina has fled to Kalimdor. Admiral Proudmoore has chased the fleeing Orcs to Kalimdor. The scourge has free reign of any shipyards. While not major in WoW, ships and oil were a key feature of WC2 and presumed to be all over. You also built docks in WC3.
Orcs in Kalimdor encounter the Legion. Mannoroth reclaims the Orcs by tricking the Warsong into drinking his blood again in Ashenvale. This is further followed up after the slay Cenarius with the Legion full on invading Ashenvale and Tyrande having to avoid their forces in her first mission. Illidan encounters Arthas later in Felwood. This indicates the Scourge have crossed. Not long after, Archimonde, the Legion proper, and the Scourge, assault Hyjal.
Edit: Sorry I accidentally posted too soon. From the available information it is indicated the invasion route is through Ashenvale to Felwood. There is a significant Satyr presence in Azshara on the north end near the Furbolgs and the unused Timbermaw hold entrance. That may be coincidence, but it also seems a bit like an unexplored bit of lore possibly.
Edit 2: I missed Zerde’s post somehow. Just confirms the obvious.
3 Likes
Not to be the umm akshually but it would not be Felwood at the time.
Felwood turned into what it did during the Third War explicitly because of the Skull of Gul’dan’s spreading corruption.
The Scourge have massive flying fortresses, the Necropoli, so they never needed sail, thus eliminating the need to make landfall along a shoreline.
During WC3, we saw them attack Ashenvale, and move to Hyjal.
If you’re giving someone directions in the modern day to a past event, you don’t use old terms for places. You use the new ones. If you asked me where the Roanoke colony was located would you want me to say the Dominion of Virginia? You won’t find that on a map today. You will find North Carolina.