Northrend
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In the fictional Warcraft Universe, Northrend is the frozen continent found at the roof of the world of Azeroth. The entirety of the continent is ruled by the The Undead Scourge, and is their seat of power. The Lich King himself sits atop his Frozen Throne on Icecrown Glacier.
The other two continents of the Azeroth world are Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms.
[edit] Inhabitants
The Scourge currently controls most of Northrend and the indigenous creatures have suffered greatly as they succumb to its plague of undeath. But Northrend still maintains a sizable population of native creatures.
The most notable former inhabitants of Northrend were the spider-men Nerubians. With their ancient, subterranean kingdom, Azjol-Nerub, their empire once spread over half the continent. The Nerubians chose to attack the Scourge in its early stages, using hit and run tactics to attack and destroy scourge strongholds then retreat. The Lich King was eventually able to fend them off, and invade Azjol-Nerub. The Scourge, with the help of the Dreadlords, were able to completely crush the nerubian kingdom. Though trace elements of the Nerubian Empire remain, there are few pockets of Nerubian resistance left to oppose the Scourge. This conflict was known as The War of the Spider.
Northrend is home to several tribes of Ice Trolls as well. Other inhabitants include Wendigo, Polar Bears, Blue Dragons, Furbolgs, and Penguins. Much of Northrend has little plant life, but twisted, leafless trees are abundant in Northrend. Icecrown itself also is home to evergreen trees and other plants.
[edit] Locations in Northrend
- Icecrown Glacier: Site of the Frozen Throne, where the Lich King resides.
- Azjol-Nerub: Once a great subterranean Nerubian kingdom; now in ruins.
- The Great Dragonblight: Where dying dragons would go to die.
- Coldarra: Contains the cavern Nexus, home of the Dragon Aspect of Magic Malygos.
- The Borean Tundra: A huge glacial region containing the Westrift and the Riplash Ruins. Home of the Tuskarr race.
- Shiverwind Coast
- Grizzly Hills: A region home to a rogue Furbolg tribe. Also contains Grizzlemaw.
- Drak'Tharon Keep: Undead stronghold which Arthas besieged to take revenge upon the dreadlord Mal'Ganis, whose foul tactics and use of the undead plague forced Arthas to slaughter the human citizens of the city of Stratholme in order to prevent them from turning into Undead. Arthas also gained the legendary runeblade Frostmourne near here.
- Zul'Drak: Home to the Ice Trolls.
- Lake Wintergrasp: Contains Icemist Village
- Sholazar Basin: Not much is known of this region except that the place has no ice and barely has snow. Some have settled farms in this terrain. Whether it will become a future Northrend battleground instance is unknown. However, detail of interest is that the region is charted as an anomaly. The place is a copy of Un'Goro — with hot springs, steam vents, geysers, and a tropical jungle. Possibly a zone made by the Titans for experiments. If not how a place like this could exist in the Northrend remains a mystery until players can access Northrend.
- Crystalsong Forest: Contains a Great Tree and the fifth Emerald Dream Portal.
- The Storm Peaks
- Uldar
- Temple of Storms: Located in the far west of the peaks.
[edit] Northrend in Warcraft games
Northrend is first seen in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. In the Human Campaign, the player, as Arthas, travels to Drak'tharon Keep and fights the Undead fortress there, killing its leader, Mal'Ganis the dreadlord. Later, in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, the player also visits Icecrown Glacier, where Arthas and Anub'Arak enter the ruins of Azjol-Nerub's upper kingdom, and eventually travel to the Frozen Throne itself.
Northrend is not currently accessible in World of Warcraft. It is possible, however, that the continent may be seen in a future expansion pack, as it is visible in the World Map when zoomed out all the way.
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