Azshara Azshara is located in northeastern Kalimdor , east of Ashenvale , south of Winterspring , and north of Durotar . It is a beautiful coastal area cloaked in eternal autumn . The trees and other flora are tinged in brilliant oranges and reds , and nearer the coast , great cliffs and sandy beaches line the ocean . The region ' s inhabitants can make life hard for the nature lover , however . Enraged ghosts , vicious satyr , stalking naga and ferocious wildlife can quickly put an end to those who venture too far from the road . A shattered stretch of coastline on Kalimdor ' s northeast , Azshara was once the greatest night elf . The city fell millennia ago in the War of the Ancients , but a few ragged buildings perch on the cliffs overlooking similar ruins among the coral . Much of the city of Azshara fell into the ocean . The Horde had established a small outpost , Grim Ulang , in the area , but naga were a constant danger . Since then , the Horde have expanded , and the whole of Azshara is now under the Horde banner with the Bilgewater Cartel as it ' s governance . History . Before the Great Sundering , this shattered stretch of coast along Kalimdor ' s northern border was once a part of the night elven capital of Zin - Azshari ; then came the demon s ' expulsion from the world . The land was rent asunder and the sea thundered in , making the region a watery grave and leaving nothing but ruins of the once great city . The night elves who survived named this region — once glorious , now nothing but a shattered relic — Azshara , after their queen who was driven mad by demonic influence . Since that time , this place of rocky islands , jagged cliffs , and coral - choked seas has given birth to many tales . Some night elves suggest that not all of the demons were banished , still lurking beneath the glittering waters of the Coral Sea and waiting to strike back . Others claim that Queen Azshara was not drowned , but transformed into a hideous aquatic thing who will someday lead her accursed followers to retake the surface world . A few whisper that the Dark Portal that first brought the demons to Azeroth remains and rests under the sea waiting for someone to reopen it . Still others assert that the ancient Sundering awakened something that dwelled in the deepest part of the ocean , something that will eventually burst forth in a tidal wave of destruction . Whatever the truth , night elves agree that the region is cursed . After the devastating Cataclysm , the Bilgewater Cartel goblin s took Azshara and claimed it as their land . There were difficulties from the start , including having to battle the naga and storm giant s . The Shattered Strand shows the best evidence of this , now turned into a vast battlefield . On the western end of the zone , the night elves were pushing farther inside , expanding their holdings at Talrendis Point and going so far as to attack Valormok . Ever the protectors of nature , they send scouts close to the new goblin Mountainfoot Strip Mine in an attempt to thwart operations there . Even further inland they appear to have befriended the furbolg s at the new Blackmaw Hold , and even taken over what was formerly known as the Thalassian Base Camp , now called the Darnassian Base Camp . Gnome s have also taken the stretch of beach at the Ruined Reaches . The Blue dragonflight seems to have vanished from the land , abandoning Lake Mennar . Members of the Black dragonflight have taken hold of some northern reaches , including the Bitter Reaches . They are hunting for remnants of the blue dragons , Deathwing believing that the dragonflight has weakened since the death of Malygos . Unbeknownst to him , however , the blue dragons Kalec and Azuregos conspire against him . Geography . A river separates the primordial wood from what land there is . The terrain beyond the river is little more than a strip of green above fragmented cliffs that rise high over a stretch of ivory beach . The waves of the shallow Coral Sea sweep against this beach , and islands — little more than spires of jagged rock — jut from the water . A twisted expanse of reef creates a labyrinth of coral beneath the ocean surface , making sea travel here virtually impossible . The night elves consider the place cursed , and most other races find the constant storms unpleasant . There is but a single habitation in Azshara , the orc trading village of Grim Ulang , its residents telling of creatures flitting about the ruins of Zin - Azshari further along the cliffs , and murlocs and naga swimming in the Coral Sea . Bands of undead have appeared along the beach and at the fringes of the Ashenvale Forest . As well , the dark chants of demon cultists have echoed along the cliffs in counterpoint to the thunder of storms . Steady rumors and sightings have led to frequent night elf patrols and an increased martial presence in Grim Ulang . In honor of their induction into the Horde , the goblins have reshaped the whole of the zone into a giant Horde symbol . Further goblin influence can be seen in the following areas : the main goblin city of Bilgewater Harbor rests upon an island in the middle of the Bay of Storms ; the Forlorn Ridge has been demolished into a strip mining operation ; there is now a rear entrance to Orgrimmar ; and the goblins have also set up a long and winding Rocketway that stretches the length of the zone . The Cataclysm itself wrought a wave of destruction on the landscape , changing it forever . Many areas were destroyed , succumbing to the rumblings of the earth and slipping beneath the waves , including Rethress Sanctum , Scalebeard ' s Cave , Shadowsong Shrine , and the Temple of Arkkoran . There are no instances in this zone , though the micro dungeon Lake Mennar used to be here prior to the Cataclysm . In addition , the battleground Azshara Crater was thought to eventually be implemented , but the most recent changes to Azshara make that unlikely . Travel . Getting There . Alliance : From Forest Song in Ashenvale , follow the road east into Azshara . Horde : From Splintertree Post in Ashenvale , travel along the road east into Azshara . The Horde encampment Valormok is against the mountains , north of ruined Haldarr Encampment . Azshara is home to several characters of note . At the Azshara Tower , aids mages and rogues in achieving their full potential . ' s Thalassian expedition ravishes the region in search of Highborne relics . reigns from his watery temple . , the demon hunter , watches the horizon from his island refuge . assists experienced hunters and priests , and on another small island far to the east , pits heroes of all calibers against their elemental foes , sending them deep into the very core of the earth in search of retribution . Lastly , the Gadgetsprings provide their services to Engineers by selling the very rare , among other things .