Stranglethorn Vale The Stranglethorn Vale is a vast jungle south of Duskwood . Jungle trolls patrol this steaming rainforest . Ancient Gurubashi trolls once ruled the region , and the ruins of their great cities crumble in the jungle ’ s heat and growth . Naga hunt along the coast and vicious animals and plants , including the eponymous strangle - thorn s , make travel dangerous . The Arena , a center for gladiatorial games set in a ruined Gurubashi fighting stadium , draws shady characters of all races . The Blackwater Raiders , a vile group of pirates , make their home in Booty Bay , on the Stranglethorn ’ s southern coast . The Vale was the primary center of the trolls of the Gurubashi Empire , and their cities were dotted all over the region . After the Empire ' s fall the cities of the troll empire fell into ruin , although they are still populated by trolls . In recent years , the Human s of Stormwind attempted to forge trade routes through this savage jungle . Though they managed to establish the small port town of Blackwater Cove , they were quickly overwhelmed by a crazed pack of Trolls and driven back to their homeland . In the wake of the Humans ' departure , the crafty Goblin Trade Princes arrived on the jungle ' s shores and quickly set up their mining and deforesting operations . The Goblins have maintained a tenuous hold over these remote facilities , but they remain threatened by the Jungle Trolls ' growing obsession with purging their ancient lands of any and all foreign invaders . Stranglethorn is as deadly as it is beautiful . It is inhabited by a large variety of beasts and hostile creatures that low level characters should not face alone . The primary sentient inhabitants are the Bloodscalp and Skullsplitter trolls , in the northwest and east respectively . The troll city of Zul ' Gurub sits in a valley in the northeast , which was once the capital of Troll civilization in Stranglethorn . In the north is a small village controlled by the renegade Colonel Kurzen . Other inhabitants include an encampment of ogre s . Off the southeast coast is Jaguero Isle , inhabited by the enormous gorilla King Mukla . There is a renegade group of sailors , known as the Bloodsail Buccaneers , who have built camps on the southwestern and southern shores of Stranglethorn Vale . A small population of Naga can be found in the southwest , and murloc s inhabit some underwater ruins in the northwest . The Venture Company also has two mining operations in Stranglethorn . In the northwest , the Zandalar Tribe has its base in Yojamba Isle . The Water Gate from Deadmines can also been seen north of Yojamba Isle , though it cannot be entered . The weekly Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza event happens every Sunday from 2 - 4pm . PvP . In addition to the inhabitants listed above , the zone is populated by a large variety of relatively high level wild creatures . On PvP servers , it is a strategically important area , given that it is sandwiched between both Horde and Alliance territories , and thus it is also often one of the most actively contested areas in the game . This is particularly true of the area immediately surrounding Nesingwary ' s Expedition at the north end of the zone , near the Duskwood border . However , questing and hunting here is challenging and profitable , provided you can dodge the bullets . Some high level players love ganking , especially around the Bal ' lal Ruins and between Booty Bay and Grom ' Gol Base Camp . Stranglethorn should probably be avoided by flagged players under level 30 , and even those above level 30 would be well advised to travel in groups of three or more . Only the brave should enter alone . History . Stranglethorn Vale has for millennia been the home of the jungle troll s , under the leadership of the Gurubashi tribe . Over time , the Gurubashi came to be unduly cruel , sacrificing trolls of other tribes to their evil god Hakkar the Soulflayer . After an extensive civil war , the tribes of Stranglethorn split , forever becoming enemies . The Darkspear tribe was one of these tribes , eventually driven offshore by a band of rampaging murlocs and taken in by the Horde . To this day , Stranglethorn remains a wild place full of danger . The Stone Of The Tides Excerpt from Legends of the Gurubashi , Volume III " " The ancient Gurubashi Empire was a source of many fascinating and intriguing legends that can be , no doubt , traced to their Environs . As examinations of their belief systems Societal practices have pointed to a great reverence for their natural surroundings . The Gurubashi Empire was surrounded on three sides by sea , so it comes as little surprise that water would figure prominently as an aspect of their society . Recent discoveries during Surveys of the Troll ruins in Stranglethorn have shown reference to an object called the " Stone of the Tides " . Various fragments of troll legends can be pieced together to paint a rather complete picture of the stone and its importance to the Gurubashi Empire . It appears that the Stone of the Tides allowed its bearer to control water in its many forms . " " In Troll legends , it is said that the Stone first made its appearance on the coast of Stranglethorn . It was found and picked up by a wandering Troll warrior . Intrigued by the blue stone he found , he took it with him on his journey . As time passed , the troll discovered that the stone gave him control over water . He could summon water elemental s , manipulate the tides , and accomplish feats that only the powerful mages of the Kirin Tor were able to manifest . The warrior traveled back to Zul ' Gurub to show his newfound abilities to the Emperor . He gained the court ' s audience easily with his powers and gained the title " Tidebearer " , leaving his old name behind . The troll also received a place of honor in the Court of Gurubashi . Tidebearer served the Gurubashi Empire for years , but as time wore on , he became more reclusive . The Stone of Tides carried a curse as well . The Bearer of the stone would start to fade over time until he would disappear from the physical world forever . Keeping this secret from the Empire , the Tidebearer went to the beach where he found the stone and walked into the water , where he disappeared . Many generations later the stone would wash upon the Vale and be picked up by a new Tidebearer . This process would continue , and Tidebearers would come and go just as the last before them . Geography . Stranglethorn Vale is a jungle on a cone - shaped peninsula that narrows as it goes south . There are several islands of varying sizes along its coasts . The Shattering nearly split the peninsula northeast of the great Gurubashi Arena , but even so it is difficult to travel between the north and south portions . Maps and Subregions . Topographic map of Stranglethorn pre - Cataclysm . Notable characters . Stranglethorn Vale is home to several characters of note . In Booty Bay , Baron Revilgaz and Fleet Master Seahorn seek aid in the battle against the Bloodsail Buccaneers . In Grom ' gol Base Camp , Kin ' weelay attempts to rid the jungle of the bloodthirsty Bloodscalp and Skullsplitter trolls . In the Rebel Camp , Lieutenant Doren and his men seek to usurp the choke hold the evil Colonel Kurzen has put on the northern forest , and at his expedition camp , Hemet Nesingwary Jr . sends bold hunters into the deepest parts of the vale in search of rare and exotic animals . Gnaz and Knaz Blunderflame have a small gnome house in the mountains above the Mosh ' ogg ogre mound . They both sell engineering supplies to those who can find them . In Cataclysm . Stranglethorn Vale will be split into two zones : Northern Stranglethorn and the Cape of Stranglethorn . A large sinkhole containing a raging whirlpool has been created in the center of the zone , separating the two new zones . In Warcraft III . A Warcraft III map exists called Stranglethorn Vale .